Preppers

Different. Funny. Moving. Great cast diversity. Entertaining to watch. Kind of chaotic and at times weird. I liked this show. Great concept. I hope they return for another season.

Very funny show, though not without its sharp points about racism, colonisation and Aborignality. I loved the make up of the preppers group, the quirks and eccentricities, brought together by a common belief in the end of the world, though no two of them can agree on just how the end of the world will happen. The banter, antics and minor competition between them is the kind of chemistry that you would get with any genuine close knit group of friends, despite their differences. You get the real sense that they have made their family, with the fantastic Jack Charles as leader and grandfather, both the voice of reason and totally eccentric.

On the edge of this family arrives Charlie, still coming to terms with the events that led to her ostracisation from her old life and arrival in the preppers camp. I think it was well done the way they drew out the reveal of those events over the course of the six episodes, the gradual breaking of ties to her old life as she grows into her new accepting family. Information revealed in the last episode puts certain behaviour by the preppers towards Charlie in the first episode in a different light, and the gradual realisation of what she has been putting up with all this time are reflected in the events that affect the camp. Some of the events range from everyday racist micro-aggressions escalating to outright horror movie scenes as Charlie struggles with her own survival instincts and doubts.

A great cast with fantastic chemistry, well paced plot.

All the good in episode 1 was undone by making this all about Charlie

Over actor.

Maybe it will get back on track?

I'm not sure it will. I wonder if they have multiple writers?

Preppers is a fun comedy with some political bite. Set mostly at Eden 2, a camp for doomsday preppers, each episode has a self-contained sitcom style plot as well as progressing a larger series arc, combined with a flashbacks that charts how Charlie, the central character and audience surrogate, wound up amongst the apocalyptic crew (it involves Australia Day going very, very wrong). The plot setups are silly, the jokes come fast and mostly land and while the realism is sometimes pushed into magical territory (there's a musical song and dance with a mythical monster, for instance) the show remains grounded enough that the pathos is still heartfelt. Easy watching. Recommended.

This was easily the best show I saw in 2021. I'm still thinking about it in 2022, so decided to write a review while I wait for word of a season 2.

What makes this show great is it's unique plot and brilliant use of comedy.

The premise of "why" we're following a group of misfit preppers is refreshingly indigenous, which immediately sets it apart from over used Hollywood plot stereotypes that make shows predictable to the point of boring.

Preppers isn't predictable. You have no idea what's going to happen next, but you know it's gonna have your laughing in stitches or blow your mind with some deep thoughts.

This is owed to the creative character construction, which throws a group of diverse people together and has them functioning as a team, unified by a shared vision, regardless of how absurd it would ordinary seem.

The use of flashback scenes might be controversial to some; I get it, we've all endured poor use of "7 days earlier." But Preppers totally nailed it. These scenes not only give meaning to absurdity of "why" the protagonist is camping out with the Preppers in the first place. But more importantly, gives insight to the struggles people go through when they experience past trauma and social anxiety, whether caused by racism or something else. Memory ceases to be stored in a linear timeline, yet the highs and lows of emotions remain constant. It's only by working through our past that the present becomes clearer. The writers' mastery of comedy further amplifies the brilliance of this powerful construct.

The only thing I disliked about this show was that it stopped after 6 episodes. I am soooo hoping and waiting for a season 2 because the world needs more shows like this. So great.