Preppers

Watched this on abc iview. Comedy show with good acting and story. It got a bit too serious sometimes about political topics though. Jack Charles is a scene stealer.

There are many issues around reconciliation that seem too sensitive to ask about. What this show does, most cleverly in the context of a story about the end of everything, raises the issues from an indigenous perspective and addresses them wonderfully. Comedy often amplifies or exaggerates in order to lift our awareness without threat or confrontation. This show does just that.

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.

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?

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.