Izzy Schneider

This movie was cringe. Nothing felt sincere and the premise is confusing. How do people live if they're spending all their time in VR? Why is everyone so knowledgeable about the 1980s in 2045? That's the equivalent of knowing everything about the 1950s for people of today. Why do they make it like we should be shocked when the real identities of Wade's friends are revealed? It's not like any of them are weird??? Also, FYI I enjoy playing video games and the thought of being in a chaotic MMO like OASIS is a nightmare. Watch this movie if you like 1980s geek nostalgia, simple good vs evil plot lines, MMOs, cheesy romances. Don't watch this movie if you're expecting something fun, thought provoking, or original.

At first I was intrigued by this period drama set in an 'alternate' timeline where there was no racism - assumedly racial integration must've taken place some time ago. Sexism, classism, homophobia - all seem to exist in this timeline, however. I was irritated to find out in a very brief line of dialogue that racial integration apparently happened in the lifetime of all the characters when the King fell in love with a POC and made her Queen. This just ruined that whole thing because a society that's still obviously very prejudiced in every other way supposedly got rid of racism in 30 years? Admittedly, the wheels were falling off this carriage of burning trash before that. I appreciate all the expense put into the colourful costumes and sets (I'm not a stickler for historical accuracy when other liberties had already been taken), but everything was just FLAT and the missed opportunities for plot and character development (especially Eloise) made me angry. It had me thinking anyone could write a show for Netflix - every romance trope you could think of was in this, and there was no fresh or exciting approach to it. There was no humour, no wit, no twists. Unlike some, I made it a good way in, but could stand to go no further after the insipid first time sex scene between Simon and Daphne. Glad you thought it was "wonderful" Daph, because I was cringing all the way to the ends of my hair. I wish I'd read that this was an adaptation of a book before I started watching. Netflix has such a terrible reputation for adaptations and they've been true to form with this one. They pick up popular works because they're popular - but then they change everything. Why?