"My name is Russell Shoemaker. I sold technology to the world, back when there was technology...and people to sell it to."
This line, repeated over and over through 130 (2 to 3 minute) episodes, is spoken by one of the most monotonous, dragging voices in recent history. But before I proceed, I know it's been a little while since I last posted (or wrote a review here), but this has been nagging me for the longest time, and I felt it necessary to write it for you now.
As the subject implies, I am reviewing the online 'sensation' known (or little-known) as Afterworld. I also found there is a book series called Afterworld written by Leonard Cohen, but this has nothing to do with the book series. Some basic things about the online series:
Afterworld oozed its way on sites like MySpace and Youtube around 2007 (maybe early 2007, but I'm not sure) boasting a cliche-spewing, post-apocalyptic plotline about this guy named Russell Shoemaker, who had his own business in selling technology (refer to the quote in the beginning). One day, he's in New York (oh goody...New York) on business, and this event called 'The Fall' occurs, and by the next morning wipes out 99.9% of mankind. It's a simplistic story, but I have much to say about it later.
The online series was conceived by three industry professionals: Seth Rogow, Jeff Sagansky, and Brent V. Friedman (who wrote the story of the first episode; I'm sure he was involved with the others). They have a company called Electric Farm Entertainment, and after viewing an episode, lightning flashes on the screen and a cow moos in the background. Yeah, real epic. The overall cost of Afterworld totalled around $3 million, and utilizes Flash and other digital videomaking techniques.
As I mentioned prior, the plot centers around Russell, who explores the dark and lonely corners of New York to find any survivors. In case I forget, all the episodes (yes, 130 of them in total) are narrated in, again, a dull, monotonous, and droning male voice (Roark Critchlow, never heard of him, but I imdb'ed him). Russell has a journal, in which explores his thoughts and feelings about the 'brave new world', and talks about traveling to see his wife Janelle and daughter Kizzy, who live in Seattle. Note that almost all technology is null and void, which means Russell has to get there on foot until later on.
He meets several people, like Deidre, a tough-as-nails (ugh) police officer who helps him with info and gives him a gun, an old man Eli, your typical hippie-spiritual guru who actually convinces Russell to throw his gun in the water, JT, this leader of a neo-religious cult called New Eden, Gwen, a big-breasted medical professional who has a crappy British accent (anybody from England, Australia, and other of these areas who has either seen this or would like to see this, tell me if her voice is stereotypical, grating, and insulting, because I sure found it to be that way), and this tanned, shirtless kid named Liam, who Russell sees in his dreams and whom is believed to have psychic powers.
Of course, Russell spends 50-60% of the episode (remember, it's 2 to 3 minutes a pop) explaining their entire history, like where they grew up, where they went to school, who they married, and what life was possibly like for them before 'The Fall'. Since many of them aren't seen more than once or twice (except for Gwen and Liam, who travel with Russell), they suffer from one dimension, almost no context outside Russell's explanations, and horrid voices (which, I suppose, I should be thankful for).
Several things that bothered me (outside the obvious): Towards the latter-middle portion of Afterworld (I think it was Episode 78, 79, or maybe 80), Russell stops at a hospital in Sedona, Arizona and gets ill. He falls asleep, which makes logical sense, but I'm not finished. In the next breath, 3000+ miles in the other direction, his consciousness appears in the man inside a prison IN GHANA! Without any explanation other than 'I felt, as if I was in the body of another man', it makes no sense. Before this point, he trekked throughout the country, stopping to visit people, finding out about some sinister plot, wanting to escape people who want to kill him, moving on, rinse and repeat (this happens so many times through the series, you wonder if the guy is even human, or has a brain in his head). There was no mention of Africa and no mention of the guy in the prison before that, either.
I mean, the story is so damn transparent and shallow (and it drags so much, which I mentioned earlier in the review), and I felt this was out of desperation, since it wouldn't take 130 episodes to get from New York to Seattle. This proves to me that the people handling this project lack the skill to make a competent story, and add things as they go along to prevent plot holes, like Russell 'appearing consciously' in another man in Ghana. It's also convenient, since the guy writes in a journal similar to Russell's that he needs a certain herb to heal his sickness (I forgot what he came down with, but it doesn't matter).
Speaking of plot holes, another incident in which this is irritating and nonsensical is when Russell travelled through the Ozarks with Gwen, and they were threatened by jaguars. Of course, Russell, feigning fear through his dull and apathetic voice, tries his luck at breathing fast and saying a stupid phrase which has to with survival or 'hunt or be hunted'. Before long, Liam shows up with a 'blue lightsaber' and somehow scares the jaguars. You read that right! A blue lightsaber! Okay, so this kid appears in Russell's dreams at random points of the series (without a lightsaber, mind you) and then, all of a sudden, here he comes with a friggin' lightsaber just when it seems like the main characters are finished. After the issue is solved, I never see the lightsaber again in any future episode, and Liam acts as if nothing ever happened. This is one of Afterworld's major flaws (and it has plenty of them), but this is something I cannot forgive.
I've got one more: Russell arrived at this desert site, which held these steel bars with yellow ribbons. They symbolized people lost from 'The Fall'; a notebook sat on a pedestal, along with spare bars and ribbons. Here's the thing: his main intention was to get home to Seattle to see if his family is okay, but he stops, signs his wife and daughter's names in the book, and hammers two bars in memory of them; it symbolized Russell 'lifting weight off his shoulders' and allowed for him to continue living. But wait, that's not all...after a few more episodes (towards the end), he resumes his quest to find his wife and daughter, despite the bullcrap at the desert. Not only is that a plot hole, but a contradiction, which is far worse in any story and series. There's no way to take this series seriously.
Let me provide an example of a series that is able to cover the bases of bizarre or outright fucked up circumstances: Fullmetal Alchemist. For a majority of the series, the world takes place if alchemy were the supreme governing power; you have trains and infrequent vehicles and no airplanes, but throughout the 52-episode series, there is enough of an explanation to why or how things are the way they are. Plus, many of the characters, including Roy and Armstrong from the military, are able to use some form of power (the explantation develops but it is revealed why they have their powers). The origins of the Homunculus (Lust, Envy, Wrath, etc) and how they came to be are explained and fleshed out, the Gate where the dead roam is explained, Equivalent Exchange is explained, and the end (which I won't ruin for you; if you've seen it, you understand) is so twisted and awesome...but the point is that it is detailed without any convolutedness and any plot holes. Something Afterword lacks much of.
Religion and spirituality play a big role in Afterworld. For example, I mentioned New Eden, and how the leader JT wanted to recruit Russell in his haven. Before he entered the complex, this guy, all tuckered and flustered, warned him not to go in the complex, for JT was not a nice man. He also handed Russell a photograph; Russell has this habit of walking into danger like an idiot, and acts surprised when he gets betrayed or learns of some devious plot to manipulate people under a guise of faith, or a planned act of terrorism. The people in New Eden believe that 'The Fall' is God's message for a second chance, to embrace all the love and blah-blah we have. In another episode, Russell says "Instead of seeing is believing, I found that it is believing is seeing.", and in another episode, he was exhausted and wanted to end his life, but just before that, a colored passage of wonder opened before him and Eli appeared to convince him not to end his life. Apparently, with all this talk about peace and love, there seems to be a heavy-handedness in the plot to force a familiar message in times of doubt and destruction (he uncovers a plot about a mysterious military/government organization dealing with EMPs, which lends itself to a 'man-versus-corporation' deal).
Yeah, and some of the phrases are just gold...like "If you close one door, another door opens.", "All that glitters isn't gold.", and "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it." Glorious, huh? Cliches and stereotypes aplenty. Sigh, moving on.
At least the animation and character models are striking. The way that Russell's eye blink, the detail of his face and hair (and of other characters, too), showed some impressive aesthetic quality. The background are rich and layered, and there are good particle effects with some dark and light contrasts at times. The music is decent but infrequent, which makes it passable for setting the proper mood. This is a series in which you look at the character's faces and flashing background, which is nice, but the voice is...well, you know. And the problem is that you need to listen to Russell's voice to understand everything that is going on. I viewed these episodes on Youtube and checked out the 'AfterworldTV' link on the right, and I found you can view pages from Russell's journal, and even interact with the show, its characters, and present new scenarios for the main characters. And I think to myself "Why bother?"
Did you know: that Rosario Dawson (of Shattered Glass, 25th Hour, Clerks II fame) was involved with Afterworld doing one of the voices (I don't remember, and I don't care) is also involved with another Electric Farm Entertainment installment called Gemini Division? What it is, you ask? A live-action sci-fi camp fest starring Ms. Dawson as a (yawn!) tough-as-nails NYPD officer who is set to be engaged to this guy named Nick, but he's killed by a secret organization, and she's out for revenge. Similar to Afterworld, but on basic cable. She's also involved in a comic series called Occult Crimes Taskforce, which she was modeled as the main character in Sophia Ortiz in (yes again, New York...there is something wrong here). Think of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but with a supernatural twist, mass style and paper-thin substance, and enormous suckage (Google it, and you can see some panels for yourself). And last, I heard (just a rumor) that ANOTHER season of Afterworld was being planned, 130-episode drag fest not withstanding. Seriously, how big is this friggin' series, and how much time does it take to tell a simple story? More plot holes and cliches, I guess.
Phew! Overall, Afterworld had strong potential, as an online series, to elevate the quality and breathe originality into its cyberspace lungs, but it tumbled after the first episode and never stopped. People who read this may think I'm crazy or wasting my time, and you are entitled to that viewpoint, but I recommend you watch at least a minute or two of it (it's on Youtube and MySpace) so that you'll understand what I'm getting at with this review (and if you don't watch it, I don't blame you). I made a comment earlier on about Gwen's voice towards people who live in England, Australia, or other locales; I wasn't offending you, I heard her speak and I thought it was stereotypical and not like the way you would speak, that's all. As always, constructive criticism is appreciated. Below is the summary:
Pros
+ Smooth graphics and visual presentation
+ Realistic character models and backgrounds
+ Okay music to set the mood
Cons
- Simple yet convoluted storyline
- One-dimensional characters who offer nothing to the story
- Multiple plot holes
- Numerous cliches/stereotypes
- Terrible voice acting, especially with Russell
- Wasteful series that isn't even complete
- Heavy-handed backdrops of religion and spirituality
This line, repeated over and over through 130 (2 to 3 minute) episodes, is spoken by one of the most monotonous, dragging voices in recent history. But before I proceed, I know it's been a little while since I last posted (or wrote a review here), but this has been nagging me for the longest time, and I felt it necessary to write it for you now.
As the subject implies, I am reviewing the online 'sensation' known (or little-known) as Afterworld. I also found there is a book series called Afterworld written by Leonard Cohen, but this has nothing to do with the book series. Some basic things about the online series:
Afterworld oozed its way on sites like MySpace and Youtube around 2007 (maybe early 2007, but I'm not sure) boasting a cliche-spewing, post-apocalyptic plotline about this guy named Russell Shoemaker, who had his own business in selling technology (refer to the quote in the beginning). One day, he's in New York (oh goody...New York) on business, and this event called 'The Fall' occurs, and by the next morning wipes out 99.9% of mankind. It's a simplistic story, but I have much to say about it later.
The online series was conceived by three industry professionals: Seth Rogow, Jeff Sagansky, and Brent V. Friedman (who wrote the story of the first episode; I'm sure he was involved with the others). They have a company called Electric Farm Entertainment, and after viewing an episode, lightning flashes on the screen and a cow moos in the background. Yeah, real epic. The overall cost of Afterworld totalled around $3 million, and utilizes Flash and other digital videomaking techniques.
As I mentioned prior, the plot centers around Russell, who explores the dark and lonely corners of New York to find any survivors. In case I forget, all the episodes (yes, 130 of them in total) are narrated in, again, a dull, monotonous, and droning male voice (Roark Critchlow, never heard of him, but I imdb'ed him). Russell has a journal, in which explores his thoughts and feelings about the 'brave new world', and talks about traveling to see his wife Janelle and daughter Kizzy, who live in Seattle. Note that almost all technology is null and void, which means Russell has to get there on foot until later on.
He meets several people, like Deidre, a tough-as-nails (ugh) police officer who helps him with info and gives him a gun, an old man Eli, your typical hippie-spiritual guru who actually convinces Russell to throw his gun in the water, JT, this leader of a neo-religious cult called New Eden, Gwen, a big-breasted medical professional who has a crappy British accent (anybody from England, Australia, and other of these areas who has either seen this or would like to see this, tell me if her voice is stereotypical, grating, and insulting, because I sure found it to be that way), and this tanned, shirtless kid named Liam, who Russell sees in his dreams and whom is believed to have psychic powers.
Of course, Russell spends 50-60% of the episode (remember, it's 2 to 3 minutes a pop) explaining their entire history, like where they grew up, where they went to school, who they married, and what life was possibly like for them before 'The Fall'. Since many of them aren't seen more than once or twice (except for Gwen and Liam, who travel with Russell), they suffer from one dimension, almost no context outside Russell's explanations, and horrid voices (which, I suppose, I should be thankful for).
Several things that bothered me (outside the obvious): Towards the latter-middle portion of Afterworld (I think it was Episode 78, 79, or maybe 80), Russell stops at a hospital in Sedona, Arizona and gets ill. He falls asleep, which makes logical sense, but I'm not finished. In the next breath, 3000+ miles in the other direction, his consciousness appears in the man inside a prison IN GHANA! Without any explanation other than 'I felt, as if I was in the body of another man', it makes no sense. Before this point, he trekked throughout the country, stopping to visit people, finding out about some sinister plot, wanting to escape people who want to kill him, moving on, rinse and repeat (this happens so many times through the series, you wonder if the guy is even human, or has a brain in his head). There was no mention of Africa and no mention of the guy in the prison before that, either.
I mean, the story is so damn transparent and shallow (and it drags so much, which I mentioned earlier in the review), and I felt this was out of desperation, since it wouldn't take 130 episodes to get from New York to Seattle. This proves to me that the people handling this project lack the skill to make a competent story, and add things as they go along to prevent plot holes, like Russell 'appearing consciously' in another man in Ghana. It's also convenient, since the guy writes in a journal similar to Russell's that he needs a certain herb to heal his sickness (I forgot what he came down with, but it doesn't matter).
Speaking of plot holes, another incident in which this is irritating and nonsensical is when Russell travelled through the Ozarks with Gwen, and they were threatened by jaguars. Of course, Russell, feigning fear through his dull and apathetic voice, tries his luck at breathing fast and saying a stupid phrase which has to with survival or 'hunt or be hunted'. Before long, Liam shows up with a 'blue lightsaber' and somehow scares the jaguars. You read that right! A blue lightsaber! Okay, so this kid appears in Russell's dreams at random points of the series (without a lightsaber, mind you) and then, all of a sudden, here he comes with a friggin' lightsaber just when it seems like the main characters are finished. After the issue is solved, I never see the lightsaber again in any future episode, and Liam acts as if nothing ever happened. This is one of Afterworld's major flaws (and it has plenty of them), but this is something I cannot forgive.
I've got one more: Russell arrived at this desert site, which held these steel bars with yellow ribbons. They symbolized people lost from 'The Fall'; a notebook sat on a pedestal, along with spare bars and ribbons. Here's the thing: his main intention was to get home to Seattle to see if his family is okay, but he stops, signs his wife and daughter's names in the book, and hammers two bars in memory of them; it symbolized Russell 'lifting weight off his shoulders' and allowed for him to continue living. But wait, that's not all...after a few more episodes (towards the end), he resumes his quest to find his wife and daughter, despite the bullcrap at the desert. Not only is that a plot hole, but a contradiction, which is far worse in any story and series. There's no way to take this series seriously.
Let me provide an example of a series that is able to cover the bases of bizarre or outright fucked up circumstances: Fullmetal Alchemist. For a majority of the series, the world takes place if alchemy were the supreme governing power; you have trains and infrequent vehicles and no airplanes, but throughout the 52-episode series, there is enough of an explanation to why or how things are the way they are. Plus, many of the characters, including Roy and Armstrong from the military, are able to use some form of power (the explantation develops but it is revealed why they have their powers). The origins of the Homunculus (Lust, Envy, Wrath, etc) and how they came to be are explained and fleshed out, the Gate where the dead roam is explained, Equivalent Exchange is explained, and the end (which I won't ruin for you; if you've seen it, you understand) is so twisted and awesome...but the point is that it is detailed without any convolutedness and any plot holes. Something Afterword lacks much of.
Religion and spirituality play a big role in Afterworld. For example, I mentioned New Eden, and how the leader JT wanted to recruit Russell in his haven. Before he entered the complex, this guy, all tuckered and flustered, warned him not to go in the complex, for JT was not a nice man. He also handed Russell a photograph; Russell has this habit of walking into danger like an idiot, and acts surprised when he gets betrayed or learns of some devious plot to manipulate people under a guise of faith, or a planned act of terrorism. The people in New Eden believe that 'The Fall' is God's message for a second chance, to embrace all the love and blah-blah we have. In another episode, Russell says "Instead of seeing is believing, I found that it is believing is seeing.", and in another episode, he was exhausted and wanted to end his life, but just before that, a colored passage of wonder opened before him and Eli appeared to convince him not to end his life. Apparently, with all this talk about peace and love, there seems to be a heavy-handedness in the plot to force a familiar message in times of doubt and destruction (he uncovers a plot about a mysterious military/government organization dealing with EMPs, which lends itself to a 'man-versus-corporation' deal).
Yeah, and some of the phrases are just gold...like "If you close one door, another door opens.", "All that glitters isn't gold.", and "Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it." Glorious, huh? Cliches and stereotypes aplenty. Sigh, moving on.
At least the animation and character models are striking. The way that Russell's eye blink, the detail of his face and hair (and of other characters, too), showed some impressive aesthetic quality. The background are rich and layered, and there are good particle effects with some dark and light contrasts at times. The music is decent but infrequent, which makes it passable for setting the proper mood. This is a series in which you look at the character's faces and flashing background, which is nice, but the voice is...well, you know. And the problem is that you need to listen to Russell's voice to understand everything that is going on. I viewed these episodes on Youtube and checked out the 'AfterworldTV' link on the right, and I found you can view pages from Russell's journal, and even interact with the show, its characters, and present new scenarios for the main characters. And I think to myself "Why bother?"
Did you know: that Rosario Dawson (of Shattered Glass, 25th Hour, Clerks II fame) was involved with Afterworld doing one of the voices (I don't remember, and I don't care) is also involved with another Electric Farm Entertainment installment called Gemini Division? What it is, you ask? A live-action sci-fi camp fest starring Ms. Dawson as a (yawn!) tough-as-nails NYPD officer who is set to be engaged to this guy named Nick, but he's killed by a secret organization, and she's out for revenge. Similar to Afterworld, but on basic cable. She's also involved in a comic series called Occult Crimes Taskforce, which she was modeled as the main character in Sophia Ortiz in (yes again, New York...there is something wrong here). Think of League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, but with a supernatural twist, mass style and paper-thin substance, and enormous suckage (Google it, and you can see some panels for yourself). And last, I heard (just a rumor) that ANOTHER season of Afterworld was being planned, 130-episode drag fest not withstanding. Seriously, how big is this friggin' series, and how much time does it take to tell a simple story? More plot holes and cliches, I guess.
Phew! Overall, Afterworld had strong potential, as an online series, to elevate the quality and breathe originality into its cyberspace lungs, but it tumbled after the first episode and never stopped. People who read this may think I'm crazy or wasting my time, and you are entitled to that viewpoint, but I recommend you watch at least a minute or two of it (it's on Youtube and MySpace) so that you'll understand what I'm getting at with this review (and if you don't watch it, I don't blame you). I made a comment earlier on about Gwen's voice towards people who live in England, Australia, or other locales; I wasn't offending you, I heard her speak and I thought it was stereotypical and not like the way you would speak, that's all. As always, constructive criticism is appreciated. Below is the summary:
Pros
+ Smooth graphics and visual presentation
+ Realistic character models and backgrounds
+ Okay music to set the mood
Cons
- Simple yet convoluted storyline
- One-dimensional characters who offer nothing to the story
- Multiple plot holes
- Numerous cliches/stereotypes
- Terrible voice acting, especially with Russell
- Wasteful series that isn't even complete
- Heavy-handed backdrops of religion and spirituality