BLISS RATING: ★★★★★
“Love is when you sit beside someone doing nothing, yet you feel perfectly happy.” – m.lovethispic.com
This is a cacophony of magic, mysticism, occultism, pure imagination, and comedic adroitness. And I loved it! No, I adored it. I have not had so much fun watching a fictional comic-book-like series come to life in such a surreal fashion, yet making perfect sense, in a very long time. And with two of most adorable British actors to make it all come to life, even though they were technically ‘dead’. Let me try and explain without giving too much of the mystery of this series away.
From Netflix, it is a fantasy story about ghosts who are trapped here on earth and have not moved on. Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) died tragically while a teenager and was sent to hell by mistake. Even though he managed to escape from hell, he needs to be properly processed. Technically he does not belong in Hell, but nonetheless he is likely to be sent back there. While escaping back to Earth, he helped transition a recently deceased young man named Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri). They discovered each other serendipitously and have become partners, companions and most assuredly mates. Both died before they had an opportunity to explore who they really were in life.
Edwin can be a rather stodgy and stuffy but well-meaning individual who is intellectually smart but reserved. He has harbored feelings about being gay that he has never been able to process his desires. Meanwhile, Charles is a bit more outgoing, gregarious, seemingly always pleasant, but hiding pain. With both having woeful pasts centering around many unresolved issues and dying so young, they are still processing their desolation and are trying to resolve their individual issues, even after death. Mostly alone but realizing that they need the help of the other but not knowing how to ask for it or, at the very least, simply allowed to be heard.
The two of them form a tight bond and a connection that is unshakeable and tethered together that is ostensibly unbreakable. It is as if they were meant to be. Their bond is almost tied to their souls. A form of love that is hard to define yet it does exist. Along the way of forming this tight bond, they decide to create a detective agency to help other ghosts with their issues so some of them can move on to their afterlife. Edwin is the brains of the operation while Charles in the brawn.
The one conviction that they have to each other is that they will not be separated from one another, and Charles will not allow or permit Edwin to return to Hell.
However, it becomes obvious that Edwin over the years of being with Charles has fallen in love with him and decides to confess his feelings to him in the most unorthodox setting imaginable – on the steps of escaping Hell.
In one of their cases, they meet a clairvoyant along the way named Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson). Initially she is possessed by a demon, and it must be excised from her. Because of her talismanic abilities, she can see and interact with them and she helps with their cases and becomes a third partner, so to speak. Crystal and Charles form a unique bond as well with Charles seemingly becoming attracted to her (to the extent that a ghost can). All of it is quite nebulous, however.
This stream of consciousness series involves a cast of characters that is beyond description. Each of them could have their own series, in essence because that is how interesting each is. While you know they are folkloric or even mythical, they become real and seem non-fictional. Perhaps it was because their qualities just seemed so human.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? There are so many fascinating characters that appear in this series. Each of their persona becomes bizarrely believable. That is what makes this series so entertaining. They get you to suspend your own reality and put you into their world and you become captivated by them. Even though at times they seem corny, sometimes overdone, but still utterly enchanting. Although there are quite a few of them, the one that touched me the most was Monty (Joshua Colley), who comes to life after being a Crow for a witch. He is created to lure and trap Edwin for her. However, along the way, something happened. Monty falls in love with Edwin. He just could not ensnarl Edwin into the dastardly plan and could not entrap the rest of them either. Even though he knew that Edwin did not have the same feeling for him as he did for Edwin, he showed a higher level of humanity and was willing to sacrifice his life for Edwin. Joshua played the part with a dark, broody sense about him, yet wanting so much to be loved, and to be human. He showed more human qualities than most humans do in an enduring and sweet way. Yet, he played his part as if he knew it was hapless and hopeless.
This series not only tackles fascinating individual ghost cases for them to solve but it also advances their own personal agendas in trying to find out who and what they are. When, for example, Edwin is re-sent back to Hell, the series does an astonishingly brilliant job of displaying dizzying levels of Hell as well as showing us what the ghastly worlds of the 7 Deadly Sins look like. While a fantasy and a thriller, it still teases us with its humanity and virtuous teachings. Still never loses its comedic flair. It shows, even in Hell, moral virtues still hold to be self-evident and true and can still lead to redemption.
The production value is exceptional but odd. At times, it seemed as if the action was superimposed onto a film. While at other times, the special effects were seamless and flawless. It had a surreal feel to it. And very dark.
Is this a BL? Yes, but it will never be called that. With an additional odd, quirky, and rather demented GL story as well. The BL portion is completely unresolved but furthered. Edwin is on his way to admitting that he is gay and has feeling for Charles and perhaps willing to open up to others as well. You can decide that on your own.
This is just plain fun! Entertaining! Absolute escapism and a wonderful and innovative way to show a gay love story without being too overt about it.
It is also comforting to know that even among the world where ghost traverse, we can still have a measure of LGBTQ self-discovery.
Fascinating! Unfortunately, this was a one and done series; Netflix did not renew it for another season.
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