Hey guys!
So, I've been a fan of spy media for almost my entire life. The penultimate fantasy being, of course, James Bond. Apart from that too, I would love the Mission Impossible franchise, Jason Bourne movies, and in general any other spy movie. It is an interest I still harbour, having graduated to more mature spy content as well, Bridge of Spies, Body of Lies, Zero Dark Thirty, and the like. However, as a child, obviously, there was a lot of content not aimed at children. So when I wanted to read about my fantasy of being a spy and going on international adventures, I would find my solace in two book series: CHERUB. and the focus of today's blog post, Alex Rider.
Alex Rider is written by author Anthony Horowitz. It is a worldwide bestselling novel series with 12 books and counting. The first book, Stormbreaker, was published in 2000, a bare two months after Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was. This was perhaps one of the only novel series that wasn't capitalizing on the wizarding craze that Harry Potter had kicked off, being truly original in its plot and story design. Personally, I feel that the Daily Mirror summarized it best when they said, "...being James Bond in miniature is way cooler than being a wizard." It is a sentiment I share with them.
Now when they announced a television show based on the books, I was ecstatic. However, that high was subdued by a creeping fear, knowing how previous book-to-screen adaptations of YA novels have failed, think Divergent, and The Golden Compass, or even the Stormbreaker film for a few examples. Then again, we have seen a resurgence of good adaptations through the means of TV series in the past few years; His Dark Materials and A Series of Unfortunate Events spring to mind. There was hope.
So here's why you should watch Alex Rider (2020); or more accurately, my review of the show.
The show doesn't adapt Stormbreaker, the first novel in the series, but instead chooses to go with Point Blanc, the second novel in the series. It sees Alex go to a boarding school in French Alps, only to discover a plot of world domination set in place by Dr. Greif. It's a plot reminiscent of the classic Bond films, combined with the gritty action tone of today's Bond film. It's classic, outlandish spy adventures, but in a modern, more realistic setting. It is much like Kingsman, re-doing the classic spy genre for modern audiences, but only much more family-friendly.
There is not a lot of reliance on gadgets and cool gear, but it uses Otto Farrant's excellent parkour skills to ramp up the thrill. Every episode has at least some amount of action and a constant sense of danger is maintained throughout the runtime of the show. There is a particularly grueling initiation sequence where Alex gets "tested" to see whether he is fit for the job or not. This scene is a particular favourite of mine as it's the first time we see Alex use his wit and cunning to outsmart those interrogating him. Besides, the scene also shows how hard Alex's determination and will power is, not breaking even under the harshest interrogation techniques.
The final fight sequence is also incredibly brilliant, it's almost like a Russian Doll of climaxes as every time you get a sense of safety, and think that the villain is defeated, a new threat arises. That way, the show works brilliantly to build a sense of tension and a false sense of security for those watching. It also takes its time to get into the action, it doesn't just throw you into the main plot. It starts out slow, defining Alex's character in the first two episodes, and setting up the plot in the three following episodes. It takes its time to get to Point Blanc. But this does not mean that the show is boring in the first half; on the contrary, I am actually very impressed by how they manage to hook the audience in from the very beginning and to the very end.
It's a brilliant show, one that serves a family-friendly action spectacle in a time where you have mostly R-Rated content. But just because it's family-friendly doesn't mean it's not thrilling. Alex Rider is a brilliant must-watch show for everyone. Besides, it has already been renewed for a new season, so there's more epic content coming your way. In India, you can watch it on Sony LIV, and outside, it's available on Prime Video. Given Scam 1992's success in India, I figured that many people may have bought a subscription for the Sony LIV service, might as well recommend a show that I enjoyed on the platform.
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Leave a comment below on whether or not you would watch the show!
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