Netflix Dark Comedy Series With Offensive Name Outshines Original Comic
“The book was better,” is as close to a universal truth as you can get. At best, you get an adaptation that changes some details but retains the heart of the story. At worst, you get a work that fundamentally misunderstands its source material. Occasionally you will get an adaptation like The End of the F-ing World that is not only better than the source material but almost makes it superfluous.
The Story
The End of the F-ing World started life as a comic book written and illustrated by Charles Forsman before Britain’s Channel 4 and Netflix turned it into an incredible live-action series. Forsman’s original work provides the barebones plot of two disaffected teenagers on a nihilistic cross-country journey but lacks any real depth.
Writer Charlie Covell and Director Jonathon Entwistle got a hold of the story and transformed it into one of the most messed up love stories ever told.
The series begins with 17-year-old James, a self-described psychopath. James once severely burned his hand in a deep fryer just so he would feel something.
After years of killing small animals, James is finally ready to kill a person and sets his sights on a new student, Alyssa. If that doesn’t sound like the beginning of a typical rom-com to you, you’re not alone.
Alyssa And James
Alyssa, meanwhile, is keen to run away from her abusive household and chooses James to go with her. He agrees, intending to kill her later, and just like that, The End of the F-ing World becomes a road trip in addition to a rom-com.
On their journey, James and Alyssa blackmail a pest, squat in an author’s mansion, and murder a horrible criminal. Now, does it sound romantic?
I kid, but the The End of the F-ing World is actually a poignant account of two outcasts finally finding acceptance in each other’s arms.
Despite starting the series with explicit plans to murder Alyssa, by the end of the story, you will be rooting for James. That’s how impressive the writing on the series is.
A Short Series
As you’ve probably already guessed, Charlie doesn’t end up murdering Alyssa. He does take a life, but the experience actually makes him realize he isn’t a psychopath. Charlie might have issues—a lot of issues—but Dexter, he ain’t.
For a series, The End of the F-ing World is short. You can binge the whole thing in the afternoon, and I would argue it’s more effective that way.
The best way to experience Charlie and Alyssa’s courtship is to get on at the disturbing beginning and ride the wave of emotions until you hit the tragic ending—no stops along the way. And then, sadly, Netflix made another season.
Forget Season 2
If you watch The End of the F-ing World and enjoy it, you’ll no doubt be tempted to watch the second season. I implore you to resist as best you can and let the first season be the beginning and end of Charlie and Alyssa’s story.
It’s not that the second season is terrible; it’s just unnecessary. While the comic version of The End of the F-ing World leaves much to be desired, it tells a complete story.
Likewise, the first season of the live-action series also leaves no dangling plot threads that require a second season to tie up.
Stream It Now
GFR SCORE
In fact, I don’t want to spoil anything, but you’ll most likely get to the end of the first season and wonder how the series could even continue. Surely not with the same characters? But it does, and while revisiting old friends sounds like a nice idea, trust me, it’s not worth it.
If you like you enjoy f-ed up love stories and pitch-black comedies you can stream The End of the F-ing World on Netflix right now.
