MIDNIGHT REVIEWS Scavengers Reign Review
Midnight Reviews features reviews and thought pieces written and edited by a parent, at night, after bedtime.
Scavengers Reign
Series created by: Joe Bennett, Charles Huettner
Featuring: Sunita Mani, Wunmi Mosaku, Bob Stephenson
Synopsis: After a mysterious accident in deep space disables a freighter and sends escape pods crashing onto an alien planet, separated members of the crew must find a way to survive and, if they can, return home.
Review: Scavengers Reign pretty much drops us right into the thick of it. It isn’t remotely interested in holding hands and, just like the characters, we are dropped onto this alien planet full of lush vistas, terrifying violence and nature beyond our imaginations. It feels like the show is much more interested, and it succeeds in this, in building itself up organically whilst telling the story. It is astounding.
Some of the advertising has focused on its aesthetics and the description ‘Studio Ghibli in space’ is not inaccurate. Where there is a difference is that Scavengers Reign has a deliberate lack of polish to its design, which actually helps it to remain incredibly tactile throughout its running time. We have the recurring image of a white flower opening, realising and releasing life, leading to this motif of creating life not just after death, but through it. The realism of what death is like, sometimes sudden, sometimes long and protracted, gives Scavengers Reign both a melancholy and a drive.
The entire design aspect, whether it’s the world we’re talking about or the creatures inhabiting it, is bizarre and well thought-out. The show gives us enough of a clue as to why evolution has taken the planet on this route without oversharing. This storytelling choice enables the show to both not waste time explaining every aspect of itself, and to surprise at the drop of a hat. Psychic pandas using memories to create new thoughts and visions is just the tip of the iceberg.
An exquisite triumph.
Like the characters, we are trying to figure things out and this creates a connection with everyone, even those we grow to despise. We have Ursula (Mani) and Sam (Stephenson), not quite an odd couple but not a pair that really know each other, stranded together and determined to stay together as they travel across incredible, eye-catching scenes. This pair supply the more intriguing elements of the show as they cut across a planet full of dangers and when it’s said that this show doesn’t want to explain everything, they are the best example. They are bitten, scratched, stabbed by creatures made from their nightmares but all they can do is carry on moving.
There’s also the pairing of Azi (Moasku) and robo-helper Levi (Alia Shawkat). Not to speak ill of the other sections, but this pair provide more of the heartfelt moments as they both find their respective ways to grow, up until an ending that is highly satisfying. It’s hard to explain without spoiling, but the metaphor of Levi evolving not through sheer force or tinkering by human but by the introduction of organics is wholly appropriate for the show.
Finally, we have Kamen (Ted Travelstead), left alone in a dark forest until he comes across a seemingly friendly creature. Some of the more interesting themes play out as Kamen indulges his worse features, the most interesting one probably being the fact that his presence alone begins to have a detrimental affect on the nature that surrounds him. Man’s swift bastardisation of nature, and the mystery that surrounds Kamen’s time on the ship, links a character completely separate from everyone else. It’s actually a shame that in order to follow through with this theme, he has to go into storage for a lengthy amount of time.
Leads to a nail-biting conclusion.
Scavengers Reign is also not a case of waiting for your favourite characters to show up; every story is equally compelling, especially when other characters show up. Once all the ducks are put into a row it all leads to a nail-biting conclusion.
The soundtrack is worth mentioning. Nicolas Snyder has created pieces of music that are complementary without getting in the way. In particular, the organ music that accompanies a particular creature brought a smile to my face, even if it meant something horrible was about to happen. An exquisite triumph.
Like the music, however, Scavengers Reign can be slow-paced at times, which may put some off. In particular, the opening to episode nine drags for a surprising amount of time. However, if given a chance, the ability to simply sit and exist in this world leads to some astounding sequences and it’s definitely worth trying even if you’re not a fan of slower-paced shows; even if you’re not a fan of science fiction!
It’s truly amazing that, even with nit-picking, there is only about ten minutes of this show that is anything short of amazing. From minute one until the epilogue I was hooked, and so if there’s ever a time to try something a little different, if this type of animation isn’t usually your thing, Scavengers Reign is here to help. Just don’t expect it to hold your hand.
Scavengers Reign is available on Netflix and MAX, or whatever they’re calling it these days.
Matthew D. Smith likes to overshare his views on movies and TV shows whenever and wherever he can. Indulge him, and follow him on Twitter or listen to the podcast he co-hosts with Leslie Wai.
