by Daniel Andrade
Courtesy of Netflix
Ryan Murphy is arguably one of the most prolific TV creators of our time. From Nip/Tuck and Glee to American Horror/Crime Story and Pose, Murphy is no stranger to making memorable and award-winning shows. His trademarks of a dark yet comedic tone, a cast of complex and layered characters, and a slick style that transcends genres are immediately recognizable from the first moments his shows begin. And yet, with all that clearly in mind, I have to admit I’ve struggled to complete many of Murphy’s shows. I’ve had no problems starting them, but after four to five episodes, I start to lose the drive to keep watching. While I’ve started almost every one of his shows, I’ve only seen three of them in their entirety (Glee, the first American Horror Story, and American Horror Story: Cult, and admittedly that last one I basically forced myself to finish it because I made it past the 5 episode barrier). Oddly enough, I know I’m not the only one who has had this similar issue: we gladly and excitedly start his shows, and then somewhere towards the middle we just lose interest and tell ourselves “I’ll finish it later” and later simply never comes.
I don’t know why this is, but whatever it is that affected me with those other shows is totally absent in Murphy’s latest show, Hollywood, now streaming on Netflix. I was hooked from the first minute and was left wanting more after every episode. It is truly a bingeable show and has all the wonderful hallmarks you expect from a Murphy show combined with a compelling story that rewrites the story of the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1940s in a beautiful and moving way. Let’s break it down, shall we?
First off, Murphy has always cast his shows brilliantly (which is why he often likes to use the same actors and actresses throughout his shows), and Hollywood is no exception. While everyone does a phenomenal job in their roles, there are a few that I want to highlight. Relative newcomer Jeremy Pope shines brilliantly as aspiring screenwriter Archie Coleman. He brings a vulnerability but also a steadfast determination and fighting spirit to his character that makes his character so engaging and so easy to root for. Similarly, Jake Picking (Horse Girl, Blockers) is also easy to root for as the lovable and naive Rock Hudson, who unfortunately is seemingly trapped with an awful agent in pursuit of his dreams of acting (more on that agent shortly). He’s so sweet and innocent that it hurts to see him suffer and the viewer absolutely wants to see him break free from that and succeed on his own. Murphy favorite, Darren Criss, (Glee, American Horror/Crime Story) is a delight as the ambitious director Raymond Ainsley who will stop at nothing to get his movie done his way and give the less-represented in Hollywood a time to shine in the spotlight. Other Murphy favorite, Dylan McDermott, (American Horror Story, The Practice) is absolutely charming as the smooth-talking hustler Ernie. Even when he’s being a little slimy you can’t help but root for him and know where he’s coming from. Conversely, Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) is incredibly horrific as the abusive and despicable agent Henry Willson, making you easily forget about his more iconic character Sheldon. And even still, Murphy brilliantly gives the characters some layers that almost make you feel sorry for him. Laura Harrier (Spiderman: Homecoming) is stunning as the hard-working actress Camille, adamantly pursuing her dream and overcoming all the odds in her way. She perfectly embodies the glitz and glamour of old Hollywood not just in the way she looks but in the way she acts as well. Michelle Krusiec (Hawaii Five-O, General Hospital) steals the show in the few scenes she’s in, beautifully portraying the heartbreaking story of real-life actress Anna May Wong. She magnificently captures both the hope and pain that Hollywood has brought her in her eyes alone, making you long for her to finally get her due recognition. Honestly, I could talk about everyone in this show, because they all were so wonderful in their roles, but these are the ones that stood out to me the most.
While the casting is without a doubt excellent, what makes this story enthralling from minute one to the finale is its masterful blend of fact and fiction. Many true life characters appear in this show (Anna May Wong, Rock Hudson, Henry Willson), however, this time Murphy wants to rewrite their stories. Much like Quentin Tarantino did in Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood, Murphy seeks to give his characters a happier ending than their real-life counterparts. The difference between the two stories though is that Murphy is focusing more on the sociological impact of what those happier endings would mean, and particularly how they would impact people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community. It’s both beautifully touching and heartbreaking when you realize how Hollywood actually turned out. In my lifetime, I’ve endured more than one #OscarsSoWhite controversy and the rise of the #TimesUp and #MeToo movements, while also witnessing history with Halle Berry becoming the first black woman to win an Oscar for Lead Actress, Jordan Peele becoming the first black screenwriter to win an Oscar for Original Screenplay, and Akwafina becoming the first Asian-American woman to win a Golden Globe for Lead Actress. All of these momentous occasions happened at least 60 years (!) before the events of the series. What would movies, and consequently the world, look like if it hadn’t taken that long for the underrepresented to appear on the silver screen? How would it have empowered those communities and given them hope that they could be more than what society told them they should be? Thankfully Ryan Murphy and his incredible show give us a fascinating look at what could have been, and it’s truly breathtaking.
CONCLUSION: With excellent casting, wonderful set pieces and costumes, and a fascinating story that flips classic Hollywood history on its head, Ryan Murphy shows that he still has what it takes to craft a compelling, thought-provoking, emotional story. Through his miniseries, Murphy reminds us all that cinema truly has the power to change the world for the better. This is a must-see series for any fans of Ryan Murphy, old Hollywood, and the magic of the movies.
FINAL SCORE: 5/5
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