Too Old to Die Young s1e1: Meager Beginnings

****some minor spoilers ahead****

Damn, this show is dark! Basically a beautiful show about awful people, it’s a bit rough to watch at points and my goodness I wasn’t sure what kind of show I was watching in that opening sequence. I have very very high faith in Ed Brubaker (check out my fawning reviews of his comic books) and series co-creator Nicholas Winding Refn, whom I know for movies Drive and Bronson. Likewise a scene with Martin and his underage girlfriend’s father (Billy Baldwin- The Macguyver Smoker from Half Baked!) goes on for what seems like forever, mostly due to it’s very cringe inducing content.

I will also say it was bit dark in the more literal sense, although it added a sense of tension at points with ambient light being used in a lot of the many night scenes to varying levels of effect, but generally I was able to make out goings on with no trouble. The show is phenomenally shot with a lot of close camera angles being employed in moments of high emotion and intrigue.

The cast is downright phenomenal and, combined with beautiful use of lighting and angles, do a great job of aiding a feeling of depth and meaning in every scene. Miles Teller in particular begins to very much feel like a man in over his head very quickly and effectively. I was so intrigued by his first conversation with Damian, which hopefully will play out further down the road.

One thing that’s interesting is the sheer lack of characters on the screen at any given time, highlighting one on one interactions for maximum emotional effect, whether it be revulsion or curiosity. You get so much feeling from even minor characters but it is a little funny at points when characters seem to find excuses to be alone together, if one is looking for the strings they can see them.

The musical score feels a bit 80s with some more modern elements thrown in not unlike an early 2000s John Carpenter soundtrack (Ghosts of Mars is excellent). It’s very ethereal at points and mostly takes center stage during driving scenes.

This episode doesn’t give you much of a hook if you aren’t a fan of the noir genre and Brubaker’s sometimes slow pacing. He always pays off in the long run but to an outsider the end falls a bit flat. This is the time to hook your audience and I simply didn’t feel it I’m sorry to say. This show has so many fantastic qualities, I really hope it hits with a little more punch than this episode did by the end. Frankly I’m extremely disappointed. It wasn’t bad it was just a bit too neat without much actual excitement.