You can get surprises even if you are quite interested in something. For example, I have ventured with certain series only because of the presence of a director which I love when designing it, and yet it is able to surprise me with something full of twists and peculiar ideas that are distinguished from what I had seen until then.
It’s something that happened to me Servant, an Apple TV+ series that had me hooked from the beginning to its end last year. Created by Tony Basgallop, but primarily developed by director M. Night Shyamalan, one of the best fantasy filmmakers and make surprise turns that leave you with your jaw on the floor. He was enough of a draw to get me fully into this series.
A wealthy Philadelphia couple just lost their thirteen-week-old son named Jericho. For this reason, they undergo temporary object therapy using a realistic reborn doll after Dorothy experienced a psychotic break.
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The doll is the only real child he believes Dorothy has had, and thanks to him she was able to come out of a catatonic state after Jericho’s death. Six weeks after the death, a young nanny named Leanne is hired to take care of this doll. Shortly after her arrival everyone was impressed to see that there is a real baby where there used to be a doll.
Although the concept came from Basgallop, the impact of Shyamalan who ended up taking the reins can be seen from the beginning to the end. Being directly directed or written by him, or delegated to trusted people like his daughter Ishana Shyamalan (who is releasing her first feature film with The watchers), you can appreciate that supernatural and almost religious fascination that permeates a series of powerful mysteries.
‘Servant’: mysteries and dark humor
One of the biggest surprises one can find is how Shyamalan gives more free rein to quite black and perverse humor against their rich protagonists. Contributing to this is the delivery of a great cast with Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell and Rupert Grint, but also the counterpoint offered by the revelation of Nell Tiger Free, one of the most interesting actresses of the moment with her role in The first prophecy.
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The series is capable of taking some swings that you don’t expect, and sometimes it is difficult to buy into it. But at the same time, in its best moments it combined dark comedy with a mysterious and deeply emotional horror. Things characteristic of its director, but offered from a somewhat different and fascinating prism.
You can see Servant in Apple TV+.
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