“Kaleidoscope” was supposed to revolutionize the world of TV series. The experiment may be interesting, but the story is painfully predictable

Playing with form has recently become a standard in productions that are discussed the loudest. We were given a rollercoaster ride by the creators of the famous “Everything Everywhere at Once”, Mark Mylod in “Menu” tried to go beyond the framework of the mainstream image, directing it to the mainstream audience, and Noah Baumbach bet on the seemingly chaotic juggling of genres and a bold approach to building tension and narration in “White Noise”. This tells us a lot not only about contemporary artists, but also about viewers. They are more and more overstimulated with each passing year and a new streaming platform, it is becoming more and more difficult not only to keep their attention, but to return it at all.

That’s why Eric Garcia, the creator of the latest series entitled “Kaleidoscope”, took a step to the side. It offers viewers a new way of consuming the series and tempts with the innovation of its work even before we turn it on. The production was announced as the first such experiment in the history of the well-known streaming platform. The screenwriter offered the viewers a story divided into eight episodes, which can be read in any order, remembering to leave the “epic finale” for the end. This means that the recipient, instead of a traditional, linear story, will receive fragmented plot elements, from which he will have to slowly put them together on his own.

At first glance, it looks intriguing and bold. Especially considering the high commitment and focus that the form chosen by the creators requires from the viewer. The magic breaks when between successive episodes of “Kaleidoscope” we remember why the best interactive media, which are often not inferior to movies and series both visually and in terms of plot, are computer games.

Netflix has already tried several times to offer viewers to “co-create” its work. It ended, among other things, with an average in the form of a special episode “: Bandersnatch” from 2018. Also in the case of “Kaleidoscope”, an ambitious idea ultimately does not offer much more than a well-thought-out and convincing promotion.

The experiment was supposed to sensitize the viewer to details, to show how many factors affect the reception of a work that ends up on the screen. Prove that the order of places, characters, stories and subsequent cards revealed to us by the creators is never (or at least should not be) a coincidence. “Kaleidoscope” was supposed to be a production that everyone would experience in their own unique way, a series that would cause many quarrels and lively discussions. As a result, all it causes is a big disappointment.

The creators of the series served the viewers a classic heist movie [podgatunek kryminału opowiadający o grupie ludzi, którzy planują kradzież i ucieczkę z miejsca przestępstwa] divided into sections. We have a group of criminals here, in which each member is needed for the success of a perfectly developed plan, revenge and the motives of heroes are lurking in the background, among which the desire to get rich quickly and live in luxury does not prevail. And these simple plot solutions would be absolutely fine (because not every work has to revolutionize the genre), if not for the inflated philosophy added to them and the excess of form over quite simple content.

Regardless of the order in which you watch the episodes, the series tells the story of Ray Vernon (Giancarlo Esposito), who becomes the mastermind behind an operation titled “Let’s steal seven billion bucks in bonds from a highly guarded vault from the rich.”

The plot stretched over time (the action of the series takes place over 25 years) challenged the creators in the form of rethinking the characterization of the actors and appropriately reflecting the spirit of the specific times in which we meet the characters. It worked in production. The characters do not look grotesque, they are not exaggerated, and the series subtly creeps into the unexpected thread of criticism of racism. Everything works. Just like the flawless acting of Giancarlo Esposito, known from “Better Call Saul” and “”, who is perfect both in the role of a caring husband and father, a respectable prisoner, a calm leader of a gang of thieves, and an ailing elderly man who has several bad decisions.

‘Kaleidoscope’ can be viewed in any order ‘Kaleidoscope’ / Netflix – Press materials

Unfortunately, watching the series, you get the impression that he is the only character who has been given the right amount of time. The companions of Vernon, also known as Leo Pap, are drawn like a ruler, and the untapped potential of the Courtney / Elbay duo, i.e. the Goodwins’ marriage in the series, is stabbing in the eyes. The group gets away with an incredible amount, but that’s nothing compared to the ridiculous plot of FBI agent Nazan Abassi. A woman was suspended for drug abuse, then caught with another batch. It can be expected that this is reason enough to say goodbye to your professional career. Not for the creators of “Kaleidoscope”. In addition, Abassi, who has been removed from the robbery case, does not prevent this fact from obtaining a warrant to search the crime scene or sticking evidence in the case to her office. Would her employers really turn a blind eye to all this in real life?

The most disappointing thing, however, is the finale of the series. Announced as “epic”, the lofty epithet was not even close to it. The predictable and extremely maudlin plot twist is nothing compared to the fact that the creators revealed almost all the details about the robbery itself in the episode, which is not the finale, which completely ruined the tension before the final act of the story. This bizarre procedure makes the climax of the series for the viewer like reading the footnotes to the book he read a moment ago. It seems to fill in the gaps, it opens your eyes, but it’s still boring.

All in all, “Kaleidoscope” is a successful experiment in many respects. The creators have created an episodic story that can actually be consumed in any order, which was certainly not easy. However, the form of the application loses here what is most important for the viewer – the story and its heroes. That’s why instead of sighs of delight, after the screening of “Kaleidoscope” you will probably let out a moan of disappointment sooner.