Soundtrack

WhenThis is Ushit the scene back in 2016, it took the television world by storm, much to the surprise of nearly every single one of NBCs competitors. The show lacked a giant genre premise, a (really) crazy hook and super intense drama yet, somehow, managed to connect with a large majority of primetime viewership by simply being a show about the complexities that come with being a human being. Since then, many imitators have come and gone without managing to stake their claim as a real companion to the series. But, thats about to change with NetflixsSoundtrack.

Created by Joshua Safran,Soundtrackfollows the lives of various Los Angeles residents as they try to go about their lives as best they can through a jukebox musical like lens that gives the audience a peek into the music living in their heads during the most notable moments of their existence.

Soundtrackis a show about love that also serves as a love letter to the modern age of self-scoring. Its a show that could only exist now, in the age of digital music. Its a show that acknowledges the way many of us consume sound like the way we breathe in todays age. Theres seldom a time each of us doesnt have our earbuds jammed into our skulls while scoring our own existence. This is the modern human behavior the series is trying to bring to the screen.

But, while the grand idea behind the series is commendable, its not without its quirks. The show presents a tone that takes a moment to get used to. Its hyper-real but subdued while also being of a low-stakes nature but also kind of not. The show carries itself in a very loose nature that one must give themselves over to, to enjoy. However, that willingness to go on the shows ride is rewarded with a kind of sweetness rarely seen from Netflixs library these days. One could even argue the shows development for network television really gives it an edge over its streaming competition.

Overall,Soundtrackhas a lot going for it that will delight fans of this kind of show. The music is modern pop that plays as it should, and the stories carry with them that kind of melodrama thats easy to get sucked into if allowed to be enjoyed. This is one that will play very well during the holiday season this year.

Soundtrack premieres Wednesday, December 18th on Netflix

Link:
Soundtrack Review: This Is Us With A Groove Thats Pretty Good - Forbes