Last night I wrote a post on how I was watching less, and finding myself less interested in the libraries of streaming services which seemed shallow and, well, rather dull. Though that same night I found myself looking for something to watch and draw from going into the evening. I opened up Netflix and browsed for far longer than I should have had to, to come across a show I had never really heard of before. Something I have never seen referenced, talked about, reviewed, or simply just appearing anywhere else. This show's premise seemed interesting, and the idea of it roamed around, bouncing within the walls of my mind as I remembered the many shows similar that it just might be liked. I felt a slight feeling of nostalgia over the format and questioned whether it could hold a fraction of it.
I was surprised, to say the least, when I watched the first episode and found it rather relaxing. Being totally what I wanted it to be and absolutely not what I had actually expected. I found it surprising that the show was released in 2015 given its format and quality, but also with its humour. It reminded me much of the short runtime everyday workplace comedy shows of yester-year. These shows often show varying types of characters within everyday workplaces getting caught up in the corporate and mundane activities that come with what many would call the trap of retail work. Though I think for many it makes the show rather relatable, displaying the boredom and chaos that comes with work, and how we all just chug along throughout the day just waiting for it to end. But at the same time it is at work where we end up with some of the greatest stories, the ones that display the idiocy of this world, the lighthearted moments between co-workers and customers. And the types of characters one would come across in a place heavily engaged in large numbers of foot traffic.
Superstore
If you have seen The Office, there feels like there are a few similarities between the two. Superstore seems like its more laid-back cousin, featuring much more simple stories with its wide range of characters that it hops around to and from during the workplace. Displaying the ways in which their personalities clash with the workplace's challenges. Displaying character and personality through the same issues and achievements tasked upon them. This structure allows for a lot of character growth and development, but so far there hasn't been much in regards to episodes that really step back and try to look deeper into them. Though they don't feel shallow at all. There's growth in the interactions they have, uniqueness in their appearances, and differences in their mannerisms and general lifestyles. This allows for a wide net of scenarios and situations to unfold within social interactions and corporate life. Some reject authority, some fear it, some are too dim to really understand it.
Though none of the characters seem to be bad in any particular way so far. Each character is actually rather wholesome in their own ways. This is where the show feels much more relaxed, where the drama is relatively light and not too deep on the internal struggles. The drama is exaggerated within the scenarios the characters find themselves in, and that allows for the laughs as well as more serious undertones. Apparently the series was shot within an actual Target location, an American franchised store. This I think was done quite well given it makes the environment these characters interact with much more real. The layout seems more real, the camera setups and shakey nature of what sometimes seems handheld seems more real, but it also adds to the immersion that this is a regular everyday workplace. That we aren't witnessing drama and fake people, but instead it feels much more real, that these events are unfolding all around us; and there is something to appreciate about this idea. Something resembling a bit of Charlie Kaufman in regards to the nihilistic nature of life and its oddities, but the beauty of it all that is evident within it still.
In a way it's a show that seems rather low budget, but it works in its appeal. I don't feel that the low budget nature of it seems negative whatsoever. Episodes come and go much like workdays, not all are incredibly funny, but there's something to be enjoyed from them. I found myself enjoying the ways in which the show cuts between scenes and shows time change. We see exaggerated scenes of regular people in the store shopping around and doing weird things. We get this strange stalker feeling as we observe from afar with a shaking camera. It adds to this idea of worklife being slow, drifting along to the point where you can sit and watch people interact with the surroundings. And with each episode being some different aspect of the workday, I am quite curious as to where this show might be heading. It has been a great surprise so far, but I really have no idea what's coming with it. With six seasons, I doubt it'll drift on with this same structure, I feel it's inevitable it starts to take things a bit more seriously and introduce the drama a bit heavily.
Though I suspect that this show is a bit of a gem, one that is definitely underappreciated and capable of maintaining its quality. Particularly given things seem simple, and it's simplicity that allows it to not have to stray too far to remain enjoyable from the last episode. Character development and character specific episodes do feel inevitable, however, and I'm sure there will be a few dud episodes that just don't quite hit it like the rest. As of now, however, I definitely recommend this show. It's got the laughs, the unique cast members that you probably haven't seen anywhere before, and performances that make those faces very much lovable. And depsite its 2015 release date, it feels very void of the typical political talking points that one would expect to see at this point. It balances the idea of culture and identity while laughing at it. Using jokes to connect us, rather than seeming to preach. This is definitely a strength given the idea, a workplace, one we consider to be a nightmare location that sucks out the soul. Ultimately, it's the people around you that make the environment fun and tolerable. The show does a good job at that.