Came upon this series thru the Netflix algorithm after watching the similarly themed Icelandic series Katya. And as similar as they are, they couldn't be more different in approach. Glitch is done with a lighter approach that blends drama and humor with a quality but middle of the road filming style you see in other Australian productions whereas Katya is all drama and artistic atmosphere.
While I found much to enjoy with the three seasons of Glitch, especially the characterizations and their deft portrayals by the actors, the series definitely wears it's soap opera tendencies up front with the constantly stupid decisions made by the characters designed to pad out the running time. But like other high concept productions that fail, the Matrix trilogy comes to mind, the biggest problem for me is when the writers and creators of Glitch try to explain everything with some sort of "rational" explanation in the third season. Everything I enjoyed in the first two seasons started to sour. Here's where the comparison to Katya hurts Glitch, although this ultimately might be unfair if Katya extends beyond one season. The producers of Katya decided that the core concept of the series, dead people coming back and upending their bereaved relations' lives only needs the barest of explanations. It's the emotional drama that is the most important aspect of the series.
Unfortunately with Glitch, the final season and mostly the final episode leaves too many unneeded questions unanswered especially when the writers introduce a metaphysical global apocalypse that the modestly budgeted production can't even begin to illustrate it or figure out how to explain properly. This is where the dangers of high concept lay. Another Netflix series, Into The Night, runs a risk of this danger. Running away from now lethal sunlight on a hijacked airliner by staying in night time, what a great concept. But now will the creators of this series feel obligated to explain why the sun is lethal and how to fix it? I certainly hope not.
So did I waste my time watching 18 episodes for Glitch? No, just moderately disappointed at the end.
While I found much to enjoy with the three seasons of Glitch, especially the characterizations and their deft portrayals by the actors, the series definitely wears it's soap opera tendencies up front with the constantly stupid decisions made by the characters designed to pad out the running time. But like other high concept productions that fail, the Matrix trilogy comes to mind, the biggest problem for me is when the writers and creators of Glitch try to explain everything with some sort of "rational" explanation in the third season. Everything I enjoyed in the first two seasons started to sour. Here's where the comparison to Katya hurts Glitch, although this ultimately might be unfair if Katya extends beyond one season. The producers of Katya decided that the core concept of the series, dead people coming back and upending their bereaved relations' lives only needs the barest of explanations. It's the emotional drama that is the most important aspect of the series.
Unfortunately with Glitch, the final season and mostly the final episode leaves too many unneeded questions unanswered especially when the writers introduce a metaphysical global apocalypse that the modestly budgeted production can't even begin to illustrate it or figure out how to explain properly. This is where the dangers of high concept lay. Another Netflix series, Into The Night, runs a risk of this danger. Running away from now lethal sunlight on a hijacked airliner by staying in night time, what a great concept. But now will the creators of this series feel obligated to explain why the sun is lethal and how to fix it? I certainly hope not.
So did I waste my time watching 18 episodes for Glitch? No, just moderately disappointed at the end.