Thebeginning of Maniac allowed us to present the universe of the series created by Patrick Sommerville for the American platform Netflix.
The last 5 episodes of Maniac tell the end of the scientific experiment that Annie and Owen performed. We also discover the rest of their exit from this experience.
This first season of Maniac brings together many renowned actors. Emma Stone, for example, plays the role of Annie. She reunites with Jonah Hill eleven years after her first real role in the film Supergrave. Jonah plays Owen. The advertising team communicated a lot about the casting.
The cutting of episodes is not necessarily appropriate. Indeed, more episodes are devoted to certain pills than others. The viewer can easily be lost.
There is also very little precise explanation of what is happening. The spectator makes his own opinion but it is sometimes difficult to disentangle the true from the false. Does the script have enough information not to make the viewer drop out?
The ending is also incomprehensible. Little is learned about the results of the experiment.
Subjects 1 and 9 (Owen and Annie) are the main subjects of this experiment. However, we do not know at all the experiences of others and that is a pity. Indeed, the scenario does not highlight the evolution of their characters.
Maniac is loosely based on the 2005 Norwegian series of the same name. The latter criticizes society by making her hero, a psychotic man, travel in different universes. Is this also the case here? It is much less clear. It's true that the constant use of technology on a daily basis could be reflected in Gerta, the machine that controls the experience and grieves.
Some characters act in a rather clichéd way and, in fact, are not very endearing. Indeed, the doctor with his sexual problems necessarily has difficulties with his mother. It is quite crude in the way things are presented. He does not seem at all sympathetic in view of the elements that the viewer has.
Nods to feminism embellish the scenario. The case between Owen's brother and his colleague is probably reminiscent of that of Harvey Weinstein. Is it a support for the feminist cause or a simple buzz shot?
We also notice that it is a male doctor who directs this operation even if it is the woman who created the machine. The doctor's mother also writes bad novels and is a bad mother. In Maniac, men seem to be more subject to women's decisions (leaving home, mother too present etc …).
The imagery is very pretty. This first season of Maniac is very neat and cinematic. We can see references to great science fiction films like 2001: A Space Odyssey with the machine getting out of control. Similarly, Owen and Annie's dreams are full of nods to pop culture (The Lord of the Rings, the 90s etc …).
One of Maniac 's highlights is the costume and set department. Here too we see the remarkable work of costume designers and prop makers.
The talent of the actors is really highlighted in this series thanks to the different characters they play. A lot of self-mockery with sometimes ridiculous costumes. They show a lot of self-mockery with certain costumes.
This first season of Maniac has many qualities. However, the acting and the image do not save the story of Maniac which is a little wobbly.
