by Kay Curry
Northwest Asia Weekly
Netflix released its new comedy TV series “Blockbuster” on November 3. It was seventh on the streaming service’s TV list of launch weekends — though I think a lot of that is down to novelty.
I would say that everyone has tried Netflix at least once. It’s not known how many times audiences will try “Blockbuster” — based on the true story of the last Blockbuster store in the world — but it does offer a glimpse into the movie rental culture, and there’s some laughs.
You’re probably a little confused at first (or more than once) about the retail sitcom you’re watching. I was sure Melissa Fumero was in “Supermarket” until I remembered it was “Brooklyn Nine Nine.” The humor is similar to “Superstore,” and Fumero’s character Eliza has a similar vibe to America Ferrera, and has a parallel relationship with Randall Park’s boss Timmy, while Ferrera’s character has a similar relationship to Glenn in “Superstore.” (Or, in “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” Good Girl Amy and Fool Jack together, wow I got it all mixed up!)
In both cases, the boss is the good-hearted struggling guy, and the woman, here Fumero, plays his stoic sidekick. There’s an extra romantic angle to “Blockbuster,” but other parts also ring the familiar bells, like Carlos (Taylor Alvarez), who might remind you of Jonah from “Supermarket.” Both represent Latin culture, as does Connie, played by Olga Meridez, who introduces everyone to Dia de los Muertos by setting up a shrine in the store because of this It happened. In a world where the last Blockbuster store is trying to make ends meet, rules no longer exist, at all costs.
That’s not to say that any of the above is a problem. If you like “Supermarket” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” which I actually like, “Blockbuster” might appeal. For me, it’s an attraction that doesn’t mean I’m going to be flabbergasted, but rather that I’ll be listening to a light watch every now and then and giggling every now and then. Park is funny because he’s just a cog in a company turned into a small business owner overnight – but I have to say again, his performance echoes another character – he’s in “Always My Possible”, All the way to being an “insurmountable” middle school. “That’s good too. Park was cute in that movie, and now he’s cute and funny too because he frowns after joking about something he’s actually sad about.
The true Blockbuster chain started in the mid-1980s and by the 2000s had thousands of stores, not only in the US but around the world. When Netflix had the idea of a mail-in movie (bet you haven’t thought of this in a while! Or never!), Blockbuster tried to compete, but couldn’t get away from people’s ideas, and rightfully so, because of the hands-on experience. Still, it worked well until 2019 when it was reduced to just one store.
blockbuster. Randall Park plays Timmy in Blockbuster’s 101st episode. chromium. Ricardo Hubbs/Netflix © 2022
Perhaps the reason I’m obsessed with comparing “Blockbuster” to other shows is that, for a few episodes, it managed to evoke my world – rental movies and games long before Netflix existed (which is ironic!) – and I Has turned into an employee whose job is (is) to recommend movies to clients, basically saying, “If you like this, then…” So kudos to the show, it convincingly brings back that culture and that age. If you are present (raise your hand), you will occasionally feel nostalgic. If you’re not, it might be like letting your kids use a Walkman. I just don’t know if people who haven’t experienced it will care. That’s odd though, because the last remaining Blockbuster, is actually in Bend, Oregon (a road trip!), in Montana on the show. Hearing them mention TikTok, memes and Instagram surrounded by blue and yellow signs sounds jarring and probably legit. It’s just a clash of two worlds you never imagined, and that’s why all the other stores are gone.
The “Blockbuster” pilot started with a message of small businesses versus corporate giants (though they were originally one) and the importance of face-to-face contact in the internet world. By the second episode, the show was more about relationships than stores — although the struggle to keep it running continues. I hope this show was made with love and that someone from the cast or crew actually remembers those days, and yes, customers did browse the aisles to read DVD covers (but first, VHS!), and actually went to the staff to ask Their thoughts on what to watch next. There are indeed regulars, and although it may seem odd now, walking through the door does have a warm and cozy feel.
The love of movies is something you know because you share that fact with everyone in the room. Not the kind of abstract guarantee we have now, there must be X people who have seen The Avengers too – because the internet tells us so. Trust me, it feels different.
Timmy’s speech in the pilot episode is worth editing and splicing here.
“As a society, we’ve lost something huge. Each other…even renting a movie, used to be an opportunity for us to interact with familiar faces. But big corporations…steal that…you can’t do it with a computer program Get to know someone, or replace a stranger’s smile with a smiling box.”
Kay can reach info@nwasianweekly.com.
