By AMY BISHOP
Contributing Writer
There’s nothing like a miniseries to occupy your time without demanding any real dedication. “Maniac” is Netflix’s newest attempt to grab a captive audience by waving trendy science fiction tropes and A-list Hollywood actors in front of our faces. With only ten half-hour episodes, it’s hard to resist diving into the mysterious world presented in the trailer. I expected a mind-blowing social commentary to leave me reeling. Instead I received a somewhat disjointed and depressing narrative, that left me impatient.
Owen Milgrim (Jonah Hill) and Annie Landbergh (Emma Stone) are two troubled characters who are brought together by a medical experiment they have both volunteered for. A popular setting in syfy media these days is a world almost identical to present day, but slightly soiled by overbearing technology. People in the “Maniac” world have the option to pay for things with advertisements, if they are short on cash. This seems like a reasonable exchange, but unrealistic when you consider that those being advertised to are likely too poor to buy products. However, this sets the stage for the destitute state of our main characters. Right away, we recognize that these two people are deeply depressed and in the midst of inner and outer conflict.
The series begins with a harsh questioning of reality, as it is clear Owen is not fully confident that any of his experiences are real. We are unsure as to whether he is clinically ill, or magically gifted. This adds to the intrigue of the narrative. On the other hand, Annie is harshly aware of her reality, and desperate to escape it. Her drug addiction consumes her and drives her to enter the drug trial, which includes the exact drug she’s been abusing. Owen joins in an effort to follow signs that he believes the world is sending him. He is also clearly the black sheep of his family, and terribly bullied by an older brother, causing him more desire for escape.
The two heroes are bonded by this experience in a mysterious and unusual way that they cannot ignore. The side story of the show involves the scientists in charge of the computer that runs the experiment. Typical to science fiction stories, the computer is highly advanced, to the point where its motives are surreally human. All of this requires a good deal of suspension of disbelief.
As the story brings you through multiple realities, and overly dramatized encounters with technology, it can’t help but feel cheesy and trite. This is not helped by the acting of both Hill and Stone. They are forced into many different character roles that make you feel like you’re watching a series of comedic spoofs of classic films. Some of these clips were so silly that I found myself laughing out loud, without knowing if that was the intention. Hill’s main character is visibly depressed, and this is made obvious by his constant straight face and monotone voice. Likewise, the Stone’s character has a constant run-down bad-girl look to her, that somehow maintains Hollywood’s sexy standard. Wounded-but-sensitive boy and tough-girl sidekick characters are overdone. I yearn for something fresh, and Netflix has not delivered.
Generic characterization aside, “Maniac” does provide some positive commentary on love, loss, and humanity that anyone can relate to. However, many of the episodes diverged completely into alternate narratives within false realities. These stories feel frustrating when you’re awaiting the answers to so many questions. The show seems to juggle too many themes at once, not knowing its own point.
“Maniac” saving grace is its last episode, which finally introduces a light-hearted positivity. Unfortunately, the nine previous episodes drag on disjointed narratives for a bit too long. This wasn’t a bad way to spend five hours of my life, but this isn’t a show that will stick in my memory.
