TV Review: Brave New World Sleekly Observes Privilege
Sleek, sexy, and chic are, definitely, words to describe the aesthetics of Brave New World: based off the classic novel by Aldous Huxley and premiering on NBC’s Peacock App on July 15. Frankly, if I had to envision Brave New World, I would say Creator David Weiner is spot on and I love it. For Huxley, the dystopia, known as the World State and in the series, New London, was an empty, beautiful future; one where people were obsessed with looking beautiful, staying young, and being/ appearing happy. In essence, the 1932 novel was predicting Instagram, and, with that in mind, Brave New World, the tv series, questions our need to filter life.
Huxley’s book takes an inquisitive, intellectual look at the human psyche, while Peacock’s Brave New World is a curious, magnifying glass to the heart of people and why they are so desperate to shut out the ugly in life: THE SAD! In this way, the Peacock Original feels highly pertinent to our times. Now more than ever, people are confronting how sad they have been/ how sad life has gotten in a midst of pandemic and protests: two things New London WOULD NEVER ALLOW. Yet, the most powerful observance of Brave New World comes in its discussion of privilege.
Brave New World | Official Trailer | Peacock
Alden Ehrenreich plays John The Savage who comes off like Neo entrapped in the Matrix. He is a pure heart and journeys through the show like a man waking up everyday, more and more, to the fact that the world is asleep and how some like it that way. He is an emotional being climbing up a caste system of beauty and privilege that shuns things like, depression and fear, which, in itself, is terrifying. Yet, characters like, Joseph Morgan’s hypnotic performance as CJack60, are waking up to see you you need the bad to see the good or, at least, you need to go through the darkness to feel truly lighter. Moreover, it is an example of the power of privilege: the ability to close off things/ people that make you uncomfortable and thus never grow personally.
As a member of the savages, John, is a member of the “feeling club,” as I like to call it: impoverished, desolate people whom live in the outskirts of a high society that laughs at the idea of misery and turns it, at best, into a literal, vacation tour. Frankly, it is hard to see the difference from the way we behave today; turning riots, violence, and poverty into tv edits or tours, as well, to be consumed without any empathetically social or deep historical analysis. Ehrenreich is fantastic and gives balance and steadiness to the yo-yoing of emotions John must face. Meanwhile, Henry Lloyd’s Bernard and Jessica Brown Findlay’s Lenina are just finding out they can even bleed… LITERALLY!
BRAVE NEW WORLD Official Trailer (HD) Alden Ehrenreich
In the beginning, Lloyd and Findlay play their characters as two people unbelievably aloof at how “the savages” live, why they live that way, and are deluded against their personal grudges with the very system they feel toxically bound to but unable/ fearful to leave. Though they may feel different than their SOMA filled world, a “happy pill” taken to get high or before another orgy, they still play to a system of privilege that stands on the backs of savages like, John. Lloyd plays Bernard, like the book, jealously depressive and Findlay gives Lenina a balance of wonder and terror for the unknown. Their dynamic with John is invigorating to watch, especially if analyzed, but it is also dazzling in seeing a group of people try to figure out what is “genuine joy” within a high society that oppresses others to then drug itself into forgetfulness.
I never thought I’d see Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World is philosophical literature being turned into a romantic, sci-fi thriller in 2020. By definition, this may feel opposing, which is why Weiner relies on stunningly, clean futuristic sets and a cast rooted in questions like, how badly do you want to be happy, and if you have to cause harm to get that joy then is it truly joyful? Ultimately, this leaves viewers, for the whole season, eager to decipher who is apart of this problematic, fake beautiful world and who is willing to undo it. More importantly, who can figure out what a better world looks like. Brave New World comes out On July 15 on the Peacock App
