The Order: Season 1 (3/5)

The Order is a new fantasy horror series on Netflix. The target audience seems to be teens which means plot and style are aimed at this demographic. It’s nothing new but The Order will probably find its audience on Netflix just fine!

The Order is out on Netflix now and the new fantasy horror show will no doubt find its audience. I’m just not part of the demographic target so I wasn’t exactly blown away.

The cast is pretty diverse (before people start dying, anyway) and the story feels like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina mixed with Teen Wolf. I can imagine they’re going for a college version of Harry Potter but it doesn’t really work.

For me, the first episode felt very choppy, but okay, The Order does have quite an outline to get through to introduce this universe.

A story featuring the dumbest smart-ass

The story in The Order revolves around our main protagonist, Jack Morton, who I found to be pretty annoying. He is such a know-it-all smart-ass most of the time. And then at other times, he seems downright stupid and incapable of logical thought processes.

For one, Jack (Jake Manley) keeps talking about this secret order in public. I mean, really, it cannot be that damn difficult to at least use your indoor voice when talking about a “top-secret club”.

Also, I just found Jake Manley (iZombie) to be downright obnoxious as Jack Morton. Even though I’m not in the demographic I would assume I should at least like him. Or just root for him. Instead. I found myself wishing someone would kick his ass.

Supporting cast of The Order

I felt especially sorry for Sarah Grey (Legends of Tomorrow), who plays the character Alyssa that seems to fall for his boyish charm. Especially since their first “cute meet” was anything but cute. Instead, it involved him mansplaining and belittling her in every way.

Sarah Grey also played a young Norma Bates in Bates Motel. Now there’s a cool character!

Only two characters seemed able to pull Jack off of his own pedestal. First, his grandfather who is played wonderfully by Matt Frewer. We recently saw him in the Netflix show Altered Carbon and he was Dr. Aldous Leekie in the brilliant Orphan Black. 

Second, we have a teacher (apparently the only one at Belgrave University) played by Sam Trammell of True Blood. He’s yet another stereotypical character from college stories. The one teacher who manages to speak directly to the students that couldn’t care less. Except for, of course, Jack Morton. 

What’s with all the drinking

Look, it’s college, we get it. It’s all about partying and having fun. Except that’s not at all why Jack Morton is there. He’s part of something bigger that involves getting back at the person responsible for his mom’s death.

Still, during the first episode of The Order, we see characters at a bar drinking on at least four different occasions. And at all hours of the day! This is within the first few days where everyone is focused on getting into this secret order. It just seems wrong for a show made for kids just a few years shy of going to college.

Well, at least they don’t smoke. Not one cigarette is seen in The Order, so I guess they just amped up the alcohol consumption instead to make it seem fun and wild. Oh, and the age thing is mentioned once since they’re not 21 years old.

Look, I couldn’t care less about how much they drink (I’m from Denmark and we drink way too much and way too young). I just wish this wasn’t the way to be cool according to a show made specifically for this demographic. 

Watch season 1 of The Order on Netflix now

The Order didn’t really do anything for me. I feel like I’ve seen it all before – only better. You will guess most of the plot development and “twists” long before they actually happen on screen. Also, the romance is just too heavily pushed from the very beginning.

Part of what really worked for both Harry Potter and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is the focus on friendship. Sure, both those stories have romance plots as well, but friendship and family come before this. And coming-of-age and self-exploration are at the forefront. This can hardly be said for The Order.

Then again, I am not in the target demographic for this new Netflix original. I think the target audience of teens (over 16, if you’re to follow the Netflix rating) will like it. As for the adult viewers, I doubt many will find it all that interesting.

However, the production quality is certainly high enough for everyone to give the series a chance. Also, Katharine Isabelle from Ginger Snaps is part of the cast. And she’s been a horror fan favorite for years.

The Order is out on Netflix worldwide with Season 1 from March 7, 2019.

Details

Creators: Shelley Eriksen, Dennis Heaton
Stars: Jake Manley, Sarah Grey, Matt Frewer, Sam Trammell, Max Martini, Katharine Isabelle, Aaron Hale, Adam DiMarco, Dylan Playfair, Thomas Elms, Ian Tracey, Louriza Tronco, Devery Jacobs

Plot

Out to avenge his mother’s death, a college student pledges a secret order and lands in a war between werewolves and practitioners of dark magic.