Magic Portals. Perplexing Puzzles & Vicious Beasts: Netflix’s The Hollow – Review
Ahead of the Season 2 being released on Netflix on 8th May, we take a look at one of their most equivocal animated titles, The Hollow.
From their work on 2000’s kid-friendly shows such as Kid vs Kat and Pucca, comes Josh Mepham and Greg Sullivan, the main directors of the more mature The Hollow. Assisted by Vito Viscomi, an experienced writer with an extensive filmography; The Hollow is animated by the trio’s Canadian studio, Slap Happy Cartoons.
The series’ premise is as mysterious as its first episode: three teenagers named Adam (Adrian Petriw), Kai (Connor Parnall), and Mira (Ashleigh Ball) awaken in a room with no memories of themselves or each other. As they work together to escape the room, they find themselves trapped in a dangerous world full of fantasy, magic, and unpredictability.
While seeming generic and childish at first glance, The Hollow manages to intrigue you with a mix of well-executed lore and compelling stylistic elements. Season 1 starts off with an eerie yet impressive title card, quickly followed by an ominous flickering typewriter. Coupled along with rapid camera angle switches and horror movie-like sound effects, The Hollow immediately establishes a tension-filled atmosphere that sucks you in before you even decide to continue watching; which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Throughout the show, Adam, Mira, and Kai get transported to a wide range of locations as you follow the trio attempting to escape the bizarre world they are in by solving puzzles and clues. The sudden setting change through teleportation can be jarring for some but the characters’ similar startlement only invests you further in their journey. The video game-like episodic structure is supported by The Hollow’s fascinating lore and is refreshing as you continue to see how the characters face against the newest threat.
Another strong element of this series is its captivating special abilities. Each member of the trio has their own unique power and while I admittingly disliked the idea at first, I grew to enjoy the fast-paced nature that came with this plot device, it keeps the story fresh as the trio discover the many benefits (or drawbacks) of their new-found strength. However, while saying this, the powers are nothing more than plot armour at times and it becomes unenjoyable when Adam, Mira, and Kai seem to magically avoid any danger that can have permanent consequences.
Another potential critique of the show is its simple animation. While completely watchable and fluid, the animation by Slap Happy Cartoon is nothing revolutionary and fight scenes, in particular, suffer heavily from this aspect coupled with poor choreography. The use of flat colours also downgrades the overall quality of the visuals in The Hollow.
This series does deserve credit for its diverse cast of main characters: Adam is Hispanic, Mira is Asian-American, Kai is Caucasian, the list goes on. And while the characters are also very loveable and relatable, the character development is highly lacking with the trio being mostly the same by the end of the 10-episode season. The series appears to give up valuable character information and growth in exchange for a strong mystery plot. Unanswered character questions are a frustrating issue in The Hollow along with unnecessary romance subplots that don’t develop.
Perhaps the most disappointing element of The Hollow is its controversial ending. Without spoiling it, some would argue that it justifies the lack of character development within the first season. However, I agree that while the twist is certainly unique and brave for the producers to attempt, it creates a whole other problem of undermining the entire show. The ending may feel like a slap to the face after all the viewer has gone through.
Nevertheless, despite these glaring issues, The Hollow remains a solid and exciting addition to Netflix’s growing selection of animated originals. Any mystery genre enthusiast would genuinely enjoy this series with its strong lore and puzzle-solving nature. And while the ending may leave a sour taste, just know that it leaves a small yet significant cliffhanger that leaves the door open for a more positive second season.
Speaking of a second season, The Hollow Season 2 comes out on the 8th of May, Hopefully the second season fixes some of the previous issues mentioned and effectively expands the world of The Hollow. Check it out on Netflix very soon.