The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself: The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself
November 4, 2022 10:16 AM - All Seasons - Subscribe
The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself is a British fantasy-drama television series created by Joe Barton for Netflix. Based on YA novel Half Bad written by Sally Green, the series tells the story of Nathan Byrne, an illegitimate son of the dangerous witch, Marcus Edge, struggling to overcome his odds of following the footsteps of his father as he discovers his true identity alongside his friends.
This is definitely a YA (that is, the political commentary is laid on with a trowel) but makes the most of its limited budget with truly clever scenes and good pacing - and an endgame 'ship that you don't see very often that truly warmed my heart. Tells a complete story, but sets up a season 2 if they want it.
The entire season is on Canadian Netflix, I don't know about other countries.
This is definitely a YA (that is, the political commentary is laid on with a trowel) but makes the most of its limited budget with truly clever scenes and good pacing - and an endgame 'ship that you don't see very often that truly warmed my heart. Tells a complete story, but sets up a season 2 if they want it.
The entire season is on Canadian Netflix, I don't know about other countries.
It's also on US Netflix. The endgame ship was lovely and it evolved very naturally through the course of the show. I kept thinking one character would die to make the end relationship more conventional, but nope, they went for it and I am happy about that.
I was not thrilled with the reveal that Marcus fell for the woman whose husband he killed and her love rehabilitated him. Love, particularly the love of a woman, being character rehab is a trope that I would like to just go away especially in YA. But it really comes in at the end there so not a huge problem.
Definitely would watch season 2.
posted by miss-lapin at 10:47 AM on November 4, 2022 [4 favorites]
I was not thrilled with the reveal that Marcus fell for the woman whose husband he killed and her love rehabilitated him. Love, particularly the love of a woman, being character rehab is a trope that I would like to just go away especially in YA. But it really comes in at the end there so not a huge problem.
Definitely would watch season 2.
posted by miss-lapin at 10:47 AM on November 4, 2022 [4 favorites]
I'm only a few episodes in, and Nathan....uh, gets his shit rocked a lot. In theory, I think this is really smart and realistic of them -- that Nathan is not automatically a badass, that being surrounded by weird cop jerks who hate him results in repeated physical harm to his person -- but in practice it is hard to watch! It's a great show, but I hope this poor kid gets beat up like 30% less moving forward.
posted by grandiloquiet at 2:22 PM on November 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by grandiloquiet at 2:22 PM on November 14, 2022 [1 favorite]
I started yesterday and am partway through episode 5. I have not read the book (nor will I) so I have no "this adaptation ruined my life" complaints. I'll finish this season.
I did find the show dragging in the first few episodes because, like, we GET IT, and because I don't care in the least bit about teen romance but once Gabriel showed up, I became a lot more invested. I think that character/actor is blowing everyone else off the screen and I even forgive him for trying (but not quite suceceding) to pull off a turtleneck.
posted by See you tomorrow, saguaro at 12:50 PM on November 21, 2022
I did find the show dragging in the first few episodes because, like, we GET IT, and because I don't care in the least bit about teen romance but once Gabriel showed up, I became a lot more invested. I think that character/actor is blowing everyone else off the screen and I even forgive him for trying (but not quite suceceding) to pull off a turtleneck.
posted by See you tomorrow, saguaro at 12:50 PM on November 21, 2022
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posted by Mogur at 10:16 AM on November 4, 2022