As soon as I heard that it is a modern adaptation of the classic short story written by Edgar Allan Poe, I was super excited to binge-watch this series in one go. And what better timing to watch this than the Halloween season, making it a perfect spooky night watch party.
Staying true to its source material, the series begins with Roderick Usher sitting in his dilapidated childhood home. He has recently lost his six children within the span of two weeks, and he is on the verge of losing his business empire.
So, now he wants to confess about the death of his children, losing his cherished Fortunato corporation, and facing the impending doom of his personal as well as professional legacy. He is ready to go on record with C. Auguste Dupin, who is crusading against the corruption and societal decay brought on by Fortunato.
Thus, we witness the gruesome deaths of six Usher children brought upon by their own hubris, stupidity, and misfortune. Most of these endings were created/ invited by themselves, or so they think. Because paranormal forces play a significant role in their forecasted doom.
The viewers also get a good look at Juno and her toxic relationship with Roderick. Even though Juno is legally married to him and is very much part of the family, she is detested by all his children. But most of all, she is ridiculed and insulted by her own husband.
And there is Madeline Usher- the brilliant, alpha feminist and ultra-ambitious twin sister of Roderick. He owes much of his business drive and fortune to her, as he is nothing but a sad poet at heart. It’s not surprising that Madeline finds echoes of their predecessor in her brother’s behavior when things start going south. So, it’s more than fitting that the siblings will go the way they entered the world. That’s what ‘She’ predicted.
Talking more about Her, and her ominous presence throughout the lives of Ushers will be spoiling the suspense. Therefore, I would have to leave it at that.
As expected from a Netflix production, the production quality is sleek. The sheer wealth of Ushers is shown throughout the series. Sometimes it’s in-your-face-visible, but other times it feels-like-old-world-money-invisible. It largely represents the character traits, just as much their own homes and lifestyle choices.
In the acting department, Carla Gugino reunites with Bruce Greenwood for the second paranormal series after they featured together in Gerald’s Game. They both are phenomenal in portraying their respective parts as Verna and Roderick. They are fantastically supported by Mary McDonnell and Willa Fitzgerald, who bring to life Madeline Usher from different eras and manage to successfully capture her character arch. Rest of the supporting cast gives justice to their individual roles, including Mark Hamill who manages to add a mysterious aura to the character of Arthur Gordon Pym.
The series is atmospheric, dark, and full of jump scares throughout its tightly packed eight episodes- each of these episodes opens with an ominous vibe, pushing viewers more and more towards the precipice of an abyss. It tries to capture the mood of all the gloom and doom brought on by Fortunato’s medical dominance. Although it has certain shortcomings in the character development part for the Usher children, those come across as two-dimensional, shallow individuals, and it becomes difficult to get emotionally connected with their misery.
Still, I would nominate it as a decent watch if you are interested in fast-paced paranormal stories for the spooky season.