The Get Down

Kaya Blount, Staff Writer

Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis’s Netflix hit “The Get Down” is nothing short of a masterpiece. Whisking you away to the Bronx in the late 70s, during the golden age of hip-hop, “The Get Down” chronicles the journey of Ezekiel Figueroa, an introverted teen with the ability to paint vivid pictures with his words. He and his love interest, Mylene Cruz, find themselves among a world of romance, gangs, politics, poverty and music as they both try to make it big– Ezekiel as a rapper and Mylene as a disco singer. However, that short synopsis does not do this show justice, at all. The characters are extremely well thought through and very three-dimensional, as is the plotline. The cast itself is extremely diverse, and not just by race– LGBT people are represented in this show as well, making it something that everyone can relate to. From the technical side of things, the cinematography in “The Get Down” puts many shows on Netflix to shame. It makes great use of intense colors, stark contrasts and money shots (shots that cost a lot, but are worth it for their “wow” factor). “The Get Down” cost a whopping $120 million, around $20 million an episode, and it was well spent.  The best part of this show, however, is that you can tell the sheer amount of effort put into its production. The writers and creators put a lot of energy into the making of this show, and it shows.  From the cast choices to the themes presented in the show to the perfect portrayal of the 70s hip-hop subculture. The show even managed to cite the influence of kung-fu on 70s hip-hop—leading some to believe “The Get Down” is a biopic on 90s hip-hop group, the Wu-Tang Clan, which it isn’t. All in all, this show is an experience. The new faces in the cast are a breath of fresh air, and the inventive storyline and aesthetic of the show is simply unbeatable. This show easily gets 5/5 stars.