LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 30: (L-R) Earl Baylon, Mick Wingert, Reed Shannon, Ella Purnell, … [+]
I have a handful of favorite shows when it comes to Netflix, shows that rise above all others as examples of true quality and craftsmanship. Some of them are very dark and dramatic, such as The new baby. Others are more light-hearted, like the first season of Foreign things. Others are cheerful and tense, like beating hearts Beef or scary, like the Korean zombie period drama The kingdom.
But many of my favorite shows on Netflix are animated. Blue Eyed Samurai, BoJack Knight, Dragon Prince and last but not least, Secret.
secret the first season was simply amazing. The animation is like nothing I’ve ever seen before, a rich almost painterly style that manages to be both dark and bursting with color. The story takes place in the twin cities of Piltover and Zaun. The first is a sprawling, almost utopian city of wealth, power, and scientific and technological progress. The latter is the dark and dirty underbelly of the former, filled with crime, drugs and poverty. The tension between these two halves underlies everything that follows.
Secret
Born in this poor suburb are two sisters, Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and Powder (Ella Purnell), who will later be named Jinx. As the unrest between Piltover and Zaun escalates, the sisters find themselves at odds, navigating the different factions of an increasingly dangerous conflict. Meanwhile, a young innovator and politician named Jayce (Kevin Alejandro) has discovered a way to harness magic and combine it with steampunk technology, reaping untold prosperity—and unleashing even greater dangers upon the city. His partner, the sickly and idealistic Victor (Harry Lloyd) brings an egalitarian passion to the project.
In the mix we have an unruly cast of characters, including the wonderful – but utterly empathetic – villain Silco (Jason Spisak) a crime lord with a heart of gold, or at least streaks of gold in it; Caitlyn (Katie Leung) a young Enforcer on a quest; and Vander (JB Blanc) beloved de facto the leader of the underworld, plus many other complex, well-written characters.
I can not recommend Secret quite a lot. Even if you don’t usually watch animated shows, you should definitely check this out. Fans of fantasy, steampunk, action/adventure, and great character dramas will all find something to love here. The story is incredibly well written with complex and empathetic characters in a conflict that will put you on the edge of your seat and tug at your heartstrings.
I don’t want to spoil anything beyond the basic premise because you have to experience it all for yourself. It really is like nothing else out there. Season 2 has been a long time coming, with Season 1 coming to Netflix in 2021. I have high hopes that the wait will have been worth it. I’ll be reviewing the new season in parts, so expect a review of Part 1 – the first three episodes – here on this blog (subscribe!) over the weekend.
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PS For valiant players, there’s a new one Secret crossover bundle out now. Check it out.