Have you ever thought to yourself, “I wish I had watched this earlier,” or asked, “Oh, wow, how did I miss this?” when it comes to a popular TV series? I’m certain that by the end of the year, people will be feeling that way in regards to Deadly Class, the hottest new series of 2019, and SYFY’s guaranteed premier series of the year.
Deadly Class is an ultra-violent, hyper-stylish, adrenaline-rushing slice of television that sinks its teeth deep into you and never let’s go. There is nothing else like it on TV. The show is not afraid to test how much its characters can handle, and how much you, the viewer, can stomach.
So let’s go down the list: A highly entertaining action series? Check. High stake scenarios and emotional drama? Check. Identifiable characters that make you want to root for them? Check. An engaging plot that will have you talking about the show until the next episode? Check and check.
If you are on the fence about getting into this series, let me tell you why you should actually drop what you’re doing and watch Deadly Class right this instant.
The Premise
Based on the hit comic book series of the same name created by Rick Remender, and produced by the Russo Brothers (Avengers: Infinity War), Deadly Class centers its point of view on half-Hispanic homeless teenager Marcus Lopez Arguello (Benjamin Wadsworth), who is on the run after being accused of killing all the kids in the orphanage he grew up in.
In addition to being wanted by the law, Marcus attracts attention from the headmaster of King’s Dominion Atelier of the Deadly Arts, Master Lin (Benedict Wong), and his students. Now he’s faced with a choice between turning himself over to the authorities for a crime he didn’t commit or joining a school intent on making him something he isn’t — a killer.
King Dominion’s main purpose is to train the next generation of assassins, children of crime bosses, mass murderers, and government officials. Master Lin heads the school with a strict set of rules, which if broken will be met with violent punishments. Imagine high school but the classes are all focused on how to become a successful assassin, and group projects involve killing a random person and bringing back proof.
Within the first episode, Marcus gets himself involved with the Mexican drug cartel, has a massive acid trip, and finds himself in a love triangle.
The Setting
Deadly Class series takes place in 1980s San Francisco. The city looks grimy, run down, and dangerous. Rebellion and teenage angst fill the atmosphere. Within minutes, it is clear that this is a dog eat dog world, and only the vicious come out on top. Furthermore, the show features a soundtrack that highlights the best of every genre from the decade. Accompanying the stellar soundtrack are downright trippy cartoon scenes and drug-fueled hallucinations ripped from the pages of a comic book.
The Characters
It’s no secret that Lana Condor is the main attraction to this show, as the To All The Boys I Have Loved Before star has quickly become one of the most talked about young actresses of today. Condor lives up to the hype she has garnered with her dazzling performance as Saya, a young Yakuza member, looking to be the best of her class.
Condor isn’t the only one who gives a great performance, though. The supporting cast is one of the best you will see this year. The characters that walk the streets of this city and the students of King’s Dominion are people you never want to run into at any point of the day. We’re talking the Yakuza, drug cartel members, gang members, and white nationalists.
Deadly Class hits you on the head with its extreme stereotyping of these characters, but there are several reasons for this. One, to drive home the fact that such characters are part of our reality, and two, you can’t judge a book by its cover. Remender has created characters with a purpose and complexity. After all, not everyone has willingly enrolled in King’s Dominion.
The Action
Of course, no matter the circumstances of their enrollment, students must do one thing to survive, and that is to kill or be killed. The actions they take to survive or display dominance is another major draw of the show. Each character has their own set of skills, strengths, and weaknesses based on their criminal affiliation that makes Deadly Class an entertaining action series. We are talking swords, guns, poison, and everything else you can think of that can be used to kill someone.
The Rationale
Everything described so far is something a rational person would want no part of, but that is how Deadly Class captures your gaze and lures you into its world of assassins. It appeals to the sinner within you and a nature that is recklessly wild. No, this isn’t like Riverdale where you enjoy watching terrible dialogue between attractive people, and a plot direction that makes no sense.
This is a story about a kid who drew the shit end of the stick now trying to survive in a world that wants him dead. The writing is intelligent, and the plot is thought out well enough to warrant at least three seasons without feeling like the showrunners are running out of original ideas.
Don’t trust me that this is a show you need in your life right now? Watch the trailer for Deadly Class below.
Related Topics: Deadly Class, Drop What You're Doing, Russo Brothers, SYFY
