Nostalgia is Officially Milked to Death in Netflix's Blockbuster
Blockbuster, the latest workplace comedy from Netflix, is off to a mediocre rise. The TV series recently premiered in early November yet has received a lukewarm reception from critics and fans alike.
"Never underestimate nostalgia. Nothing thrills people more than knowing their memory still works," a character from Blockbuster advises during the first season. However, it doesn't appear like audiences agree. In fact, one of the frequent complaints with the first season is that Blockbuster relies far too heavily on nostalgia.
It's more than a little ironic, after all, that the streaming service which essentially replaced brick-and-mortar video rental stores would elect to produce a show about something it helped destroy. Nevertheless, when Blockbuster was confirmed for development in late-2021, Millennials were excited to revisit a blast from the past.
Unfortunately, the anticipation for season one has not quite lived up to expectations. While nearly everyone agrees that the first season of Blockbuster is not bad, it's not great either. The comedy, led by Randall Park and Melissa Fumero, features its fair share of laughs as it pokes fun at Hollywood stars, the movie industry, and its obsession with sequels. Then, there is the breakthrough of Carlos (Tyler Alvarez), a side character and employee at Blockbuster who one day aspires to become the next Quentin Tarantino or Robert Rodriquez.
Yes, Randall Park – who is no stranger to popular comedies – delivers when it's time to produce a laugh about the past. It's just that the gags seem anticipated and forced, especially considering the writing team has worked on Superstore and Brooklyn 9-9 in the past. In fact, the showrunner – Vanessa Ramos – has been a part of both workplace comedies which is why Blockbuster seems so familiar, if not refreshingly different.
It's true, Blockbuster features the same predictable formula you would expect from a workplace sitcom. First, there is the will-they-won't-they dynamic between boss and employee (i.e. The Office, Superstore). Then, the stereotypical side players arrive including the frothy sweetheart (Hannah) and surly teen (Kayla). The only difference is they wear the notorious blue and yellow uniforms of the company. Otherwise, Blockbuster feels like Superstore. Or Brooklyn 9-9.
Lastly, there is the argument that the first season of Blockbuster doesn't even revolve around the video rental store aside from being the last branch standing. During the first episode, a customer confesses he's been "doing Netflix, like everybody", yet visits the store because he's been let down by the algorithm's recommendations. While amusing, the first season fails to maintain that momentum and, rather, sticks to vague subjects like the challenges of small business and the importance of community.
Indeed, as one Redditor summarized, establishing the setting at the end of the Blockbuster reign, and not during its glory days, seemed like a poor choice. However, as others argued, it sometimes takes a season or two for a new comedy to find its footing.
Consequently, there is no doubt that Blockbuster will need to reinvent itself moving forward to remain relevant among Netflix's rows and rows of content.
Until then, Blockbuster is nothing particularly special.