This is the pilot episode for "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist" that premiered in very early 2020 and I think the show is already approaching its end now or already has, but I read not too long ago that there will be a full feature film to offer closure to the fans. I myself have only come across it too. The show won Mandy Moore (not the famous singer/actress) an Emmy for her choreography and lead actress Jane Levy who plays the title character here managed to score a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal, which is surely her biggest career success so far. I have followed Levy since Suburgatory, also watched her in the movies and yeah I cannot deny I kinda like her, maybe even crushing on her a little bit (I'm not the only one if we look at the cliffhanger), so a series with her at the center of it all surely caught my attention. But now let's take a look at this opening episode. It runs for slightly over 40 minutes, just like the others, and is basically a mix of comedy and drama with a gigantic amount of music. This is what the show is all about: the music. The central character, after being in the MR during an earthquake (Alex Mack, anyone?), is suddenly capable of seeing the people around her in a totally different light as they tell Zoey their inner thoughts in a musical fashion. Very confusing for her initially, but she quickly accepts her new "superpower". By the way, it all started with R. E. M., so it cannot be a bad thing. Other than that, we have many other really nice songs in here. The Beatles are featured. The eternal Mad World. Phil Collins (okay the original "True Colours" was not from him) and Cat Stevens also get included and the very first song was also quite nice, even if I am not familiar with the singer. So you will 100% find some really nice music if you watch this show/episode. Some music you maybe came across already and forgot about it, other music you will maybe discover anew. In any case, a win-win situation.
Aside from the music, it is all about the protagonist's fate in here. And there is a lot elaborated on in this first episode already. What do we have? Neighbor struggles. New friendships. Sick fathers. Dead fathers. Career prospects. Office crushes. And much more. Almost too much even. I must admit that it did not always feel too realistic, but sometimes a bit scripted. The first conversation between Zoey and Lauren Graham's character was surely on the cringeworthy side, but maybe I am just saying this because I dislike Lauren Graham and see no acting talent in her. But especially the pilates reference in there or what it was felt cringeworthy too. You cannot even blame the actress. As with the father, on the one hand it felt heartwarming/heartbreaking to see him like that, on the other it was maybe a bit too much of a sob story. The moment when the potential lovebirds talk about their fathers was the same. I must say the idea with a beloved person gone and how the potential love interest tells her that she should use the time she still has was really nice though and I found it touching. Not gonna lie. But yeah, overall still perhaps a bit too much tragedy drama. Oscar winner Mary Steenburgen I should also mention. Seems this show is how she continued after "Last Man on Earth", a show I really like(d). I wonder if her material gets better in the next episodes. The female best friend character here did not do too much for me, maybe also because who they went with felt quite stereotypical, but also has to do with the writing. I mean our protagonist apparently did not like her, saw her as a nuisance, while the neighbor herself found our protagonist totally boring and yet we are led to believe that she is the one Zoey would tell about her great new ability. Hmmm makes little sense. So yeah, overall there are some really, really good moments to the first episode of this new show, but also some pretty bad inclusions. I hope that, as the show continues, this will improve a bit. It has to for this show to be seen as something more than a guilty pleasure with good music. I still recommend the series premiere all in all and I'll surely keep watching. Curious about what happens next, so the show did not miss its target. Mission accomplished. And the final boat trip made me want to buy a boat too.
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