The Lowdown on “The Get Down”

Courtesy of Creative Commons

Courtesy of Creative Commons

Released Aug. 12, “The Get Down” focuses on a group of multi-talented teenagers during the emergence of hip-hop and disappearance of disco in the late 1970s. The Netflix show places the spotlight on Ezekiel Figuero, an intelligent teenage poet dealing with the harsh and brutal lifestyle of the South Bronx.

However, his unambitious mindset and poor financial state prevent him from expressing his literary talents. His only motivation to continue writing poetry is his long-time love interest Mylene Cruz, a driven and extremely gifted singer whose dream is to one day be a disco star. Ezekiel’s friends include the three Kipling brothers, Ra-Ra, Boo-Boo and graffiti artist Dizzee, played by Jaden Smith. While some events may seem bizarre, a few of the adult characters are fictionalized versions of real people.

Other characters such as Shaolin Fantastic, Grandmaster Flash, Cadillac and Fat Annie depict the intensity of the Bronx’s drug problem. While the age of psychedelia was over, experimentation through narcotics such as marijuana, cocaine and LSD prevailed. Though certainly graphic at some moments, the stand-offs between opposing DJs, club owners and gang members are captivating to watch.

Popular shows like “Stranger Things,” “Narcos” and “Orange is the New Black” are drawing the attention of active Netflix users, while “The Get Down” has been overlooked. The show currently only has 6 episodes on Netflix, yet this doesn’t necessarily pose as an issue since Netflix users have already diverted their focus elsewhere.

“I thought ‘The Get Down’ was really cool,” said senior Amindi Frost, one of the few Pali students who has enjoyed the series. “The fashion was inspirational. The amount of representation in it was amazing as well. [The show] was definitely needed.”

Though the show’s following is small, the distinguished director Baz Luhrmann has worked on other projects such as the cinematic masterpieces “The Great Gatsby” and “Romeo + Juliet,” which should hopefully increase the series’ popularity. Casting well-known actors such as Jaden Smith and Shameik Moore, star of the film “Dope,” were also brilliant choices that should boost the show’s ratings. The popularity of “The Get Down” is looking up.