Amazon's TALES FROM THE LOOP is an Endearing and Captivating Series Worth Watching
Due to the recent events in the world, I have taken the time to catch up on all the movies, books and shows that have slipped through the cracks of my Must Watch list. Let me tell you it has been a complete hit or miss game. One of the jewels that I found on the list was Amazon Prime’s Tales From The Loop. This was only released in April 2020, and it was really high on my list. It definitely did not disappoint, but it was not what I expected.
The stories for Tales From The Loop were adapted from the book of the same name that is a collection of art from Simon Stålénhag. The book is filled with realistic paintings that depict what the world would be like in the 1980s if fundamental physics was perfected immediately after WWII. A world where nature and robots were a part of everyday life. The pictures by themselves are surreal and moving, but they scream to have their stories told. That is where Amazon stepped in.
The series follows the lives of the people who live in the small town of 1980s Mercer, Ohio, and how the Mercer Center for Experimental Physics (The Loop), located under the town, affects everything and everyone in Mercer. Jonathan Pryce plays Russ Willard, the founder of The Loop, and his complete tunnel vision to opening new doors in the world of science has blinded him to the fact that he may be doing more harm than good for the people of the town, including his family. The town is littered with robots and experiments pushed out in the name of progress that were forgotten about once they left The Loop. Every episode tells the story of a different person in town and how The Loop changes their very existence. With it being a small town, when one person changes, the ripple effect of that change can be catastrophic for the people of the town.
The whole season was endearing and captivating. The visuals were stunning and felt so natural in the environment. I was expecting something completely different than what I got, but it was so much better than what I expected. The stories were rich and heartfelt. The writers kept a strong grip on reality in the way every character stayed true to who they were and how their decisions came with consequences, good or bad.
The show has yet to be renewed for a second season, and I certainly hope it does. The 8-episode season definitely left more stories out there to be explored. The season was exhilarating and heartbreaking at the same time. I can’t wait to see more. Watch season one now on Amazon Prime, and let me know what you think.
