LOCKWOOD AND CO – A Review by Jenn Rohm
The studio that brought to the screen gems like the Cornetto Trilogy (Hot Fuzz, Shaun of the Dead, and The World’s End) and Attack the Block is Complete Fiction. Those talented people know how to tell a British Ghost story, so it came as no surprise when Lockwood & Co was available for optioning, they reached out to author Jonathan Strand. An agreement was made, and the eight-episode first season can be found on Netflix. It covers the first two books of the five in the series.
What we can glean from the show: at some time prior to episode one, there was an epidemic that left Britain with dangerous ghosts harming the living. Children are now being born with different talents to fight them and are enrolled in psychic schools. Once they graduate, they get jobs with one of the regulated psychic investigative companies, at least that is how it is supposed to work.
Anthony “Lockwood” (Cameron Chapman) didn’t like the system and has opened his own company. His friend George Karim (Ali Hadji-Heshmati) handles research, cooking, and stress cleaning of the home. They realize they need another agent, and, during the interview process, find Lucy Carlyle (Ruby Stokes, Bridgerton). The standout feature of Lockwood & Co among the other agencies is they do not have an Adult Supervisor to turn to… they are running these investigations themselves.
While I have not YET read the books myself, my research found fans saying ‘it stays true to the books’, including the ending of the last episode.
I was pleased to find this will appeal to ages above the typical YA audience. Yes, they are teenagers, but they are not what I have been used to seeing in movies and TV of modern teenagers. There is a grasp of the real world and the knowledge that choices have consequences on the part of the characters. The moments of “well how do I get out of this one” fit with the training and knowledge of psychic investigations they have, and the lack of fear found in their age group. All three primary characters have moments as the show’s primary focus along with time supporting the others. It was nice to see this rotation as opposed to being focused solely on one character’s perspective.
I do hope Netflix will green-light the rest of the series as I would like to see what Complete Fiction will do with it. In the meantime, it looks like I have some reading to do.
Directors: William McGregor, Catherine Morshead, Joe Cornish
Cast: Ruby Stokes, Cameron Chapman, Ali Hadji-Heshmati
TV Parental Guidelines: The book series is suggested for ages 10 and up, while the Netflix series is rated TV-14
Selig Rating: 5 Stars
Runtime: 60 minutes per episode
Release Date: 01/27/2023
Home Entertainment Release: Netflix
Language: English
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
4 Stars – Good movie
3 Stars – OK movie
2 Stars – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
1 Star – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn’t paid for it.
