‘Carol’ offers melancholy view on ‘The End of the World’
Trending
What would you do if you knew when the world was going to end?
That's the situation Carol Kohl (Martha Kelly) finds herself in in the Netflix comedy drama miniseries "Carol and the End of the World." The show puts characters in an apocalyptic world, which they must learn to navigate, knowing that a mystery planet is speeding toward Earth. Humanity is doomed and has accepted its fate. As a result, we find the characters living their final days as they should -- living their best lives. Throughout the show, the extremely reserved and pensive Carol attempts to find meaning in life while she watches her family and friends live every day like it's their last.
Early on in the series, we meet Carol's elderly parents, Pauline and Bernard Kohl (Beth Grant and Lawrence Pressman) who apparently find it frivolous to wear clothing in their final days. They get ready to set sail for a cruise around the world with Bernard's caregiver, Michael, who they have fallen in love with. Carol's parents express concern about their single, introverted 40-something daughter, while praising her younger sister, Elena (Bridget Everett), who has been spending her final months traveling the world and videoing herself in risky situations, like skydiving. Elena later tries to connect with Carol by taking her on a hiking trip, which doesn't immediately work out as either had hoped.
Carol has a rather droll view on the crisis that is in front of her. She finds a quiet office job at an accounting firm, which does not seem to have a function other than to serve as a distraction. While her family was off living their lives to the fullest, Carol seems to find her own meaning in the adventures she finds in the office. She also develops friendships, which help move the otherwise snail's-paced storyline forward.
Even as an introvert, it was a little difficult to stay on the same wavelength as "Carol." We watch her complete mundane errands like cooking dinner and grocery shopping while the world is preparing to burn around her.
Carol does eventually find some meaning in an unexpected hobby that allows her to travel the world. While insightful, the series is somewhat unrealistic. There were times where I felt myself continuing to watch, just in hopes that something a little more interesting would unfold. The tone of the show reflects Carol's melancholy attitude toward life, which -- while relatable at times -- is rather mundane and doesn't make for the most interesting television show.
The show was created by Dan Guterman, which isn't terribly surprising, as he is known for participation in off-beat comedies like "Rick and Morty" and "The Colbert Report." The show is rated TV-MA, possibly due to its mature content and characters
"Carol and the End of the World" spans 10 episodes at 30 minutes each. It can be viewed on Netflix.
Grade C-
•••
Erin Thompson is the managing editor of the Lewistown Sentinel.