The end of the world as we know it
Hearthbound review
Production company – Stray Lungs
Rating – 
Wow, it’s been a right time for shows zipping in from left field. Last week was my first review of a Shakespeare adaptation. This week we have something equally classical, equally gripping, yet totally different. A change is as good as a rest right?
Truth be told, this is a show that got sent to me a while back, and due to other stuff going on, completely slipped through the net. I listened to the first three episodes, and replied to the writer, who then very kindly sent me the rest of the series. As usual, there will be no spoilers here outside of episodes that have already been aired. So folks, this is my (rather late) review of Hearthbound.
So what’s it about?
Hearthbound is self described as “A queer musical set in a post apocalyptic landscape”. It’s also a modern adaptation of The Odyssey by Homer. Now this was a cocktail I have to admit, I was not too keen to try, mainly for the same reasons as Timon Of Athens last week. But, as I said last week, I owe creators a fair go if they take the time to reach out.
The story follows scrap salvager Odessa as she travels through the barren wasteland of The Great Basin. Along the way, she makes friends and encounters all manner of eccentric inhabitants scratching an existence along the lonely road. Odessa herself, is a hardy, self sufficient woman, but she misses her wife dearly, and this emotion translates into the heartfelt songs that are scattered throughout the episodes.
Is it any good?
It’s outstanding. When I think of “musicals” I think of things like Grease, which I really don’t like. This isn’t like that though. I mean, I quite obviously have a very limited knowledge of the genre, but maybe if more musicals were like this, I’d listen to more.
It’s a mix of Mad Max, Fallout and The Last Of Us, but definitely not as bleak as any of those. This may be a rather simplistic and lazy comparison, but it does fit nicely. The main thing that you get from this story is that even in this unimaginably dark time, the human spirit is still full of hope.
Because of this, you may find it doesn’t scratch that bleak, post apocalyptic itch that you have. That’s fair enough, but I recommend you give it a go anyway, because it’s not really like anything you’ve heard before. Or, maybe you have. This territory is as new to me as the sandy wastes of The Great Basin.
The songs themselves are quite emotional, if a little samey, although I like to think that’s because Odessa isn’t a professional musician, so her songs are more just a way of verbalising her feelings, rather than making songs for the benefit of others. There are no chart topping hits here, and I like that. They are way better than the laboratory concocted cheese that seems to fill the runtime of modern musicals.
Final thoughts
I’m becoming well aware of the fact that I should just get over myself and just listen to any and all podcasts, because who knows what I’m missing out on? The good thing about getting older is that you become increasingly less concerned about what is a personal definition of “cool”. It’s a liberating experience.
That said, Joe Rogan and his ilk, and all the reality TV stars who regularly air their opinions on various shows will definitely not get my time at all.
You can get Hearthbound here:
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