Alex Rider

I haven't read the books and I think this helps me to enjoy the show much better.. I have nothing to compare it with and I have zero expectations.

It is midnight in UK right now, as I'm writing this review. I'm on episode 4, I really want to go to bathroom, to get something to drink, but am totally glued to the screen. I decided to pause and write this review to express my excitement. Honestly, I don't remember when was the last time a TV show made me feel like that.. Stranger Things season 1 perhaps..

And before you start throwing stones at me, No, I am not comparing Alex Rider to Stranger Things, these are two completely different entities.

All I am saying is that I am hooked.. I am loving it! I genuinely envy people who manage to consume series after series, to binge them. Unlike them I am like that crazy picky eater with tons of allergies. It takes me ages to find something I can digest and enjoy. Tonight I found that and this makes me a very happy person this evening..

STORY

If you read the books, you know 100% more about the story than I do.

If you haven't read the books.. Good! Keep it that way, definitely there are more chances that you will enjoy this. You can always read the books later.

Personally I find the story is captivating and intriguing, the pace is excellent keeps your attention, the action is great.

CHARACTERS

Great casting. Otto Farrant, the one who plays Alex Rider is excellent. His convincing as innocent teenager and as a badass undercover spy! Loving him!

Overall not a single miscast in my opinion. All great performances so far. Well done to all the actors and to whoever done the casting on this.

PRODUCTION One word.. "Great!" (based on first 4 episodes)

Great soundtrack, camera work, action, cinematography. Again.. well done to all involved!

So My SUMMARY to Whoever is reading this!

Please do not get discouraged by low ratings of some people. I encourage you to -**Please give it a try!** It may not be your 'cup of tea' which is fair, but if it is, I just wish that you will enjoy this series as much as I am enjoying it right now!

Stay Safe and Take Care Reader!

Alex Rider is a typical 14 year old whose world is thrown into chaos with the death of his Uncle Ian. Upon investigating his uncle's suspicious death, Alex discovers that his uncle was an agent for an off the books intelligence section of British Secret services. Alex is unwillingly recruited for an operation investigating a mysterious reform school, Point Blanc, for ultra wealthy problem teens that conceals darker secrets.

Alex Rider is the second attempt to adapt Anthony Horowitz' best selling YA series following the critical and box office failure of Stormbreaker back in 2006. The series was supposed to be James Bond by way of Harry Potter, but Stormbreaker's approach was more akin to Spy Kids than Harry Potter neutering much of the book's action sequences and leaving it a rather toothless and dull affair. With this latest incarnation being made in a post Harry Potter/Hunger Games world where adaptations are allowed to have more breathing room, Alex Rider is given a more than worthwhile adaptation.

The series is developed by Guy Burt of Wire in the Blood and The Borgias, and he brings a more grounded approach to the material that is more in line with the Bourne movies and Daniel Craig Bond movies than with the considerably more fantastical and gadget reliant Bond movies that inspired the Alex Rider series. The approach is very well done and keeps the series' high concept believable and gives weight and a sense of danger and intrigue to the material. Otto Farrant is pitch perfect as Alex Rider and brings both a sense of humor to the character as well as a hair trigger intensity that gives the character a darker edge than he had in the books. Otto Farrant is a massive reason why this series works. The series also has a very capable supporting cast who all fill their roles well and feel very much at home in the shady espionage world created for the show.

Alex Rider is a show knows what to keep from the books and what to change and update. While the show has the arduous task of Frankensteining the second book in the series into a jumping on point, it does so successfully. The show takes the introductory elements from Stormbreaker and does a near seamless job of attaching them to Point Blanc to make for an entertaining ride for both fans of the books and newcomers to the series.

This is a pretty good show. Not your usual spy show. It's dark and intriguing. The actors are pretty good. Slow burner. Oh and the background music and soundtrack is an absolute treat, it so friggin good.

I read critics review. They seem to think the series was for kids. No way! Although I don't imagine that some won't watch it. I'd say 15+. Yes it was violent but not unnecessarily. Some called it slow, I think the pace was nicely set fast enough to keep interest but not so fast to miss the detail and the detail was needed. Ok it wasn't that believable but neither is James Bond. So what if the number of times Alex rider isn't shot is stupid, it's entertainment not reality. Compare it to other action adventure and forget that your meant to watching a kid. When you do this, you realise it's better that most and compares well with some of the best.

Alex Rider was a major part of my childhood, so I had high hopes and expectations going into this show. Safe to say, I wasn't disappointed.

Salient Features:

1. Otto Farrant - Otto Farrant does an incredible job as Alex, and he is everything the books made you believe. His physique and that superb run is just what you imagined Alex would have.

2. Casting - The casting for this show is great. Everyone does a very good job, especially Miss Jones, Jack Starbright and of course Tom.

3. Adaption - While they didn't meddle with the source story, significantly changes were made to fit times and make the show less childish. And they were mostly great choices.

Downsides:

1. Takes time to kick off - The show doesn't find it's pace immediately, and takes a good 3 or 4 episodes before it becomes intriguing. So PLEASE just watch the whole season before leaving behind a negative review, cause it really does get better.

2. Lazy writing - At times it feels like things happen too conveniently for Alex. There are a couple plotholes and inconsistencies, but nothing glaring.

3. Smithers - Not having Smithers is one thing, but calling someone Smithers and making his traits completely different is just unacceptable.

Conclusion:

Most of the bad reviews I've seen are people complaining about the show not getting you hooked and them leaving it after the first 2 episodes. Someone even gave a 3 stars for a poor synopsis. The show despite a rocky start finds its footing into episodes 4 and from there it's exactly the Alex Rider action the novels always promised us.

Tl;Dr - It's a great show. Just don't get discouraged by the first few episodes cause it really gets better. And if we get more seasons, the following books have some really great content so buckle up.