Generation Loss: The Social Experiments (2023– ) User Reviews

Cool Stuff

[portraitofdoriangrey · 9/10 · 29 May 2023]

Although a little slow to pick up, I was left absolutely shocked by the end of the first three parts of Generation Loss.

Spoilers below.

The first part of the Social Experiments is more of a comedy. Although a bit surreal, the main character, Ranboo, does a little quest hosted by a demon, and goes through strange doors before being tranquilized. The pace is a bit slow, but it's funny.

In part two, the main character is in a warehouse set up Jigsaw style. The audience is left questioning their own reality that they're being shown as it's inferred the show is being heavily censored after a character has his insides pulled apart. In the end, Ranboo manages to escape the censorship and the warehouse set.

In part three, Ranboo tries to escape and shut the show down. Aided by fellow contestants Sneegsnag and Slimecicle, he manages to almost escape before being recaptured and the audience votes to kill him. I found the execution really cool on this last episode. A part of you really wants him to escape, but another part really wants him to stay, so you can see what can see him. It is very reminiscent of the Truman Show.

TL;DR: These episodes were really cool. Can't wait to see what's next.

Give this show a chance, it honestly will blow you away

[daydarkk · 10/10 · 30 May 2023]

Generation Loss: The Social Experiments really is a one of a kind media. If you have never watched anything created by Ranboo or even know who he is, please out of everything watch this series. It is by no means a traditional show, and some parts may seem awkward or paced weirdly, but that is honestly all due to the format. Genloss was streamed live, and once you really start seeing the hints of the story after you reach episode 2, it makes so much of what's going on make sense. The finale is the hardest hitting and no spoilers, something you will think about for a long while after you are done watching. This was a passion project (the first of this kind and scale he has ever done!!) created by a 19 year old Twitch streamer who straight up says he is not an actor. But even so, he managed to portray a gut-wrenching performance and while its not perfect, it has to be one of the most well produced livestreamed medias out there to date. There are mountains of social commentaries and analysis you can do based off of only around 5 hours of total content. I cannot WAIT to see where the story goes from here, because this is only the beginning. Watch Generation Loss!!

One-of-a-kind show---made by a teenager

[hannahjayf · 9/10 · 30 May 2023]

Generation Loss starts off with a very slow, very uninteresting first episode. It's silly, goofy, and a bit painful to watch, but seeing the small details makes you want to wait around and see where this could possibly go. And oh boy, does this payoff. I think this is perhaps the most effective set-up I've ever seen in a piece of media, going from me cringing during the first episode to being genuinely scared and at the edge of my seat in the final episode, my heart aching. Generation Loss is such a unique idea and I'm incredibly excited to see where it will go.

TLDR: Give it a chance. It's worth it.

Slow start but the payoff is worth the wait

[crkiggins · 10/10 · 30 May 2023]

While at first the pacing may seem awkward I can assure you its entirely due to the format of the show. Generation loss was broadcast live to the creators (Ranboo) twitch channel and had interactive elements where the audience could choose what happens. Another thing to keep in mind is none of the people in the show are professional actors but content creators so while yes the acting admittedly is not always the best the comedy never disappoints. The show is filled with commentary about how content creators are viewed and how their entire being is often boiled down to just one thing. Generation loss is also filled with references and parallels to other shows/movies (including but not limited to The Truman show and Saw) and I truly believe there is something for everyone. I'd say even if you don't find something to enjoy in most of the episodes the ending makes it all worth it. I won't spoil it here as its best to go into the last episode in the dark, but it truly is a masterpiece.

amazing!

[SSakura_ · 10/10 · 29 May 2023]

I honestly love this and everything about it. Would definitely reccomend. Most people are saying that when ranboos mask is glowing everything is "less scary", (fantasy view as some people call it) or dulled (ex. Blood is slime.), and when it flickers/glitches that's when he- and us- see the "real" world. It's horrifying. First glance I was honestly just thinking "I thought this would be horror" and once it's revealed that all of the comedy and over done practical effects are actually just seen that way its unsettling. The whole first episode was amazing and hilarious (I personally won't shut up about Christian hell, that was a hilarious bit), although the scene where the acting abruptly became forced kind of let me know that it's not actually a comedy. The second one was terrifying and hilarious too. Charlie's screaming in the operating room when ranboos mask bugged out was amazingly well done. The following rooms and the small detail of ranboo saying SOS in sign language when he was half sentient and his other hand reaching over to stop it was also amazing. Honestly the entire show was so well made. When he switched from "let me go" to "let me die" after realizing the consequences of living I was so thrown off. He said he wanted us to feel like we actually killed someone. The fact that there was no wait, no hesitation and the box just SHUT with a final few small movements was disturbing. Can all the genlosers go on a collective field trip to christian hell please? It'll be fun i swear.

Completely new experience- give it a shot!

[mewtwopower · 9/10 · 30 May 2023]

At first I tuned into the first episode a bit bored, since yes, it does start off a bit slow. It seems like a silly streamer bit with silly acting, but starts to get a bit odd as the plot continues into the second episode. I won't spoil anything in this review, so just know if it seems boring and "tame" for a horror series, give it a chance... the ending left me genuinely speechless and I can't wait for the series to continue someday. Ranboo and the other actors are charismatic and made even the "boring" parts enjoyable, and even if you know very few or none of the creators in this project, it's still something that'll leave people hooked and interested for more.

For a first time project made by a 19 year old, I am extremely impressed.

[lurkerlife · 9/10 · 30 May 2023]

The passion that this project holds shines through every aspect of the production. From the camera work to the costumes, it is abundantly clear that everyone working on Generation Loss loved the project they were pouring their soul into.

The first episode is goofy, and may not be what you are expecting, but this is done on purpose to provide a false sense of security. Long time horror fans may be turned off by this in the beginning, but it is crucial to experience in order to be truly mortified by the end of episode 3.

Surprisingly good acting, as (I'm assuming) most of these content creators do not have prior professional training. Ranboo does an incredible job in the last scenes of episode 3 especially, his screams are sure to send a chill down your spine. Jerma985 as The Puzzler is a special treat that you will not want to miss in episode 2!

The set design for Generation Loss is incredible. So many easter eggs and references to past horror media can be discovered at every turn. For this being a live event, you cannot argue that this production is not impressive, innovative, and captivating, especially when taking into consideration that a 19 year old was at the head of production.

Ranboo has a bright future in whichever career he decides to go forth with. Generation Loss is a gutwrenching piece of media that is worth your time.

Trust the process

[xkatiechadwickx · 10/10 · 30 May 2023]

Initially, I was slightly disappointed, after following the making of this project since the beginning it wasn't what i expected. However. After reading through other peoples views and fan theories (most of which turned out to be true) I was really able to appreciate the plot and content as a whole. I believe this is one of a kind and can't wait to see where Ranboo the creator, takes it next. Going to re-watch it this week :D. The cinematography and mise-en-scene is amazing, I'm a college student taking media studies, film studies and English lit and i think this is a master piece, getting past the initial 'silliness' and realizing it is due to a theme of censorship within the first episode give the narrative more depth and opens it up for more active spectorship.

Just yes

[lfcharbutt · 10/10 · 14 June 2023]

This has to be the best thing I've ever seen in absolutely ages! Acting was top tier especially in the last episode, been absolutely hyper fixating on this for the past month or so before it even came out and honestly o would do anything to watch it for the first time again the utter shock over everything that happened I hope this gets continued for a sequel because it would honestly make my year. I would recommend this to anyone it's so good and I've ranted about it to absolutely everyone I know as this can either just be a show or you could go into the lore and theorys on it wich there are many!

Pleasant surprise

[www-bleeding_demon · 9/10 · 20 July 2023]

My daughter introduced me to Ranboo and she is constantly introducing me to amazing things so I watched it . :) It does start of a little bit slow . Episode 1 is more lighthearted and odd. Episode 2 starts to follow darker themes but definitely holds your attention better. Episode 3 is the shortest one but the conclusion of the story definitely leaves you scrambling to find more videos by Ranboo .You have to get used to the idea that you never completely know whats going on but wow . It actually was very impressive ,the acting ,the props ,the story . Bravo 👏 I sincerely hope he pursues this direction of content further .

ranges from great to mediocre - slow start, awesome final 15 minutes

[justpronouncedkiiddo · 6/10 · 29 May 2023]

I watched the first part in a VOD and the second one live, and to be honest, i was pretty nervous after that. The first episode was decent, though the improv was definitely shaky, particularly from Ranboo. After finishing the part, i was kind of left wondering, "where's the horror?" but i kept my faith that we would get more payoff in the future parts.

Episode two was incredibly hit-or-miss. There were some great bits in there. From his past body of work, i knew Jerma was absolutely going to carry, but it's disappointing that he was by *far* the best thing about this episode. The others' comedy improv was quite frankly painful, which sucks because i *know* these people are capable of being funny and interesting. This stream was a slog to sit through, yet i also felt like i was being hammered in the head with stimuli constantly. We got a little taste of the horror elements in this part which were lacking in the first, but honestly, the chroma-keying for the slime/blood switch was laughable. It's supposed to be this first glimpse at what's really happening, for the audience to comprehend "hey, there's more to this than the goofy surface we and the characters are seeing," but it was really dampened to me by the subpar vfx (not to mention that there probably should have been a better cue for Charlie to start screaming. I understand it's hard to do cues live, but there are multiple points throughout all three episodes where things happen too early or late, and it was noticeable to me.)

however, i must admit, episode three was one of the best productions i've seen on Twitch ever, and i am very happy that the previous streams were in fact leading up to a really good payoff. I watched this one live as well. The only parts of this episode i didn't like were really only symptoms of inexperienced actors, so i wont fault them too much for it. And wow, i was disappointed with Ranboo's acting, but he totally switched something on during the final scene. Incredible. Also, knowing what we know from the third part makes the first two a more satisfying watch the second time around.

Overall, i'm excited to see more. I've been a fan of Ranboo's for years now, and it's been great seeing this project come to life. I knew it wasn't going to be perfect, and it wasn't, but this concept has hooked me and i'm thrilled that there's more in store for it.

Slow start, decent ending

[aimeejayyc · 2/10 · 30 May 2023]

Slow first two episodes, third picked up slightly but was only really interesting in the last few minutes. It feels like you miss out on half the experience if you didn't watch it live as there was viewer interaction built into this (nothing that actually really mattered except at the very end decision). Decent acting from most background characters, but fell short in some moments from the main actor. Felt like it relied heavily on having big streamer names to garner attention to this project rather than relying on it's few actual interesting aspects. Some amazing camera work though and the soundtrack was very good !

Generation Loss: A show with a great ending and unique characters

[redwillowdbh · 10/10 · 2 June 2023]

If you like the Truman Show, the Saw movies or horror, then this is the series for you. I'll try to keep this review spoiler free as possible.

Storyline- The first episode was a good start, and although is more comedy than horror based on first watch, theres a feeling of dread at the end. I understand why people didn't like the little horror that there is but it build on the show. And after watching the second episode, this episode is definitely more creepy on rewatch.

The second episode is longer but more horror inducing than the first. Although some scenes are drawn out, the ending gives a feeling of dread after the build up. The last episode is definitely the best, with a good story wrap at the end, with good acting, fourth wall breaks and influences of the audiences decisions.

Characters- Ranboo had a nice basic costume design up the the mask. The mask suited both the character and the actor themselves. Although Ranboo said they didn't like acting as much as directing, I think the last episode was definitely some of their best acting in the series. The rage when he picked up the camera and slammed it to the table and his final walk towards the end was definitely the best parts.

Charlie was a character that became better and better throughout the show, with his final two scenes being some of his best acting and character building in the entire show. I hope he does more acting in other shows at it was so good.

Sneeg was really funny as well, and I was glad when he was brought back as a primary character in the second episode as there are some great scenes he plays well in.

Everyone else on the cast did really well overall, and no one felt out of place. Although I think H was a little too obvious (If you know what I'm talking about then you'll get what I'm hinting at), but I think each person was well casted and played. Most of the cast have never acted before and were improving but it fits with the tone of the show.

Everything else- The music. Holy smokes was the music good. Nathan (the person who made music) did a fantastic job and as someone who is studying Music as a possible career, his use of synths and weaving the Genloss symbol into the music is very impressive. I love the sets, again the abandoned shopping mall surprising fit the feel of the show. I also think the reveal of the Cabins real set is such a good scene. The lighting was great throughout the entire show, especially the light up of the mask as he's taken through the door at the end.

I don't think I can say much more without spoiling anything, just that Ranboo did at fantastic job. At 19, they've created something unique and fun and I still can't over over the finale.

Incredible Live Show

[beepboop-02616 · 10/10 · 30 May 2023]

This whole project is just so awesome, and there has never been something like this. When watching the first episode, it might seem like it's more comedy than horror, but as the story progresses, you realise things about it that make it so much more horrifying than it seemed at first. The interactive segments make Generation Loss something more than just a movie, you as the viewer think you actually have an impact on the way the episodes play out. I have been following the creator of this project for multiple years, and it has been amazing to see this progress from just a couple sketches and ideas to the scale it turned out. I am so excited for the future of Generation Loss and can't wait to figure out all the mysteries surrounding it.

left me speachless

[dylanwallows · 10/10 · 30 May 2023]

Something completely new, an amazing achievement for an amateur. The production was spectacular, the acting was insane. It's clear how much thought and care has been put into this, even before the show started from the teasers. Ranboo has shown such great passion for this project that it would have been impossible for me not to enjoy. For the whole duration, of every episode, i was never bored. I have to admit, the first episode was a shock to me at first, but as we learn about Showfall Media and its intentions, every piece of the puzzle fit exactly to where it belonged. As a lover of intereractive series, this is one of the best to have watched live.

I still can't get over it. (Small spoiler at the end)

[meliletidivi · 9/10 · 30 May 2023]

While it was amazing seeing it live, it's a bit akward watching the void (I know cuz I actually missed the first episode) But the good thing about it it that , you can just skip it (?)

I sincerely recommend giving it a chance Although there's gonna be a more disgetive version up on YT (Generation Loss channel) I feel like it's not the same, and it's worth watching both!

The first episode it's very much just comedy-ish A bit akward at times but fun to watch anyways!!

The second one slowly but surely start on adding more horror stuff while still keeping some comedy in it.. The third one its mostly suspense horror with really little comedy in it

So it's a progressive thing between the 3 of it witch it's very well done!

Overall a really good show! Can't wait to see more of it

SPOILERS AHEAD:

Seeing the first episode after seeing everything once changes up A LOT there's a lot of implication on the two later episodes that really puts everything into a different perspective

And you see that a lot of the "Silly" "comedy" thing are in fact, not silly at all.

And I LOVE IT It's so well executed, once you see what it really is you can't come back.

Unique, refreshing, and shocking (Minor Spoilers)

[bophiesophie · 10/10 · 30 May 2023]

I think the format for this show contributed the most to how much I enjoyed it. Being a live show with audience participation created a sense of responsibility and immediately connected the viewer with the characters in a way that many shows fail to do. After creating and solidifying this connection in the second episode, we then have the rug ripped out from under us. Our very new understanding of this world is already changed as we realize our choices are much more sinister and less effective than we were lead to believe.

This show is extremely unique, refreshing, and kept me on the edge of my seat for the entire length of the production.

The set design is my next highest praise, as the intricate details and nostalgic settings give the viewer a deep sense of dread. The greatest triumph of this was when the Hero went back through the set of the previous episodes in the finale, coming to a new realization of the horrors he has faced. We are welcomed to come to this conclusion alongside him.

It is difficult to discuss this show's acting in an objective point of view. In many ways, all of the 'actors' are just playing themselves, improving their way to an end product. And at this, they succeed. It feels natural and familiar. Stand-out actors this season were Charlie, Sneeg, and Austin. All three had complex roles that required several levels of immersion, and they all did an excellent job at it.

Finally, to address the main piece of this project: Ranboo. His blood is all over this show, in more ways than one. His influence permeates every prop, composition, and edit. While I am impressed by his acting, I do think there is still so much more to come before I make a final choice on it. For someone who has never done a show before, and who only revealed the upper half of their face to the public in recent years, I applaud every choice they made.

Greatest thing I have ever watched

[barbadosthegreat · 10/10 · 24 June 2023]

The way Ranboo uses comedy and purposefully bad acting and affects at the start to make the horror at the end hit harder and feel more real is probably the singlehandedly most genius thing to happen in film. They way you could spend hours dissecting each and every carefully put together frame, the way minor details turn into major plot points, the way it all comes together so cleanly at the end, it's all amazing and will leave you absolutely mind blown. The dedication put into this show is beyond incredible and you can feel the love and passion that everyone had for this project in every detail both big and small. The funny parts are absolutely hilarious and the scary parts are gut wrenchingly horrifying and the way it transitions from one to the other, taking advantage of the name "Generation Loss" in which something quickly becomes corrupted as it is copied, is masterful in both conceptualization and execution. I highly recommend watching this to any horror fan or anyone in general because this work of art deserves to be admired by everyone.

Amazing series.

[avagbrand · 10/10 · 4 June 2023]

Ranboo has done an amazing job at creating this series, especially due to him being nineteen. He truly lured the watchers into a false sense of security with the first two episodes' comedy, while introducing more of the horror elements in the second episode, with it still seeming like a lighthearted series, before truly having the horror laid out in episode three. The false sense of security in episode one, with it being very comedy based, while having the entirety of it seem much darker after watching episode two was amazing, and truly made the show live up to its expectations. The acting was amazing, and all of the actors were great at playing their characters.

Best internet horror series so far

[schlagenbunny · 10/10 · 30 May 2023]

It starts a little slow, but the first episode is like a funny little show, but with the underlying horror elements, and then the second episode you see how bad everything becomes after the first person dies and that this isn't just a funny little game show and that this is life or death. And the final episode, even through it's the shortest of the the three episodes, it wraps everything up in a nice little bow and ranboo breaks free from the control that showfall has on them and they try and break the cycle and get out of there, but it doesn't go to plan and they beg for their life but then they re-gain their memories and then they beg to die and then they get killed.

Amazing start to a very intriguing story (Spoilers start halfway through review)

[TheFlamingTrash · 7/10 · 30 May 2023]

I've had an eye on this project since it was first announced about a year ago and in my opinion it is an amazing show, it's not flawless (some parts can seem forced due to the fact that theres no professional actors and the pacing definitely requires some work) but considering it's the director's first major project I'd say it's really good.

If you are looking for a serious horror this probably isn't for you, if you're looking for a mindless comedy show this also probably isn't for you, if you like shows that get you to think hard about the story, that have so many small details you would only catch on your rewatches, can make you laugh out loud but also leave you motionless in a state of shock and also just has a passion behind it that most mainstream producers struggle with as of recently this series is for you.

One flaw with watching it now is that it definitely was best experienced live (however there is currently being a version worked on thats better for later watching)

Okay now into spoilers.

The first episode is probably the weakest of the three parts, however if you're looking for a good laugh you'll enjoy it, a lot of the horror in this episode is more implied than shown, with set pieces and context clues carrying the most of this episodes horror, theres very clear inspiration from old 80's horror movies and a bunch of really cool story elements that once you've watched the whole show will hit you like a brick.

The second episode is definitely a good step up from the first, essentially it's a bootleg of the Saw movies, and this is where the horror truly begins, as the facade of the more pg horror starts to peel away and reveal the true horror of the whole thing (Kind of similar to the game "We Happy Few") however this episode does keep its comedic elements as well, it's not until the end where the facade ends where the comedy ends and the true horror begins.

And now episode 3, easily the best episode of the show in my opinion, the horror truly picks up, exposing the reality of whats been truly happening in the previous two episodes, the cinematography truly shines here, the character designs, the ost, the lighting, it's all masterfully done, you would believe it's from an actual movie, plus the ending will leave you feeling empty for a long while after finishing. Completely truthfully, try and go in blind for this one, it will pay off, I promise.

Ultimately, it's not a show for everyone, however for the small group who likes this kind of stuff, it's definitely something to look into, and with the confirmation that a whole new story from the same universe is currently in development, now is better than ever to start watching.

Amazing breakout horror series. Give it a chance!

[etrogers-70067 · 9/10 · 30 May 2023]

Generation Loss starts as a harmless cheesy interactive gameshow but progresses into something truly demented. This series is full of surprises, each episode delving more into the horrors of Showfall Media than the last. For the main actors first time acting in a major role, they did an amazing job with demeanor shifts to differentiate between mind control and individual thought.

The first episode might put a lot of people off. The pacing is a bit slow because of the cheesiness and intentionally mediocre acting, but when I say everything ramps up in the end I mean it. Episode thee, "The Choice", is genuinely one of the best livestreamed events I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing.

Each episode modeled after a different era of horror, the series progressively gets darker. You may find obvious references to 80s-90s horror in episode one, 2000s horror in episode two, and finally modern horror in episode three. This series does an amazing job getting to the root of basic tropes in famous movies and putting a silly yet dreadful twist to them.

If you love comedy-horror and 4th wall breaks, you will love Generation Loss.

By far best horror web-horror series

[laprinsesadelamornlp · 8/10 · 30 May 2023]

After months of waiting, GenLoss finally came, out so i'll give my honest opinion here.

In the first chapter the acting by ranboo wasn't the best, the pacing was slow but overall it was decently fun to watch. On the other hand, Charlie's acting was pretty good, you can see how much he enjoys performing and his jokes were acceptable, and the improv made the episode more funny.

Many people say that they expected more horror aspects to it, but i belive this was intentionally, trying to give the spectator a sense of security, in some way.

Chapter two is the worst chapter. Not in a 1 star but in a 7/6 star review. Ranboo became more comfortable with his acting and so in the cast was, especially Jerma, but away from that, he was the only thing remarkable from this chapter. Horror elements became more prominent but nothing really stood out. Half in i just left the livestream because the episode became really boring and lore wise there wasn't anything intetesting. The end sequence was pretty good but in general not a good episode.

Third chapter has to be one of the best cinematographic pieces of work made by a streamer. The camera quality was phenomenal, Ranboo's acting became SO good, especially at the end; The feeling of dreadfulness was incredible and overall an amazing episode.

This series is defently in my recommend list, I think people should give this a chance. Many things to improve but the history is well told and it isn't complicated to understand.

I hope Gen 1 helps Ranboo's team to make even better chapters for the future to do the actual best web series a streamer has ever done.

(+ Points for the amazing OST)

Pretty good show !!

[aaaaaughhhhhhhhhh · 8/10 · 30 May 2023]

Generation Loss is definitely the first of its kind. Its new and it's different, and it definitely deserves a watch. That being said, heres my review.

*Some slight spoilers, but nothing big*

THE FIRST EPISODE

I'm going to be 100% honest. The first episode titled, "The Spirit of the Cabin" had me slightly scared for how the future episodes were going to be formatted. It was silly, mostly improv, and it was incredibly goopy. Silly and goopy is good, great even! But it definitely had me a little worried. However, in the final scene of the first episode, it became apparent that there was more to this show than met the eye. That last scene managed to grab my attention back and gave me hope for the next episode.

THE SECOND EPISODE

The second episode was definitely an upgrade from the first. It was basically a huge "Saw" parody where Jerma plays a character called, "The Puzzler". Despite what everyone else says, I enjoyed this episode! This one had a little bit of a better balance between horror and comedy, and it gave you somewhat more of a glimpse into what was actually happening. However some bits were really drawn out, but they're still fun to watch! Once you watch through more of the show, you start to realize that this production isn't all fun and games. The characters start to realize that too. Especially at the end when Ranboo finally sees through Showfall's game, which segues into the third and final episode.

THE THIRD EPISODE

I don't know what switch flipped during this episode but it was by far my favorite. The cinematography, the acting (especially from Ranboo at the end and Charlie throughout), this episode was the best of the three, no doubt. Anything you expected from the first two, throw it out the window, because this tops both of them. I won't say much about this one though because I think it's better if you watch it for yourself. (I myself have watched it 4 times already)

OVERALL REVIEW

Overall I really really enjoyed this series, and I'm really excited for what comes next in Generation Loss. There are a lot of details that you can catch if you look close enough during all of 3 these streams which I really enjoyed. Sure, the start was definitely slower paced, and some things were hit or miss. However I will say that it only got better as it went on. This is very very impressive for Ranboo's first horror project, and I would honestly recommend this to anyone who's looking for something new to watch :)

(I absolutely ADORED the OST as well, Nathan Hanover did a wonderful job!!)

Absolutely destroyed me

[ohheyitsem-23444 · 10/10 · 30 May 2023]

I have been left emotionally wrecked by this. It is quite possibly the most horrifying thing I have ever seen. At first it presents itself as a fun game show, but the true horror won't fully sink in until the very end. It has great rewatchability as well, everytime I watch I discover something new that elevates my horror. I cannot stop think about this series, it's been days. Generation Loss is not only a horror series, but a tragedy. Familiarity with the content creators involved elevates the overall themes and horror of the series, but it is absolutely not necessary for enjoyment and understanding of the series.