Reprisal-if you are looking for something entertaining and interesting
4 out of 5 stars
By Joe
The title is a HULU show I found recently and was immediately hooked. It is a funky, Southern gothic, sometimes violet but, I think, not too far gone series. It grabs you because of the characters involved. It doesn’t try to be necessarily realistic, is violent but not a slasher movie, sexy, and over the top in its creation and use of characters and what they do. The main character, stunning Doris, is nearly killed by her vicious brother who heads a gang, the Bashing Brawlers, and runs the local bar, place of ill repute, and drug dealing. After recovering from her brother’s attack, Doris hides out and puts together her own gang to get her reprisal, hence the name of the series.
This is a criminal chick flick, focusing on how the females involved plan, act, and react. Doris is played by Abigail Spencer, who you may have seen previously in the soap All My Children and Angela’s Eyes, as well as a lesser role in Mad Men. Her lead role here will seriously enhance her career because you can’t take your eyes off of her. The guys and girls she brings into her gang also are unique roles, played by well chosen actors, most of which you probably haven’t seen previously.
I finished the final episode of season 1 recently and am still entranced. I think the last two episodes probably went a little long but, to steal a quote from the AV Club review, the series is all about style over substance but it has style to burn! Reviewers struggle to characterize Reprisal and two of the best I have seen is a “rockabilly neo-noir thriller” and “film fatale on the midnight train to revenge.” I was disappointed that the final episode didn’t lead to a direct face-off between Doris and her criminal brother. It also excited me because that leaves a lot to look forward to for season 2. To be honest, there has not yet been an announcement that a second season has been approved but, given the reviews and how much I liked it, I think the likelihood of that happening is high.
Given the time we live in, for my money Reprisal is an excellent distraction. Give it a view; what else you got to do right now?