Summary
Japanese series Followers Season 1 is a great addition to Netflix’s evergrowing international market but it also provides lessons in social media.
This review of Netflix series Followers season 1 contains no spoilers.
The opening episode of Netflix’s Followers Season 1 is indicative of today’s mentality. In fact, there’s even a scene at the start where one of the leading characters, Natsume, is toying with her friends about the purpose of followers on Instagram — “The more the better” attitude, despite the growing trend that a bigger following may not result in more attention at all.
And Japanese series Followers delves into the spiralling purpose of social media; the narcissistic drives that compel young generations to chase that clout. Where attention seekers will do anything for their mark for fame and where social voyeurs can leverage your status to a higher level that is dreamed of.
Natsume is a character that has become induced by this culture, and once she receives the attention she is looking for by a stroke of luck, brought on by influencer and photographer Limi, it’s how she deals with that reality that molds her story.
As for Limi, she’s made it, but life is not as sweet as it may seem. Limi represents the growing need in most of us; having a successful career does not mean you do not wish to raise a child of your own and to love someone conditionally. The Japanese Netflix series manages to tap into that human nature that subsumes our creative hunger. Human connection is way stronger than thousands of likes and a strong set of subscribers.
But as a final thought on Followers Season 1; the series raises the importance of living in a fast attention-based world. Happiness in the route of success, and if anything, this series demonstrates that whilst having a career for money is fine, ultimately, happiness is the true currency — and that is ingrained in this malleable Netflix series.
