Summary
A mundane, yet clever and refreshing take on the end of the world. Deep down, we’re all Carol, trying to make the best out of a bad situation, whilst being true to ourselves.
Extinction is imminent as a planet is hurtling towards Earth, and whilst most feel liberated to pursue their dreams, one anxious, quiet woman (Carol) stands alone, feeling lost amongst the masses. Carol & The End of the World is a post-apocalyptic adult animated apocalyptic comedy-drama miniseries created by Dan Guterman (Rick and Morty and Community) for the streaming giant Netflix. Martha Kelly plays the title role and the rest of the cast also includes Michael Chernus, Bridget Everett, Beth Grant, Lawrence Pressman, Kimberly Hébert Gregory, Mel Rodriguez, and Delbert Hunt. Across the ten episodes of Season 1 we watch our basic protagonist navigate her life and feelings as the world is on a countdown to destruction.
We’re used to watching disaster films, each made to make us think about the impending doom of the world and how we might act if the world was ending. It’s a fun take to make this into an animation — this existential comedy, whilst it has a hard-hitting premise, feels easier and a more relaxed watch.
Carol & The End of the World Season 1 review and plot summary
“Does your dog know it’s the end of the world?” The first episode opens with a countdown ticking noise, with a woman alone on a bus, in black and white. Across the road on another bus, people are partying, and celebrating, but Carol’s bus begins to fill with gas and as she gasps for air, she wakes up.
We’ve all dreamed about dying, right? I’m sure we’ve all discussed what we would do if we knew the world was ending — something dramatic, drastic, spending all our money, doing things we don’t dare do in real life. Yet Carol seems to be doing the exact opposite.
There’s a comfort in this series — it’s giving you permission to be down, be paranoid, and feel sad when everyone around you might be the exact opposite. In a world where we’re told to be positive, think happy thoughts, and manifest our best life, it’s refreshing to watch a series that is the opposite of that. However, it’s also clever in reflecting society — Carol gets an office job, and the comparison between those in an office and those outside living their best lives mirrors that of our current world, without an official impending doom.
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The series isn’t without its shocking, borderline ridiculous humor, such as her parents being nudists in a throuple relationship with their live-in nurse, and Carol threatening her friends with a gun to steal their toner for the office (Corporate pressures, eh?) Whilst the series is about death and impending doom, there is a funny undertone to why Applebee’s might be our salvation. It’s a stretch and isn’t strong, but it helps the series keep its wonderful simplicity.
So, ten episodes about one seemingly lost and depressed woman? It works. Carol meets a man who also remains similarly lost, and I thought maybe this will be her purpose, a romance, and we’ll eventually have a soppy, happy ending. However, this meeting sets Carol on an expansive journey, where Carol makes more discoveries; helping her find out what she wants in life before it ends. The simple things in life lead to an all-round fulfilling ending.
Is Carol & The End of the World worth watching?
Yes. Each episode has a runtime of roughly thirty minutes so it’s an easy and good investment of your time. This subtly, powerful limited series will make you ask all the big questions about life — what is the point? What does it all mean?
What makes this series a top-tier watch for me is that it has its own tone, which is completely different from any other adult animations out there. With a focus on emotions and reactions, it’s a one-of-a-kind limited series.
What did you think of Carol & The End of the World Season 1? Comment below.
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