The Hollow: Netflix's Escape Room

Post By: Sarah Barclay

I watched the Netflix original series ‘The Hollow’ the other day and by watched, I mean I binged the entire 10 episode season within a day. And I have a few feelings about it.

The Hollow starts with three teens waking up in a room without windows or doors. They have no idea who they are, nor do they know each other, and they must figure out how they got there and how to get out. Without giving too much away, it’s basically a giant game of escape, but with more threatening consequences should the characters fail.

I was intrigued by the description, but ultimately decided to watch after seeing the trailer (and quite frankly, not having anything else to watch.) I took a chance, and I don’t entirely regret it. I thought it was an interesting concept for a show and a cartoon, especially one being rated TV-Y7-FV (television suitable for children 7+ featuring fantasy violence.) I had no expectations going into it, but I must say, it was really weird.

Between the constant questioning of whether or not they're dead, 'intense' life and death situations, and strange, unexplained superpowers, it was a lot to take in.

As far as the story goes, it kept my interest, and with it being a serial, gave me more of a reason to keep watching. At one point, I thought I would take a break from the show, but that break didn’t last long. I wanted to know what would happen next. The episodes bleed into each other which can make it hard to stop. Before you know it, you’re already done with the series.

If I’m being honest, each episode kept me on my toes. I wasn’t overly attached to the characters, but more curious how they would handle each situation thrown at them.

As a children’s show, it teaches kids problem solving and to work together. It also teaches that anytime is an appropriate time for dad jokes and puns, especially when you’re stuck in unfamiliar surroundings with strangers. While the latter may not be true in real life, it keeps the show light, and I appreciate that.

Getting to the end was probably the most interesting part. It almost felt like the end of a dystopian movie with the way they tackled it, but not quite. I had an idea of how it would end, but I didn’t expect the real ending to happen. While I don’t want to go out and say it was a ‘plot twist’, I definitely was shocked at the end, and also a bit confused. Ultimately, I can say I was satisfied with how it ended.

I do have to say, if they made more, I most likely would watch it.

I thought the animation style was interesting, but it wasn’t my favorite. While initially, I didn’t mind the thick line drawing of the characters, but as the show goes on and more action is incorporated, I started getting distracted by the animation. Generally, if I get distracted by animation, I’m stunned by the artistry or camera techniques being animated (most notably, the dolly zoom), but with The Hollow, I was distracted by what seemed to be a changing style. During the action sequences, the supposedly 2-D characters appear almost 3-D, and instead of watching what’s happening on screen, I’m focusing on the change of character design. While this may be picky, I found that I couldn’t fully enjoy the show because of it.

My only other animation gripe would have to be the character design of Vanessa. What bothered me was that she looked like a Bratz doll wannabe. Between the overdrawn eyelashes, the pink hair, and the attitude, she didn’t quite scream ‘original character material,’ but again, I’m fussy.

I do recommend The Hollow if you’re into youth fantasy. I understand it’s not for everyone, but I think it deserves a chance.