directed by:
Georgia Harris, Henry Webb, Jack Hawes, Idunn Marthinsen, Will Tiley written by: Craig Selbrede, Will Tiley, Jack Hawes, Mergan Berman, Henry Webb genre: Drama, Fantasy |
This write-up contains some spoilers. Beware. For a Fantasy-based series, the first thing you’ll probably notice in chapter one of “Relic” is how the cast looks like everyday people, just like you! We catch them at a party with the drinks flowing, the music bumping, fisticuffs being thrown, and your usual weekend mayhem running rampant everywhere you look. It ain’t too long before the party crowd breaks up, and then we’re introduced to a strange voice and a “Relic” that our main character, Rory, ends up bonding with, which spurs the plot forward. Next thing you know, she’s hearing voices even in the daylight while sober, with or without her headphones.
Rory, played by Bex Goudling, seems like a solid fit. The voice is another asset in “Relic” with its perfect raspy whisper & witty banter. The show is also shot in a very clean and concise way that we can easily absorb, which gives us all the opportunity to step out of our reality and into the Fantasy realm. As it turns out, the voice belongs to a dragon that’s been dead for years & years, with a name I probably couldn’t spell even by looking at it directly. From there, you get the mythology that comes along with it as Rory talks to herself out in the middle of a field, learning that she has to collect three relics in total. Is there work to be done? Yes. Acting-wise, it’s a bit of a mix. You’ve got some that excel and others that are more clearly at the beginning stages of their careers and whatnot. Take the fight scene between Jak and Charlie, for example. Sure, they’re drunk, but they also can’t stop grinning in the midst of what’s supposed to still be a fairly serious scene. As for the fight itself, we’d be looking for a little more commitment and sharper choreography if we’re to believe that the physical altercations are real. We still get the point in both of these scenarios – but would you rather have things implied by filling in the gaps with your imagination or have what you see feel like it’s absolutely irrefutable onscreen? Audio-wise, there’s fluctuating quality that can be a bit of a distraction as it switches between scenes. Things continue to get stranger as some characters seem to know just about everything that Rory is going through on the inside of her head, like the American, who is apparently a wizard…because, of course? Then you’ve got a gang of purple hooded people that work for the fae, magic spells being cast, and you realize that you’re, like, knee-deep into some larping that has turned into an entire series. If that sounds like your jam, then right on – you’re gonna love “Relic” – but if it’s not…a lot of this will probably fly right over your head as you try to grapple with how much is still left to your imagination. As we slide into chapter two, it becomes clear to us that the worst-kept secret in the UK is that Rory has been entwined with an ancient dragon – literally EVERYBODY knows, and that’s weird to me. It’s not really something that’s discussed, so much as something that just happens, which turns the tables on this being something that Rory was going through secretly as an individual, to becoming more like she’s the last of her group of friends to be in on this adventure that has seemingly been going on for years. Where “Relic” gets a bit tangled up is in its quest to balance what’s serious versus the intended humour. Like in the scene with Jak being interrogated, for example, even things like pounding on the table in order to get the answers could be more intense to make it that much more believable. As it stands, each line seems to set up another smarmy line from Jak as he sits there captive, which might not be a bad approach if the jokes landed a bit more than they did, but they’ll get a little chuckle at best. All this being said, and almost in spite of itself, there’s still enough here to continue watching and see where it all goes. Like any series, “Relic” is trying to find the solid ground beneath it to build on, and I’m patient with respect to that. You can see things quickly improve, like Simon Chukumbindi’s acting playing Charlie - and the plotline thickening a bit more as we get introduced to Tristan, played by Michael Taylor. They’ve got 48 hours to find another relic but have no idea as to how they’re going to do that. Jak is eventually let go, with all of his talismans, seemingly without consequences or having to really recognize that his captor has any true authority over him. Then we’re in a battle for the “Relic” as Rory and Jak try to hash things out, once again, with everyone seeming to know exactly what the heck is going on and the voice of a dragon stuck inside one of their friends’ head appearing normal to the lot of’em. The effects of magic and spells are used sparingly, which is probably a good thing – it’s pretty easy to understand that “Relic” is made with a shoestring budget, and if you’re considering that, what you’ll see effects-wise really ain’t that bad. I maintain we’re somewhat left on our own as viewers to piece this story together and fill in a lot of the gaps here - as to why things are the way they are or why everyone seems to know everything about this ancient dragon talking to one of their friends - except us. Even as to why chapter two is called “Chivalry Is Dead,” was beyond me – I didn’t make the connection. The big test, in my opinion, is always episode three. Whether I’m watching something with a big budget or small, that’s usually where I determine if I’m in or if I’m out. Audio volume fluctuation starts to threaten the watchability of this series once more with its inconsistency. I know it seems like a small thing, but it’s crucially important. We all have ears, and they all tend to work in the same way, which is what can make it a bit frustrating. I’m just gonna recommend turning up chapter three as it comes out quieter than the previous two chapters overall. As it carries on, you’ll find this episode the toughest to follow in the audio department. Rory’s in some kind of coma, Jak’s all kinds of pissy, and everyone’s confused about what steps should be taken next, myself included. Some of the characters start to discover that they’re not so different after all. Whether they’re working for the fae or part of ‘the order,’ they’re still friendly enough with each other at times, even after yelling at one another in scenes prior. And yeah, that’s confusing. We get the impression that there are two sides to this story at the very least, but they’re still melded into one, and we’re kind of left on our own to understand how that is supposed to work. Rory’s stuck in a spirit realm of some kind on an office chair while the rest of the people she knows, good and bad, are discussing plans to find the “Relic” and save her in the process. I’ll admit, it’s drastically unclear as to how everyone got so friendly with each other all of a sudden after being so intensely at odds in the chapters beforehand, but here we are, and that’s the case. Now we’ve got a posse of five on a mission to save their friend, which continues to expand as they pick up more on their quest along the way. I salute the efforts being made, don’t get me wrong – there’s obviously lots going into “Relic” being made with its large cast of characters and whatnot, but it’s losing ground through its inaudible story, scenes that aren’t choreographed convincingly, and a plotline that is wandering towards its final destination. There’s much work to be done here, from the writing to the technical execution, “Relic” is plagued by a series of small victories and larger setbacks as it tries to establish its storyline concretely for its future. So…yeah…as it stands, it’s becoming harder not to view this show as a bunch of friends hanging out with a camera. But on the bright side, by the very end of chapter three, the plot does start to begin making some sense. Dove, played by Emi Rush, has some solid scenes acting-wise. You can see she’s got the spark in her. I’m not saying that there aren’t still scenes with her in them that couldn’t be stronger – there are – but it’s clear that Rush and Goudling really want to make acting their future. Now, Rory’s quasi-boyfriend is a bizarre add-on character in this story, and they’ve sure got him seeming thirsty AF…like, I’m truly worried about this guy, even though I know he’s a fictional character. Those pesky fae, I tell ya…holding back magic from the world, and…how did they put it earlier on…perpetuating inequality or something to that effect? It’s more than a bit unclear as to who they are, what is making them such a nuisance, or how our main characters are ever going to be rid of them once and for all. Zeb, played by Hayden Shu, is a great character in this show, and his snide comments are both appreciated & genuinely funny.
I also liked the idea of the janitor’s closet being a secret elevator, complete with a microwave that serves as its control panel – that was a clever idea, and it’s filmed well. From there, the gang ends up splitting up, and some of them take a separate elevator, which seems like a bit of a bizarre move…I guess the closet-based lift doesn’t go to the level that they needed it to? Oh, the things you catch as an outsider looking in, right? Look – I’ll be real with ya – the cast and writers of “Relic” are working so hard on so much, and I’d be the first to acknowledge that – but they’ve got a bit of tunnel vision too, and it’s preventing their show from having the attention to detail it needs - to be the show it intends to be. While they’re zoomed in on certain aspects of their story, they’re leaving out a whole lot, too, which leaves the harder work on the viewer’s end to bridge all the gaps in “Relic.” Russian nesting dolls as characters in chapter four? That’s probably gonna be a stretch too far for most folks. The Inquisitor? C’mon now – we all know there can only be one of those, and it’s in Red Dwarf! “Relic” is continually asking a bit more from us while not quite living up to its end in giving back - as far as the key details are concerned. Jak and Charlie share a decent scene while they’re forced to talk after being tied up together… and I suppose I’d argue that’d be the main highlight onscreen within chapter four. Will Orson, played by Will Stephenson, ever get the girl or a clue…for, like, life? Stay tuned y’all…stay tuned. Rory continues to be portrayed as the main character, yet we don’t quite have the reasons to follow her story as much as when the series first began - she’s a bit of an awkward hero that is searching for the answers every bit as much as we are while we’re watching “Relic,” which is a strange quality to have for the lead role, but it does give the plot some needed flexibility in how this tale gets told to us. ”Relic” keeps getting quieter from episode to episode! If I don’t remember to turn down my system here at the end of chapter five, I’m gonna blow my speakers with whatever it is that I play next. Consider yourselves warned – there’s more than just the fae or ‘the order’ to be worried about! Byron, played by Max Davison, has been a notable bright spot in the cast from the start of this show and arguably one of its most consistent characters overall. As far as Rory and the dragon in her head are concerned…I mean, I get it – we’re not talking about a big-budget show here, but I can’t help but think that this story would have been much better served if we had some kind of tangible image to connect with said dragon, as opposed to just the voice. Anyhow, it becomes pretty clear that “Relic” can’t wrap up its storyline within the five episodes that are out, but it’s unclear as to how it can continue at the level it’s at…we need more out of this show from top to bottom. Whether it’s the acting or the attention to detail, the production values or the writing, “Relic” really feels like it’s attempted to sprint with its ideas long before it could walk properly. There is some character development and arc to the story that is sufficient, but there is a lot that has so much more room to evolve as well. Rather than being bogged down by a multitude of characters, “Relic” would have been better served by sticking to a smaller cast with more robust characters. As it stands, even the cast that it has often looks perplexed as to how they got into this maze of a storyline, and we have to assume that if they had more confidence in the core material, that they’d be able to deliver it more convincingly. I know how much goes into making something like this – I mean, there are five freakin’ episodes already, and I’m assuming they’re intending to make more…but they gotta dial in and focus on what the goals for their show truly are. I’m certainly not intending to be discouraging – they’ve got a good framework here, ideas of their own, and potential…but they’re also continually drifting wide of the mark, whether it’s the technical stuff or extraneous details that detract from the main story they’re trying to tell us. I’ve gotta call things like I see’em, but I’ve also gotta be fair and respectful of the work that has been put in too…so I’m gonna split the difference with “Relic” and chop this right down the middle with two and a half stars out of five. If you’re wielding a sword, you better be prepared to use it with full force – and if the pen is truly mightier than the sword, then you’ve gotta prove it with a story that cannot be pierced. |
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