Netflix describes “Surviving Summer” as the story of a teenager who falls in love with a town and its people over the course of a summer. The first thought that came to mind when we read this description was: "Here's another one." After 10 episodes, we came to the conclusion that, although we were not wrong, we were pleasantly surprised by the authenticity of the show.
In a world with a population of nearly 8 billion people, there is some value in retelling stories, as different versions of the same characters provide a sense of comfort and relatability unique to each generation and demographic. The only point we have to criticize with this type of retelling is the lack of effort to properly adapt them to the format. It's okay to sell old wine in a new bottle as long as it stays true to the spirit. And we are glad that 'Surviving Summer' has understood this assignment. There's an effortless quality to the show that makes it so easy to watch.
Creators: Josh Mapleston, Joanna Werner
Stars: Kai Lewins, Sky Katz, João Gabriel Marinho
The story follows 'Summer', whose mother needs to go to the Middle East in search of work, so she leaves her to spend 6 weeks in Shorehaven, a coastal town in Australia, with a friend of hers. Summer is a rebel with a heart of gold. She plans to leave the place immediately, but due to unavoidable circumstances, she ends up staying and eventually falls in love with the place and the people. The family Summer stays with are old friends of her mother. The son, Ari, is a surfer returning to the scene after being incapacitated in the hospital for a year following a shoulder injury. His parents hesitate to let him participate in the upcoming surfing competitions because they fear that he will be in danger again. The other notable characters are Poppy, who is one of the main contenders for the surfing championship; Bodhi, an up-and-coming social media influencer; and finally, Marlon, who has a strained friendship with Ari. Throughout the summer, she befriends this group and becomes involved in their lives and ambitions, all against the backdrop of surfing.
One of the first things we noticed about the show was its excellent music and how perfectly it fits the script. And despite not knowing anything about the sport, we can't help but think that she did surfing justice and adequately represented its competitive nature. An audience's investment in the sport that any film or show is based on or focuses on makes a big difference in the likability of the content. “Surviving Summer” had a pretty masterful balance between integrating surfing into the plot without going overboard with the details, which is exactly what makes even the least athletic viewer imagine themselves on a surfboard riding the waves.
The characters on the show were also extremely likable and relatable. Ari, the former professional surfer struggling to let go of his past while dealing with the burden it placed on him, was literally every person who had suffered a setback in life. Bodhi, trying to find her place in the world while she made sure everyone around her was happy, sometimes made our hearts ache. While it's easy to dismiss Marlon as a selfish, insecure jerk, once we understand his motivations that stemmed from guilt and lack of trust, we can't help but think that there's a little bit of Marlon in each of us. Poppy, the responsible champion trying to rediscover her love for surfing amidst her championship ambitions, was probably our favorite character of hers. Their strength lies in the fact that, despite their clichéd conceptualization, they are far from being one-dimensional. Each of them has a personality and a story arc independent of simply advancing the protagonist's journey.
Lately, with a lot of the OTT content, we've started to feel like the stories are forced to fit into the number of episodes, causing them to feel rushed or just choppy. So when we saw that there were 10 episodes of what we initially thought was an over-the-top story, an exasperated sigh was heard. But for once we are glad to be wrong. The number of episodes was just right for the length and flow of the show, with no scene or subplot feeling out of place. This is quite an achievement for OTT content in recent times.
Probably the only negative thing we can say about 'Surviving Summer' is that perfect doesn't mean exceptional. It all comes down to the standards of valuing good content. When the makers of a movie or show promise entertainment to the viewer in exchange for a few hours of their time, a promise is made and it is ethical to keep it.
Watch Surviving Summer 2022 Tv Series Trailer
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