Written by Peta Hardiman
The opening scene of Netflix Original animated series The Hollow shows three teenagers waking up in a bunker with no memory of how they got there, what they’re doing, or even who they are. The only clue to their identities are their names written on a small slip of paper in their pockets. Kai, Adam, and Mira emerge from the bunker to find themselves in the middle of a world they don’t recognise, with no way to get home, and so commences a battle to find their way out.
Borrowing from mystery-focused fiction like The Maze Runner, The Hollow hooks you by establishing that Mira, Adam and Kai are strangers who need to work together if they want to find a way out of the bizarre world they’ve been trapped in, or even more pressingly, if they want to survive it. But it also moves quick; there’s no time for a slow-burn introduction of character backstories or personalities, which basically meant that by the time you’d be deciding whether you’re going to stick with the show, or give up, you’re in too deep to change your mind. Classic lead in to a binge session.
The Hollow’s secondary mystery element is the sudden appearance of the teens ‘special abilities’. Adam is the first to discover his superhuman strength and agility, using it to get out of the bunker where the trio awaken during the first episode. Because of the way the show is written, combined with the speed that the plot moves, and the lack of character backstory, the teens abilities offer much-needed insight into their separate personalities. Since the trio start the show with zero recollection of who they are, the viewer gets to watch character development almost in ‘real time’. You’re discovering who they are, and what their skills and personalities are, alongside Adam, Kai, and Mira themselves.
Episode to episode, the mix of terrifying new creatures, suspicious characters, and a perilous ever-changing landscape keep the teens, and the viewers on their toes. And to be completely honest, I finished all 10 episodes in a single sitting.
Each of the episodes takes place in a different environment, and each differing environment presents our team with new mythologies, and new enemies. You avidly watch as they take on witches, minotaurs, magic, and all around chaos, giving the show an indisputable video-game vibe. But more than that, each change of scenery offers each of the characters chances to show-off their own skills and prowess in different areas. Challenges faced may be physical, or mental, but each time one is overcome, you can legitimately see the bonds between the three characters strengthening.
Watching The Hollow, I felt myself getting caught up in the storyline and the mystery rather than nit-picking at smaller details like I normally do, but even so, no-show is without some shortcomings, and one of the big ones for me here is character development. While The Hollow cashes in on its mystery vibes to keep the watcher guessing, it has the unfortunate side effect of forgetting to give you information where it would be nice to have it. Characters have questions posed early on that never get answered, or only sort of get answered, and it provides some amount of frustration. This is especially true of characters introduced halfway through the series, who seem very much like they’re being jerks just for the sake of it.
Even in our main trio, there are certain elements that just didn’t need to be there, including a half-hearted attempt at a romantic subplot that never quite made it. However, for the most part, the characters are likeable, and the story moves quickly, so small issues such as these can be forgiven easily.
But what makes The Hollow so good is its reveal. Viewers who stick with it are rewarded by a zero-cliffhanger ending that neatly rounds up the story. Hints are dropped along the way and you may have already guessed what’s happening by the time the reveal is made, but it’s no less satisfying when it gets there. It’s actually really cool; and it’s not something I’ve ever seen from an animated series before, nor something many would be able to pull off. For that reveal, the buildup of mystery and payoff at the end, The Hollow is definitely worth the watch.
