The TV Show You Need to Be Watching
Winter Break was so, so good. Not only was it a welcome respite from a heavy course load, with Kwanzaa and Christmas and Hanukkah family time galore, it also gave me a chance to catch up on my shows (Supernatural and Dr. Who) and try out some suggestions from friends, namely,The 3%.
The 3% is a Netflix original from Brazil with a very modern take on the post-apocalyptic TV genre, and it works. In the show, humanity is divided up into two factions, the Inland and the Offshore. The Inland is where 97% of the population lives in poverty, squalor, and crime. The Offshore is where the privileged 3% live in harmony, with enough to eat, good jobs, and much better looking clothing. Seriously. Much better looking clothing awaits you on the Offshore.
To get to the Offshore, you have to prove your merit to a committee of judges – from the Offshore, naturally- when you turn 18 and go through el proceso [the process]. Some people look to el proceso with religious fervor, preaching about it as if it were heaven. Others in the rebel group La Causa believe it is an unfair system and devote their lives to ending the meritocracy.
The head of el proceso is the famous Ezequiel, who passed el proceso years ago and worked his way up to one of the most important jobs in the Offshore; directing the el proceso. But this year is important because just a few months ago, on the Offshore where everyone lives in perfect harmony, there was a crime committed. So the mysterious Council has sent in Aline to snoop around and watch Ezequiel’s every move in order to ensure that no one is let into the Offshore that doesn’t deserve it.
In this proceso batch is main character Michele Santana, whose only family- her brother- is already on the Offshore. The way everyone pronounces her name just adds to her adorableness. Son of a preacher man Fernando Carvalho, who refuses to let his supposed handicap stand in the way of his making it through el proceso on his own. He also has a smile that is to die for.
Rounding out the cast is Marco Alvarez, whose family has always passed the proceso, talk about pressure to live up to expectations! Joana Coelho, a street urchin who has nothing back home, and the secretive Rafael Moreira, both of whom are determined to make it through, no matter who they have to cut step on or over.
What I love about this show is that not only is it thrilling and intense, it has so many people of color in it. Since this is Brazil – and, technically, the future- the cast functions as post-racial, but there is a great variety of skin tones from, as Dean Pelton would say, “Seal to Seal’s teeth” which is wonderful, I give it a solid A for Representation.
This is post-apocalyptic Netflix TV at its finest. There are no clear cut bad guys or good guys. The characters get to be complex with loyalties pulling them in different directions, and the tension and desperation to succeed in the el proceso is never ending.
If you speak Spanish you shouldn’t have too much trouble with the original Portuguese, but there are both English dubbing and English subtitles, so not to worry. With only 8 episodes this is one amazing, action packed show you cannot miss out on. Binge watch it this weekend and decide what side you’re on, La Causa, or el proceso.
