The Society (2019)

Overview

The Society is a series that reached audiences under the Netflix banner in 2019, skillfully blending youth drama with mystery. Created by Christopher Keyser, the production manages to tell a remarkably dense and intriguing story within a single, short season. Centered on a group of high school students in a small town who return from a seemingly ordinary trip to find themselves facing an extraordinary situation, the show aims both to break away from typical teen-drama clichés and to successfully weave in dystopian elements.

While the series initially presents itself as a classic "teen show," as the episodes progress it delves into deeper themes such as how social structures are built, power dynamics, questions of leadership, and how human nature is shaped under different circumstances. The cast includes names like Kathryn Newton, Gideon Adlon, and Rutherford Cravens, and the young actors' performances significantly bolster the show's credibility.

Unfortunately, the series was limited to a single season; Netflix cancelled it before a second could be made. This left viewers both disappointed and curious due to the open-ended threads left by the story. Still, the dense narrative and gripping structure it delivers within that one season still make The Society well worth watching.

Plot

The story begins with an extraordinary event that befalls the high school students of New Ham, a small and quiet American town. After their school trip is cancelled, the students are forced to return to their town on buses due to a strange odor coming from the forest. However, upon arriving back, they discover that the adults and their families have vanished, leaving them completely isolated and entirely on their own.

From this point on, the series turns into a process of the teenagers trying to govern themselves and build a society. The resource distribution, the selection of leadership, efforts to establish a justice system, and the creation of an economic order form the main axis of the show. The young characters are forced both to redefine their relationships with one another and to learn how to survive in the absence of adults.

The mysterious events, losses, and internal conflicts that emerge over time add a layer of tension to the story. Questions such as who will lead, how rules will be determined, and how injustice will be dealt with take center stage. Throughout this process, the characters' true colors, weaknesses, and strengths come to light.

Why Watch It?

The Society stands out for using the teen-drama format to present what amounts to a social experiment. Rather than offering viewers merely romantic entanglements or school dramas, it raises philosophical questions about human nature, power relations, and the formation of social structures. "How does a society function without adults?" is the show's most compelling element.

The series also follows a strong trajectory in terms of character development. Characters who initially seem like simple teen-drama archetypes become far more layered as the episodes progress. The transformation of young people caught between leadership qualities, moral dilemmas, and personal interests keeps the viewer invested in the story.

The show's atmosphere is also noteworthy. Eerie forest scenes, images of the isolated town, and mounting tension give the story a dystopian air. This atmosphere keeps the viewer's curiosity constantly alive and fuels the desire to find an answer to the question, "What's going on?"

Who Is It For?

The Society is an ideal choice especially for fans of young-adult dramas. But it's not just for those looking for a classic teen show — viewers who enjoy pondering social order, power dynamics, and human nature will also get a lot out of it. For fans of Lord of the Flies-style stories, this series offers a quite satisfying experience.

Viewers who enjoy mystery and suspense elements will also appreciate the show. However, for those seeking action-heavy or fast-paced productions, the series may feel somewhat slower-paced. This character-driven structure, woven with dialogue-heavy scenes, will be more enjoyable for patient viewers.

Adult viewers interested in productions that explore the social and psychological issues of adolescence may also benefit from the show. At the same time, it offers thought-provoking content for young viewers as well, touching on subjects like identity, responsibility, and social awareness.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. Using the teen-drama format to ask social and philosophical questions enhances the show's originality.

2. The young cast's performances strengthen the characters' credibility.

3. The suspenseful atmosphere and intriguing plot keep viewers hooked from episode to episode.

Cons:

1. The show's cancellation after a single season leaves many questions unanswered, making the story feel incomplete.

2. Some episodes suffer from a dip in pacing, with the narrative feeling somewhat heavier, especially in the middle stretch.

Genre and Tone

The Society is a hybrid production that brings together drama, mystery, and dystopia. The overall tone preserves the intimate, emotional atmosphere typical of teen dramas while being enriched by mounting tension and a darker mood. As the series progresses, it evolves into an increasingly savage and ruthless world, offering viewers thought-provoking moments about "the thin line of civilization."

Visually, the isolated and eerie atmosphere of the town, reinforced by frequently used forest and nature landscapes, heightens the show's level of tension. The music and cinematography choices are among the elements that reinforce the story's mysterious mood.

Runtime and Viewing Experience

The series consists of a single season with a total of 10 episodes. Each episode runs between roughly 45 and 55 minutes, making it a production well-suited to a "binge-watch" format that can be finished over a weekend. Because the connection between episodes is strong, it's recommended that viewers watch the show back-to-back; doing so allows the story's cohesion and tension to be felt more fully.

Being limited to a single season makes the viewing experience advantageous in one respect: it doesn't require a long commitment. On the other hand, the fact that there won't be a continuation of the story can also create a sense of dissatisfaction in viewers. For this reason, going into the show aware of this fact will help shape the viewing experience with more realistic expectations.

Similar Productions

• The Wilds (2020) – A series with a similarly themed social experiment, following a group of teenage girls struggling to survive on a deserted island.

• Lord of the Flies (1990 Film) – A classic novel adaptation and one of the core inspirations for this story, depicting teenagers' efforts to rebuild a social order.

• Yellowjackets (2021) – A suspense-filled series about a young girls' soccer team's survival process following a plane crash.

• The 100 (2014) – A science fiction series about young people's struggle to survive and build a society in a dystopian world.

• Panic (2021) – A production that combines teen drama with suspense, following young characters who take part in a dangerous competition.

Final Assessment

The Society is an engaging and thought-provoking production that shows the courage to break teen-drama molds and present a social experiment. With its character development, atmospheric storytelling, and intriguing plot, the series keeps viewers glued to the screen, but unfortunately comes to an end limited to a single season, unable to show its full potential. Still, its success in tackling universal themes like human nature, leadership, justice, and social order within a teen-drama format is the most important factor that makes The Society worth watching. If you're looking for a thought-provoking, mysterious, and character-driven series, The Society will offer you a satisfying experience — but one that will also leave you saying, "I wish there had been more."