Roar
The first episodes of Apple TV’s Roar are as vastly diverse as they are wickedly imaginative and genuinely sincere. Helmed by Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch, the creative force behind Glow, and based on the book of the same name by Cecilia Ahern, Roar is an eight-part anthology series that explores different aspects of what it means to be a woman, using a blend of humour and magical realism to mesmerising effect. From a poignant allegory of visibility and race to a Cronenberg-esque body horror, the first half of this series is a wonderfully weird and insightful viewing experience. And if the titles of the other episodes are anything to go by, the rest of the series looks to be just as enthralling.
Roar is Black Mirror through a feminist lens. The show takes problematic aspects of modern life and transforms them into literal representations of the topic at hand. These include a black woman who becomes invisible to the people around her, a mother who eats photographs to retain her mother’s memories, a trophy wife displayed on a shelf, and a mother who’s slowly eaten alive by the stresses of life. There’s nothing especially nuanced or abstract about these metaphors. In fact, it’s the bluntness of their delivery that makes each episode so compelling. No matter how bonkers the plotlines get, the core of each episode’s message is never overshadowed. And viewers will only be compelled to keep watching to see how each of these unique scenarios develops.
As surreal as each self-contained tale gets, however, Roar is never without its sincerity. Driven by an ensemble cast featuring Nicole Kidman, Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin and Cynthia Erivo, every moment is delivered with complete dedication, and it’s this commitment to the roles that keeps these stories grounded and, crucially, brimming with more heart than viewers would expect from a show with such a title. The second episode, especially, offers a devastatingly poignant portrait of motherhood on a subject that’s rarely mentioned.
While its blend of humour and magical realism makes for fascinating viewing, it’s the poignant observations Roar makes during each episode that make this show essential.
Andrew Murray
Roar is released on Apple TV+ on 15th April 2022.
Watch the trailer for Roar here:
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