Lockwood & Co
Based on Jonathan Stroud’s book series of the same name, Lockwood & Co explores an alternate reality where a mysterious phenomenon known as “The Problem” causes ghosts with a killing touch to appear and attack at night. As a result of The Problem, the digital revolution never happens, as society focuses more on protection against the dangerous spectres, and teenagers are on the frontlines of the fight against ghosts due to their ability to sense them. The show follows Lucy Carlyle (Ruby Stokes), a ghost hunter who moves to London to try and make a name for herself, falling in with the mysterious Lockwood (Cameron Chapman) and the eccentric George (Ali Hadji-Heshmati) as an employee of Lockwood & Co.
One of the most immediately compelling parts of the show’s storytelling is its intricate world-building. A lot of care and attention to detail has been put into its creation, centring around the presence of ghosts, which shines through in everything from the low-tech aesthetic to the costuming and dialogue.
The adaptation is also careful with how it teaches its audience about its alternate reality, incorporating details about this ghost-ravaged world organically through characters directly engaging with it, gradually exploring its concepts rather than relying on exposition. The series knows to show rather than tell, which makes for a television experience that immediately grabs its audience’s attention and, importantly, keeps it.
Worldbuilding aside, Joe Cornish’s writing is engaging and entertaining. The core trio of Lucy, Lockwood and George are a lot of fun to follow, something that’s helped immensely by the strong emotive range and natural chemistry of their respective actors. It’s also carefully paced and structured to ensure that every character in its ensemble cast has moments to shine, with interesting and complex dynamics that feed directly into the core themes and help bring out fascinating parts of the setting’s alternate history.
Overall, Lockwood & Co is off to a fantastic start. It’s a perfect show for any teenager looking for a dose of something spooky, with considered, intelligent writing and a clear passion that permeates every part of its storytelling. If the Netflix powers-that-be spare it from an early grave, this series could be an absolute powerhouse in the realm of YA-targeted television.
Umar Ali
Lockwood & Co is released on Netflix on 27th January 2023.
Watch the trailer for Lockwood & Co here:
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