# Anyone else watching "The Get Down" on Netflix? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 28, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336 "2016-08-28T23:01:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/1 "2016-08-28T23:01:36Z")
I am, and I am enjoying it. It brings me back to the days I have no memory of even though I was alive (I was born in '77), but that I still feel connection to. They have done a good job of portraying the grittiness of the South Bronx while romanticizing it at the same time. It is kind of cool to be reminded that disco and hip hop are cousins that sprung from the same cultural cauldron. I was able to experience the awe the characters felt when they first discovered Grand Master Flash, rapping, and break dancing. There are a few characters that are cartoons, who detract from the storylines. Like Cadillac and the Warlords. Also, I’m waiting for Jaden Smith’s character to be more than a big WTF. But otherwise, I am impressed by the show’s writing and the acting. Jimmy Smits is awesome, as is Justin Smith. The interspersing of real footage (burning buildings, kids playing in the street) is a nice touch. And I’m loving the music so much. When Herizen Guardiola’s character busted out with “There But for the Grace of God” in church, I got up and danced. I can’t be the only one watching this, right? **Biggirl** , this show seems like it would be up your alley. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2016, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/2 "2016-08-28T23:19:23Z")
I am tracking it - keeping an eye on the release and how it is aging. Love the advisors on it, the screenwriter SAGuirgis, etc, but I _hate_ Baz Luhrmann so have NO faith in his leadership. After I read about the huge cost overruns and the bad reviews of the premier (directed by his Baz-ness), I have chosen to wait. I heard it gets good after 5-6 eps, but I don’t know if I’d last that long. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/3 "2016-08-28T23:32:33Z")
I love Baz Luhrman and am looking forward to making time to watch this show. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/4 "2016-08-29T17:37:22Z")
I started watching this yesterday and got hooked pretty quickly. I love the main character kids (except Jaden Smith. What?) and have been pleasantly surprised by Jimmy Smits. And of course everything Giancarlo Esposito does, he brings it. A lot of caricature yes but it’s a quasi-musical and a Baz Luhrmann thing so I am not too surprised when things look a little too “artsy.” I didn’t realize the exact topic and the historical accuracy until I started reading about it but that aspect is really cool. And Grandmaster Flash is a consultant! Does it seem to you like the sets and the costumes and everything makes it a very expensive production? I am sort of in awe that Netflix ponied up for something this elaborate. Anyway, great stuff. I highly recommend to anyone who likes hip hop or even just music history. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/5 "2016-08-29T17:49:35Z")
My wife and I watched it last week. I liked it a lot. She went along with it, but wasn’t drawn in. She’s not really into music. I’m looking forward to season 2. ---
**Author:** ![Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@Maggie\_the\_Ocelot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maggie_the_Ocelot)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/6 "2016-08-29T18:10:39Z")
Have been waffling on it but I am probably gonna be watching it. I’ve been doing research and trying to educate myself on classic R&B/Funk/Hip Hop. ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/7 "2016-08-29T20:18:15Z")
Mr. Athena and I both loved it. I love the music, the style, the whole story… only bad thing is that it’s over too soon. Can’t wait until next season. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/8 "2016-08-29T20:28:45Z")
Well, crap. Okay, I will check in out, Baz-ness and all. With Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow and Nas all involved, I am hoping it will hold true to the spirit of hip hop more than the over-the-top Baz-fests he normally does. I read the write up on Decider (no clue if it is a good site, but it summarized a bunch of reviews: [What The Critics Are Saying About ‘The Get Down’ | Decider](http://decider.com/2016/08/05/what-the-critics-are-saying-about-the-get-down/)) The best line was shown from The Hollywood Reporter: “If you don’t get completely put off by the pilot, there’s hope.” the New Yorker’s Emily Nussbaum, who is normally my go-to, called the pilot “truly terrible; alternately baggy and self-indulgent; confusing and obvious.” That’s Baz in my book. But he doesn’t direct later episodes and you guys are talking it up nicely, so I will give it a go. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2016, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/9 "2016-08-30T02:22:48Z")
Tried to watch it last weekend but the constant camera cuts were ruining my enjoyment. The camera doesn’t stay on anything for longer than 2-3 seconds. It was like watching a movie directed by the most add guy in the world. It just never stopped to take a breath. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/10 "2016-09-01T00:21:48Z")
I’m loving this show so much. It’s got everything in it. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/11 "2016-09-01T00:26:51Z")
And now I’m depressed because there are no episodes left. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/12 "2016-09-01T01:06:01Z")
It’s a pretty rich show. I bet you could watch it again between now and the next set of episodes! ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2016, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/13 "2016-09-01T01:10:31Z")
I was home sick and binged the whole thing in a day. Enjoyed it! ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/14 "2016-09-02T14:31:32Z")
It was brilliant. i can’t wait till Season 2! ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/15 "2016-09-02T14:44:13Z")
We’re in a show-hole right now, and it’s always my responsibility to find the next binge. We just finished The Night Of and Murdoch Mysteries. With a three-day weekend, the pressure is on, so I’ll preview it. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2016, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/16 "2016-09-02T23:57:52Z")
Thanks for reminding me, I had this on my list, but got sidetracked. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2016, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anyone-else-watching-the-get-down-on-netflix/764336/17 "2016-12-10T12:08:43Z")
Waking this thread because I was finally able to watch the first two episodes with my daughter. Yeah, love the setting and the characters are interesting, but the direction and plots are distractingly meh IMHO. I have no idea if the real GMFlash speaks in zen riddles, but that purple crayon scene with Shao was just silly. Shao has been a runner in a nightclub, plugged into the block party scene, and worships GMF and wants to follow him, and he’s never noticed crayon marks on his breakdown-beat records? It was teaching basic craft; why make it cute? The hours that Shao put in to master it - that I understand. And Mylene’s big reveal of her cleavage baring disco dress as the congregants channel the Holy Spirit in her dad’s church? Yeah, silly and took me right out. I will probably keep watching but I hate that stuff.