1.01 – Fall To Earth – The Third Age Review

Posted by Samuel Walters

“There is wonder in every day. The sun crosses the sky. The light punctures the dark. We are reborn on this earth.”

The Third Age is a webseries that, if nothing else, is wonderfully bizarre, cryptic, and intriguing. It is billed as “a magical realist webseries, a psychedelic remix of classic mythology, telling the story of ordinary people caught up in an eternal war between gods waged on the streets of New York City.” The first seven episodes of the series prove that, if nothing else, the creators of The Third Age have a very clear, consistent and unique creative vision. And, truth be told, this is a series which, because of the vague approach, manages to create a good deal of interest in the not only its final destination, but the journey the story will take toward its ultimate end. Its first episode, “Fall To Earth,” is an effective window into not only the story, but the style as well.

Congratulations are in order.

One of the strengths of the series is immediately evident: Its music. The way music is incorporated into The Third Age is almost always quite effective. The driving, almost industrial nature of the opening track indicates a series that is at once mysterious and aggressive in its approach. That will soon be accompanied by visuals and moments which are, if nothing else, evocative in their presentation. More importantly, the style doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Indeed, the “psychedelic” aesthetic of the series is deeply rooted in the story itself – one which involves experimental drugs, gods, and characters who exist on the verge of insanity.

For the opening episode, we follow the daily routine of a drug-dealer, named Chris, who peddles his product on the streets of New York (kudos to the SUNY Albany reference, by the way). Chris is clearly uncertain about his chosen career. But he certainly has managed to achieve a measure of success at it. But he’s given a very explicit opportunity to change direction when he meets Morning, a woman who is lost within her own reality. Symbolically, she represents a chance at salvation, of redemption, even.

And Chris doesn’t seem to waste the opportunity.

At only seven minutes of screen time (the first two minutes are, basically, a music montage), “Fall To Earth” is a strong, fascinating salvo from a series that advertises itself as singularly unique in its approach to a mythological tale. The setting seems nicely woven into the narrative, effectively portraying the almost otherworldly vibe of the streets of New York City – particularly the potential for finding anyone, or anything, if you look hard enough.

Put simply, for an opening episode, The Third Age is both effective and evocative. Having been given a sneak peek at the first seven episodes of the series, I can say that it successfully builds upon the mood and mystery of its premise – as well as its own mythos. Whether or not the series is ultimately successful will depend on whether or not its revelations manage to live up to the craft with which the story is being presented.

Make no mistake, this is no amateur production. The Third Age is deliberately produced and shows a great deal of evidence of craft and care. If nothing else, after this episode (and the subsequent installments which I had been invited to see), this is a series which is intriguing from the standpoints of character, theme and plot.

Well, done!

Topics: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Web Reviews
Filed under: Third Age