Resident Evil Series 1- Netflix

Resident Evil based on the long rung Video game,and various film franchises. The Netflix Eight-part series has a particular format. Each episode interchanges between teenage sisters Billie and Jade,as they move into the New Raccoon City neighbourhood with their father, Dr Albert Wesker(an always good Lance Reddick) as top scientist for the Umbrella Corporation. Intercut with this is a decade or so jump to a post apocalyptic zombie 'T-virus' infested future landscape.Here of ‘6 billion’ undead or 'Zeros' roam the land , with a dwindling human population Here Adult Jade (Ella Balinska) plays her part as a Scientist trying to find a key to both control and cure for the T-virus Plague. Navigating her way across the landscape and back to her fellow survivors. The format is very much designed, for new viewers and those who are not familiar or even fans of the Zombie franchise. Mixing teen soap drama on the one hand,then lurching into company politics, and horror drama as we switch between key eras of their life, within each episode. The intercutting does feel it is designed to chase two audience types. So what does it get right? What it does well is it’s use cliff hangers , the creature effects are done well (mostly). It makes for a very binge worthy show.And some interesting plot scenarios involving clones.Also, some of the musical track cues are not actually bad. However, some of the plot scenarios make for painful viewing. The break in of a high security Umbrella Scientific lab ,by two teenagers, makes you question does 'Umbrella' have any type of security at work during night shifts?In some instances some episodes do feel like a plot out of a Scooby–Doo show . Lance Reddick tries ot bring as mush dignity as he can to the role as he made to wear some questionable costumes at some point in one particular episode(you just pray his paycheck was worth it!). An adult Jade character herself, (in a her single minded mission to save humanity) ,makes so many irresponsible decisions , and with so much collateral damage along the way, leaves you wondering , if it's Jade , and not the actual zombies who are the biggest threat facing the poor surviving humans . In hedging their bets in trying to please everyone. The series may not end up pleasing anyone. Verdict; Surprisingly Bingeworthy, if ‘Brain- dead’ guilty viewing!