In the age of binge-watching versus weekly releases, Apple TV+ takes a unique approach. It releases the first three episodes of a new series all at once but then follows up with a weekly release schedule for the rest.
This strategy aims to satisfy viewers looking for an afternoon of entertainment while giving highly anticipated shows like Ted Lasso and Severance time to generate excitement and anticipation. This doesn’t cut it for the latest series, the retro-futuristic dramedy Hello Tomorrow! Although the concept behind the show undoubtedly delivers a punch.
The science fiction comedy-drama TV show “Hello Tomorrow!” made its debut on Apple TV+ on February 17th, 2023. The beginning of the show is undoubtedly captivating. Billy Crudup’s character, Jack Billings, a salesman, is shown at a sleek American diner’s bar with a disheveled man.
He allures the man with a smooth sales pitch, dressed in a sharply-tailored mid-century suit, offering him a brighter future. Jack’s eye glimmers with mischief when he declares that a single word, “Wow!” is going to be the key to saving his life.
The Storyline of Hello Tomorrow!
The story follows a deceitful group of traveling salespeople selling moon property in a retro-futuristic world. It delves into the illusion of the American dream with stunning outfits and flashy rockets. However, after viewing the three 30-minute episodes provided for review, there’s no desire for more. There are no intriguing cliffhangers or compelling reasons to revisit these characters on a weekly basis.
As the story goes on, the more charmingly futuristic elements are revealed. The server taking orders is a robot fashioned after Rosie from the iconic animated series The Jetsons. Meanwhile, Crudup’s character is peddling affordable timeshares and permanent residences on the highly sought-after “Brightside of the Moon” to blue-collar Midwesterners, a privilege typically exclusive to the wealthy and renowned.
Hello Tomorrow! Review
Upon viewing “Hello Tomorrow!”, it’s immediately apparent that the show is visually stunning in every aspect. While some of the conflicts may feel overly familiar, the overall aesthetic is unlike anything seen on television, except perhaps for “The Jetsons.”
Creators Amit Bhalla and Lucas Jansen have imagined a unique world that combines elements of the past and future, resulting in an Earth that appears as though an illustrator was commissioned to create a space-themed menu for a 1955 malt shop, all while under the influence of amphetamines.
Despite some advancements, certain things remain the same: Money is still green, tangible, and a source of grief. The wealthy continue to accumulate more wealth, and now they’ve added the moon as a lavish playground to their collection. For everyone else, it’s a reminder of their lack, one more object of desire that’s out of reach.
Avocado green and goldenrod yellow tin-can robots hover about, serving beverages and tending to plants. Packages are delivered to cookie-cutter suburban homes via a hover-van “operated” by a cartoonish bird. A paperboy pulls a wagon that shoots the latest news out of pneumatic cannons.
The initial scene is reminiscent of a Buck Rogers parody of the pilot episode of “Mad Men.” Jack approaches a despondent bar patron (Michael Harney) and begins his sales pitch, unveiling a rock from his pocket that purportedly originated from the Sea of Serenity on the moon. “Impressive,” his target exclaims. “Indeed,” retorts Jack, “it’s the one word that none of us can do without.”
Jack and his sales team lead relatively unremarkable lives without much excitement. Eddie (Hank Azaria) is a hapless gambler who believes that “desperation is a salesman’s most valuable tool.”
Herb (Dewshane Williams) is an apprehensive soon-to-be father of twins. Shirley (Haneefah Wood), Jack’s most trusted assistant, sees past his positive rhetoric but is simultaneously engaging in an affair with Eddie behind her husband’s back.
Our Verdict
Hello Tomorrow! is a visually stunning series with an aesthetic that melds mid-century modern with elements of steampunk or perhaps chromepunk. It’s chock-full of analog-tech marvels. However, after viewing the initial episodes, We were left questioning if there was anything beyond the show’s glossy exterior.
On the one hand, “Hello Tomorrow!” features effortless racial integration. However, on the other, women are still confined to traditional housewife roles reminiscent of the pre-Betty Friedan era.
The show alludes to a past “war” and implies that automation has resulted in some individuals losing their employment and sense of direction. However, there is no explanation as to how technological advancements have made the world more connected while simultaneously homogenizing America.
The show is incredibly stylized, not only in its design but also in the acting and dialogue reminiscent of “Guys and Dolls,” causing the characters to come across as cartoonish and unconvincing at times. We give this series a rating of 3.8 out of 5.
Our Rating: 3.8/5.
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