Ty Watches "Lord of the Flies"

Last night I finished the miniseries "Lord of the Flies". Let’s discuss.

Truth be told, "Lord of the Flies" is my all time favorite book. I remember reading it when I was in middle school, and ever since then I try to read it every so often. I read it last summer when they first announced that this show was being made. I may have to pick it up again after watching the miniseries. I have watched the movie that came out in the 60's, or maybe the 70's, a few times and find it solid. I never saw the version from the 90's, but I felt that I didn't have to see it. But the announcement of this show reinvigorated my appetite for this story.

I read some early reviews that were middling, but I'm glad that didn't stop me. I tend to think that people who go online instantly after something is released just to trash it is a bad look. There seems to be some people out there that just want to hate on something. But I was going to watch this no matter what anyone said. When I saw it was four episodes I made the decision to take it slow. I was going to watch one episode every other day I thought. That seemed like a good plan. But after watching the first episode that quickly changed to watching one a day for four days. That worked for two days, but last night I was so intrigued and moved by episode three that I decided that I was going to finish the whole thing right then and there. I could not stop thinking about the series, and that's the sign that I really, really want to watch a show. So I wrapped it all up around 10pm last night.

Right away, I thought this was a great retelling of this story. The movie from the 60's does a solid job of telling the story, but it misses things here and there. This being a miniseries, they have a little more time to tell the whole thing. That makes for a better viewing experience for me. I also appreciate that this series told the story through the eyes of the four main characters. Chapter 1 is entitled "Piggy", then we have "Jack", "Simon" and, finally, "Ralph". This was an interesting and newly unique way to bring the story to life. We got a little backstory of each character, and why they may act how they act. Piggy is portrayed as the intellect with the most common sense. He can tell and feel when things are going off the rails. He calls out all the inconsistencies and problems that he sees. But no one listens to him because he isn't a cool or popular kid. Piggy has always been my favorite character, and this actor did a wonderful job bringing Piggy to life. In chapter 2 we see Jack and all of his foibles. He wants to be a leader, but he is cowardly. He bends and twists every conversation to suit his needs. He doesn't think about the consequences. He is nice to people to their faces when they are alone, but mean when others are around. I know this actor did good work because I grew to despise him as the show went on. That was the end goal and this kid achieved that. Simon's episode was my favorite. This was the most atmospheric and deepest and darkest episode. Simon just wants to be accepted for who he is, but he also has some issues he has yet to realize or deal with in his own way. He and Jack clearly have some kind of back and forth in their past that he wants to deal with. Simon is probably the most level headed person next to Piggy, but no one listens to him because he has issues with fainting. He can't get a word in edgewise, but he always tries until he gets cut off. He wants Ralph to be the leader he knows he can be, but he never gets to see that come to fruition. For such heavy themes in this episode, the actor playing Simon absolutely nailed his role. And the final chapter focuses on our leader, Ralph. This episode was such a fitting and fulfilling conclusion to the story. Ralph has nothing left to fight for, but he keeps going. He won't give up until the final second. He is the only one left with a decent head on his shoulders. He hasn't given in to the ills of living off the land. And he is the most mature and adult of any of these kids. So much so that, spoiler alert, when the sailors get to the island and rescue the kids, he is the only one who tells the truth and wants nothing more than to be off that horrid island.

This version was told expertly by the people involved. I read that the people behind "Adolescence" did this show, and they are some of the top dramatic writers in the game. I was so happy that the show was put into such capable hands. And these kid actors did a masterful job. They bought in and played these amazing, memorable characters so well, it was such a sight for me. I even loved how the kids were loud and annoying at the worst possible times. Some looked thrilled when the adults showed up, others looked worried, as if they were in trouble. The kid actors showed every emotion that I would imagine a kid in this situation could show, and they nailed it. I was very impressed.

As a lifelong fan of this book, the miniseries did such a good and respectful job of telling this story. It was true to the source material and that made me happy. I recommend this show to anyone who has read this book and loved it. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.

An Ode to "Lord of the Flies"

I enjoy reading books, but I'm a slow reader. Most books take me a good amount of time to finish. My mind tends to wander, sometimes I don't find the time to sit down and read and there are moments when, even though I try not to, I just want to goof around on my phone. But there is one book that I do enjoy reading and going back to time and again. That book is "Lord of the Flies".

I remember reading “Lord of the Flies” for the first time when I was in 9th grade and it has stuck with me ever since. I instantly connected to the story. I liked the whole idea of how these students would try and survive if they were stranded on an island. I like stories that focus around learning to live in very tough surroundings. I don't know why either, but I do. After reading it for the first time I found myself wanting to go back to it. That never really happened before. Usually I read a book once and then I'm done with it. In fact, I think "Lord of the Flies" may be the only book I have read more than once. There was a good period of time where I would check it out of the library pretty much every year to reread it. I finally bought my own copy recently and I'm almost done reading it for what has to be somewhere in the 20's. I keep going back because the story is so fascinating and because the book is so well written. It's not too long, maybe 240 pages. The story moves. I never feel bored. Even when I know what is about to happen, I still get a little shocked with each new read. I relate to different characters each time. I try to put myself in the situation they're in in the book and think how I would react. I envision a world where a show or movie got this story right. The first season of "Yellowjackets" has come closest for me, but that show, in my opinion, has fallen off a cliff.

I know they made two movies, but they both have issues that I would change. That being said, the one from the 60's is a decent watch for me. But the reason they cannot get it right, in my mind, is because the book is an absolute classic. William Golding was in his bag when he wrote this book. He had an idea and ran with it and made such a wonderful and harrowing story. I was reading a chapter recently and found myself sympathizing with Simon for the first time I remember. There are times when I think Jack has a very good point, he just goes about it the wrong way. I tend to fall on the side of Ralph and Piggy, like most do, but they could've done stuff differently too. That is what makes this book so fantastic. These are kids forced into a horrific situation, and try as they might to handle it maturly, they still cry and whimper and get home sick and make rash decisions. That's what kids always do. I was talking to my children about the book, they are very much city mouse type of kids, and they will ask why the kids just didn't get along. I try to put them in the same or similar situation, and they end up relented and saying they would do what the other kids do. And that is because they're children who don't have fully functioning and intuitive brains just yet.

The thing that stands out most to me is how timeless this book has become for me. I first read it when I was 14. I'm now 42 reading for whatever number it is now and I continue to find new and interesting ways to look at the story.

I highly recommend reading "Lord of the Flies" if you haven't yet, or going back and rereading it if you read it as a teen and are now an adult. The book is amazing and the story is just as good as the first time. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

Come and support Ty and the podcast on Patreon.

Follow Ty on instagram.

SeedSing is funded by a group of awesome people. Join them by donating to SeedSing.