Turn Up Idris Elba
- Brittany Doyle
- Apr 2, 2019
- 3 min read
As I sat here watching Idris Elba’s new Netflix show, Turn Up Charlie, I could not help but wonder why he took part in co-creating this series with Tristram Shapeero about a struggling DJ named Charlie, that ends up taking a job as a nanny to his famous best friend’s troublemaker daughter. He does this in hopes that he will get another chance at success from the help of the family. Until I came across the information that Idris Elba is also a DJ and will be performing at Coachella this upcoming month. Who would’ve guessed, at least not me. This fresh series stars JJ Field as David, Charlie’s best friend and his wife Sara, starring Piper Perabo. Along with newcomer actress, Frankie Hervey who plays Gabrielle, the problem child that Charlie must learn to deal with as she is clever and attempts to rid all of her nannies to gain attention from her distracted career obsessed parents. The show was released on March 15th, 2019 and dropped eight episodes. It was an easy show to binge and I never quite knew where it was going to go. It’s a comedy but also features topics of loneliness and neglect when we see Gabrielle’s parents attempt to buy her happiness.
Idris Elba takes on a new role that steps away from all of his action movies we are used to seeing. The show also features a lot of fast camera cuts, trippy point-of-view shots, a lot of funky music, and light effects as it takes place at many concerts and festivals. Some may argue that the story gets a little lost with all the distractions of the music and the DJ sets but I think that choice was made in the fact that Idris wants people to know about his passion enough that he made a whole show about it. There are quite a few times jumps that happen between the episodes and I found myself liking different characters at the end of the show than I did at the beginning. There was a lot of character development for everyone in the show besides one person that probably a lot of people won't like by the last episode. It’s a fun show that’s a little different than anything we’ve seen before and I think it is because of the fact that it focuses on DJs.
My favorite episode from the season is episode six where Sara, Charlie, Gabrielle and her friend head to a music festival where her mom is performing. Gabrielle and her friend end up losing Sara at the festival and cause trouble. Imagine what any young kid would do if they had VIP access and it ends up being pretty hysterical. This episode also features a big moment for Charlie at the end that sets up the show for the last two episodes. It was personally a standout episode in my opinion.
The ending to this show made it so if there was not going to be a season 2 it would not be a big deal, there was no cliffhanger. I was looking more for something that would hook me in to really hoping there was going to be another season 2 but because it ended the way it did, I’m impartial about seeing another season. Overall, Turn Up Charlie was more interesting than I expected and the cast did a really great job in creating believable characters. I'm impressed with Frankie Hervey's first performance where lets not forget she is working along side a pretty big star. The duo ended up balancing each other out perfectly on the screen and no one upstaged each other.
Why Does It Matter?
I think the two biggest take-aways from this show is material items cannot makeup for the lack of love someone is given in life. Time spent with someone means a whole lot more than any gift given, especially if you’re used to being showered with them. Also never lose faith in yourself because you’re also losing faith in your dreams. Strive to get better and do not let the crazier aspects of life sweep you away and let you lose sight of everything. Stay focused and you will succeed but do not forget about the people in your life that helped you get there.
I give it 7.5/10 stars.
-Brittany Doyle
Sources: For more information on Idris Elba and the show visit
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