- Network: Netflix
- Series Premiere Date: Oct 9, 2020
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Critic Reviews
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This series certainly demonstrates how typical, yet special this community is. The lives of the students in “Deaf U” make for compelling and thought-provoking television.
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I do know that Deaf U is compelling, whatever wrestling matches you may find yourself in about its documentary side versus its soap side. For me, it is a reality show, made with exquisite production values and a really careful, thoughtful perspective about how to weave deaf culture into a bingeable teen drama. The docusoap term seems mostly like an effective bit of marketing.
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It’s a show that embraces melodrama, yes, but it’s also full of heart; it perfectly balances soul with soapiness, turning these students into characters but also keeping their cores intact.
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Deaf U, with its short (20 minutes or less) episodes, intriguing characters, and fascinating exploration of deaf subculture — albeit one that doesn't exactly cast deaf people in a very favorable light — is a worthwhile drive-by docuseries. DiMarco has cast the show well, finding interesting leads who reflect both the racial and hearing diversity of the Gallaudet community.
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“Deaf U” entertains on its own merits but also represents a serious step forward in representing deafness and disability. Not every show about the subject needs to be a masterpiece, and “Deaf U” isn’t, but the fact that it can exist and just be fun is more than enough.