The Get Down: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 31 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 129 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 129 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

Netflix | Season Premiere Date: August 12, 2016

Summary: Ezekiel (Justice Smith), Shaolin Fantastic (Shameik Moore), Boo-Boo (TJ Brown), Ra-Ra (Skylan Brooks), and Mylene Cruz (Herizen Guardiola) are teenagers in South Bronx as hip-hop, punk, and disco emerges from 1970s New York in this Baz Luhrmann drama.

Creator: Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly-Guirgis

Genre(s): Drama, Music

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E11. Only from Exile Can We Come
Air Date: April 7, 2017
tbd
S1:E10. Only from Exile Can We Come"
Air Date: April 7, 2017
tbd
S1:E9. One by One, Into the Dark
Air Date: April 7, 2017

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

IndieWire Ben Travers

Aug 5, 2016

Beyond the sterling performances and addictive soundtrack, what carries The Get Down is the sheer passion infused into every element in this immense production. Read full review

Verne Gay

Aug 11, 2016

Guirgis’s language is authentic and raw, and tethers Luhrman’s gauzy-romanticized world of the South Bronx to the ground. Best of all, the cast--mostly young and mostly newcomers--has figured out how to make this visual and stylistic gumbo gel. Read full review

Robert Lloyd

Aug 11, 2016

It is a thing by turns, and even simultaneously, ridiculous and sublime, romantic and overwrought and the most genuinely moving precisely when it’s at its corniest. Read full review

Brian P. Kelly

Aug 12, 2016

The show is so infectiously fun—in its up-tempo numbers, production design (all high-waisted, polyester pants and vinyl-topped cars) and the historical characters who pop up (from DJ Kool Herc to Ed Koch)--that it rises above its shortcomings. Add to this the shining performances of Ms. Guardiola, Mr. Moore and Mr. Smith and it’s hard not to be charmed. Read full review

Terry Terrones

Aug 8, 2016

New York has an incredible musical history, and even though it can be convoluted at times, The Get Down will take you on a lyrical journey through this great city that's hard to forget. Read full review

Tim Goodman

Aug 4, 2016

This series is still sprawling. Three episodes are not enough to know where it's going or where it will end up. The second and third episodes don't completely wriggle free of some of Luhrmann's whimsy. But all told, there's a better balance between what the famed director apparently wanted to do with tone and hewing more accurately to the times. Read full review

Glenn Garvin

Aug 13, 2016

"Bloated," "derivative," and "self-important" all seem fair, as does "scandalously overpriced." If producer-director Baz Luhrmann really, as has been reported, spent $120 million and 10 years to develop this thing, Netflix's accountants should be taken out and shot, and I don't mean with a camera. Read full review

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User Score

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7.9

User Reviews

Bezlonir

Aug 13, 2016

It's poetry. This show is joyous. It makes you weep. It makes your heart race. It dazzles you. It makes you think. It puts you on a waltz through the history of hip hop with a soundtrack that stretches out like the wings of a black eagle taking flight. I am enjoying this show so much.

7 of 13 users found this helpful76

Aiace

Aug 21, 2016

I don't know what it is about this one. Sure it is cheesy at times, maybe most of the times. I understand the mechanisms that make me enjoy it, and they are not new. And still, they work. I found myself caring about the not so original story and not so original characters and enjoying everyI don't know what it is about this one. Sure it is cheesy at times, maybe most of the times. I understand the mechanisms that make me enjoy it, and they are not new. And still, they work. I found myself caring about the not so original story and not so original characters and enjoying every bit of it: the acting, the photography and most of all the surreal and yet convincing evocation of the Bronx in the late 70s. Just as a fable it follows well known tropes (follow your dreams and you will succeed) and shows well known characters (the rebel, the dreamer, the gangster, the strict father). And yet, just as a fable, it never feels old or stale. Loved every minute.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

TheZeroPercent

Aug 23, 2016

Pretty amazing little piece of cinematography!
I am sure this show has it's influences, as far as how it is 'put together' , but me personally, I have NEVER seen a 'piece of work' like this. VERY original, and high quality cinema.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

GroovyG

Oct 30, 2016

Displaying a young and refreshing main cast, The Get Down serves an enticing new perspective on the coming of age story. A true ode to those who dare to dream, musicians and non alike can all catch a beat that they can jive to on this honest and well rounded adaptation of the struggle it isDisplaying a young and refreshing main cast, The Get Down serves an enticing new perspective on the coming of age story. A true ode to those who dare to dream, musicians and non alike can all catch a beat that they can jive to on this honest and well rounded adaptation of the struggle it is to overcome social restraint, challenge social convention and stereotypical limitations governed by race, class and ambition.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

akabuttons

Aug 14, 2016

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What a love letter to the Bronx and the origins of Hip-Hop culture - dj-ing, rapping, graffiti, and break dancing! The poetry is appropriate and beautiful, the principal characters well drawn, and the plot celebrates the talent, humanity, contradictions, intelligence, drive, ingenuity and swagger of urban black and brown youth. I love how complex the principle characters are, and how brilliantly portrayed by the cast. The Luhrmann-isms, a few one-dimensional co-stars and a number of predictable plot events aside (I mean, didn't you know they would get together in Moulin Rouge, but watched anyway?), these 6 episodes do a good job of exploring the myriad perspectives during this time - every one making important contributions to the plot - each naturally colliding into the other to provide some top rate (and clear) dramatic tension you can hang your attention hat on. Spoiler: The blackout episode - particularly the scenes between Smits and Zabryna's characters? Magnifique.… Expand

3 of 6 users found this helpful33

roscoeswaffle

Aug 16, 2016

Makes nearly everything else currently on TV look slow and unambitious.

After bingeing on TGD (rated 69 here at M), I walked up to the Arclight and saw Hell or High Water (86 here at M). Wow. Talk about slow and unambitious. Yes, TGD has its maudlin patches and its hackneyed plot turnsMakes nearly everything else currently on TV look slow and unambitious.

After bingeing on TGD (rated 69 here at M), I walked up to the Arclight and saw Hell or High Water (86 here at M). Wow. Talk about slow and unambitious.

Yes, TGD has its maudlin patches and its hackneyed plot turns etc., but it goes for broke, and how often do you have a chance to witness going for broke, one minute to the next, and it all culminating in success, even if flawed success? It's a privilege.

If you want to play it safe instead, stick with the 86 score and an epitome of by-the-numbers filmmaking, Hell or High Water.… Expand

2 of 4 users found this helpful22

bortax_zeven

Aug 14, 2016

There aren't enough words to explain this disaster. Every other line is a cliche. The actors all speak like they just graduated Julliard. There is nothing about The Get Down that actually resembles NYC in 77. The stock footage of NYC at that time is spliced in obviously and clunky. TheThere aren't enough words to explain this disaster. Every other line is a cliche. The actors all speak like they just graduated Julliard. There is nothing about The Get Down that actually resembles NYC in 77. The stock footage of NYC at that time is spliced in obviously and clunky. The choppy zoom and pan camera and editing is nauseating. The sets look like a television commercial All plot threads are old and done: girl who wants to make it has overbearing controlling father: haven't seen that before. This is a white persons twee fantasy about the origins of hip hop. It's an endless cringe fest. It can't figure out if it's slapstick, heartache teenage romance or coming of age story. Baz Lurhmann is the worst hack to ever ruin a story. The writing is terrible. It's an unbelievable fail in every shape and form.… Expand

12 of 28 users found this helpful1216

SEE ALL 17 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

69

Series Overview
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: April 7, 2017
Season 1

69
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: August 12, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E11. Only from Exile Can We Come
  Air Date: April 7, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E10. Only from Exile Can We Come"
  Air Date: April 7, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E9. One by One, Into the Dark
  Air Date: April 7, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E8. Gamble Everything
  Air Date: April 7, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E7. Unfold Your Own Myth
  Air Date: April 7, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E6. Raise Your Words, Not Your Voice
  Air Date: August 12, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E6. One by One, Into the Dark
  Air Date: April 7, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E5. You Have Wings, Learn to Fly
  Air Date: August 12, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E4. Forget Safety, Be Notorious
  Air Date: August 12, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E3. Darkness Is Your Candle
  Air Date: August 12, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E3. The Beat Says, This Is the Way
  Air Date: April 7, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E2. Seek Those Who Fan Your Flames
  Air Date: August 12, 2016
- tbd
  S1:E2. Unfold Your Own Myth
  Air Date: April 7, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E1. Where There Is Ruin, There Is Hope
  Air Date: August 12, 2016