Whenever an FBI themed series is announced, you can’t help but think that you’re about to witness yet another entry into the wide range of police procedural shows that have been hugely popular over the years. Of course, there is a reason these shows are popular. The Deal of the Week format doesn’t require viewers to watch every episode. This allows casual viewers to tune in from time to time and have no trouble understanding what’s going on. Class of ’09 of course it feels that way, but he cleverly plays with procedural tropes to deliver an ambitious story.
The series, created in three different time frames, is created Tom Rob Smith (MotherFatherSon) follows the Poet (Kate Mara), Tayo (Brian Tyree Henry), Lennix (Brian J. Smith) and Chas (Sepide Moafi) through “past” (2009 and back), “present” (2023), and “future” (2034) as their individual careers in the FBI begin, thrive, transform, and sometimes it collapses. As we move from era to era, their perception of the Bureau changes over time.
First half of the season Class of ’09 showcases familiar images from procedural shows, but then quickly uses the dynamics of the times to subvert them. This is how we are presented with cases that only pay off years later, or we are surprised at an investigation whose solution unfolds in the blink of an eye - because history is able to jump back and forth in time and decide what could become a season … a long arc in a matter of minutes . In this case, hasty structure is hardly a problem, because Class of ’09 uses his case to tell a larger story that you only begin to understand as the connections between the timelines become clearer and clearer. In normal legal proceedings, a case presented in one episode almost never resurfaces later. Here he manages to act as part of a much larger picture.
However, in order to understand this larger picture, it is necessary to stick to the series from beginning to end. As the story progresses, it becomes clear that the future segment Class of ’09 is a leisurely thriller that carefully arranges the pieces before diving into sci-fi elements. In the first few episodes, you might get the impression that the 2034 part of the show is just a gimmick to look cool. If you’re patient, you’ll be stunned when you realize that the stakes for the future are surprisingly high as the setting starts to behave like a very uncomfortable and paranoid episode. Black mirror.
This brings us to another major victory. Class of ’09. When it comes to investigative actions, TV shows or even films are unlikely to be dedicated to the institution itself. In this regard, the FX series finds gold when it decides to analyze the FBI in as much detail as possible. His description ranges from the screening process to the training of new agents, while not ignoring that the Bureau also suffers from misogyny and racial prejudice. Class of ’09 is also well aware that the spy agency has its own set of issues related to ethics, how technology is handled, and the mental health of agents. This is best revealed with Poet, whose line throughout the series (from dreamy new agent to would-be whistleblower) takes us on an intriguing journey that makes us eager to uncover secrets with her.
All in all, it’s a big surprise to get through half of the show’s first season. Class of ’09 and understand that the series is using its three timelines to the fullest and not just a narrative gimmick to make it more interesting. In the “past” series, we really get to know the main characters and what they are made of, as well as learn interesting information about the history of the FBI. Compared to this, the “real” is more autonomous, but it’s easy to see that we’re following individual cases for a reason. The Future is hotly debated and contains a number of well-founded remarks about surveillance, individual behavior, crime, bias, and our misguided belief that AI is capable of making informed decisions.
Needless to say, all this is facilitated by the excellent performance of the main squad. However, it is better to pay attention to Mara and Henry, who are clearly the conductors representing the two extremes in the story. The series’ format also allows the actors to play with their characters in the sense that their evolution in each timeline and their individual performances are constantly mapped to the structure of the show. This helps us a lot to understand where each of them comes from and also where they go. It’s also nice to note the show’s attention to detail when it comes to cinematography and production design. As the series plunges into an increasingly bleak future, colors begin to fade from footage, and a corresponding sense of isolation and darkness prevails in a most dangerous and unknown timeline.
Class of ’09 plays out like a show that makes great use of the time allotted to it. It gives the rare feeling that he explores every possibility in his own narrative and is able to excel at everything he tries to do. Whether there are more seasons to explore or just one, the trip has already been very rewarding.
Rating: A
Class of ’09 Premieres May 10th on Hulu.
Source: Collider
I have worked as a journalist for over 7 years and have written for many different publications. I currently work as an author at Daily News Hack, where I mostly cover entertainment news. I have a great deal of experience in the industry and am always looking to learn more. I am a highly motivated individual who is always looking to improve my skills. I am also a very friendly and personable person, which makes me easy to work with.
