Netflix’s upcoming hit sci-fi show is set in a retirement community

Four decades later, 1980s-style sci-fi adventures continue to exert their influence on modern cinema and television. The idea of ​​a group of kids banding together to confront an otherworldly threat has become a trope by this point, and can be seen in everything from Super 8 to Strange things. So on one level, Biologya new sci-fi series on Netflix, does a lot of what sounds very familiar, with its story about a mysterious alien terrorizing a small neighborhood and a team of intrepid friends who band together to stop it. but Biology He also does something different: his neighborhood is a retirement community, and his group of friends are all in their 70s. This seemingly small change makes a big difference, and raises the bar for performance Biology Above most of his brothers who imitate Spielberg.

Biology is the title of the show, but it’s also the name of a beautiful retirement community in the New Mexico desert where, almost immediately, it’s clear that something is wrong. Things are just a little also excellent. Perverted newcomer Sam (Alfred Molina) senses this early on, but it takes a while before he has an idea what’s going on. There are hints of this, such as a resident complaining about owls in the walls, but things really kick off when Sam accidentally catches an alien creature that appears to be feeding on his neighbors while they sleep. This discovery draws him and his newly formed group of friends into a larger conspiracy.

Biology It does a good job of unraveling its mystery, which grows steadily over the course of its eight episodes. I won’t spoil anything, but there’s a direct connection between the alien and many strange things constantly happening around society, which makes figuring out what’s really going on – and of course stopping it – that much more difficult. In the Amblin classic made circa 1985, this is the point in the story when a group of kids on bikes get caught up in the conspiracy and figure things out. But since we’re in a retirement community, the group is getting a little older.

Sam is the central character, a man who feels lost and confused after the sudden death of his wife and moving to a new place. But he is helped by his neighbors. There’s the ever-cheerful Jack (Bill Pullman), who wins Sam’s friendship by not taking no for an answer; retired journalist Judy (Alfre Woodard) and her husband Art (Clark Peters), who just want to move up and play golf; Renee (Geena Davis), a former music industry manager; and Wally (Denis O’Hare), a doctor with a long and sad history of losing loved ones.

There’s a lot going around Biology This is common and predictable. You can make an educated guess about where things are headed mid-season when Art stumbles upon a peach tree with apparently magical properties. There are plots taken from the films that clearly inspired the series, such as when Sam collects alien-fighting weapons from old television sets. But there’s a fun twist on those familiar elements that comes from the characters and setting. Eventually the story becomes so bizarre and complex that it becomes impossible for any crew member to explain, because anyone listening would think he has dementia.

But more than anything, this show is driven by its cast. I enjoyed the mystery – even if the final reveal was a bit static – but more than that I enjoyed hanging out with these elderly weirdos (to be clear, that’s a compliment). monitoring Biologyyou can’t help but want to sip a beer with the utterly charming Jack, or fire up the bar with Art. Seeing Alfre Woodard fire a gun with deadly determination, or hearing Geena Davis say she wants to “stack some bodies,” is an absolute joy. Each member of the group has their own distinct charm — it’s especially satisfying to see Sam open up to his newfound family — along with skills that turn them into the perfect team to fight the alien menace.

Loving the cast makes it easy to look past the show’s flaws, as does the fact that this feels like a self-contained story, one that doesn’t overstay its welcome in eight episodes. And while it’s reminiscent of many classics, fortunately it doesn’t rely solely on nostalgia, it stands in its own right as a great sci-fi mystery. Biology It feels so much like an 80s movie that it probably could have done well at just 90 minutes, but I’m not going to complain about having more time to spend with these guys.

_{Biology It’s streaming on Netflix now.}