The Tribe: a review
The Tribe is, without a doubt, one of the most dire television drama's I have ever had the misfortune to
watch. Made in some remote location in New Zealand using a cast with a collective age of,
approximately ten (mentally, if not physically) it follows the lives of 'the mallrats' as they love, fight and
find the antidote to a virus which killed all the adults of the world and will eventually kill them.
Puzzling is the idea that a group of children can find this cure where the most accomplished scientists
of the world had failed.
In this episode we see Ebony, the once viscious, cold-hearted leader of 'the locos' alone in her room
having flashbacks about life before the virus and her budding romance with the leader of 'the mallrats',
Bray. It seems that this is a storyline which is going to come to a thrilling conclusion sometime soon
since Bray is now in love with Danni whose father, it is important to note is the culprit of the dreaded
virus. Of course, this is a fact which will repeatedly return to haunt Danni; this time through the threat
of the 'news-sheet' and the writers insistance on printing everything she knows about the virus.
Meanwhile, 'the girls' are growing up, Patsy and Ryan are arguing over starting a family and the resident
'baddie', Lex is suffering from the equlivalent of an alcohol addiction in that he wants to have some fun,
he is a teenager, after all. Which brings us to a valiant point; the show might include all the drama and
intrigue of an average episode of Eastenders but, unfortunately it lacks both a half-decent script and
even one mediocre actor. In fact, I am still trying to decide whether the cast are supposed to be adopting
American accents or if they are just that bad at acting.
It has it's good points, of course. For one it is so politically correct it is almost sickening, not only does
the cast include Asian, Afro-American (apparently), Latino and Caucasian characters but it also places
a female (Ebony) in the most powerful role whilst leaving the male as leader of 'the mallrats'. It also, in
the midst of all the drama sends out positive images; the wrong-doer is always punished, the good live
happily ever after and, if all the adults of the world suddenly disappear you can paint bizarre patterns
on your face, tie feathers in your hair and carry on living as a family (or tribe, whichever you prefer).
It is hard to follow The Tribe, if you miss one episode then you're ultimately in for at least three weeks
confusion as you wonder why, for example, Lex is slow dancing with Ebony when he's actually married
to a chipmunk with pink hair (who you find out, three hour long episodes down the line, was killed in
the quest for the antidote) or why Patsy is suddenly eating a hearty meal with a smile on her face when
only a month before she was selling her body for food and then regurgitating it all into the sewers as a
result of that well known disease; Bullemia. But, action can always be found in more than one storyline
and each character is given a chance to perform their own mini-drama; nobody is most important in The
Tribe.
All in all, The Tribe gives a good insight into what life could be like if a fate such as this occured (and
just remember, it very possibly could). Possibly, the illuminous hair, matching make-up - on men, as
well as women - and a reluctance to ever change clothing might be a little far-fetched but the main idea
is still true. As Alice says, in this particular episode "...before we were rehearsing for something that
was to come, now, we're playing the only game left." Wise words and possibly something to keep in
mind.
Besides, The Tribe is so unutterably awful that it's addictive and I, personally, will continue to tune in
until it is no more.
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