Disco, hip-hop, big hair and drama! The Get Down, a Netflix’s original series, returned for part two of season one on April 7th, and is ready to move your heart (and feet) even more than the previous batch of episodes.
Set in the Bronx, New York, the music-driven series follows famous adult rapper, Ezekiel "Zeke" Figuero, as he reminisces on the the trials and tribulations he endured while coming up in the music industry during the late 1970s.
The teen version of Zeke is played by Justice Smith, who steps into his first major lead role with the confidence and strength of a seasoned pro. Smith’s raw acting talent effortlessly shines, but to discover how to accurately portray an aspiring rapper from the ‘70s, he was prepped in a unique way. “We had to do a disco/hustle kind of boot camp thing. I had to do a rap boot camp with Kurtis Blow,” he explained to Blavity. His costar, Herizen F. Guardiola, who plays the beautifully talented Mylene Cruz, was also put through the ropes to prepare. “I had to do a singing boot camp. Which was really strange because they didn’t know that certain runs were not relevant in the ‘70s. I was in the studio doing modern things with my voice, and you can’t do that, cause it wasn’t invented yet. Mariah Carey runs were not a thing at the time.”
Photo: Netflix
The Get Down is unique for a couple of reasons. For one, it bridges the gap between the baby boomers (who grew up during the acme of the disco era, alongside the rise of hip-hop) and the millennials (who may not know much about the rich history of that time). "I think it’s cool that we’re showing the origins of this huge cultural entity that is hip-hop, because now if you listen to modern day hip-hop music, there’s a lot of callbacks to beats, music and rhymes from the ‘70s. It’s kind of cool just to tell people our age and younger, you gotta pay tribute to the roots," Smith stated.
The other reason the show is special lies in it being one of the first shows from a major streaming service, that is comprised of a cast of color. On being a part of a TV show where multiple episodes are dump into our lives at once to devour as we please, Guardiola had this to say. “I honestly feel like Netflix is the best way to get a message across. And the way we’re doing it, through the eyes of this creative genius that is Baz—there’s nothing like it.”
The “Baz” Guardiola is referring to is Baz Luhrmann, the creator, writer and director of The Get Down. He is renowned for his incredible work on the dope 1996 remake of Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge! (yes, the film known for the “Lady Marmalade” remake featuring Missy, Lil Kim, P!nk, Christina Aguilera and Mya), Australia and most recently, The Great Gatsby. All of those movies were sweeping, epic stories surrounded by incredible music, which is why it’s no surprise that Luhrmann would devise a project like The Get Down. It’s right up his alley. But the idea to create a story based on characters of color, and diving into the soul filled music of hip-hop and disco, is a detour from Luhrmann’s past predominately white productions. Smith shared his thoughts about the cultural importance of the show. “It’s cool to see young black and brown people being aspirational and trying to achieve something. There’s just so many movies and TV shows about the struggles of being a person of color, and this show is about that too, but also overcoming those struggles.”
Photo: Netflix
I’m sure you’re excited to dive head first into the show, but don’t binge through part two’s five episodes too fast. Season two (or maybe, part three?) hasn’t been announced yet, and with the attention to detail and extravagant scenes the show delivers, it could be awhile before we see the next step in the characters’ paths. On the legacy that the show has cemented thus far, Guardiola says she wants women to be inspired by the character she portrays. “Mylene’s a very strong woman in the show and she doesn’t really let a boy stop her from achieving her goals and her dreams. She will still say “bye” as much as she loves him. And you gotta do that! As a woman, I’m proud to play a character that is strong in herself and isn’t being pushed around by a man, because I don’t know who the hell they think they are!” She laughed a bit at the spunk she exuded in the statement, releasing a bit of her character’s attitude.
The Netflix show is a joy to watch and judging from the noise from social media platforms, and alongside numerous rave reviews, a lot of people are into it. When asked why so many viewers are praising the show, Shameik Moore, who plays Curtis "Shaolin Fantastic" Anderson, shared his idea. “I think it’s because people can connect with the story. You can relate to it. No matter how old you are, there’s a character you can relate to.” And after being glued to episode after episode of the musical drama, it would be hard to disagree with that answer.
The Get Down, season one, part two, is now available for your streaming pleasure on Netflix.
