By Monique
Directed by: Mo Marable, Michael Weaver, Shahrzad Davani, Dan Goor, Luke Del Tredici
Written/executive produced by: Dan Goor and Luke Del Tredici
Executive producers: Craig Robinson, Mark Schulman
Starring: Craig Robinson, Claudia O’Doherty, Rell Battle, Tim Heidecker , Stephanie Nogueras , Jet Miller, Scott MacArthur, Wyatt Walter, Dot-Marie Jones, Katie Kershaw, Joe Massingill), Melanie Field , Tim Simons, Fatimah Taliah, Beck Bennett, Kyle Mooney
Synopsis (Peacock): Killing It is a comedy about class, capitalism, and one man’s quest to achieve the American Dream. But first he has to overcome vicious criminals, nature run wild, and worst of all, corporate America.
Monique’s review:
If you’re a fan of O’Doherty from Our Flag Means Death, then maybe you ought to check out Killing It on Peacock.
The series stars Robinson as Craig, a Miami-area man who wants to become a successful entrepreneur and prove his family right about his dream about selling saw palmetto berries–thought to have medicinal properties–to companies. But to get there, he takes the most alternative route possible–catching invasive snakes and getting money for his bounties. He partners with the hapless Jillian (O’Doherty), who eventually becomes his business partner in the saw palmetto berry business.
Even though the series (which is in its second season) is an American production, it feels a lot like the Australian and New Zealand films and TV shows I’ve seen, which means the humor is a lot more laid back and subtle. At worst, some viewers might consider the series boring, but this might be due to different cultural tastes in humor. But if you’re a fan of subtle humor and enjoy slow builds regarding character development, you will find something to like about Killing It.
One big attribute the series has going for it is its focus on diversity, particularly with the character of Camille, Craig’s ex-wife. Camille, played by Nogueras, is deaf, and it’s a pleasant surprise to see deaf representation on a television series. It also throws down the gauntlet for other shows to include more disabled representation within their cast of characters. Robinson as the lead is also something to applaud; generally, Robinson is playing supporting characters on shows, such as The Office. But to see him lead a series and play a character that doesn’t devolve into stereotype is refreshing.
Overall, Killing It is a fine addition to Peacock’s slate of programming. If you’re looking for a breezy show to follow along with, give Killing It a try.
Julian 