A Preview of ‘The Outlaws’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

There was a time, where the world of television was true escapism. For the sitcom ruled the day and the dramatic and reflective stuff was saved for ‘A Very Special Episode’ or shows buried late at night. For the common belief was that the tube was there to just let everyone unwind from their day so they could refresh themselves for the tomorrow ahead and for a time… it truly seemed as though this was going to be television's fate for as long as it existed. But over the past decade or so, there has been a grand paradigm shift within the industry. For the rise of the streamer and the need for more content to feed the new television networks out there, has called for a different kind of content to arrive in the world of television.

Which means that fluffy stuff simply doesn’t cut it anymore. To really draw in an audience and keep their attention, unique stories have to be told and that is bringing forth a revolution for the industry. One where television is rivaling cinema when it comes to the quality of the storytelling present on the small screen and where giant names now lend themselves to T.V. on the regular because they know they’re taking part in top-tier storytelling. But what matters most, is that this shift in the business, is allowing for powerful stories to be told in unique ways and it just so happens that a story that fits that mold, is about to hit the airwaves on Prime Video.

For The Outlaws really is a story unlike any other on the market and we here at Nerds That Geek have enjoyed an advance look at this compelling new show and would like to take a moment today and spotlight its wonder in a spoiler-free manner of course and well, the first reason this show stands out… is because of its plot. For in this particular journey, we are plunged into a corner of the world that few of us know about or will ever experience. Specifically, what comes next after committing a crime since we join a group of people who are in the midst of community service in this story, as part of their probation, and seeing how they react to the decisions they’ve made and what brought them here, really does make for refreshing television. The kind that gives the viewers perspective and for that matter… also provides them with a powerful character study.

Since we learn so much about these individuals and what drove them to their mistakes and what drives them toward tomorrow and that allows for some powerful and inflective moments to take place. The kind that allows for the viewer to relate to people that we are taught we should NOT relate to, giving rise to the lesson that criminals are human beings too, that made a poor choice or choices and find themselves in a tough place they have to dig out of, and that makes this a truly fascinating show in the end. One that is not quite as dark as that particular plot or structure appears to be. Because this is a story written and created by Stephen Merchant and Elgin James, and they just so happen to be, a writing duo that know what goes into grand storytelling and how to keep it light, and it is the comedic elements present here that really sell this story.

Since it allows for this series to never get overwhelming and heavy, allowing for the viewer to process the gravity of what’s going on with the characters… and the outright majesty of this magnificently original series. Because this one truly takes us on an adventure that is unlike anything else on the airwaves right now and it reminds us of what television can truly accomplish and the good news is, the wait for this dynamic new series is nearing its end. For The Outlaws makes its debut on April 1, 2022, on Prime Video and we cannot wait for all of you to see it and to geek out with all of you about it, and speaking of that… well, make sure you swing by NTG tomorrow to check out our interviews with some of the cast and crew... and to truly build up some excitement for you… we leave you with some sneak peeks from the show, and its trailer. Until next time.

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‘Attendance’

‘Flirting’

‘Secrets’

Trailer