Tune In Or Tune Out: 'Late Bloomer' Is Internet Auteurism Done Right
For ethnic parents, there is only one thing worse than death: creative children. Crave’s Late Bloomers comedically explores the generational divide between work obsessed immigrant parents and their creativity starved children. YouTuber and comedian Jasmeet “Jus Reign” Raina plays a version of himself incapable of balancing his Indian milieu in the pursuit of internet stardom. Jobless and aimless, he feels behind in life compared to his peers and his growing penchant for acceptance finds him adrift between his cultural identity and materialistic desires. The series is riddled with social critique of influencer culture, corporate wokeism, and cultural idealism. Ripe with excellent storytelling, it beautifully mixes with Raina’s unflinching auteurism. Late Bloomers searches for answers within Raina’s community in lieu of cultural commodification, and the series perfectly balances its strong message with hilarious hijinks.
Meet Jasmeet
Bored and directionless, Jasmeet is every parent’s worst nightmare — unemployed, excessively materialistic, and incapable of doing his own laundry at 30 years old. It’s difficult for the audience to sympathize with him as he is cranky, sardonic, and hyper-individualistic. The series highlights his awful characteristics as a commonality among influencers, and hyperbolically parodies their desperate need for an ounce of virality. Despite his burgeoning empathy in later episodes, he blurs the line between mildly annoying and unlikable. He selfishly puts himself first and upsets his parents in unintentional yet cruel ways. The series’ heavy critique of influencer avarice creates a character that, sadly, audiences may actively root against.
His fragile idealism of internet success was doomed to be stifled by the harsh reality of the entertainment industry. He is at a crossroad — sellout his culture for fame or embrace his Indian identity and lose his sponsors. In spite of his excessive negativity, Jasmeet is incredibly fun to watch. Late Bloomers expertly presents the intersectionality of class, culture, and influencing in an age of performative authenticity. Online celebrities manufacture their personalities to reach maximum profits, and Jasmeet must decide whether to stay true to himself or dive deep into the mechanical reproduction of influencer culture.
Its cynical humor and culturally relevant satire neatly blend its chaotic humor and genuine concerns about culture and community. Each episode presents wacky situations that hilariously mock corporate allyship, with amusing scenes that discuss diversity hires and cultural appropriation masked as representation. Late Bloomers is overtly political, conveying its message through a sincere portrayal of a flawed but honest man looking for acceptance.
Was It Tune In Or Tune Out?
Late Bloomers is full of colorful characters and pertinent social critique of our current digital age. Baljinder Singh Atwal and Sandeep Bali perfectly portray immigrant parents frustrated with their son’s lack of work ethic. The series paints a haunting yet realistic portrait of parents struggling to understand their kids as they let their obsession with work obfuscate their internal desires. They struggle to accept their child’s Western influences and constantly idealize their culture without acknowledging its harmful traditionalism.
Side characters enhance the story to absurd and hilarious results. They are charismatic and funny, each presenting issues that tackle the cultural divide between generations. Masterfully shot, its 35mm look is particularly trance-inducing. Every character is full of life and accurately encompasses the varying generational sentiments about a culture that disincentivizes creativity. Entirely self-aware, the series weaves comedy and social critique with discussion of dark subjects. Late Bloomers highlights the absurdity of modern internet virality, making its opinions known through enticing characters and bizarre antics.
Late Bloomers’ writing stands out amid a sea of influencer-produced television. Raina perfectly blends his YouTube-style comedy with social commentary that encapsulates the struggle between culture and personal aspirations. His character is funny and sometimes too cruel, but accurately represents the lack of creative support from immigrant parents. The series is a culmination of everything wrong with the influencer space, cleverly conveying its message without being overly preachy.
Who Will Like It?
Late Bloomers is laced with heavy satire and cultural critique, and it understands when to step off its soapbox to provide an entertaining story with an enjoyable cast. Eccentric side characters provide high-level comedy while portraying the real issues that plague immigrant families. Late Bloomers sticks out among its contemporaries as an influencer-directed comedy that understands its audience and subject. While the protagonist gets under our skin at times, Late Bloomers shines in a sea of online discourse about cultural identity and authentic confessionalism.