For Your Consideration: Red Oaks

In this week’s segment of “For Your Consideration,” we’re featuring Amazon’s coming-of-age series, Red Oaks. With historical dramas and vintage-themed shows dominating the streaming arena, it’s a real conundrum as to why Red Oaks hasn’t generated more of a fan base.

We’ve seen a ton of television shows being based off monumental eras ranging from period dramas such as Mad Men to comedies like The Goldbergs. Even though the powers that be have decided that Red Oaks is worthy enough to be given a third season, they’ve also come to the decision that it will be the show’s final season.

The Premise

The show is set in 1985 and takes place in a fictional prestigious country club called Red Oaks. It centers on the lives and shenanigans of the owner and his family, the patrons and the staff during a time where unforgettable fashion trends were being brandished, cult classics were being filmed and earworms were being sung. David Myers (Craig Roberts) is an NYU student who got a summer job as the assistant tennis pro at Red Oaks and is also the show’s main character.

The first season focuses primarily on David as he bides his time at the country club while being bombarded with advice from best friend Wheeler (Oliver Cooper), the Red Oaks’ clientele, his mother (Jennifer Grey) and father (Richard Kind) and even the owner of the club (Paul Reiser) on what he should do with the rest of his life after he graduates from college. Similar to your typical coming-of-age individual, David is still trying to find himself amidst a demanding summer job, a strenuous long-term relationship and a promising future.

After his outstanding performance in Submarine back in 2010, Craig Roberts has been hailed as a rising talent from the UK and is the perfect actor to play the unsure David Myers. He’s not only been seen in hit films like 22 Jump Street, Neighbors, and The Fundamentals of Caring but he has also started wearing another hat after he directed Just Jim back in 2015.

Why You Should Watch

Red Oaks is enticing to watch because it reminds viewers of a time in their lives where they were unsure about almost everything and watching the show gives them the opportunity to revel in their nostalgia. While the show could have easily turned into a drama, the comedic element shines through in its characters, witty dialogues, and storylines.

What is most appealing about Red Oaks is that it doesn’t capitalize on the trends in the 80s, but subtly showcases it in the everyday lives of its characters; David’s girlfriend in season 1 is sporting leggings and colourful gym wear, Wheeler playing a popular song in his car and David recording the videos he films on cassette tapes. By doing this, it allows viewers to focus more on the characters and what’s really happening in their lives instead of trying to get a cheap laugh out of retro clothes, dance moves or slang.

While the second season of Red Oaks is just as amazing and riveting as the first, the third season is sure to be the best one of the series.

They’ve just begun shooting season 3 and it will (hopefully) be out later in the year. Make sure to binge watch the previous seasons on Amazon to be prepared for the best and final one!