Searching for an amusing prank involving sparkle
With the debut of "Where's Wanda", the initial German Apple TV+ series starring Heike Makatsch and Axel Stein, parents search for their vanished daughter. The series, set in a German town, utilizes neighborhood surveillance to unearth potential suspects. Despite being billed as a "Dark Comedy", it fails to spark interest.
In the German-produced miniseries "Where's Wanda", now streaming on Apple TV+, viewers are prompted to expect something extraordinary. Unfortunately, this isn't the case. Set in the pseudonymous Sundersheim town, the story unfolds during Nuppelwokken, a festival where young women are allegedly abducted by a local forest monster. During this year's celebration, the teenage Wanda Klatt (Lea Drinda) disappears, with police efforts falling short in locating her. Months subsequent, Carlotta (Heike Makatsch) and Dedo (Axel Stein), supported by their tech-inclined son Ole (Leo Simon), embark on their own investigation to find Wanda, using surveillance in their neighbors' homes.
Be subjected to scrutiny...
While checking out clues, the Klatts suspect Wanda's confinement in their perimeter by a neighbor. They disguise themselves as smoke detector testers in orange and proceed to secretly install cameras. Back at home, an expanse of screens enable them to monitor their neighbors' activities, both criminal and peculiar. Narrated by Wanda herself, stories are woven with hopeful promise but fall short of expectations.
As a "Dark Comedy", the intricate blend of witty dialogue, peculiar moments, and the drama of a missing child fails to captivate. Although Apple has put considerable resources into this series, its brilliant production can't compensate for innumerable logical incongruities, dull jokes, and insipid dialogue. For example, how likely is it that the parents of the missing girl, simply by donning colored overalls and caps, could evade recognition by the entire town?
Media Critique, Social Commentary, or Grotesque?
The enigma persists - is "Where's Wanda" meant to be media critique, social commentary, or an artistic interpretation? The overlap deviates from consistency, leaving its audience confused. Some star appearances by Palina Rojinski as a provincial housewife and Devid Striesow with a mustache provide brief entertainment, while other famous actors like Nilam Farooq, Nikeata Thompson, Joachim Kröl, and Kostja Ullmann support the cast. However, even the talented performances of all the actors do not substantially add dimensionality to their characters, particularly Carlotta, Dedo, and Ole. The series debatably suggests both its recurring themes and message should have generated more complexity in both script and character development.
"Where's Wanda" has a well-established pedigree behind the scenes, with Christian Ditter, Tobi Baumann, and Facundo Scalerandi prominent in directing. They have a history of successful series thrilling audiences, including "Biohackers", "Faking Hitler", and "How to Sell Drugs Online (Fast)". Scriptwriter, Oliver Lansley, hails from the UK-acclaimed humor scene, yet his input does not translate to the same success as in "Where's Wanda". The series was envisioned by renowned director Zoltan Spirandell, which poses a crucial inquiry for the creators: why did they err and create more of a low point rather than a high point in this German series market? It's disheartening to know such potential, being developed for Apple TV+, was lost. The initial two episodes of "Where's Wanda" are now available for viewing, with new episodes premiering weekly.
Despite its availability on streaming platform Apple TV+, the "Dark Comedy" series "Where's Wanda" continues to struggle with captivating audiences. In an attempt to find clues about their missing daughter Wanda, the Klatts resort to secretly installing cameras in their neighbors' homes, allowing them to monitor activities both suspicious and peculiar.
In the search for answers, critics question if "Where's Wanda" serves as media critique, social commentary, or an artistic interpretation. Despite its talented cast and well-known directors, the series falls short of expectations due to logical inconsistencies and lackluster dialogue.
