Warning: This article contains discussion of mental illness, and images of blood.

Last week, I wrote about some of the slightly stiff dialogue (or maybe it was the delivery) that marked Channel Zero’s first episode. As is often the case with fledgling television, it takes an episode or two to find their footing. I’m pleased to say that (writing and directing wise) Channel Zero seems to have done so.

The relationships at play feel more grounded and lend to more believable exchanges. I’m much more convinced by and invested in these characters than I first was. That is something that’s going to be highly important given this season’s focus on family conflict and grief.

Similarly, the show seems to have found and committed to a visual and auditory style that suits what it’s going for. It moves between bright and crisp, cold and sterile, and warm and moody color palettes very competently to suit each scene. Additionally, the sound effects are well crafted and woven in with these visual styles. The soundtrack (so far) is fairly standard horror fiction fare, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It works for what the show is trying to do to be sure, and if nothing else it provides some familiar goalposts and markers by which to identify turning points.

Circling back around to the narrative though: I stand by what I said about the dialogue and the acting, but I’m not sure I’m convinced by or comfortable with some of the broader framing devices. Particularly, how the show handles Mike’s (the protagonist’s) mental health. On top of that, the mental health of some of the child characters introduced so far has given me pause.

To put it simply, supernatural or “mind control” explanations for hallucinations, delusions, dissociation, etcetera, are at minimum eyeroll-worthy and at worst cause for real frustration. As with last week’s episode, it’s hewing a little too close to “mentally ill people are scary and/or evil” for my comfort right now. This may change and as usual, I’d like to be wrong. For now, it’s jarring and frustrating because otherwise, family conflict and grief as the underpinning to horror can be (and often is) right up my alley.

Without clarity on the direction this is meant to go, I’m not sure why this writing room felt the need to evoke the Satanic Panic-esque parental fear of losing control of one’s children to the something otherworldly coming through the television. Nor am I entirely on board with the seeming need to invent supernatural explanations for real and human experiences of psychosis that (for once) horror could give an honest look.

Not to get too personal again, but I’ve talked before about how some of my childhood thoughts and feelings did skirt around the edges of something that could be considered symptomatic in the way that Channel Zero plays with. While this never resulted in a diagnosis to that effect and abated with adulthood, it continues to be a thorn in my side. I’m just over it, frankly, yet I keep seeing time and again in a genre that I deeply love, characters that resonate with my prior experience framed as evil, frightening, mind controlled, or all of the above. Only time will tell if Channel Zero will correct its course from here.

Phenixx Gaming is everywhere you are. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

Also, if you’d like to join the Phenixx Gaming team, check out our recruitment article for details on working with us.

Phenixx Gaming is proud to be a Humble Partner! Purchases made through our affiliate links support our writers and charity!

Channel Zero

7

Score

7.0/10

Pros

• Enjoyable set design and lighting
• Solid soundscaping
• Dialogue and acting have found their footing

Cons

• Currently troubling approach to mental illness