The Order Review – Should you watch this fantasy drama?

Created by Dennis Heaton, The Order combines secret societies of magicians with college campuses and murders. What sets it apart from shows like The Magicians and The Vampire Diaries is the sharp, humorous writing.

The story and characters aren’t exceptional, but the script keeps the show fresh. Gruesome murders, magical spells, werewolves, and other supernatural elements make the show an entertaining watch for fans of the genre.

It does a great job by not declining in the second season and returns with a bigger bang.

1. Quick Review

The first three episodes of The Order will test your patience. The show throws you in the middle of a jumbled plot, bombarding you with information.

The show takes a while to get going and incorporates unnecessary stereotypes about snooty college kids and romances. It picks up the pace in the second half of the season and manages to thrill and entertain.

The protagonist, Jake, gets caught between two rival magical organizations. He’s also trying to discover the truth about his mother’s death.

2. Is It Worth Watching?

A combination of affluent college students, bloody murders, and secret societies will keep you mildly entertained.

The Order: Season 1 | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

The actors try to do what they can with one-dimensional characters who don’t get much development. The magic is not Harry Potter-like but keeps the show light and entertaining.

I. Plot

The series revolves around Jack Morton and his grandfather Peter, who is hell-bent on getting Jack into Belgrave University. The series doesn’t reveal motives early on, and Jack blames his father for his mother’s recent demise.

When Jack shows up in college, the initial episodes feel clunky as various generic stereotypes are showcased one after the other. Fortunately, the series moves past it after a couple of episodes as Jack gets admitted into a secret society of magicians.

The Hermetic Order of The Blue Rose is based on the university campus, and Jack’s dad is a part of the society. They are always at war with werewolves who are suspected of committing gruesome murders on campus.

Jack becomes a double agent when he gets turned into a werewolf and joins their society, the Knights of Saint Christopher. He manages to get the two factions to work together and takes down his father at the end of the first season.

The second season sees a new change in the administration of the Blue Rose. The werewolves are angry because their memories were wiped, and they were tricked.

The emergence of new threats, warring factions, internal politics, and a third society make the second season more action-packed and thrilling than the first.

II. Cast & Performances

Jake Manley plays Jack Morton, the protagonist on the quest for justice. He gives an electrifying performance and delivers witty retorts with a straight face.

Sarah Gray plays Alyssa Drake, a senior member of the Heretic Order of the Blue Rose. She and Jake immediately hit it off, and the initial episodes have a lot of back and forth flirting between the two. Their chemistry is excellent and adds a will-they-won’t-they element to the story.

A level of respect is built between them, as their personalities complement each other. The moments when Jake and Sarah are judging their peers in college or the Order are some of the funniest moments of the show.

The supporting cast adds to the humor that runs throughout the show, often getting edgy and dark. A segment in which previous good and bad members of Blue Rose are mentioned is particularly funny, featuring Michelle Obama, Oprah, and Mussolini.

3. Final Thoughts

The overarching plot of The Order gets confusing when a lot of magical terms and legends are introduced in a short period. The characters seem to be aware of the effect it will have on the viewers and are ready with a funny wisecrack that reels you back in.

The show takes some time to get going and often gets clunky in the middle. The second season is undoubtedly better than the first as the writers have managed to refine what works and what doesn’t.

The limited budget makes for some bad CGI in the first season, but the dead bodies and murder scenes are fairly lifelike.

The acting and writing make the show appealing for the younger generations, and the jokes are relevant. This sets it apart from other competitors in the genre.

4. Grade

5. Info