I am a weird bitch who literally makes it my job to check out every horror TV show each year. This obsession occasionally causes me to stumble across a surprisingly fun gem that I want to make everyone’s problem. This is why I’m here to tell you about the wildly charming and hellish Dead Boy Detectives, now streaming on Netflix.
The series follows dead boys Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri). They have both decided to spend their afterlife helping others by solving supernatural mysteries together. One of their recent cases proves stickier than usual, resulting in them befriending a clairvoyant named Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson). Crystal cannot remember who she was before her demonic ex-boyfriend possessed her. She wisely chooses to stay with the ghost detectives who saved her thus turning them into a trio. Very soon after, the gang crosses the wrong witch, Esther Finch (Jenn Lyon), while trapped in a small town.
They Had Me At Hello
Again, I watch a ton of genre shows every year and have learned to enter everything with low expectations. I also go into each knowing as little as possible. I hit play with both of those things working in my favor and was pleasantly surprised. It ended up being the kind of addictive fun I needed. Not only does Dead Boy Detectives delightfully revel in the supernatural and occult, but it also understands that we as a society cannot take another show about two dudes who do dude stuff.
Outside of Edwin and Charles not being our usual generic bros, they are surrounded by a cast of characters that are queer, POC, fearless, and so damn fascinating. They also all manage to get character arcs rather than being set dressing for the lead actors. This is a welcome change from the usual bland and underdeveloped characters littering teen shows these days. It also yields interesting plot points and fleshed out characters. What a sight to behold!
I Love Them, Your Honor
Dead Boy Detectives wastes no time when it comes to forcing you to root for these characters. We quickly learn that Edwin isn’t uptight but is just holding everything close to the vest even after all these decades. We immediately clock small steps our main characters take toward becoming their own found family. Something as small as holding a friend’s hand although they can’t feel it, or forgiving someone who brought a murderer to their doorstep, become signifiers that walls are being lowered. I hate having feelings, but this show manages to navigate the emotional beats in a way that’s not criminally annoying. I think it’s because it manages to wield its heart on its sleeve as another weapon. While it’s not afraid to punch you in the heart, it never loses sight of the magic, the mystery, or the literal hell and demons some characters are battling.
I’m Late To The Party As Usual
I’m a sad nerd who didn’t have the chance to read Neil Gaiman’s Dead Boy Detective comics beforehand. I intend to fix that immediately because I’m obsessed and need to bandage this show hole posthaste. I also didn’t meet the other versions of these characters on Doom Patrol, even though the show has been on my list forever. While I’m sure I’ll have a good time with the other versions of Dead Boys Detectives, I’m worried that I have been spoiled by relative newcomers Rexstrew and Revri, who knocked it out of the park with their portrayals of this duo. We immediately buy their friendship and are pulled in by their cool exteriors that hide fear and wells of unhealed trauma. They are undeniably charming as they help anchor this cast of actors playing in this dark little sandbox of joy.
All that to say, these 8 episodes left me wanting more. The finale sets up a very cool next chapter for the boys. I selfishly want to see what awaits them and all the friends, frienemies, and foes they made this season. Long live the Dead Boy Detectives…as much as the dead can live anyway.
