Greenhouse Academy
Image Credit: Netflix
Emily Parker,
30th Dec 2017
Tags:
Life
Review
Drama
If you like watching stereotypical high school dramas then 'Greenhouse Academy' ticks all the boxes. It's a feel-good, mystery filled, TV series.
'Greenhouse Academy' is an elite Southern Californian boarding school for talented future leaders. The students are split into two 'houses’ called the Ravens and Eagles. The Eagles are sporty and great at basketball. The Ravens are clever and particularly great at puzzles. They have all the stereotypical things you’d expect, for example, club houses and dorms, but it is super high tech too, which is a welcome addition. Also, as all boarding schools should, there is a suitable dollop of competitive spirit between the houses, driving the students to do several pranks against each other.
The series starts by focusing on two of its students, a brother and sister, Hayley and Alex Woods, who are played by Ariel Mortman and Finn Roberts. Their mum dies in an awful space accident. After their mother's death, Alex who has wanted to go to the Greenhouse Academy for a long time, sits an entrance exam. As time goes by they both end up at the Academy where mysterious and bizarre events begin to unfold. Together with their new friends in their respective houses, they uncover a deadly plot and forge unlikely friendships in the process.
You will also get to meet:
Daniel Hayward, Captain of the Eagles, your everyday sporty teenager who loves to be the centre of attention and in charge.
Leo Cruz, Captain of the Ravens, who is always encouraging; the diplomatic leader and lovable musician.
Brooke Osmond, daughter of the Headmaster of Greenhouse Academy and girlfriend to Daniel Hayward. Brooke is the girl who everyone seems to love and doesn’t miss a trick in what’s going on.
Jackie Sanders, the moody troublemaker, who turns herself around after a previous run in with the law.
The acting is a little questionable at times, but the writing and concept is refreshing, with a new spin on familiar high school shenanigans.
The acting is a little questionable at times, but the writing and concept is refreshing, with a new spin on familiar high school shenanigans.
As for the setting, it leaves a lot to be desired, and more effort could have been put into creating something more memorable. Unfortunately the technology that is unique to the school fails to deliver on expectations too. They could also have filmed in more areas of the Academy or its surroundings, and used a bigger range of camera angles, adding more depth to the story.
There is a surprising twist in the final few episodes that is worth sticking it out for.
The more episodes you watch, you begin to guess where it's heading and it does get predictable. You never quite get the feeling of surprise, despite the attempted build up of tension in each episode. However, there is a surprising twist in the final few episodes that is worth sticking it out for, making me intrigued to see what season 2 will hold in 2018.
