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This review was made possible by early screeners of Dead Boy Detectives. Dead Boy Detectives premieres on Netflix on Thursday, April 25th.
Allow me to invite you to the Dead Boy Detective Agency. Made up of Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri), two teenagers who help the undead solve their mysteries so they can move on to the afterlife. Oh… and they’re also very much dead themselves. Both from different decades, who found each other only in death to serve a greater purpose. Solving the cases no one else can is their unfinished business.
The series is an addition to The Sandman Universe. Based on the comic books from Neil Gaiman, this adaptation comes from Steve Yockey (The Flight Attendant, Supernatural), who serves as co-showrunner alongside Beth Schwartz (Sweet Tooth, Arrow) and is produced by the mastermind behind the Arrowverse: Greg Berlanti.
THE TEAM
Edwin is the brains of the duo. Killed at a boarding school in 1916, he was sent to hell for decades over a clerical error. Charles is the brawn. A punk boy straight out of the 80s who died from a prank his “friends” played on him. The duo compliment each other well as Edwin is more uptight, reserved and plays by the rules, while Charles is armed with a permanent a smile on his face with his brash take on the establishment mentality. But both have deep seeded trauma hidden within, much like a lot of us.
One case brings them to Crystal (Kassius Nelson) who has some demons of her own… literally. They had to exorcise a demon who took control. After helping Crystal, she was left with no memories of her past so they boys (mostly Charles) lets her crash at theirs. They quickly learn she is a clairvoyant, so she quickly becomes a member of the agency (again, mostly because of Charles). A lead brings them across the pond to Port Townsend, Washington to help rescue a little girl who is still alive, a first for the agency even after their decades of stewardship solving the mysteries of the supernatural.
WHAT MAKES YOU THINK SHE’S A WITCH!?
Their journey into the small town is met with a variety of obstacles and cases. A soul-sucking witch, a Cat King (Lukas Gage) who has eyes for Edwin, the Night Nurse (a middle management crony of the afterlife), Death herself and of course Crystal’s ex-demon is still lingering in the depths of her brain. But the quant town also offers some new friends as well. Niko (Yuyu Kitamura) their neighbor in the apartments above the butcher shop owned by Jenny (Briana Cuoco) also joins the agency after a near death experience allows her to see the ghosts with the most.
While they help solve of the unsolved conundrums of the dead, the crew embarks on their own cases of self reflection. Edwin struggles with his sexuality, Charles deals with his ever-growing rage, Crystal tries to remember her past while still pushing forward to be the best person possible and Niko steps out of her shell of grief and shame to reach her full potential. Ultimately the four realize that they’re all stronger together. While some journeys are meant to trek alone, having that support system is an important ingredient to a fulfilled life, even when you’re already dead.
All in all while this series isn’t reinventing the proverbial wheel, it’s the execution where this is series is special. The series is genuinely funny, but it has it’s share of dramatic moments laced with the occasional stints of supernatural gore. While it is more lighthearted than The Sandman it shares the same existential crisis making Gods, ghouls, demons and even witches relatable.
Whether you’re stuck in the land of the living or wandering earth as a ghost, there’s always unfinished business in the ongoing case of self improvement. Dead Boy Detectives is a witty mystery of the week romp covering multiple coasts and a multitude of realms beyond your imagination. A refreshingly fresh take on the word of supernatural beings chalk full of heart, witty writing, compelling characters and some surprising brutality. Dead Boy Detectives premieres on Netflix on Thursday, April 25th. Check out the trailer below.
