Introducing an odd twist in detective lore, HBO Max’s ‘Dead Boy Detectives’ explores the adventures of Edwin Paine (George Rexstrew) and Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri), two boys who are determined to solve mysteries and help the forgotten. However, they are not your typical teenage sleuths; Edwin and Charles are both dead. Their detective agency is unique as they cater to ghosts and the supernatural.
The genesis of their postmortem partnership is as grim as it is fantastical. Edwin died in 1916 as part of a ritual sacrifice at his boarding school. Several decades later, Charles comes to the same end at the school in 1989, succumbing to the cold grasp of hypothermia and the violence of bullies. Edwin’s escape from hell, attributed to a “clerical error,” sets the stage for their spectral agency.
Their inaugural case involves aiding a Victorian child who enlists their help for her psychic friend, Crystal Palace (Kassius Nelson), to exorcise a demon. While successful in defeating the demon, named David (David Iacono), the aftermath sees Crystal’s memories stripped away. This anomaly leads the trio to the quaint town of Port Townsend in pursuit of a missing girl.
Their quest weaves a tangled web with an array of otherworldly beings and eccentrics. Jenny Green (Briana Cuoco) exudes a Goth aura, running a niche butcher shop with loft rooms for rent. Crystal becomes her tenant, while Niko Sasaki (Yuyu Kitamura), an anime aficionado with romantic notions, resides nearby, besieged by the parasitic taunts of Dandelion Sprites called Kingham (Max Jenkins) and Litty (Caitlin Reilly).
In the fold of their adventures, they encounter Esther Finch (Jenn Lyon), an immortal witch with a vendetta against the boys, and a host of other quirky characters like the Cat King (Lukas Gage) and Tragic Mick (Michael Beach), a walrus trapped in a human’s body. The latter sells magical artifacts, tangling further the boys’ already complicated existence.
‘Dead Boy Detectives,’ derived from Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner’s creations, boosts its appeal with characters from Gaiman’s ‘The Sandman’ universe, specifically Death (Kirby Howell-Baptiste) and Despair (Donna Preston). The show is a melting pot of genre, mixing the boarding school narrative with the teen detective tale and an infusion of supernatural flair. It transports viewers to an ethereal setting reminiscent of vintage youth mysteries peppered with spectral elements.
Throughout the eight-episode series, the dynamic duo encounter an array of horrors and mythical creatures: a time-looped family, sirens, monstrous fauna, and nefarious witches to name a few. As they maneuver through their eerie escapades, there’s an underlying current of humanity pulsing through the narrative veins, as they touch upon issues of purpose and identity.
The show is a cinematographic pleasure, complemented by stunning visuals like the stairway to hell and animated backstories that enrich the lore behind the characters. Combining crisp writing and a fetching cast, ‘Dead Boy Detectives’ captivates audiences with a blend of dark humor, fantastical suspense, and touching moments of clarity.
With further episodes already in production, the series is poised to expand the rich tapestry of Gaiman’s imaginative world. The hope is that renewed interest and fan support will ensure the longevity of this uniquely charming show, proving that even in afterlife detective work, there’s no rest for the weary.
Currently, ‘Dead Boy Detectives’ haunts the library of Netflix’s streaming platform, inviting viewers to step into a world where the line between life and the ethereal is not just blurred, but adventurously crossed. The series promises viewers a wild ride through the supernatural with a side of mystery-solving fun, the kind that echoes through the halls of an otherworldly Malory Towers.
