‘Analog Squad’ Netflix Series Review - A Nostalgic and Heartfelt Drama

Analog Squad is a Netflix original series created by Nithiwat Tharatorn and Aummaraporn Phandintong, the duo behind the acclaimed film The Teacher's Diary. The series is set in the year 1999 when the world was undergoing a rapid digital transformation. The series contrasts the old and the new, the analog and the digital, the real and the fake, through the lens of a dysfunctional family.

Pond is a scheming and selfish middle-aged man who works as a debt collector. He learns that his estranged father, who abandoned him when he was young, is terminally ill and wants to see him before he dies. Pond sees this as an opportunity to inherit his father's wealth and decides to hire a fake family to impress him. He recruits his ex-girlfriend Lily, a struggling actress, to play his wife. He also hires Keg, a playful teenager who works at a pager company, and Bung, a tomboyish girl who owns a video rental shop, to play with his children. Together, they form the Analog Squad, a group of misfits who pretend to be a happy family.

However, things get complicated when they arrive at Pond's father's house, where they meet his real family, who are not as perfect as they seem. Pond's father, who is a successful businessman, has a second wife and a son, who are both cold and greedy. Pond's half-brother, Michael, is a tech-savvy and ambitious young man who works at a dot-com company. He is suspicious of Pond and his fake family and tries to expose them.

As the series progresses, the Analog Squad faces various challenges and conflicts, both within and outside their fake family. They also discover secrets and truths about themselves and each other and learn what it means to be a family and to be themselves.

Analog Squad is a well-written and well-acted drama series that delivers a nostalgic and heartfelt story about family and identity. The series balances humor and emotion, comedy and drama, and creates a compelling narrative that keeps the viewers engaged.

The series is set in the year 1999, which adds a nostalgic and retro vibe to the series. The series showcases the culture and technology of the late 90s, such as pagers, VHS tapes, cassette players, and floppy disks. The series also uses a lot of references and jokes from the 90s, such as Titanic, The Matrix, Spice Girls, and Pokemon, which will appeal to the viewers who grew up in that era.

The series also explores the theme of digital transformation and its impact on society and individuals. The series contrasts the analog and the digital, the real and the fake, and the old and the new, and shows how they affect the characters' lives and relationships. The series also raises questions about the meaning of family and identity, and what makes them authentic and valuable.

The series has some technical issues, such as poor editing, inconsistent lighting, and low-quality sound. The series could have been improved by tightening the script, cutting some unnecessary scenes, and enhancing the production quality.

Analog Squad is a nostalgic and heartfelt drama series that offers a refreshing and entertaining watch for the viewers. The series is a tribute to the 90s, a celebration of family and identity, and a reminder of the value of the analog in the digital age.

Final Score – [7/10]
Reviewed by - Arpita Mondal
Publisher at Midgard Times