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The Get Down

The Get Down
Genre
Created by
Starring
Narrated byNas
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1 (2 parts)
No. of episodes11
Production
Executive producers
Production locationNew York City
Running time53–93 minutes
Production companies
Budget$120 million[1][2]
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseAugust 12, 2016 (2016-08-12) –
April 7, 2017 (2017-04-07)

The Get Down is an American musical drama television series created by Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis. The series debuted on Netflix on August 12, 2016, and was cancelled after one season.[3][4][5]

Produced by Sony Pictures Television, the series is set in the South Bronx region of New York City in the late 1970s; its title refers to parts of disco and R&B records that could be repeated using multiple turntables and were enjoyed most by dancers.[6] A five-episode second part concluding the series was released on April 7, 2017.[7] On May 24, 2017, Netflix announced that the series had concluded after part two and that there would be no more seasons.[8]

Premise

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The series is set in the 1970s in the Bronx borough of New York City and follows the rise of hip-hop and disco music through the eyes of a group of teenagers. Each episode begins with MC Books, a famous artist who raps his story to a large crowd during a concert in 1996. The short rap serves as both a recap of previous episodes and a setup of the coming events. Each episode is intercut with real footage and newscasts from the 1970s.

Part one begins in 1977 with Zeke Figuero (young MC Books), an orphaned poet who lives with his aunt Wanda following the death of his parents. He proceeds to meet Shaolin Fantastic, a graffiti artist and aspiring DJ. The two band together with Zeke's friends to become "The Get Down Brothers", with a dream to become successful music artists and take over the city. Mylene, Zeke's long-time love, dreams of becoming a disco singer and leaving the Bronx but faces obstacles such as her father, a pastor who disapproves of secular music. The show depicts various gangs and gangsters in the area, specifically Fat Annie and her son Cadillac, and observes the poverty and violence faced by those living in the Bronx in the 1970s.

Part two is set in 1978 and sees the group members entering adulthood and their futures in the music industry. Zeke is faced with an ultimatum: love or music. Although Mylene is his first love, music is his love as well. Mylene is moving up in the music industry and wants Zeke to be there with her, but doesn't think he is putting in the effort. Shaolin and the gang focus on making music and making money. Shaolin gets a car with a dead body in the trunk, which shakes the boys and makes them second-guess their relationship with him. Shaolin calms them down, explaining that everything is going to be all right. They calm down but remain worried about Cadillac and his business with Shaolin.

Cast

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Main

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Recurring

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Guest

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Episodes

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Series overview
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
1116August 12, 2016 (2016-08-12)
5April 7, 2017 (2017-04-07)
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
Part 1 (1977)
11"Where There Is Ruin, There Is Hope for a Treasure"Baz LuhrmannStory by : Baz Luhrmann & Stephen Adly Guirgis
Teleplay by : Baz Luhrmann & Stephen Adly Guirgis & Seth Zvi Rosenfeld		August 12, 2016 (2016-08-12)
Set in the Bronx in 1977, Zeke is a high school student in love with his friend Mylene. She wishes to escape the Bronx and become a singer, so she and her friends attempt to impress a DJ at the Les Inferno club. Zeke obtains a rare record of Mylene's favourite song to impress her. However, Shaolin Fantastic is instructed to acquire the same record by Grandmaster Flash, another DJ who promised to mentor him if he can procure the record. Zeke gets the record but then struggles to get into the club; Mylene, already inside, attracts the attention of Cadillac who asks her to dance with him during the dance-off. Shao agrees to get Zeke into the club with the condition that Shao gets the record by the end of the night. As Zeke and Mylene dance and kiss, a gang shoot-out breaks out inside the club, killing the DJ and several others; Zeke, Mylene, and her friends barely escape. Zeke confesses his love for Mylene but she believes his reluctance to fulfil his life will stop her from leaving the Bronx. Zeke then hands over the record to Shao, who explains that he needs it for a DJing technique called "the get down". Shao, Zeke, and his friends take the record to a local club and give it to Grandmaster Flash, who uses it to create a beat with a second record. Shao and Zeke then impress the entire club with Shao's dancing and Zeke's freestyle rapping abilities. Meanwhile, Mylene has run away after being beaten by her father; she goes to stay with her uncle, Papa Fuerte. At Shao's home, Zeke and Shao discuss their future, hoping to team up and use their music to take the city by storm.
22"Seek Those Who Fan Your Flames"Ed BianchiSam Bromell & Sinead Daly & Jacqui RiveraAugust 12, 2016 (2016-08-12)
Grandmaster Flash begins his training of Shaolin Fantastic. He begins by giving Shao a crayon that he refers to as the "key" and twenty-four hours to figure out its use. While the other boys give up and leave, Shao and Zeke stay overnight and realize the crayon is used to mark the "get down" point on the records. After further explanations, Grandmaster instructs Shao to perfect one record using his techniques. After working for a while, the boys take a break and return to discover that Shao's home has been set on fire, destroying his records and turntables. Meanwhile, Mylene's uncle Papa Fuerte arranges for a music producer to listen to her sing in church. Just before the service begins, however, Mylene's father tells her she will no longer sing solos due to her recent actions and foray into disco music. As the choir sings, the producer starts to leave, so Mylene defies her father's wishes and sings to stop him from leaving. The episode ends with Cadillac investigating who ordered the shoot-out at Les Inferno, during which he shoots a young boy from a rival gang.
33"Darkness Is Your Candle"Andrew BernsteinT Cooper & Allison Glock-Cooper & Stephen Adly GuirgisAugust 12, 2016 (2016-08-12)
Set in July during a citywide blackout, Mylene's father kicks her out after her performance at the church so she stays with the Kipling family. Her uncle continues to help her reach her dreams but he is visited by Mylene's mother, Lydia, who explains that her family is breaking apart. Moreno, a producer, talks Papa Fuerte into recording a demo of Mylene to take to a big record company. Moreno and Mylene struggle to agree on a song, so he writes a new song for her. Shao, having lost all of his possessions in a fire, turns to Fat Annie to make money. She invites him into her family. This doesn't sit well with her son, Cadillac; he instructs Shao to dispose of his car. Zeke and the other boys look for jobs to help Shao raise money for new turntables. When the Kipling parents leave for a family funeral, the kids throw a party (and charge for entry), playing a mix-tape of Grandmaster's work that they purchase from a local store. Playing his music breaks the "no biting" rule, prompting the arrival of gangsters to break up the party and trash the salon. Afterward, Shao, Zeke, and the boys discover the body of a boy Cadillac shot in the trunk of his car. They dump the body in a lake and commit to taking care of each other as "the Get Down" brothers and vow to stop Cadillac's violent ways. Zeke and Mylene meet to discuss recent events, resulting in the two sleeping together.
44"Forget Safety, Be Notorious"Ed BianchiAaron Rahsaan ThomasAugust 12, 2016 (2016-08-12)
Following the vandalism and looting that occurred during the blackout, Mayor Beame informs Papa Fuerte he can no longer provide him the $10 million needed for his restoration and housing plans. Fuerte takes back his promise to ensure Beame enough votes to win the upcoming mayoral election. Fuerte is approached by Ed Koch, another mayoral hopeful, who offers the same deal as Beame on the condition that Fuerte publicly denounces graffiti. Ms. Green, Zeke's English teacher, meets with Zeke's aunt to support his academic and creative abilities; the two decide that Zeke should take up an internship. Zeke agrees to take one with Fuerte, which also pleases Mylene. Shao and Mylene continue to disagree about the other's influence on Zeke, forcing him to choose between helping Mylene track down Moreno and fixing Shao's relationship with Grandmaster, who banned Shao from mixing after the bootlegged mix-tape incident. Zeke decides to help Shao, leading them into Herculoid territory and an ambush. After falling unconscious due to an overdose, Moreno is revived by Mylene and her friends; they take him to Fuerte, who isn't happy that he has wasted his money, meant for Mylene's demo, on drugs. Dizzee bonds with Thor, and it is revealed that Regina is in an abusive relationship with a dealer named Little Wolf.
55"You Have Wings, Learn to Fly"Michael DinnerSeth Zvi RosenfeldAugust 12, 2016 (2016-08-12)
Whilst hunting down the person responsible for the bootlegged tapes, the Get Down Brothers run into DJ Kool Herc but manage to prove it was one of his own men. He challenges the boys to a DJ battle against the Notorious Three. Grandmaster lifts Shao's ban so he can compete. Meanwhile, Pastor Cruz confronts Papa Fuerte and is shocked to see Mylene there. Fuerte reminds Cruz of his past sins before Moreno, trying to defuse the situation, explaining he wants Mylene to record a hymn with a disco twist in his church. Cruz agrees and makes peace with his daughter when he hears the final song. Zeke is late to his interview but after some hard truths from Ms. Green, he goes back and fights for the internship with Gunn. At the same time, he works with Shao and the Kipling brothers to prepare for an upcoming battle, discovering they each have different musical skills. When Mylene comes to play her record to Zeke, Shao realizes a beat in her record is the missing link for their performance and forcibly takes a copy, causing an argument between Mylene and Shao. The episode ends with the Get Down brothers finding the brother of the boy killed by Cadillac on their roof.
66"Raise Your Words, Not Your Voice"Ed BianchiSeth Zvi Rosenfeld & Sam BromellAugust 12, 2016 (2016-08-12)
In the final episode of part one, Zeke attends an awkward dinner with Mr. Gunns. Dizzee has a new experience at a secret party in the city. As the guys gear up for an explosive DJ battle, Zeke boards a political roller-coaster. The episode ends with Mylene announcing she will be moving to Manhattan after her song became a radio hit; she makes Zeke promise he will visit her.
Part 2 (1978)
71"Unfold Your Own Myth"Lawrence TrillingStephen Adly GuirgisApril 7, 2017 (2017-04-07)
The episode begins with Zeke writing his college admissions essay in a narrative rhyme. Tensions between Shao and the boys threaten to destabilize the group. With her star on the rise, Mylene faces new expectations for pressures. Performing on the popular show "Platinum Boogie", she tells the host that she is single for publicity's sake.
82"The Beat Says, This Is the Way"Ed BianchiAaron Rahsaan ThomasApril 7, 2017 (2017-04-07)
Zeke's Ivy League meeting goes off the rails, he battles which half of himself to present: his pursuit of school or music. Mylene also struggles with the expectations of stardom and being a faithful daughter. Ra-Ra has a bold proposition for Fat Annie, resulting in an explosive musical showdown at Les Inferno.
93"One by One, Into the Dark"Clark JohnsonNelson GeorgeApril 7, 2017 (2017-04-07)
Confronted by ultimatums, Zeke and Mylene each must make a tough choice. Annie pitches a deal to a sceptical Shao and a resentful Cadillac.
104"Gamble Everything"Ed BianchiSeth Zvi RosenfeldApril 7, 2017 (2017-04-07)
Mylene has a fateful encounter with her idol, the Cruz family reaches a critical juncture, a revelation strikes Ra-Ra, and Shao takes rash action.
115"Only from Exile Can We Come Home"Ed BianchiSam Bromell & Jacqui RiveraApril 7, 2017 (2017-04-07)
While the B-boy community rallies in defence of the get down, Mylene's musical fate hangs in the balance, and Zeke receives some life-altering news.

Production

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The series was announced in February 2015, after Luhrmann had spent over ten years developing the concept. The series is described as "a mythic saga of how New York at the brink of bankruptcy gave birth to hip-hop, punk and disco."[18] The Sony Pictures Television show takes place in Bronx tenements, the SoHo art scene, CBGB, Studio 54 and the just-built World Trade Center.[19] On April 9, 2015, it was announced that Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, Skylan Brooks, Jaden Smith, and newcomer Tremaine (TJ) Brown Jr. would play the show's lead male roles.[20] On April 16, 2015, it was announced that newcomer Herizen F. Guardiola would play the show's female lead.[21]

Rap legends Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow, and Nas hosted a hip-hop boot camp to educate the young actors.[22] The production crew used the Eisner Award-winning comic series Hip Hop Family Tree by Ed Piskor as a reference point.[23][24] The Sony-produced series soon hit delays and also saw the departure of original showrunner Shawn Ryan. The first six episodes of season one debuted in August 2016, marking the first time a Netflix original season was split into two parts rather than released all at once — as has been the tradition at the streamer for scripted series. The trailer for part two was released in February 2017, with episodes being made available on Netflix on April 7, 2017. The series picked up a year later, set in 1978.[25] The accompanying soundtrack was released on April 21, 2017.[26] The last five episodes brought the season one episode count to 11 — two short of the original 13-episode order The Get Down received in 2015. The Get Down was Netflix's most expensive series up to date, costing around 120 million. The expense of 120 million greatly surpassed the budget of 90 million.

Reception

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Praise for the show primarily centred around strong music, a fresh cast, and a nod to authenticity with Luhrmann specifically involving many historical characters in producer roles, including: Nas, Grandmaster Flash, Kurtis Blow, and DJ Kool Herc.[27] Part one holds a score of 77% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 79 reviews, with the critic consensus reading, "The Get Down's vibrant music and energetic young cast help to elevate its meandering narrative."[28] The season has an overall score of 69 out of 100 based on 31 reviews on Metacritic which is classified as "generally favourable reviews".[29] Part two received an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 14 critics, with an average score of 7.68 out of 10, with the critic consensus reading, "The Get Down continues to be a dazzling kaleidoscope of genre styles and a warm celebration of hip-hop's origins."[30][31]

The uptempo musical numbers and soundtrack were generally praised as well as the performances from the main cast and cinematography of the show.[32] However, the overly dramatic love story and sometimes "cartoonish" violence have been criticized, saying it detracts from the darker, authentic feel of the show and its setting.[33] Reviews improved with later episodes as critics felt that the series had toned down its more outlandish and over the top elements in favour of a more cohesive and balanced episode structure.[34][35][36] Matt Zoller Seitz of Vulture gave high praises to the series' second half, stating that, "A promising show has become a terrific one."[37] Seitz later named The Get Down as the 4th best TV series of 2017, writing that it is "one of a handful of series that can be said to have devised its own language."[38] Variety ultimately praised the show as, "a reclamation of, and a love letter to, a marginalized community of a certain era, told through the unreliable tools of romance, intuition, and lived experiences."[39]

Accolades

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Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
2016 Hollywood Music in Media Awards
Best Outstanding Music Supervision – Television Stephanie Diaz-Matos Nominated
[40][41]
2017 MPSE Golden Reel Awards
Best Music Editor – Television Short Form Jamieson Shaw Won
Best Music Editor – Television Long Form Nominated
2017 Hollywood Music in Media Awards
Original Song – TV Show/Limited Series "Power" for Elliott Wheeler, Baz Luhrmann, Homer Steinweiss, and Donna Missal Won
[42]
2017 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards
Best Song/Recording Created for Television Herizen F. Guardiola, Nile Rodgers, The Americanos, Stephanie Diaz-Matos, Louie Rubio, Alex Shultz, Raja Kumari, Baz Luhrmann, and Elliott Wheeler Won
[43]
Best Music Supervision for Television Comedy or Musical Stephanie Diaz-Matos Won
[44]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Baz Luhrmann's The Get Down is the big let down ... or not". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. August 13, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  2. ^ Sharf, Zack (July 25, 2019). "'Triple Frontier' Leads Netflix to Cut Back on Huge Spending for Films — Report". IndieWire. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  3. ^ "Netflix Unveils Premiere Dates For 'Orange Is The New Black,' 'The Get Down,' 'Flaked' And Others". Deadline Hollywood. January 17, 2016. Retrieved January 17, 2016.
  4. ^ "First trailer for Baz Luhrmann's Netflix series set in '70s New York". Digital Spy. February 5, 2015. Retrieved February 5, 2015.
  5. ^ "Why The Get Down Is Only Premiering Half of Its First Season on Friday". Vulture. New York Media. August 9, 2016. Retrieved August 14, 2016.
  6. ^ Ringen, Jonathan (August 20, 2016). "Birth of a (Hip-Hop) Nation". Billboard. Vol. 128, no. 21. pp. 27–28.
  7. ^ Evans, Greg (February 23, 2017). "'The Get Down Part II': Netflix Announces Return Date With New Video Clip". Deadline Hollywood.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 24, 2017). "'The Get Down' Canceled By Netflix After One Season". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  9. ^ "Baz Luhrmann's 'The Get Down' Adds "Disco Prince" to Cast (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries, LLC. May 28, 2015.
  10. ^ Andreeva, Nellie. "Jimmy Smits To Star In Baz Luhrmann's Netflix Music Drama 'The Get Down'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  11. ^ "Giancarlo Esposito Joins Baz Luhrmann's Hip-Hop Drama 'The Get Down' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries, LLC. June 18, 2015.
  12. ^ "Netflix Lands Grandmaster Flash for 'The Get Down,' Casts Young Actor as Hip-Hop Legend". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries, LLC. May 20, 2015.
  13. ^ Liebman, Lisa (August 12, 2016). "Separating Fact and Fiction in Netflix's The Get Down". Vulture. New York Media LLC. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  14. ^ McMillan, Graeme (September 29, 2015). "Zabryna Guevara 'The Get Down'". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries, LLC. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  15. ^ "Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  16. ^ Petski, Denise. "Yolanda Ross Joins 'The Get Down'; Chris Petrovski In 'Madam Secretary'". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  17. ^ King, Jamilah (August 15, 2016). "'The Get Down' is the Queer Hip-Hop History We've Been Waiting For". Mic Network Inc.
  18. ^ Abrams, Natalie (February 5, 2015). "Netflix orders Baz Luhrmann musical drama 'The Get Down'". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc.
  19. ^ "Watch The First Trailer For Baz Luhrmann's Netflix Show". Huffington Post. February 5, 2015.
  20. ^ "Netflix Sets Cast for Baz Luhrmann Hip-Hop Drama 'The Get Down' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. April 9, 2015.
  21. ^ Daley, Megan (April 16, 2015). "Baz Luhrmann's 'The Get Down' has its female lead". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc.
  22. ^ Greg, Grouchy (August 4, 2016). "Grandmaster Flash and Nas Made "The Get Down" Cast Go Through Hip-Hop Boot Camp". AllHipHop.
  23. ^ "Instagram photo by Ed Piskor". Instagram. August 4, 2016. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021.
  24. ^ "Instagram video by Justice Smith". Instagram. January 18, 2016. Archived from the original on December 23, 2021.
  25. ^ "The Get Down Part II trailer: Baz Luhrmann is headed back to Netflix". The Independent. Independent Print Limited. February 24, 2017. Archived from the original on June 18, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  26. ^ "The Get Down: Part II". Soundtrack.Net. Retrieved April 17, 2017.
  27. ^ Saraiya, Sonia (August 4, 2016). "TV Review: 'The Get Down'". Variety. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  28. ^ "The Get Down". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  29. ^ "The Get Down: Season 1". Metacritic. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  30. ^ "The Get Down: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  31. ^ The Get Down, retrieved February 25, 2019
  32. ^ Travers, Ben (August 4, 2016). "Review: 'The Get Down' is the Baz Luhrmann Movie You've Been Waiting For Since 'Moulin Rouge!'". IndieWire. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  33. ^ "'The Get Down' Doubles Down On Its Cartoonish Sensationalism In Season 2 [Review]". theplaylist.net. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  34. ^ Sam Wollaston (August 15, 2016). "The Get Down review – an insanely extravagant love letter to 70s New York". The Guardian. Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  35. ^ Tim Goodman (August 3, 2016). "The Get Down TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
  36. ^ Saraiya, Sonia (August 4, 2016). "TV Review: 'The Get Down'". Variety. Variety Media, LLC. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  37. ^ Seitz, Matt Zoller (April 6, 2017). "The Second Half of The Get Down Is a Major Improvement Over the First". Vulture. New York Media LLC. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  38. ^ Seitz, Matt Zoller (December 4, 2017). "The 10 Best TV Shows of 2017". Vulture. New York Media LLC. Retrieved January 12, 2018.
  39. ^ Saraiya, Sonia (August 4, 2016). "TV Review: 'The Get Down'". Variety. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  40. ^ "2016 Music In Visual Media Nominees". Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  41. ^ "HMMA Winners – Hollywood Music In Media Awards | HMMA". Hollywood Music in Media Awards. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  42. ^ "Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Full Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Eldridge Industries, LLC. November 17, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  43. ^ "The Get Down (TV Series 2016–2017) - IMDb". IMDb.
  44. ^ "The Get Down (TV Series 2016–2017) - IMDb". IMDb.
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