Cover art by @luciajimenezf on Instagram

by Frankie Fanelli

Hollywood is a highly anticipated new Netflix original series by showrunners Ryan Murphy (Glee, American Horror Story, Scream Queens, The Politician) and Ian Brennan (Glee, Scream Queens, The Politician). This star studded new series features many of the actors that Murphy has worked with previously in exciting new roles. The series is set in 1940s Hollywood, or, rather, Hollywoodland, and follows the development and creation of a fictional blockbuster film. The series focuses primarily on the racial, sexuality, and gender discrimination that was all too common behind the scenes of Hollywood’s golden age: more specifically, a half-Asian director helming a film written by a gay, Black writer and starring a Black actress- something that was not only unheard of but practically condemned in that day and age.

If you’re familiar with the rest of Murphy’s work, you’ll likely see a lot of familiar faces throughout Hollywood’s 7 episode season. We first meet Jack Castello (David Corenswet), a struggling actor desperate to find work in show business in order to support his wife Henrietta (Maude Appatow) who is expecting twins. He later meets Ernie West (Dylan McDermott) who comes to Jack with a rather unusual yet lucrative job proposition to hold him over until he gets his big break. Some other key players in the series’ admittedly large ensemble cast include Raymond Ainsley (Darren Criss), an aspiring director who dreams of bringing the story he’s obsessed with to life: the true story of Peg Entwistle, a young woman who jumped off the Hollywoodland sign in 1932 after failing to become a star and whose story has been used ever since to symbolize the heartlessness and superficiality of the industry. He soon meets Archie Coleman (Jeremy Pope), a writer- among other things- who is able to bring Ainsley’s beloved story to life via screenplay. Ainsley’s wife Camille Washington (Laura Harrier) is an aspiring actress up against Claire Wood (Samara Weaving), an admittedly more cutthroat foe, for the role of Peg.

The 1940s Hollywood that is built by Netflix’s Hollywood is nothing short of breathtaking, portraying both the glitz and the glamour of the industry along with its seedier underbelly with equal impressiveness. From lavishly decorated hotels and celebrity mansions, casting offices bedecked with dark mahogany and crystal bourbon glasses, and a plethora of charming cafes and diners to washed-out pastel motel rooms, cramped studio apartments, and secret, smoky speakeasies, Hollywood portrays its namesake city with style and reflects the reverence that Murphy so obviously has for classic Hollywood.

The series tackles a lot of the era’s issues as well- most of which are unfortunately still topical today, nearly 80 years later- such as sexism (especially in the workplace), discrimination against the LGBT+ community, and racism. All of these issues were rampant in 1940s Hollywood on all fronts of the industry, whether it be in the writers room, executive offices, behind the camera, or in front. The story Hollywood tells is largely about a group of people putting their careers, or the possibility for one, on the line in the name of justice and equality- which is undoubtedly admirable regardless of the decade.

The series’ writing itself is rife with twists, turns, and drama, leaving little room for the audience to ever be bored with the story unfolding on the screen in front of them. In true Ryan Murphy style, the series doesn’t shy away from raunchy imagery nor subject matter- both of which play a big part in the show- but as long as you’re up for it, it does nothing to lessen the impressiveness and quality of the series.

I was anything but disappointed by the release of Hollywood despite anticipating it for months and slowly being introduced to the cast- the acting was everything I hoped, not to mention the breathtaking costume and set design and world-building aspects of the writing and production. If you’re looking for high-budget entertainment, truly lavish television, and a star-studded cast that’s sure not to disappoint, then Netflix’s Hollywood is definitely for you.

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Estos días he estado viendo la serie Hollywood y me ha encantado, así que me han entrado ganas de dibujar a dos de los personajes. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~ A watercolor from the last TV show I binge-watched, Hollywood, which I LOVED. . . . .~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~. ~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~ #illustration #pinturaacuarela #hollywood #hollywoodfanart #hollywoodnetflix #lauraharrier #davidcorenswet #watercolorpracticing #artistsoninstagram #paintingofinstagram #watercolor_zone #artistgram #illustrationstyle #arttoinspire #quarantineartexperimentation

A post shared by Lucía Jiménez F (@luciajimenezf) on May 9, 2020 at 10:05am PDT