James R | On 17, Dec 2016

Netflix UK TV review: White Rabbit Project

As Christmas approaches, Netflix is increasingly wheeling out its big family TV guns, from Guillermo del Toro’s animated series, Trollhunters, to Season 2 of its sitcom reboot, Fuller House. Also hopping into the playground is its original series White Rabbit Project. The show reunites Grant Imahara, Tory Belleci and Kari Byron from Mythbusters to deliver more of the same blend of science experiments and silly shenanigans. Because nothing says family television like people blowing things – and each other – up in the name of learning.

The 10-episode season sees the trio, who were known on Mythbusters as the Build Team, use their building skills to investigate well-known phenomena, be they fictional or real. Episode 1 gets thing off to a promisingly ambitious start, as they attempt to construct their own superpowers to match those of superheroes. One attempts to concoct a freeze ray, while one decides to harness the power lightning and another dreams of practising mind control.

The result is enjoyably diverse, from playing around with a liquid nitrogen wart removal gun and some apples to building a Tesla coil and braving the field of lightning with a conductor suit made of meal. While both of those are surprisingly successful, though, complete with a rod to fire bolts at mannequins dressed as ninjas, the telekinesis is less convincing – mainly because it only really involves making someone spill their drink in a restaurant. As funny as it is to see their frustration (and Kari’s manic glee), it soon gets old. (Let’s not dwell on the fact that their script also doesn’t seem to know much about comic books, including Green Lantern in their list of coolest superheroes.)

The second episode is more hit-and-miss, switching the focus to prison breaks and what the most effective escape method is. While one historical stunt involving a hot air balloon in East Germany is fascinating, it’s a subject that doesn’t quite gel with the tone of the programme – the presenters gloss over the more illegal aspects of the topic, which is at odds with the other, innocent challenges, such as making hoverboards and finding the fastest mode of travel. The format feels equally rough in terms of its structure; a glossy superhero prologue feels like it’s there for the sake of it, leaving you less curious and more confused about what’s going on, while each task concludes with the trio sitting down in a studio and scoring their efforts out of 10. When they decide whose is the best, the episode simply ends – a rushed climax that makes everything that’s gone before oddly inconsequential. They don’t even keep a running score on a leaderboard.

The result is commendably different from the norm for Netflix’s original shows and there’s certainly fun to be had in the no-expense-spared chase for frivolous facts. The team have strong chemistry, confidently proving that with great knowledge comes great irresponsibility, but in its maiden season, White Rabbit Project seems like an experiment that still needs some minor tinkering.

White Rabbit Project is available on Netflix UK, as part of an £9.99 monthly subscription.

 

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