User reviews

I was not there then but I can appreciate it. At times, it feels slightly overplayed (the gang scenes in EP 1 for example), but otherwise it's well done.

Music is exactly what you'd expect and the women are gorgeous. I also like the flashback elements. They were effective and not overly long or preachy, as flashbacks can get.

Story is layered, starts off at several ends and slowly weaves together. I have really enjoyed it so far.

The series also uses documentary to weave real life elements together as a political statement of the ghetto 70's NY. It's hard to imagine just how corrupted NYC was in the 70s. Just crazy

As someone who's not a fan of rap music, I still find the historical aspects and how the elements of hip-hop came together very intriguing! All the characters are interesting and entertaining in their own ways which make me want to know more about them--making for very vivid episodes (it seems each character has their own mood that they add). Hopefully, next season we'll get to see more of those stories... As more of a disco fan, I found those parts to not be as interesting sadly but it could be because of the transition that disco was going through at the time. The parts about the music business was really eye-opening in seeing how it operate(s)(d). Hopefully, the show keeps up the cultural and historical elements that make this show feel like a time-warp, while telling us more about the non-main characters.

This show brought tears to my eyes, it felt like I was in a time machine. Episode 6 was off the chain, I really enjoyed the authenticity and accuracy of the harmonizing style of rhyming, the systematic word play, a true Hip Hop landmark, I feel bad for the rappers of today, (noticed I said rappers not MC's, there's a difference) majority of them don't even know the history of Hip Hop, I thank whoever had the genius to do this show, showing the Bronx how it was, the disco era, vogue dancing, the shows in the park, all that. I must have called ten friends about this show, in those days my crew was called "Ultra Sonic Sounds" my hip hop name was "Cheap Charlie", and I'm proud to say I was there at that time and it was remarkable, especially how we loved to harmonize at the parks, powering our equipment from light posts, the crowds dancing, etc. Anyway Without further ado, Netflix! thanks for the memories, it is well appreciated.

I am a big fan of Baz Luhrmann's work. I love his creative, colorful and unique styles. I didn't know The Get Down was his work until i finished the show and looked it up and it made total sense that it was his work. I loved this show, by far one of my favorite Netflix series. The young men and women they chose for the cast do an excellent job acting and seemed to come so natural to them.There is also a few actors we have seen before in some of our favorite shows, which was very cool to see. It is very poetic & emotional and connecting with the characters is really easy.The story line is fun, exciting, edgy and easy to follow with a lot of historical fiction included.

This series has everything you have been asking for. Music, drama, love, bromance, (even some action) and music. Lots of great music. Really great music.

You might be thinking that because you were not alive at that time or you didn't leave anywhere near the Bronx, you might not understand it. But i lived all my life in Argentina, and i was born on 1999 and i have really adored it. The scriptwriters understand their job perfectly.

The speed on storytelling is plainly delightful, and the story itself makes you suffer and wonder a lot. Its awesome. And lots of fun. Lots.

Please watch it, we need more series like that on Netflix. We deserve, as a society, good entertaining quality shows like this.

I hope you enjoy it as much as i did.

Perfect, Perfect , Perfect depiction of the start of RAP in the bronx. Having, been younger in those days and leaving in the east coast. People like granmaster Flash, Kool Herc, etc.. They were the people you'd daydream about, without really knowing anything about them (pre-internet). Now, the way, the show goes on, it shows all these persona's as seen through the eyes-of fresh young dudes. Example-the way-Shaolin fantastic is represented-how they focus on his red pumas--and how the kids talk about him "His hands are samurai swords". This is the way, anybody who was there(youngins)-remember that time. Now, some people say It's not gritty (If you want gritty-see Sin HOMBRE), the whole point of rap, was that in was against violence- so, it actuality, this is the memory that will have stayed with the youth, more than the violence-the media loves to OFFICIALLY potray as a BRONX staple. Now, the director is Baz Luhrman, and man, did he potray the music in the most perfect way, the way he could parallelly show some rap group trying to rap, and and the same time a disco pre-queen singining. No, other director could have really showed the music so finely as Baz. If you want nitty -gritty streets-watch the Warriors. If you're genuinely interested in RAP the beginnings, before Gangster rappers. Then run and watch this.

I watch a lot of TV shows; most of them in fact. This is the one that has me swapping from VLC to Wikipedia to check facts. I have never been so intrigued to learn so much about an oppressed past that happened so recently in my own country. How do we not know about these things? Fortunately. we soon all will.

This show will bring out the Get Down in you. You probably don't even know what that means. I didn't. But you soon will. We all need it, and it is here for your learning.

Get down my friends, and understand what that means.

Wow! Just finished the first episode of 'The Get Down' and being a massive Hip Hop fan with a healthy appreciation of countless musical genres stretching from Punk to House, it's perhaps inevitable that I've fallen in love with this show. Everything about it seems well thought out, the characters, the sets, the wardrobes, the music, just everything! Yes, it's flamboyant and a bit over the top but very much in keeping with the period.

I'm not gonna go into a detailed review other than to say - get it watched. Hope the rest of the series lives up to first episode - if it does - this will be the best TV show of 2016. Word up.

I saw part one minutes ago. As someone to whom Grandmaster Flash and the likes of him is a big part of growing up the movie strikes a cord with me by nature.

But apart from that I like the wild mixture of dance movie, musical, Hip Hop party, poetry slam, documentary, Kungfu flick, coming of age, spraying, "mastering" the ceremony, DJing, comedy, drama and romance. I recommend to watch the documentary Rumble Kings before watching The Get Down to fetch some historical background information.

Hip Hop with its sampling, mixing, scratching and juggling with words opened up a musical playground for audience and artists. The movie transforms this successfully into visuals.

Let's start by saying I am a 54 year old white woman with a 15 year old son and we both LOVE this show - go figure! We just finished watching the final episode of this season and can not wait until the next season. The 70s, the Bronx, the clothes (Huckapoo shirts - I didn't think anyone remembered those but they were quintessential garments back then). What's not to love - the editing, the music, the story and characters are all genius. Baz Luhrman has done it again. Such nostalgia presented in a modern way. Love the news footage - I'm guessing some of it is authentic?!? I highly recommend this show. Have fun!

I assume many reviewers have already used the let-down pun, but it's truly my sentiment. This show will betray you the moment you start liking it. The beginning draws you in but I have two main issues down the line. First, the show doesn't know whether to be a musical or a more gritty and 'real' story, Second, the plot slowly spirals out of control. Story lines and character actions stop making sense about half-way through. After a magical start viewers are left disenchanted by mediocre acting and a script that could have used a few more weeks in review. Typical 5 star show, with 10 points for the extravagant visuals and 1 point for substance.

I really wanted to like this. Having been born in NYC in 1977, I've always been fascinated with movies and documentaries that portray the era.

There are some redeemable qualities of the show: the music, of course, as well as Jimmy Smits' and Shameik Moore's performances. However, Luhrmman really drops the ball when it comes to over-stylizing the show. Anyone who lived in late 70s/early 80s NYC will attest to the fact that most of the city was a crime-ridden wasteland. Luhrmann tries, unsuccessfully, to capture this but the tone is simply not gritty enough; there's no real "edge" to the show. The Warriors, in all it's campy glory, gives a far better snapshot of the grittiness of the time, both through tone and through cinematography. The Get Down is campy at times, but in a bad way. For example, I'm baffled by Shaolin Fantastic's bizarrely and randomly choreographed Kung Fu flourishes. Perhaps I'm missing something here - it seems much more like a nod to Wu Tang Clan - but they didn't really arrive on the scene for about another decade and a half, and in a totally different borough, Grasshopper.

Additionally, I think that Luhrmann (or perhaps the scriptwriters) insert the cultural, political, and social happenings of the time as purely incidental. Yes, there was a mention or two of Star Wars, which debuted in May of '77, and an episode was sort of framed around the Great Blackout of July 1977. However, there were a number of misleading scenes: for example, the riots and looting that took part largely in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Yes, there was looting beyond those perimeters, but Bushwick was literally burned to the ground. During another scene we see two characters playing an Atari 2600, which wasn't released until September 11, 1977. Music that was not released in 1977 is utilized during some scenes.

Part of the problem likely has to do with the fact that Luhrmann is so culturally disconnected from the subject matter. He was a 14 year old boy living in Australia at the time; he can't properly recreate the pressure-cooker atmosphere that was happening in late 70s NYC because he didn't experience it, and likely doesn't really know anyone who did either. Mad Men did an amazing job of incorporating cultural milestones to frame the narrative of the show. Similarly, The Wackness perfectly encapsulates what it felt like growing up in the city in the summer of 1994. When I watch movies like Dazed and Confused and Stand By Me or the TV shows Freaks and Geeks and The Wonder Years, I feel like I'm transported to those periods of time in small town America. Unfortunately, The Get Down isn't doing it for me, and although it's flawed, Spike Lee's Summer of Sam does a better job of portraying the Summer of 77 by acknowledging touchstone events like the Son of Sam murders, the emergence of punk rock, CBGBs, the 77 Yankees, and Studio 54. All these amazing musical genres were burgeoning at the exact same time, and it's a shame that The Getdown treats most of it like it's inconsequential.

Lastly, I really have to say that Jaden Smith is total joke in this. His "character" becomes slightly more tolerable in the later episodes, but he clearly lacks the acting chops to be able to keep up with the rest of the cast. I say "character" using quotation marks since part of me seriously suspects that his ridiculous hippy-dippy new age dialogue has been lifted right out of his Twitter feed.

This is a great series. There are little things that they got wrong that you would only know if you grew up then... some songs that were a year or two off but it does a fantastic job of capturing life in N.Y. in the 70s.. I graduated from Taft H.S. in 1973 so I know the flavor.. I recognize some of the places and I love the way they blended historic footage with film footage to create a nice image of The Bronx in the 70s. Some of the stuff .. like some of the gang stuff.. was a little over done.. When I was coming up the gangs I knew about in my area were The Black Pearls, The Young Saigons, Savage Skulls and The Black Spades .. there were many others.. but I was not a gang banger. When I moved to the Belmont Ave Ave area the Ching A Ling Nomads had a clubhouse right around the corner on Arthur Ave.. This series does a good job of capturing the fashions and dialog of the time as well..

This show is a breath of fresh air: beautiful and inspirational.

It's about art, friendship, love, fighting for your dreams and finding your freedom.

There are some great characters, portrayed by a talented cast. You'll end up with lots of favorites!

The show is lively, colorful, warmhearted and with non stop fun and good music.

It really has the potential to become a classic.

Please do yourself a favor and go watch The Get Down immediately.

I enjoyed every minute of the show and I can't wait for part 2.

GREAT SHOW. I feel fortunate to have gotten one season, but pissed that such a fantastic piece of work was cut short.

An extremely well produced and high budget show about the emergence of black music like rap and hip hop in the 70s New York. It is a drama and musical with fantastic song and dance numbers that are intertwined into the general drama storyline making it all come together in an elegant way.

It is also a very historical education about musical and cultural evolution.

Season one is smashing, absolutely outstanding, and season two losing some sparks and magic.

This is basically a musical so everything feels quite a bit idealized, almost like a cartoon with real actors wrapped in cotton candy.

The cast is wonderful, storyline excellent an original style of production and storytelling and the soundtrack is fantastic. This show is a real gem to watch and will probably be regarded as a milestone in TV production.

Absolutely recommend you watch first season, it is pure enjoyment and great entertainment.

This is my favorite tv-show in the whole wide world. I am still devastated that it wasn't renewed.

It ain't accurate, but it's a lot of fun to watch.

Watched with my 20 yr old Son before he left for College. After getting past the poor acting and the feeling that I was watching the "Last Dragon II" I was able to explain the arc of music. My generation is fortunate to see the emergence of Reggie, decline of Rock & Roll, decrease of R&B bands/Groups & death of Disco. All this over a twenty year period. Which is now mark with the rise of Hip Hop & Rap which continues today. This opened a discussion over the parallel arc of drugs from LSD, Heroin, PCP & Crack. Furthermore we were able to talk about politics cause and effects, crime, gangs, inner city life etc. Bottom line I was able to show him how good he has it. He didn't have to worry about what color to wear or neighborhood to avoid. He was well feed and never had to check a Payphone for a forgotten quarter. His life is full of electronics, color TV and wireless phones. But the downward trend of the creative bands and R&B groups will leave a hole in his generation. Which is why most movies are rehashed, poorly acted repeats or saga's. And although this series is fresh and new the characters, Director and Writers are wack, look too young and give no life to what Could have been a great story.

The Get Down story is set in 1970s New York. The once radiant metropolis is completely run down and practically broke. The atmosphere is tense and threatens to change at any moment. Last but not least, criminal gangs are forming everywhere, ensuring that there is always unrest and never safety on the streets. Times are tough -- a devastating reality that even a teenage gang in the South Bronx feels uncomfortably every day.

"The Get Down" portrays the beginnings of hip-hop quite well and with a lot of realism.

The setting and costumes are also wonderful.

The soundtracks of the series are banging anyway.

It's a shame the series was canceled... But for anyone interested in the history of hip-hop, it's definitely worth seeing.

This is a great story if you never lived in the Bronx during the 1970s. Rife with revisions, omissions and straight up fabrications, it is the "fantastic" story of stereotypes, generalizations, archetypes and characters with no substance or historical grounding at all. This show gets everything wrong. Nice sets, cute costumes, too bad they are largely anachronisms culled from hip-hop story books and not by asking people who actually lived in those times. Far too unrealistic and revisionist for anyone who lived in this era. I wouldn't waste my time with this again, too bad, I can't get back the time wasted on the first 6. It was funny laughing at how wrong they got it, though.More like the Let Down! LOL Keep trying!

If I was a New Yorker, this show might raise questions. But I'm not. So I can just enjoy the music and the way that Baz Lurhman celebrates beauty and life where others see decay. Everyone thought New York was dead in the 70s, when it was just beginning. I've always rolled my eyes when people talk about youth being our future, but this is a story about that possibility. Not all young, but perhaps some, people didn't see ruin and the end in the Bronx, but all kind of possibility, beauty, power, a canvas, and scope for living life. What else would you do if you are young and never knew anything else? Making art might just be instinctive.