Netflix’s Hollywood is an ideal look at what could have been

Netflix’s Hollywood is an ideal look at what could have been if the right people fought the system and biases that occurred during Tinseltown’s Golden Age.

If you haven’t watched Hollywood on Netflix, you should stop what you’re doing and do so immediately!

At first, you will get swept by the dashing male actors, music that you haven’t heard in some time, and the excitement of chasing an acting dream in the Netflix original series. Each one of our main characters has what it takes to make it big, but the standards in Hollywood push them to the back.

I’ll absolutely admit that I got swept up in Jack Castello (David Corenswet). He’s a complete dreamboat who wants to be an actor but struggles on the way to the top as he does his best to provide for his wife and growing family.

Camille Washington (Laura Harrier) hopes to act in any role more than just another black maid in the movies and eventually nab the lead role, while Archie Coleman (Jeremy Pope) struggles with getting his script produced as an openly gay and black writer at a studio while also being in a relationship with the darling Rock Hudson.

The main characters go against what is considered the norm in the industry and the culture at the time. It was unheard of for black actors and writers to be given top positions in a picture. If you were gay, you hid that or else. Watching each character fight for their dreams had me on the edge of my seat, waiting for the worse, and being simply surprised by the good fortune that comes along.

If you aren’t careful, you almost forget that there are tertiary characters that have actually existed in history. Anna May Wong, Hattie McDonald, and Rock Hudson have faced so much animosity in their lives that seeing them have somewhat happy endings brings a cloud over their real experiences.

The portrayals for each of the actors obviously had some artistic licensing involved, but you will still be wishing that they got their Disney-esque endings. I wish that someone certainly did work on dismantling the structures that prevented them and many others into the stardom that they deserved. Can you imagine how it would have influenced the current film and tv industry?

Hollywood was definitely good, but I couldn’t help but want just a bit more. Anna May Wong deserved the fictional movie, and Hattie McDonald is entitled to so much more. I

Now, if you will excuse me, I need to shop for a floor-length robe and cape. I’ve become quite dramatic since watching this show. Maybe, I got the Hollywood bug, too.