Young Actors Rule! Adults Just Get in The Way

Early in the series, Lucy Carlisle is asked why there is no adult supervision at Lockwood & Co. and she replies “because adults just get in the way.” That is so ironic because the series does portray most of the adults as either nefarious, manipulative, or both. With one exception, the sometimes gruff, sometimes angry inspector Barnes (Ivanno Jeremiah) who works for the Department of Research and Control (DEPRAC), overseeing all paranormal investigations in London. 

Anthony Lockwood is a young English lad who lost both his parents early in life and is gifted in sighting residue from death or ghosts. He is the suave and sometimes overconfident owner of Lockwood & Co. Once his family home, it is now the company office and where its three employees live. Anthony doesn’t always communicate well with girls, but he is adept at fencing and swordplay and his awkwardness around Lucy Carlisle is totally endearing. 

Lucy is the star of this show. She is a listener whose powers far exceed all the other paranormal agents, which can be both a hindrance and a help. Ruby Stokes is excellent in her portrayal of Lucy Carlisle. Her anger over being underestimated feels real and she goes toe to toe with Lockwood in more than one scene – and wins those arguments.

The third employee and head of research is George Karim. He is the worrier, the doubter, and sometimes late because he’s thorough – and he doesn’t forget the iron chains. He doesn’t have special powers. 

All three characters are well-developed, the script is well-written, their interactions are well-timed, and their believability is what carries the show forward.

Cinematography, Settings, & Special Effects

The cemetery at night feels creepy, the Thames River feels dirty, and the London streets look dank and foggy. The storage rooms and factory buildings feel haunted. The settings feel real while some feel dangerous. Kudos to the three cinematographers Curtis Olive, Thomas Townend, and Ben Wheeler for their excellent work.

None of this works if the ghosts aren’t believable but thankfully, the CGI work is well done. The ghosts are very realistic and some of those ghosts are quite scary as well – and that includes the talking skull!

Although the show caters to young adults, it is suitable for the entire family to enjoy. Binge watch it or take it slower, either way, it’s a good show with an excellent story, fine characters, and worth having in your collection. Lockwood & Co is now streaming exclusively on Netflix.