The Gryphon – Review Season One
The Gryphon is the German adaption of Wolfgang Hohlbein’s young adult fantasy novel. The show’s stereotypical characters and poor storytelling overshadowed any wonder or excitement.
Wolfgang Hohlbein is arguably one of the most important authors of German fantasy literature. Alongside Michael Ende's The Neverending Story, Hohlbein and his wife Heike captivated entire generations since the 1980s. Together, they dreamed up some 200 horror, adventure, and children's books. So it’s surprising it took so long to adapt The Gryphon to the screen. Wiedemann & Berg, a production company headed by Erol Yesilkaya and Sebastian Marka, produced the show, which aired on Amazon.
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In 1984, Karl Zimmermann (Golo Euler) spirits away his sons Mark and Thomas in the middle of the night, leaving his wife Petra (Sabine Timoteo) behind. Scared and on the run, Karl reveals a family secret: the Black Tower, a magical gateway to another world.
In 1994, sixteen-year-old Mark Zimmermann (Jeremias Meyer) lived with his mother after his father committed suicide and his brother Thomas (Theo Krebs) vanished. Mark's belief in The Gryphon, a malevolent entity ruling the parallel world, earns him a reputation for mental instability.
Mark's only confidants are his girlfriend, Becky (Lea Drinda), and his best friend, Memo (Zoran Pingel). But even they dismiss his unbelievable stories—until they discover the family's Black Tower Chronicle.
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Commendable effects but narrative shortcomings
Plunged into a sinister parallel world, the three teens face the Gryphon's tyrannical rule. The premise is thrilling, but the execution doesn't live up to the promise.
Although it includes fantasy elements, the story mostly focuses on teen issues, pushing the main plot into the background. The story was confusing and made little sense. Moments that are meant to be suspenseful often disrupt the overall pace of the story.
I appreciate them using practical effects, not CGI. Using real masks and backdrops makes the sets look good, but it doesn't stand out. Worse, it looks cheap at times, which makes me question some of the production choices.
Character stereotypes
The show fails to develop its characters fully. Consequently, I lacked an emotional connection and didn't care what happened to them.
The actors' performances lack depth, and the delivery of dialogue feels unnatural. Honestly, it felt more like an amateur theater production than an Amazon show. Jeremias Meyer can't make Mark's character come alive in that clunky script. Memo loses his disability—a stiff leg—in the Black Tower, prompting a desire to remain there indefinitely. He would rather live alone and healthy than disabled amongst friends.
Moreover, the supporting cast is rife with clichés and stereotypes: From the neglected rich girl to the lovelorn best friend, none offers any meaningful contributions to the overarching narrative.
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The Griphon’s missed opportunity
Though well-intentioned, the Gryphon series has too many shortcomings. The series falls short, with weak research, amateurish performances reminiscent of school plays, uninspired dialogue, and dull action sequences.
It's disappointing how this promising fantasy adaptation turned out. I have serious doubts Amazon will produce a second season, given its many shortcomings.
2 Stars
