What’s going on?
That might be your question if you decide to watch The Crowded Room. And, so far, the show—set in 1979 and predicated on a very unusual crime—is reticent to provide a response.
Inspired by Daniel Keyes’ nonfiction novel The Minds of Billy Milligan (about the first man to be acquitted of a crime because of dissociative identity disorder), Apple TV’s psychological thriller offers glimpses of Danny Sullivan’s past in an attempt to reveal why he’s been arrested.
Through an interview conducted by investigator Rya Goodwin, we learn how Danny became involved with his alleged associates, Ariana and Yitzhak.
My first thought when I saw Tom Holland as the show’s star was, “Oh, a high school show!”
Let me be clear: this is not the case.
Although the first episode takes place during Danny’s high school years, his actions would be considered inappropriate for an adult. The first episode contains plenty of references to drugs, all of which glorify its usage.
Gun violence, abusive family relationships, bloody fistfights and plenty of f-bombs further confirm The Crowded Room as a deeply problematic show.
In the original novel, The Minds of Billy Milligan, the titular character is indicted for kidnapping, armed robbery, and three rapes. Despite plenty of evidence against him (including a victim account), Billy Milligan (on whom Danny Sullivan is loosely based) gets acquitted.
How?
Well, Milligan pleaded his innocence on the basis of dissociative identity disorder.
Based on what we’ve seen, it seems The Crowded Room is going in a similar direction. We don’t have a lot of answers yet, but the show clearly takes mental health seriously – with a PSA about seeking help at the end of each episode.
And here the conversation begins …
Should a serious mental health issue (like dissociative identity disorder) excuse individuals from paying for their horrific crimes?
While an initial answer might be “no,” The Crowded Room poignantly depicts the reality of those living with mental illness. Again, we don’t know the full story, but Danny is haunted by something from his past. Even though he is a suspected criminal, you can’t help but sympathize with him.
Despite some major content concerns, The Crowded Room seems to welcome an important conversation about the interaction between crime and mental health. And, from a Christian perspective, the balance of justice and grace.
But whatever the strengths of the show—and whatever legitimate questions it asks—we must ask another question: Is it worth watching? For most viewers—especially family viewers—the answer is, most likely, no.
When Danny gets arrested for his involvement in a crime, criminal defense investigator Rya Goodwin asks him to think back to events from high school in order to get him acquitted.
For a show about teenagers, The Crowded Room contains a lot of drug references. A significant part of the episode involves Danny and his friends garnering the means to buy marijuana and sell it at school.
Some teenagers smoke marijuana together onscreen. We watch a dangerous drug deal take place at night. We see Marlin, Danny’s stepfather, smoking as well. At a party, teenagers drink alcohol.
Danny has flashbacks to a kidnapping experience. A character fires a gun in public, hitting a person’s shoulder. Characters scream and hyperventilate in reaction to the shooting. A character puts a knife to someone’s throat. Characters (both teenagers and adults) punch and push one another, sometimes with pretty bloody results.
Danny’s mom and stepfather have a rocky relationship. Marlin is verbally abusive to Danny. Danny gets bullied at school both verbally and physically.
We see Danny unclothed in a bathtub, but nothing critical is shown. Marlin walks around the house in his briefs and bathrobe only. Two girls are seen dancing together, though it does not seem romantic. We also see a girl lying down with her head on another girl’s body (also seems un-romantic).
A character suggests that Danny would like to see his crush naked. Danny’s friends call a girl the “hottest of hot.” We hear plenty of graphic references to teenagers having sex. Two teenagers kiss, even though one of them is in a relationship.
A character refers to an abandoned house as a “ghost” house. Jonny, Danny’s friend, jokingly asserts that he is “immortal.”
A character steals money from a person’s bank account. Danny runs away from the police and from his principal.
In terms of profanity, characters use it liberally. We hear the s-word, the f-word, “d–n,” “a–,” “a–hole,” “h—,” “b–ch,” and several misuses of God’s name. We also see a character showing his middle finger.
As Rya’s interview continues, Danny reveals more about his connection to his associate Ariana.
A character has bruises on his face from a fight. We see blood covering a wall. Marlin, Danny’s stepfather, verbally abuses Danny and his mom. We see dead bodies. A couple of minor jump-scares appear in the episode.
Plenty of characters drink alcohol and get drunk. Characters smoke marijuana and refer to selling it.
Jonny refers to a woman as “hot.” At a party, several characters kiss. A character is seen wearing a very lowcut top. When a male and female character are found alone together, a character suggests they use a condom. Two female characters kiss, and later, one of them reveals she is bisexual. A character lightly suggests Danny join two other people in sexual activity. Men catcall a woman. At a night club, there is plenty of sensual dancing (including among same-sex couples). We see characters having sex, but nothing critical is seen. Danny is seen wearing his briefs.
A main character reveals she lives a rather promiscuous lifestyle.
Characters use profanity such as the f-word, the s-word, “jerk,” “b–ch,” “a–hole” and “h—.”
Violence, profanity and explicit content reign king in this mob-like series that’s crafted to show the worst of society.
Petty rivalries and sexual dalliances might make for good drama, but they don’t make much for wholesome viewing.
Fantasmas, like the crayon Julio hopes to make, has no clear message—but plenty of clear issues.
