Kaleidoscope Review: A Usual Heist Story but an Interesting Experiment

Netflix’s latest crime drama ventures into nonlinear storytelling.

Though Kaleidoscope seems like a usual heist story on the surface, there’s much more to it. From a revenge-filled backstory to the creation and execution of the plan, it has all the elements to keep everyone entertained. The story spans 25 years, so every loose end is tied perfectly. But what makes it most interesting is that it is a non-linear story. One can watch episodes in any order and still not get confused about what’s happening.

Kaleidoscope focuses on Leo (played by Giancarlo Esposito). He is a career criminal and the mastermind who created a plan to steal $7 billion in bonds from an apparently impenetrable vault in New York.

To make his plan work, Leo creates a seven-person team of experts. The number is significant because it means the bounty splits into an even $1 billion each, and that’s quite fair. Leo wants to steal the money as part of a long-running revenge plot. The team is interesting too, as it includes everyone from a chemist who loves to experiment with new concoctions (played by Rosaline Elbay to a hot-headed safecracker (played by Jai Courtney). All the characters are at various points in their lives.

Audiences can decide how they want to watch Kaleidoscope. Just one episode must be watched as the finale, as the actual heist takes place in that one. Otherwise, the audience can watch the other episodes in any order they desire. It was a much-needed experiment as it gave the audience more choices.

The order in which one plays the Kaleidoscope episodes won’t change how the story plays out as there are no interactive elements. However, the order can change how the audience perceives each episode.

One can start watching the series chronologically, then watch all the episodes randomly. One just needs to ensure that one watches the finale at the end. By that time, the heist will be the centre, and all other stories will orbit around it. At the end of the series, one will know what went down and why some events are critical.

However, Kaleidoscope is not problem-free. It does have some problems that are worthy of mention here. First, the show is very uneven. Though there are some interesting action-filled moments and a few fun elements, the story has many cliches. Nothing will come as a complete shock to you as the story is quite predictable.

Some things that might appeal to the audience include the use of high-tech gadgets along with some low-tech solutions (like using bees to make things work). The combination is worthy of appreciation.

The cast has done justice to their roles, and most criminals are charming. However, drab dialogues and terrible de-aging makeup have impacted how the actors emote with their faces. Their struggle to perform perfectly is quite evident and can be painful to watch due to the makeup thingy.

Another element of Kaleidoscope that could have been done better is that each episode is named after a colour. Though it was a good idea, it has not been executed well. The connections between colour and theme are often unimportant, tenuous, and can feel forced.

Another thing that could have been improved is Netflix’s push to play the next episode for the audience. It takes the choice away. The streamer should have done better to allow the audience to pick the episode they prefer instead of pushing them to watch an episode they might not want.

Netflix deserves some praise for Kaleidoscope as well. The show works as a proof of concept. It is another proof that the streamer wants to experiment with non-linear and interactive storytelling. Netflix has done so with Black Mirror: Bandersnatch as it tells the audience to “choose your own adventure.” Another interesting project by the streamer is the live-action video game Immortality which is available on mobile exclusively through Netflix’s app.

All in all, though it is evident that Kaleidoscope is not very thrilling or the future of TV, it has done something very important- it has shown everyone the direction in which OTT might head in the future.