So I like this show, it's fun 90s nostalgia. It's not very different from other 90s decade docuseries done in the past by CNN or Vh1. The title implies it would be about something "dark sided" but it's not really. Some of the dark sided stuff seems like a stretch. I presume they're just doing it for branding purposes since Vice has other docuseries like "Dark Side of the Ring". Ooooioo.
17 Reviews
Interesting but something is missing
interestingstuff18 May 2022
I felt nostalgic watching this series and it had some nice stories but I also felt like something was missing here. They only had 10 episodes so they had 10 stories to present to represent the entire decade of the 1990s, yet they went with stories like Beanie Babies, sock puppet or some night club in Los Angeles out of all the interesting topics they could have picked.
Also episodes felt drawn out and repetitive. The people they interviewed in each episode were knowledgeable about their topic but they all repeated the same things over and over. The storytelling in these episodes could have been a lot tighter.
Also episodes felt drawn out and repetitive. The people they interviewed in each episode were knowledgeable about their topic but they all repeated the same things over and over. The storytelling in these episodes could have been a lot tighter.
Really like the series
bpb993 November 2022
I thought this series was pretty good, I'd definitely watch more if there is a third season.
However I felt I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I was born a little sooner... Being born in the 90s, I know *of* a lot of these stories from the media, I am familiar with them all but I was basically a babe at the time. I don't really feel the same sense of nostalgia.
I agree with others, certain stories could definitely have been left out and replaced with... better ones. I felt the same way about the original dark side series itself though. There was also a lacking in the 'dark side' aspect, it was more just a normal docuseries.
I would love it a lot more if they did an early 2000s version of this show, I think that would be pretty great for those of my generation. Of course it's biased and I am sure everyone would prefer a version of their own youth.. The only thing I have seen is a natgeo docuseries on disney about the 2000s and that one is super dull and slow yet short, I think that the dark side would do a much better job of it.
However I felt I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I was born a little sooner... Being born in the 90s, I know *of* a lot of these stories from the media, I am familiar with them all but I was basically a babe at the time. I don't really feel the same sense of nostalgia.
I agree with others, certain stories could definitely have been left out and replaced with... better ones. I felt the same way about the original dark side series itself though. There was also a lacking in the 'dark side' aspect, it was more just a normal docuseries.
I would love it a lot more if they did an early 2000s version of this show, I think that would be pretty great for those of my generation. Of course it's biased and I am sure everyone would prefer a version of their own youth.. The only thing I have seen is a natgeo docuseries on disney about the 2000s and that one is super dull and slow yet short, I think that the dark side would do a much better job of it.
First Season good, Second not so much
xtidusxyunax22 July 2022
Loved the first season, lots of amazing insights about cultural events and trends and all that.
Dropped it from a 9 to 7, is due to Season 2 seems to a very heavy focus on social justice, I think someone came in and was a BLM activist.
Just feel like there is so much more to the 90s as it was in the first season, and the pivot is so sharp. The only episode of season 2 I like is the UFC origins one.
Dropped it from a 9 to 7, is due to Season 2 seems to a very heavy focus on social justice, I think someone came in and was a BLM activist.
Just feel like there is so much more to the 90s as it was in the first season, and the pivot is so sharp. The only episode of season 2 I like is the UFC origins one.
Great Show
Missyrocks13 September 2021
Arbitrarily found out about this show on YouTube because someone posted an episode about the Viper Room. I had to research it to find it. Loved every episode on demand so far. They should do more to advertise this series. It's great, but I didn't know it existed.
Close, but no cigar.
GetSchwifty710 August 2022
They could've approached this in an unbiased manner and it could have been very well done and still somewhat accurate, but they just couldn't do it. The history is good about how things have happened, but the narration and perspective is inaccurate and biased. Too bad because there was a lot of promise of nostalgia for a teen of the 90's.
Poor narration
nicosmoothcriminal26 November 2023
Pleasant German was sure to introduce herself as a Hollywood icon? Who is she? Ridiculous.
She said she stumbled over river phoenix one night at the viper room passed out on the floor!
Wouldn't you stop to see if he's breathing? Perhaps get some guys to help him up?
Horrible! Do you have no heart?
This series would have been better with better narrators. No self proclaimed icon!
I'm from that time period, and lived near the Viper room. It was no different than any other bars at that time.
Especially the Rainbow, right down the street. We were all young and thought we were invincible.
Many were not.
May they RIP.
She said she stumbled over river phoenix one night at the viper room passed out on the floor!
Wouldn't you stop to see if he's breathing? Perhaps get some guys to help him up?
Horrible! Do you have no heart?
This series would have been better with better narrators. No self proclaimed icon!
I'm from that time period, and lived near the Viper room. It was no different than any other bars at that time.
Especially the Rainbow, right down the street. We were all young and thought we were invincible.
Many were not.
May they RIP.
Top Drawer
blueshoe71110 January 2022
an interesting stroll...
ops-525356 September 2021
Through the life of american ''pop-television'' of the 90's. To be a grumpy old man that has never dove into the falsification of super perfect confectionary actors and titles, its an interesting uncloackment of how the entertainment industry development sped of like a rocket due to technological improvements and investments, and to realize what kinda frenzy a little tinker may cause due to flock mentallity, and being dizzyingly digitized by the networks and the network.
So bend your tounge cause it might get bitten by the pure dependency of the fair and square squawking box that has made our generation become the most pasified one since the athenian democrats started making laws upon eachother, and the only excercise was either a thumb up,...or down.
Do have a look ,vice have done a nice job here.
So bend your tounge cause it might get bitten by the pure dependency of the fair and square squawking box that has made our generation become the most pasified one since the athenian democrats started making laws upon eachother, and the only excercise was either a thumb up,...or down.
Do have a look ,vice have done a nice job here.
Those nostalgia feels
queenkulick8 October 2021
Interesting but flawed
dailydoseofnopes6 August 2022
This show is by no means a bad one. The biggest flaw is that it tends to skew facts in order to fit a current year topic.
Unlike Dark Side of The Ring where it is presented impartially: some facts may be omitted/edited in order to tell the complete story overall; this show tells its own version of history from a certain point of "view". History dictates A leads to B leads to C. In this show A leads to C.
An example would be the Jerry Springer show somehow lead to Columbine. Columbine happened in 1999 and the narrator advocated to why schools allowed students to have access to guns? They conveniently failed to mention the Gun Free Schools Act of 1994.
Again, not a bad show, the topics are interesting and a fun stroll through memory lane but filtered facts bring it down.
Unlike Dark Side of The Ring where it is presented impartially: some facts may be omitted/edited in order to tell the complete story overall; this show tells its own version of history from a certain point of "view". History dictates A leads to B leads to C. In this show A leads to C.
An example would be the Jerry Springer show somehow lead to Columbine. Columbine happened in 1999 and the narrator advocated to why schools allowed students to have access to guns? They conveniently failed to mention the Gun Free Schools Act of 1994.
Again, not a bad show, the topics are interesting and a fun stroll through memory lane but filtered facts bring it down.
American life in 90's
rleigh-422203 November 2021
I mean, it's not wrong and pretty much sums up a lot of the 90's influences but more focused on American events for the most part.
That said, it will FOREVER irk me that they always try to say "Beverly Hills 90210 was the first groundbreaking show about real teens" when Degrassi was already doing that before they ever showed up.
Watching Jason Priestly, being Canadian, agreeing with this bs in the documentary is just rich.
That said, it will FOREVER irk me that they always try to say "Beverly Hills 90210 was the first groundbreaking show about real teens" when Degrassi was already doing that before they ever showed up.
Watching Jason Priestly, being Canadian, agreeing with this bs in the documentary is just rich.
Season 2 is not great.
staciarose2028 July 2022
Ok, but biased and missing much of the 90s
june_panic19 March 2023
I'm only partially through watching the entire series, but I can tell (from living through the 90s) that much of what is presented is from a very current left-wing lens and seems to intentionally focus on certain modern social issues rather than viewing the culture from what life was like in the 90s.
Much of 90s is completely absent because it either doesn't fit the narrative or they couldn't find actors willing to do interviews. How could you possibly have an episode about teen TV shows in the 90s and not mention Beavis and Butthead or South Park at all?
Putting all that aside, the content they do show is not overtly incorrect (just a biased perspective) and provides an insight into what it was like living through the 90s. However, it is better if you actually have someone that lived through the 90s sitting next to you to provide the correct context.
Much of 90s is completely absent because it either doesn't fit the narrative or they couldn't find actors willing to do interviews. How could you possibly have an episode about teen TV shows in the 90s and not mention Beavis and Butthead or South Park at all?
Putting all that aside, the content they do show is not overtly incorrect (just a biased perspective) and provides an insight into what it was like living through the 90s. However, it is better if you actually have someone that lived through the 90s sitting next to you to provide the correct context.
It's the 90s IN THE USA
sami-2795022 September 2021
The show is, as can be expected, only about the USA. Not about the 90s, more about USA. It shows things from there and there are interesting parts, but they could've titled it correctly or had an actual larger view of the world. Most of us can't relate to anything they show since, gladly, we didn't live among mass shootings and forced "us vs them" that is the norm even today there.
You don't need 20 episodes to cover the '90s.
bt698nhj1 December 2023
The fact that you made this documentary 20 episodes illustrates how into the weeds you went. I love documentaries and I love history and this just bored the life out of me.
ABOUT MY REVIEWS:
I do not include a synopsis of the film/show -- you can get that anywhere and that does not constitute a meaningful review -- but rather my thoughts and feelings on the film that hopefully will be informative to you in deciding whether to invest 90-180 minutes of your life on it.
My scale: 1-5 decreasing degrees of "terrible", with 5 being "mediocre" 6- OK. Generally held my interest OR had reasonable cast and/or cinematography, might watch it again 7 - Good. My default rating for a movie I liked enough to watch again, but didn't rise to the upper echelons 8- Very good. Would watch again and recommend to others 9- Outstanding. Would watch over and over; top 10% of my ratings 10 - A classic. (Less than 2% receive this rating). For Lifetime Movies for Chicks (LMFC), drop the above scale by 3 notches. A 6 is excellent and 7 almost unattainable.
ABOUT MY REVIEWS:
I do not include a synopsis of the film/show -- you can get that anywhere and that does not constitute a meaningful review -- but rather my thoughts and feelings on the film that hopefully will be informative to you in deciding whether to invest 90-180 minutes of your life on it.
My scale: 1-5 decreasing degrees of "terrible", with 5 being "mediocre" 6- OK. Generally held my interest OR had reasonable cast and/or cinematography, might watch it again 7 - Good. My default rating for a movie I liked enough to watch again, but didn't rise to the upper echelons 8- Very good. Would watch again and recommend to others 9- Outstanding. Would watch over and over; top 10% of my ratings 10 - A classic. (Less than 2% receive this rating). For Lifetime Movies for Chicks (LMFC), drop the above scale by 3 notches. A 6 is excellent and 7 almost unattainable.
It's an ok show
b4blue24 July 2023
Someone took the time to review the events, trends, tropes, narratives... that marked the 90's, which is admirable. Good effort was put into it. So what is the problem? The main problem is that this hasd been done in the time when everything is deeply political and there is no centre. Leading narratives in the media are extremely left leaning, hypocritical towards the system they thrive in and every criticism is labeled as extreme right wing. You can see how many conspiracy theories, even debunked ones are still pushed through this show, because it helps with the narrative. Some episodes are laced with more of it, depending on the content. Especially if the content is directly connected with what is happening today. I don't think there is a malicious intent behind it. Authors genuinely believe to be doing the right thing. They believe they are on the right side of history and minor or major omissions are not important. This is how most bad things happen in this world. It's not through some joint conspiracy but numerous acts of simple idiocy. Human civilisation doesn't work because there are best people at critical positions. It just somehow works in spite of too many people being really bad at their job.
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