Novel and graphic novel adaptations can be hit or miss. Netflix’s Alice in Borderland adaptation was a massive success, whereas The Umbrella Academy received massive criticism in its later seasons. Amazon’s latest endeavour is a screen interpretation of Arash Amel’s graphic novel of the same name, directed by Kitao Sakurai. As a bitesize series of six episodes at 45 minutes each, you’re in for a fast-paced narrative that goes alongside the flashy action. Said action is neither overdone or unwarranted, and we get several various sequences between the clear-cut heroes and baddies, with one even featuring the infamous Wilhelm scream: an undying inside-joke for cinephiles.
Daniel Dae Kim stars as David alongside his on-screen daughter Rebecca, played by Reina Hardesty. Balanced with the action is a well-emphasised theme of parental love and the complexities of imperfect families. Daddy issues are given their justified amount of time and care on the show; while everything isn’t peachy perfect and slapped with duct tape after one dewy-eyed scene of a rekindling relationship, the gradual build and sometimes fall of this fragile entity can be witnessed across the show’s progression.
Rebecca is a 23-year-old angsty teen; her lines can be cliché, but Hardesty is a convincing melancholic with an unhinged side. She and Kim have a great dynamic, and while Kim is a highly recognisable face in Hollywood, we truly feel like we’re watching this desperate and caring father juggle the repercussions of the past. When he teams up with his (slightly psycho) daughter for an epic fight for freedom, the f-bomb decorated familial spirit is felt through the screen.
Amongst the occasionally wishy-washy writing are some gems. Banter is always welcome, even when it’s as simple as: “As long as I don’t eat your noodles, I won’t die. Don’t worry.” When uttered with the humorous deadpan of Daniel Dae Kim, who’s had his fair part in voice acting, the jokes land. Feigned sincerity is also done well by antagonist Juno actress Piper Perabo for completely different reasons. The character’s own story, fleshed out in its own right, is a nice parallel to David’s. When Perabo executes emotion and compassion in her voice, she is able to keep her face a stone: a slightly chilling watch.
Wrapping up this short and sweet series is of course the cinematography (Kaname Onayama). Faces fill the screen in scenes their emotions do all the talking, food looks like it’s on a Nigella Lawson show, and shots at a train station are appropriately composed with symmetry, and a flawless straight-on look: just as sedate and angular as you’d want at a place where journeys either begin or come to an end. In short, everything is done how it should be. That is how you could describe the entirety of Butterfly; if it’s your thing, it’s your thing, and it won’t disappoint.
Butterfly is out on Amazon Prime Video on 13th August.