PN & Friends is a comedy web series that can be found on YouTube that is striving to connect with an audience. A look at the comments section of Episode 30, “Reboot,” shows that the series is connecting strongly with at least some people, but a look at the view count shows a limited reach. There is no shame in having a show that connects deeply rather than broadly. Some of the best art will be seen by a select group of people who appreciate it more than the average viewer watching the newest hit streaming show. But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways to enhance a show’s reach. As “Reboot” shows, one can bring in more viewers by making the show more accessible while still maintaining what makes the show uniquely appealing.
The first order of business is acknowledging what likely gives this show staying power with its current audience. As “Reboot” shows, the series focuses on an aspiring entertainer, surrounded by ordinary, everyday acquaintances who have a sense of humor which is always crass and sometimes clever. A low-budget approach to relatable if alienating humor has worked before, like in Kevin Smith’s Clerks, so it has a decent foundation. But this house needs construction.
There is an abundance of shaky cam in this episode which gives an off-putting vibe; more extensive use of tripods and similar devices would enhance the show’s feel. The charm of the constant shaky cam wears off quickly, giving a distracting chaotic feel to scenes which should otherwise feel sharp and focused.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is the music. There is none. Obviously a production of this scale will never feature a fully original orchestral soundtrack, but some royalty-free music would assist the production. A largely scoreless approach to comedy, like in Napoleon Dynamite, really requires a very specific approach that must be executed nearly perfectly. The tone here is too goofy and bombastic to be supported by a soundtrack devoid of music or sound effects. Even an in-joke or a passing Wilhelm Scream would help.
“Reboot” goes beyond the typical widescreen format to include many scenes in the vertical “portrait” format. Coupling this are the myriad of scenes staged on Zoom calls. Two or three scenes in a forty-minute episode that feature these formatting changes brings a sense of realism and variety to the show. But there are far more than two or three scenes in these alternate formats, and they are not short. These segments start to overstay their welcome, and give the show a low-budget feeling.
Episode 30 of PN & Friends insufficiently assists the audience with understanding the ongoing story, especially with the cliffhanger at the end. One can get the gist of what’s going on, but just barely. The plot is not necessarily brand new, but it is cheerfully ironic. The search for an aspiring entertainer seeking to improve his reach is possibly reflective of real life, and that makes it particularly relatable, even if well-tread territory. Unfortunately, that plot moves somewhat slowly. The amount of story packed into this forty-minute episode could very well have been shorter.
If you’re looking for something that resembles a Hollywood production, Episode 30 of PN & Friends is not what you’re looking for. But, if you’re looking for something that could evolve into something cherished, then you might have something here. “Reboot” can be crass and has much room to improve, but with investments of time and care, could flower out of the seed of a vision.
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