Preppy Personification in the Modern Media

It's always interesting to see how the rest of the world sees us. In a latest abortion...that is to say, original production from Netflix, we get a good glimpse into the minds of some outsiders who seem to have a rather skewered view of prepdom.

Everyone remembers the 2001 cult classic Wet Hot American Summer. I myself was never a fan, but when Netflix announced that it was producing an eight-part prequel to the film, I was too curious to

Josh Charles returns to the role of the preppy New England kid
in the Netflix series Wet Hot American Summer: First Day
of Camp.

ignore it. I quickly found myself wishing I'd left well enough alone, though.  The mini-series, or whatever we should be calling it stars all the young actors who were made famous by the original film...except that their not so young any more.  The acting wasn't bad, but I just couldn't make myself believe that Paul Rudd and Michael Showalter were still sixteen.  Adding to the mix, though, was a new character, specifically a villian, played by a familiar face.  We were first introduced to Josh Charles when he portrayed love-sick romantic prep school student Knox Overstreet in Dead Poets Society, but years later, he is returning to his roots in his role in First Day of Camp, as Blake McCarthy, a preppy councilor from the rival Camp Tigerclaw.  Described as a "rich, prep school douchebag" and "so good at lacrosse," Charles' character is known for sporting three popped collars at the same time, as you can see from the photo above...a bit overplayed, I'd say.  Although I give no credit to the writers of this horrific spectacle, it certainly makes sense that they would create a preppy jock to be the villian of the series. Everyone hates a guy with money. Apparently no one told the writing team that waspy, preppy kids like they were doubtless going for don't usually spend their summers working as councilors at backwoods summer camps.

Although Charles' character on First Day of Camp, is an over-blown, arrogant jerk, exactly the opposite of the sweet-natured, homeless romantic he portrayed in Dead Poets, his acting is spot on. Personally, I think if you're going to spoof a preppy villian, he should be played by Dylan Koussman, who filled the role of the villian in Dead Poets, as arrogant, close-minded prep school David Cameron.  I would have given the writers and director bonus points if the other preppy councilors had been played by actors from Dead Poets, but those they cast did a fine job. This series was simply the victim of bad writing, but all the actors are very good. Charles steals the show, though.  It just might be worth watching, if nothing else for the great preppy scenes.