MerPeople

Last updated

MerPeople
Directed by Cynthia Wade
Starring
Opening theme"Black Sea" by Natasha Blume
Composer Adam Crystal
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes4
Production
Executive producers
  • Michael Williams
  • Joel Chiodi
  • David Collins
  • Rob Eric
  • Andréanna Seymore
  • Roland Ballester
  • Cynthia Wade
ProducerAngela Almeida
CinematographyBoaz Freund
Editors
  • Gary Pollack
  • Eric Daniel Matzgar
  • Sasha Friedlander
  • Sinéad Kinnane
  • Sloane Klevin
Running time41–48 minutes
Production companies
Original release
ReleaseMay 23, 2023 (2023-05-23) [1]

MerPeople is a documentary miniseries that premiered May 23, 2023, on Netflix. [1] It explores the subculture and performing art of "mermaiding."

Contents

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byOriginal air date
1"No Dead Mermaids"Cynthia WadeMay 23, 2023 (2023-05-23)
Performing as a merperson is physically demanding, expensive, and few make a living by "mermaiding." The history of the mermaid shows at Weeki Wachee Springs, Florida is touched upon, and former Weeki Wachee mermaids recall their experiences. Mermaid Sparkles faces career challenges due to her living in Arkansas. Both Sparkles and Chè Monique, a plus-size mermaid, aspire to join The Circus Siren Pod, "an elite mermaid performance troop." The Pod holds auditions and founder Morgana Alba's safety motto is "No dead mermaids." Eric "The Mertailor" Ducharme plans to open his own live mermaid show and aquarium. Sparkles, Chè Monique, and Tristan the Red River Merman audition for Eric’s show.
2"Pick Your Tail, Sweetie"Cynthia WadeMay 23, 2023 (2023-05-23)
Sparkles doesn’t get hired by Mertailor’s Mermaid Aquarium Encounter. Tristan is offered a position, but must work his way up before performing. The Blixunami lives life unapologetically after having grown up in a very religious household. The Circus Siren Pod's mermaids perform at a renaissance fair, and later talk about being sexually harassed by mainly adult, male audience members. The Mertailor Aquarium opens to audiences. Veteran mermaid Barbara Wynns coaches Tristan. At MerMagic Con, Sparkles performs and impresses Morgana. She is asked to be a guest performer with the Pod in Las Vegas.
3"Fly Free, Little Fishy"Cynthia WadeMay 23, 2023 (2023-05-23)
The Circus Siren Pod arrives in Las Vegas to perform. The King and Queen of the Seas competition on the Virgin Voyages Mermaiden cruise ship is announced. Tristan relapses on drugs, but regains sobriety with support from his mer-circle. Blix is forced to couch surf, and eventually travels to the Afro Mermaid Summit, hosted by Carrie Wata. Eric holds a Halloween show at the Mertailor Aquarium. Chè commissions a custom-made, plus-size, silicone tail. She is also invited to be a judge at the Mermaiden competition. Sparkles overcomes her nervousness to swim in a cold-water tank with the Pod. However, she begins showing signs of hypothermia.
4"Fin for the Win"Cynthia WadeMay 23, 2023 (2023-05-23)
Sparkles becomes hypothermic, but quickly recovers once treated. A group of elderly Weeki Wachee mermaids want to reunite for the 75th Anniversary of Weeki Wachee Springs. When the gathering is postponed for no clear reason, they instead hold the reunion at the Mertailor Aquarium. In Miami, the Mermaiden cruise begins. Sparkles, Blix, Chè, and Carrie all attend. In the pageant, the merpeople show off their "mersonas" and skills. Sparkles doesn’t make the top 12, but Blix and Sparkles' best friend, Pixi, advance. The winner is decided with an underwater photoshoot. Mermaid Luna of Florida wins Queen of the Seas, while Merman Andy of California wins King of the Seas and the grand prize. Blix receives the congeniality award. Sparkles joins the Circus Siren Pod. Eric ruminates on how the myth of mermaids is important for people’s sense of wonder.

Reception

MerPeople has received mostly positive reviews from critics. As of June 2023, has a 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 8 reviews. [2] On Metacritic it holds a score of 68, indicating "generally favorable reviews." [3]

Joel Keller of Decider recommended streaming the miniseries, noting that the show had "magic and whimsy" with "doses of reality." [4] However, CNN's Brian Lowry felt "there’s just not enough here to merit making MerPeople part of your world." [1] Lucy Mangan of The Guardian gave the show three out of five stars, and noted the docuseries possibly caught the mermaid industry in a "transitional point" before its "full commodification and corporatisation." [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weeki Wachee Springs</span> Natural tourist attraction located in Florida

Weeki Wachee Springs is a natural tourist attraction located in Weeki Wachee, Florida, where underwater performances by "mermaids," women wearing fish tails as well as other fanciful outfits, can be viewed in an aquarium-like setting in the spring of the Weeki Wachee River. A waterpark, Buccaneer Bay, river boat rides, kayak and paddleboard rental are some of the other activities offered at Weeki Wachee Springs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Boynton</span> British-American actress (born 1994)

Lucy Boynton is a British and American actress. Raised in London, she made her professional debut as the young Beatrix Potter in Miss Potter (2006). She starred in television productions Ballet Shoes (2007), Sense and Sensibility (2008) and Mo (2010), making guest appearances on Lewis, Borgia, Endeavour, and Law & Order: UK. Boynton portrayed writer Angelica Garnett on Life in Squares, which aired on BBC. She appeared as an isolated popular girl in The Blackcoat's Daughter (2015) and starred as a bold aspiring model in Sing Street (2016), which was met with critical acclaim. She appeared in horror films I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016) and Don't Knock Twice (2016), receiving praise for her performance in the latter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mermaiding</span> Swimming dressed in a mermaid costume

Mermaiding is the practice of wearing, and often swimming in, a costume mermaid tail.

<i>Sun Dont Shine</i> 2012 American film

Sun Don't Shine is a 2012 independent thriller film written and directed by Amy Seimetz and starring Kate Lyn Sheil and Kentucker Audley. It first premiered on March 10, 2012 at the South by Southwest Film Festival, where it won a special jury award. The film was released in a limited release and through video on demand on April 26, 2013, by Factory25.

Explained is an American documentary television series on the streaming service Netflix. The show is produced by Vox Media and is based on Vox's previous YouTube video series which followed a similar format. The show's episodes averaged between 16 and 24 minutes, with each focusing on a different topic. Each episode is voiced by a different guest narrator. The series premiered on Netflix on May 23, 2018 with episodes released on a weekly basis. The second season premiered on September 26, 2019 and the third season on July 16, 2021.

<i>I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson</i> American sketch comedy series

I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson is an American sketch comedy series created by Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin, with Robinson also starring in most of the sketches. The first season premiered on Netflix on April 23, 2019, while the second season was released on July 6, 2021. The series was renewed for a third season in May 2022, which premiered on May 30, 2023.

<i>Hollywood</i> (miniseries) American drama streaming television miniseries

Hollywood is an American drama streaming television miniseries starring an ensemble cast including David Corenswet, Darren Criss, Laura Harrier, Joe Mantello, Dylan McDermott, Jake Picking, Jeremy Pope, Holland Taylor, Samara Weaving, Jim Parsons, and Patti LuPone. Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, it was released on Netflix on May 1, 2020.

<i>Shangri-La</i> (miniseries) 2019 television documentary miniseries

Shangri-La is a four-part television documentary miniseries, directed by Morgan Neville and Jeff Malmberg, that aired on Showtime from July 12 to August 2, 2019. The series concerns the Shangri-La recording studio in Malibu, California and its owner, record producer and Def Jam Records co-founder Rick Rubin. A "work-in-progress" cut of the docuseries was screened at the 2019 SXSW Festival.

<i>Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich</i> American television miniseries

Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich is an American web documentary television miniseries about convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The miniseries is based on the 2016 book of the same name by James Patterson, and co-written by John Connolly and Tim Malloy. Filthy Rich was released on May 27, 2020, on Netflix. The four-part documentary features interviews with several survivors including Virginia Giuffre and Maria Farmer, along with former staff members and former police chief Michael Reiter, a key individual from the first criminal case against Epstein.

Trial by Media is a true crime documentary miniseries that premiered May 11, 2020 on Netflix.

<i>Challenger: The Final Flight</i> American TV series or program

Challenger: The Final Flight is a 2020 American docuseries developed by Glen Zipper and Steven Leckart for Netflix. The limited series revolves around the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle explosion, including events that preceded launch and aftermath of the disaster.

<i>Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel</i> 2021 documentary television series

Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel is the first season of the Crime Scene docuseries. Released in 2021 and directed by Joe Berlinger, it chronicles the death of Elisa Lam at the Cecil Hotel. It features Viveca Chow, Judy Ho and Artemis Snow and premiered on February 10, 2021 on Netflix.

<i>This Is a Robbery</i> 2021 American documentary film

This Is a Robbery: The World's Biggest Art Heist is a 2021 American documentary miniseries about the 1990 robbery of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. The four-part series was directed by Colin Barnicle, who also produced alongside his brother Nick Barnicle. The series was produced over a seven-year period, beginning in 2014. It was released on Netflix on April 7, 2021, receiving generally positive reviews from critics.

Halston is an American biographical drama streaming television miniseries based on the life of designer Halston, starring Ewan McGregor. Adapted from the 1991 book Simply Halston by Steven Gaines, the series was ordered by Netflix in September 2019 and premiered on May 14, 2021.

<i>Naomi Osaka</i> (TV series) American documentary

Naomi Osaka is an American documentary television miniseries directed by Garrett Bradley. It follows the life of professional tennis player Naomi Osaka over the course of two years. It consists of three episodes, and premiered on July 16, 2021, on Netflix.

<i>Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami</i> Documentary on Miami drug pins

Cocaine Cowboys: The Kings of Miami is a 2021 six part docuseries chronicling the rise and fall of Miami drug lords Sal Magluta and Willy Falcon. The two were eventually indicted in one of the largest drug cases in United States history, accused of illegally smuggling 75 tons of cocaine into the country. The series is directed by Billy Corben who previously directed three Cocaine Cowboys features.

Eric Jonathan Ducharme, also known as "The Mertailor", is an American mermaid aficionado, or "merman", artist, and businessman. Ducharme makes and sells mermaid related costume apparel. He has performed in and modeled his products.

Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. is a 2022 Netflix docuseries by director Chris Smith. It documents how vegan restaurateur Sarma Melngailis illegally transferred money to her husband so he could pay a deity to bestow immortality upon them.

<i>Waco: American Apocalypse</i> American TV series or program

Waco: American Apocalypse is an American documentary television miniseries about the Waco siege in 1993 between the US federal government and the Branch Davidians, led by David Koresh. It was released on Netflix on March 22, 2023, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the siege.

EricMilligan, known professionally as The Blixunami or Blix, is a professional mermaid who specializes in underwater and ocean-oriented performances. They are currently based in The Bronx, New York.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Brian Lowery (May 23, 2023). "'MerPeople' goes fins in with mermaid enthusiasts". cnn.com. Cable News Network. Retrieved June 17, 2023.
  2. ↑ "MerPeople - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  3. ↑ MerPeople , retrieved July 20, 2023
  4. ↑ Keller, Joel (May 23, 2023). "Stream It Or Skip It: 'MerPeople' On Netflix, A Docuseries About Professional Mermaids". decider.com. New York Post . Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  5. ↑ Mangan, Lucy (May 23, 2023). "MerPeople review – you will want only good things for these kind, gentle mermaids". The Guardian . Retrieved June 18, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.