“The Edge of Sleep,” this new series on Prime Video, will engulf you in awe and amazement.
This short series aired on October 15th. It has an original plot that I have never seen in a show before and an incredible cast. The story follows our main character, Dave, as he works his night shift in the modern day. When Dave and his friend/co-worker Mateo end their shift, they come to realize several people they know died in their sleep. After going to the hospital, they realize that this is a possible worldwide epidemic of people falling asleep and not waking up. The rest of the show consists of Mateo and Dave, along with a nurse from the hospital and Dave’s ex, struggling to stay awake and find a way to stop this bizarre phenomenon.
The show explored an idea I had never seen on television, making it stand out compared to other shows based on similar end-of-the-world concepts. Other shows typically say that zombies or an outbreak killed the population, but “The Edge of Sleep” thought outside the box. How the show creators adapted the idea of sleep and death together was fascinating and kept my attention throughout.
“The Edge of Sleep” is based on a book and podcast of the same name and stayed relatively faithful to the original story. The main appeal for me when I heard of this show was that Mark Fischbach, famously known on YouTube as Markiplier, would be playing the leading role. While it was no surprise they brought back Mark from his original role as the main character in the podcast, it was shocking to find out that this podcast, “The Edge of Sleep,” had grown popular enough to have a show adaptation. While the show only had six episodes compared to the podcast’s eight episodes, each being, on average, 20 minutes long, while each podcast episode was 35, the show was still phenomenal and told the original story well.
The team that worked on Edge of Sleep had a minimal budget yet still created a jaw-dropping show. The editing, makeup design, and sets did not feel cheap and looked remarkable. One noticeable thing about their budget and six episodes was that they excluded some significant characters and events that were in the book and podcast. I won’t give spoilers on what was missing because I believe both the podcast and series should be enjoyed with no major spoilers, but some of the changes made to the series make the story feel rushed.
All the actors from the main cast did an incredible job of portraying sleep-deprived, fear-ridden characters. This show was one of Markiplier’s first large-scale acting gigs, and he did great; in the first episode, Mark’s acting felt stiff, but as the show progressed, his acting improved. I want also to shout out Eve Harlow, the actor who played Linda, the nurse. She nailed the look and mood of a woman struggling to stay awake and sane while everyone around her barely kept their eyes open. Her acting was so emotional and passionate, her performance was incredible.
The show’s current rating on Prime Video is 4.9 out of 5 stars, precisely what “The Edge of Sleep” deserves. Its mesmerizing visuals and compelling story make it a must-watch for thriller/drama series fans.
