Man vs. Bee, Netflix’s homage to absurdity, is hilarious

What is the limit of the absurd? Perhaps that is one of the questions that run through Rowan Atkinson‘s mind constantly. The historical British comedian is an institution within the genre. His career, beyond personal preferences, endorses it. There is an audience that enjoys his work just as there is another that doesn’t. Before you start watching Man vs. Bee, on Netflix, it should be taken into account.

That initial question, depending on the side on which the viewer is, will go through a good part of the nine (and short chapters). To contextualize Man vs. Bee, it should be clarified that Rowan Atkinson plays Trevor, a divorced and unemployed dad who finds a job as a housekeeper. The arrival of him to that of an opulent couple, together with the legendary clumsiness that characterizes the different characters of the comedian, will lead to a chaos of millionaire proportions.

Man vs. Bee doesn’t mince words. The first minutes of the series suggest everything that will happen, except for the unexpected ending. Almost all the events that take place in the house are insinuated, even so, the tension in these episodes does not lose strength. It is not the ideal series for those who are not looking for the obvious, but in several cases, it is allowed to surprise those who watch, with the absurd involved.

An additional throb of life may be felt in Man vs. Bee

Cinema and television are full of stories in which human beings face animal threats. Man vs. Bee raises that duel, in a quite particular way: a bee against a man. Trying to go beyond the end of the series, to make laugh at the clumsiness and stupidity of the character, some aspects could be thought of about the choice of the opponent.

Bees are one of the most interesting insects within living beings. Its value, at present, is astonishing due to the scarcity of honey: a few years ago there was talk that consumption was higher than the natural production rate of bees. So she had better not underestimate the size of Trevor’s rival. Added to this is a fictional factor that enriches the pulse: the bee takes it personally. 

We have seen it (and perhaps experienced it) dozens of times: when trying to push an insect away, it, by pure defense mechanism, can come back against whoever tries to push it away. It is what any being would do, except that we humans allow ourselves licenses that perhaps we do not want other living beings to have. In that sense, forcing philosophical interpretations tells revenge.

To everyone’s astonishment

Between absurdities, multiple samples of stupidity, and clumsiness, Man vs. Bee has a structure that works and could even be defined as intelligent. From the beginning, the series exposes its tone and ending, including the presence of the emotional factor. Trevor tries to offer his daughter a promised vacation. A form of vulnerability and commitment. That resource appears from time to time, conveniently, to remember that the protagonist is an idiot, one with a heart and feelings.

That being prevailed at the end of the series, is a cheesy detail but that, within the context raised by the series, is justified. That idiotic man suddenly recovers some common sense and saves himself by dismantling a web of corruption. Yeah, that’s how weird it can be Man vs. Bee, which tells how a being may not be able to get rid of a bee and, in turn, that same person can cut off the criminal dynamics of another. Another example of the absurdity that he proposes from the beginning.