The writing combination of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost have been delivering dark comedies to audiences for years. The duo, along with collaborator Edgar Wright, crashed onto the mainstream scene with the delightful parody, Sean of the Dead in 2004. That was followed with the related titles, Hot Fuzz, and The World’s End. Also in the mix was the dirty alien comedy, Paul.
After that, Frost went on to other projects like Into the Badlands, while Pegg moved up to Mission:Impossible and Star Trek. In 2020, they reunited for their first TV series, the Amazon Prime Original, Truth Seekers. The show has been compared to Ghost Hunters or The X-Files. The balance between horror and comedy is closer to Ash vs. Evil Dead.
Frost stars as Gus Roberts, who spends his days as a tv and internet installer for Smyle, the largest broadband provider in the United Kingdom. During his off hours, he spends his nights as a paranormal investigator. In almost 20 years, he hasn’t found anything but he remains dedicated.
When Gus hits work the next morning, his boss Dave gives him a noob junior installer as a ridealong. Gus, and his understudy, Elton John, visit a number of homes to do installations. One stop is Mrs. Connelly’s nook, where they meet a lonely old woman. Gus thinks she sabotaged her gear, but Elton is more sympathetic. They get asked to return the next day and uncover the first of a string of haunts.
Gus is soon intrigued by the new wave of activity that has popped up the same time that Elton entered the mix. The team expands when a young girl named Astrid arrives asking for help. It isn’t long before Elton’s sister and Gus’ dad are also recruited. This core group must overcome their own fears while tracking down the puppet masters behind the hauntings.
Each episode follows a formula. Important facts are revealed via a flashback and then the story moves to modern times. The impact and fallout of the flashback is the challenge the truth seekers must uncover. The first few episodes leverage an audio approach that is repetitive by worth the reveal. The visuals effects are a mix of digital and practical effects, including burn victims and everyone’s favorite, the plague doctor.
The dialogue, written by Frost, Pegg, Nat Saunders, and James Serafinowicz, contains some hidden gem comedy. Whether that is the argument for ISIS vs. ISISISIS, the Coventry Collector’s and Cosplay Convention (CovColCosCon), or a circular conversation about breakfast specials, audiences will get some laughs.
The cast support one another well. Gus may be the protagonist, but everyone gets a fully developed story. Samson Kayo is an insecure well-wisher as Elton. Susan Wokoma makes the best of her scenes as YouTube savvy Helen. This crew loves it when their villains buy into their own hype and Julian Barratt fills that role expertly. The huge standout is Malcolm McDowell as Gus’ grumpy dad/roommate.
Season One is comprised of eight half-hour episodes. There are tons of details that are blink and you’ll miss it style. Truth Seekers provides a great mix of horror and comedy with lots of surprises along the way.