EXTRA!

VibeCheckAug 07, 2026

This is a really high concept series I think has a really interesting premise. It being set in a supposedly utopian TV world where the extra characters' population is being regulated by disasters orchestrated by the producer is immediately really fascinating. I could see it leading to a really investing series, but I don't think EXTRA! fully stuck the landing for me. There's still a lot to enjoy though. Xavier is a dynamic protag, the drama can be pretty effective, and there are some reveals that keep me interested in the mystery. I appreciate how it can feel pretty dark and intense without relying on overt horror visuals. At the same time though, I mainly take issue with the tone. The comedy is pretty ineffective and often takes away from tense scenes, leading to instances of tonal whiplash. Take Xavier and Marshall's suspenseful and thought-provoking conversation quickly followed by Alexis geeking out over her scuba pack. I feel like they try to serve to break the tension, but I found them more intrusive than not. Roji is also just not that entertaining. He does serve his role in the group well being a DERP Agent (that name isn't helping) and helpful where it counts, but his brand of random humor just takes me out of it a lot. Not into how some story beats are handled either. There is a character death that I really felt established the dangers of this mission, but it's revealed they lived so it waned on me. Then again it did lead to demonstrating the sheer heartlessness of the directors so it isn't all bad. I wish mains being brainwashed was subtly foreshadowed rather than mentioned as a rumor near the start, would've made it hit harder. Still, I don't dislike it and I'm interested to see how the story unfolds.