M.I.A. is a Miami-set revenge thriller that feels like a meandering, uninspired take on the genre. While it has a promising start and end, the middle section is a dull, unengaging affair. The series is created by Bill Dubuque, known for his work on 'Ozark', and showcases a unique blend of yacht rock and crime drama. However, it fails to deliver the pleasures of either genre, leaving viewers with a mid-level experience that is neither memorable nor captivating.
The story follows Etta Tiger Jonze, a young woman with an eidetic memory, who dreams of life at the University of Miami. However, her aspirations are overshadowed by her desire to be part of her father's drug-transporting operation. When the cartel introduces human trafficking into the mix, Etta's decision to balk leads to the murder of her family. This sets the stage for a revenge plot, with Etta's life becoming entangled with that of Haitian siblings Stanley and Lovely.
The series attempts to blend youthful criminality with adult contemporary jams, but it falls flat. The juxtaposition of yacht rock and crime drama is forced and over-explained, with 'Ride Like the Wind' being featured in three different shows in recent months. This attempt at cheeky dissonance is a warning to writers and viewers alike, as it fails to deliver the intended impact.
The main character, Etta, lacks urgency and intensity, which hinders the middle section of the series. Her lack of motivation and the meandering narrative make it difficult to invest in her quest for revenge. The supporting characters, including the cartel brothers Mateo and Samuel, are uninteresting and fail to evoke curiosity or sympathy. Their lack of notable personalities and negligible insight into their lives further contribute to the series' shortcomings.
The series also fails to delve deep into its location, Miami. While it acknowledges the city's Haitian and Dominican communities and references local food delicacies, it doesn't explore the city's culture or history in a meaningful way. The secondary plotlines are unengaging and feature guest stars who, while familiar, don't add much to the overall experience.
However, the closing episodes of the series raise the body count and push it into a darker, wilder place. The narrative acceleration in the last three episodes, following a flashback episode, adds a sense of urgency and intrigue. The pilot episode is amusing, even if it's 45 minutes of getting viewers to invest in a bunch of characters who never appear again. While the series could have easily belonged on USA Network or even on NBC proper, the closing beats of the finale leave viewers with a sense of curiosity and a desire to find out what happens next.
In conclusion, M.I.A. is a series that fails to live up to its potential. While it has a promising start and end, the middle section is a dull, unengaging affair. The forced juxtaposition of yacht rock and crime drama, the lack of urgency and intensity in the main character, and the uninteresting supporting characters all contribute to the series' shortcomings. However, the closing episodes raise the body count and push the series into a darker, wilder place, leaving viewers with a sense of curiosity and a desire to find out what happens next.
