‘The Get Down’ Recap, Episode 1: “Where There Is Ruin, There Is Hope For A Treasure”

“Where there is ruin, there is hope for a treasure.”

Spray painted on the subway trains running through New York City, is this virtuous aphorism —you might even call it a war cry— that embodies the coming of age story that is The Get Down.

Netflix’s latest original series, created by Baz Luhrmann (The Great Gatsby, Moulin Rouge, William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet), opens with a spark: A notable rapper named Ezekial “Books” Fuego (played here by Hamilton’s Daveed Diggs) comes forth on stage to perform before an adoring audience in a sold out stadium, as executive producer, legendary rapper and entrepreneur Nas narrates a summary of the episode to unfold, as him.

The Get Down, based on what we see in this first episode, is about the flickers of a spark. Every character, regardless of their age and background, possesses a spark within them that flickers throughout the series, depending on inspiration and struggle rooted in the culture they live and breathe. Not to mention, the storyline of the series is based off spark: the spark of hip-hop. The Get Down documents the emergence of hip-hop; specifically, that promising slither of time when New York City’s finest DJ’s (names like Kool Herc, Afrika Bambaataa, and Grandmaster Flash) were forming hip-hop with their fingertips, spinning records inspired by Latin music, disco, and funk, in intimate settings.

All characters fight for their spark (passion) to be recognized and respected, not only by others, but also by themselves. Everyone sees the potential brewing within teen poet-turned-MC Books (Justice Smith), except for himself. Episode one follows a talented, hopeless romantic Books trying to woo his love interest Mylene Cruz (played by newcomer Herizen Guardiola), who dreams of breaking away from her religious, protective family to become a singer. Mylene though, isn’t interested in Books (or at least she doesn’t want to be). Rather, she chooses to pursue her dreams before investing her heart in who she describes as a “boy, not a man with goals.”

A powerful moment in the episode, that highlights Books’ way with the pen, features Books’ English teacher Ms. Green (played by Yolonda Ross) asking Books’ to recite his award-winning poem. He refuses to do so in front of the class, so she keeps him behind after class is dismissed to do so. As he recites his poem, the story of the death of his parents unfolds. Reading in-between the lines, though, his story parallels the real world events of 2016 by recalling a certain political party that seems to have very little interest in the well-being of the working-class people that fuel our economy. The exception here being Francisco “Papa Fuerte” Cruz (played by Jimmy Smits), a local councilman with big plans to rebuild the borough, and who (not so coincidentally) also happens to be Mylene’s uncle.

Books’ friends’–including aspiring graffiti artist Marcus “Dizzee” Kipling (played by Jaden Smith), Ronald “Ra-Ra” Kipling (Skylan Brooks), and Miles “Boo Boo” Kipling (Tremain Brown Jr.)–wander the rundown borough, in search of hope, which they’ll all soon find in graffiti artist turned aspiring DJ Shaolin Fantastic (played by Shameik Moore) who strives to walk in the shoes of his mentor, Grandmaster Flash.

Shaolin and Books first crash into each other while on the hunt for a specific, very rare vinyl record. Shaolin needs it to fulfilled a task given to him by Grandmaster Flash, while Books wants it to win over Mylene, who almost falls into the hands of Cadillac (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) —son to queenpin Fat Annie (Lilias White)— in hopes he gives a popular DJ a demo of hers.

While Books’ fails to make Mylene his girl (and despite a shooting at the nightclub where they shared a kiss), he does spark a friendship with Shaolin (who senses that Books could be the MC to his DJ). The spark happens as soon as Shaolin introduces Books and the rest of the guys to The Get Down, a hidden hip-hop party at the center of abandoned buildings. The minute they walk in, they’re entranced and quickly fall into the grasp of hip-hop culture. The Get Down is driven by a community of hip-hop aficionados escaping the hustle of the 9-5, and letting the sounds of Grandmaster Flash lead their limbs, body to body.

Books and Shaolin marvel at the dynamic relationship between a DJ and an MC. Books’ friends urge him to freestyle, but similar to iconic scene in 8 Mile, Books chokes. Shaolin jumps in, diffusing the tension by flexing his breakdancing moves. The crowd combusts, and with the energy on 100, Books is inspired to take the stage yet again. This time, he kills it. As he clowns everyone in sight, his friends stand beside him, as hyped as he is.

Together, the “Fantastic Four Plus One” (as Shaolin tentatively titles them) will soon become unstoppable. Shaolin has found family among the guys, while the crew, especially Books, have found hope. The episode ends with the five guys foretelling a future in which they unite as Voltron, personifying the pillars of hip-hop culture (coined by Kool Herc): graffiti writing, DJing, MCing, and B-boying (breakdancing).

The underlying theme in episode one, and sure to be in the series, is this: There’s an electric power that ignites when two seemingly distinct entities intersect, be that disco and hip-hop, or even dreamers and hustlers.

[Watch the “Where There Is Ruin, There Is Hope For A Treasure” episode of The Get Down on Netflix]

Erika Ramirez–born in San Jose, CA and based in Brooklyn, NY–is a freelance writer, editor, and producer. She’s the founder of digital magazine, ILY, which is about love. She’s held editorial positions and written for various outlets as Billboard, ROOKIE, NPR, Milk Studios and more. Follow her on Twitter: @3rika