Get Ready: Kirsten Dunst’s Acclaimed Series ‘On Becoming A God’ Is Finally Coming To Australia
Also starring Alexander Skarsgard!
On Becoming A God In Central Florida does what it says on the tin. Kinda.
The ’90s-set miniseries starring Kirsten Dunst as a slighted woman named Krystal who takes her vengeance on the pyramid scheme that has duped her is not literally about one person’s transmutation into a celestial being. But what its title does communicate is the show’s twinned approach to tone. This is a work that takes the gripes of its — let’s call her ‘unusual’ — protagonist deathly seriously, while also acknowledging that her desires and plans are not entirely recognisable to us.
The result: one of the most original TV miniseries to burst onto the cultural landscape in some time. The black comedy was at one point set to be directed by auteur Yorgos Lanthimos, he of The Favourite fame. And though Lanthimos stepped away due to scheduling conflicts, his work is probably the best reference point for On Becoming A God, which is mean, and strange, and beautiful, and deeply funny.
As one might expect then, the show has been lapped up by critics. In particular, Dunst’s performance is being recognised as one of the best in a very good back catalogue.
“Dunst unifies the many far-flung aspects of the story, never letting Krystal become a cartoonish white southern caricature, yet at the same time letting us see the frightening ruthless streak that’s usually camouflaged by her desperation,” writes Matt Zoller Seitz of Vulture. Elsewhere, Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter calls it “a tremendous star vehicle” for the actress, and a “a gem of a performance.”
Well, finally, months after it debuted to its raves in the States, the show is coming Down Under. The very first episode of the show will drop on Thursday November 21 on SBS and SBS On Demand, releasing weekly after that.
Get excited. And, in the meantime, watch the full trailer here: