This review was made possible by screeners for I’m A Virgo. All seven episodes of I’m A Virgo release on Prime Video on June 23, 2023.
From director Boots Riley (Sorry To Bother You), comes the latest Prime Original series, I’m A Virgo— a coming-of-age odyssey with new surprises around each corner. The seven-episode show focuses on a 13-foot-tall young black man named Cootie (Jharrel Jerome). Cootie was born into the world a giant, but as days turned to months, and months into years, he grew ever more drastically. He was raised under the watchful, loving eye of his adopted parents, Martisse (Mike Epps) and LaFrancine (Carmen Ejogo), who helped adapt their home through his— well— growing pains.
Through his childhood, Cootie was always kept indoors— never allowed in the outside world— yet promised he’d be allowed when he’s old enough… which his parents said is 21 years old. Through his teenage years, he reluctantly tolerated the long wait, even though everyday became more restrictive feeling to his growing body. But one day… it finally happens. Cootie hasn’t made it to 21 yet, but he’s impatient, lonely, and curious about the world outside of that which he knows. So he ventures out.
Young, Dumb, And Broke
What lies ahead of Cootie in his newly self-created freedom brings him joy, but with it, he has to learn a lot of harsh realities about life. A large amount of I’m A Virgo sees Cootie trying to naively meander his way through seeking happiness, friendships, and romance… often stumbling, because he has no frame of reference for what success looks like. Sometimes it has to do with being overly sheltered… for instance, realizing he needs money to buy things, and to get money he has to work. Other times he faces challenges due to his size… particularly when it comes to social and romantic interactions.
On the topic of relationships, Cootie meets a group of friends— Felix (Brett Gray), Jones (Kara Young), and Scat (Allius Barnes)— all of whom he finds he can connect with in different ways. He bonds with Scat over an animated Family Guy-like show called “Parking Tickets”, while he seeks romantic advice from Felix, and learns about socioeconomic crises that black Americans face from Jones… who works as an anti-capitalist revolutionary. Young’s performance shines in particular, due to her charismatic ability to inspire others through speech. Other than those three new friends, Cootie also meets a girl named Flora (Olivia Washington), who he immediately falls in love with. Flora isn’t your typical girl… she was born with an unusual trait as well, which makes her and Cootie relate to each other all the better. There’s a particular scene with her that handles a comic book movie trope with a great deal of originality— which may be one of my favorite parts of the show.
Capes For Capitalism
One of the big challenges Cootie faces in the real world is The Hero (Walton Goggins). The Hero was once a comic book writer, but when he worked his way up the economic ladder, he became the character that he wrote about. Imagine if Elon Musk could pay for a suit and gadgets. That’s what The Hero is like… a business mogul who wants to exact justice in the way he sees fit. Cootie, who had grown up reading those comics, idolized The Hero. But he soon discovers that his “black and white” view of crime doesn’t fit with the realities of our society, leading into some of the biggest themes of the series. Walton Goggins has an absolutely grand time portraying him— exacting punishment for crimes with a skewed perception, while also getting in some hilarious laughs. Goggins is definitely the standout performance overall in I’m A Virgo.
One thing I have yet to mention is the unique visual style in the series. To start, both forced perspective and puppeteering are used to bring Cootie to life, and both work fantastically. While most of I’m A Virgo is live-action, there are a few scenes that use animation, showing segments of the in-universe “Parking Tickets”, to tie in with the larger story being told. In addition, there are a few somewhat theatrical set-pieces that were the highlight of the show for me. Overall, the show is very confident, and extremely creative, when it comes to its visual style.
‘I’m A Virgo’ – Final Thoughts
I’m A Virgo brings a fantastical charm to a modern mythical coming-of-age story— taking every opportunity it can to tie in sociopolitical commentary, while also maintaining a massive amount of heart. Sometimes the turns the story takes can lose you for a few minutes, but then you’re pulled right back in to a masterclass in storytelling. Between its unique visual identity, and the strange humor that Walton Goggins delivers, this tall tale is well worth the watch.
I’m A Virgo releases on Prime Video on June 23, 2023. Check out the trailer below.
