Latest news with #Demascus'
Chicago Tribune
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘Demascus' review: A sci-fi comedy about one man's alternate realities
In the sci-fi comedy 'Demascus,' a man attending therapy tries a new technology that allows him to visit alternate versions of his life that exist in his subconscious in an effort to figure out why he's feeling so bleh. But which version is closest to his real life? Actually, which one is his real life, anyway? The show premieres on the free, ad-supported streaming platform Tubi, but it almost never made it to light. From writer-producers Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm and Mark Johnson, it was originally created for AMC and shot in its entirety, and then canceled in early 2023 before it could air (the network cited cost-cutting measures). It languished on the shelf until now. Kudos to Tubi, which offers only a limited number of originals, for taking a chance on it. But while the premise of 'Demascus' is enticing — what might our lives look like with small changes? — the six-episode series doesn't live up to its initial promise. There is a 'solution' offered by the final episode that explains everything we've seen up to that point, but instead of resonating, it felt somewhat pat. Okieriete Onaodowan plays the title character, a 33-year-old Everyman who moves through his days in a numb haze. His therapist (Janet Hubert) asks: Are you unhappy? What's making you unhappy? 'It's 2023 and I'm a Black man,' he says. 'The world is as inhospitable as ever.' Then he offers up an anecdote from work: Walking toward the break room, he hears someone sharing an anecdote about him, of which he only hears the last line: 'Y'all know how Demascus is, right?' Everyone in the break room laughs uproariously. 'Nobody knows me,' Demascus tells his therapist, confused by what this person could have meant. 'My one dominant quality is I'm unknowable.' You pride yourself on that, comes the response? 'Yeah, actually, I do. I can be anybody. Or nobody. And that's a good quality for a Black man to have, right?' But in your effort to remain unknowable, his therapist says, perhaps you have made yourself unknown even to you. This is good, interesting stuff and had me locked in. Then his therapist places a white contraption on his head that sends him into something called digital immersive reality therapy. 'By identifying commonalities across your alternate timelines, you'll be able to combat the issues you're facing in your everyday life.' It also comes with a warning. 'Attempting to take control of the narrative can permanently corrupt your primary reality.' In one of those alternate realities, he has a sister whose boyfriend has been roughing her up; she wants Demascus to round up some friends to set the guy straight. Demascus is reluctant — this is not his thing — but agrees and calls up Uncle Forty (Martin Lawrence), an aging no-bull type, and his best friend Redd (Caleb Eberhardt), who is ready, willing and eager. Not surprisingly, things go horribly, comically awry. And so it continues. We meet his girlfriend Budhi (Sasha Hutchings), who he is seriously involved with in one timeline, less so in another. In another timeline, it's Demascus and Redd who are a couple. In yet another, Demascus is a priest. In another, he and Budhi are on an instant marriage reality show. Everyone's styling is different each time. At one point, Demascus does the therapy while he's already in a therapy session, which is like staring into an infinity mirror, or waking from a dream, only to still be dreaming — when does the trance stop? The show is commenting on all kinds of ideas, from how we run away from (or suppress) our deepest pain, to the psychological issues — the addiction — that can result from people pretending they have a relationship with computer-generated reality. As his therapist said early on, he's created a world where he's unknowable not only to those around him but to himself as well. The larger issue is that he also remains unknowable to the viewer, and I think that is where the show loses me. Ultimately, who are we supposed to become invested in? 'Demascus' — 2 stars (out of 4) Where to watch: Tubi
Los Angeles Times
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
With the must-watch ‘Demascus,' Tubi rescues a reality-bending comedy
The road to 'Demascus' — premiering Thursday on Tubi — runs through AMC, which had commissioned the series and then, though a six-episode season was completed, declined to air it. Not being privy to any boardroom discussions or the thoughts of executives and accountants, I won't claim to know why that was — most everything these days is a calculation instead of a gamble. But simply as regards its quality, AMC was wrong and Tubi is right. Created by playwright Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm ('Hooded: Or Being Black for Dummies'), it sits alongside some of the most interesting series of the last several years — comedies from Black creators that mess with form and time and space and reality — 'I'm a Virgo,' 'Government Cheese,' 'The Vince Staples Show' and 'Atlanta' and the cartoons 'Lazor Wulf' and 'Oh My God ... Yes!' Perhaps if one already feels outside the system, there's less temptation to play it safe. It's not necessarily a recipe for success in the show-business terms, but it can produce good results. Demascus (Okieriete Onaodowan), 33, is entering his 'Jesus year, my year to be a martyr, and I've chosen this to be my martyrdom.' That martyrdom is therapy, he tells Dr. Bonnetville (Janet Hubert), as the series begins in a jungle — though this turns out to be a Holodeck projection. We're in a version of 2023 — the year the series was first set to air — in which self-driving cars fill the road and a voice-activated assistant (here called Shekinah, played by Brie Eley) is everywhere, setting the stage for the series' science-fictional central conceit. 'Nobody knows me. My one dominant quality is I'm unknowable,' Demascus tells her. 'I can be anybody or nobody. … That's a good quality for a Black man to have, right?' But does he know himself? Bonnetville suggests that Demascus might be a candidate for DIRT (Digital Immersive Reality Therapy), an experimental psychological virtual alternate reality rig that 'follows the path of your conscious and subconscious impulses, allowing you to visit alternate visions of yourself, but only as a voyeur. … Attempting to take control of a narrative can permanently corrupt your primary reality.' (Of course he will do just that.) But just what reality is primary is something the series purposely confuses and doesn't quite settle or really needs to. The gizmo is an excuse for episodes and parts of episodes set in various contexts that work both as short stories and pieces of a bigger puzzle, and as a bonus allows the main cast to try on different roles — in repertory, if you will. In what may or may not be his primary reality, Demascus is a graphic artist employed by the government — he's working on a campaign to encourage Black participation in the space program — which makes for some office-based satire. He has a best friend, Redd (Caleb Eberhardt), a District of Columbia public defender, who will reappear in other forms (in one episode, 'Thanksgiving,' they're a couple); an uncle, Forty (Martin Lawrence), now dissolute, now respectable; and, in some scenarios, a sister, Shaena (Brittany Adebumola). He's slowly losing interest in his 'algorithmically compatible' girlfriend, Budhi (Sasha Hutchings), and becoming interested in Naomi (Shakira Ja'nai Paye), who appears variously as an artist, a nun and a nurse in a psychiatric ward. There's a tentative pan-dimensional love story between them, the sort of thing that could easily be overdone, but is just … nice. The series itself takes different forms — a relationship reality show, a 'sad Thanksgiving' domestic comedy, a setting out of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.' Notwithstanding a change of hair or profession, Demascus remains more or less himself as shapes shift around him — the protagonist, basically a good guy, a little buttoned-up, a little insecure. He's surrounded by more colorful, unpredictable characters, more acted upon than acting and dealing with the same issues from scenario to scenario. 'There are rules and I know some of them and there are rules that I don't know and they're just ever-changing,' he tells Dr. Bonnetville. According to press materials, the show explores the 'gulf between Black male perspectives' and as with any culturally specific work, it may play to an audience that shares those specifics. But like all good art, it doesn't limit its meanings to the artist's statement. 'Demascus' isn't parochial or polemical; the emotional beats are accessible to any moderately sensitive human. And there's pure pleasure to be found in the writing, which is sharp and smart and natural; the direction, which shapes and is shaped by the evolving material without getting in its way; and uniformly marvelous performances. I finished the sixth episode, titled 'Season Two Prequel' (following the penultimate episode, 'Penultimate'), wanting more, though that possibility, given the series' previous wandering in the wilderness, seems an open question. A line of dialogue hearkens back to the beginning in a way that might be thought of as closure, as a circle closes without going anywhere, and yet things are not the same. An ending you can take as a beginning, as with any fairy tale or romantic comedy, it's a beautifully managed moment, as J. Cole's 'Love Yourz' — 'No such thing as a life that's better than yours' and 'It's beauty in the struggle' — makes its complementary points on the soundtrack.
Tom's Guide
07-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
How to watch ‘Demascus' on Tubi (it's *free*) — stream the six part sci-fi series from anywhere now
This convention-defying sci-fi comedy series featuring Martin Lawrence, thrillingly exploring identity in the digital age, almost didn't see the light of day. Shelved by cash-strapped studio AMC in 2023, 'Demascus' was recently saved from obscurity by streaming service Tubi. That means, as we explain in depth below, that audiences can watch 'Demascus' online absolutely FREE now – and from anywhere with a VPN. All six episodes of "Demascus" arrive Thursday, August 7.• U.S. – Tubi• Watch anywhere — try NordVPN 100% risk-free Executive produced by Mark Johnson ('Breaking Bad') and created by playwright Tearrance Chisholm (FX drama 'Clipped'), this six-part Tubi Original series charts the mind-bending odyssey of 33-year-old Demascus (played by Okieriete Onaodowan). Feeling utterly disconnected from himself, he signs up for an experimental, 'digital immersive reality therapy' that allows him to explore the many potential versions of his life that exist. What's the worst that could happen? 'Brain death' his therapist Dr. Bonnetville (Janet Hubert) warns him. 'Or just death period.' Reminiscent of anthology series 'Black Mirror' and Netflix's 'They Cloned Tyronne', and starring comedy icon Martin Lawrence ( 'Bad Boys'), Caleb Eberhardt ('Judas and the Black Messiah'), and Shakira Ja'nai Paye (2023's 'House Party') alongside Onaodowan, 'Demascus' looks to take viewers on a wild, genre-blending ride: one full of heart, humour, and that Tubi describes as exploring 'the gulf between Black male perspectives.' Catch Tubi's compelling sci-fi comedy now. Simply following our guide explaining how to watch 'Demascus' online and stream every episode absolutely free and no matter where you are in the world. Thanks to the Fox-owned streaming service, you can watch "Demascus" online and 100% free on Tubi, with all six episodes being uploaded from Thursday, August 7. Currently away from home? Download NordVPN or another VPN service to connect to your usual regional services from outside of your home country. Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "Demascus"? As Tubi isn't available in every country outside the U.S., you might be unable to access it while abroad. You can still connect to your regional services, however, thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where in the world you are. Ideal when you're away on vacation or on business. Our favorite is NordVPN – and you can find out why in our NordVPN review. There's a good reason you've heard of NordVPN. We specialize in testing and reviewing VPN services and NordVPN is the one we rate best. It's outstanding at unblocking streaming services, it's fast and it has top-level security features too. With over 7,000 servers, across 110 countries, and at a great price too, it's easy to recommend. For a limited time only, new subscribers in the US and Canada can also get up to $50 of Amazon vouchers. Get up to 70% off now! It is really easy to watch, here's how. Using a VPN is incredibly simple. 1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite. 2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're in Canada and want to view a U.S. service, you'd select USA from the list. 3. Sit back and enjoy the action. Head to Tubi or another streaming service and watch the action. Tubi is available in numerous countries, and those in the Great North can also watch "Demascus" online in Canada when the show lands on Thursday, August 7. Unable to access "Demascus" outside the U.S? Download a VPN to easily connect to the streaming services and connect you'd normally view back home. U.K. viewers will be able to watch "Demascus" online and 100% free via Tubi from August 7. NB: U.S. citizens in Blighty may want to purchase a VPN to watch geo-blocked programmes you'd normally watch back home while abroad traveling. "Demascus" will be also be available on the Aussie version of the Tubi streaming service. A U.S. citizen Down Under? Simply use a VPN to connect to Tubi's American content library, and no matter where you are in the world. The Fox-owned streaming service is currently accessible in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand, in addition to several Latin American countries like Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador. However, not every region will have the same library of titles due to licensing restrictions. That means if you want to watch your usual content while visiting another country, you'll need a VPN to access your region-specific version of Tubi from abroad. Amazon Fire TV/Stick and Kindle Fire tablets (Tablets must be 2013 or later) FireTV (newer than 7.1.1000) Amazon Echo Show Android mobile devices (smartphones/tablets) Android TV (newer than 7.1.1000) Apple TV 4th Generation Chromecast Comcast Xfinity X1 Cox Contour Google Nest Hub Hisense Smart TVs iOS devices (iPhones/iPads) LG Smart TVs Nvidia Shield Playstation 4 and 5 Roku platforms Samsung Smart TVs Sony Smart TVs & Blu-ray disc devices TiVo Vizio Smart TVs Web - Xbox One, Series S, Series X We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
