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Created by John A. Norris, Prime Video‘s new YA drama, “Motorheads,” centers on racing, legacy and the choices that shift our lives forever. The series follows Caitlyn (Melissa Collazo) and Zac Torres (Michael Cimino), who leave Brooklyn with their mother, Samantha (Nathalie Kelley), moving to her hometown of Ironwood, a dying community in the Rust Belt. The twins are divided about making the move midway through high school. Still, they are eager to spend time with their uncle Logan (Ryan Phillippe) and learn about their father, Christian Maddox, who vanished before they were born. The series hits on several themes that make coming-of-age shows so nostalgic. However, the massive cast (many of whom are unnecessary) and unfocused narrative prevent “Motorheads” from going the distance.
“Motorheads” opens as a pair of drivers — one of whom viewers will later learn is Christian — zoom down the street. Almost as quickly, the show flashes forward to the present. Zac, Caitlyn and Sam are seen driving into Ironwood. Caitlyn is eager for a fresh start, but Zac is miffed by the idea of trying to establish himself in a small town where the myth of their father still looms large. Yet, his tune changes quickly after locking eyes with Alicia (Mia Haeley), a warm and welcoming girl struggling in her current relationship. Of course, her obnoxious boyfriend, Harris (Josh Macqueen), whose family owns most of the real estate in town, isn’t exactly pleased with Zac’s presence.
Despite Harris and his crew of bullies, the twins build a strong friendship with Marcel (Nicolas Cantu), an awkward neighbor who struggles to find community. Also, when Caitlyn uncovers the rusted-over citron Charger that once belonged to Christian, she convinces Logan to help her and Curtis (Uriah Shelton), the town’s resident bad boy, restore it to its former glory. The stakes increase after Zac and Harris challenge each other to a race, and Curtis’ criminally minded older brother, Ray (Drake Rodger), decides he wants in on the action.
For car enthusiasts, “Motorheads” has a lot to offer. Beautiful cars are sprinkled across the series. The Charger remains at the show’s center, but there is also Logan’s prize red vintage Mustang and Harris’ baby blue Porsche. “Motorheads” also showcases everything from unsanctioned street races to traditional track racing and an ATV competition. Unfortunately, this hyper-fixation on the cars is to the detriment of characters and storylines. Very little happens by the time the 10-episode first season ends.
While the core foursome—including the twins, Curtis and Marcel—remains fairly interesting, secondary characters — like Harris, his best friend Noah (Myles Erlick) and countless others who remain on the story’s fringes — are hardly developed as characters. Moreover, others appear out of nowhere, seemingly to fill past and present narrative gaps, but remain one-dimensional otherwise.
Harris is one of the most frustrating YA villains seen on television recently. Though he is grappling with the recent death of his mother, he’s nasty to everyone, including his well-meaning father Darren (Matt Lanter) and Alicia, giving viewers little room to sympathize with him. He has no redeeming qualities, and his fuckboy bestie Noah falls in the same camp. They are just two angry young men who lack general coping skills.
Since the series tries to spotlight so many people in the Ironwood community, the audience is often pulled in several directions when the focus could have stayed squarely on the twins, the quest to repair Christian’s car and solving the mystery of his disappearance. Because “Motorheads” continually highlights less important people and events, entire scenes feel repetitive and implausible.
Love triangles, rivalries, secrets and feuds stretch back nearly 20 years on “Motorheads,” but the show loses itself because it tries to do too much. As a result, scenes don’t always feel congruent, plot points are predictable and viewers are left with more questions than answers by the time the final scene ends.
The 10 episodes of “Motorheads” premiere May 20 on Prime Video.
English (US) ·