Protagonist Jess Valenzuela (Lisette Alexis) solve an escape room with her friends, paving the way for the YA writing that says just about everything - "See, she's good at puzzles!" Jess is basically graduating into a more challenging world of underground puzzle-flying sets when she meets Peter Sadosky (Harvey Keitel(reprising his role from the films, but only in the premiere), a former FBI special agent who is now considered deranged by his recklessness about plots and surveillance. Not only does he sense a kindred spirit in Jess — who comes with baggage of her own about a long-dead father who may have been connected to solving mysteries himself — but starts her on a trail that finds her and a group of friends traipsing around the country in search of clues in American landmarks. Remember how National Treasure used the Declaration of Independence as a puzzle piece? Expect more of that, including a trip to Graceland in Episode III and a comeback Justin BarthaRiley Paul in Chapter Four. Along the way, Edge of History features the villain Billie Pearce (Catherine Zeta-Jones), a sinister antiquities dealer who always seems to be one step behind Jace.
It's often a problem with shows geared toward teens that writers think they need to be spoken to with displeasure, but it's especially jarring to do so in scripts for a show that's about brilliant people solving mysteries that have baffled people for generations. "The Edge of History" is one of those shows that barely bothers with character — Jess is full of emotional jabs regarding her deceased father and her status as a DACA recipient but feels a little skinnier than that, and her sidekicks are more forgettable, especially the cute potential love interest in Jake Austin WalkerLiam Sadosky. Honestly, the fact that Alexis can be as charming as she is in some scenes is testament to her screen presence, which seems to constantly call for a more challenging show.
Again, this is a YA show on Disney+, so maybe expectations should be low in terms of character depth, but then the superficiality should be compensated for by fun, right? This is where The Edge of History really stumbles. The puzzles are bland and unattractive, perhaps because the concept seems inherently designed for movies rather than a never-ending plot. Imagine a series of puzzles without end - every time Jess solves something, it pushes her on to the next thing. It's like a historical scavenger hunt that has gone on forever.
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