Why ‘The Push’ Should Be Your Next Netflix Pick

The Push is my latest Netflix find, and I LOVED IT! Recommend to me by a coworker, I was glad to hear it was just one show, not a series. I do not need anything else to contribute to my delinquency, as I live in a half painted house,  however I could see how this could turn into a series. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The Push is the brain child of Derren Brown, a British mentalist whom Netflix describes as a "psychological illusionist." The reality special, essentially a hidden camera show, is billed as an "audacious social experiment" takes a look at how both authority figures and social pressures can manipulate an otherwise ordinary person in extraordinary ways. 

Everything is staged, and everyone but the main character, Chris, know what's going on. The premise of this elaborate ruse hinges on the idea of social compliance. How much do the actions of other people influence are own? How often do we do something, just because someone is telling us it's the right thing to do? If you're like me, you're sitting there thinking, I do what I want. I march to the beat of my own drum, I make my own decisions. In fact, I would argue that most people would say that, but until your faced with certain situations, you really have no idea how much influence other people, strangers even, have on your actions.

These main characters are lead through an elaborate evening, a faux charity event,  testing what they will or won't do, based on the behavior, or suggestions of others.  Lots of factors play into the leads willingness to participate in events they would normally opt out of, including the fact that this high profile event could have serious ramifications on their lives. This series of strange events snowball quickly and strategically and culminate with the question, Could a normal, upstanding citizen be convinced to commit murder?

I know what you're thinking, you would never do it  That would be my response too, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me question myself. In the end I still stand by the fact that I would not be convinced to do it, but it definitely made me question myself. In fact, it made me question myself in simple every day circumstances, not just the dramatic staged scenarios the show presents.  How much of my behavior is subconsciously controlled or influenced by others? How easily am I manipulated? Watching The Push will definitely give you a different perspective on things, it's a must watch.

SPOILER ALERT! DO NOT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THE PUSH!

Can we talk about how many of these people actually did it?! I get it, the whole point of the show is to create this web of events that snowball into making someone think they have no way out, but we're talking about KILLING SOMEONE with your bare hands!  You actually have to physically walk up to them and push!  I just don't think I would have the stones to do it. I was shocked. I was also very surprised at the number of people who kicked the dead body, why did none of these people say, why don't you kick it, bro? Definitely makes you think.