“High Fidelity” is a Hulu Original TV show that premiered on February 14, 2020, inspired by the 1995 novel and 2000 film, both of the same title. Zoë Kravitz plays the main character, Robyn “Rob” Brooks. The show is a romantic comedy that follows Rob, a young Brooklynite who owns a record shop. After ending a long term relationship with her ex-fiancé, Mac, Rob is forced to relive her past relationships. Rob breaks down her top five heartbreaks, and she does so to a pretty killer soundtrack. The soundtrack itself was curated by a team of music supervisors, including Questlove of The Roots.
Because Rob is a record shop owner, music is a consistent theme in the show. In one episode, Rob must decide if she wants to buy a rare record collection for a ridiculously low price, because the seller is selling her husbands’ collection to spite him. There are also several obscure music references made in a characters’ dialogue. No matter how it’s done, music is always embedded into each episode of the show. Rob’s most mentioned artists have to be David Bowie, Prince, and Fleetwood Mac.
Despite having never read the novel or seen the movie, I really enjoyed the television reboot of “High Fidelity.” The cast, the writing, and the costuming were very relevant to current millennial trends/culture. (I personally would commit a few crimes for Rob’s wardrobe). According to this Pitchfork article reviewing the show, it seems that the TV reboot has made some modern changes, especially by centering the show around more women and more people of color.
If you, like myself, are a music listener with a Hulu account and have way too much time on your hands in quarantine, now is the best time to start “High Fidelity.” Or if you’re just interested in listening to the show’s soundtrack, you can do so here:
