Catch-22 Review: Is the Hulu Drama Worth Watching?

Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 is considered to be one of the greatest anti-war novels of all time. Centered around a circular commandment that keeps the soldiers tied to their posts and the reader hooked to the story, it has satire, humor, frustration and anger.

The novel did a great job of elaborating both the absurdity and the cost of War. George Clooney’s endeavor to capture the essence of this material, which has been considered unfilmable, is an unexpected success.

1. Quick Review

Catch-22 isn’t a perfect adaptation of the complex and nuanced novel, but it manages to capture the essence of the story. Filled with disturbing and tender moments, the series manages to depict the beauty and joy of life and contrast it with the plague of War.

The doublespeak dialogue and the circular logic is better in the book, as the characters often have to explain what the joke is on-screen. The cast does a phenomenal job with great performances by Christopher Abbot, Hugh Laurie and Grant Heslov.

 2. Is It Worth Watching?

This satirical mini-series is a triumph considering the high-level entry material, which is very difficult to adapt. While some of the humorous bits fall a bit flat, others are successful. Catch-22 attempts to see through the farcical nature of the War through the eyes of the conflicted protagonist Yossarian.

Catch-22 Trailer (Official) | Hulu

I. Plot

The series tries to straighten out the sophisticated writing of the book by chronologically presenting the events. The first moments show us a bloody Captain John Yossarian walking away from a smoking, flaming wreck. The show then takes us back two years to Yossarian’s training camp.

Yossarian is a Forrest Gump-like character in the army and his main worry is staying alive. He devotes all his intelligence and efforts towards that singular goal. He joins bombardier training because it’s the longest, and he hopes that the war might be over by the time his training is completed.

Yossarian finds himself posted in Italy, hoping to quickly complete the 25 missions required to be discharged from duty. The commanding officer Colonel Cathart keeps raising the limit every time some pilots get close, much to Yossarian’s dismay.

It is here that he meets Doc. Daneka, the squadron medic who himself had been trying to avoid serving in the Army. He had had a successful practice and, as a doctor, had written a note for himself claiming he was unfit to serve. He is continuously tortured by the fact that the Army saw through his farce. Although he sympathizes with Yossarian, he says he cannot ground him from flying due to Catch-22.

The paradoxical circular order states that it is a sane mind that wants a man not to fly more missions because he is in mortal danger.

But if a man volunteers to fly, he must be crazy. Therefore you’re insane if you fly and sane if you try to get out of it. One of the many paradoxes in the book leaves Yossarian wondering at its ingenuity as he remarks, “That’s some catch, that Catch-22.”

II. Cast and Characters

Christopher Abbot gives a splendid performance as Captain Yossarian, a self-confessed coward. As the show progresses, one realizes that he is one of the bravest men in the squadron. When the squad loses a pilot, Abbot’s clenched jaw and twitching face convey a range of emotions. Abbot manages to portray the inner feelings of a straight-forward character.

George Clooney is not a good fit as the hard-ass General Scheisskopf, who wants to drill his men to perfection. He is too sophisticated and mature to play the tough unit commander. 

Yossarian’s friend Clevinger (Pico Alexander) leaves you in splits, never knowing that he should keep his mouth shut. At the same time, the drill commander yells and insults them.

Kyle Chandler, as Colonel Cathart, is the commanding officer who demonstrates his bravery by sacrificing and exploiting his men. Hugh Laurie shines in a supporting role as Major-de Coverley.

III. Visuals

The show has several shots of the Italian landscape, with the yellows and blues mixing with the Mediterranean Sea. The show adds several shots of the soldiers goofing around in the waves and lazing around on the beaches. These highlight the innocence and humanity of the soldiers while offering a contrast from the bloody battles.

The series doesn’t shy away from the gore, depicting the destruction and loss of life from the very beginning. The aircraft battles are tense, gripping affairs. With a protagonist hell-bent on staying alive, they are also engaging to watch.

3. Final Thoughts

Although the series is not as complex and layered as Heller’s novel, it is an excellent production that features stellar acting. The writers’ adherence to the source material is another plus.

The book had many stories revolving around the side characters, and not all of them are fleshed out in six episodes. Catch-22 is a hilarious and handsomely rendered satire that highlights the futility of War.

4. Grade

5. Info