Watch Impulse

Impulse is a thrilling sci-fi series from YouTube Red, which follows a young girl, Henry Coles, as she discovers she has the extraordinary ability to teleport. The show premiered in June 2018 and ran for two seasons until its cancellation in March 2020. The series is based on the popular novel, ‘Impulse’ by Steven Gould, which was also adapted into the film Jumper (2008). But unlike its predecessor, the show dives deeper into the emotional and psychological impact of having such abilities and the consequences it brings.

Maddie Hasson plays the lead role in the series as Henry Coles. She’s a rebellious 16-year-old girl who moves to a new town with her alcoholic mother (Missi Pyle) and younger brother, Clay (Tanner Stine). Henry’s life is turned upside down when she is sexually assaulted by a high school student, and in the midst of the attack, she involuntarily teleports to another location.

As Henry struggles to come to terms with her newfound abilities, she meets Town Sheriff Anna Hulce (Enuka Okuma), who becomes a valuable ally and helps her understand the extent of her powers. While investigating the assault, Anna suspects the involvement of local businessman and drug kingpin, Bill Boone (Craig Arnold).

As the series progresses, Henry discovers that her abilities also have physical manifestations in her body, which puts her health at risk. But she soon learns that she’s not the only one with extraordinary abilities in the town. Jenna (Sarah Desjardins), a student with the power of pyrokinesis, becomes Henry’s friend and confidant.

Keegan-Michael Key plays the role of Clay’s guidance counsellor, who also becomes a close friend of the family. Key’s character, Doug, also has a mysterious past that gets revealed as the series progresses.

Unlike other superhero shows, Impulse stays grounded and explores the complexities of the characters and their relationships with each other. The show deals with heavy topics like trauma, abuse, addiction, and identity crises. All the performances are top-notch, with Maddie Hasson delivering a standout portrayal of a young girl trying to survive in a world that doesn’t quite understand her.

The show’s visual effects team does an excellent job of creating teleportation sequences, which feel realistic and believable. The teleportation scenes are also used sparingly, and the show’s pacing is consistent throughout the series.

Another standout aspect of the series is its music. The show’s soundtrack features artists like Hozier, Florence + The Machine, and Arctic Monkeys, which perfectly capture the show’s tone and themes.

Despite being a YouTube Red original, Impulse feels like a premium cable series. The show’s production values are high, and the writing is compelling enough to keep you hooked until the very end.

In conclusion, Impulse is a must-watch for fans of sci-fi dramas who are in the mood for a more grounded take on the superhero genre. Its themes of trauma and identity are relatable to a broad audience, and its performances and visual effects are top-notch. Although the show’s future is uncertain, its two-season run is well worth your time.

Impulse is a series that ran for 1 seasons (10 episodes) between June 6, 2018 and on YouTube Red