Walton Goggins as Jay Whittle / The Hero in I'm a Virgo (2023)
Prime Video is full of hidden gems, but one series in particular that deserves far more attention than it gets is a surreal sci-fi series featuring Walton Goggins. While Fallout might be the first show fitting that description which springs to mind, the series in question is actually Boots Riley’s 2023 seven-episode comedy-drama I’m a Virgo.
Despite this Prime Video show’s almost perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 96%, it’s flown under the radar of most subscribers to the streaming platform, which is especially surprising given that it concerns a 13-foot teenager who struggles to hide from the world. The moment that Jharrel Jerome’s Cootie is discovered by the general public, he becomes fair game for exploitation. From the creator behind Sorry to Bother You, a movie that will make you wonder what you just watched at the same time as blowing your mind, I’m a Virgo is just as instructive in the trappings and injustices of contemporary society, whilst featuring a far more endearing central character. Like Cootie, this show is truly one of a kind. I'm A Virgo Is A Prime Video Hidden Gem Featuring Walton Goggins Although it’s unlikely to get a mention among the shows Walton Goggins is best-known for, I’m a Virgo features possibly the most brilliantly outlandish role of his career. Goggins steals every scene he’s in as narcissistic billionaire Jay Whittle, who believes himself to be Oakland’s greatest superhero until Cootie comes along to challenge that notion. The show’s 13-foot protagonist also has to deal with various religious sects and political groups looking to appropriate his extraordinary size for their own causes. Various subplots manage to skewer the cynicism of modern society relentlessly without ever coming across as preachy. It helps that I’m a Virgo is peppered with sharp observational comedy, too. The jokes come thick and fast, yet always seem to land in just the right place, having been aimed at a target that’s ripe for lampooning. What Is I'm A Virgo About? Essentially, I’m a Virgo is a classic fish-out-of-water comedy taken to grandiose extremes, which works so well primarily because its lead actor Jharrel Jerome plays his role with charm and sensitivity. Jerome plays Cootie, a teenage giant who’s been sheltered from the outside world by his family owing to his extreme size. Just as he’s taking tentative steps to understand the social norms beyond the house he grew up in, he’s discovered by various interest groups who want to make him into something he’s not. As with any Boots Riley comedy, the question of race is addressed within the show’s clever central conceit as well. When Cootie remarks that everyone seems to love him, his aunt replies, “You are a 13-foot tall black man. They fear you.” While this aspect of the show's allegorical meaning crops up time and again, it isn’t the main thrust of what Riley is getting at here. Subscribe to the newsletter for hidden-TV gems & insight Discover more hidden gems — subscribe to our newsletter for curated takes on shows like I'm a Virgo, deep dives into filmmakers such as Boots Riley, and thoughtful recommendations that spotlight overlooked streaming treasures. Get Updates By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Cootie isn’t the only one in the series with extraordinary physical characteristics, and he’s far from the only person perceived as a superhero on whom others can place their hopes for a better world. Besides Jharrel Jerome, several members of I’m a Virgo’s cast play would-be savior figures, including Walton Goggins. Everything Boots Riley Makes For The Screen Is A Masterpiece From Sorry to Bother You to his new Keke Palmer crime comedy movie I Love Boosters, everything Boots Riley creates for the screen seems to be a work of rare genius. Few filmmakers working today take aim at capitalism quite so successfully, skewering the heart of the system itself while sending up its surface-level symptoms and hypocrisies. I’m a Virgo is Riley’s only production for the small screen so far, and we can only hope it isn’t his last. If the critical acclaim he’s received for I Love Boosters is anything to go by, there’s plenty of love for his work out there, and rightly so. I'm a Virgo 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-14 Comedy Release Date 2023 - 2023-00-00 Showrunner Boots Riley Directors Boots Riley Cast See All
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