Baywatch
1989
Original language: English
- action & adventure
- drama
- crime
The story
Join the Baywatch lifeguards on their thrilling adventures filled with beautiful beaches and those iconic red swimsuits.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated daylight floods every frame, with wide shots of sand, surf and palm-lined boulevards under a hard Southern California sun, and the camera lingers on the lifeguard tower and on slow-motion runs along the shoreline set to upbeat synth-pop. The colours are warm and punchy, the sky a flat, clean blue, and the sound is all surf, gulls, whistles and a jaunty theme that comes back again and again. The vibe is sunny, campy and easygoing, the kind of show that suits a lazy weekend afternoon, a summer rewatch, or something playing while you fold laundry. Episodes move briskly through rescues, minor crime and soapy romantic tangles, with a self-assured swagger and plenty of heightened melodrama. Intensity is low to moderate: there is peril in the water and the occasional brawl or villain, but no gore, and the swimwear and flirtation are suggestive rather than explicit. The show is for viewers who want glossy, feel-good escapism with a nostalgic 1980s beach sheen and don't mind the over-the-top earnestness.
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