How “Deadly Class” Paid Tribute To The Breakfast Club

First, if you don’t know what Deadly Class, on the Syfy channel, is all about then you might want to go and take a look so that you understand the reference. But once you do you might get a kick if you were born in the 60s or 70s and were well aware of The Breakfast Club in the 80s. Being as Deadly Class is set in the 80s it perfectly embodies a few elements of TBC, when going against the grain and being the rebel was one of the coolest things you could ever do. Anarchy wasn’t exactly the going thing, but it was an ideal all the same that some people in the 80s seemed to embrace to simply rail against the popular culture and ideals that other people found to be normal and acceptable. If you recall, TBC was also a coming of age event in which those that belonged to various social classes were doing what they could to rebel whether they meant to or not. In Deadly Class, rebellion is what it’s all about, but unlike TBC it gets rather bloody at times and carries a much higher price.

There is something special about the tribute that’s being paid to the movie by this show however, as the social divisions we see, the nerds, jocks, preps, and on and on, are very prevalent. It doesn’t seem to matter if we tell ourselves that we’re all okay with not being okay or whatever we decide to use to justify the fact that social classes shouldn’t exist, they still tend to come about anyway. Ever notice that? In any movie, any TV show, you’ll always see a definite sense of social class emerging no matter the desire of the participants to eliminate the need for differences between them. Some might say it’s thanks to constant exposure to a system that has long since ruined us for being individuals that get to choose our own lives, but in truth it’s a very human trait that’s been around for a lot longer than we care to think.

But back to the show.

Deadly Class is taking a very distinct look at TBC by showing what happens to a good number of the primary characters after a brawl occurs at the prom. They find themselves in detention over the weekend, which is telling, but with limited food since the Headmaster wants to see that they’re properly punished for fighting on school grounds. Marcus could be said to be the Anthony Michael Hall of group, though he might also be a bit of a rebel since not only is he the brain, but he’s also the guy that can pick locks. Saya is without a doubt the emotional princess character, while Chico is the criminal element that just doesn’t care about anyone. Petra is the resident basket case ala Ally Sheedy, and to round out the group is Viktor, who is the moody athlete that stands in place of Andrew. But unlike TBC there is a random wildcard tossed in the mix, as Jaden is the unfortunate person that’s kind of like the resident victim.

Much like the movie they’re mirroring the characters in this show are attempting to live up to legacies that they don’t necessarily want. The need of each one of them to create their own path in life is a compulsion that has nothing to do with what their families want. While it might seem entirely stereotypical and even horribly cliche, they all just want to live a life spent doing things that people their age are known to do. The main difference of course between Deadly Class and The Breakfast Club is that the situations are quite a bit different. The tribute is great and no doubt was appreciated by those that still remember the movie fondly, but when it comes to who would survive the original club would be dead and down, or perhaps split since it seems like Bender would pull a Chico and be out for number one as everyone might expect. But all in all the whole feeling of this tribute is that it was well done and no doubt well-thought out.