Glenn Weldon

Lord of the Flies.

You probably read it in high school.

A bunch of British schoolboys get stranded on a deserted island and descend into violent tribalism because humanity.

Am I right?

There's a new adaptation of William Golding's classic 1954 novel on Netflix, and it's made by one of the creators of the Emmy-winning Adolescence, another grim meditation on youth and violence and masculinity.

guy's got a niche.

You may know the story, but does this new unflinching take on the material resonate more deeply today, given, you know, the world?

I'm Glenn Weldon, and today we're talking about Lord of the Flies on Pop Culture Happy Hour from NPR.

Joining me today is NPR Culture Desk correspondent Netta Ulaby.

Hey, Netta.

Hey, Glenn.

Welcome back.

Also with us is Walter Chow.

He's a writer, critic, and film instructor at the University of Colorado.

Hey, Walter, welcome back.

Hi, everybody.

Great to have you.

So, Lord of the Flies, sometime in the early 1950s, a bunch of British schoolboys crash on a deserted island.

With the adults dead, the boys pick a chief, Ralph, a charismatic and empathetic leader.

His right-hand guy is Piggy, who is smart and practical.