While the history books often prioritize F. Scott Fitzgerald as the architect of the Jazz Age, Amazon’s Z: The Beginning of Everything shifts the lens to his "First American Flapper" and Muse, Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald. The first season offers a lush, evocative look at the origin story of a literary powerhouse couple, focusing on the spark that ignited their legendary—and ultimately destructive—romance. Zelda Beyond the Shadow
Based on Therese Anne Fowler’s novel Z , the series begins in Montgomery, Alabama. Christina Ricci delivers a sharp, spirited performance as Zelda, a Southern belle who finds her hometown stifling. The season captures her transition from a rebellious judge's daughter to the toast of New York City. By centering Zelda, the show highlights her creative contributions and the ways her own ambitions were often subsumed or "borrowed" by Scott (played by David Hoflin). The Aesthetic of Excess Z: The Beginning of Everything - Season 1
Season 1 of Z is more than just a costume drama; it’s a character study of a woman determined to be the protagonist of her own life in an era that preferred her as a supporting character. While it takes some historical liberties for dramatic effect, it successfully humanizes a woman who has long been reduced to a mere footnote or a tragic trope. Zelda Beyond the Shadow Based on Therese Anne
