In the trailer for Apple Original Government Cheese, one character gets at the heart of the 10-episode series, saying: “Dreamers are dangerous.” Co-created and executive produced by Paul Hunter (Bulletproof Monk) and Aeysha Carr (Brooklyn Nine-Nine), the surreal dramedy is based on Hunter’s short film of the same name, inspired by his life growing up in California.
The term “government cheese” refers to the processed American cheese given to schools, food banks, and welfare and food stamp recipients. It’s an apt title, given that the story explores how sometimes our goals and dreams don’t align with our circumstances or what others see for us.
Set in 1969 San Fernando Valley, idealist Hampton Chambers (David Oyelowo, also an executive producer) is in pursuit of the American Dream and returns to his family after a 3-year stint at Chino State Prison. His wife, Astoria (Simone Missick), isn’t thrilled with his surprise arrival and won’t even hug him. His younger son Harrison (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) shares her resentment. The only family member genuinely happy to see Hampton is his older son, Einstein (Evan Ellison), who lives up to his name and seemingly knows more about everything than anyone else.
At first, we don’t exactly know why Hampton is so unwelcome in his own home, but the series hints at his past misdeeds for which his wife and younger son have yet to forgive him. Astoria is distant, unbelieving of his promises, and only gives him tight smiles. She also has her own career ambitions, and Hampton’s big ideas seem to get in the way. Harrison has that typical teen angst, but his strong interest in the Chumash culture also shows that he’s a bit of an outsider finding himself.
While serving time for check fraud, Hampton worked in the prison machine shop and came up with the idea for a self-sharpening drill. As soon as he’s back into the real world, he can’t contain his excitement about his invention and tells literally everyone about it. However, he faces more problems than just getting someone to believe in the Bit Magician. His old pal Bootsy (Bokeem Woodbine) is itching to get Hampton back into crime. But when he learns he’s in debt with the infamous Prevost brothers, a brood of French-Canadian criminals, his life is on the line, and it has him questioning how well he can stick to his “righteous path.”
The ensemble cast of quirky characters makes Government Cheese a fun watch full of unexpected scenarios. Bootsy is similar to Atlanta’s Darius in that he regularly says odd things like “time is an illusion.” (If there’s a season two, I vote for LaKeith Stanfield to join the cast!) Between Bootsy, his prison friend Rudy (Adam Beach), his son Einstein, and Einstein’s hippie girlfriend, Minnie (Fiona Rose Dyer), Hampton is constantly bombarded with random spiritual and philosophical sayings.
When he first meets a strange woman named Edith (Sunita Mani), she’s halfway stuck inside a vent. The setting, circumstances, and character — everything from her wardrobe to her physicality — are very reminiscent of Twin Peaks. The seven Prevost brothers, including Patrice (Julien Heron) and Jean-Guy (Louis Cancelmi), are intimidating yet odd characters straight out of a Wes Anderson or Coen Brothers film.
Even with all of these cinematic influences, Government Cheese is very much its own thing. One element I really appreciate is the lack of overt racism. Hampton Chambers goes through hardships, but he’s not the target of hate crimes or police brutality. While he acknowledges being the only Black family in their idyllic suburb, the series opts for universal themes rather than the oppressive history we’re used to seeing in period pieces with Black characters. We always need more Black joy on screen, and the more quirky characters of color, the better.
The series’ visual language has familiar mid-century aesthetics, but the attention to detail in Warren Alan Young’s (Fargo, Harriet) set design, particularly the Chambers’ classic ranch style home, gives it a quirky personality. Costume designer Nancy Steiner (Twin Peaks, A League of Their Own) dressed the cast in retro fits that expressed the unique style of each character, like Harrison’s Billy Jack cowboy hat, Astoria’s colorful belted dresses, Einstein’s tees and tube socks combos, and Hampton’s affinity for sharp suits.
With artists like the Chambers Brothers, Sly Stone, and Status Quo, the music is era-appropriate without just replaying only the classic ’60s songs we all know. Even without knowing that Pharrell Williams wrote and performed the opening credits song, I quickly recognized his unmistakable retro sound, which fits perfectly with the tone and style.
Government Cheese is an offbeat comedy with compelling characters, stunning 1960s-inspired visuals, and a relatable yet surreal story of resilience. The excellent ensemble cast brings their unconventional characters to life in a world where everyone’s trying to make something out of nothing. David Oyelowo’s optimistic Hampton Chambers is a dangerous dreamer easy to root for.
Government Cheese premieres its first two episodes March 9, 2025, at the SXSW Film Festival and debuts with four episodes April 16, 2025 on Apple TV+.
