While Goku and Vegeta are incredibly popular and iconic characters, there does seem to be a growing desire to see the two to step back and either retire or go out in a blaze of glory. I have to figure this desire comes from how much the two have overshadowed everybody else.
Now, this is an idea that the main story line has toyed with. The latter half of "Dragon Ball Z" put a lot of emphasis on Goku's desire to pass the torch as Earth's primary defender. This started during the Cell saga with Goku grooming his son, Gohan, to step in. It had promise at the time. By the arc's end, Gohan had actually hit a level that surpassed his dad and Goku showed some growth by choosing to stay dead due to his belief that he was drawing too much negative attention to Earth.
Sadly, this backfired, as Gohan didn't train after and actually got weaker in the next major arc. Nevertheless, even when Goku returned for a day to partake in a tournament, he made a point to try and stay in the back seat when Majin Buu got loose. As he says, Buu wasn't his enemy to defeat. He wanted the next generation to face it themselves. Vegeta had just nobly sacrificed himself to try and kill the monster, so it seemed like a prime opportunity for the young up and comers to shine. They did try. Gohan got a power up and Goten and Trunks learned the fusion technique, but it wasn't enough, and it fell to Goku and Vegeta to come back and save the day again. Since then, they've more or less, stepped back into the role with little complaint.
But what would the next team look like, and how capable would they be of keeping the planet safe from whatever threats lurk out there? Let's run through a possible roster and find out, shall we?
1. Gohan
He's a natural pick, being Goku's oldest son and original heir to the mantle. Thanks to a mystic power up from elder kai and some training from Piccolo, Gohan can hold his own against a Super Saiyan Blue Goku (though, who couldn't during that batch of episodes?)
The thing is that Gohan has a problem in that he doesn't particularly want to train. It was bad enough when he regressed in the Buu arc, but he makes the same mistake again and ends up getting blasted nearly to death by a newly resurrected Frieza in "Super". He could barely even go Super Saiyan for crying out loud.
If Gohan had wanted to retire from fighting and just be a dad, that would be his right, but when things happen he still comes out and puts himself on the front lines of Earth's defense. That just seems like a bad combination. He doesn't need to have Goku's and Vegeta's zeal and obsession, but he should at least try to maintain a status quo so that he can still contribute when things get dire.
Between hearing about what Goku Black was doing and participating in the tournament of power, it seems like Gohan has found a balance between the two roles, but we'll have to see if it sticks this time around.
2. Goten and Trunks
Both were able to achieve Super Saiyan at a very early age, showing a lot of promise for future challenges. The flash forward at the end of 'Z' suggests that they aren't too keen on training too much, but I'm not sure that ending even fits anymore anyway. Before the tournament of power begins, the two do seem to be fired up and want to train, so who knows what could happen? Of course, the two also have to be allowed to age if they are going to join the team proper.
If the two did find themselves in a tight spot, they could also use fusion to tip the scales in their favor. True, Gotenks hasn't scored a win yet, but with more training and maturity, the fusion could be a force to be reckoned with.
3. Pan
Gohan's daughter has been shown to have a lot of potential in "Super" even as a toddler. True, she wasn't portrayed well in GT, but that's it's own thing. This would give the character an opportunity to make up for that particular misstep.
4. Bra/Bulla
The daughter of Vegeta, she could possibly play a role as well. In GT, she was more of a valley girl. That persona could remain in tact, while still showing that she's a capable and determined fighter. It would be an interesting way to play a member of the new dragon team and make her stand out a bit more from her compatriots and predecessors.
Now, you might be thinking that these are all Saiyan related characters. That doesn't really fix the franchise's problem, now, does it? Don't worry, the cast is about to get more diverse.
5. Uub
Dragon Ball Z ended with Goku taking a new protege under his wing. Said protege was a young boy named Uub. As the name suggests, he is the good reincarnation of Kid Buu that Goku wished for before the spirit bomb vaporized the mass murdering monster.
Kid Buu was already formidable enough, but from what I read on TvTropes, the Moro arc in the "Dragon Ball Super" manga establishes Kid Buu had god-level power. If you think about it isn't that far-fetched, as he had killed several of them back in the day. In any event, this means that Uub could step up and possibly fill Goku's shoes even better than originally thought.
Like Pan, he was a missed opportunity in GT that can be redeemed. Of course, for this to happen, the story has to move past the end of "Z" and "Super" doesn't seem too keen on doing that. There was a mention of Uub in one episode, but it's hard to bring him into the story when it's already established that he hasn't shown up yet and has no idea who the main characters are.
6. Marron
The daughter of 18 and Krillin may seem like an odd pick at first. Unlike Saiyan genetics, she can't exactly inherit the strength that 18's tech affords her. That doesn't make any sense. The two can train her, sure, but that has limits. In a recent video, MasakoX put forth the idea that she could be a kind of technomancer, having a connection to technology.
It's an interesting idea and it would be unique, but I think the better way to go would be to take a cue from his "What if Bulma trained like Goku?" series and have Marron augment her training with a high tech suit of armor. Between 18 offering insight into how her own infinity engine works and having close contact to Bulma's wealth and resources, they could put together a formidable accessory for the fighter.
7. Piccolo Jr. Jr.
I have no idea what the Namekian life span is. It's quite possible that the Piccolo we know and love could keep fighting without too much fuss. He is a popular character that has managed to maintain a degree of relevance despite the power gap. Still, him having a child of his own seems like an interesting idea. The species reproduces asexually if I recall correctly, so it wouldn't be too hard to pull off. Where he helped mentor Gohan, Gohan could help mentor the newborn Namekian. It would make for an interesting role reversal and it would add a bit more flavor to the Z-team.
8. Tien's disciples.
"Super" did Tien dirty, but it did establish that he has taken on a mentor role and had started his own dojo. Granted, the pupils didn't get the best showing, but we have no idea how long they had been training. Given time, they could turn things around.
Even if they were only able to match Tien at best, they could compensate by using strength in numbers and strong team work. Look at what the Trio de Dangers did when they worked in tandem. The same idea could be put to use here and have the group's power become more than the sum of its parts.
So, what do you guys think? Is this team up to facing the still growing threats that are out there? Is it too big? Too Saiyan focused? Are there additions that I missed? Feel free to weigh in in the comments below.
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Friday, June 26, 2020
Sunday, June 21, 2020
'Legends of Tomorrow' Season 4, Episode 1: 'The Virgin Gary'
Where the last season ended with an ominous warning about more dark forces being let loose, this season opens with things going pretty well for our time traveling heroes. It's been five months, the last of the anachronisms has been returned, and Sara and Ava are, once again, in a happy relationship.
Admittedly, the team does express boredom over the lack of impending peril, but it is nice to see things calm and happy, if only for a short while.
Sure enough, the dark forces that Constantine had alluded to rear their malevolent heads, at Woodstock, no less.
Yeah, the setting gives the cast a chance to play dress up and rub shoulders with some prominent musical legends, but the backdrop actually works really well given the entity that they have to confront...a unicorn.
It isn't the most complex or menacing villain the team has faced, but the show puts it to good use, contrasting the usual bright, happy, colorful imagery associated with the beast and the more macabre aspects of its behavior, namely goring people and eating their hearts.
Given the environment, it should come as no surprise that a large portion of the team ends up high as a kite (courtesy of a mystical ability of the unicorn). Having the team trip balls is something that the show has done before, but it works well here. It fits the setting perfectly and the gags are good for a laugh. The conversation between Nate and Mick when they both think that they're talking to other people probably ranks as the best of the bunch, but the others are not without their own charm and entertainment factors.
The show does try to provide some character advancement with mixed results. The sub-plot with Nate and his dad didn't resonate as well as the writers might have hoped. It came and went too quickly. It does seem like Nate and Mick are bonding a bit, with the pair attempting to embark on a crime spree together. Nate steering them to his parents' house was a bit predictable, as he's not the type, but the fact that Mick invited him along speaks volumes.
Ray's pining over Nora is understandable, but there wasn't much in the way of progression. Zari does make a direct comparison of Darhk's daughter to their adversary, but beyond that, the main standout is Ray making out with a tree (it makes sense in context...sort of.)
As far as character moments go, the MVP's are Sara and Ava. Their relationship is still adorable and it's good to see them grow together. There is even talk of the two moving in together. While Constantine's arrival does somewhat hinder things, the two actually manage to work out their doubts and issues by having an honest discussion about what's going on and how they want things to play out. Not only is it a great scene, but it subverts the usual Arrowverse trope of creating forced, overdrawn, drama.
Constantine himself is still a welcome addition. I did enjoy the little nod to his own series when he talks about how the darkness is rising. Beyond that, he's still nailing the role. On the one hand, John is a loner by nature, but his appearances in prior episodes suggested he actually liked galavanting about with the team. He gets on well enough with them, though he does make a distinction between friends and roommates. Even Sara seems a bit perplexed as to why John is acting the way he is, probably going to act as fodder for the season as it progresses.
All in all, this episode didn't break any new ground, but it did its job of picking up where the last season left off and setting things up for what's to come. It gives viewers just what they would come to expect from the show at this point. It did get a little too meta at points (Ray's comments about ratings seemed a little forced to me) but it is very aware of what it is and just has fun with the concept.
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Admittedly, the team does express boredom over the lack of impending peril, but it is nice to see things calm and happy, if only for a short while.
Sure enough, the dark forces that Constantine had alluded to rear their malevolent heads, at Woodstock, no less.
Yeah, the setting gives the cast a chance to play dress up and rub shoulders with some prominent musical legends, but the backdrop actually works really well given the entity that they have to confront...a unicorn.
It isn't the most complex or menacing villain the team has faced, but the show puts it to good use, contrasting the usual bright, happy, colorful imagery associated with the beast and the more macabre aspects of its behavior, namely goring people and eating their hearts.
Given the environment, it should come as no surprise that a large portion of the team ends up high as a kite (courtesy of a mystical ability of the unicorn). Having the team trip balls is something that the show has done before, but it works well here. It fits the setting perfectly and the gags are good for a laugh. The conversation between Nate and Mick when they both think that they're talking to other people probably ranks as the best of the bunch, but the others are not without their own charm and entertainment factors.
The show does try to provide some character advancement with mixed results. The sub-plot with Nate and his dad didn't resonate as well as the writers might have hoped. It came and went too quickly. It does seem like Nate and Mick are bonding a bit, with the pair attempting to embark on a crime spree together. Nate steering them to his parents' house was a bit predictable, as he's not the type, but the fact that Mick invited him along speaks volumes.
Ray's pining over Nora is understandable, but there wasn't much in the way of progression. Zari does make a direct comparison of Darhk's daughter to their adversary, but beyond that, the main standout is Ray making out with a tree (it makes sense in context...sort of.)
As far as character moments go, the MVP's are Sara and Ava. Their relationship is still adorable and it's good to see them grow together. There is even talk of the two moving in together. While Constantine's arrival does somewhat hinder things, the two actually manage to work out their doubts and issues by having an honest discussion about what's going on and how they want things to play out. Not only is it a great scene, but it subverts the usual Arrowverse trope of creating forced, overdrawn, drama.
Constantine himself is still a welcome addition. I did enjoy the little nod to his own series when he talks about how the darkness is rising. Beyond that, he's still nailing the role. On the one hand, John is a loner by nature, but his appearances in prior episodes suggested he actually liked galavanting about with the team. He gets on well enough with them, though he does make a distinction between friends and roommates. Even Sara seems a bit perplexed as to why John is acting the way he is, probably going to act as fodder for the season as it progresses.
All in all, this episode didn't break any new ground, but it did its job of picking up where the last season left off and setting things up for what's to come. It gives viewers just what they would come to expect from the show at this point. It did get a little too meta at points (Ray's comments about ratings seemed a little forced to me) but it is very aware of what it is and just has fun with the concept.
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Friday, December 6, 2019
'Legends of Tomorrow' Season 3, Episode 18: 'The Good, The Bad, and The Cuddly'
The third season reaches its climactic conclusion, as our heroes face off against the dreaded demon Mallus. Does he live up to the hype that's been built up all season? Not really.
While the team doesn't win their initial skirmish (obviously), they don't exactly get clobbered either. It makes Sara's sudden lack of confidence in the team's abilities come off as a little bizarre.It does allow for an internal struggle to complement the external and it does give her a nice arc, but it still feels a little random.
On top of that, all Mallus does is fly around. You'd think there would be some reference to the collapsing timeline or something, but no. The episode decides to settle in the old west instead. The setup has its upsides, but it still feels lackluster given the circumstances.
The episode does bring a whole lot of supporting characters. Old adversaries and allies both return to up the scale of the impending conflict and it works well. It makes the episode feel like a culmination of all of the events that had preceded it. While Jax doesn't get a whole lot to do, it was still nice to see him back and he does get some good lines and moments in here and there.
Speaking of good moments, both Rip and Damien get to make the heroic sacrifice play. You'd think that it would feel like overkill or redundant, but both are distinct and land for different reasons. In both cases, they feel like the best conclusion for these characters' stories, though I'm sure the Arrowverse could find ways to bring them back if need be.
Now, there were two points that I had been aware of before watching this. The first is that Mallus loses to a giant Beebo. I was actually dreading the finale because I thought it was going to be dumb, but it kind of worked. Yeah, it's silly as hell, but it wasn't in that cringe-inducing way that I was expecting. It helps that the fight itself was actually pretty exciting, which is impressive given the circumstances.
The final climax managed to draw from "Ghostbusters", the fourth season of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", and even Captain Planet. Yeah, they say Voltron, but come on, Captain Planet is the much more appropriate comparison given the way they talk about bringing the elemental powers together to form a perfect champion.
The second thing was the retconning of the "Vixen" series. I thought that they were going to somehow phase Mari out to simplify things and keep the franchise to one Vixen, but that isn't what happens. It turns out that, due to Amaya and Nate's changing of the timeline, Kuasa grew up happy with her family. As such, she and Mari share the totem. Considering the team gives Kuasa back their totems at the end, I have a feeling Kuasa might go back to bearing the water totem so that Mari can bear the spirit totem, but we'll have to see how that plays out.
While her redemption here is more timey-wimey ball induced, it still feels like a fitting conclusion, given the fact that she was already on a positive change arc anyway.
Not surprisingly, the day is saved and it seems like the team got a legitimate win with a well deserved happy ending. They even take a trip to Aruba, much to Mick's chagrin as he wanted to be by himself. Sadly, the celebration is short lived as the inevitable sequel hook reveals itself. Constantine shows up to berate Sara for letting the demon out, as it has apparently allowed other creatures to come out as well.
I'm all for more Constantine and it's a logical plot hook given that he's going to be a regular now, but it seemed like a lazy way to end the episode. There was no umph like there was with "Guys, we broke time" or the JSA making contact with the team to warn them about what's to come. It felt a little perfunctory. If anything, I think letting the season end with the team on a high note could have been an interesting twist. Also, minor quibble, but putting Matt Ryan's name in the opening credits really took the steam out of that surprise appearance. The show producers have been smart about that sort of thing before, so I'm not sure why they didn't do the same here.
All in all, this episode was a mixed bag. Underwhelming at points, but never lacking in charm or fun. It could have been more, but it does deliver what you come to expect from an episode of the series.
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While the team doesn't win their initial skirmish (obviously), they don't exactly get clobbered either. It makes Sara's sudden lack of confidence in the team's abilities come off as a little bizarre.It does allow for an internal struggle to complement the external and it does give her a nice arc, but it still feels a little random.
On top of that, all Mallus does is fly around. You'd think there would be some reference to the collapsing timeline or something, but no. The episode decides to settle in the old west instead. The setup has its upsides, but it still feels lackluster given the circumstances.
The episode does bring a whole lot of supporting characters. Old adversaries and allies both return to up the scale of the impending conflict and it works well. It makes the episode feel like a culmination of all of the events that had preceded it. While Jax doesn't get a whole lot to do, it was still nice to see him back and he does get some good lines and moments in here and there.
Speaking of good moments, both Rip and Damien get to make the heroic sacrifice play. You'd think that it would feel like overkill or redundant, but both are distinct and land for different reasons. In both cases, they feel like the best conclusion for these characters' stories, though I'm sure the Arrowverse could find ways to bring them back if need be.
Now, there were two points that I had been aware of before watching this. The first is that Mallus loses to a giant Beebo. I was actually dreading the finale because I thought it was going to be dumb, but it kind of worked. Yeah, it's silly as hell, but it wasn't in that cringe-inducing way that I was expecting. It helps that the fight itself was actually pretty exciting, which is impressive given the circumstances.
The final climax managed to draw from "Ghostbusters", the fourth season of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", and even Captain Planet. Yeah, they say Voltron, but come on, Captain Planet is the much more appropriate comparison given the way they talk about bringing the elemental powers together to form a perfect champion.
The second thing was the retconning of the "Vixen" series. I thought that they were going to somehow phase Mari out to simplify things and keep the franchise to one Vixen, but that isn't what happens. It turns out that, due to Amaya and Nate's changing of the timeline, Kuasa grew up happy with her family. As such, she and Mari share the totem. Considering the team gives Kuasa back their totems at the end, I have a feeling Kuasa might go back to bearing the water totem so that Mari can bear the spirit totem, but we'll have to see how that plays out.
While her redemption here is more timey-wimey ball induced, it still feels like a fitting conclusion, given the fact that she was already on a positive change arc anyway.
Not surprisingly, the day is saved and it seems like the team got a legitimate win with a well deserved happy ending. They even take a trip to Aruba, much to Mick's chagrin as he wanted to be by himself. Sadly, the celebration is short lived as the inevitable sequel hook reveals itself. Constantine shows up to berate Sara for letting the demon out, as it has apparently allowed other creatures to come out as well.
I'm all for more Constantine and it's a logical plot hook given that he's going to be a regular now, but it seemed like a lazy way to end the episode. There was no umph like there was with "Guys, we broke time" or the JSA making contact with the team to warn them about what's to come. It felt a little perfunctory. If anything, I think letting the season end with the team on a high note could have been an interesting twist. Also, minor quibble, but putting Matt Ryan's name in the opening credits really took the steam out of that surprise appearance. The show producers have been smart about that sort of thing before, so I'm not sure why they didn't do the same here.
All in all, this episode was a mixed bag. Underwhelming at points, but never lacking in charm or fun. It could have been more, but it does deliver what you come to expect from an episode of the series.
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Wednesday, October 23, 2019
'Legends of Tomorrow' Season 3, Episode 17: 'Guest Starring John Noble'
While Amaya ventures off to protect her village, the rest of the team tries to come up with a means of preventing her from doing so. After all, a timeline alteration of that magnitude risks freeing Mallus. Of course, so too does the murder of Barack Obama by Grodd.
The latter plot point could have likely been an episode in and of itself, but it is relegated to something of an afterthought. Grodd is bested rather quickly by the team and Obama himself plays a small role in the grand scheme of things. I guess the writers didn't want to get too heavy with the political stuff, which makes some degree of sense.
The closest it gets is Sara saying that she misses him after the two have a solid heart to heart about Sara's issues. The episode earns it, though, I think.
Conversely, "Make America Grodd Again"? That doesn't even make sense. It doesn't rhyme with the usual mantra and it isn't like Grodd had the country under his thrall at any point. And since when does Grodd care about American politics? He's a big, angry, telepathic gorilla. Of all the Arrowverse antagonists, he's the last one who would logically make any sort of comment or reference on that sort of thing.
Anyway, once Obama is saved, the plot focuses to trying to save Nora. Damien offers his services, but Sara is skeptical to say the least (see the aforementioned issues). I noted before that he would likely join the heroes and it seems like that's where its going. Ray even vouches for Damien's sincerity when it comes to his love for his daughter.
It's kind of nice to see this more reflective Darhk. It seems like fatherhood has changed him for the better. He even apologizes to Sara about killing Laurel and says that he'd take it back if he could. I was skeptical about Darhk's return and critical of some of his appearances this season, but overall, it seems like it was the right move, especially since Mcdonough nails the material and makes it pack that much more of a punch..
Even when Darhk turns on the team, it isn't the typical "ha ha, fooled you! I'm still evil, suckers!" reveal that the Damien of old would have basked in. His end goal is still the same, save his daughter and stop the demon from getting loose. Its just that he changes his mind on how to go about doing that. It was an interesting twist on what could have been a predictable....twist.
Speaking of interesting twists, poor Ava gets put through the ringer. The reveal that she was a clone was earth-shattering enough, but her big talk with Rip only makes it worse. It turns out that she's not the first Ava, 11 have come before her.
While you can see some degree of remorse on Rip's face, his responses don't help. He really could have come up with something to soften the blow. Ava's constant assertions that she was "picked 12th" don't make sense. Maybe bring up the idea that this isn't like picking out a puppy or a kitten. Granted, the idea that he just bought a new Ava when the prior died has it's problems, but there are ways around that too. While each "Ava" may start off as a blank slate, they each go through different experiences that help form them as individuals. Does Rip bring this idea up? Nope, just silence. Well, he tells her that she's special, but having something to back that up would have been nice.
All in all, though, this was a solid episode. There was a lot of great character growth, the episode was well paced, and it ended on one heck of a wham note, as the demon is now free. Admittedly, the CGI is TV budget, but the look of fear on the heroes' faces as he flew off really helped sell the dread of the moment. It'll be interesting to see how they deal with this new development.
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The latter plot point could have likely been an episode in and of itself, but it is relegated to something of an afterthought. Grodd is bested rather quickly by the team and Obama himself plays a small role in the grand scheme of things. I guess the writers didn't want to get too heavy with the political stuff, which makes some degree of sense.
The closest it gets is Sara saying that she misses him after the two have a solid heart to heart about Sara's issues. The episode earns it, though, I think.
Conversely, "Make America Grodd Again"? That doesn't even make sense. It doesn't rhyme with the usual mantra and it isn't like Grodd had the country under his thrall at any point. And since when does Grodd care about American politics? He's a big, angry, telepathic gorilla. Of all the Arrowverse antagonists, he's the last one who would logically make any sort of comment or reference on that sort of thing.
Anyway, once Obama is saved, the plot focuses to trying to save Nora. Damien offers his services, but Sara is skeptical to say the least (see the aforementioned issues). I noted before that he would likely join the heroes and it seems like that's where its going. Ray even vouches for Damien's sincerity when it comes to his love for his daughter.
It's kind of nice to see this more reflective Darhk. It seems like fatherhood has changed him for the better. He even apologizes to Sara about killing Laurel and says that he'd take it back if he could. I was skeptical about Darhk's return and critical of some of his appearances this season, but overall, it seems like it was the right move, especially since Mcdonough nails the material and makes it pack that much more of a punch..
Even when Darhk turns on the team, it isn't the typical "ha ha, fooled you! I'm still evil, suckers!" reveal that the Damien of old would have basked in. His end goal is still the same, save his daughter and stop the demon from getting loose. Its just that he changes his mind on how to go about doing that. It was an interesting twist on what could have been a predictable....twist.
Speaking of interesting twists, poor Ava gets put through the ringer. The reveal that she was a clone was earth-shattering enough, but her big talk with Rip only makes it worse. It turns out that she's not the first Ava, 11 have come before her.
While you can see some degree of remorse on Rip's face, his responses don't help. He really could have come up with something to soften the blow. Ava's constant assertions that she was "picked 12th" don't make sense. Maybe bring up the idea that this isn't like picking out a puppy or a kitten. Granted, the idea that he just bought a new Ava when the prior died has it's problems, but there are ways around that too. While each "Ava" may start off as a blank slate, they each go through different experiences that help form them as individuals. Does Rip bring this idea up? Nope, just silence. Well, he tells her that she's special, but having something to back that up would have been nice.
All in all, though, this was a solid episode. There was a lot of great character growth, the episode was well paced, and it ended on one heck of a wham note, as the demon is now free. Admittedly, the CGI is TV budget, but the look of fear on the heroes' faces as he flew off really helped sell the dread of the moment. It'll be interesting to see how they deal with this new development.
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Sunday, October 6, 2019
'The Punisher' Episode 9: 'Front Toward Enemy'
Up until now, Lewis' subplot has been very compartmentalized from the show's main arc regarding Frank's quest to expose the military conspiracy surrounding Kandahar. This episode, at long last, brings the two together in a fast, but very effective collision.
The former vet's mental instability hits an all time high as he wages his own war against the system. He sets off a series of bombs at government buildings, as well as the Bulletin, the newspaper where Karen Page works.
Not only does this give us another always welcome appearance from Deborah Ann Woll, but it pisses Frank off and puts the two in direct conflict.
Not surprisingly, the episode draws parallels between Lewis and Frank. Both have similar backgrounds and both see themselves as taking matters into their own hands to right perceived wrongs. Karen and even Lewis himself acknowledge the similarity at different points throughout the episode.
Like Jessica Jones did in the second season with her own dark mirror antagonist, Frank doesn't take kindly to the comparison and is adamant that the two are nothing alike. Oddly enough, the best counter he can come up with is that he faces his enemies head on, where Lewis hides behind bombs. Looking at it from a warrior standpoint, you can see the point that Frank is trying to make, but from an everyday joe/jane standpoint, that's a little flimsy.
Having the episode make the issue of gun control a plot point was an odd choice. It's topical, sure, and you can see how it would fit given Frank's usual MO, but the fact that Lewis was a bomber kind of undercuts the relevance. The episode itself hangs a lampshade on this fact at one point.
To the episode's credit, it doesn't become too heavy handed and preachy in either side's favor. There are parts where Lewis does start to feel like he's being reduced to a straw political figure, but overall, I think both viewpoints were presented pretty fairly. The radio debate scene may have been a little on the nose, but it could have ended up much worse, remember that episode of "Arrow" that tried to do it? Yeah.
While there's no "ticking clock", this was one of the season's more exhilarating episodes. It never felt like it dragged and I think it pulls you closer to the edge of your seat much more than prior episodes have.
Even with that perk, the episode still did a great job depicting character. Frank shined, Karen got some great moments. Curtis is also able to do a lot with the fairly small amount of screen time that he has. His effort to help Lewis ends up being in vain, but it was still a solid effort. He also got a great fight scene and some character developing time with Frank.
Nadani spends most of the episode in a heroic BSOD following Sam's death. It's probably the closest thing the episode comes to padding, but it's a logical inclusion. It makes for a nice epilogue to Sam's story, you can't help but sympathize with her as she's grappling with grief and a dash of survivor's guilt, and we get to see Nadani snap out of it and decide to continue her quest to reveal the truth.
Speaking of reveal, that last sequence sure was a doozy. It's now known to the general public that Frank is alive and well. This does work in Nadani's favor to some extent, but it is still hardly a good thing.
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. Not only did it benefit from prior episodes' development, but it works pretty well as a "one and done". Admittedly, Lewis is still out there, though perhaps starting on a turn for the better; but it still stands on its own quite well. Hopefully, the final few episodes can keep the momentum going. It would be a shame to let this energy boost go to waste.
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The former vet's mental instability hits an all time high as he wages his own war against the system. He sets off a series of bombs at government buildings, as well as the Bulletin, the newspaper where Karen Page works.
Not only does this give us another always welcome appearance from Deborah Ann Woll, but it pisses Frank off and puts the two in direct conflict.
Not surprisingly, the episode draws parallels between Lewis and Frank. Both have similar backgrounds and both see themselves as taking matters into their own hands to right perceived wrongs. Karen and even Lewis himself acknowledge the similarity at different points throughout the episode.
Like Jessica Jones did in the second season with her own dark mirror antagonist, Frank doesn't take kindly to the comparison and is adamant that the two are nothing alike. Oddly enough, the best counter he can come up with is that he faces his enemies head on, where Lewis hides behind bombs. Looking at it from a warrior standpoint, you can see the point that Frank is trying to make, but from an everyday joe/jane standpoint, that's a little flimsy.
Having the episode make the issue of gun control a plot point was an odd choice. It's topical, sure, and you can see how it would fit given Frank's usual MO, but the fact that Lewis was a bomber kind of undercuts the relevance. The episode itself hangs a lampshade on this fact at one point.
To the episode's credit, it doesn't become too heavy handed and preachy in either side's favor. There are parts where Lewis does start to feel like he's being reduced to a straw political figure, but overall, I think both viewpoints were presented pretty fairly. The radio debate scene may have been a little on the nose, but it could have ended up much worse, remember that episode of "Arrow" that tried to do it? Yeah.
While there's no "ticking clock", this was one of the season's more exhilarating episodes. It never felt like it dragged and I think it pulls you closer to the edge of your seat much more than prior episodes have.
Even with that perk, the episode still did a great job depicting character. Frank shined, Karen got some great moments. Curtis is also able to do a lot with the fairly small amount of screen time that he has. His effort to help Lewis ends up being in vain, but it was still a solid effort. He also got a great fight scene and some character developing time with Frank.
Nadani spends most of the episode in a heroic BSOD following Sam's death. It's probably the closest thing the episode comes to padding, but it's a logical inclusion. It makes for a nice epilogue to Sam's story, you can't help but sympathize with her as she's grappling with grief and a dash of survivor's guilt, and we get to see Nadani snap out of it and decide to continue her quest to reveal the truth.
Speaking of reveal, that last sequence sure was a doozy. It's now known to the general public that Frank is alive and well. This does work in Nadani's favor to some extent, but it is still hardly a good thing.
I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. Not only did it benefit from prior episodes' development, but it works pretty well as a "one and done". Admittedly, Lewis is still out there, though perhaps starting on a turn for the better; but it still stands on its own quite well. Hopefully, the final few episodes can keep the momentum going. It would be a shame to let this energy boost go to waste.
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Friday, October 4, 2019
'Pet Sematary' (2019) Movie Review
While the original film adaptation of "Pet Sematary" wasn't without its merit and charm, there was certainly some room for improvement. As such, this is one of the more forgivable remakes in recent memory. So, the question becomes, how did this one do?
As was the case with its predecessor, this one is a mixed bag. There's certainly things to like. John Lithgow is great as Jud. He doesn't have that iconic drawl, but he turns in a strong performance that stands as one of the film's more memorable strengths. The nod to his role as Winston Churchill was also an amusing nod.
Similarly, Jete Laurence works really well as Ellie. Her increased screen time does telegraph the "big twist" that she's the one who ends up dying, but she really comes off as a nice, sweet kid. You grow to like her a lot and it makes her death scene one of the film's more powerful moments (and rightly so.)
Sadly, like Gage before her, her turn as villain ends up falling a bit flat. That first scene after she comes back is when she is at her creepiest. Her cold, lack of emotion stands in stark contrast to her previous persona and it is awesomely eerie. She also gets some great dialogue as Louis tries to put her to bed.
However, as she gets increasingly angry and violent, her performance falls more flat. I wouldn't say it's "bad" exactly, but it doesn't have any kick to it.
Similarly, the film's horror is heavily reliant on jump scares as well as various visions and hallucinations to try to drum up some tension and atmosphere. Some of them work but it was overdone in my opinion. You could argue that it was the Wendigo engaging in some psychological warfare (which the revenants here do, not to mention that it was quite the chessmaster in the original novel) but a lot of times it just seems forced in for the sake of some spookiness.
I thought that the thing with the kids wearing the masks was going to fall into that category, but it is put to better use in the climax. Similarly, the movie is quite successful at building that tension and dread at several other points throughout the movie, so it is hardly a total bust on that front.
Jason Clarke is more emotionally versatile than his predecessor, but unfortunately, we don't see as much of a benefit. As Lilja's Library noted in its own review of the film, we don't see a whole lot of that anguish that would come from the sudden loss of a child. It's only a matter of minutes in terms of screen time before Louis is digging up his daughter's corpse to bring her back. Yeah, you as the viewer can put two and two together, and we do see them sad, but it still feels a bit rushed.
I'm not sure how you dwell on that without it feeling like padding, but seeing him trying to come to terms with it and failing probably would have helped things a little.
On a completely random note, I read on TvTropes that, just like with "Cujo", the crew had a hard time trying to get the animals to act mean or vicious. They were just too friendly and wanted to nuzzle and cuddle the cast instead. It's both funny and adorable. I love it.
Overall, I'd say this is worth checking out. It has its problems, but the strong cast and capable production make up for it. It is also much closer to the book, bringing in a lot of the mythos that was absent from the first adaptation. There were changes too, no doubt, but I think fans of the book will appreciate the greater devotion to the source material.
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As was the case with its predecessor, this one is a mixed bag. There's certainly things to like. John Lithgow is great as Jud. He doesn't have that iconic drawl, but he turns in a strong performance that stands as one of the film's more memorable strengths. The nod to his role as Winston Churchill was also an amusing nod.
Similarly, Jete Laurence works really well as Ellie. Her increased screen time does telegraph the "big twist" that she's the one who ends up dying, but she really comes off as a nice, sweet kid. You grow to like her a lot and it makes her death scene one of the film's more powerful moments (and rightly so.)
Sadly, like Gage before her, her turn as villain ends up falling a bit flat. That first scene after she comes back is when she is at her creepiest. Her cold, lack of emotion stands in stark contrast to her previous persona and it is awesomely eerie. She also gets some great dialogue as Louis tries to put her to bed.
However, as she gets increasingly angry and violent, her performance falls more flat. I wouldn't say it's "bad" exactly, but it doesn't have any kick to it.
Similarly, the film's horror is heavily reliant on jump scares as well as various visions and hallucinations to try to drum up some tension and atmosphere. Some of them work but it was overdone in my opinion. You could argue that it was the Wendigo engaging in some psychological warfare (which the revenants here do, not to mention that it was quite the chessmaster in the original novel) but a lot of times it just seems forced in for the sake of some spookiness.
I thought that the thing with the kids wearing the masks was going to fall into that category, but it is put to better use in the climax. Similarly, the movie is quite successful at building that tension and dread at several other points throughout the movie, so it is hardly a total bust on that front.
Jason Clarke is more emotionally versatile than his predecessor, but unfortunately, we don't see as much of a benefit. As Lilja's Library noted in its own review of the film, we don't see a whole lot of that anguish that would come from the sudden loss of a child. It's only a matter of minutes in terms of screen time before Louis is digging up his daughter's corpse to bring her back. Yeah, you as the viewer can put two and two together, and we do see them sad, but it still feels a bit rushed.
I'm not sure how you dwell on that without it feeling like padding, but seeing him trying to come to terms with it and failing probably would have helped things a little.
On a completely random note, I read on TvTropes that, just like with "Cujo", the crew had a hard time trying to get the animals to act mean or vicious. They were just too friendly and wanted to nuzzle and cuddle the cast instead. It's both funny and adorable. I love it.
Overall, I'd say this is worth checking out. It has its problems, but the strong cast and capable production make up for it. It is also much closer to the book, bringing in a lot of the mythos that was absent from the first adaptation. There were changes too, no doubt, but I think fans of the book will appreciate the greater devotion to the source material.
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Wednesday, October 2, 2019
'Legends of Tomorrow' Season 3, Episode 16: 'I, Ava'
This episode had not one, not two, but three different subplots to juggle. By all accounts, it should have felt disjointed; or perhaps an element got the short end of the stick, but it actually manages to pull it off rather well. Also impressive is the fact that all of the plots have some sort of impact. There isn't much in the way of filler here, not that the episode or the season has much room for that at this point.
The "main" focus of the plot is on Sara, as she, Ray, and Gary try to track down Ava, who seems to have gone missing. The group learns that her family is actually a pair of actors and that one specific year is marked as off-limits to any sort of time traveler. As such, the group naturally goes right there.
In doing so, the group finds out the dark secret that Rip had alluded to earlier (something I got backwards in a previous article). When the group arrives, they find a city full of Avas. Now, the title suggests "robot" and the group jump to that conclusion too, but it turns out that the Avas are actually more akin to genetically engineered clones. The title still fits, given the subsequent identity crisis, but that was some good misdirection. It would have been a shame if the title gave away the big reveal.
Ava herself is just as shocked as the others when she learns the truth. It gives her some degree of sympathy and it gives her a new motivation as she is determined to learn the whys of her situation.
The clone fiasco also gives Sara and Gary some development. It's been hinted that Gary had a thing for his boss, but it's pushed to the limit here. It does make for some great comedic banter between the two, but it also gives Sara a chance to work through her own issues and doubts about how things have been going. It also looks like the two might start mending fences. It's early to say, but the dialogue between the two did suggest it as a possibility.
Plot B follows Nate, Amaya, and Wally; as they discover that Mari has been injured. With the spirit totem in the possession of the Darhks, time is starting to solidify, meaning that she can't inherit it later. She still acts as a vigilante, but with no powers, she's much more vulnerable.
In attempting to talk to her to persuade her from taking a break, they instead find Kuasa. While they jump to the conclusion that she means the injured hero harm, Kuasa makes it clear that they are still sisters and that she means to protect her. To that end, she is reconsidering her alliance and wants to reclaim the spirit totem. Better to be in the hands of her family than in those of an ancient demon.
It was some good character development for the antagonist. The episode plays with it and has her double cross the heroes, well Nate more specifically. She probably would have gone through with it, but a pretty brutal speech from Amaya sets her straight. The heel-face turn is short lived, however, as Mallus kills her in the episode's climax. It's played surprisingly tragically, given that she's largely been an enemy to date. Even Mick and Zari take a moment to reflect on the loss of a fellow totem bearer.
On a similar note, even Darhk himself is having second thoughts about this. Yes, he made a deal with a demon, but in seeing the effect Mallus is having on Nora, he's realizing that he's losing the person he did it all for in the first place.
Considering this came on the heels of Kuasa's double cross, I'm surprised that Nate bought into it so quickly, but it does make some sort of sense. While I doubt that Darhk will be turning hero anytime soon, it is possible that he lends his abilities towards helping stop Mallus in the finale. Having heroes and villains team up to take on a much bigger bad is a frequent thing in comics, so it wouldn't be entirely without precedent.
The third plot is probably the closest thing to filler, though it does have some significance in the overall plot. While Mick is having fun using his new powers to cook food and make fart jokes, he needs to be trained to be more effective with his newfound abilities. Being another totem bearer, Zari is the natural pick to do this.
The two butt heads initially, largely due to Mick's crudeness and ignorance. I kind of feel like they overdid it with him on that front, but it did still make for some funny moments and the two do bond and come to a better understanding of each other by episode's end.
This episode had a lot on its plate and it managed to find a strong balance. The plots all had momentum and all were given the time they needed. There was also a solid balance in terms of tone. There were plenty of gags and one liners, but there was also more serious material that maintained the necessary sense of tension and weight. This episode probably is one of the season's bigger ones in terms of both plot and character development. It'll be interesting to see where things go from here.
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The "main" focus of the plot is on Sara, as she, Ray, and Gary try to track down Ava, who seems to have gone missing. The group learns that her family is actually a pair of actors and that one specific year is marked as off-limits to any sort of time traveler. As such, the group naturally goes right there.
In doing so, the group finds out the dark secret that Rip had alluded to earlier (something I got backwards in a previous article). When the group arrives, they find a city full of Avas. Now, the title suggests "robot" and the group jump to that conclusion too, but it turns out that the Avas are actually more akin to genetically engineered clones. The title still fits, given the subsequent identity crisis, but that was some good misdirection. It would have been a shame if the title gave away the big reveal.
Ava herself is just as shocked as the others when she learns the truth. It gives her some degree of sympathy and it gives her a new motivation as she is determined to learn the whys of her situation.
The clone fiasco also gives Sara and Gary some development. It's been hinted that Gary had a thing for his boss, but it's pushed to the limit here. It does make for some great comedic banter between the two, but it also gives Sara a chance to work through her own issues and doubts about how things have been going. It also looks like the two might start mending fences. It's early to say, but the dialogue between the two did suggest it as a possibility.
Plot B follows Nate, Amaya, and Wally; as they discover that Mari has been injured. With the spirit totem in the possession of the Darhks, time is starting to solidify, meaning that she can't inherit it later. She still acts as a vigilante, but with no powers, she's much more vulnerable.
In attempting to talk to her to persuade her from taking a break, they instead find Kuasa. While they jump to the conclusion that she means the injured hero harm, Kuasa makes it clear that they are still sisters and that she means to protect her. To that end, she is reconsidering her alliance and wants to reclaim the spirit totem. Better to be in the hands of her family than in those of an ancient demon.
It was some good character development for the antagonist. The episode plays with it and has her double cross the heroes, well Nate more specifically. She probably would have gone through with it, but a pretty brutal speech from Amaya sets her straight. The heel-face turn is short lived, however, as Mallus kills her in the episode's climax. It's played surprisingly tragically, given that she's largely been an enemy to date. Even Mick and Zari take a moment to reflect on the loss of a fellow totem bearer.
On a similar note, even Darhk himself is having second thoughts about this. Yes, he made a deal with a demon, but in seeing the effect Mallus is having on Nora, he's realizing that he's losing the person he did it all for in the first place.
Considering this came on the heels of Kuasa's double cross, I'm surprised that Nate bought into it so quickly, but it does make some sort of sense. While I doubt that Darhk will be turning hero anytime soon, it is possible that he lends his abilities towards helping stop Mallus in the finale. Having heroes and villains team up to take on a much bigger bad is a frequent thing in comics, so it wouldn't be entirely without precedent.
The third plot is probably the closest thing to filler, though it does have some significance in the overall plot. While Mick is having fun using his new powers to cook food and make fart jokes, he needs to be trained to be more effective with his newfound abilities. Being another totem bearer, Zari is the natural pick to do this.
The two butt heads initially, largely due to Mick's crudeness and ignorance. I kind of feel like they overdid it with him on that front, but it did still make for some funny moments and the two do bond and come to a better understanding of each other by episode's end.
This episode had a lot on its plate and it managed to find a strong balance. The plots all had momentum and all were given the time they needed. There was also a solid balance in terms of tone. There were plenty of gags and one liners, but there was also more serious material that maintained the necessary sense of tension and weight. This episode probably is one of the season's bigger ones in terms of both plot and character development. It'll be interesting to see where things go from here.
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