And I thought this show couldn't get any worse before this episode. This one is the straw...
You know all those great shows where you don't know a characters' true intentions because the writers have woven a complex web of motivations and character traits. Well this show has that, but without any discernible reason due to character or motivation.
You know all those great shows where favorite characters are put in precarious situations and the intensity comes from wondering how they'll escape, well this show has that except it happens off screen and in this case totally stupid stuff happens off-screen (again), because it is patently unjustifiable in the context of the story, an experienced ZA survivor gets bitten in the stomach of all places, and is now doomed.
You know all those great shows where you're rooting for the villain to get his comeuppance but he always just escapes because of ingenuity, smarts or just that bit of luck, well this show has that except the villain escapes because the heroes are dumbasses. Freakin' Negan escapes death again, when all Rick has to do is hit him hard with the bat, instead of that love-tap, or just jump up and shoot him through the window instead of running away.
You know all those great shows where the action is intense and yet still easy to follow because of amazing direction, well this show has that, except the exact opposite (hard to follow and no intensity because of convoluted story-telling).
You know all those great shows...yeah, I'm just going to watch those...instead.
I'm done with you TWD.
Ahhhhhh i’m so happy they are not shying away from the tough conversations on what it means to be Captain America in this decade. I love symbolism in storytelling and there’s no stronger symbol than that shield, and the way they have used it as a vehicle and representative of the different American identities (good and (really) bad) has been incredible.
Steve Rogers, John Walker, Sam Wilson and Isaiah Bradley all represent sides of the US that co-exist, and John Walker being the effective Captain America for most of this show isn’t accidental - he’s the side of America that’s most present and salient right now (in the world off the screen), but ending the show with Sam Wilson carrying that shield - and going through all the issues that that might bring up - is as powerful a message as any - one of hope and of what the US should aspire to be. Steve Rogers is no longer enough, Steve Rogers is the American Dream - Isaiah Bradley the American Reality - and Sam Wilson is both. This show, and all of Captain America’s storyline, is about so much more than just men in spandex and they’ve done a fantastic job taking it even further here. Glad Marvel is still delivering after so many years, makes me proud to be a fan!
Preliminary review, my final review for Season 1 is in another comment (I didn't want to just edit over this, especially with the likes on it). Very light spoilers for the first few episodes ahead.
I wanted to throw my hat in the ring and give a genuine review of the series as far as I've watched so far (I'll review it properly when I'm done with the season).
So, let's start with the Baphomet in the room (haha), and note that there is some very overt feminism in this series. As I hear, it tapers off as the series goes on, and I look forward to that, because while it is absolutely not pervasive to every corner of the series, it's a cringey part of the early episodes. I wholly support progressive movements, I am happy to see a non-binary character on the show, and Sabrina's attempts to defend said character. I wholly support Sabrina being a sassy, empowered female character who 'sticks it to the man'.
That said, constantly pointing to a plot element and going: 'This is women standing up to the patriarchy!' is unnecessary. As I said before, it's cringey. Let the work speak for itself.
That said, the series, while not a masterpiece, is interesting so far. I appreciate its willingness to broach Satanism (with all its LaVeyan trappings) and all the horror, gore, and sexuality that comes with it. When it just moves forward with the plot, and doesn't spend its time pointing out its progressiveness, it's a solid supernatural drama.
I do find Roz to be tedious. I think Harvey and Sabrina's relationship is unearned (they are way too lovey for 16 year olds with so many secrets between them, and Sabrina, so far, has been rather self-centered, while Harvey plays the devoted and doting boyfriend; feels very much like the criticisms feminists often have about the roles women play in their relationships with men in other stories). I hope that this gets approached with some maturity, instead of devolving into a mess of drama, but sadly, I feel it could easily go either way.
Ambrose is a great addition to the cast, fulfilling the morally ambiguous role that Salem played in the original (but also being properly morally ambiguous, in keeping with the dramatic tone, rather than comically so).
I'll make a proper review when I've finished with the season, but I just felt like this comment section could use a genuine review rather than the 'feminism is ruining everything!' reviews that it has mostly seen so far.
What a weird episode.
What a weird plan that apparently noone saw coming? How weird noone decided to just shoot Negan in the nogging? What a weird bunch of speeches and how weird people appeared to be riled up by something so lackluster? How weird that Negan thought bringing out that one guy from that one place would work? How weird some people all of a sudden don't seem to be so appetizing to a horde of zombies. How weird there was apparently only one side to this war? How weird to shoot at windows, to blow up just a courtyard? How weird all those cars could drive out of that area? Weird flashforwards or dreamsequences. Weird aging that only seems to affect Rick.
Weird that the writers of this dreck seem to keep getting away with all this contrived bullshit. There was almost no suspense, no ROAR moment... what a mess. I don't get how Fear the Walking Dead can be so drastically different and more realistic than this. I'm sure there will be good episodes this season but I'm getting a bit tired of the stupidity of the characters and events and the way these episodes play out. I'm so annoyed with this episode and I haven't even listed all it's flaws (including the unlogical nonsense I usually tend to ignore... You are holding an automatic rifle and all you can say is "what?" when your archnemesis tells you you're gonna shit your pants?" COME ON!!! At least let the magical priest lose his weapon on the way?)
Also weird "everyone" seems to love it btw.
I'm a simple girl. If a show has anything to do with superheroes, if it's in any way connected to Marvel or DC, there's a good chance I'll watch it. And I'll probably love it, whether it's dark and gritty like Jessica Jones or charming and family-friendly like Supergirl. Legion is no exception to the rule.
I'm not a comic book reader. I didn't know the first thing about the character when I started the episode, and I had no idea what to expect. Having just finished it, I think I can safely say that this show is unlike anything I've watched before. In a good way. I enjoyed every second of the pilot. The cinematography is spectacular. The bright colors, the flashing lights, almost horror-like moments, blurring the lines between reality and David's delusions, scenes of people dancing - because why not?, seemingly random shots and flashbacks, and the general insanity all create a completely unique atmosphere. It's almost hypnotizing, making it impossible for you to look away, drawing you in. The plot isn't the most revolutionary, but the way the show is shot and edited still makes it feel fresh and original. I like the characters and I'm excited to see what will happen next.
Not a good episode.
Shootout seems to be the main focus in this episode, but it is done rather terribly. Especially in Aaron's/Eric's/Tobin's team, where the conflicting parties hold each other in a very close gunpoint but nobody gets shot until the last moment (except for the Saviors of course, baddies always gets shot). The team also seems to have some trick up in their sleeves, but I guess the screenwriter thought the audience is stupid enough so one of the antagonist has to say it out loud. Morgan's/Jesus's/Tara's team is also bad, though not as bad as Aaron's/Eric's/Tobin's. There are these two scenes where people just rush without much caution exactly to the point where their teammates just got shot - you know how it ended up for them.
Well, Walking Dead isn't known to have the greatest action scenes anyway (though I still remember the Woodbury one was pretty good), but even in the drama department the tense kinda falls flat. One of the team has this scenes where they pose this "have we become what we hate"/"gaze into abyss" question - an interesting theme that seems to have been brought up by Walking Dead occasionally - but the scenes are mixed together between the loud firefights and the weird scenes involving King Ezekiel being smug of himself. That editing... really ruins the mood. They're making it hard to care with the seriousness of the theme raised.
Last - Rick encounters a familiar face. I'm getting a sense that the screenwriter is trying to evoke some sort of nuanced, conflicting values by returning this character like they did terrifically in Season 3 with Morgan (Episode 12 "Clear", still one of the best TWD episode). Except... it leaves no impression at all. I don't even remember who this guy is - something that the screenwriter seems to be aware of, that they made Rick spills the line, "Your name is..." (seriously!) It just came out of nowhere, with no foreshadowing and no build up at all. Even more so considering the character didn't get enough screen time back in Season 1.
So, yeah. The opening and closing of the episode also feel like a failed arthouse attempt to make dramatic moments - if not merely serving as filler. Unfortunately this season is still going bad so far.
I'm gonna have to go against the grain here and say this was a poor episode for Game of Thrones standards and not even in my opinion on how the story line will play but the actual episode in it of it's self and in comparison to the rest of the series
The whole season like many have pointed out has been way to hectic without getting any real satisfaction or grasp of the scenes because they're so rushed to advance the plot, as Sansa said this episode Jon has be gone for weeks yet the pacing is so off that nothing can be placed or timed easily and there's just numerous major jumps that seem right to.
So many decisions that just seem absurd and are just for convenience so the guys make it out (the whole expedition/plan was a farce anyways regardless and made up on the spot without any consideration or thought into Cersei's response to it but even ignoring that), that 1st ambush on the tiny group and being able to take down a Walker with such ease so simply to leave one undead remaining (WHY DID ONE REMAIN?!?) for them to bring home was too outlandish and unbelievable. Then only for them to have Gendry be the only one to return(?) to send a raven in time and have Dany save the day all in ONE EPISODE as they sit in a LOTR circle of undead and obviously evacuate unscathed. With the exception of Night King hitting the flying moving dragon at a further distance than the obvious one sitting stationary with the gang!?! Damn, took me way out of the whole episode, no immersion and I thought it was mess compared to say the pit scenes with the dragons or even any other really. Granted this is unprecedentedly more epic and huge in stature but I don't think they did it justice whatsoever
I get the direction they've decided to take the show and I can't blame them, what with not having the books to lean on but I can't help but think how if they (final books) were out by now this whole expedition would've been a whole season with a lot more too it than feeling nothing as I watch a beautiful scene as a dragon comes crashing down black hawk style, and finally what an injustice Benjen going out was... Just sums my critique of convenience and lack of depth especially with the fact that he could have made it out together on that horse but he gets the standard cliched heroic deus ex machina death to "slow down" the dead which is a dumb excuse to sacrifice himself
Debbie was like a completely different character in this episode, wow. It was great to finally see Debbie and to not be annoyed because she did something stupid. I loved how she called out Lip and told him to get his shit together and at the same time she mentioned that she applied to Junior College and actually put some thought into it. It was really nice.
I enjoyed hearing Lip talking about his drinking. He started when he was in fourth grade and everyone around him thought it was pretty normal, so apparently he doesn't even remember anymore how to live his life without alcohol. And when that guy from the meeting asked him if he really wants to quit he actually hesitated. That's what I was talking about all the time - I don't think Lip has really reached the point where he wants to quit drinking.
Also, I just love Kev. He's one of my absolute favorite characters in this show. Nearly every scene with him makes me laugh and him working at the gay bar just seems so normal :D
And bonus points for that short scene with Ian and Mickey under the bridge. It was short, but really nice and cute :')
But the next scene with them was the exact opposite - It just hurt to watch. We all know how much they love each other, but it's a good decision that Ian doesn't want to get dragged into this mess. (Now I just hope he won't go back to Trevor. I'm sorry, but I still find him way too boring and arrogant.) It's just so sad because Mickey mentioned so many times that he missed Ian and Mickey is completely alone now. Yeah, it was a sad scene and I'm upset that this is apparently the end of these two :c
