This is really bad. The action with Bucky and Sam is pretty decent, but there isn't enough of it and everything else is mediocre. For a show about superheroes, it's slow and boring.
If you only have 6 episodes in a season, each one needs to be a hit. This one was a miss.
better than episode 1, no family drama this time to drag it down but the slow burn is still not doing it for me, especially with only 4 episodes left now. i did love the reference to The Power Broker from the comics as well as the introduction of Battlestar, another character from the comics
what i wasn't a fan of however was Marvel going down the woke route by trying to portray cops as racist with that scene where they ask Bucky if Sam is bothering him
Man I'm a bit disappointed, this episode felt stretched out, lots of padding and scenes which could easily have been trimmed or cut out entirely. This almost felt like an episode from a CW show..... It feels like a movie script that has been stretched into a six episode series.....
This episode is disappointing.
With the action, it’s tiresome and a considerable downgrade from the first episode’s kick-ass opening. It’s short, full of tedious banter and only shows people punching and throwing each other off trucks.
Similarly, the episode’s revelation has little weight; since the episode doesn’t explain why it matters, I don’t know why I should care. Also, they introduce a new character, but we don’t learn why she’s a threat to our heroes or why Sam and Bucky need to catch her group.
Worst of all, though, the character dynamics are awkward. Despite understanding its origin, I found the conflicts messy and confusing. I mean, why the therapy? What’s with this therapist?
On a positive note, I like the social commentary, even if the episode doesn’t explore it that much. In the first episode, the show comments on racial discrimination and they continue it here; I appreciate it.
Finally, the pacing is sluggish, and as a result, I struggled to get through the episode’s runtime. If there were more action, I’d forgive the weak writing, but alas, I’m left disappointed.
Likewise, The Star-Spangled Man feels undercooked, dissatisfying, and left me disappointed. Not only has the storytelling quality faltered, but the action has too, which is all I’m looking for in this TV show. Hopefully, this is the only bump on my FWS journey.
TECHNICAL SCORE: 6/10
ENJOYMENT SCORE: 5/10
It's alright. Definitely not WandaVision levels and nowhere near the same hype for the next episode. It's only the first episode, though
PSA: hold ON through the credits there are TWO post-credit scenes
Well that was underwhelming. I wasn't even following any theories or expecting any cameos and I still felt disappointed.
What an absolutely botched ending to an otherwise strong show. Spoilers: Monica and Darcy are completely tossed aside, Evan Peters is entirely wasted as Quicksilver in favor of a dick joke, the writers show zero creativity in leaving characters to die and Wanda has ultimately learned nothing about her magic, ending the show exactly where she stood 8 years ago before 'Age of Ultron'. What a complete mess devoid of consequences, leaving characters storylines wide open for projects years away instead of tying character arcs up. Wanda apologises to the town members after tortuing them for weeks and we're supposed to feel bad when her fake children are erased? No, sorry, you're responsible for that. Monica really told Wanda the town should be grateful.... after she released them from their torture slavery. Wanda belongs on the Raft, Avengers need bodycams after this abuse. This is exactly what the Sokovia Accords were for. This isn't a show, it's a promotional ad to go see the next Marvel thing. I thought they were doing something special when the show began, embracing the wierd and unexplained magic in the MCU, but by the end the Marvel formula is intact and the story falls into laziness.
Who the hell was the missing person Jimmy Woo had in witness protection to begin with?
HOLY FUCK ALSO THERE'S AN END CREDIT SCENE YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED IT go back and watch it ;)
Possibly a contrarian opinion, but I'm starting to get a little worn down by a show that so heavily panders to the super fans in hopes their gushing will trickle down to the masses. You're supposed to be telling me the story, not showing glimpses of things and then hoping I'll read wiki pages and fandom entries just to know what the hell is going on.
Case in point, we've seen Monica as an operative for SWORD, but she walks through the Hex and now has glowing eyes and can stand toe to toe with Wanda. So now you expect me to read wiki entries on whoever the fuck "Spectrum" is just to understand what the hell just happened? Or are we all supposed to have a resident Marvel super fan who can just rattle off who these people are you're introducing at the speed of light?
Agatha is also another prime example. After this weeks episode, it feels like the intended reaction from the audience is "OMG THEY ARE DOING AGATHA HARKNESS?! OMG OMG OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY'RE DOING AGATHA!!". I simply do not know who Agatha is or what her connection is, but all the comments online would have you believe this is the second coming of Christ.
A fly on the wall in one scene is apparantly a confirmation of either Mephisto or Nightmare. Who? What? Oh right, more wikis and fandom pages.
[7.4/10] My favorite part of this one is Vision realizing something is up, lying to Wanda to try to get to the bottom of it, and trying to break free to get help, even at the cost of his own life. We’ve mostly been focused on Wanda’s trauma to this point, and for good reason. But there’s something equally disturbing about Vision realizing he is a prisoner here, that people are suffering because of the woman he loves, and that something is very very wrong. It’s a kind of psychological horror that’s gripping in an underplayed sort of way.
I like the subtle coldness in his interactions with Wanda, despite the theoretically warming confines of the sitcom form. There’s a painfully believable awkwardness between the two of them in the moments where the facade slips, and it’s good work from the performers and the show. Likewise, I love Agnes’s monologue when Vision jolts here out of Wanda’s control for a minute. Her half-deranged, half-resigned ramblings are striking and just as eerie.
The piece de resistance though is Vision trying to break out of the hex. Watching him slowly disintegrate as he breaks the bonds makes for a tragic and horrific image, particularly when his near-dying words to those who come to check on him are “you must save the people.” There’s something so noble about Vision, from the beginning really, and it makes what’s happening to him all the more sad and terrifying.
That said, I wasn’t as crazy about the stuff happening outside of the Hex this week. It feels too mechanical and generic Shield. As much as I enjoy the trio of Monica/Jimmy/Darcy, Director Hayward has turned into such a generic government suit antagonist that the conflict feels played out. Nevermind the fact that the three of them can apparently take out big dudes with body armor and automatic weapons. Most of their business either strains credulity or feels like a warmed over “good organization gone bad” thing we’ve seen time after time in the MCU.
That said, I’m intrigued at the prospect of Monica and Jimmy choosing to go back into the Hex on their terms, while Darcy seems to get sucked in by Wanda’s expansion. Seeing these performers “in the show” is an exciting prospect, even if the way we get there is a little contrived.
“The show” part of the episode is good too! Malcolm in the Middle is an interesting touchstone to go with, and I suppose it’s the most noteworthy leap in family sitcoms in the 2000s. As usual, WandaVision does the pastiche well, with the jump to single cam clicking nicely and the scrappier, less middle class affluent suburbia vibe of latter day family sitcoms kicking in.
But the most intriguing dynamic to me is not only Quicksilver’s arrival as the manchild brother who sleeps on his sister’s couch, but the way that he casually breaks the fourth wall with Wanda. He talks about the mechanics of the sitcom -- how he’s needed to add some tension and the like -- while also hinting at the way the details don’t add up, the way he’s bending things to make them like she wanted, the way he knows Vision’s already been dead. It creates an interesting role for him in WandaVision, as someone whose cracking Wanda’s fantasy defenses just a little bit, at the same time he’s letting the audience in on the truth at the same time.
I especially like the choice to have it be a product of their being siblings, telling his sister that she can talk to him, in a way she can’t talk to anyone else. It gives her the emotional space to reveal that she’s not fully in control here. She doesn’t remember how it all started, and while the things she wants are coming into play, and she can clearly extend the bounds of the Hex, there’s more going on there than even she knows.
We also get to learn what she’s grappling with here -- survivor’s guilt, something exemplified by the claymation, gogurt-inspired commercial. She confides in Pietro that she felt all alone, having lost her parents, her brother, and eventually the man she loved even after all the dust cleared. Pietro stirs all of this up in her, bringing it to the surface, and Elizabeth Olsen does a particularly good job as a performer conveying all that internal strife while trying to put on a smiling face. The layers in her acting here are really, really good.
There’s also tons of plot-relevant stuff going on here. For one, the twins have powers that mirror their mom and uncle, with one gaining superspeed and the other seeming to have Wanda’s psychic and telekinetic abilities. There’s reason to think the development of these kids, who take more focus here, is a big part of the motivation behind whatever’s causing all of this.
We get more hints in that direction as well. I’ll admit to thinking that Agnes might have been the culprit, but Vision’s conversation with her definitely suggests that she’s not the mastermind, at the very least. Herb (who was surreptitiously chatting with Agnes in a previous episode) seems a little more self-aware than we knew, asking if Wanda wants to change things up. Plus, Darcy’s hacking intimates that Hayward may know more, or have bigger plans for what’s going on here than anyone knew. We’re getting just enough hints toward the mystery to bring things tantalizing closer to being in focus without disrupting the cool and slightly unnerving sense of ambiguity as to who’s really in charge here.
That just leaves the texture, which is also really good in this one. I like using Halloween as an excuse to get the cast into their comic book costumes. Also, this episode does a good job of showing us people on the edge of the Hex being a little less resource-intensive for the simulation, just doing basic tasks and not being as fully hoodwinked by Wanda’s hoodoo as folks closer to her orbit. It too is creepy, in a good way. And once more, the show wrings real unnerving terror from the brief moments where real life and real emotion cut through the sitcom artifice.
Overall, this episode didn’t grab me as much as some of the others have, but there’s still lots of good work within it, matches with some strong character work with Wanda and Vision in particular, with Pietro being a catalyst for it, not just a gimmick or bit of stunt casting.
For the love if shit, people. Without the first 3 episodes we wouldn't have this episode. Without the first 3 episodes this one wouldn't be as impactful. It's storytelling and all part of a larger whole. Stop saying, "finally we're getting somewhere," or "this is what the show should have been from the start." Its a journey. Just sit back and enjoy the ride. Holy shit.
The only thing I didn't like is the fact that Whistledown's identity was revealed ahead of time
SPOILERS ahead for non-book readers:
- Violet’s talk with Anthony about how “time is of the essence” hits differently when you already know his story
- Benedict asking Eloise whether she is Lady Whistedown… Does that mean we will have our reveal earlier than we did in the books?
Fair start, feels a bit rushed though and I don’t feel the chemistry between Daphne and Simon. Hopefully now that the characters and baseline plot are introduced, the pacing would be better in upcoming episodes.
I love the opening credits, they are beautifully done. Eloise is my favorite character in the first episode, and the actor playing Benedict has a very beautiful smile.
SPOILERS ahead for non-book readers:
- I am not a big fan of Daphne’s character in the first book so I welcome any changes done in the show
- It seems we are starting with Anthony as a very unlikeable character (of course, everything will change once we get his story)
- Simon, Daphne, and Nigel’s scene was also modified but I am glad they kept the punch although the extended scene in the book is much more enjoyable especially the back and forth conversation between Daphne and Simon
The fact that I, someone who has played chess once in my life, can get so completely sucked in to two people playing chess in this show is amazing.
I was scared that she was getting distracted while playing against the hot man cause I was getting distracted, but not even boys can mess with her mind.
I wonder if she ever sent Mr. Shaibel the 10 dollars back.
Also Anya is so captivating, entertaining, charismatic and more! I’m so mesmerized with her.
Well, now I see why this show is being talked about. Amazing start.
Very underwhelming.
So far, this show feels like a cross between Devil Wears Prada and Younger, except a lot worse.
The tone is weird. Trying to be funny but landing on awkward instead. The writing is quite full of cliches and prejudices. And the dialogue was profoundly cringy throughout (very fanfiction-y). Also, Lily's acting was quite bad at times, too over exaggerated, to the point it felt cartoonish.
I'm très disappointed.
I am nowhere near this show's target audience, but it sure is cute and is bringing back fond memories of the books. The young actresses are well cast and not cutesy, the adult actors are enjoyable and pair very well with the kids, and the changes made to the source material help make the stories more relevant to today's audience. It's a minor detail, but I really loved how the show perfectly recreated the cover of the second super special at the end of this episode, displaying the great care and attention to detail that goes into this production.
Confusing twist after confusing twist as well as constant repetition with dialogue doesn't make good writing, it's lazy and uninspired. Enjoyed the first season but this was absolutely a total waste of time, endured for no other reason than the side stories, since the major plot line was a self-righteous, convoluted mess all throughout. Won't be fooled into enduring a third season that's for damn sure.
Well, the only thing I have to say is this: I didn't understand anything. When I starting to realize what was going on, well, more twists. And that scene after the credits? I literally saw smoke coming out of my ears.
The most annoying thing about this show is that they refuse to provide visual queues if the scene is past, present, or future. So freaking stupid of the creators to ignore the rule of story telling.
This is incomprehensible and unwatchable. A terrible finale of a good season. They could have gone with twice as less twists and the story of this episode could be just as good, but easier to understand.
And that's coming from a guy who was a crazy fan of the mind-bending first season.
"I would rather live with your judgment than die with your sympathy"
You're a host, you're a host, you're a host, we're in this timeline, now we're in this timeline, go fuck yourself - westworld 2018
I got the feeling the writers hated people guessing their twists in season one, so they came up with as many bullshit twists as they could for this season, delivered in the most confusing ways possible.
After last week's misguided distraction, the show returns to form with a vengeance in this one. We come to understand William a little bit better, and it's not a good thing. And Teddy. Poor, poor Teddy.
William literally murdered his own daughter. Wow. I didn’t expect that at all but William might need to re-evaluate his...entire life.
What a wholesome Father’s Day experience!
