"Eternals" Review (Spoilers)
Also reviews for the latest episodes of Star Trek: Prodigy, and The Book Of Boba Fett, the premieres of Superman & Lois, and Naomi, the latest episodes of DC's Legends Of Tomorrow, and Batwoman, the first three episodes of Peacemaker, and the latest episodes of Muppet Babies, and The Blacklist.
Eternals
That was the very first Marvel Studios movie I didn't enjoy. Thor: The Dark World had its problems, and so did Avengers: Age Of Ultron and Iron Man 2. But each of those movies had individual elements that worked. This was just too much.
The critics are calling it a warmed over Avengers? Even when the critics are right that the movie sucks they don't actually know what they're complaining about. The fact that it's unlike The Avengers isn't the problem. The problem is the premise is awful.
I'm sorry, Jack Kirby fans, that's not what you want to hear. But what works in a comic book miniseries (and I trust comic fans who swear by this book) is not necessarily the thing a movie franchise should be built upon. I seem to recall people being outraged at how much The Inhumans TV show sucked. That premise was somehow even worse, and also a no-brainer that a live-action adaptation would fail. The premise here is not as bad as The Inhumans, because it's not about a group of slavers trying to enforce a caste system, which is like the craziest kind of hero for any franchise to get us to root for. That being said, even if I agree with the goals of many of the heroes in wanting to save humanity and Earth, I can't relate to the characters and their problems (with the possible exception of Faustus). They're essentially Gods and above everybody, and mankind's problems are essentially a nuisance for them, and an ethical debate. And I'm sorry, I can't get into that. I just can't.
If that were the only problem I could get over it. Marvel movies have a way of making even the thinnest premise enjoyable (see Ant-Man). But the movie is WAAAYYYY overlong, and becomes a chore to watch at some point. And the characters' alliances and changes of heart seem random and not based on anything concrete. I badmouthed critics expecting another Avengers. Another reason that's stupid is because the big things happening in Avengers movies resonated because you knew and cared about the characters from previous movies. The events in this movie are so huge, it annoys me how little I know about or care about the cast. Characters should always come first, and even in a movie as overlong as this one, I didn't feel all of the drama and extended pathos felt remotely earned.
The ending sucked on every level. Letting the Celestial die was absolutely 100% the wrong ending. I will probably hear people tell me that's what happened in the comics. It didn't feel right here. Because it made Ikarus actually right. If the Celestials ARE as important as described, than Earth SHOULD have been destroyed. The fact that the heroes weren't able to work out a Plan B to have their cake and eat it too makes them unlike any other heroes I want to root for.
And I'll tell you the thing that pisses me off the most about that. It's done to give us a big cliffhanger ending. I don't mind Marvel tags that set-up later movies. They can be frustrating and annoying but they're fine from a narrative stand-point.
Starting the first movie in a franchise off on an unresolved cliffhanger is bogus however. The heroes didn't do the big Plan B moment solely to set up conflict for the sequel. I'm right here. I deserve and want a satisfying ending to something I spent over two and a half hours watching. That's actually not too much to ask. Marvel Studios is known for delivering crowdpleasers. Let me tell you, after that ending, I wasn't remotely pleased.
I guess it makes sense Thanos was an Eternal, but I'm not even going to guess what the rest of the tags mean. All I know is I felt unsatisfied and annoyed by the time that was over. A movie doesn't have to be like The Avengers to be satisfying to me. It just has to not suck. This did not meet that threshold. *1/2.
Star Trek: Prodigy "First Con-tact"
That did not hold together perfectly. The continuity was a little sloppy. For instance, if Dal was raised on a Ferengi ship, he'd already know what a transporter is.
Is there ever a moment these kids AREN'T disappointing Hologram Janeway? And is there ever a moment she's not RIGHT to be let down?
Were any of those Rules of Acquisition ones we hadn't heard before? If so, they should have consulted Ira Steven-Behr.
I don't have much else to offer except a wild theory. It's a wild theory because it's probably wrong. But Nandi's appearance is making me think. Since Rom because Grand Nagus at the end of Deep Space Nine, female Ferengi can now wear clothes and be Daimons of their own ships. But one being so far out in the Delta Quadrant, and apparently having been out here for years suggests my crazy theory could be true. Is it possible this show is set a few centuries after Star Trek: Voyager? Before Discovery and The Burn, but long after everyone we know from that era's time? Nandi's confidence in her shady business dealings suggest her position is one she's held for awhile (and if she's raised Dal it must be years) and suggests Ferengi society had greatly evolved past the point Rom created a more equitable environment for females. Are we perhaps in the far future?
The reason I doubt the theory is true is because there would be no real good resolution of the mystery of what happened to Captain Chakotay and the first Protostar crew. They could make time-travel part of the solution, but it strikes me that would be a needlessly complicated addition. But even if I'm wrong that this isn't the far future, I would not be shocked if it IS set like 30 or 40 years later. Star Trek: Picard after all is set 25 years later. We'll see. But the thing about this show being set in the Delta Quadrant with no other Federation contact means things are so up in the air.
The title card calls the episode "First Contact" while the Paramount Plus screen titles it "First Con-tact". I've taken the liberty of using the streaming screen title for my review as it seems likely the show made a mistake when they flashed "First Contact" on the theme song's screen. Not only is "First Contact" already a name for a previous Next Gen episode, it's the name of a previous movie too. And the "Con-tact" ties it into Nandi's grift which is the main reason I think it's the right title.
Interesting episode, but I felt some of the canon was shaky. ***1/2.
The Book Of Boba Fett "The Streets Of Mos Espa"
I'm starting to see why all of the other characters were afraid of Chewbacca in the Original Trilogy.
I keep thinking Boba is dumb for letting the people go that he does, but when he ask Fennec if she didn't think that was a little heavy-handed with flashing her gun to the Mayor's guy, I was like, "Oh. I get it. He's the carrot and she's the stick." He's not just a crime boss, he's a politician, and does that role for diplomacy's sake. What I like about Fennec (and this show) is that on a lesser show this would be a source of great conflict between her and Fett leading to a grand betrayal on her end. I like that so far, she plays her part well and is content in the role.
Those cyborg street kids turned Fett's gang are kind of lame. On the other hand, their designs and the designs of their colorful bikes are totally toyetic, which should be the more important thing to Disney, I would think. Mommy, Mommy, I want that!
And of course the tamer of the new Rancor is Danny Trejo. It would be weird if it wasn't. That being said, after learning more about the species, and seeing Boba bond with this one, I now deeply regret Luke killing the first one. Which was probably the selling point of adding this nuance. Pretty slick trick there, producers.
I don't feel like this show has a solid purpose yet. But the same was true for The Mandalorian, and that worked fine. I think serialized television has gotten viewers to look for purpose and patterns in all current stuff, and I'm thinking even if these Star Wars shows continue their stories from episode to episode, that's not necessarily what they are about. And I'm also thinking they don't even NEED to be about that when all is said and done. It's indeed a relatively recent development to have shows with plotted and true beginning and endings. We may be overthinking things here.
Solid week. Again. ****.
Superman & Lois "What Lies Beneath"
I was very concerned because I love this show so much, and I know how badly The Arrowverse does by their shows' second seasons. This show becoming terrible would break my heart in a way Supergirl and Flash becoming awful did not. I am personally invested in and love this show in a far bigger way than I ever did when Supergirl and The Flash were at their passable best. This show being ignored and slowly destroyed by the uncaring producers bit by bit would actually devastate me.
And while I didn't love Lois' behavior, I was encouraged by the fact that the actual drama of the show is still family dynamics rather than superheroics. That's how it should be. And hopefully Lois will have her head on better next week.
Don't like or trust Anderson. Strikes me as kind of a scumbag.
What happened with Jonathan made me wince. What a dumb kid. He was asking to get caught. How embarrassing. I laughed at Clark rushing home in the baseball cap looking like the dumbass of the year when asking Lois what was wrong with Jonathan. For some reason, that struck me as very funny.
I'll tell you what I like. While Clark's reactions to Lois being in a foul mood are perfectly reasonable, and even as polite and supportive as he can be, he's also not acting like a punching bag. He's frustrated and lets her know he's frustrated. That's why I like this version of Superman so much. He's an adult and a good role model in a way Supergirl never was. And it's very much needed in a show with a character with an S on their chest.
Speaking of which, Kal shoulda trademarked that. Bygones.
Sarah obviously met somebody at camp and is putting off breaking up with Jordan because she knows how much it's gonna suck. I very much hope the show doesn't think I'll be surprised by that idea next week. It's pretty obvious.
The show is still on probation because I know how bad The Arrowverse always is, and I love this show so much anyways. But for the first week back it said and did all the right things. ****.
Naomi "Don't Believe Everything You Think"
I really liked it.
There are multiple reasons this would not work for an Arrowverse crossover this year. Superman is either fictional in this Universe or an urban myth. I'm leaning towards the second thing. Either way, it's clearly not what the Arrowverse considers Earth-1.
The second reason a crossover would be unlikely, especially this season, is because Berlanti didn't produce it. That's both good and bad. Good for the quality of the show because all Berlanti shows besides Superman & Lois are in current various states of trouble and / or disaster. You add the non-Arrowverse stuff like Blindspot and Riverdale to that total, and the entire production company is a trainwreck. The bad part of not being Berlanti was not a factor even a week ago. It looks like the CW may be sold. Perhaps Berlanti's shows have the producer clout to be moved over to HBO Max if and when the network either goes under, or it cancels all scripted show in favor of either cheap reality programming or the sappy, conservative, family friendly fare the current top buyer is interested in. What I'm saying is that while not having Berlanti produce the thing would normally mean the show has a far higher potential for quality, not having him means the show is far likelier to get sacked for good when the CW either cancels it or the network goes under. But I hope HBO Max gives it a shot. The first episode hints at some promise.
I like Naomi. I like her her parents. I think the tattoo guy may be Hawkman, but considering the nature of the Universe, maybe not. And I'm pretty sure Zumbado is her birth father. Not just because of the superpowers. But because the very thing Naomi was asked to debate was Nature vs Nurture. The very stance she took towards choice being the determining factor in how a person behaves suggests her birth parents may have been less than reputable, and that her loving real parents may be lying to her about both them, and the nature of her adoption.
I thought it was cool. I think the show will wind up solid. I also don't picture it in for the long-haul because of the CW potentially folding. But I will enjoy it while it is here, and be rooting for it anyways. ****.
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow "Paranoid Android"
This episode was a bad episode to come back from break from. I was a little confused at first. I also didn't like the dark ending. I don't respond to that.
Hopefully things will be better when we are with the real Legends next week. **1/2.
Batwoman "Trust Destiny"
I'm not loving the Poison Mary plotline.
There was one moment I liked. I liked Montoya learning that Bruce Wayne was Batman because it was an afterthought. It's something they shouldn't have told her but she just happened to be there and tip-toeing around it might have been a pain in the neck. I think part of her shock was due to how underwhelming the method of reveal was. It's a crazy seeming idea that the Bat-team takes as a matter of course. Which must mean it's true. I like that the matter-of-fact way it's discussed is the thing to give it credibility.
Still, I'm not a fan of this season so far. **1/2.
Peacemaker "A Whole New Whirled"
It was all right, but I really disliked the ending. It was lurid.
I was sort of always gonna be a tough sell for this show so the fact that the rest of the premiere was okay surprised me a bit. I thought James Gunn's Suicide Squad was passable. But I certainly didn't need to see more of it. Especially not the character of Peacemaker after what he did to Flag.
But the show is taking the right tack by making him utterly pathetic. And I cannot properly overstate how much I hate his racist father which is probably why he's so messed up in the head. I loved the janitor calling him racist. But it's weird he thinks he's a superhero. Superheroes don't get sentenced to 30 years in prison for murder.
Speaking of the dad, Robert Patrick currently looks like utter crap. I honestly see why Chris Carter declined to bring him back for the recent X-Files relaunch. It works for his scumbag character here, but really he is not the same rough, good-looking dude he used to be.
Waller's daughter is definitely in the wrong line of work.
Peacemaker is impressed with Harcourt beating up those vulgar barflies. Not me. I think kickass women in the DC Universe are a dime a dozen. What impressed me is that she doesn't flinch when the guy gets in her face. That was the thing that told me she was both dangerous and hardcore.
I really like the main titles. Literally no other live-action DC show has has a theme song remotely like it.
I already hate Adrian Chase. It says something about Vigilante when HE is the loser in his and Peacemaker's friendship.
This show probably won't wind up a disaster, and I already like it more than Titans and most of The Arrowverse. Still, I'm not 100% sold yet. ***1/2.
Peacemaker "Best Friend, For Never"
I never heard of White Dragon but he instantly alarms me. The team probably should have picked a different person to frame.
I like that Economos is truly disappointed he's never been shot at.
Vigilante isn't just a scumbag, he's a crazy one.
I like the idea that Ben Affleck's Batman has dealt with Bat-Mite. Makes me hate the DC Extended Universe a little less.
Interesting how much Peacemaker regrets killing Rick Flag. Frankly, I found that unforgivable, and it was the reason I didn't care about seeing a series centered around the character. At least it's the thing that make him blubber like a baby. That's something.
All right. ***1/2.
Peacemaker "Better Goff Dead"
All in all, I think James Gunn's attention would be better spent on Guardians of the Galaxy.
The trailer at the end was great though.
And it's BerenSTAIN Bears. This episode pointed out the most obnoxious thing about people who call them the Berenstein Bears. They are SO damn sure of themselves. Which is why they suck.
This could go somewhere interesting. But it hasn't gone there yet. ***.
Muppet Babies "Happy Villain-tine's Day / My Best Toy's Wedding"
Happy Villain-tine's Day:
On the plus side, Ben Diskin delivered a very good voice performance and I thought the animation of his shadow in the song looked visually interesting.
But when Animal says "Friends always forgive friends," that's this show's problem in a nutshell. ***.
My Best Toy's Wedding:
I'm pretty sure the fact that my apartment was super cold isn't the only reason I was in such discomfort during this. It was so bad it felt physically painful at points. I was literally cringing.
First of all, I have never heard of a stupider or more inaccurate description of what a marriage is until Miss Nanny's asinine explanation at the beginning. Somehow, an Al Bundy rant would seem more credible in comparison. It is to laugh.
Secondly, Gonzo is always such an obnoxious little turd. I can't stand him.
The one funny part was Kermit's alarmed reaction to Miss Piggy definitively stating she and Kermit were getting married someday. This show totally push the kibosh on the Baby Kermit / Piggy 'ship, but that bit reminded us of what Universe we were supposed to be in.
But the rest of that was dreck. 0.
Episode Overall: *1/2
The Blacklist "Dr. Razmik Maier"
Random thoughts about a passable episode.
I knew the nice and helpful guy was the bad guy. He was too nice and helpful.
Aram is a good interrogator.
Episodes like this are why I hate Ressler.
I was as disappointed in Dembe as Red was. Didn't for a minute believe Red's anger at him would be justified, but it totally was.
Okay. ***.
Eternals
That was the very first Marvel Studios movie I didn't enjoy. Thor: The Dark World had its problems, and so did Avengers: Age Of Ultron and Iron Man 2. But each of those movies had individual elements that worked. This was just too much.
The critics are calling it a warmed over Avengers? Even when the critics are right that the movie sucks they don't actually know what they're complaining about. The fact that it's unlike The Avengers isn't the problem. The problem is the premise is awful.
I'm sorry, Jack Kirby fans, that's not what you want to hear. But what works in a comic book miniseries (and I trust comic fans who swear by this book) is not necessarily the thing a movie franchise should be built upon. I seem to recall people being outraged at how much The Inhumans TV show sucked. That premise was somehow even worse, and also a no-brainer that a live-action adaptation would fail. The premise here is not as bad as The Inhumans, because it's not about a group of slavers trying to enforce a caste system, which is like the craziest kind of hero for any franchise to get us to root for. That being said, even if I agree with the goals of many of the heroes in wanting to save humanity and Earth, I can't relate to the characters and their problems (with the possible exception of Faustus). They're essentially Gods and above everybody, and mankind's problems are essentially a nuisance for them, and an ethical debate. And I'm sorry, I can't get into that. I just can't.
If that were the only problem I could get over it. Marvel movies have a way of making even the thinnest premise enjoyable (see Ant-Man). But the movie is WAAAYYYY overlong, and becomes a chore to watch at some point. And the characters' alliances and changes of heart seem random and not based on anything concrete. I badmouthed critics expecting another Avengers. Another reason that's stupid is because the big things happening in Avengers movies resonated because you knew and cared about the characters from previous movies. The events in this movie are so huge, it annoys me how little I know about or care about the cast. Characters should always come first, and even in a movie as overlong as this one, I didn't feel all of the drama and extended pathos felt remotely earned.
The ending sucked on every level. Letting the Celestial die was absolutely 100% the wrong ending. I will probably hear people tell me that's what happened in the comics. It didn't feel right here. Because it made Ikarus actually right. If the Celestials ARE as important as described, than Earth SHOULD have been destroyed. The fact that the heroes weren't able to work out a Plan B to have their cake and eat it too makes them unlike any other heroes I want to root for.
And I'll tell you the thing that pisses me off the most about that. It's done to give us a big cliffhanger ending. I don't mind Marvel tags that set-up later movies. They can be frustrating and annoying but they're fine from a narrative stand-point.
Starting the first movie in a franchise off on an unresolved cliffhanger is bogus however. The heroes didn't do the big Plan B moment solely to set up conflict for the sequel. I'm right here. I deserve and want a satisfying ending to something I spent over two and a half hours watching. That's actually not too much to ask. Marvel Studios is known for delivering crowdpleasers. Let me tell you, after that ending, I wasn't remotely pleased.
I guess it makes sense Thanos was an Eternal, but I'm not even going to guess what the rest of the tags mean. All I know is I felt unsatisfied and annoyed by the time that was over. A movie doesn't have to be like The Avengers to be satisfying to me. It just has to not suck. This did not meet that threshold. *1/2.
Star Trek: Prodigy "First Con-tact"
That did not hold together perfectly. The continuity was a little sloppy. For instance, if Dal was raised on a Ferengi ship, he'd already know what a transporter is.
Is there ever a moment these kids AREN'T disappointing Hologram Janeway? And is there ever a moment she's not RIGHT to be let down?
Were any of those Rules of Acquisition ones we hadn't heard before? If so, they should have consulted Ira Steven-Behr.
I don't have much else to offer except a wild theory. It's a wild theory because it's probably wrong. But Nandi's appearance is making me think. Since Rom because Grand Nagus at the end of Deep Space Nine, female Ferengi can now wear clothes and be Daimons of their own ships. But one being so far out in the Delta Quadrant, and apparently having been out here for years suggests my crazy theory could be true. Is it possible this show is set a few centuries after Star Trek: Voyager? Before Discovery and The Burn, but long after everyone we know from that era's time? Nandi's confidence in her shady business dealings suggest her position is one she's held for awhile (and if she's raised Dal it must be years) and suggests Ferengi society had greatly evolved past the point Rom created a more equitable environment for females. Are we perhaps in the far future?
The reason I doubt the theory is true is because there would be no real good resolution of the mystery of what happened to Captain Chakotay and the first Protostar crew. They could make time-travel part of the solution, but it strikes me that would be a needlessly complicated addition. But even if I'm wrong that this isn't the far future, I would not be shocked if it IS set like 30 or 40 years later. Star Trek: Picard after all is set 25 years later. We'll see. But the thing about this show being set in the Delta Quadrant with no other Federation contact means things are so up in the air.
The title card calls the episode "First Contact" while the Paramount Plus screen titles it "First Con-tact". I've taken the liberty of using the streaming screen title for my review as it seems likely the show made a mistake when they flashed "First Contact" on the theme song's screen. Not only is "First Contact" already a name for a previous Next Gen episode, it's the name of a previous movie too. And the "Con-tact" ties it into Nandi's grift which is the main reason I think it's the right title.
Interesting episode, but I felt some of the canon was shaky. ***1/2.
The Book Of Boba Fett "The Streets Of Mos Espa"
I'm starting to see why all of the other characters were afraid of Chewbacca in the Original Trilogy.
I keep thinking Boba is dumb for letting the people go that he does, but when he ask Fennec if she didn't think that was a little heavy-handed with flashing her gun to the Mayor's guy, I was like, "Oh. I get it. He's the carrot and she's the stick." He's not just a crime boss, he's a politician, and does that role for diplomacy's sake. What I like about Fennec (and this show) is that on a lesser show this would be a source of great conflict between her and Fett leading to a grand betrayal on her end. I like that so far, she plays her part well and is content in the role.
Those cyborg street kids turned Fett's gang are kind of lame. On the other hand, their designs and the designs of their colorful bikes are totally toyetic, which should be the more important thing to Disney, I would think. Mommy, Mommy, I want that!
And of course the tamer of the new Rancor is Danny Trejo. It would be weird if it wasn't. That being said, after learning more about the species, and seeing Boba bond with this one, I now deeply regret Luke killing the first one. Which was probably the selling point of adding this nuance. Pretty slick trick there, producers.
I don't feel like this show has a solid purpose yet. But the same was true for The Mandalorian, and that worked fine. I think serialized television has gotten viewers to look for purpose and patterns in all current stuff, and I'm thinking even if these Star Wars shows continue their stories from episode to episode, that's not necessarily what they are about. And I'm also thinking they don't even NEED to be about that when all is said and done. It's indeed a relatively recent development to have shows with plotted and true beginning and endings. We may be overthinking things here.
Solid week. Again. ****.
Superman & Lois "What Lies Beneath"
I was very concerned because I love this show so much, and I know how badly The Arrowverse does by their shows' second seasons. This show becoming terrible would break my heart in a way Supergirl and Flash becoming awful did not. I am personally invested in and love this show in a far bigger way than I ever did when Supergirl and The Flash were at their passable best. This show being ignored and slowly destroyed by the uncaring producers bit by bit would actually devastate me.
And while I didn't love Lois' behavior, I was encouraged by the fact that the actual drama of the show is still family dynamics rather than superheroics. That's how it should be. And hopefully Lois will have her head on better next week.
Don't like or trust Anderson. Strikes me as kind of a scumbag.
What happened with Jonathan made me wince. What a dumb kid. He was asking to get caught. How embarrassing. I laughed at Clark rushing home in the baseball cap looking like the dumbass of the year when asking Lois what was wrong with Jonathan. For some reason, that struck me as very funny.
I'll tell you what I like. While Clark's reactions to Lois being in a foul mood are perfectly reasonable, and even as polite and supportive as he can be, he's also not acting like a punching bag. He's frustrated and lets her know he's frustrated. That's why I like this version of Superman so much. He's an adult and a good role model in a way Supergirl never was. And it's very much needed in a show with a character with an S on their chest.
Speaking of which, Kal shoulda trademarked that. Bygones.
Sarah obviously met somebody at camp and is putting off breaking up with Jordan because she knows how much it's gonna suck. I very much hope the show doesn't think I'll be surprised by that idea next week. It's pretty obvious.
The show is still on probation because I know how bad The Arrowverse always is, and I love this show so much anyways. But for the first week back it said and did all the right things. ****.
Naomi "Don't Believe Everything You Think"
I really liked it.
There are multiple reasons this would not work for an Arrowverse crossover this year. Superman is either fictional in this Universe or an urban myth. I'm leaning towards the second thing. Either way, it's clearly not what the Arrowverse considers Earth-1.
The second reason a crossover would be unlikely, especially this season, is because Berlanti didn't produce it. That's both good and bad. Good for the quality of the show because all Berlanti shows besides Superman & Lois are in current various states of trouble and / or disaster. You add the non-Arrowverse stuff like Blindspot and Riverdale to that total, and the entire production company is a trainwreck. The bad part of not being Berlanti was not a factor even a week ago. It looks like the CW may be sold. Perhaps Berlanti's shows have the producer clout to be moved over to HBO Max if and when the network either goes under, or it cancels all scripted show in favor of either cheap reality programming or the sappy, conservative, family friendly fare the current top buyer is interested in. What I'm saying is that while not having Berlanti produce the thing would normally mean the show has a far higher potential for quality, not having him means the show is far likelier to get sacked for good when the CW either cancels it or the network goes under. But I hope HBO Max gives it a shot. The first episode hints at some promise.
I like Naomi. I like her her parents. I think the tattoo guy may be Hawkman, but considering the nature of the Universe, maybe not. And I'm pretty sure Zumbado is her birth father. Not just because of the superpowers. But because the very thing Naomi was asked to debate was Nature vs Nurture. The very stance she took towards choice being the determining factor in how a person behaves suggests her birth parents may have been less than reputable, and that her loving real parents may be lying to her about both them, and the nature of her adoption.
I thought it was cool. I think the show will wind up solid. I also don't picture it in for the long-haul because of the CW potentially folding. But I will enjoy it while it is here, and be rooting for it anyways. ****.
DC's Legends Of Tomorrow "Paranoid Android"
This episode was a bad episode to come back from break from. I was a little confused at first. I also didn't like the dark ending. I don't respond to that.
Hopefully things will be better when we are with the real Legends next week. **1/2.
Batwoman "Trust Destiny"
I'm not loving the Poison Mary plotline.
There was one moment I liked. I liked Montoya learning that Bruce Wayne was Batman because it was an afterthought. It's something they shouldn't have told her but she just happened to be there and tip-toeing around it might have been a pain in the neck. I think part of her shock was due to how underwhelming the method of reveal was. It's a crazy seeming idea that the Bat-team takes as a matter of course. Which must mean it's true. I like that the matter-of-fact way it's discussed is the thing to give it credibility.
Still, I'm not a fan of this season so far. **1/2.
Peacemaker "A Whole New Whirled"
It was all right, but I really disliked the ending. It was lurid.
I was sort of always gonna be a tough sell for this show so the fact that the rest of the premiere was okay surprised me a bit. I thought James Gunn's Suicide Squad was passable. But I certainly didn't need to see more of it. Especially not the character of Peacemaker after what he did to Flag.
But the show is taking the right tack by making him utterly pathetic. And I cannot properly overstate how much I hate his racist father which is probably why he's so messed up in the head. I loved the janitor calling him racist. But it's weird he thinks he's a superhero. Superheroes don't get sentenced to 30 years in prison for murder.
Speaking of the dad, Robert Patrick currently looks like utter crap. I honestly see why Chris Carter declined to bring him back for the recent X-Files relaunch. It works for his scumbag character here, but really he is not the same rough, good-looking dude he used to be.
Waller's daughter is definitely in the wrong line of work.
Peacemaker is impressed with Harcourt beating up those vulgar barflies. Not me. I think kickass women in the DC Universe are a dime a dozen. What impressed me is that she doesn't flinch when the guy gets in her face. That was the thing that told me she was both dangerous and hardcore.
I really like the main titles. Literally no other live-action DC show has has a theme song remotely like it.
I already hate Adrian Chase. It says something about Vigilante when HE is the loser in his and Peacemaker's friendship.
This show probably won't wind up a disaster, and I already like it more than Titans and most of The Arrowverse. Still, I'm not 100% sold yet. ***1/2.
Peacemaker "Best Friend, For Never"
I never heard of White Dragon but he instantly alarms me. The team probably should have picked a different person to frame.
I like that Economos is truly disappointed he's never been shot at.
Vigilante isn't just a scumbag, he's a crazy one.
I like the idea that Ben Affleck's Batman has dealt with Bat-Mite. Makes me hate the DC Extended Universe a little less.
Interesting how much Peacemaker regrets killing Rick Flag. Frankly, I found that unforgivable, and it was the reason I didn't care about seeing a series centered around the character. At least it's the thing that make him blubber like a baby. That's something.
All right. ***1/2.
Peacemaker "Better Goff Dead"
All in all, I think James Gunn's attention would be better spent on Guardians of the Galaxy.
The trailer at the end was great though.
And it's BerenSTAIN Bears. This episode pointed out the most obnoxious thing about people who call them the Berenstein Bears. They are SO damn sure of themselves. Which is why they suck.
This could go somewhere interesting. But it hasn't gone there yet. ***.
Muppet Babies "Happy Villain-tine's Day / My Best Toy's Wedding"
Happy Villain-tine's Day:
On the plus side, Ben Diskin delivered a very good voice performance and I thought the animation of his shadow in the song looked visually interesting.
But when Animal says "Friends always forgive friends," that's this show's problem in a nutshell. ***.
My Best Toy's Wedding:
I'm pretty sure the fact that my apartment was super cold isn't the only reason I was in such discomfort during this. It was so bad it felt physically painful at points. I was literally cringing.
First of all, I have never heard of a stupider or more inaccurate description of what a marriage is until Miss Nanny's asinine explanation at the beginning. Somehow, an Al Bundy rant would seem more credible in comparison. It is to laugh.
Secondly, Gonzo is always such an obnoxious little turd. I can't stand him.
The one funny part was Kermit's alarmed reaction to Miss Piggy definitively stating she and Kermit were getting married someday. This show totally push the kibosh on the Baby Kermit / Piggy 'ship, but that bit reminded us of what Universe we were supposed to be in.
But the rest of that was dreck. 0.
Episode Overall: *1/2
The Blacklist "Dr. Razmik Maier"
Random thoughts about a passable episode.
I knew the nice and helpful guy was the bad guy. He was too nice and helpful.
Aram is a good interrogator.
Episodes like this are why I hate Ressler.
I was as disappointed in Dembe as Red was. Didn't for a minute believe Red's anger at him would be justified, but it totally was.
Okay. ***.