The Cape

[michaelpaciocco]

Just watched this. This puppy wears its pulp influences on its sleeve like nothing that's been on TV in years, and I can't help but notice a very Eisneresque vibe (Cop coming back from "the dead) - of course, way better than Miller's "Spirit" movie but that goes without saying.

Circus Freaks! Summer Glau! Secret Societies! Keith David! Mysterious Pasts (including that of the protagonist)! Verne Troyer! Vinnie Jones!

And...yeah, let's just leave it that that.

[Anders]

Sounds like something I need to see. Thanks for bringing it to my attention!

[jensaltmann]

My torrent of the pilot is still loading (it seems there is not much demand), but Anders: here's the trailer:

[Anders]

I would have had no problem downloading the first double-episode if I chose to do something that illegal. Which I would of course NEVER do. Ever.

But if I had done something like that I would have found the first twelve minutes (which is what I would have had time to watch so far) quite awesome.

Too bad I'm too law-abiding to do it.

[Anders]

The whole first episode was great! The only thing I didn't like was that the cape looks a bit too CGI-y, but everything else was fantastic.

[michaelpaciocco]

Four episodes in, and some thoughts:

I have predicted every, single one of the plot twists - from the good (Episode 4) to the absolutely groan inducing (the all-but hammered-in revelation about Orwell). That's either a good thing (in that they are using the strengths of the comic genre) or very bad (Predictability).

On the acting scale - thank the Magic Invisible Spaceman for Keith David, who brings moral ambiguity and a level of cunning, charisma, and mystique to Max. Other than that, the acting skills range from "passable" to "Oh dear god stop."

OK, show of hands here, who here is tired of Vince's wife and kid already? Actually, that's a bit mean - it's not that they're bad, but the writers clearly don't have much idea what to actually DO with them, other than have the kid going through grief and having the occassional conversation with "the Cape" (and please, let us hope we find out that the kid KNOWS). On the same level of expectation, let us hope that while it looks like they are setting up a potential new love interest for Vince's wife, that they don't rush into that, because, you know, creepy.

And here's the bit of world-building that's still a bit unclear to me - at this point it's firmly established that this is a world where masked criminal masterminds are, you know, an actual option. Therefore, it seems really dubious, if not outright suspicious, that Vince here is the first masked "hero/vigilante" type.

Thoughts?

[jensaltmann]

I'm getting caught up on this now, and I agree. There's nothing new in this show, and a lot of things are too over the top and too hammy. But a lot of it works, and I keep coming back to it.

Travis, the wife's boss, works for Fleming. Too obvious.
And yes, they are telegraphing too hard that Orwell = Little Miss Fleming. Also too obvious.

I do like the circus environment, it adds something fairly novel to the concept.

[Anders]

I'm lagging due to tv show overload (Californication, Robot Chicken, re-watching old seasons of 30 Rock recently purchased on DVD as well as watching the new season, starting to watch Brotherhood, The Unit and Supernatural, plus a bunch of British and Swedish sketch comedy shows...) but I will come back to this.

Generally, I don't mind if the plot twists are obvious as long as they are not the point of the show (which doesn't seem to be the case here) so that's not a problem for me, and I'm fairly immune to hammy acting (as opposed to annoying actors and/or characters). For this type of show they only need to deliver a bit of action, a bit of comedy and a comic booky plot and I'll be content. If they go beyond that it's just a bonus.

[michaelpaciocco]

Well, I think you'll be pleased then. My only real concern is what they're gonna do about the wife and kid.

[Anders]

They weren't too annoying in the first double-episode, but I see they could become so if they don't find a good way to deal with them.

[jbhelfrich]

Stacey and I have been watching, hoping that the show will find its legs before it gets canceled or collapses under its own weight. Sadly, NBC cut the order from 13 episodes to 10 today, so that may not happen.

If it does get canceled, I hope they have enough warning to get a proper closing act...and set up the Circus of Crime series that I desperately want just so I can watch Max be awesome all the time.

[michaelpaciocco]

Yeah, it's looking more and more like this one isn't going to make it. Oh well - it was a good attempt.

[jensaltmann]

I have fun when I actually get to watching it, but since I don't have a ratings box, my opinion doesn't matter. :/

[michaelpaciocco]

Sadly neither does mine, it would seem.

On tonight's episode:

-OK, so it looks like they are making some incremental progress on that bit that's annoying me greatly. Good, as I was worried for a while there. Still, it could backslide, but I hope they decide to go the intelligent route.
-And it's also good (if this continues past episode 10) that they are developing multiple factions in the city - after all, if it's just Fleming/Chess, then it becomes a bit repetitive and makes Vince a lot less competent than he should be (and he does have competence issues, but compared to some protagonists, they are at least surmountable).
-Also on Fleming/Chess - the writers can't seem to decide if Chess is a separate personality or just a dual identity. This worries me - your main antagonist should be solidified early on for something like this IMO.

[jensaltmann]

Chess is Norman Osborn.

That simple.

As in, he's bugfuck sociopathic crazy almost all of the time, but sometimes his original self peeks through.