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WiseYoungOwl
Reviews
Gotham Knights: Scene of the Crime (2023)
Engaging and Fun
Once again I am impressed! The show makes it immediately apparent that although it generally looks great and the plot and pacing are good, it will succeed on the strength of the chemistry of the actors (old and young ). The pacing remains robust and balanced, making each episode feel full and engaging. Learning who is in the Court of Owls has made for plenty of brainworms to keep me wondering where things will go next week.
Pluses-
-great ensemble work overall by the kids
- stylish and well-paced
- Yet again Duela is a stand-out (both vulnerable and brash, truly fascinating)
- the scene with Talon and Duela was chilling
- I love the sets on this show. They are so fun to look at and feel so atmospheric
Minuses- -the rappelling scene was a little cheesy and I find the actor who plays Robin often rushes her lines slightly, making it hard to understand her.
I find Turner to still be a bit of a blank cypher (this may very well be purposeful as he grows into himself, (but next to immediately vibrant characters like Duela and the siblings he can come off a bit flat, I hope to see this change).
Overall I was really entertained and I can't wait for next week!
Gotham Knights (2023)
Beautiful and well-acted, Truly entertaining
I don't usually watch shows in this genre but was intrigued by the premise. I was happy I tuned in tonight! Especially for a pilot episode this was a very strong showing.
Firstly- This is a beautifully shot show, with careful consideration given to sets, lighting/coloring, costuming and score. Secondly- it is well acted. Misha Collins puts in a strong performance and the young cast really shines and are immediately likable and interesting. I'm already invested in their stories.
Thirdly- the plot draws you in immediately and even for a pilot so much happens! But the pacing is such it still didn't feel rushed. If the rest of the season is like this we are in for a treat.
I suppose I should find something to critique in the name of balance. Some of the dialogue was very earnest and some might find it a touch too much so- it didn't bother me too much. I found the delivery if said lines to be convincing despite!
The teaser for future episodes was exciting and made me want to tune in again!
The Winchesters: Art of Dying (2022)
Really enjoyable
I continue to be impressed by the acting from the whole cast but Drake continues to be a standout, continuing to thread that tricky needle of giving context to John while showing so many of the ways his choices draw him down a darker path. One of the choices I liked best in this ep was the treatment of a hunter funeral- it felt tender and visceral in a way that SPN never gave space for. Especially coming from knowing this is from Dean's perspective in some way this choice felt very cathartic.
The narrative parallels and echoes (both textually/visually) continue to stack up and the mystery of where why and how of the timeline remains intriguingly elusive. This episode managed to have both funny, scary and tender moments that left me pondering and reconsidering SPN in interesting ways.
I am very excited for upcoming episodes!
The Winchesters: Masters of War (2022)
the best so far! emotional and complex
The show just keeps getting better. We start to see the darkness in John and how different kinds of PTSD effects both him, Mary, Carlos and Latika- and all the different ways that they deal with it is very telling.
Another beautifully shot well- paced episode that had tons of interesting emotional dynamics- This episode was at turns funny, scary and heartbreaking.
The way they keep mixing up the characters and giving them moments with each other shows the strength of the ensemble cast. With every episode that comes out I'm more and more excited for the next one.
Drake is a real stand out who isn't shying away from taking his character to all these difficult places. And Bianca as Millie is a heartfelt delight.
The Winchesters (2022)
A charming start to with hope for True intrigue
I've seen all 15 seasons of Supernatural, many eps more than once. At first glance I didn't get why'd they'd choose this story as a lens to bring the universe forward. John is a very controversial character and Mary is complicated as well.
But the addition of fan favorite writer Robbie Thompson and a diverse, bright and interesting cast convinced me to watch, and I'm so happy I did. The creators went into this knowing full well this was a controversial choice and in the end it was that unusual fact that actually convinced me they must have found a super-compelling reason to do so. I believe (and truly hope) that this choice will make more sense as the story unfolds.
The show has a haunted air to it, with visual and verbal echoes to past SPN canon that will delight old fans without alienating new ones. You can tell it was made with love. My watch companion -who had never seen SPN- enjoyed it and was excited to watch next week (for what it's worth!)
(a note: If you're new to the Supernatural universe, as i'm sure you can see by the large # of hyperbolic reviews -is that the fandom is passionate and very divided. But what most can agree on is the ending of the original was cruel, unsatisfactory and left many with a bitter taste that hasn't waned over two years. OG Supernatural dealt in themes of free will, predestiny, and a meta overarching plot of fighting against cruel fates and God himself in order to break free of a narrative -which many think the characters, in the end, never really escaped from at all.
No wonder folks are angry and quick to judge.)
It's a pilot so it has some typical minor pilot downfalls- very fast paced, some effects were a little campy (which I actually liked!) and one big thing you'll hear detractors say is it somehow doesn't fit within canon. Which seems the case at first glance.
Yet in interview after interview the creators have assured us there are twists and turns to come that will illuminate how this could be so while leaving OG canon intact. I trust that- the creators know intimately how intense and sensitive this fandom is!- and I love the excitement and mystery that these initial paradoxes present.
I've never had so much fun wondering and dreaming all the different ways this could happen- canonically since the supernatural, time travel, and other such mechanics exist in this world, we have plenty of established precedent to play.
What really won me was the casting which is full of fresh faced stars.
Drake Rodgers as John has really charmed me despite my dislike of the original character. Drake is known as a super fan of SPN himself and presents a carefully studied John who reminds me so much of Sam. I can already tell I will not enjoy seeing this younger, softer John go down the dark path that leads to his canonic downfall in SPN but I welcome the added context and depth to his character arc.
Meg Donnelly as Mary reminds me so much of Dean although, her character is much more closed off and therefore is a bit harder to connect to initially. The ensemble cast is strong, and Jojo, Bianca, Demetria, and Nida are very fun to watch and I can't wait to see all the fun dynamics that will ensue.
For those who like visually dense sets and setting there's lots of fun here, as a longtime fan I found so many clever easter eggs and mystical props that have me pondering and wondering.
And of course there is Dean, who I think will play a larger part in the meta plot as we proceed.
I felt a lot of healing that his story is not yet over.
This show promises to provide something that would have been welcome in OG SPN- the chance to see characters like Dean, break free of the narrative to create his own, finally.
To see Dean begin the journey, to question and uncover what parts of his and his family's story may have been manipulated or obscured. To see Dean control that narrative, using his own words, writing it down. It Felt very powerful and cathartic and has potential to be something really unique and wonderful.
Please give this charming show a shot:
I think it will continue to surprise folks as the season progresses.