spiderwing

As much as I love time travel fiction, I just couldn't make it through the first episode.

I found the main character completely unsympathetic, and the humor too broad.

I'm not sure what it was about this one. I enjoy the genre, but this particular show just doesn't grab me. After the first two episodes I didn't find the characters or the mystery engaging. I felt that some editorial choices were heavy handed, such as the black best friend and the mother's finding of religion.

I might come back and give it a try again sometime when my watch list is lighter, but it's gone for now.

Full disclosure - I adore time travel shows. Although (as has been pointed out in other reviews) this is as much an espionage show as it is a time travel show, I really enjoy that angle. This particular show has it's own spin on time travel, and does a reasonably good job of exploring various facets of it. At the end of the first season there are still a couple of possibilities which haven't been touched on, but they do play around with it at least a bit.

The characters are intriguing, but slow to develop. It's fun to see the actors portray characters who are acting, and they avoid dwelling on it too much (because that could end up feeling like looking down an hall of mirrors).

The science is a bit weak. Causality, quantum physics, antimatter, computer networks... all are cheerfully bent, folded and mutilated in the interests of creating a good story. Although, at the end of season 1, we're not completely sure about causality because we don't know anything about the future beyond what the characters tell each other, so we only get glimpses of what happens with that... Neither what the protagonists expect to happen nor what actually happens with regards to paradox are ever spelled out, though there is some allusion to it. This both keeps the story from being too dumbed down (if you're an SF fan, you know what they're talking about) or too slowed down (if you're not an SF fan you wont' get bored by it, though you might get a bit confused).

It has plenty of grim, gritty and dark to go around, but the characters are (mostly) likeable. I'm looking forward to the next season (fingers crossed).

First episode review -

Like other reviewers, I'm not sure what to make of this after the first episode. It was very slow starting, and didn't really seem to have much meat until the last few minutes. It reminds me a little bit of Sense8, but I don't know if it will ever really come together.

First episode review.

I was very pleasantly surprised by this one. Not only does it have several types of humor going on, it's also got an interesting mix of characters and hints at a curious set of metaphysical rules. I've got my own 'theory' about the good place and the bad place, and it's possible we'll find out if I'm right or not...

Fourth episode update -

Same as above, with philosophy humor. Plato, Socrates and Hume have all gotten name checks so far. I probably don't have the background to get all the references, but it's still fun.

This is basically Glee meets American Horror Story. I expected it to be completely cringeworthy, but found it to be a very watchable campy show. I enjoyed the characters, the 'grrl power' element had enough of a sense of humor to be sympathetic, it's just basically a fun story about a serial killer set loose in an abusive sorority house. What's not to love?

Second episode review.

Medical catastrophe, techno-terrorism, possible conspiracy and cover up, what's not to love? So far it feels pretty formulaic. It's very much a genre show, but I don't think that the writers love the genre. The characters are acceptable, but not terribly engaging. The personal conflicts are predictable and formulaic. Fortunately the kids are not the focus of much action, so at least we're spared a little bit of twee. I'll keep watching for at least another episode or two to see if this picks up, but I'm not optimistic.

About what you would expect from the "Real Housewives" franchise. Low star rating is because it's not my genre, but I HAD to check this out, since I grew up near enough to Potomac to know that I would never be welcomed there. Recognized a lot of the scenery and enjoyed seeing inside some of the houses for a change.

First episode review. I expect to come back some time during the season to revise this.

This is, in some ways, a classic scenario. Imperfect hero is given special abilities, with special limitations. He has connections, loved ones, who must never know who he is and why he's looking out for them. He has a mysterious backer who has tremendous resources, but will make some sort of demands on him.

The first episode develops that formula. Special abilities - phenomenal strength and physical abilities, a lifetime of experience and knowledge. Special limitations - he must return to the headquarters every twelve hours. Ties and hidden connection - a family which lost a 75 year old father and grandfather. Mysterious backer - well, as of the first episode it looks like they need him as a cell donor, but that could get complicated quickly.

It starts off very good. The characters are flawed but likable. They all seem reasonably quick on the uptake (with the possible exception of Jimmy himself, whether he will learn like a 35 year old or a 75 year old hasn't been established, but signs point to him having old man habits for a long time to come). If I recall correctly, the pilot fails the Bechdel test, but there are as many significant female characters as there are male characters, and two of them are related, so it shouldn't take too long before they fix that. I'm looking forward to seeing where this one goes.

I really wanted to like this show. I really like both Maggie Lawson and Jane Lynch, and the premise is very reminiscent of a number of shows from my childhood. I now find the humor intensely uncomfortable, to the point where I could not make it through the second episode. I also feel as though I have seen both of these characters before.

I'm torn between taking my leave and wishing the show well (so that two good actors continue to be employed) and hoping it dies quickly so that they are both available for better shows in the near future.