The InHumans - Review
Sep. 30th, 2017 02:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. I just finished watching Marvel's The Inhumans, which is not nearly as bad as the reviewers and the media seem to think it is. From a quality perspective? It's about equal to or on par with Marvel: Agents of Shield.
Is the acting bad? No not really. I actually found the bewildered and somewhat gruff performance of Anson Mount who portrays Black Bolt, oddly amusing and compelling. I can't decide if he's mentally challenged or just confused?
The plot? I don't know if it helps to be somewhat familiar with the characters from the comics? At any rate, the story is about a uprising among the Inhumans. Black Bolt and Medusa are currently leading the Inhumans, who are based on the moon. They are a society of hybrid human/aliens. If you've watched any of Marvel Agents of Shield, you may an inkling as to what the Inhumans are. At any rate, the comic books focused specifically on the Royal Family of Inhumans, Black Bolt, Medusa, Maximus, Crystal, etc. Each with different powers, except for Maximus who appears to be genetically human.
Here's the comic book history of The Inhumans:
The series like the books focuses on the Royal Family. Mazimus has overthrown his brother and taken control of the kingdom, which resides on the Moon. Maximus is portrayed by the same guy that played Ramsey Snow on GOT, and Simon on Misfits...this actor is adept at playing simpering bad guys, who have family issues. His eyes are blood shot through-out the two hour episode, and he always looks like he wants to cry because no one gets him. I wanted to just smack him.
Crystal, who...I honestly have no idea who her parents are or how she's related to the Royal Family in this series, decides to transport Black Bolt, Medusa, and their two allies to Earth. She does it with her trusty bull-dog/St.Bernard...the dog looks like a cross between a bulldog and a St. Bernard, and is about the size of a baby Elephant. You touch the dog and he transports you instantly elsewhere. The other means of transportation is going through a man who is also a wall...which is painful for the man. One of Maximus henchwomen does this...and the wall says, No, I won't do it.
She asks why. He says because it's painful and wrong. She says, fuck you, do it, or we kill your family. And if you harm me in any way in the process, your family is dead. So he does it.
Anyhow the only difficulty with the Lockjaw (the bulldog's name) method of transport...is that he has no sense of place and just drops people where-ever he pleases on the island of Oahu. Why Oahu? Because that's where Black Bolt's henchman/cousin was sent to see what happened to his brother, who apparently got shot and drowned. Anyhow...everyone is deposited all over the island and no where near each other. Black Bolt is deposited in the middle of the street. Medusa in the middle of a crater.
Etc.
They do have interesting powers. Black Bolt can destroy things with merely a breath or a word. He killed his parents with the vocalized word..."why". So he doesn't speak or breath through his mouth or open his mouth. Medusa can use her hair to control things. (They shave it, so no longer able to do that. But the actress looks a lot better and far more interesting without the bad wig. She kicks ass in the episode.)
Meanwhile, Maximu who is working on his coup, is spouting equality, and a future where all are equal, all have freedom, yet he appears to pushing it with fascist and militaristic tactics. Plus violence. There's a heavy handed message in the episode about prejudice and racism, although I'm not sure it works when applied to superhuman half aliens vs. humans, with the humans being racist. Then again, they do make a point of the superhumans being racist too, but considering the fact that the people making this point are the bad guys...
In regards to Maximus's military coup, I can't decide if the writer is trying for political satire and failing miserably...actually I was trying to figure out the same thing regarding Agents of Shield and its take on the covert ops. I came to the conclusion that no, it isn't, the writers aren't that bright.
If you requires quality in your television dramas and are very selective (aka a television critic) this is not your show. It's campy and a bit cheesy, with loads of melodrama and cheap special effects (think Agents of Shield, Wynona Earp or Supergirl not Heroes or Westworld). So if you like Supergirl, the Flash, and Agents of Shield? Give it a whirl, you might like it. Although it is more melodramatic and not quite as relateable.
First hour? D- (I was bored and my attention kept wandering. Maximus talks too much. Someone needs to smack him. He just drones on and on, or rather whines.) Second Hour? C+ (more active and compelling, also funny in places. Less Maximus whinging.)
Overall rating? C-
2. I really wish Disney would get its act together and stop threatening to remove content that I'm enjoying. Also stop charging more money for access. (Disney? If you have "commercials" you do not get to charge more. If you don't have commercials, you do. There are rules regarding these things, or there used to be.) Disney and Altice the owner of Optimum Cable are fighting over rates, and Disney is threatening to pull content if Altice doesn't pay Disney the rates it wants for ESPN, ABC, The Disney Channel, Freeform. The big fight is actually over ESPN, which I don't watch and could care less about.
Sigh. Anyone else miss the days in which Cable was basically just HBO and Showtime?
They've been posting their threat at the bottom of all of their television shows, stating the channel may go dark on October 1. So I sent angry emails to both services in protest.
Although...frustrating as it is? I will survive without General Hospital (which I can actually watch online), Grey's Anatomy, Once Upon a Time, and...I'm not sure there's that much else. Maybe the Inhumans, although admittedly on the fence about it. The first hour of the Inhumans was boring. The second hour was interesting.
So you know, not that great a loss. It's not like there's not a million other television shows cluttering up my to-watch queue.
Is the acting bad? No not really. I actually found the bewildered and somewhat gruff performance of Anson Mount who portrays Black Bolt, oddly amusing and compelling. I can't decide if he's mentally challenged or just confused?
The plot? I don't know if it helps to be somewhat familiar with the characters from the comics? At any rate, the story is about a uprising among the Inhumans. Black Bolt and Medusa are currently leading the Inhumans, who are based on the moon. They are a society of hybrid human/aliens. If you've watched any of Marvel Agents of Shield, you may an inkling as to what the Inhumans are. At any rate, the comic books focused specifically on the Royal Family of Inhumans, Black Bolt, Medusa, Maximus, Crystal, etc. Each with different powers, except for Maximus who appears to be genetically human.
Here's the comic book history of The Inhumans:
At the beginning of the Kree-Skrull War, millions of years ago in Earth time, the alien Kree established a station on the planet Uranus, a strategic position between the Kree and Skrull empires. Through their work at this station, they discovered that sentient life on nearby Earth had genetic potential invested in it by the alien Celestials. Intrigued, the Kree began to experiment on Earth's then-primitive Homo sapiens to produce the genetically advanced Inhuman race. Their goal was apparently twofold—to investigate possible ways of circumventing their own evolutionary stagnation, and to create a powerful mutant race of soldiers for use against the Skrulls.[17] Although their experiments were successful in creating a strain of humanity with extraordinary abilities, the Kree abandoned their experiment because a genetic prophecy had predicted that the experiments would eventually lead to an anomaly who would destroy the Kree Supreme Intelligence.[18]
Their test subjects, the Inhumans, went on to form a society of their own, which thrived in seclusion from the rest of humanity and developed advanced technology. Experiments with the mutagenic Terrigen Mist (a process known as Terrigenesis) gave them various powers, but caused lasting genetic damage and deformities. This led to a long-term selective breeding program in an attempt to mitigate the effects of these mutations.
Attilan's society and culture are predicated on a conformist belief system that permits individuality as it applies to genetic development and physical and mental ability, but demands rigid conformity in that each member of society is assigned a place within that society according to those abilities following exposure to the Terrigen Mist. Once assigned, no Inhuman, no matter how great or powerful, can change his or her place within this rigid caste system.[19][20] Although a member of the Royal Family, Crystal married outside the Inhuman race to the mutant Quicksilver.[21]
The Inhumans are led by their king, Black Bolt, and his Royal Family, consisting of Medusa, Karnak, Gorgon, Triton, Crystal, Maximus the Mad, and the canine Lockjaw. Both Crystal and Medusa have been members of the Fantastic Four; Crystal has been a member of the Avengers as well.
The series like the books focuses on the Royal Family. Mazimus has overthrown his brother and taken control of the kingdom, which resides on the Moon. Maximus is portrayed by the same guy that played Ramsey Snow on GOT, and Simon on Misfits...this actor is adept at playing simpering bad guys, who have family issues. His eyes are blood shot through-out the two hour episode, and he always looks like he wants to cry because no one gets him. I wanted to just smack him.
Crystal, who...I honestly have no idea who her parents are or how she's related to the Royal Family in this series, decides to transport Black Bolt, Medusa, and their two allies to Earth. She does it with her trusty bull-dog/St.Bernard...the dog looks like a cross between a bulldog and a St. Bernard, and is about the size of a baby Elephant. You touch the dog and he transports you instantly elsewhere. The other means of transportation is going through a man who is also a wall...which is painful for the man. One of Maximus henchwomen does this...and the wall says, No, I won't do it.
She asks why. He says because it's painful and wrong. She says, fuck you, do it, or we kill your family. And if you harm me in any way in the process, your family is dead. So he does it.
Anyhow the only difficulty with the Lockjaw (the bulldog's name) method of transport...is that he has no sense of place and just drops people where-ever he pleases on the island of Oahu. Why Oahu? Because that's where Black Bolt's henchman/cousin was sent to see what happened to his brother, who apparently got shot and drowned. Anyhow...everyone is deposited all over the island and no where near each other. Black Bolt is deposited in the middle of the street. Medusa in the middle of a crater.
Etc.
They do have interesting powers. Black Bolt can destroy things with merely a breath or a word. He killed his parents with the vocalized word..."why". So he doesn't speak or breath through his mouth or open his mouth. Medusa can use her hair to control things. (They shave it, so no longer able to do that. But the actress looks a lot better and far more interesting without the bad wig. She kicks ass in the episode.)
Meanwhile, Maximu who is working on his coup, is spouting equality, and a future where all are equal, all have freedom, yet he appears to pushing it with fascist and militaristic tactics. Plus violence. There's a heavy handed message in the episode about prejudice and racism, although I'm not sure it works when applied to superhuman half aliens vs. humans, with the humans being racist. Then again, they do make a point of the superhumans being racist too, but considering the fact that the people making this point are the bad guys...
In regards to Maximus's military coup, I can't decide if the writer is trying for political satire and failing miserably...actually I was trying to figure out the same thing regarding Agents of Shield and its take on the covert ops. I came to the conclusion that no, it isn't, the writers aren't that bright.
If you requires quality in your television dramas and are very selective (aka a television critic) this is not your show. It's campy and a bit cheesy, with loads of melodrama and cheap special effects (think Agents of Shield, Wynona Earp or Supergirl not Heroes or Westworld). So if you like Supergirl, the Flash, and Agents of Shield? Give it a whirl, you might like it. Although it is more melodramatic and not quite as relateable.
First hour? D- (I was bored and my attention kept wandering. Maximus talks too much. Someone needs to smack him. He just drones on and on, or rather whines.) Second Hour? C+ (more active and compelling, also funny in places. Less Maximus whinging.)
Overall rating? C-
2. I really wish Disney would get its act together and stop threatening to remove content that I'm enjoying. Also stop charging more money for access. (Disney? If you have "commercials" you do not get to charge more. If you don't have commercials, you do. There are rules regarding these things, or there used to be.) Disney and Altice the owner of Optimum Cable are fighting over rates, and Disney is threatening to pull content if Altice doesn't pay Disney the rates it wants for ESPN, ABC, The Disney Channel, Freeform. The big fight is actually over ESPN, which I don't watch and could care less about.
Sigh. Anyone else miss the days in which Cable was basically just HBO and Showtime?
They've been posting their threat at the bottom of all of their television shows, stating the channel may go dark on October 1. So I sent angry emails to both services in protest.
Although...frustrating as it is? I will survive without General Hospital (which I can actually watch online), Grey's Anatomy, Once Upon a Time, and...I'm not sure there's that much else. Maybe the Inhumans, although admittedly on the fence about it. The first hour of the Inhumans was boring. The second hour was interesting.
So you know, not that great a loss. It's not like there's not a million other television shows cluttering up my to-watch queue.
no subject
Date: 2017-10-03 12:53 am (UTC)Actually, there is only 3 paragraphs at the end of point 1, that could be considered a review.
no subject
Date: 2017-10-03 07:49 am (UTC)eeek!! 4% previously, up to all of 6% as of now!!! Mmm, no thanks.
Did watch The Gifted tonight, which bored the TV guy, but I thought was perfectly respectable, a 6.5 on my usual 0 to 10 scale. Not stunning, but decently made, written, acted. Hey, may get better! I gave The 100 about a 6 on its first episode, and you know what I think of it now.
Lucifer is back on too, and had a good premiere. (7 out of 10)
Have you seen The Orville yet? I find it hard to rate, because I can't for the life of me figure out just what the hell they're trying to do with it. Is it a parody? A serious show wrapped in a parody? Just plain old schizophrenic? Depending on what's happening at any given moment, I'd rate it as either a 2 or a 6.
Gray's Anatomy had a really decent premiere, much better than I had been expecting. Nice solid 7.
Shows I am very patiently waiting for the return of*: The 100 and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Some critics pick on the CW, but here we are, IMO they have two of the best shows on right now.
*Patience my tuchis, I want 'em back right now!!!!! Gimme!!
no subject
Date: 2017-10-03 01:22 pm (UTC)so I thought I'd check it out on Rotten Tomatoes...
eeek!! 4% previously, up to all of 6% as of now!!! Mmm, no thanks.
See, I don't find most reviews to be that useful. So if the plot looks interesting? I try it out. If I don't like it? I don't watch it.
The Inhumans is no better or worse than Marvel Agents of Shield, DC Legends of Tomorrow or Supergirl. What's different about it? It's a tad operatic -- and focuses more on politics and royal family. So, if that's not your thing? Skip. But from a quality standpoint? It's on par with Supergirl, The Flash, DC Legends of Tomorrow, and Marvel Agents of Shield.
Have you seen The Orville yet? -- Yes, didn't like it. Stopped watching it after the pilot. (Too many tv-shows, too little time). Co-worker enjoys it. But the sophomoric humor and formulaic plotting didn't work for me. Felt like a Star Trek rip off and not in a good way. Seth McFarland's humor doesn't work for me apparently.
Agreed on Grey's, better than expected.
The 100 probably won't be back until March. It has been renewed. I stopped watching, lost interest.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend should be in October or November. That, I'm still watching. It's different and has musical numbers.
no subject
Date: 2017-10-04 06:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-10-04 07:30 pm (UTC)I'll probably try two more episodes and see where it goes from there. It's unlikely I'll stay with it. I've tried all the superhero shows on, and the only one's I've stuck with to date are Legion, Daredevil, and Jessica Jones. Arrow? Lost interest in the middle of the third season. MAOS? Gave up in the third season. Flash - gave up after two episodes. Supergirl -- flirted with, gave up after five or six. DC Legends of Tomorrow - gave up after one episode. Gotham - gave up in the middle of second season. (shrugs)
I may be getting picky. The only ones I really liked to date are Daredevil, JJ, Legion, and the British series Misfits.
no subject
Date: 2017-10-04 08:04 pm (UTC)On the other hand, I want to catch up on Legends, if only because I'm watching all three of the others and the crossovers would make more sense. Hmm. Jessica Jones I couldn't finish. I watched the first episodes of Legion and Luke Cage, thought they were enjoyable, but not my thing. Gotham - same as you! Mid season two, just sort of went, "...well, okay, hello other things in my life.)
I also noped out of M:AOS during the 2015-2016 season (3? maybe?) when Skye / Daisy became kind of crazy. Inhumans and The Gifted are likely to get my nope, too, after another episode or so.
no subject
Date: 2017-10-04 08:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-10-05 12:29 pm (UTC)(Which, consider we ate the last of ours when I was three, could be a damn long time.)
LOL!
Yeah, I think it's just whatever characters/stories work for you or resonate on some level? But hey at least we share the Lucifer and DD love. ;-)
And we both seem to have bowed out of MAOS and Gotham around the same time. Although I think I may have bowed out a bit earlier on both.
I do agree that Inhumans seemed less polished, almost as if they either tried too hard, or rushed it. The whole IMAX marketing ploy was a mistake. I like it because I like the soap operatic formula (which is Inhumans) over the monster/case/intrigue of the week which is about 90% of the other series. Not really a monster/case of the week fan. It's what I struggle with on Lucifer. Procedural/case of the week format tends to bore or annoy me for some reason. While I eat up the serialized soap opera format like candy.
no subject
Date: 2017-10-05 01:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-10-04 07:36 pm (UTC)I can't say it was highly entertaining...or even all that compelling. I sort of did other things during it. It was background noise for the most part, and when I did watch, I was able to figure out what was happening with little to no rewind...
It's clunky. Not quite as clunky as Midnight Texas...but clunky. ;-)