The Cape - Early Review Summary
9 Jan 2011
Cancelled Shows ReviewsHere are some early reviews collated by AICN of NBC's new show The Cape, which airs a 2 hr premiere tonight.
The New York Times says:
… operates energetically within the conventions of the superhero story. …
The Los Angeles Times says:
… it is almost wholly a cocktail of things you have seen before. Still, novelty is not the point here, but rather a wallow in old tropes and verities. … Marked by logical elisions, word-balloon dialogue and conveniently located plot holes though it may be, this is a machine for putting its heroes in tight spaces and watching them kick their way free, and it does its work efficiently and with flair.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette says:
… For anyone who's seen a superhero show before, there's nothing new in this latest iteration about a cop-turned-vigilante crime fighter. Move along. …
The San Francsico Chronicle says:
… a promising television program that would have been a lot better if the producers were aware of its ridiculousness. … Viewers looking for layered storytelling and subtle acting should renew their subscriptions to Showtime and HBO …
HitFix says:
… I just wish it was a better show. … all the color in the margins doesn't matter if the man at the center of the picture is a bore, which Lyons unfortunately is. The square-jawed, utterly sincere hero is a hard thing to pull off without seeming stiff - what's it been, 32 years since Christopher Reeve did it in "Superman"? - and without that kind of commanding presence from its hero, "The Cape" winds up seeming sillier than it intended to be. …
TV Squad says:
… It's definitely not reinventing the superhero story for our time -- in fact, the drama borrows so heavily from the usual caped-crusader sources that it may start to feel too familiar, and that could be a problem. But in its first two hours, 'The Cape' presents an origin story with panache, energy and a notable sense of style. …
The Boston Herald says:
… aspires to be “The Dark Knight” but unfurls more like the campy 1960s “Batman” TV series. … There’s certainly enough action to sate viewers, and Lyons is an adequate stand-in for “Knight” star Christian Bale, but the story is nonsensical and the dialogue jarringly arch. …
USA Today says:
… There are many problems with NBC's latest attempt to bring a comic book sensibility to TV, but the primary one is basic: A cape is simply not exciting or convincing as a superhero weapon. And making constant jokes in the dialogue about the flaw isn't the same as fixing it. … another problem: The show's "sensible" answers make no sense. There's no believable explanation offered for his illusion-based disappearance act or his ability to send a man flying via cape-wrap alone. How do you do that without super-strength, or at least a super-lever? If The Cape knows, he's not telling.
Variety says:
… an extremely fun two-hour launch that shrewdly mixes comicbook imagery with the right measure of playful humor. Part "Batman," part "Robocop," the semi-futuristic vision of an ailing metropolis in need of a savior will be tough to sustain on a weekly basis, but the first mission succeeds as an original leap into this genre -- bridging the perilous gap between what works on the printed page vs. live-action. …
Shaky early reviews to say the least. Still gonna wait and see though. Don't judge a book by its cover and all :P
ReplyDeleteThis review worries me the most -
ReplyDelete'The San Francsico Chronicle says:
… a promising television program that would have been a lot better if the producers were aware of its ridiculousness. … Viewers looking for layered storytelling and subtle acting should renew their subscriptions to Showtime and HBO …'
I wasn't expecting Showtime or HBO - but the subtle acting jab, thats usualy what signals to me that a show isn't great. You can't have a good show without convincing acting.
I don't think I have ever read anything positive from the San Francisco Chronicle. If they say it's awful, then it's probably great. If they say it's great, then it's usually awful.
ReplyDeleteIf I want layered storytelling and good acting, for sure I'm not renewing my (imaginary as I live outside the US) subscription to Showtime, as that network it's a kind of a fail right now. AMC all the way!!!
ReplyDeleteNo way, Showtime is currently the second best cable network after AMC, I mean AMC is awesome, Mad Men, Breaking Band and the Walking Dead and whatelse, but Showtime has actually been awesome in the last few years. Dexter is still one of the best shows on tv after five seasons, which is really saying something, Nurse Jackie is one of the wittiest new comedies in a long time, and Edie Falco is so great as a lead in that, and The Big C is easily the best show of 2010, apart from maybe Justified, as much as I like the Walking Dead, the Big C offers so much more, if we're being honest (and I'm not saying the Walking Dead is bad, I actually love the Walking Dead, and it's one of the only shows this year I've even been mildly interested in), if we were to remove the action from the Walking Dead, the characters would not be able to sustain a show on its own, seriously, I physically can't. Admittedly, Weeds' quality has been declining, pretty rapidly, but to sustain seven seasons, something must be right. Showtime is an awesome win at the moment, and with two new shows coming out tonight, which both look good in their own right - and Homeland coming up soon, with the awesome Claire Danes, all I'm thinking is that Showtime can only get better, really, if you ask me, HBO isn't doing great really, Broadwalk Empire is good, but it's not the Sopranos or Deadwood. So yeah, Showtime is awesome
ReplyDeleteDexter is only the shadow of what it was years ago, and it's far from being one of the best show around. Nurse Jackie, Californication and Weeds are good, but not nearly as good as Bored to Death, How to Make it in America, Entourage and Curb your Enthusiasm on HBO. The Big C is probably the only real good show at Showtime right now, but HBO has Treme and Boardwalk Empire which are alone much better then the whole Showtime line-up, and that's not over, as there's Game of Thrones coming up in April. In my opinion HBO is way way ahead of Showtime right now.
ReplyDeleteAMC so far has done 3 excellent show (Breaking Bad, Mad Men and Rubicon) and one average show so it's probably the best of the 3 right now.
I agree with saying Dexter isn't the best around, but, talking about shows in their sixth season, its definately up there. Curb your Enthusiasm is awesome, but without Larry David, it won't work, Entourage is coming to an End, and I refuse to believe Bored to Death is better than Nurse Jackie. Treme and Boardwalk Empire are good, but not a shadow of HBO's future self. I think I was to forward in saying HBO wasn't great, because HBO is, but Showtime is way better in comparison to five years ago, HBO, not so much, it has declined in my opinion. AMC is definately top of the pile, but to be honest, I think HBO requires high production value to also make it as good, I prefer the more grounded drama's, some of the charm of Weeds and Nurse Jackie, in my opinion comes from the fact that these are painted as regular people - and it's what makes The Big C great, but HBO needs a part fairy main character, a drug boss, a mafia leader - thats why I prefered Deadwood. Anyway, I think we can both agree, AMC provides great shows, HBO provides great shows, Showtime provides great shows, it's not like we're talking about the CW here, then we could have a go and the shows produced.
ReplyDeleteShowtime is okay right now. Much depends on the quality of their new shows. Homeland could be good, so could be The Borgias. They both seem interesting and have a great cast. Weeds has been good for the frst 3 seasons, but is declining. Dexter is still good and I can't say anything about the other shows.
ReplyDeleteI love AMC, their shows rock! Breaking Bad currently is the best thing on TV and I can't wait for the 4th season. The Walking Dead was great so far, but it's pretty hard to develope all those characters in just 6 episodes. This was just some kind of test season and I expect things to even get better in season 2 (the material the comic offers is great). Mad Men also always is a pleasure to watch and The Killing & Hell on Wheels look awesome and I can't wait for them to start.
HBO might have seen better days, but they still have excellent shows. I'm not the biggest fan of Boardwalk Empire, but it's a good show. Treme is a great one, True Blood is very interesting too even though I didn't like the last episodes of season 3. Big Love & In Treatment are also good shows (haven't seen a lot of them to be honest), Bored To Death became great in its second season and Game of Thrones should be the next big thing.
And don't forget FX. It might have the best comedic line up. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Louie and Archer are extremely hilarious and The League is also supposed to be funny (never watched it). Plus: Sons Of Anarchy.
I really became a fan of cable shows. The big networks don't deliver shows of such quality.
Yaaaay!
ReplyDeleteI so often disagree with "critics."
Agreed. FX may have the best comedy, it might have some of the best underated drama too, I've never been a fan of rescue me, but Justified is really quite good, and sons of anarchy is awesome too. I forgot about Big Love too, Big Love is literally one of my favourite shows at the moment.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about becoming a fan of cable shows. While I loved Heroes and others (it was the first show I watched, I'm only 15 after all), after I watched a few cable shows I couldn't say that I wanted to watch more major network shows. I mean, I think thats been illustrated by the fact that all the network shows this year have failed, and all of the cable ones have been, quite frankly, awesome. I mean, Walking Dead, Justified, The Big C, some of the best shows around.
Darthlocke: Well I am going to give it a chance too! It may be that there are plot holes that remain in some ways so for a reason. From promos and such, I have seen a lot of nods to some interesting pop culture references. I think often times pilot episodes can be misleading. There is a lot of good talent in the acting department. I am still looking forward to it.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree... it is an ominous sounding review. I don't always need subtlety or layered acting, but "first choice" and "overly obvious" acting gets very old very fast. No review will make me avoid tuning into a series that sounds interesting, but it does make me less hopeful. If it does not appeal to a wider range other than genre fans of comics th e show is doomed to fail.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree on at least one level, AMC is FAR more consistant quality wise than Showtime... or HBO for that matter. I have loved more than a couple Showtime series (Dexter, The Tudors, Sleeper Cell) in the past, but HBO has done it for a longer period (and possibly better too). As for Dexter, I thought this year was one of the best seasons of the series personally.
ReplyDeleteEastbound and Down and Bored to Death are both more quirky or an acquired taste to me than their Showtime counterparts of Weeds, Big C and Nurse Jackie. I actually LOVE Boardwalk Empire, but it is definitely NOT on the same level as say Deadwood, Rome or Carnivale were to me. But as you stated, regardless of who is better this year or the past season or two, HBO, Showtime and AMC are heads and shoulders above ABC,NBC, CBS and Fox (I not even put CW in the mix) on the average quality of their shows.
ReplyDeleteBored to Death improved in Season Two? I may have to check it out again... Season One lost me along the way, but I did enjoy the show.
ReplyDeleteCOMPLETELY AGREE! Without the cable series (basic or premium) this season's crop of shows would have been fairly miserable!
ReplyDeleteI think pilots more times than not are a different tone than the weekly episodes of a series. Just in their nature, having to introduce characters requires more development than later episodes or seasons.
ReplyDeletewell.. I didnt think the critic would like. not original, i knew, cheap jokes, i saw the preview duh. So watching it any way ahahha! and watching the finale :D
ReplyDeleteomg, I have so much shows to watch. (read the debate about showtime, HBO tv shows.... AW!) I'm so screwed now
ReplyDeleteYeah, thats what I was trying to say in the first place, I'm just not very eloquent :P The fact of that matter is that I will watch this show either way, but the acting is something which is really important to me, if it's too much like No Ordinary Family - where at all points in time everyone seems to be thinking of what they've done wrong - then, like No Ordinary Family, after a few episodes I think I'll turn off.
ReplyDeleteI stopped watching during season 1, after 5 or 6 episodes. It was okay and sometimes amusing, but not what I expected from a comedy. Basically kept watching because it was great to see Ted Danson on my screen again.
ReplyDeleteThen I came across some reviews and saw a hilarious video of Ray & George smoking pot in a car and gave it another chance. The last 3 episodes of season 1 were already good, but in season 2 the show really became great, there were a lot hilarious moments and I had a great time watching it. Ray and George trying to rescue Jonathan after he got kidnapped in episode 3 was one of the best scenes TV delivered in 2010.
Yep, me too.
ReplyDelete