As always, I'm constantly looking for new content for my blog, so I decided to check out Marvel's newest superhero series, "Cloak & Dagger". Covering a show from the very start is quite nice, since I won't have to worry about trying to give any backstory to new viewers. So let's just dive right in.
Since I'm covering two episodes in one post, I'm going to be a bit brief in my discussion for each one. Let's start with "First Light", the pilot episode of the series. One of the frequent criticisms I saw for the show in the advance screenings was the pacing, how long it took the show to find its feet. That's definitely something I noticed in this episode; a few scenes can drag, and it was a little difficult for me to maintain interest throughout. Ultimately, the success of this show will depend less on writing and overall direction, and more on the likability of their two main characters, Tandy Bowen/Dagger and Tyrone Johnson/Cloak. On that front, this pilot worked very well for me. Both characters backstories are extremely easy to understand and connect to, and I thought the actors both did incredible jobs to covey proper emotion, even despite some clunky dialogue. This episode was a lot less in terms of actual plot, and more about setting about the characters and the world they inhabit, which is fine by me. Although this was far from the most action-packed hour of television I've ever seen, the chemistry between the leads, plus some intrigue about their powers, was more than enough to keep me interested in the series.
6/10
The second episode, "Suicide Sprints" leans a bit more on the plot, and I think it suffers for it. This is a plodding, exposition-filled hour, with very little to offer in terms of character. After killing a would-be rapist at the end of Episode 1, Tandy is now looking to make a run for it with her boyfriend/business partner Liam. This pair has little to no chemistry, and it's obvious the show itself can't wait to move past this faze in her life. After invading a wedding, Tandy gets the money she needs to start her new life, leaving Liam to take the heat. Meanwhile, Tyrone is dealing with the fallout of a fight during a basketball game. His coach forces the team to pay for his mistake, which leads to an extremely over the top scene, as the players corner and beat up Tyrone. This seems entirely played for drama, and isn't addressed again. At the end of the episode, he goes after the police officer who killed his brother, but somehow teleports infront of Tandy, causing her to crash her car, likely setting up the two characters to work together going forward.
Throughout this episode, there continue to be scenes of both Tyrone and Tandy teleporting and witnessing memories of the past. I have no clue why these were included, other than to continue to work on the characters' backstories. All of them grind the show to a halt, and aren't explained or addressed at all, although they do impact the characters and their mental state. These scenes are just part of what was a very weak episode, one that nearly caused me to fall asleep several times. Hopefully we get some action or intrigue sometime soon, because this show is already in desperate need of it.
3/10
In terms of two episodes at the start of a new series, I think I've seen worse. This still was pretty far from anything I'd call spectacular, though. The dialogue is stilted and feels forced at times, and the tonal shift from scene to scene can be jarring. I also have no idea what's happening in those teleportaion/flashback scenes. The acting seems fine, and it's visually quite impressive, so those are both positives. There is some potential here, and no real fan expectations to live up to. I'll be here to review all ten episodes of Season 1, and at that point, we'll see if this is something that continues. I hope you've enjoyed, and I'll see you again soon.
Since I'm covering two episodes in one post, I'm going to be a bit brief in my discussion for each one. Let's start with "First Light", the pilot episode of the series. One of the frequent criticisms I saw for the show in the advance screenings was the pacing, how long it took the show to find its feet. That's definitely something I noticed in this episode; a few scenes can drag, and it was a little difficult for me to maintain interest throughout. Ultimately, the success of this show will depend less on writing and overall direction, and more on the likability of their two main characters, Tandy Bowen/Dagger and Tyrone Johnson/Cloak. On that front, this pilot worked very well for me. Both characters backstories are extremely easy to understand and connect to, and I thought the actors both did incredible jobs to covey proper emotion, even despite some clunky dialogue. This episode was a lot less in terms of actual plot, and more about setting about the characters and the world they inhabit, which is fine by me. Although this was far from the most action-packed hour of television I've ever seen, the chemistry between the leads, plus some intrigue about their powers, was more than enough to keep me interested in the series.
6/10
The second episode, "Suicide Sprints" leans a bit more on the plot, and I think it suffers for it. This is a plodding, exposition-filled hour, with very little to offer in terms of character. After killing a would-be rapist at the end of Episode 1, Tandy is now looking to make a run for it with her boyfriend/business partner Liam. This pair has little to no chemistry, and it's obvious the show itself can't wait to move past this faze in her life. After invading a wedding, Tandy gets the money she needs to start her new life, leaving Liam to take the heat. Meanwhile, Tyrone is dealing with the fallout of a fight during a basketball game. His coach forces the team to pay for his mistake, which leads to an extremely over the top scene, as the players corner and beat up Tyrone. This seems entirely played for drama, and isn't addressed again. At the end of the episode, he goes after the police officer who killed his brother, but somehow teleports infront of Tandy, causing her to crash her car, likely setting up the two characters to work together going forward.
Throughout this episode, there continue to be scenes of both Tyrone and Tandy teleporting and witnessing memories of the past. I have no clue why these were included, other than to continue to work on the characters' backstories. All of them grind the show to a halt, and aren't explained or addressed at all, although they do impact the characters and their mental state. These scenes are just part of what was a very weak episode, one that nearly caused me to fall asleep several times. Hopefully we get some action or intrigue sometime soon, because this show is already in desperate need of it.
3/10
In terms of two episodes at the start of a new series, I think I've seen worse. This still was pretty far from anything I'd call spectacular, though. The dialogue is stilted and feels forced at times, and the tonal shift from scene to scene can be jarring. I also have no idea what's happening in those teleportaion/flashback scenes. The acting seems fine, and it's visually quite impressive, so those are both positives. There is some potential here, and no real fan expectations to live up to. I'll be here to review all ten episodes of Season 1, and at that point, we'll see if this is something that continues. I hope you've enjoyed, and I'll see you again soon.
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