That time of the year again, huh?
For this year’s roundup, I thought I’d throw in Legion just for kicks and giggles. I didn’t get a chance to talk about it when it finished up, and I still really want to talk about it.
Also, one major difference from last year’s roundup is that, instead of doing the top 5 episodes of each season, I’d talk about my favourite and least favourite episodes. We’ll see how it plays out.
I’m going in order of when the finales aired, so up first is…
Legion (Season 1)
Who knew that arguably the most innovative, intelligent, quirky and beautiful comic book shows out there right now would end up being X-Men’s first TV outing?
Legion’s first season was darn near-perfect, the stand-out aspect being the look of the series. Not just the cinematography, but the production ad costume design and those little details you don’t notice until someone points them out on Reddit.
And that’s not to say that everything else about the show wasn’t as good. It was just as good. The mystery at the heart of the season turned out to be a twisting and sometimes terrifying ride, and the cast and characters were all fantastic and unique.
I think that’s the best word to describe Legion: Unique. And I think that’s what our beloved superhero genre needs these days.
Top 5 Episodes (in chronological order)
- “Chapter 1”
- “Chapter 4”
- “Chapter 5”
- “Chapter 6”
- “Chapter 7”
Expectations for Season 2
Honestly, Legion, just keep doin’ what you’re doin’. Maybe do some world-building and introduce some new characters and villains. Other than that, just more of everything that made this first season so awesome.
Legends of Tomorrow (Season 2)
The absence of Captain Cold and Rip Hunter, the minor shuffling of the tone and cast, and the somewhat aimless first half made me a bit wary about enjoying Legends’ second season. But from “The Chicago Way” on, the show seemed to find its footing with its refurbished status quo.
One of the highlights was indeed the Legion of Doom, featuring a few great villains from Arrowverse seasons past, but the way the show continued its development of the heroes (especially everyone’s favourite anti-heroic pyro, Mick Rory) was certainly on the same level. It’s interesting to look at how far these guys have come since their supporting or minor roles on Arrow and The Flash.
Another aspect that deserves some love was the writers’ new policy of “Let’s do whatever the heck we want.” I was a bit annoyed with it at first, but Legends seemed to take on a sense of self-awareness, something which wasn’t exactly there for its first season. After all, this is a show about superheroes travelling through time and battling evil, so just go ahead and make it a fun, slightly comedic, adventurous romp! Want the heroes to save the world by convincing George Lucas to make Star Wars? Do it! Want two of the characters to sing the Banana Boat song in a NASA control room during the 60’s? Go to town! Hopefully, this is something the series will continue to embrace next season.
Top 5 Episodes (in chronological order)
- “The Chicago Way” (Episode 8)
- “Raiders of the Lost Art” (Episode 9)
- “The Legion of Doom” (Episode 10)
- “Moonshot” (Episode 14)
- “Aruba” (Episode 17)
Expectations for Season 3
Again, more romp. I also wouldn’t mind a new addition or two to the Waverider crew. Maybe another supporting character from the extended Arrowverse? Also, now that the adventure-style story has been done, maybe a different direction for Season 3 should be on the menu. Now that aliens have been introduced to the Arrowverse via the “Invasion!” crossover, maybe its time to go full Guardians of the Galaxy and have the Legends go cosmic. Or go even bigger! There’s a multiverse out there to explore, and Legends is the perfect vessel for it.
Agents of SHIELD (Season 4)
You’d think that a season-long story that incorporated flaming skull-headed demons, an evil spell-book, robots, and virtual reality would turn out to be a fairly disjointed season. Well, funny story…
SHIELD’s fourth season was possibly the series’ best year yet (Personally, it's neck and neck with Season 2). I think most of it is thanks to the series’ trademark “pod” system. By splitting its past three seasons into two or more different, yet still connected, plots, SHIELD has not just learned, but now mastered, the art of maintaining a story’s momentum over 22 episodes, which is ironic considering Season 1’s pacing was so poor.
Season 4 introduced us to a fantastic incarnation of Ghost Rider and a compelling villain in Aida/Ophelia, gave us the series’ best episode yet in “Self-Control,” and took an eerie, but loving, look back at its history with the dive into the Framework. Everything gelled so nicely, and if history repeats itself, we can only assume Season 5 will be even better. No pressure.
Top 5 Episodes (in chronological order)
- “The Good Samaritan” (Episode 6)
- “Self-Control” (Episode 15)
- “What If…” (Episode 16)
- “Farewell, Cruel World!” (Episode 20)
- “The Return” (Episode 21)
Expectations for Season 5
As teased at the end of the finale, it appears the SHIELD crew is heading to space next season, and that opens up a bunch of doors storywise. And I’m not entirely sure which one I’d want the show to choose. Could the season revolve around our heroes trying to escape their captors and make their way back to Earth? Are they working for SWORD now (the space equivalent of SHIELD), as some have suggested? Will they be hopping from planet to planet and fighting bad guys like the Marvel version of Star Trek? Will there be some sort of crossover with Guardians of the Galaxy or Infinity War? SO MANY QUESTIONS…but I have total faith that the writers have something good up their sleeves, so we’ll just have to wait…until January. *sigh*
The Flash (Season 3)
If I learned anything from The Flash’s third season, it’s that the fourth will have to do something drastically different if it wants to hold my attention.
There was certainly an opportunity to do something different with Flashpoint. Those hopes were dashed when things snapped back to a slightly altered, but still pretty much the same, status quo…and that was sort of OK. I think we all knew our stay in Flashpoint wouldn’t be a season-long affair, and basically every series ever has to stick to its original status quo. But then, the back half of the season was hampered by the annoyingly drawn-out “save Iris” plot and yet another mystery surrounding the identity of a speedster villain.
Were there some good aspects? Heck yeah. Namely, the additions of Julian and Gypsy, Caitlin’s Killer Frost dilemma, Wally and Jessie getting their speed, etc. But the season was so poorly paced and too afraid to shake things up to a large degree that I was left with a stale taste on my tongue.
Top 5 Episodes (in chronological order)
- “Paradox” (Episode 2)
- “Killer Frost” (Episode 7)
- “Invasion!” (Episode 8)
- “The Wrath of Savitar” (Episode 15)
- “Infantino Street” (Episode 22)
Expectations for Season 4
Do something different. Please. The ending to Season 3 presents the opportunity to shake The Flash to its core, so take it! Having a villain who’s not a shrouded-in-mystery speedster is another good step in the right direction. I’d be ecstatic if Season 4 is the spiritual follow-up to Season 1 in terms of how great the storytelling was. Also, better pacing. That’s a must.
Arrow (Season 5)
I’ll admit that I wasn’t as eager as others to embrace the seemingly improved Arrow with Season 5, and I think I’m still a bit hesitant. There’s still a multitude of residue problems from the previous two seasons (not just Olicity, OK?) But I have to applaud the way Arrow was able to bounce back from the brink of disaster.
The part of Season 5 I enjoyed the most was the way it brought the series full circle. Not just by wrapping up the flashbacks, which have been as much a part of the show as the present day escapades, but by having the villain be someone connected to Oliver’s rich guy-murdering crusade in the first season. Adrian Chase/Prometheus was a pretty safe villain, one who shares goals with a Mr. Slade Wilson, but the big red herring that they pulled off with the guy and Josh Segarra’s unhinged performance, was still able to make him a formidable and unique foe for Oliver.
I wouldn’t put Season 5 on the same level of quality as the first two seasons, but I was thrilled by Arrow more than I was in both Seasons 3 and 4, so…it’s definitely the third best season…
Oh, and we got Deathstroke back and that deserves all the brownie points I can give.
Top 5 Episodes (in chronological order)
- “Invasion!” (Episode 8)
- “Checkmate” (Episode 16)
- “Kapiushon (Episode 17)
- “Missing” (Episode 22)
- “Lian Yu” (Episode 23)
Expectations for Season 6
I almost wish there was no Season 6, and I don’t mean that in a passive-aggressive way. After bringing closure to many of the series lingering plot points and basically ending the season where the series first began, it makes me wonder if Arrow can come back with a story that feels necessary, or if the next season will end up feeling forced. Hopefully this is something the writers have considered. You could roll with the return of Deathstroke and perhaps set-up the apocalyptic take on Star City we witnessed in the first season of Legends of Tomorrow. OR GO AND EXPLORE BRAVE NEW TERRITORY. Either or.
Noah
No comments:
Post a Comment