Happy Friday! Or, well, I hope it is, after what’s turned out to be a pretty wild opening week to 2021. If you’re anything like me, you could probably use a little stress relief right about now, and IMHO there are few better distractions than TV. How about something a little heroic?
In this week’s issue, we’ll be talking about some superhero TV series that are both made for adults and actually good. I’ll also share some information about a new section of this newsletter I’m pretty excited about!
Thanks for reading, and as always, don’t forget to share this newsletter with all your friends/family members/acquaintances/mortal enemies.
Superhero TV is Not Just for Kids Anymore
As a longtime comic book collector and Big Nerd, I’ve watched a whole lot of superhero-themed TV series over the years, starting way back in my childhood with Batman: the Animated Series. With so much superhero knowledge, I have high expectations for comic TV adaptations, but I can also appreciate some cheese if it’s wielded well.
I also recognize that not everyone who loves TV also maintains an expansive collection of action figures, and that while some series are loaded with lore for the most comics-obsessed, other series need broader appeal to be fun for wide audiences. With these recommendations, I’m keeping both groups of watchers in mind, so whether you’re a regular of the convention circuit or you can barely bother to watch the latest Marvel movie, hopefully you’ll find a new series here.
One final note: In this list, I’m only including series I have already watched. So, while plenty of people love shows like The Boys or Doom Patrol, I won’t make a recommendation unless I can personally vouch for it. I’m also including shows on this list that are, broadly speaking, for adults, so while I love Teen Titans and X-Men: Evolution, they’ll have to wait for future issues.
Titans
Image credit: HBO, DC
As a die-hard fan of the original animated Teen Titans, I was skeptical that this grown-up live-action take would have any of the charm of the Titans’ last small-screen adventures. Luckily, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by this series, which somehow manages to be violent and sweary and dramatic while still keeping a lot of heart.
Led by an embittered adult Dick Grayson, AKA Batman’s very first Robin (Brenton Thwaites), a group of damaged, superpowered young people work on staying alive and controlling their own violent natures, while also saving a few innocent civilians in the process. Otherworldly Kory Anders (Anna Diop) uses her “starfire” as her fiercely protective strength, while shape-shifting Garfield Logan (Ryan Potter) slips into tiger form when it’s time for battle. Meanwhile, conflicted Rachel Roth (Teagan Croft) fights her inner darkness and tries to wield her considerable power for good.
There are plenty of other characters comic fans will get excited about, as well as an abundance of Easter eggs to keep an eye out for. Surprisingly excellent costume design makes even the brightly-colored Robin suit look pretty awesome, while well-lit fight scenes (bless you, Titans lighting designers) show off impressive combat choreography. On top of all this, the show’s characters are all complicated and flawed, with selfishness and fear and guilt all common among even the most heroic of Titans, which allows for an even greater sense of triumph when they’re able to overcome their own demons.
The first season feels experimental in some ways, spending a good amount of time in the characters’ psyches, but it helps us understand them all the better for the more plot-driven second season. The series has been renewed for a third season, which is expected to premiere on HBO Max later this year.
Stream it on HBO Max.
The Umbrella Academy
Image credit: Netflix
Based on the comic series created by My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way, this show is...weird. Highly stylized visuals, a killer soundtrack, and some pretty wild plot details (Time travel! A talking monkey! Tentacle monsters!) come together to create one of the most fun television experiences I’ve ever had.
A group of estranged adopted siblings, all suddenly born on the same day at the same time all over the world, are reunited as adults in the wake of their father’s death. Each of the siblings has their own unique abilities, though they all come with drawbacks — the woman who can bend people’s wills to her own feels that she’s never earned anything in her life; the man who can speak to the dead can’t get them to shut up; the boy who could travel to the future couldn’t figure out how to get back. In addition, deep-rooted traumas (mostly caused by their father) have shaped the siblings’ lives into adulthood, and none of them could live a normal life if they tried.
But it’s not about living a normal life; it’s about trying to save the world from an apocalypse they’re told is certain. It’s also about trying to avoid assassins, and control superpowers, and know who to trust. But mostly, it’s about how grief and trauma affect people, and what it means to be family, all wrapped up in a messy, but very fun, package.
Stream it on Netflix.
Legion
Image credit: FX
So, um, this show is hard to explain, but the shortest version I can come up with is this: a troubled man named David Haller (Dan Stevens) discovers that the voices in his head are maybe not-so-imaginary, and that he is, in fact, an incredibly powerful telepath. That may sound like classic superhero series fare, but this show is far from traditional. It’s a psychedelic trip through the mind of a man who’s intemperate and fragile, damaged and dangerous, but trying to be decent. His journey of self-discovery is largely focused on his love for fellow mutant (yes, this is X-Men-related, though I don’t want to spoil the connection here) Sydney Barrett (Rachel Keller), as well as his own attempts to love himself and define what it means to be good.
This show can be deeply confusing at times, and David can draw viewers to his side in one episode and lose all sympathy points in the next. But its ever-changing visual style and constantly shifting sense of reality place us near to David’s own experience moving through his world, and while he can be a unreliable narrator, it’s a creative approach that allows the series to tackle complex themes and play with artistic lenses in a way few other shows can.
If you try to understand every single thing you’re seeing, you’ll end up as lost as David himself, but if you can learn to let go and allow the creative vision of the series to take you along for the ride, you’re in for a pretty unique experience.
Stream it on Hulu.
Daredevil
Image credit: Netflix
There may never be a better live-action superhero series than Daredevil. I know that’s a strong statement, but it’s warranted; this show, especially in its first season, is pretty near perfect, whether you’re a comic book fan or just have a love of good TV.
Raised by a Cathlic boxer father and blinded as a boy in a tragic accident, Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox) leads a dual life: he’s a mild-mannered lawyer by day, but at night, the mask (and fists) come out. The Man Without Fear isn’t exactly that, here. He has a close circle of friends he cares about very much, and he feels the full weight of his Catholic guilt over the many brutal things he’s done, and he gets overwhelmed by the weight of his sense of responsibility for the rough Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood he calls home.
This is what all so-called “gritty” takes should be. It’s violent, but not for the sake of violence; it’s heavy, but never without meaning. Matt’s life is painful, physically and emotionally, and much of his story is about overcoming his own internal struggles in order to be the hero his city deserves.
Top-notch acting, a plot which allows plenty of space for character growth, and iconic fight choreography (that hallway fight scene went viral for a reason) all create an immersive world where, though the most evil of villains still commit their dirty deeds, Matt’s constant fight for good allows a little hope to shine through.
Stream it on Netflix.
Harley Quinn
Image credit: HBO, DC
Even superhero cartoons aren’t just for kids anymore, and the vulgar, bloody Harley Quinn is a perfect example. Centered around Harley Quinn (Kaley Cuoco), the on-again, off-again (in this series, mostly off-again) girlfriend/sidekick of the Joker, this series is a laugh-out-loud funny take on some of comics’ best-known villains.
The show is self-aware enough to know that it’s ridiculous; a half-man, half-shark and a guy who’s literally just a blob of clay don’t exactly lend themselves to high drama. But the over-the-top plot lines and near-constant killer (heh) jokes also pave the way for some genuinely great character work. With the help of best friend Poison Ivy (Lake Bell), Harley finds her own version of girl power and freedom — and sure, it involves lots and lots of crime, but it also involves friendship, and moving on from abusive ex-boyfriends, and deciding what she wants to do for herself when she’s done allowing people to tell her what to do.
The show also provides some incisive social commentary at times (it’s hard not to talk about all the ways corporations are screwing up America when one of your main characters is a self-proclaimed “eco-terrorist”), and it’s fun and sometimes thought-inducing to see the many ways our own messed-up society can be reflected back at us through the lens of a made-for-laughs cartoon.
Stream it on HBO Max.
Artists Wanted
I’m launching another new feature in this newsletter pretty soon, and I’d love your help. With so many awesome fan artists out there, I’d like to add another layer to the experience by adding in some original art when talking about relevant series. While I’ll probably be doing some of these myself, I’d also love to use this newsletter to promote the artwork of other TV fans.
If you or someone you know would like your fan art featured in this newsletter, I’d love to hear from you! I’m happy to link to artists’ pages on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, etc., or personal websites. And while it might be a little while until we launch the fan art section, I’d love to get an idea of who’s interested now so I can keep people in mind as relevant issues come up.
If you’re interested, fill out this form and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can: https://forms.gle/FSj3DRagvTGD3Xah7
Bonus Features
Even with everyone home all year, traditional television did not do well in 2020. Here’s how the biggest networks fared.
Should TV providers be held accountable for the disinformation they help disseminate?
Alex Trebek’s last episode hosting Jeopardy! Is tonight. Amid rumors of new hosts, the show’s EP speaks about Trebek’s legacy.
That’s all for this week! Thanks for tuning in.