Review: Inhumans TV series
I won’t spend much time on this because it has already sucked the life out of me. I watched every episode hoping for some pay off, but to no avail. Here’s the basic gist…
- Heroic characters who can’t use their abilities (Medusa gets her hair cut off and Blackbolt is too powerful to show his powers more than three times.)
- Other heroic characters who are not well developed (Lockjaw the dog with horrible CGI, Crystal the teenage girl who could have stopped the problem on her own, but didn’t for some reason, Gorgon the man who you never actually see his hooved legs clearly, and Triton who dies and then is suddenly not dead because of a plan that no one really knows about even when it is revealed.)
- A villain who is basically more hero than the heroes (Maximus is portrayed in just that way, so at the end it almost feels as if the bad guys have won, even though it shouldn’t)
- Karnak was enjoyable to watch, but every scene he was in felt like it brought his character down.
- Atillan, the city on the moon, was the best thing about the show and even that gets destroyed at the end.
- And the Inhumans are now on Earth, so will they cameo in Agents of SHIELD or will we forget about them entirely? If they do cameo, then I hope its done in a way to completely not refer to this show at all because I’m trying hard to forget.
I hate to be the bringer of bad news. I’m not one of those comic nerds who sit in their basement and act like keyboard warriors hating all things done. If anything I’m the opposite. I’m a fan who grew up reading this stuff and am happy to see it on screen, and most of the time forgive the “problems” others have with it all. This was the exception. It was just boring from start to finish, and had no climax at all.
This officially marks the lowest score I’ve ever given to a show or movie, and I feel a pang of guilt for doing it, but I have to be honest. I give this show a 0.5 out of 5 sCrypt ratings, and that’s only because a zero would mean I hadn’t watched it.
What did you think? Have you seen Marvel’s Inhumans? Am I being too harsh? Chime in with your comments.
Review: Once Upon A Time Season 6 part 1
Well the winter finale has happened, so how is this season shaping up so far? Last year we were left with a mostly unwatchable series, but now we seem to be going back to what originally made this show great. Below will be spoilers, so be warned. If you want my rating without the spoilery material, then scroll down to the last paragraph.
The Snow White family: Snow White, Prince Charming, Emma, and Henry are exactly what they started out as. Henry’s holding everything together, Emma is doubting herself, Snow and the Prince are acting like real leaders. My question is what happened to their other baby? Has he been written out of the show? This seems like a plot point that needs to be addressed. Other than that, I have no complaints so far. Even the return of the sleeping curse (with a major twist) was very creative.
Regina vs The Evil Queen and where the Wicked Witch lies: This just reminds me how much I missed the Evil Queen. I love Regina as a good guy, but she’s so much better when she’s bad. I’m not sure I like the dynamic between her and Rumple, but it doesn’t take away from anything. Zelena is always better showing her wicked side, and we’ve gotten away from that a bit, but it’s starting to return, which I love.
Captain Hook and Nemo – Hook has proven to be quite the hero all around. Even his past seems to haunt him in ways I didn’t think possible. The 20,000 Leagues under the sea episode was one of my favorite this season. It proved Hook can be like a father to Henry, and leaves me with no doubt that he has good intentions.
Belle and the Beast: Rumplestiltskin proves to be a thorn in his own side. As evil as he is, he still doesn’t seem like the threat he used to be. Instead of everyone fearing him, it is really Belle who does for their baby. Rumple is a beast to himself more than anything and causes much of his own sorrow. I want the secure beast to return and be the ultimate bad with his ways. Otherwise the portrayal falls a little flat for me at times.
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – What a twist! I had no idea the roles would be reversed, but they did it in traditional Once Upon a Time fashion. They were a short lived arc, but given just the right amount of time.
Aladdin, Jasmine, & Jafaar – Even Iago the parrot got his little cameo this time. Jafaar has been recast since Wonderland, but the transition was smooth. I only question when this happens in the timeline. Since Wonderland a few seasons ago seemed off time wise, it makes for confusion for long time fans. Aside from that, I like how they told the story of these three, and look forward to more. There were nods to the late Robin Williams (who played the Genie in the animated film), and to Abu the monkey. I think Aladdin deciding to put on the cuffs and becoming the next Genie was an interesting approach.
Morpheus: He appears in a dream to Rumple and Belle as their unborn son. It was a small nod to the Greek leftovers from last season, but it didn’t feel forced or out of place any of the times he was there.
The Count Of Monte Cristo – This was the first episode in a few seasons that had me feeling refreshed. It finally focused on something new, and added to the already great arc of Jekyll and Hyde. It may have been a one timer, but the land of untold stories is great source material for many one shots.
The return of Cinderella, Dr. Frankenstein, & Jiminy Cricket – Ella’s back story was a great episode, and finally answered some things that were left hanging since the first season. The Cricket and Doctor have supporting roles, but I’m happy to have them back, since they’ve been virtually missing since 2 seasons ago.
The Woodcutter (Huntsman) – A small villain role that served as a very interesting addition to a crowded snow white back story. It shoehorned in nicely as filler material to the main couple’s true love.
The Black Fairy and Blue Fairy – I always enjoy the Blue fairy, but the addition and identity of the Black Fairy was decent. It shows that Gold has ancestry of an evil entity, and this contributes to why he is the way he is.
The Mirror and the Dragon – If you missed earlier seasons, it is implied that the Dragon is Mushu from Mulan. The episode with the Mirror trapping, and how the original entity was trying to escape took us to another dimension entirely. It also showed the power that the evil Queen really does hold.
The Wish Realm, and the return of a hero? – Emma and Regina are trapped in an alternate world where Emma was never the savior. It took some convincing, but as they are ready to return, Robin Hood arrives. In this universe he never died, which leaves us waiting until March to see what will happen. With Emma and Regina trapped away from Storybrooke, how will the real world get through it all?
In conclusion, Once Upon a Time Season 6 part 1 has utilized some of the old, and brought in some untold stories anew. The potential for this show could continue for years, and I’d like to see that happen if they keep on this route. I’m sad that I have to wait until March to find out what happens, but at the same time I feel the break is needed to keep the show going like this. Dare I say season 6 could be the best season yet? Yes. I dare to. If you haven’t watched in a while, then you should tune back in, and if you never have watched, then now is the time to. Cheers to the writers this season. I give it 4.5 out of 5 sCrypt ratings.
Review: Once Upon A Time Season 3 (& Wonderland)
There is a LOT to cover here, but I’ll make it as brief as possible. First off, if you AREN’T watching Once Upon a Time, then you need to stop reading and start at season 1. I guarantee you will get so wrapped up in the characters and stories that you will not stop until you are caught up. There will be spoilers in here so skip to the end paragraph if you want my rating of both shows. Yes, I threw Once in Wonderland in here because to me it is part of season 3 albeit on its own.
I’ll start with part 1 of season 3 Once Upon a Time. The main villain here is Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. The reveal of who Peter truly is in relation to Rumplestiltskin really shows why Rumple is the way he is. Wendy’s story arc is good here, and Peter as a villain works surprisingly really well. He was the villain you loved to hate.
We also see a turn for the better with Rumple and Regina here, that leads to them being more heroic than ever. In fact, it is safe to say they are now heroes for season 3, and likeable ones at that. Neil (aka Baelfire) however becomes the ultimate hero by sacrificing himself to save everyone.
What took me by surprise is that at the mid season break, it finished up that storyline, so instead of one long season arc, we actually got 2 shorter arcs, but I think this was a good thing to keep the show fresh. The episode with Ariel and Eric was satisfying, and seeing that the Evil Queen Regina took on the form of Ursula the sea Witch was fun as well.
Now we get on to Once Upon A Time In Wonderland. It really is ashame that this didn’t get renewed for a second season. I think the time slot was a bad choice. This should have aired at the mid season break slot of Once Upon A Time, but instead was on a different night where not many people tuned in. It DID however give us a good look at Wonderland and those characters, and they wrapped the whole storyline up. Basically, they didn’t leave us hanging to wonder what happened, and they left it open to include the remaining characters in the main show at some point.
Anyway, so we have Alice being taken back to Wonderland to save her lost love, who is a genie. Now keep in mind that this genie, AND the Sultan, are NOT the genie and Sultan from Aladdin, BUT, Jafar is the main villain. Speaking of which, Jafar is one of the best villains on this or the main show to date. His portrayal and agenda echoed what is known of the character, and he is not limited by simple morals. There is a soft side to him, however, which keeps the human part of him real.
Anastasia/The Red Queen was an annoyance at first, but the last few episodes had me liking her. The White Rabbit, Caterpillar, The Bandersnatch, The Knave of Hearts (Will Scarlet), and Alice herself all had great purposes in the series and I enjoyed every moment they had on screen. We even had a little back story with Robin hood and his merry men, which was a break from the norm of the show. The character of Elizabeth “Lizard” was odd at first, but a welcome sight…. until she died, which choked me up a little (I’ll be honest… I never like seeing a pretty woman die).
Cora appearing as the Queen of Hearts was expected, and she lived up to the menacing person she portrayed in the main series. Of course this was all in flashback here, but it was needed for back story. The Well of Wonders and the genies had a nice little plot thrown in there, but we could have probably skipped over that whole angle (though the demon of the well was creepy as hell).
At first I was disappointed by the Jaberwocky, but five minutes after her first appearance on screen, I grew to really like her as a creepy, fear inducing villain, and I hope she comes back at some point.
My only problem with characters here are the Tweedles. I didn’t like how they looked, and I felt they were used inappropriately for the most part. Their roles could have been better planned. As far as overall plot, Jafar trying (and succeeding) in rewriting the laws of magic seems to directly affect the events in the main series. In other words, despite the connection being little to both shows, they seem to acknowledge the events of one another to some extent. One last thing to mention is that there were definite ties to Storybrooke and the real world. I doubt we will ever see Alice again or the Genie, but Wonderland will be back in some form in the main show, I’m sure of it.
Returning to the main series, let’s talk about part 2 of Season 3. Here is where I was highly interested, perhaps more than I’ve been in the whole series. Why? I’ve personally read all 15 of the original L Frank Baum Oz novels, so bringing that in here was more than a welcome sight for me. Before I get into the main plot of this half, I’ll touch on the characters. Aurora, Phillip and Mulan were underused as usual. I almost don’t even want to see them in the show anymore unless some kind of good use 
for them is found. Rapunzel’s addition felt rushed, and I HATE when they change the race or sex of a character. (IE I don’t want to see a Black Indiana Jones or a white Blade). It annoys me, and especially with Tangled being so fresh in my mind of Disney movies, I had an image of Rapunzel in my head. Other than that, I don’t have an issue.
The new take on Lumiere (the candleabra) was interesting and refreshing. Blackbeard and Glinda, though minor roles, served their purposes and worked well in the story. Dorothy Gale coming to Oz was both hit and miss for me. I liked what they did with her, and how the fairy tale was twisted, but again, this felt rushed. I only hope we see more of her and Oz characters because in the long run, there is a lot of Oz that could still be used (even from the original characters we all know and love, that have yet to appear).
Now on to Zelena (The Wicked Witch of The West). She truly was wicked. I like the explanation of her green appearance (envy) and why she was so wicked. She had similar goals as Jafar in Wonderland, but for different reasons. The use of the flying monkeys and even the great wizard of Oz himself helped her to achieve her goals, but she still met her demise at the hands of Rumplestiltskin.
Of course, then we had the whole Captain Hook and Emma going back in time, but they sorted out the past and returned to a wonderful future. Charming and Snow White named their newborn son Neil. Emma embraced her magic and purpose and decided that her and Henry were going to stay in Storybrooke. Rumplestiltskin and Belle married. Regina and Robin Hood were happy together.
It was all a peaceful ending that made me worry. I worried because I thought “This is it.” Everyone has a happy ending. There is no need for another season. I’m so glad I was proven wrong, but now I have to wait until the Fall for more episodes. Like Once Upon a Time normally does, we are left with massive cliffhangers. In the last two minutes of the show’s season, we learn this. Rumplestiltskin still has his own dagger, even though his wife believes that she is the one that has it. This is sure to cause a problem in the future. Regina, finally void of her Evil Queen status is suddenly screwed by Snow White’s family again, because the one person that Emma saved in the past was supposed to die. That person was the Maiden Marion, who was married to Robin Hood and mother of his child. This then takes Robin Hood away from Regina, and her vengeful “Evil Queen” may or may not emerge to exact vengeance upon Emma for ruining her happiness.
Somehow I think they will avoid this mostly. Why? Henry still believes and loves his step mother, Regina, as a good person now. His love for her will stop her from being as vicious as she used to be. Also Tinkerbelle predicted that Regina is destined to find happiness with the man with the wrist tattoo. Now of course, this could have been redacted because of the whole time travel alteration, but I think that somehow they will work on getting Robin and Regina back on track. After all, he can’t just ignore the feelings he has for her.
Let’s see. What else? Other than a fun Back to the Future reference, and a cameo by a stuffed Mickey Mouse doll, there was perhaps the biggest reveal of all. Regina tells Emma that “You better hope you didn’t bring anything else from the past back with you.” We find out that one of Rumplestiltskin’s artifacts came through the portal. From it escapes a woman in a flowing blue dress and pale skin. We don’t know what her face looks like, but if anyone has seen Frozen, then you know it is the Snow Queen herself, Elsa, as she freezes and shatters the artifact from which she emerged.
Other than the Frozen story coming to season 4, it has also been confirmed that the Knave of Hearts will be making his way onto the main show, and that Disney’s Brave and Princess and the Frog (retelling of the Frog Prince) will all be included in some manner.
This show keeps getting better, and I’ve learned to expect nothing except greatness and frustration on waiting for the next episode. I give season 3 of Once Upon a time 9 out of 10 sCrypt Coffins, and Once Upon a Time in Wonderland gets 6 out of 10 coffins. The reason I rate Wonderland lower is because of the obviously limited budget for the effects, and it really didn’t get compelling enough for me until the last 7 episodes. What did you think of these shows and what do you speculate for the future of the series?
Think About This Podcast
I am proud to announce that one half of sCrypt comics has begun a new podcast http://www.thinkaboutthis.podbean.com. Cohosts Rick and Roberta talk about all sorts of things that interest them, so feel free to chime in with your thoughts and suggestions. Stay tuned too. Dan Pipito, the other half of sCrypt Comics, will be making a few appearances to talk about zombies, video games, comics and more!
Episode 1 takes a look at some great Television series from past and present. Episode 2 is just in time for Valentine’s day or any dating time of year.
sCrypt Publishing 