So what if you are satisfied with being a slightly-above-average-but-anonymous person enjoying the VIP box in the Olympics and somebody slips you a magic elixir that, at will, turns you into a gold medalist, with all perks and stature afforded that? How does that affect your psychology, especially if you are an over-educated, professional woman in a sexist society? This Ally McBeal homage is getting closer and closer to that idea with each passing episode. I’m still waiting for the old/new Daredevil to show up, and, unlike my current dragon-show obsessions, most of the episodes are shallow and completely forgettable–yes, even for a sitcom! But the thematic query, now reaching the center of it, is interesting.
As folks who follow me on social media can see by now, I spend a *ridiculous* amount of time each week watching #JohnCampea, #GraceRandolph, #ScreenCrush, #NewRockStars and others to get my TV/movie superhero news fix. Because of this act of kindness, I will no longer feel guilty about the two hours I spend with Campea almost every damn weekday! #TJCS #TheJohnCampeaShow
Thor needed more. After this one, I hesitate to pray to add to the score.
Remember 29 or so movies ago, when Marvel strove to be great as well as funny and colorful? What is undoubtedly the middle film in Taika Waititi’s “Goofy Thor” trilogy suffers from serious sophomore jinx when placed next to his prior, the comedy classic Thor: Ragnarok.The 2022 question is whether to wait 45 days to see this Loki-less film on streaming or see it now. With great sadness, I say thee nay to the immediate glow.
Lana(finding out that Clark is Superman and talking about how he took his sweet time coming back to Smallville after he abandoned her to find his way to the cape): Did you ever love me?
Clark: Oh, Lana, of course I did.
Lana: (PAUSE) Just not enough.
I was determined to hate this show when it premiered and initially I was successful. A Superman TV narrative without Metropolis, The Daily Planet, etc.? A re-tread of Smallville? Superman with a brother? No. This ain’t the Thor movies.
But almost two full seasons in and after me pretty much memorizing Season 1, it’s clear this is the best Superman TV show ever. And that’s not easy, since there’s 70 years’ worth of truth-justice-American-way-TV to evaluate (including the very-good, just canceled homage show Naomi). The message of this well-written, well-photographed show–if you don’t take care of your family, every part of it, and do the hard work of sustaining that care every day, your family and you will fall apart–is clearly articulated by its expert use of nearly 100 years of Superman lore.
Lana will heal because she’s not jealous of Lois; she has her own beautiful and loving family to fix. And that’s the point of this show. Everyone’s busy keeping their family foundation solid. It be hard.
The best compliment I can give this show is that the only Marvel TV shows I ever put on loop are Disney+’s WandaVision followed by Daredevil. So for the CW’s Superman and Lois, a proud and strong DC product, to join that ranking is fantastic.
Drums in the Global Village 