This week The CW premiered the latest DCU show Superman & Lois and it shares the Arrowverse with the other CW shows. The Man of Steel is reprised by Supergirl star Tyler Hoechlin. The premiere episode takes place at a much later time in the Kryptonian’s life. Kal El is married to Lois Lane, who is played by Grimm’s Bitsie Tulloch. To make things complicated, Clark and Lois are raising 14-year old twin sons — Jonathon (Jordan Elsass) and Jordan (Alex Garfin) Kent — in the bustling city of Metropolis as the couple remain journalists for The Daily Planet…
The first episode is filled with fan service. Some of the nods in the episode are subtle while others are blatant. Siegel and Shuster, Superman’s creators are referenced as well as a nod to the cover of Action Comics #1 and using the “S” symbol with the black like the Fleischer cartoon. Supes makes a trip to Gotham’s ACE Chemical Plant when the audience is given a peak at the villain that will most likely last the whole season. No spoilers but the family ends up going back to Smallville.
There, major changes happen, eventually the locals catch up with the Kents, including Lana Lang (Emmanuelle Chriqui), her husband Kyle Cushing (Erik Valdez) and their daughter Sarah (Inde Navarrette). The episode works well enough that the audience can see the mechanizations begin to work and the plot of the season unfurls. For the most, part the villain remains anonymous but that is not to say there is no conflict or confrontation. There is a decent fight between Superman and the anonymous antagonist.
https://youtu.be/PzGaOCTtXMQ
In general, the premiere episode has action and the visuals are fairly well done and not at all cheesy. The romance between Clark and Lois does resonate and doesn’t cross the line to an overdrawn or overacted relationship. I will not spoil anything if for some reason you have not watched this episode, having said that the dynamic of the twin sons feels similar to the treatment of the comic book characters the Super-Sons. The obvious difference would be that one is not Bruce Wayne Jr.– or in the later series, Damian Wayne and no Clark Kent Jr.
The relationship the brothers have really lends itself into that dynamic, and who knows… maybe a spin-off? Much like what Superman’s symbol means, this premiere gave me hope. Hope that Lois & Clark will be replaced by Superman & Lois. Hope there will crossovers. Most of all; hope that this is the start of something great. This looks like a job for the CW. Good luck. 4.5/5 Bibles.
Now this was a #DCFanDome panel that was fun and informative. Hosted by Jim Lee, the Superman and Lois panel featured head writer Todd Helbing and title stars Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch. Much like the other CW shows, Supes & Double L will dive into societal issues; in this instance it will show the importance of journalism, especially with journalists under attack here and abroad.
The show also takes place in Smallville with Clark losing his job at the Daily Planet due to budget cuts. Lois will still be a journalist, but the two will also be raising twin teenage boys. Helbing did mention the ever present “love triangle” of Superman lore. While it has usually been between Clark/Lois/Superman, this time it’ll be between Clark/Lois and Clark’s high school sweetheart Lana Lang. Now, Clark obviously isn’t going to cheat on Lois, but there will be feelings there that might be brought to the forefront.
No word on any villains yet, but there will be, of course, the usual global catastrophe the Superman will have to save. They also did mention that the Man of Tomorrow will be getting a new suit. The one that they used for the Crisis series wasn’t meant to last more than a few episodes, but as with all the CW shows, we shouldn’t be that shocked with Superman getting a new suit. The title heroes get new suits every season.
The one thing that did bother me throughout a lot of the panels is that they really need to stop asking people “when did you get into comic books?” They asked both Tyler and Elizabeth when they got into Superman and they both like “we didn’t read the comics, but we did see the movies”; sad fact, butttt.. not everyone was into the comics. Some just watch the movies and maybe, for others, it’s just a job. No need to make them feel like they have to say they like the comics just to appease the fanboys and girls. 4/5 Super Bibles.
Much like DC’s Legends of Tomorrow panel, the Doom Patrol panel was fun to watch but did not divulge a lot in the way of what’s going to happen next. Again, that is to be expected with this absolute shitshow that 2020 had turned into thanks to COVID and a myriad of other shit. Since they were just renewed for Season 3 — which I still don’t understand why they didn’t announce it sooner — I’m assuming that the writers have things plotted out, but nothing has been cemented. The panel included cast members: Diane Guerrero, April Bowlby, Matt Bomer, Timothy Dalton, Riley Shanahan, Matthew Zuk, Joivan Wade, Abigail Shapiro, and Karen Obilom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TusmSgYoDhQ
The fun parts of this were the stories that the actors had on set and, just like on Legends, this is a cast that genuinely likes to work together and have fun together. Shanahan and Zuk (the on-set ‘Robotman’ and ‘Negative Man’) did speak on what it was like to portray the characters while the voice actors watch; they either change up the performance based on how the voiceover talent (in this case, Matt Bomer) might do a reading, or see something new that, say Matthew Zuk, does on set and go back in and redo the scene. Bomer also said that he ripped Zuk’s ‘Negative Man’ suit the one time he wore it, so it was probably best that Zuk keep it.
Also, hearing Wade speak with his British accent is always a bit of a trip. The writers did say that Doom Patrol is almost an “anything goes” type writers room and nothing is “dumb” or “stupid”. After the way Season 2 ended on such a cliffhanger, I was hoping for a little bit more in regards to Season 3, but that’s okay. The panel was still fun, just not very informative. 3/5 Doom Bibles.
Legacy of the Bat was a panel of Expectations vs Reality. Given the title, I was looking for a panel discussing the 80-years of Batman lore and how it’s influenced other characters in the Bat Universe. Instead, we have a panel focused on recent spin-offs — such as Titans and Batwoman — with Batman himself only mentioned in the periphery.
While disappointing, they could have been more specific about what the panel was and who would be on it to avoid confusion; the panel also suffered from obvious heavy editing. DC clearly wanted to keep the panels to 30-35 minutes for the most part, and this one clearly stretched longer than that in original form. The cuts they made to widdle it down and the spots they made them were really obvious and jarring. Responses would clearly be cut off, reactions would be really abrupt and right on top of the previous statements and it was obvious a lot was left on the cutting room floor, which is unfortunate.
The early focus was on the show Titans and Brenton Thwaites’ portrayal of Nightwing. While I haven’t seen the show, both moderator Nyambi Nyambi (yes, not a typo) and Thwaites did a good job providing context for the Q&A despite my not being familiar with it. Less successful was showrunner Caroline Dries talking about Batwoman, as she spoke of the first season in the most vague of generalities that I had no idea what she was referencing or what story arcs had even happened in Season 1. I respect that they did address the recasting of the titular character for Season 2. While understandably not elaborating on Ruby Rose’s exit, Dries did discuss the challenge of writing a new character to don the mask, and then she and Nyambi introduced Javicia Leslie onto the panel, who will be playing new Batwoman Ryan Wilder.
Leslie talked about how important representation in entertainment means to her, and how the weight of the responsibility dawned on her after media started writing pieces about how she’s the first Black woman to ever portray the character and how important that is. Lee hinted at the possibility of Wilder being integrated into the comics lore, stating that its rare (and used Harley Quinn as the obvious example) but that it does happen and they have been working on it, which Leslie was very excited about.
Throughout the first 3/4s of the panel, Batman: Gotham Knights creative director Patrick Redding was silent, but they kept cutting to random reaction shots of him just sitting there smiling, which was odd. I think they were trying to remind everyone that he was still there, but it really distracted from whomever was speaking to cut to him when he’d been silent all panel and was just grinning the entire time. Lee announced that John Ridley was writing a new comics miniseries for early next year introducing a new Batman, with Ridley strongly inferring that the new Dark Night will be a person of color and saying he’d be focusing heavily on the family of Lucius Fox.
Once Redding got to speak, he largely repeated things that had been said when Gotham Knights had been first announced: Batman was killed story-wise to take away any sense of security and giving a rundown of how Robin, Batgirl, Nightwing and Red Hood must, through the player, figure out how they will protect Gotham moving forward.
Fan questions were then presented by “Jake from State Farm,” in one of more obnoxious and painful examples of forced advertising I have ever seen in these panels. When he asked the group about what their first strong memories of Batman were, it was interesting how influential the Nolan trilogy had been for the younger members of the panel.
Some good stuff here, but rough editing, a clearly clipped runtime and a lack of specifics when discussing some of the topics really hurt things. 3/5 Bibles.
-Dave Beaudrie
Robert “The Man” Bexar @RobBex2
DC FanDome is back for one more go-round and this time we are focusing on the small screen and comic book projects. The first panel I watched was DC’s Legends of Tomorrow panel and while it was fun, it really didn’t have anything to offer in terms of “what is happening next season”.
What the presentation did offer fans was a nice blooper reel and a little trivia game, although more of the panel was really about the friendships between the cast members, Caity Lotz directing her first episode and that was really it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXC2zBDcitE
The only tidbit we got for season 6 was that “now that Sara Lance has been taken off the board due to her abduction at the end of Season 5, what happens then?” And, basically, that other heroes are going to try and step up, but nothing goes according to plan.
The cast is always fun to watch and their personalities save an otherwise bland panel. They really do have fun with one another and that bleeds through the screen. 3/5 Bibles.
I have always been a huge fan of Starman and his legacy in the DC Universe. In my comic boxes lie virtually every appearance of every incarnation of the character, heck, from the time I started reading comics around 1975 to today. And there have been a lot of incarnations.
Originally the new Star-Spangled Kid, Stargirl, continued the legacy from the incredible Jack Knight era and, although she hasn’t made as big of a splash, has hung around as a fixture since Geoff Johns first introduced us to her in 1999. So it was with much excitement and anticipation that I watched the first real live action adaptation of the Starman legacy yesterday on the DC Universe streaming service. Stargirl also aired tonight on the CW…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TIqBNut468
It begins where it should, with the old members of the JSA fighting the Injustice Society (no, not supers from NetherRealm’s DC Universe). The original team in this show is established to have broken up ten years ago, after which Pat Dugan (Luke Wilson) — aka Stripesy, the Star-Spangled Kid’s older sidekick — was entrusted to find someone worthy enough to wield the cosmic rod. And so it sat in storage for ten years as Pat built a wonderful life for himself post-JSA. After the family moves from the cynical West Coast to idyllic Blue Valley, Nebraska, in comes Courtney Whitmore (Brec Bassinger), his step daughter, who stumbles upon the box and its very special contents, and off we go.
Geoff Johns fans will certainly feel his hands heavy on the pilot. Stargirl strikes close enough to the source material for this comic book purist, while deviating in ways that make sense in the media-shift. The newest addition to the CWVerse (formerly the Arrowverse) feels different than other CW shows in terms of its efforts to “get it right” for the comic book fans, and that was much appreciated. The actors are all extremely likable, so your investment might happen immediately. That’s definitely rare (at least for this reviewer) in today’s TV environment.
What do you mean Ruby QUIT?
Growing up in the era of Stephen Spielberg, I felt his influence here as well. Courtney is a smart, capable girl with all of the teenager and high school problems that moving to a small town creates. She briefly meets her future legacy super teammates by chance at a school lunch table shortly before she discovers the cosmic rod and inadvertently goes off on her first adventure. And beneath its perfect, shiny exterior, she learns that something darker lurks under Blue Valley. We see little hints of that scattered around and eventually witness the things that are going to menace these kids.
Here’s to hoping that Stargirl proves to be a hit and doesn’t rely on the other CW supes to reach the promised land. Seeing that JSA portrait featured also pushes all kinds of hope in seeing heroes whose potential has yet to be seen in live action. I’ll be watching. 4/5 Bibles.
Welcome to another installment of GHG’s Best “Geek” TV of the Year! All the following lists take a look at our favorite superhero, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, wrestling, nerd comedy and geek-related programming of 2019: cable TV and streaming services included. New to this year is the inclusion of non-geek TV into some of our lists. There was just so much diverse and impactful television, through all mediums, services and channels, that we felt we’d be doing you a disservice to not tell you how we REALLY feel! That said, most of our staff stuck to their pocket-protectors and D&D cards and kept things “geek”, while being sure to mention the not-so-geeky choices we cherished in the year that was.
Nonetheless, enjoy our column and have yourself a wonderful holiday season.
Robert Bexar @robbex2
1. The Boys (Amazon) – The Boys was a damn near flawless adaptation of the famous comic series. Karl Urban and Co. were spot on and I finished this season in 2 days (my parents finished it in 3). Amazon did a great job letting Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg do their “thing” with the Boys (much like AMC did with Preacher). – 5/5
Yeah, we’re super. SO super!
2. Umbrella Academy (Netflix) – This unheralded superhero series was a binge-worthy adaptation and one that made me want to go back and pick up the original series. Outstanding fight scenes with a fantastic soundtrack bumped this up to the #2 spot. – 5/5
3. *TIE* DC’s Harley Quinn (DC Universe) / Crisis on Infinite Earths (CW) – Yes, it has only been on for 3 episodes, but I have not laughed this hard at a cartoon’s premiere. Kaley Cuoco and Lake Bell steal the show, but the irreverent style this show takes on is a complete and utter home run. And.. yes.. I can have a tie on my list and the first 3 parts of the Crisis have been great. While we can all nitpick here and there, to cover something as epic as Crisis and doing so in 5 hours is both daunting and something that should be admired. – 4.5/5
4. Doom Patrol (DC Universe) – “Danny Patrol”. With this episode, Doom Patrol showed that they were the real deal. The casting is absolutely fantastic. I want to say that Diane Guerrero and Brendan Fraser steal the show, but in any given episode Alan Tudyk or Timothy Dalton or Matt Bomer or April Bowlby can steal it right back. Also, yes, Tudyk is in 2 of my Top 5… as all things should be. – 4.5/5
5. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC) – While I could have put a slew of shows in this spot, I’m giving lots of love to AoS because I feel that this show has only gotten progressively better with each season and I am going to reward that. – 4/5
Honorable Geek Mentions: The Mandalorian (Disney+), Gotham (Fox), Young Justice: Outsiders (DC Universe), BoJack Horseman (Netflix), Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, Black Lightening, Legends of Tomorrow (all CW), Titans (DC Universe), Stranger Things (Netflix), Lucifer (Netflix).
1. Watchmen (HBO) – Damon Lindelof‘s new incarnation of the Alan Moore comic takes us well into the future with a stunning new vision that mixes current political themes with the past. Using amazing visuals and the dramatic talents of an amazing cast, this was the television event of the year, if not the last decade. If you’re not watching the Watchmen, you’re simply missing out on the best thing happening right now. – 5/5
I’m watching…
2. The Mandalorian (Disney+) – They hit it right out the gate with their combination of Western, Sci-Fi, and Samurai. Hitting on classic Star Wars tropes with an amazing score and awesome special effects work, this is what fans have been waiting decades for: a proper television show based in our favorite galaxy. – 4.5/5
3. The Deuce (HBO) – This series came to a close this year. Moving across several different decades during its short 3 season story arc, James Franco and crew offered up an inside look at prostitution, mob rule, and the porn industry. Wrapping up during the AIDS breakout, the final season was a sad and uncomfortable watch that captured the era perfectly. – 5/5
4. Chernobyl (HBO) The Home Box Office seems to be ruling this list. The Chernobyl event series was a gripping tale about the dangers of the nuclear era. Told with absolute brutality, this short run was a time capsule look at how bad the disaster was, how science is not always right, and how easily man can be destroyed by our own creation. This was a hard watch that needs to be seen. If anything can be taught from this, it’s that we should be learning from our own mistakes. – 4/5
5. When They See Us (Netflix) – This series captures the tale of the Central Park Five with dramatic clarity. As a look at racism during that era, the show was absolutely breathtaking in its portrayal of what happened to these young men. Reflecting much of what is happening in society today with racial tensions and prejudices, When They See Us is something that must be seen to be believed. Everything about this project was damn perfect. – 4/5
-Christopher George
“The Priestess” Eva Ceja @evaceja
1. Peaky Blinders (Netflix) – One the best a TV shows on right now. Not only is the acting extremely in point, but the story is impeccable. From rags to riches to greed. “Rise of a mob king in 1917”. Mob stuff is geeky, don’t @ me. – 5/5
G’head, call us “geeks” one more time..
2. Snowfall (FX) – Also a rags to riches. This tells the story of the rise of crack cocaine in 1980s. Sooo good and.. addictive. How on the geek list? Because you know Moody is going to have that other rags to riches street shit from Hulu on his (Wu-Tang! Wu-Tang!), so I’m taking a liberty with this one. Also, you can’t tell me Breaking Bad wasn’t a killer at Comic-Con and this is the 80s, Urban version. Regardless, take the time to watch this one. – 5/5
3. Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (Amazon) – OK, so I know it isn’t exactly the Marvous Ms. Marvel.. but this cocky wonderful show is as fast, fun, and zany as the much beloved New Avenger. The acting is superb and the world of the show is wonderfully done. And not like any Marvel series coming to Disney+, I’m sure they spend a fortune of costumes alone. – 5/5
4. The Good Place (NBC) – If you haven’t see this gem of a show…. you haven’t lived. Moral philosophy, good and bad, what does it take to be a good enough human being? It’s an afterlife comedy, so hijinks ensue. Maybe a slight reach for a nerd-list, but I also adore Kristen Bell. She da bomb. – 5/5
5. Killing Eve (AMC) – Written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge (also see Amazon’s Fleabag, in my HM’s!!!), this is about an assassin psychopath who is in love with her British intelligence agent Eve. This weird, deadly, and hilarious show is like nothing else; it’s also on Hulu right now, so you have no excuses. – 5/5
Honorable Mentions: The Boys (Amazon), Stranger Things (Netflix), Mindhunter (Netflix).
Non-Geek Honorable Mentions: Fleabag (Amazon), Unbelievable (Netflix), Barry (HBO), Schitt’s Creek (Pop), Russian Doll (Netflix), On Becoming A God in Central Florida (Showtime), Euphoria (HBO), Succession (HBO).
-Eva Ceja
“Deacon” Dave Story @TheDeacon2814
1. Young Justice: Outsiders (DC Universe) e on DCU app, sight unseen. Everything we loved about the original is still there. The only thing keeping it from a perfect 5/5 is the increased focus on the new team, as I’d have preferred more of the team we left behind in Season 2. – 4.5/5
I don’t see Scott Hall or Kevin Nash. Do you?
2. Arrow (CW) – What a swansong for the show that kicked off the Arrowverse. It was a short season that led into the crossover, but it tied up all the loose ends, and let us revisit characters and places that were so pivotal to Oliver Queens growth and development. Fitting that it culminated in Crisis on Infinite Earths, after the Crisis, nothing will be the same, which is true of Stephen Amell making his exit. He started it all and the Arrowverse will never be the same again. – 4/5
3. Batwoman (CW) – I was on the fence when this was announced. I thought there were so many characters that should have gotten a show before Batwoman, going in with high hopes but low expectations. But, the show delivers and Ruby Rose is great in the role. It captures the early feel of Arrow Season 1, and learns from the first season mistakes of some of its sister shows. My biggest hope is that they don’t rush to put everyone in a costume. Let Batwoman be Batwoman; she doesn’t need a whole team. If Luke becomes Batwing before the back half of season 3, I’m out. – 3.75/5
4. Cobra Kai (YouTube Red) – THIS. IS. HOW. YOU. BRING. BACK. A. CLASSIC. AND. BELOVED. PROPERTY. It’s not a reboot, it’s a continuation. It calls back to the originals in all the right way without being too much fan service. Kai introduces new characters through the ones we already know and love. The focus only shifts to the kids as a part of the returning characters’ stories. The focus then shifts gradually to the newcomers, but we always come back to the OG’s because that’s who we wanted to revisit when we heard about the show. – 3.5/5
5. Power Rangers: Beast Morphers (Netflix) – Another year, another team of Power Rangers. The series has been hit or miss in recent years, but this one gives us just enough nostalgia for the longtime followers, but not too much to where you need to watch 25 years of backstory to get. It’s still campy for the kids but not overly so like some seasons recently. Since each iteration gets 2 seasons, we’re only halfway through, but with a huge team up happening in the 2nd half, it should be a fun ride. – 3/5
-Dave Story
“Divine” Derek Vigeant @uncledarryl37
1. Barry (HBO) – The story of a contract killer trying to go straight. Season 2 followed a diabolical finale that had its audience wondering how Barry (Bill Hader) was going to keep such a big secret from undoing all his efforts. This season took more of a dramatic turn with Barry having to deal with NoHo Hank and his desire to get rid of a rival crime leader, his ex-partner Fuches also a huge thorn in his side. The complex dynamic of Barry trying to juggle his new normal life, his past, and his own inner demons provides so much depth for a show that finds a way to pack it all into 30-minute installments. Episode 5 featured a certain little martial arts trained girl and wound up one of the stand-out episodes of any show this year. – 4.75/5
Is this really how much I need to pay Derek?
2. Euphoria (HBO) – Amid a cloud of marijuana smoke and the smell of alcohol, Euphoria is the show that will make you worry about your teenagers at night. Following a group of high school students who deal with dating, being socially acceptable, substance abuse, and dealing with their parents, all of which is encapsulated in a social media world that doesn’t make it any easier to figure out their own personal growth issues. The series centers around a girl named Rue (Zendaya) who is a struggling addict but the ensemble cast is strong all around; are all given unique storylines that find ways to intertwine over the course of the season. It isn’t often pretty, but Euphoria takes you into a world that once you’re in is impossible to want to leave. – 4.5/5
3. Chernobyl (HBO)- In 1986 the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Russia exploded and became one of the biggest disasters in our planet’s history. This show brings us the well-documented story of the events that happened the night of the explosion, the people that tried their best to contain it, and those that made sure the ones that were responsible were put to justice. In a lot of ways it feels like a well acted-out documentary because it is largely by-the-numbers story wise; yet, there is an assortment of gripping, emotional scenes that show the terrible effects of radiation poisoning. It’s not an easy watch but this is one of those stories that needs to be told to remind us of how technology and science should be handled with the highest level of caution and responsibility. – 4.5/5
4. *TIE* Into the Badlands (AMC) / Deadly Class (SyFy) – I wrestled with trying to put one of these before the other and just gave up because it seemed unfair to both one of them. Into the Badlands came to an end after three seasons and Deadly Class never even got a chance to grow past S01. Both shows were very action-oriented with multi-diverse casts that represented groups of people that didn’t necessarily get along but came together because they had to. Badlands had an excellent run with kick-ass fight sequences and outstanding production value. While it never really found its fanbase I’ll cherish the three seasons they gave us. DC was just one hell of a fun show that was cancelled by the SyFy Network without much of an explanation. Considering it was a story about a school that trained teenagers to be assassins I feel they barely scratched the surface of its possibilities. I can only hope one day it finds life again on a real channel. – 4.5/5
5. The Mandalorian (Disney+) – There has already been more said about this show in just a few episodes than Deadly Class got in its entire first season. Mandalorian is a great entertaining chapter in the ever expanding Star Wars universe, just minding its own business. Jon Favreau, Dave Filoni and company tell the tale of a bounty hunter who has a surprising change of heart about his profession after dealing with a “job” that challenges his morality. It doesn’t spend time trying to weave in other aspects of the Star Wars continuum or focus on any characters from previous installments. Mando’s simple and enjoyable while still using the imagination of different races, environments, and villains that are loyal to the Star Wars brand. It’s not on the grand scale of any of the theatrical films but nor does it need to be. – 4.25/5
Honorable Mentions: The Orville (Fox), What We Do In The Shadows (Hulu).
Non-Geek Honorable Mentions: True Detective (HBO), AP Bio (NBC).
-Derek Vigeant
“Sister” Sarah Obloy @DarthHistory
1. The Mandalorian (Disney+) – A visually faithful callback to the original (and best) of the Star Wars series. Solid side characters and a space western storyline that makes me want to tune in each week. – 5/5
Those NEVER Openweight Tag Team Titles are looking pretty obtainable now.
2. The Man in the High Castle (Amazon) – After a slower third season the story picks up and leads to an excellent and epic ending. – 5/5
3. Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (Netflix) – For fans of the original, this series was well worth the wait. Jim Henson‘s reimagined series also offers a great story and gorgeous visuals. – 4.5/5
4. The Expanse (Amazon) – An expanded narrative and a divergence from the book material — and a save by Amazon Prime — contributed to a really good season with very few misses. – 4/5
5. Room 104 (HBO) – As an anthology series, every episode is different, and not every particular one is amazing. But this season stands out with a strong season opener and a solid lineup. – 4/5
-Sarah Obloy
Kevin “Pastor” Palma @eggrollko
1. Crisis on Infinite Earths (CW) – The annual Arrowverse crossovers have progressively become less TV show events and more TV movies begining with “Crisis on Earth X” two years ago. That culminated with this year’s “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” which, by the final episode of the year, felt almost as big on-screen as the comic was within its medium. Of course, I’ve already said most of what I feel like I needed to in my review of that final episode. – 4.5/5
Does the Anti-Monitor Hate Geeks?
2. Agents of Shield (ABC) – What can I really say here that I haven’t already said of AoS over the past few years. Ever since Season 4, it has remained my absolute favorite show based on a comic book property. Season 6 started off a little slower, but by the end wound up being an excellent season. This season, just like the previous two, had an episode that was a contender for best of the series and was just a fun overall ride. I would rank this season slightly below the previous two, but it was still fantastic. – 4.5/5
3. Supergirl (CW) – While Supergirl has done a relatively good job with interpersonal drama and sociopolitical commentary, I’ve never really been overly fond of the villains of any season. That all changed in Season 4 with Agent Liberty, played by Sam Witwer and Lex Luthor, played by Jon Cryer. Agent Liberty perfectly embodied the type of villain that seems perfect for this show, a villain who may not be able to physically defeat her, but is a manifestation of an ideology diametrically opposed to hers and thus he’s a villain she can’t truly defeat through physical combat. – 4/5
4. The Flash (CW) – 2019 was a rather bizarre year for the ol’ Scarlet Speedster. It encompasses the latter half of Season 5, which brought in Eobard Thawne, aka the Reverse-Flash, as a secondary antagonist for the season, and the first half of Season 6, which I feel is good as The Flash has been since Season 2. On the other hand, as good as Thawne was as the secondary villain in Season 5, the primary villains, the two Cicadas, were the absolute worst season-long villains The Flash has ever had. Given how good Season 6 has been so far, though, and the fact that the back half will have to deal with the aftereffects of “Crisis on Infinite Earths,” I’m hoping that The Flash is back on the right track. – 3.75/5
5. Arrow (CW) – I’ve never really watched Arrow, but, given the important role Oliver Queen was ready to play in “Crisis,” I thought it might be important to watch this final season. While the events of Season 8 really didn’t affect Crisis the way I thought they might, the season as a whole has actually been really good. While it may have been more impactful for people who’ve watched the previous 7 seasons in their entirety, it worked perfectly fine for me, someone who has a pretty decent knowledge of the characters and events through osmosis from other shows and friends. This has been an excellent swansong for the show that started it all for the Arrowverse. – 3.75/5
Geek Honorable Mentions: Batwoman, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow (both CW), Rick and Morty (Adult Swim).
Non-Geek Honorable Mentions: Fleabag (Amazon), Barry (HBO).
-Kevin Palma
Travis Moody @travmoody
1. Watchmen (HBO) – I mean, this was the only show that got me to listen to a podcast for it too. Following an iffy start in a pilot that required multiple viewings just to understand.. anything, HBO’s Watchmen‘s brilliance was off and running in Ep02 and never looked back. There are so many juicy layers of narrative and character development and countless easter eggs that listening to HBO’s companion podcast is necessary (co-hosted by the creator, Lindelof, which I highly recommend by the way..). Repeated viewings are, too; and there’s no doubt I will enjoy its inaugural season — which hopefully is not the final and only season — even more so on my second run. If I had a bone to pick, it’s the fact that two characters who practically had their own episodes, Jean Smart‘s Laurie Blake and Tim Blake Nelson‘s Looking Glass — didn’t do a whole lot in the finale. That said, everything else about the 9-episode saga made for a perfect sequel/companion piece to Watchmen, delving 1000 traumatic steps further into subjects most are quick to avoid, and by TheEndIsNotSoNigh felt like it absolutely belonged in the same breath as the greatest comic book ever made. – 4.75/5
2. Preacher (AMC) – One of the most underrated shows on television got its proper send-off. No show felt more like our own at GODHATESGEEKS than this one, and I only wish that Rogen and Goldberg could witness the brilliance of my nerd-congregation the past 6+ years just the same. There’s no doubt that adapting Garth Ennis and Steve Dillon‘s classic comic to the small-screen was – at the very least — a passion project, and I’m beyond grateful and thrilled for the creators, writers, actors, crew and everyone involved in making a gem that many who (sadly) missed are destined to discover for years to come. A-Men. – 4.5/5
Yeah, I’m gonna miss you too.
3. The Mandalorian (Disney+) – After a pretty much perfect start in its first three episodes (like HFS, can we get more Star Wars in this serial format?!??), it’s remained an addictive, compelling section of the SW Universe that has made even the angriest Last Jedi haters smile. And what other Jedi dweeb hasn’t pre-ordered $500 worth of Baby Yoda stuff yet? – 4.5/5
4. The Boys (Amazon) – Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg kill it again. The killer Ennis (him again!) and Darick Robertson comic gets the killer adaptation it deserves with a killer attitude, killer set pieces, and killer performances (Erin Moriarty‘s Starlight is amazing, and when is Karl Urban never great?). Did I mention that this show is killer? Props to Prime Video for letting The Boys be as killer as it needed to be. – 4.25/5
5. Game of Thrones (HBO) – Because somebody had to. Say what you want about the “safeness” of the finale, how David Benioff and D.B. Weiss ripped the medieval fantasy perfection of the past 8 years of your life away from you, wah-wah-wah, but even the “not so quite nailed the landing” of Game of Thrones Season 8 was still greater than most of the shows you watch. “The Bells” was absolutely the most stunning, polarizing TV episode in 2019 and I wouldn’t argue with you if you hated it; I hated it, too, akin to giving heat to a great babyface wrestler who just crushed my heart and turned heel. Daenerys brought the absolute worse out of me and I applaud her for that. And while I fully agree that “The Iron Throne” was sincerely rushed (Season 8 needed 8 episodes, not 6), the road to that fluff final hour was still quite satisfying. This is a legacy award, if nothing else and I’m quite OK with handing the series that; Game of Thrones remains one of, if not my single favorite show of all time. – 4/5
Honorable Mentions: Star Trek Discovery (CBS All Access), CW’s Crisis On Infinite Earths, Supergirl (CW), The Toys That Made Us (Netflix), Harley Quinn (DC Universe), The Witcher (Netflix), The Walking Dead (AMC), Doom Patrol (DC Universe), GLOW (Netflix), Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (ABC), Umbrella Academy (Netflix).
Non-Geek Honorable Mentions: True Detective (HBO), Barry (HBO), Wu-Tang: An American Saga (Hulu), Mayans MC (FX).
-Travis Moody
Destiny “Evangelical” Edwards @mochaloca85
1. Watchmen (HBO) – It may not only be the best show I’ve watched this year, but it might be my favorite of the decade. The acting is superb (shout-out to Regina King’s Sister Night, who is probably going to be my Halloween costume next year) and the visuals feel straight out of the comics. But the best part is the story and how— despite this being an alternate 2019 — relatable it is to our world. I was gripped from Episode 1. – 5/5
3. Stranger Things (Netflix) – Ya girl may have arrived to the Stranger Things party late, but at least she got there eventually. I avoided watching for the longest time, just because it didn’t seem like my kinda thing. And, to be honest, it isn’t. But it drew me in with its charming creepiness wrapped in 80s nostalgia, anyway. – 4.5/5
Oh, yeah, AEW Dynamite all the way.
4. The Boys (Amazon) – I don’t think I anticipated any show more than this adaptation of Garth Ennis’ work. A world where superheroes are the biggest douches on the planet?! Right up my alley. It’s worth watching just for Antony Starr’s Homelander. If there was ever a character I’ve wanted to just punch in the face, it’s him. The best kind of heel heat. – 4.25/5
5. Fleabag (Amazon) – Okay, I’m cheating a bit here as it isn’t a geek show, per se, but it is an award-winning one. Phoebe Waller-Bridge shines as the titular Fleabag who, as her name would suggest, is an awful fucking person (though the people in her life are even worse), but likeable AF. Everyone should watch this show. EVERYONE. You’ll laugh. You’ll cry. You’ll yell at people for being morons. And then you’ll find out if the movie is playing near you. – 4.25/5
Honorable Mentions: GLOW (Netflix), Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access), Doom Patrol (DC Universe), Lazor Wulf (Adult Swim).
-Destiny Edwards
Ronny “The Baptist” Lecuyer
1. The Expanse (Amazon) – This was revived from the ashes by the mega-corp giant Amazon after being left for dead by the notorious SyFy channel. From the company known for canceling greatness, The Expanse returned now on the binge-worthy format of internet streaming via Prime Video. The deep pockets of Bezos is what this space drama needed. It’s a must watch for any sci-fi nerd! – 5/5
Would you call that “expansive”, Syfy?
2. Prodigal Son (Fox) – My infinity for physiological dramas like the long lost Hannibal, is why I chose this spot. It blends the mind-bending plots of the aforementioned with the father/son relationship of shows like Dexter.Prodigal Son has the “case of the week” scenario, with the underlying thread of an ex-FBI profiler whose father happened to be one of the world’s most horrifying serial killers; it’s a mix that should lead you to wanting more after each weekly episode. The only negative? The cliffhangers come hard and steady. – 4/5
3. Evil (CBS) – The most recent work from Netflix’s Luke Cage actor Mike Colter, Evil is a sci-fi horror blend that challenges blind faith of Catholicism and modern day medical science. The Catholic Church employs an investigator who investigates claims of miracles, possessions and any religious mystical events. Backed by the church, he assembles a team of skeptics to debunk or in turn justify the case. Over the course of the series, things happen that can’t be easily explained, slowly blurring the lines between reality and paranormal. A few slow episodes and needless filler is why I didn’t score this show higher. – 4/5
4. Supergirl (CW) – While this network has certainly struck gold with all of the Arrowverse shows, this year’s Supergirl has earned top of class– especially with its internal conflict of Kara Zor-El struggling to lie to Lana Luthor. Addressing many real world issues this season, Melissa Benoist’s perfect performance elevated Supergirl to new heights. – 4/5
5. The Flash (CW) – The second show to launch of the now known Arrow-verse shows, The Flash‘s Season 6 was by the best of the series. With an underlining tone of sorrow, the impending death of the Flash has led to the darkest season yet. Throughout the season we have witnessed the many stages of grief from Barry Allen and his ensemble. But in the end, the inevitable fate looms over and eventually leads to the launch of the Crisis event. A small nit pick I have is that, at times, scenes between Barry and Iris were underwhelming. – 4/5
Honorable mentions: Watchmen (HBO), Crisis on Infinite Earths, Black Lightning, Batwoman (all CW), Mr. Robot (USA).
-Ronny Lecuyer
GodHatesGeeks @GodHatesGeeks
1. Watchmen (HBO)
2. The Mandalorian (Disney+)
3. The Boys (Amazon)
4. Crisis On Infinite Earths (CW)
5. Barry (HBO)
Honorable Mentions: The Expanse, Supergirl, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Arrow, The Flash, Chernobyl, Stranger Things, Doom Patrol, Fleabag, Young Justice: Outsiders.
ROB BASS: Welcome to the LONE STAR CRISIS REACTION THREAD!, gentle readers, where your esteemed correspondents will attempt to come to terms with all the madness that Greg Berlanti and his talented colleagues have visited upon us in the third and most recent installment of CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS
. Brother Bexar, are you there?
ROBERT BEXAR: Eyup! I am here ready to save a few Earths.. Or at least try to!
BASS: All right. There’s no one I’d rather have by my side on this adventure. Let’s do a quick capsule review on how the first two episodes hit us. What did you think?
Robert “The Man” Bexar @RobBex2
BEXAR: It’s been an ‘A’ so far for me. I think they have had a lot to cover in a very short period and while the time on other Earths has been short, I think the positives far outweigh the negatives for me. The big PRO has been Brandon Routh as Kingdom Come Superman. He has been absolutely amazing. And the biggest “CON” if you wanna take it that far was Kevin Conroy as an overly jaded Batman. I get it, I thought it was interesting, but having heard him play opposite George Newbern’s Superman for so long, it was a little disheartening to see his first (and only) live action Batman be a Batman who never become friends with Clark.
BASS: That is an extremely valid point. I did certainly appreciate the plot twist and the execution but would have absolutely preferred seeing him portray Grandfather Batman, grizzled but kind patriarch to an unannounced entire crew of Robins, all the way down to Stephanie Brown, even. Because we’re down in CONs, I’ll repeat what I said yesterday, this entire thing has mainly been a slam-dunk for me, but I’m not a fan of the Anti-Monitor’s costume design. Too much Night King, not enough George Perez, especially when you see how hard they nailed Tom Cavanagh’s Pariah costume.
My biggest PRO might be the way it all went down with Oliver at the end of the first episode. Kat McNamara has been solid-to-great this entire final season of ARROW, but those two really sold their father/daughter relationship hard in those scenes. And of course I love all those Supermen. Oh! Best all-time moment for me was when the John Williams score suddenly wells up there in the Kingdom Come Daily Planet office. Dry eyes to Eyes-cannot-contain-streaming-tears in maybe three notes. Okay, should we dive into tonight, scene by scene? Did you ever catch that BIRDS OF PREY show that ran one season on the good old The WB back in 2002?
BEXAR: I did AND I own the DVD set. I loved that we not only got Ashley Scott back as Huntress but that was Dina Meyer on the comm as Oracle before everything went to poop for their Earth. Now see, that was just enough time spent on that Earth. (I loved the WB.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgvZSyKxWY4
BASS: And I believe The WB got rebooted into The CW? What a world. Okay, I 100% missed the boat on that show, but still felt the impact. And wow, very cool to have Meyer on comms. Only know her from STARSHIP TROOPERS. I just learned that that show’s Dinah was played by Rachel Skarsten, who grew up to raise such hell in Gotham here with Kate Kane this very season. That was a deep cut, even for this crossover.
BEXAR: And I loved every minute of it!
BASS: Happy for you to get that. Then, Cisco got his powers back. I like how little angst there was for that process. We didn’t have time for a soul-searching monologue!
BEXAR: Yeah, I like that he didn’t have a say in the matter. You’re a hero, shut up, suit up and get going! BUT! I do love (and I was going to mention this earlier)… I do love that you like the design of the Anti-Monitor as much as Cisco hates the name ‘The Anti-Monitor’. Even when the poop is hitting the fan, he has to begrudgingly say ‘anti-monitor’.
It’s OK, Oracle; nobody remembers us anyway.
BASS: So true. Nice touch to revisit the oldest running joke on THE FLASH, Cisco and his names. Moving on, and rewind me if I skip past something you want to mention, the next moment that jumped out at me was when Kara and Kate went to talk to Luthor and then Ruby Rose got him up against the wall and her face turned into like this mask of terror. It was scary as hell what she did there, no cowl necessary. We needed Grandfather Conroy to be in this scene, look over and just say, “Terrifying,” to Kara.
BEXAR: I do love that they are really setting up ‘Earth’s Finest’ with this crossover and bringing that Batman/Superman relationship to Supergirl/Batwoman. I loved that relationship in the Jeph Loeb run and anytime in the Tom King run. Batman and Superman shouldn’t be friends, and yet they are best friends and you can, literally, see them doing that in various shots in last night’s episode.
BASS: OH God, don’t get me started on the King run, we’ll never make it back. That two-part double-date with Clay Mann in #36 and #37 last year is one of my favorite stories in any comic ever. It was symphonic perfection, every line. But yes, maybe I want to change my favorite thing to the character work being done with Kara & Kate just in their brief time on-screen together so far. A slight concern I’ve had, the only one about this whole endeavor, is that they’re not just cancelling everything after it’s over. THE FLASH will have a seventh season. I don’t know how you keep that going and still give things weight after worlds living and worlds dying, but the amount of time being spent on just these two anchoring the whole deal, it’s very much a second-generation continuation of the stellar work Amell & Gustin have done being the axis up until now.
Forget Wally ever existed.
BEXAR: I agree that with shows obviously having season pick-ups does tend to bring down some of the weight, I look at it as any other comic crossover. People will die (and we’ve seen plenty of Earths die) but that there will be some MacGuffin (i.e. the book of Destiny) that will bring some of the Earths back and we might get Earth-38 again. I mean, I don’t think everyone will land on one Earth, especially since Earth-1 was wiped out last night, but maybe we get a few Earths. Speaking of wiped out, did you catch the part about Jesse Quick getting wiped out in Earth-2. I hadn’t even thought about that. Also, where are the rest of the Legends?
BASS: Well, Sara did have the aside in Part II about promising not to rope them into anymore crossovers after INVASION! I’m sure there will be more dialogue addressing this, as the LEGENDS premiere is Part V on 1/14. And yeah, Jesse Quick! And H.R.! Horrifying! I absolutely failed to consider them when Earth-2 was the first casualty we saw in the ARROW premiere. I’m going to have to rack my brain for an offscreen death that was comparable for me in terms of impact. I do think that everything will end up on one Earth, no multiverse, just like the original. I was going to ask you, too, did you hit BLACK LIGHTNING? I didn’t realize it was going to be involved until seeing that the title was “Earth Crisis,” and sure enough, those old skies went red right before the first commercial break.
BEXAR: Dude, no, I am about a season and ½ behind on Black Lightning.
Stop sleeping on my show!
BASS: Okay, never mind. It turned out to be straight-up CRISIS, part 2.5, but that will just be madness for you to catch up on in your own time. Do you want me to tell you the ending in relation to this event?
BEXAR: Oh no, I went on YouTube after seeing your comment. Hahaha!
BASS: Okay, that was a bit of madness.
BEXAR: It was and I loved that they did link him in that way. It reminded me of the old X-Men crossover, Age of Apocalypse, where the last panel of every Marvel book ended the same way, with the M’Kraan crystal wiping everyone out.
BASS: Yes! +10 points to House Bexar for surreptitiously working the M’Kraan Crystal into the conversation, additional +5 for spelling it correctly.
BEXAR: *mic drop* But no, I love that Cress Williams is finally introduced into the universe and that when he sees Superman (X2), he just goes “the Superman myth is real”. Like, I loved that even in a moment of sheer horror, the ‘S’ is still something to be in awe of.
BASS: That is a wonderful beat. This is skipping ahead a little bit, but talking Black Lightning, that conversation that he and Barry share two-thirds into the episode was a really powerful moment. Really elegant amidst all the madness how they make time to welcome him into the massive ensemble, much like they did with Kara three years ago in INVASION! Okay, though, back into sequence, did you watch LUCIFER? How crushing was Tom Ellis just dropping in out of nowhere?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQQiN1BKcLk
BEXAR: Bro… Dude… that was absolutely, positively JAW-DROPPINGLY AWESOME!! Like, I could add in a slew of curse words here, but damnit that was awesome!! I thought when I saw Earth-666 it would be a hellish Earth where everyone is a sinful version of themselves, not Lucifer Morningstar himself. I love the show Lucifer and Ellis just completely kills on that show, but when I saw that… I woke my girlfriend up by squealing. Lol!! I just went “eeee!!! LUCIFER!!!”
BASS: Tom Ellis as Lucifer came in and burned down everything. I will admit to being the asshole who never gave the pilot a chance (never even gave the comic a chance back in the day because Gaiman wasn’t writing it, though of course Carey is a wonderful writer, I eventually learned), and so it was particularly something to see this character/performance that I have zero connection with suddenly drop in and dominate the entire situation. That grin. Those unblinking eyes. Mia never had a chance. How fortunate that he was in Constantine’s debt. I really need to see that damn show.
BEXAR: And I love that he mis-pronounced Constantine’s name on purpose.
BASS: Another wonderful little beat. Moving on, there was so much going on in Part II, I forgot to relate the Paragons back to the seven runes on that subterranean door that Wells has been banging on for the past couple of weeks. I had been thinking they represented the Legends, just because one of them reminded me of Ray’s helmet, but that was a miss.
BEXAR: Ugh, I didn’t even catch that either. *facepalm* I thought one of them looked similar to the ‘S’ shield. I do like that Tom Cavanagh is Pariah because he is so good at switching up his emotions with each Wells.
Just call me Pinch-Hit Superman.
BASS: Cavanagh should get a multi-season award for changing his deal up every year. He’s soooo damn versatile. That’s one of my favorite things about that show. Okay, how about that anti-matter cannon treadmill poor old John Wesley Shipp was trapped on? After blasting through #11 of the original series last week, I was certainly hoping for a cosmic treadmill appearance, which might still happen, but it was cool to get this. That was a brutal hit when he said he’d been running for 30 years. So that’s why he got cancelled! That original series showed up in 1990 after the Year of Batmania, and my little brother and I never missed an episode. It was so cool to have both him and Amanda Pays be cast in the early seasons of this latest volume with Gustin, but when we got the flashback of the two of them looking into each other’s eyes in 1990, full eighties glam still shining through, ooof! That was another zero-to-waterfall moment. Paging Julio Mendez!
BEXAR: Oh I loved that moment. I loved the TV show and have the show on DVD. I’ve met Shipp a few times and the guy is just the absolute best. Seriously, I don’t think he’s that different from Barry Allen. That being said. When they played that clip of him and Tina, my mouth dropped. I didn’t think they would give us that and when they played it. Damn… I was a kid again. The fact that Flash-90 was the one to sacrifice his life just made it that much more touching. I knew there would be a workaround (because as we have stated, you can’t kill off the title character of a show that is picked up for another year).
BASS: Right? I was working so hard to figure out how they would do it in a way that wouldn’t feel cheap, and this was really the only acceptable solution of still hitting us in the gut while keeping Gustin in play. With regard to your parenthetical, watching Ollie & Mia in the first part, it hit me, there’s no way that I want THE FLASH without Barry/Gustin, but I would be all about a ninth season of ARROW starring Ms. McNamara. She seems to have the chops to ground a second volume growing forward while honoring the tradition of legacy that’s such a hallmark of Detective Comics Comics.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aA-xWvhgu5M
BEXAR: Which we are getting with the SIRENS series. It will be her, Black Canary from Earth-2 and someone else. Speaking of… where is Black Canary from Earth-2?
BASS: Or was, right? She’s not much of anywhere anymore. That’s a good point, there were so many people running around, I didn’t miss her. Okay, what about Ryan Choi! As many callback guest-stars as they announced ahead of time, I was thrilled that he came in under at least my radar. Did you read his series by Simone & Byrne?
BEXAR: Dude, I did not, but I do know/like the character. Thought he was a great creation. I loved that he’s being played by Osric Chau who was also Kevin on Supernatural (the CW loves reusing good actors). I thought he really brought the same kind of charm that Routh has brought to the Atom on Legends. And who I am assuming will take up the mantle once Routh leaves during Season 5?
BASS: Okay, I’m glad to get that context. Have not hit SUPERNATURAL (my household is Team Jess or Die). The guy definitely brought it. Highly recommend that THE ATOM series. Morrison conceptualized the whole deal and then Simone & Byrne start off the whole thing by [redacted]. Whoop, sorry. The tangents, they will take me. And there’s one about every thirty seconds in this thing. Okay, we’ve been over Jefferson Pierce’s arrival, then there’s the spot where Kate & Kara have their big moment, anything you care to add to that that we didn’t already cover?
I wouldn’t use that bathroom.
BEXAR: Oh yeah, once again, the Kara/Kate scenes are callbacks to Clark/Bruce. Kate gave Kara the kryptonite and gave her the chance to destroy it and just like Clark did with the Kryptonite ring, she told Kate to keep it and “have the courage” to never use it. This was a big turning point for me. I wanted to see if they would keep up with the Clark/Bruce storyline-ish, and they did and nailed it. The ‘S’ and the ‘Bat’ are Earth’s Finest for a reason.
BASS: They did nail it. And I’m glad the writers didn’t drag it out at all either. That was a worrisome little beat at the end of Part II. All right, Kara & Kate’s friendship is the post-Crisis linchpin, I’m so glad we agree. How about Jim damn Corrigan just sauntering up?
BEXAR: Oh that whole scene was so well done. Before I get to Jim Corrigan, Stephen Amell has really just done a bang-up job this season on Arrow. He’s made me love the show again. Okay, so back to the MOFO SPECTRE!! Just going “oh hey, I was someone else, something else” and then his eyes going green. Like, I’m really surprised I didn’t wake up my girlfriend more than I did last night cause I went “OH SHIT!” and she went (groggily) what happened?! Hahaha! I had to do the whole “oh nothing hun, just my show”, but this was a great call back to the beginning of ARROW this whole season when he said “to save my world I would have to be someone else, I would have to be something else…” which I thought was just him being the sacrifice, but nope! This whole damn season has been one gigantic easter egg of Oliver becoming The Spectre (who I don’t think Ollie has ever been him in the comics, but I know Hal was and we all know that Hal and Barry are best friends as well… nice little nod to that friendship, whether intentional or not).
BASS: Ooooh, tremendous pickup, that sailed all the way past me. Yeah, once again, when I was reading the original last week, thought to myself, “It would be insane if they were able to work The Spectre into the adaptation, but it would have taken a season worth of groundwork being laid.” And then they just did it anyway. It would be like if Adam Warlock just suddenly showed up in the third act of RAGNAROK and then went on to be just as crucial to the cinematic INFINITY WAR as he was in the Starlin original (again drawn by Perez, interesting synchronicity). Okay, we all knew Lyla was going to go crazy and kill The Monitor, but I actually thought that would be the big month-gap cliffhanger. They just went ahead and took out Earth-1 entirely! Those writers were tired of juggling that ensemble.
BEXAR: Hahaha! AAAAAND done with the whole CW ARROWVERSE in one swoop. Hahaha! But seriously, watching them all perish did make me go ‘Oh snap’ (pun intended). I was curious how they were going to do that. And real quick sidenote: how amazing has Routh been as Superman?? When he comes back from another world gone and he keeps going and Lois asks, “Why the Black?” and he answers that, “In the darkest times, people need to remember that hope shines through” like, Seriously?! I love Cavill as Superman, but Routh is the embodiment of the old Donner/Reeve Superman.
Hey no worries, man; you’ll embody.. something.
BASS: I could not agree more. Seems like in 2006 before the Singer movie came out, I read that he had been working at a bowling alley in LA (probably?) and had won the Halloween costume contest that year as Clark Kent and it’s like, “No shit.”
I’m grateful for the unfortunate snap pun because it segues into something that bothered me a bit. Bear with me. You know how in Stephen King’s IT, originally, it was published in 1986 and takes place in the present of 1985 and then flashes back to when they were kids in 1956? Well, when that killer new Muschietti adaptation hit, they shifted it so that the present is now our present and the past is 1985, or late eighties? It was an extremely jarring move, and the effect it had on some folks who had not read the novel is that it seemed like they were just cashing in on the current 80s-retro craze at the time. You know, more kids riding their bikes to save the day. Like in PAPER GIRLS or STRANGER THINGS. And Mike damn Wheeler was even Richie this time! Folks thought King was appropriating the current trend when he was really the founder. Okay? Well, seeing this, everyone turning to dust suddenly, I was just like, “Damn it, it’s happening again. People are going to think Crisis is ripping off Thanos.” When once again, it’s the original deal. Does that compute?
BEXAR: Ha! No, I totally get what you mean and while I didn’t think of it that way, I 100% see what you mean. “Oh here is CW ripping off Marvel” when really this already happened 30 years ago.”
BASS: Wow, and with that IT example, I didn’t even think about the original CRISIS originally being published in 1985. That was a cornerstone year across the space-time continuum, apparently. If you disagree, ask Doctor Emmett Brown.
BEXAR: GREAT SCOTT!!
BASS: You can never have enough Brown hyperbole. And then the paragons all wound up at Vanishing Point. But there’s a twist! We lose Routh in favor of Cryer. Certainly a shame, given all the praise we’ve heaped on him, but narratively, this is on-brand.
BEXAR: So as much as that pissed me off (and hopefully we get Routh back again as Superman in the final 2 episodes), you are 100% right. That was completely on point with something that Lex would do. He would totally kill a Superman to save himself. His sister? Meh. Himself? Totally! And while I missed Cryer on Supergirl, he is an absolutely fantastic Lex Luthor.
BASS: Yes, it’s been stunning how great he is. I actually liked him a little bit better last season on SUPERGIRL than amidst all of this, so I definitely recommend that you check that out. All right! Everything looks as grim as can be for our heroes! The only worse news than there’s only seven people left at the end of time is that you have to trade in your Brandon Routh Superman at the last minute for Jon Cryer Luthor.
BEXAR: BOOO LEX!! And sadly we have to wait a whole damn month before we get the final two episodes. I think that was just poor planning on their part.
BASS: It will be a brutal wait, but January 14th will be so sweet when we get there. I really enjoyed doing this with you, Brother. Lots of good insight. We will have to do it again.
BEXAR: Oh dude, I had a blast doing this and can’t wait to do it again for Crisis on Infinite Earths PART 4!
