HitFix’s Alan Sepinwall has weighed in on the upcoming series “The Cape.”
The series debuts Sunday evening on NBC and then settles into its regular time slot on January 17.
Here’s a sample of Sepinwall’s thoughts:
NBC’s new superhero show, “The Cape” (which sneak previews Sunday at 9 p.m. before airing Mondays at 9 starting on January 17), doesn’t feel the least bit embarrassed about any of the usual trappings. It’s not post-modern, or even modern. It is proudly, almost defiantly old-fashioned. It’s the sort of show where no one in the fictional Palm City is the least bit confused about why they’re being menaced by a masked villain who calls himself Chess. It’s the sort of show where the hero, having been trained by one of the world’s greatest escape artists, is bound in chains by a bad guy, thrown into the ocean and asked to make like Houdini (or the ’60s Batman) and free himself from the diabolical death trap.
I admire that about “The Cape.” It is what it says it is, and finds no shame in that.
I just wish it was a better show.
You can read the full review HERE.
TallGrrl says
Can someone please tell me why we can no longer give a series a chance to hit its stride?
I, personally, am sick of people bitching out a show 1, 2, 3 episodes in.
The X-Files and Buffy didn’t hit their stride until the 2nd and 3rd seasons. Then they took off.
The Cape looks interesting.
There are 9 CSIs, something like 10 Law and Orders (yeah, I’m exaggerating…) and nothing like The Cape.
Every time we start bitching about how a single episode is horrible or how we give up on a series because of ONE episode, is a path to a potentially good show’s demise.
People (especially some people here) bitched out “Enterprise”. Said it was horrid and they’d never watch again.
Then, Season 3 came along, the show turned the corner and actually got better.
And was killed.
SGU…same thing. It actually started to get better. MUCH better.
And it was killed.
No one cares about letting a show develop any more.
And no one seems to get that every stinkin’ episode isn’t going to be the Best Episode Ever, no arc is going to appeal to everyone, and that sometimes the network puts its grubby hands into the mix despite the wishes of the showrunner and/or the fans.
And by the way: what the hell is HitFix, and who the hell is Alan Sepinwall?
Just wonderin’…
Bronzethumb (from Australia) says
I’ll criticise a show 2 or 3 episodes in, and we should. We’re geeks, we’re critical, it’s what we do. But when you GIVE UP on a show after two or three episodes that’s the tragedy.
And for the record, SGU came out of the gate pretty strong and the main thing working against it was the whiplash from Atlantis.
I’ll watch the Cape. I’ll probably give it a whole season. And if there’s problems with it, I’ll be the first to point them out.
ejdalise says
I did not read the review above, just noticed the comments. As a rule, most reviewers have little to nothing in common with what I like, so I ignore them, especially if they get advanced screenings.
That said, I’m sure by the end of Sunday night I will have a pretty good idea as to whether I will like (and watch) The Cape. If it’s a drama with great characters and intricate plot . . . I’ll likely pass.
If it’s lighter fare with explosions and bad guys losing, I’ll likely watch.
If there is a lot of angst . . . I’ll likely pass.
If there is humor, explosions and bad guys losing, I’ll likely watch.
If it aims to explore the darker side of life . . . I will likely pass.
I have watched the trailers for the show . . . I’m hoping the wife and kid don’t get in the way, but so far that is my only concern.
Sam says
@ TallGirl: three words “Network-Advertiser Greed.” Those paying for the program want to spend little and get more in as little time as possible. Shows like Caprica cost a ton to make and require a longer time to build their complex storylines and character development. Not appealing to advertisers in this Rastling, Jersey Shore mentality we find ourselves in today.
TallGrrl says
I don’t know from HitFix, but here’s an article from the L.A. Times “Company Town” segment:
http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/01/07/the-cape-superhero-mythology-meets-a-contemporary-sense/
@Sam: Yep. The Network works at the behest of the advertisers.
I don’t think a lot of people are aware that the advertisers are allowed some say on content on TV shows.
If the Networks and Advertisers could have their dream, there’d be no script-driven content on TV at all. Just realitycrap.
I’m reading a really interesting and informative (and sometimes gobsmacking) book on TV called “The War for Late Night” about the Conan/Leno/Tonight Show mess.
I’m convinced that anything half-way decent gets on TV by accident.
Summer Brooks says
@TallGrrl let me know your thoughts on that Late Night book. I really never understood what all the hoopla was about. I never watched/cared about Conan (not funny), stopped watching Letterman years ago (it was me, not him), never gave a damn about Leno (definitely not funny), and I currently think that George Lopez has them all beat 🙂
Errol says
@tallgrrl. First of all, some of the best shows ever seen on Television (The Shield, Justified, Rubicon, Carnivale, Californication) all have kick ass premiere episodes, and they should. A premiere episode is supposed to be packed with all the reasons you would want to watch a show in the first place. So if the premiere sucks, then there’s a good chance that the rest of the show won’t kick in. Now, having said that there are plenty of shows like you stated that kick in later on. The problem with all the shows you brought up that got better later is that they were all episodic. They can get better later because each show is independent of itself (for the most part). Sure there’s an ongoing story, but if you narrowed down the whole series to only episodes that dealt with that ongoing story you’d have maybe one season.
Let’s also not forget that NBC is not a very good network in the first place. The best shows on NBC are usually cancelled, like Studio 60 for example. Or Journeyman. Or Quantum Leap. They just don’t have the punch that people like FX, AMC, HBO, or Showtime have. Or even other networks like ABC.
So people have a right to bitch. The first episode surely doesn’t tell us what’s in store for the whole season, but it does give us an idea.
ken2 says
Looking better then I expected. Looking forward to it.
I like the Circus angle, as it’s where he learns his skills.Think of the heroes who have been involved with the circus or were trained there.Robin, Hawkeye and Nightcrawler.
Well they said that’s part of the realism.The circus guys don’t have any special powers.They use tricks to pull off their show, which he will learn to become a hero.I don’t think it lessens the realism of the show.
david says
One thing you have to realize going into this is that it’s meant to be campy. Unlike Heroes — which took itself way too seriously — this show really does come off as a live-action comic book. There are guys with weird afflictions and nicknames to match; the hero’s disguise is almost as absurd as Superman’s. If you roll your eyes at classic comic books like Batman and Superman, then you won’t be amused one bit by The Cape. It’s not a show to be taken very seriously — it’s just meant to be fun, just not in the family-fun style of No Ordinary Family … and without super powers.
luke says
I really don’t see the Cape as being “burned off” when they are giving it a “special” Sunday night premiere and showing it during sweeps. The scheduling makes me believe they feel strongly about it and want it to succeeed. The problem is it’s hard to have a show succeed when you don’t have any ratings hits to pair it with.
I do feel though that this is a mistake as it would only be able to show 8 episodes during a 7 week period. What about the remaining 4? Why not bring The Event back in January and have it air straight through fulfilling 22 episodes and then let The Cape take over the time slot till May? The longer a serialized show is off the air the harder it is for it to regain any type of ratings it had. When they are as low as The Event you want to eliminate as much time in between episodes as possible. This does not accomplish that task.
Richard Amirault says
RE: giving up on a show early
I do that (when it is warrented) because I don’t have the TIME to watch a dozen shows in the hope that some of them may improve.
Alverant says
I liked the show. There are some concerns I have about it, but I’m willing to give it a chance. @TallGrrl I agree with you in spirit, but a show has to have a strong premier and at least 2 good episodes near the beginning before we can really ask they be given a chance. Overall I think we should give a show half a season before making a decision.
I think the show itself has potential, but it reminded me a lot of the old Robocop TV series with the family. The only difference with the family is that his wife got a job as a public defender so any crooks Cape brings in could be defended by her. Personally I hope they are able to get rid of Chess soon. Not out of any personal like/dislike of the character but because the “he framed me” plot is going to wear thin after a while. Eventually they will prove the guy was framed, and start a new reason for the Cape to continue. (He still participated in a bank robbery which is still a crime.)
Mark F. says
So I got around to watching The Cape premiere last night. I thought it was OK. Not fantastic, some definite cheese factor, but still watchable. I’ll give it a few episodes to see where it goes. My main complaint is the cape itself which doesn’t really do anything for me as a device for fighting crime. Kind of lame IMO. And I do hope the Summer Glau character is better utilized in the future.