Flash

I haven’t taken the time until now to comment on the new Flash show. Pilots usually garner more comments from me, but–since we’re three episodes deep now–I might as well say some stuff about all of them.

The Pilot: This episode had some really awesome moments: Grant Guston’s sort of Peter Parker take on Barry Allen, the special effects, and just the over all look of the show itself. Unfortunately it was WAY rushed. Characters had no room to breathe and, instead, were forced to characterize themselves. (I’m angry because my fiancee died!) Given what all they had to accomplish, I’m surprised the network didn’t go with a longer episode. Ironically, Barry himself felt way more fleshed out in Arrow last season than he did in his own show.

Second Episode: The first act was abysmal. It did nothing but recap the pilot. It reeked of some execs thumbs on top of the show. And, I mean, come on–with DVRs, hulu, and–heck–just the Internet in general, people almost have to go out of their way to NOT see an episode of something they like. Thankfully, the remaining acts tightened up and delivered a strong story with a real kick-ass climax.

Third Episode: So far, the best of the bunch, but experiencing some cooky story problems. (For instance, the bad guy finds a specific victim in a massive city without the audience ever being told how.) Characters finally get the chance to breathe though, and we’re seeing a few more layers to them.

Bottom line: Flash is a fun show that has the chance to be great if it will just give the characters enough room to do their thing. If the progression of the storytelling is any indication, I think the finale will be lightyears ahead of the pilot in terms of awesomeness.

Superheroes in Prose Volume 10: Two Rocks and a Hard Place on sale October 29th

#Flash

Crazy kinda motivation

A person asked me today what motivates me to write.

Peter David once said–and I may be paraphrasing here–that “a writer cannot ‘not’ write. The compulsion is too strong.”  That quote has been a go-to for years.  But today, I stumbled over it, thinking about what this person was about to go through.  And how I once went through something very similar.  I didn’t really have anyone that I felt I could talk to about it–at least not anyone that would understand completely.   Writing then became, at least on a subconscious level, a way of coping.  What happened next wasn’t surprising at the time, but it is surprising in hindsight.

I kept bottling things up.

I wouldn’t talk about anything that was bothering me unless it directly affected another person.  Then–once I reached a sort of boiling point–I wrote about it, put the ideas scrambling though my brain in the mouth of a character or two.

I’m not sure if it was healthy.  I’m not sure if my life would have gone a different way had I voiced my opinions instead of fictionalizing them.

But I am sure it motivated me.

Superheroes in Prose Volume 10: Two Rocks and a Hard Place on sale October 29th

Gotham

Gotham got off to a strong start this week.  Sure it had a few shortcomings, but–overall–the episode did exactly what a pilot should do: make you care about the characters and interest you enough to come back next week.

WARNING: SPOILERS FOLLOW!

Gordan and Bullok were well done, though Gordon did seem a bit dry at times. I found myself hoping–praying–about halfway through that Fish wasn’t going to die because I really wanted to see what else Smith could do with the character.  The writing, Smith’s performance–or the combination of the two–really made her the most interesting.  I suppose her being new to me might have had something to do with it as well.

The sets were awesome.  Each one dense, with lots of props, and had really colorful and unique architecture.  The lighting, in turn, played well with them too.  It made Gotham … uncomfortable without making it too dreary.

As for the shortcomings … I could see the crises coming a mile away–Gordan lets Cobblepot go but appears to shoot him.  Gordan just isn’t the kind of cat that would do that … and I think even somebody unfamiliar with the character would have picked up on that tidbit from the rest of the time spent with him in the episode.  Still … it did prove better than the anti-climax I thought they were going to go with in the meat packing plant.

Catwoman’s appearances were too contrived, especially at the end.  It stretches one’s credulity pretty thin to think that she would have walked out to  Wayne Manor just to see Gordon drive off … especially since she can’t even afford a half-gallon of milk.

If you dig Gotham in the comics or even in any of the animated stuff, I would say give the show a chance and see where they take it.  Heck, even if you just dig crime dramas in general, it might be up your alley … depending on how sci-fi it gets.  Which–if Arrow and SHIELD are any indication–that seems to be more of what audiences want.

Superheroes in Prose Volume 10: Two Rocks and a Hard Place on sale October 29th

#Gotham #JadaPinkettSmith #Television