IN MY VIEW
I’M probably not the only one who finds superheroes tiresome, not only because they found a mainstream market in movie theatres as opposed to the niche comic market — I was never into them, even as a young nerd.
However, I did occasionally like to watch/read things that put a new spin on the idea, such as superhero spoof movies like Hancock or My Super Ex-Girlfriend; or the gritty, violent comic series called The
Boys, by Garth Ennis, which faces the frequently un-addressed elephant in the room: what do you do when our superpowered protectors get too big for their boots? It’s one of my favourite comics ever and I’d recommend it to anyone who isn’t easily shocked.
But if you prefer something a little more lighthearted and family-friendly, you could watch Powerless on M-Net (Channel 101, Monday, 18:00).
It’s an action comedy set in the DC Comics universe which — instead of focusing on any of DC’s cadre of caped crusaders — revolves around a group of normal people just trying to get by in a world where super-powered clowns in ridiculous outfits frequently wage titanic battles within spitting distance of their morning commute to work.
The main character is Emily Locke (played by Vanessa Hudgens, pictured with cast), a woman who is hired to be an R&D leader for Wayne Enterprises. You know? The company owned by Bruce Wayne, aka Batman?
Locke’s focus is on devices that will reduce civilian casualties from the collateral damage resulting from superheroes and villains going at it. These devices include things like supervillain detectors and umbrellas that protect users from falling rubble.
This is the kind of show I can get behind. It takes an issue that is usually glossed over in the genre and makes it the focus.
Various DC supers and villains will appear, but they are peripheral to the central plot and message.
As a factoid, the narration in the pilot episode was supplied by Adam West, the guy who played Batman in the goofy ’60s TV series.
On Tuesday on M-Net Channel 101 at 22:30, we’ve got the start of the third season of the British crime drama series Broadchurch.
If you need a reminder, this is the bigbudget crime/drama series in which the plot points were withheld even from members of the cast until they needed to know — to ensure complete secrecy.
The first season dealt with the murder of an 11-year-old boy and the second season dealt with the trial following the arrest of a suspect in that case.
Once again Detective-Inspector Alec Hardy (David Tennant) and Detective-Sergeant Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman) are out to solve a crime — this time a rape — in the dreary town of Broadchurch.
It’s almost done airing in the UK, so avoid online spoilers if you want the full effect.
There’s another new show on M-Net Channel 101 on Thursday at 22:30. It’s the fourth season of the period drama/soapie series Reign.
This show is based on the life of Mary Queen of Scots — very, very loosely based, with huge liberties taken in the writing and plenty of anachronistic details.
Opinions about it are quite polarised, with some critics citing it as a guilty pleasure and others slamming it for being a teen soap wearing the oversized garb of a historical drama.
One critic called it “wish-fulfilment for your teen princess fantasies”, which I don’t have anymore . . . I mean ever. I haven’t ever had those.
The three leading ladies are Mary Queen of Scots (Adelaide Kane), her mother-inlaw Catherine de’ Medici (Megan Follows) and Elizabeth I of England (Rachel Skarsten).
In the trailer these three are seen in a darkened confessional spilling the beans about all the men they’ve slept with and the throats they’ve slit (or plan to).
After going to print last week we were informed that M-Net would no longer air ‘Trial and Error’ at 6pm on Mondays. It has been replaced by season 1 of ‘Powerless’.
A world where super-powered clowns in ridiculous outfits wage titanic battles