The Review at the End of the Universe
“Wildcat” Stargirl begins Courtney’s recruitment drive for a new generation of the Justice Society, learns that people have issues to get over before becoming as enthusiastic as her, and the brief backstory of an important supporting character is revealed. The episode begins with a three-months-past flashback relating what happened to Yolanda to turn her into…
“Alien Commies from the Future” Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. heads to 1955 and infiltrates Area 51 to prevent the Chronicoms from achieving their goals. Time travel storytelling is by its very nature difficult because you’re dealing with a concept that has been a big part of fiction for a long time meaning that people will have…
“Hesperides” The 100 starts to move the major pieces around so that they can inevitably converge on a central point that moves the plot forward. This season’s major advantage is also its major disadvantage. There are a lot of characters with arcs to resolve as well as a lot of stories to develop and conclude….
“Icicle” The end of S.T.R.I.P.E. saw Icicle return to Blue Valley to take over control of the New America Project, and also to take out the mysterious Stargirl who has inexplicably appeared to throw a glowing Cosmic Staff-shaped wrench into their plans. Now we get a proper introduction to the villain who is behind whatever…
“Know Your Onions” Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. continues its prohibition era adventure with a race against time to make sure that Freddie Malick survives being hunted by the Chronicoms. Time travel usually brings in the moral dilemma associated with changing the past in some form. It’s a common story element because it fascinates so many…
“False Gods” The 100 returns to Sanctum for an Apocalyptic problem and growing unrest among the various factions as preparations are made for Russell’s execution. At the moment there are two distinct settings at play that have entirely different tones and styles to them. The Sanctum plot is a social and political powder keg of…
“S.T.R.I.P.E.” Stargirl concludes its two-part opening, seeing our nascent heroine Courtney begin to find her place in her new town, face her first challenge, and decides for herself what it means to be a hero. The pilot episode of Stargirl cut things off mid-scene, right as Pat appeared to Courtney in his S.T.R.I.P.E. armour, and…
“The New Deal” Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. begins its final season with a prohibition era adventure, debates about changing the timeline and questions over the nature of life itself. That sounds like a lot for the first episode but it actually isn’t because everything is woven neatly through the characters and the narrative being presented…
“The Garden” The 100 tells the story of Hope’s upbringing while offering more answers around what the anomaly does and how it works. This show has certainly been venturing into weirder territory following the move to a new planet with more sci-fi driven plotting that is very different to what has been done before in…
“I Am Legends” DC’s Legends of Tomorrow maroons the team outside London in the middle of a Zombie Apocalypse as the clock ticks down on their temporary immortality. More than anything else this episode is about the inevitability of death. No matter what someone does to avoid or cheat death it remains the natural end…
