[7.3/10] My favorite part of this one was the fable of the panther. Maybe it’s just having LeVar Burton on board, but it felt like an old school Reading Rainbow-type dose of storytelling, with larger than life tales reduced to human size morsels with creative designs and clear emotions. You could chop that part out and make it a standalone bit, and it would still succeed on its own terms.
The episode the show builds around that mythical panther is not quite as good, but still solid. The plot motivator doesn’t make much sense, since beyond the usual poacher bit, it’s not clear what the conflict between the locals of the week is for much of the episode. Eventually, we learn that one turned the other into a panther, so as not to let her get away to the big city, only to recant when he learns the lesson about letting go, even someone you love. There’s meat there, but it’s rushed and the characters don’t get much shading.
Still, there’s some cool design work as our heroes end up in a labyrinth and run across Anansi the Spider in its corridors and alleys. The design work on the gigantic arachnid is great, even our heroes’ method of defeating it, and the rules for its successes and failures don’t really make much sense. He’s a creepy figure, and that alone carries a lot of the confrontation.
Still, there’s lessons to be learned here. As random as it is for Elsia to run into her mother in Africa (presumably Nigeria, given Elisa’s comments -- they never fully confirm it), I like Elisa getting paired with ANgela and her mom getting paired up with Goliath, while both are having parent/child issues. Goliath elearning to embrace his daughter as the only hatchling of his clan, thanks to Mrs. Maza’s influence is a good beat. And likewise, Mr.s Maza learning to let her daughter go, and Elisa deciding to share all her secrets with her mother gives them each some nice arcs.
Some of the ideas here are oversimplified, but it’s good meat and potatoes storytelling, with an excellent little fable detour to sweeten the deal.
Review by Andrew BloomVIP 9BlockedParentSpoilers2021-08-02T21:47:10Z
[7.3/10] My favorite part of this one was the fable of the panther. Maybe it’s just having LeVar Burton on board, but it felt like an old school Reading Rainbow-type dose of storytelling, with larger than life tales reduced to human size morsels with creative designs and clear emotions. You could chop that part out and make it a standalone bit, and it would still succeed on its own terms.
The episode the show builds around that mythical panther is not quite as good, but still solid. The plot motivator doesn’t make much sense, since beyond the usual poacher bit, it’s not clear what the conflict between the locals of the week is for much of the episode. Eventually, we learn that one turned the other into a panther, so as not to let her get away to the big city, only to recant when he learns the lesson about letting go, even someone you love. There’s meat there, but it’s rushed and the characters don’t get much shading.
Still, there’s some cool design work as our heroes end up in a labyrinth and run across Anansi the Spider in its corridors and alleys. The design work on the gigantic arachnid is great, even our heroes’ method of defeating it, and the rules for its successes and failures don’t really make much sense. He’s a creepy figure, and that alone carries a lot of the confrontation.
Still, there’s lessons to be learned here. As random as it is for Elsia to run into her mother in Africa (presumably Nigeria, given Elisa’s comments -- they never fully confirm it), I like Elisa getting paired with ANgela and her mom getting paired up with Goliath, while both are having parent/child issues. Goliath elearning to embrace his daughter as the only hatchling of his clan, thanks to Mrs. Maza’s influence is a good beat. And likewise, Mr.s Maza learning to let her daughter go, and Elisa deciding to share all her secrets with her mother gives them each some nice arcs.
Some of the ideas here are oversimplified, but it’s good meat and potatoes storytelling, with an excellent little fable detour to sweeten the deal.