First Impressions: All around awesome. Changes made from the comic helps the story become more fleshed out. Also the changes are in line with the essence of the characters while making it contemporary. Feels like Skins + Comics + LA.
The show starts with a quick Intro to kids at home, which also gives us a glimpse into their family problems. The casting choices for the kids is spot on. The casting was probably the hardest part of any show, and this can make or break a show. Kudos to the casting director(s). Also, love that they made Molly latina. This is porbably the most diverse cast I've seen on TV, but also the most representative of the variety of people that emcompass our every day lives in LA.
School intro of kids: Gert to Chase to Karolina to Nico to Alex - follows who likes who. Not sure if this was intentional or not. I loved the scene where Alex is asking the group to meetup like old times, him wanting to reconnect with them, but they've grown apart so much, as high school will do to you plus the added trauma of Amy's death, that they can't have a simple conversation without it turning into an argument. Very high school drama.
It's geat seeing the kids interact in school, something we never got to see in the comics... the comics it always felt too rushed, but the show is giving us time to explore and get to know the kids before things change. Also shows the challenges of being a teen, each trying to "fit in" but also trying to find and embrace who they are. A great example of this peeling of the masks, is Nico and Karolina interaction in the bathroom, where each looked for refugee from their pain and literally talking about the masks they wear to pretend everything is ok. Reminds me of what made Skins so amazing.
The montage of the group each looking for escape or to connect from the disconnect of their lives and pain: Nico looking for something to believe in at the beach, Karolina rebelling against her parents, Chase comforming to social expectation at the house party, Gert waiting for Chase at the cafe (him being a no-show), Molly discovering her powers and alone, while Alex tries to reconnect to the past, is a stark contrast to their parents being "adults" at their dinner meeting. But even as the adults have grown up, OMG, the snarky behind-your-back talk from the parents. It's still high school, even when you're 40.
I find it interesting that the writers chose to show Karolina almos being sexually assaulted and Chase saving her by physically removing his jock buddies from her. Not sure how I feel about this; on the one hand I like that they showed a guy callout his friends for what they were doing, but also I'm not sure if I we really needed to have the scene in there, mainly cause they only purpose it served was to show that Chase has a moral compass and isn't a douche.
Again with the Skins-like feeling of the show, like having all the kids show up at Alex's after their failed attempts at connecting to something that will make them hurt less. This is a great setup for the kids needing each other's support to get through the trials of growing up. Again props to the writers for giving the kids backstory, that they know each other so well, they're able to straight up call each other out on their bullshit. They can see behind the masks that show everyone else everyday. Dumb jock, Church Girl, SJW. etc.
The kids that raid their parents liquor cabinet together, discover their parents evil secret lair together. Oh, the kids grow up so fast. "This is some Narnia shit", Yes, Alex, you are correct. OMG, the kids discover their parents in the middle of a ritual, them decked out in full robes and everything. They know!!! They saw!!! And that's the end of the first episode.
Writing: The Writers have done a great job in taking the basic story structure of the first issues and adding/changing elements that were missing or weak from the comics, like giving the kids a reason for the distance between them and also fleshing their personalities and personal problems out. Takes the 2D comics version turning them into 3D characters. Also, loved the change they made to Molly by making her Latina and adopted.
Visuals: the style feels straight forward, feels a bit like a documentary, even with a bit of shaky hand-cam. Makes the show feel very organic, and unpolished, kinda like teenagers.
Special shout out to Karolina dancing on the floor and being curious by the two girls kissing then taking off her bracelet and lighting up like a rainbow, way to be a visual metaphor.
Loved: they incorporation of LA culture and diversity, yay for Spanish Class! and the kids acutally speaking spanish; Molly's mutant abilities being cofused for PMS. LOL.
best throwaway line: "it's only a charity organization, not the mob"
Wow, so many things look and feel like in the comics. Great first episode!
Not a reader of the comics and from that premiere I am not sure why I should continue watching this. First, I feel like I´ve just watched an episode of Beverly Hills 90210 and second those characters are overly cliched in both looks and behaviour.
But I'll always say to never judge a show by one episode so I'll at least watch another one.
Feels kinds limp and lame to me. Like an old made for tv movie, maybe for the sci-fi channel. It's a shame as I've been looking forward to it. Weak cinematography and distinct lack of style. I'll keep watching but if it doesn't pick up in style and substance, I may have to give this show a miss.
Lots of mystery so far but a promising beginning.
I do love a high-school based show or film (I can fulfill my American childhood dream, even though obviously these guys, and most, don't ever seem to have it easy) - interested to see where this goes....which are always my thoughts after one episode of something. At least it's more interesting than Inhumans!
"How do you do, fellow kids?"
Lol, first 10 minutes and this is not just affermitive action or politically correct or whatever it is called now, it is just pure white guilt shit show.
As a fan of the comics from the start I've been pretty nervous about this adaptation. Quite happy with the first episode though! They did it justice and changed enough to make it watchable for TV. Will be interested to see how they handle other aspects moving forward.
Shout by Jim G.VIP BlockedParent2017-11-25T06:21:55Z
Given how many characters needed to be introduced here, it's impressive that they were able to squeeze in any plot at all, let alone handle both the characters and the plot so smoothly. Not bad at all for a premiere.