Superhero shows got big ever since the big boom since Iron Man have picked up in quality. Even before that there were some hits, and after we get some great titles afterwards from others besides Marvel as well (though some continue to fuck that up). But with T.V. superhero shows? I don't think America has learned how to properly tell these stories in live action t.v. yet.
To share my opinon, I so far have enjoyed these shows, though I'm probably forgetting some:
Daredevil
Punisher
Legends of Tomorrow
Legion
Agents of Shield (After first season, which made me drop it hard for awhile)
Greatest American Hero
Heroes (First Season, from what I remember was solid, rest was eh)
The problem is, especially with those on CW, is they read like those early 60's comics that just realized the could explore the human side of characters and exploit to hell and back. Like those comics, these shows come across as bad soap operas more often then not, focusing on the romance and poorly acted characters far too much.
I don't know, I'm rambling here, but shows like Flash even if I don't like because it's myriad of problems, I can respect because it goes out there with it's concepts. Hell, that's only reason I listed LoT, it's full on comic book crazy. Daredevil/Punisher do character exploration right, were I feel like the other Netflix series just meander forever and take forever to go anywhere. These shows took Green Arrow, a character I love more then Bat-Man, and took all this personality and threw it into a shirtless hot bod to rake in viewers. It hurts, man.
I don't shit on anyone for enjoying these shows, in fact I enjoy that there is so many of these shows coming out. Heck, Superman franchise has Super-Girl, Krypton, Metropolis, and Kandor shows coming out at same time! What the fuck, right? We're getting so many of these damn shows and it's great. I think the highlight of serialized/televised cape stories in America was the DC animated verse. I get the two realms of storytelling are different but I mean nowadays...do they really have to be?
But I think America needs to import storytelling in this genre and form from one place; Japan. And hey, I see you rolling your eyes, but listen!
Here are two random clips I could find of Sentai that were at top of my history:
These shows embrace their goofiness non-stop. People with fruit super powers gifted by gods have dance battles for turf while using pokemon-equse creatures, costumed heroes teaming against giant pac-man, or stealing another hero's abilities to gain friendship so you can be the best damn pirate ever. But that doesn't mean they don't explore characters and themes. Heavy shit hits the fan, along with doing crazy stuff with the effects they have and trying to make some interesting fight. They expect you to roll with it, not trying to lower themselves so you will roll with them.
Almost every year we get a new round of characters to explore and new concepts in the Super Sentai and (my fav <3) Kamen Rider franchises, and I just wish I could have the same love for the shows of the heroes I grew up reading like I do for these oddball Eastern concepts. And this is coming from someone who HATED Power Rangers growing up.
To share my opinon, I so far have enjoyed these shows, though I'm probably forgetting some:
Daredevil
Punisher
Legends of Tomorrow
Legion
Agents of Shield (After first season, which made me drop it hard for awhile)
Greatest American Hero
Heroes (First Season, from what I remember was solid, rest was eh)
The problem is, especially with those on CW, is they read like those early 60's comics that just realized the could explore the human side of characters and exploit to hell and back. Like those comics, these shows come across as bad soap operas more often then not, focusing on the romance and poorly acted characters far too much.
I don't know, I'm rambling here, but shows like Flash even if I don't like because it's myriad of problems, I can respect because it goes out there with it's concepts. Hell, that's only reason I listed LoT, it's full on comic book crazy. Daredevil/Punisher do character exploration right, were I feel like the other Netflix series just meander forever and take forever to go anywhere. These shows took Green Arrow, a character I love more then Bat-Man, and took all this personality and threw it into a shirtless hot bod to rake in viewers. It hurts, man.
I don't shit on anyone for enjoying these shows, in fact I enjoy that there is so many of these shows coming out. Heck, Superman franchise has Super-Girl, Krypton, Metropolis, and Kandor shows coming out at same time! What the fuck, right? We're getting so many of these damn shows and it's great. I think the highlight of serialized/televised cape stories in America was the DC animated verse. I get the two realms of storytelling are different but I mean nowadays...do they really have to be?
But I think America needs to import storytelling in this genre and form from one place; Japan. And hey, I see you rolling your eyes, but listen!
Here are two random clips I could find of Sentai that were at top of my history:
These shows embrace their goofiness non-stop. People with fruit super powers gifted by gods have dance battles for turf while using pokemon-equse creatures, costumed heroes teaming against giant pac-man, or stealing another hero's abilities to gain friendship so you can be the best damn pirate ever. But that doesn't mean they don't explore characters and themes. Heavy shit hits the fan, along with doing crazy stuff with the effects they have and trying to make some interesting fight. They expect you to roll with it, not trying to lower themselves so you will roll with them.
Almost every year we get a new round of characters to explore and new concepts in the Super Sentai and (my fav <3) Kamen Rider franchises, and I just wish I could have the same love for the shows of the heroes I grew up reading like I do for these oddball Eastern concepts. And this is coming from someone who HATED Power Rangers growing up.
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