“Everybody’s Super: The Heroics You Might Be Missing on NETFLIX”
ATYPICAL
(2017, TV-MA, 8 episodes approx. 32 min. each, NETFLIX ORIGINALS/EXHIBIT A)
Lately, Netflix has been firing on all cylinders. From the masterful “Ozark” to the quirky and
hilarious “The Incredible Jessica James”, the original programming has worked
to set Netflix apart from typical network fare, and done things we previously
could only see on cable. In other words,
quality television that certainly does not feel like television. “Atypical” is like strapping a booster rocket
to an already soaring airplane and turning it into a gravity-defying
spacecraft. Keir Gilchrist plays Sam, an
eighteen-year-old high school senior who shows on the higher functioning end of
the autism spectrum. This is the same
actor that nailed the role of a gay teen on “The United States of Tara” on
Showtime; he once again proves his merit as not just an actor, but as an
artist. Sometimes what we watch Sam
struggling with is unnerving, which means he is doing his job—amazingly
well. Michael Rapaport (TRUE ROMANCE, “Boston
Public”) and Jennifer Jason Leigh (do I even need to? **sigh, okay** FAST TIMES
AT RIDGEMONT HIGH) are his parents, each struggling with their roles in his
life and trying to find their own ways to cope.
But as good as they all are, the standout for me is Sam’s sister Casey,
portrayed by the stunning Brigette Lundy-Paine (THE GLASS CASTLE). She not only captures the hesitant heart of a
high school sophomore, but she carries a toughness about her that is a perfect
contrast to her times of vulnerability.
She (and Gilchrist) display a natural honesty that make you forget you
are watching an actual production, with made-up characters. Wonderful writing, and the messages from the
story never feel heavy-handed—especially since they are being delivered by such
a great cast.
THE DEFENDERS
(2017, TV-MA, 8 episodes approx. 1 hour each, NETFLIX ORIGINALS/MARVEL
TELEVISION)
There has been some internet chatter about Marvel and Netflix not being
able to get their villains right. Which is stupid. In the original “Daredevil”, we had Fisk, a
multilayered brute of a villain who terrified not only with his fists, but with
his moments of tender vulnerability. In
the second season—well, there was a lot going on as far as ‘bad guys’
went. “Jessica Jones” had a villain
whose evil was never in question; Kilgrave was vile and sadistic—a truly bad
guy. Heck, even two of the villains in
“Luke Cage” were masterfully played by exceptional actors, one of whom even
recently won an Academy Award. And then
came “Iron Fist”. That kinda gave them
the crappy villain rap. Well, it also
didn’t help that the Iron Fist himself was kinda stupid. But with “The Defenders”, Netflix gives their
flagging superhero efforts a swift kick in the mummy and daddy pills. This show is like a nice, citrusy mouthwash—something
to help wash the taste of The Iron Fish from our mouths. Getting back to the gritty roots of the first
two shows helps. The Devil of Hell’s
Kitchen (Charlie Cox) is still struggling with the whole blind lawyer/blind
vigilante moral conundrum, and Jessica Jones (the superb Kristen Ritter) is
trying to get back on her feet following the poo-storm which was Kilgrave. They find themselves reluctantly joining
forces with Cage (Mike Colter) and The Iron Fissure (Finn Jones) to try and
bring an end to the evil organization which has touched each of their lives, and
threatens the lives of a city full of innocent bystanders. I hate to sound like a broken record, but Cox
and Ritter are the strengths here; while there isn’t a whole lot of time spent
on the Daredevil’s inner struggle, you can see it in his eyes. And Ritter?
She is the backbone of this series, and the writers play to her
strengths well. Hers is the cocky voice
of testosterone-infused badassery that anchors this team-up together. But villain wise… anyone that questions the
intense screen presence of the perfectly cast Sigourney Weaver is a flipping
idiot. Her character “Alexandria” is an
elegant and finely-honed menace that gives the rest of The Hand’s baddies their
vitality. Madame Gao is back, an evil
Yoda-like matron of evil that steps from the shadows when she is needed the
most. The three other villains are… okay,
two of them are stupid, and the third is a kickass zombie ninja. The show falters when it spends too much time
on the other bad guys, and whenever the focus is on The Ironing Monkeynut.
Otherwise, this is a solid entrant in the Netflix-Marvel realm. And make sure you stick around after the
credits roll on that last episode if you want a glimpse of a really cool
Castle.
Series Grade: A-
The Netflix/Marvel Scorecard According to Yours Truly:
Daredevil Season I: A-
Daredevil Season II: A
Jessica Jones: A-
Luke Cage: C+
Iron Fist: C-
The Defenders: A-
-- T.S.Kummelman
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