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Three years after its debut on this streaming thing, which no one seems to care to explain to me
And TNT has shown the first series, all 8 episodes.
I have this rule, If I don't READ a comic, I don't go to see the movie or tv show. The only exception was the first DEADPOOL film and I am STILL regretting that and have never seen any other of his films.
But, this is James Gunn and he IS a Troma-Mite and that earns him my attention and respect.
I think I have the first issue of the CHARLTON Peacemaker and I do remember reading it years ago. Many years ago.
EH. Was not impressed.
the character didn't make an impression on me. I thought DICK GIORDANO created the character, but he didn't oh well.
So I watched the first episode and I notice the opening theme song and the dance routine that I have read about in all the gossip sites over time.
Silly. But in retrospect I see what James was doing, since this IS Dark Comedy, he has all the participants being manipulated as he IS the puppet master and he has them Dancing to his own tune, so to speak. Very TROMAISH!
The tune is by a band called WIGWAM and I have never listened to them. I have heard the name bandied about and I am sure I have read review of their lps in the pages of Classic Rock Magazine. I guess the show has given them a career boost...
As the episode ends, We see a Peacemaker/CHRIS SMITH fight and kill a *****!
Oh James.
And she wasn't
And then we come to gratuitous violence. Typical and during this we meet JUDO MASTER! I don't know about those of you who have seen this and own it already, I was impressed with this version of Judo master. The whole CHEETOS bit though out the series was funny!
by now we are up to episode # 4.
Chris' dad is a POS, named AUGGIE and he is a complete and utter C***! As the series progresses we see how Chris was raised and how Chris has turned out. This is an exercise on "Toxic Masculinity" and James does a great job in exploring it.
I gotta give James credit, he is a great writer and i am almost, tempted to somehow see the second series, but again, I am not in a hurry or gonna $$pay$$ for it, when I can see it for free on cable tv!
Sorry James. And again, I don't read the comic.
Plus The cast I am not too crazy about.
my favorite character is Danielle Brooks as Leota Adebayo. She is the moral compass of the whole series and I enjoy seeing her on screen.
I am not fond of the characters of Murn, Harcourt and Economos are all too shady. each one has their own crosses to bare. And I know, I know as time goes on they all become one happy FKN Family and they have an 8-way Santa at Easter time and they live happily ever after with the Smurfs!! NOT. Or maybe they will. But it is Adebayo and her partner: KEEYA; who I enjoy seeing the most on the show.
IN the course of the series, we found out that Chris is a Metal fan. Surprise, surprise. and even bigger surprise is that HANOI ROCKS is given a mention as Chris relates that (the track) 11th Street Kids is his fave track.
(James is a Hanoi Rocks fan, I sense a pattern here.
) and somehow these losers adopt the name for themselves. (and by the way the track is off of BANGKOK SHOCKS, SAIGON SHAKES-1981 their first lp! for those interested in purchasing it) also in the course of this mess, we see that Chris' father Auggie is a villain named: White Dragon. A white supremacist with a battle armour. Which you can imagine says and does stupid scheet! On the other side of the coin, Keeya and Adebayo are having relationship issues and Keeya wants Leota to leave her situation. But she can't she somehow knows she can work miracles with the crew.
Yes, this IS the DC Universe and I finally get to hear Economos talk about BAT-MITE, but years later now, James somehow is backing off that whole issue on whether or not Bat-Mie is Canon!?!?!?!? Me? I am keeping my options open. Hahahaha. Knowing James, it could be leading to something.
Each of the crew members seems to somehow get the viewer to care for them, except for VIGILANTE. Sadly, when I was younger I read the whole 50 issue run of the Vigilante in the 80's.
WHY? Cause he was in the New Titans and I was stoopid enough to believe that somehow the success and magnitude of the Titans would carry over to Vigilante, Reading that book, I learned that Attorney Adrian Chase was very conflicted and eventually he took his own life. He was a disgrace to the original vigilante. I think I gave away all those issues.
This version, is a moron. I doubt he is an attorney and I am glad when he got his toe cut off. James has my permission to kill off this creep.
Somehow the crew are involved in a mission to find and kill(?) an alien race of butterflys??? And yes, more Violence and then there is a showdown between Chris and his dad and it may or may NOT resolve some issues.
There is a final showdown with the 11th street kids and the butterflys as they have to kill a COW! and at of all places: COVERDALE RANCH. COVERDALE!?!?!?! Really James!
It was a good series. well written and shot. I am sure the 2nd series will be good, but again I am not in a hurry to see it or pay for it. And as I have read that the JLA which appeared in the last episode has been retconned with the Justice Gang! I mean really???? Is it that much of an effort to wipe out everything that came before????
But you make of it what you will. Good luck to James.
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