The 9 Best Superhero Shows on TV

I published this over at Medium. Click to read!

In the wake of BATMAN v SUPERMAN, can the DC Extended Universe still succeed?

I'm experimenting with the Medium platform, and yesterday published an article called 'In the wake of BATMAN v SUPERMAN, can the DC Extended Universe still succeed?' I hope you'll give it a read, and perhaps even give some feedback on the test-version of DMD over there. Click here!

Frame Rated: DAREDEVIL - Season Two

I recently binged the second season of the Netflix/Marvel series DAREDEVIL, and you can read my thoughts over on Frame Rated.

It's fair to say Netflix's Daredevil was one of 2015's biggest surprises, because it did something fresh with a superhero indebted to Batman, in a show with conceptual similarities to The CW's Arrow, while overcoming a negative perception of Daredevil thanks to a misfiring 2003 movie. In going darker and meaner than everything else in Marvel's Cinematic Universe, Daredevil offered something for the slightly older crowd who crave deeper emotional stakes, narrative complexity, and mature content. Continue reading...

Frame Rated: BATMAN v SUPERMAN - DAWN OF JUSTICE

Yesterday at Frame Rated, I reviewed the big superhero blockbuster BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE, so please click through to have a read!

There was understandable cynicism when Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was announced—born of suspicion it was a cynical way to rekindle interest in a sequel to the faltering Man of Steel, and concern that The Dark Knight trilogy had dropped the mic when it comes to modernising Batman. Continue reading...

A few niggling thoughts and nitpicks about LEGENDS OF TOMORROW

I've seen up to the fourth episode of The CW's new superhero adventure series Legends of Tomorrow, and while it's been quite entertaining and contained one big surprise in episode 3 that I didn't see coming (although it can probably be unwritten because this is a comic-book show), the entire concept fills me with concerns and questions. So, what better place to air them than here?

Frame Rated: 2016 Winter Film Preview

Head over to Frame Rated, where I've previewed 10 films that are premiering in the UK between now and late-March. The Hateful Eight, Batman v Superman, Creed, Kung Fu Panda 3, Goosebumps, and many more! Well, five more. Click here!

Frame Rated: JESSICA JONES - Season One

Yesterday at Frame Rated, I reviewed the entirety of Netflix's new Marvel-produced series JESSICA JONES, starring Krysten Ritter, David Tennant, Mike Colter, Rachael Taylor and Carrie-Anne Moss. I know a few people have been curious to read my thoughts on this show, especially since I placed it at No.10 in my end-of-year list, so now's your chance!

Whereas Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D is tethered to the unfolding sprawl of Marvel's cinematic universe (with The Avengers as elephants-in-the-room), Netflix have found a smarter way to play in the studio's sandpit. First with the esteemed Daredevil, and now with Jessica Jones, the VOD heavyweight keeps to its own tiny corner of Marvel’s playground—Hell's Kitchen, New York City—with only occasional wink-wink mentions of "the big green guy" and co's existence. Continue reading...

Trailer breakdown: BATMAN v SUPERMAN - DAWN OF JUSTICE

The new BATMAN v SUPERMAN - DAWN OF JUSTICE trailer hit the net yesterday, so I've taken a little look. (May not contain entirely accurate, serious information.)

Pilot preview: CBS's SUPERGIRL

★★★☆

I've always found gender-bending superheroes to be rather unimaginative, because if you want to appeal to a female demographic why put a woman in the same costume as their male counterpart (with an added skirt), and peddle the same story? Why not create something unique and compelling on its own merits? This is why, for me, Wonder Woman will always be more exciting than Supergirl—and not just because the latter character's best-known as the basis for a terrible 1984 movie, attempting to cash-in on the success of the Christopher Reeve-starring Superman movies.

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON (2015)

★★★☆

Warning: mild spoilers ahead, but certainly nothing too ruinous if you've yet to watch this film...

If the box-office supremacy of The Avengers can be partly attributed to the simple mathematics of four established superheroes appearing in the same film, with lashings of tongue-in-cheek humour and more digital bedlam than the team's previous solo outings combined, highly-anticipated follow-up Avengers: Age of Ultron has a far tougher job on its hands. If the original succeeded with fresh spectacle and its then-unprecedented super-team dynamics (the welcome culmination of a triumphant "Phase One" of Marvel flicks), then returning writer-director Joss Whedon has managed to improve on what came before. It's what most immediate sequels are mandated to be—bigger, darker—but also scruffier and, for the most part, better. Or more sugar-rush enjoyable, at least.

DAREDEVIL returning with new showrunners; plus more spin-offs

I'm full of admiration for Netflix's DAREDEVIL, as you can tell by reading my four-star review of season 1. It was a no-brainer they'd renew it for a second season, but now we have confirmation it'll debut in 2016. However, there's worrisome news: showrunner Steven S. DeKnight, who took over from Drew Goddard during production (who left to develop Marvel movies), is stepping down. His replacement is Doug Petrie, who helped produce and write the first season, but is best-known for running seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Petrie will be partnered by Marco Ramirez (Sons of Anarchy).

Teaser: BATMAN v SUPERMAN – DAWN OF JUSTICE

This teaser leaked online yesterday, so most people have already watched and condemned it based on terrible smart-phone footage. I wasn't going to do that, as everything deserves to be seen in its best form. BATMAN v SUPERMAN: DAWN OF JUSTICE is a film that's struggling to excite discerning geeks, despite the fact the title alone would have sent nerds into meltdown about 10 years ago. But a lot has changed since 2005. Superhero movies are ten-a-penny, and most are very good—Oscar-worthy in the case of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy. The standards are higher now, so fans expect more...

AMC's PREACHER casts its unholy trinity

The cable network's adaptation of PREACHER, the notoriously vulgar and blasphemous 1990s comic-book, has cast its three leads, and they're a very intriguing lineup. Dominic Cooper (Agent Carter) has taken the lead as disaffected preacher Jesse Custer, who has the ability to verbally impose his will on people; Ruth Negga (Agents of SHIELD) will play Jesse's crack-shot girlfriend Tulip O'Hare; and Joseph Gilgun (Misfits) has been cast as alcoholic Irish vampire Cassidy. In addition, Ian Colletti is set to play supporting character Eugene Root, aka 'Arseface' (so-named because an unfortunate firearm accident disfigures him), Elisabeth Perkins (Weeds) has joined the lineup as Vyla Quinncannon (a scheming businesswomen connected to Jesse), and Lucy Griffiths (Robin Hood, True Blood) has been cast as Emily Woodrow (a no-nonsense mother of three who becomes Jesse's advisor).

DAREDEVIL - Season One

★★★★

'Into the Ring' • 'Cut Man' • 'Rabbit in a Snowstorm' • 'In the Blood' • 'World on Fire' • 'Condemned' • 'Stick' • ' Shadows in the Glass' • 'Speak of the Devil' • 'Nelson v. Murdock' • 'The Path of the Righteous' • 'The Ones We Leave Behind' • 'Daredevil'

(Spoiler warning: the following review shouldn't be read if you haven't seen the entirety of season 1, although an effort's been made to avoid ruining the experience by mentioning notable deaths and revealing the ultimate outcome. But still, caution advised...)

Trailer: Netflix's DAREDEVIL

The final trailer for Netflix's DAREDEVIL series has been released, which confirms it's going to be very gritty and they've shunned Marvel's red costume with horns. Unless Matt Murdoch will be donning that outfit towards the end and they're just keeping it secret? Whatever. For now, he's a street ninja. Appreciated seeing footage of Vincent D'Onofrio as nemesis Kingpin this time, too. Does anyone else think the show's logo is tonally at odds with the footage we're seeing, though? The entire 13-episode season will be available to binge on 10 April.

Fox order a LUCIFER pilot, changing it into ANOTHER cop show!

Did you read the comic-book LUCIFER? Beginning as a supporting character in Neil Gaiman's The Sandman, Lucifer headlined his own 75-issue spin-off comic. If you don't know, the character is literally The Devil, and the gist of his storyline had give up managing Hell to instead run a piano bar with a woman called Mazikeen (a Lilim night spirit) in his earthly "retirement". Lucifer eventually decided to create his own universe, to rival God's, and this crazy endeavour saw him clash with various entities. It sounds like an epic and ambitious idea for television, so it's surprising that Fox have decided to adapt Lucifer… but, uh, they have… only, well, in their TV pilot Lucifer will be helping the LAPD solve crimes and punishing criminals. Oh Lord.

Digital Spy: Can Marvel's TV Titans Compete with the Big-Screen?

Today over at Digital Spy, I've asked the question: "Can Marvel's TV Titans Compete with the Big-Screen?" Will there ever come a day when audiences are more interested in what's happening with S.H.I.E.L.D, Agent Carter and Daredevil, than Tony Stark, Thor, and Captain America? In an era where TV's made huge leaps in quality and esteem, will Marvel's silver screen superheroes always eclipse their small-screen counterparts through sheer spectacle?

Superhero Saturday: AGENT CARTER, ARROW, THE FLASH and GOTHAM

There's a lot of superhero/comic-book television shows around right now, so I thought I'd dip into four of the most popular ones, which are all approximately halfway through their seasons...

AGENT CARTER – 'The Blitzkreig Button'
We're halfway through this new comic-book drama, so how is Marvel's new show faring? After a good start, I'm beginning to feel less and less interested in anything going on. Some of that is an unfortunate byproduct of Agent Carter being a prequel—so it has no imperative ties to anything happening in the 21st-century set Marvel movies—and it's partly because I find its 1940s era a little drab and monotonous. I do like Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter; particularly the fact she's a "superhero" in the sense her alter-ego's a telephonist treated like a second-class citizen, but she's actually saving the world in secret. It's an amusing social spin on a hoary trope. Although it gets overplayed by the show, which hammers the 'battle of the sexes' angle all the time. James D'Arcy is also very good as her associate Jarvis. But am I eagerly anticipating the next episode? No. Would I care if Agent Carter was axed? No. It needs a shot of adrenaline, pronto. ★★☆☆

Premiere reviews: BROADCHURCH (series 2) & AGENT CARTER

This week, global success BROADCHURCH returned to try and maintain its reputation as a premium crime drama; while Marvel launched their second comic-book television show, AGENT CARTER...

Hallelujah! AMC officially order a PREACHER pilot

AMC have ordered a pilot of Gareth Ennis and Steven Dillon's 1990s comic-book PREACHER, masterminded by Seth Rogen, Evan Goldberg and Sam Catlin (Breaking Bad). AMC must have loved the script, which concerns a Texan preacher called Jesse Custer who becomes possessed by an entity that bestows on him the ability to enforce his will on others, vocally. This triggers a crazy road trip to find God, where he's joined by gun-toting ex-girlfriend Tulip O'Hare and an Irish vampire called Cassidy.