23 Jul Promising TV Shows Based on Comic Books
A high number of current as well as upcoming blockbuster movies and TV shows are based on, or inspired by comic books, which is a great fact for a couple of reasons. First of all, it is good to see that something which was previously considered childish and geeky is finally receiving the respect it deserves as it is being incorporated into the mainstream culture. The second reason is astonishing special effects; yes, I am fully aware of how shallow it sounds, but nevertheless, they are still super heroes and heroines, and I think there is nothing wrong with using cutting edge technology potential in order to make them seem even more amazing, as long as the producers do not overdo it. However, there is an issue that cannot be left unaddressed, and that is when directors and writers go reckless once they start altering the original story. I am not the one who is going to complain about every changed storyline, and personally, I think it is absurd to make either a movie or a show that is a complete replica of the comic book, but I do believe that the core elements of the characters should be kept. I digressed a bit, so let us return to the topic mentioned in the title. As a fan of both cartoons and comic books, a few TV shows caught my attention and I must say, they are pretty promising for living up to the expectations of one comic book junkie. It is worth mentioning that you might need to lower your expectations at the very beginning of these shows and give them a chance, since afterwards, you will notice how they are gradually getting better and you might get extremely hooked on watching them.
Arrow
Even though the Pilot of this show promised nothing but bad acting and Oliver Queen’s/Stephen Amell’s abs, after finishing the second season of this TV series, I must say, it is one of my favorites. Both acting and the story improve significantly after each passing episode, and as more familiar characters from comic books appeared, either as good guys or villains, the grip this show had on me only grew stronger. Even a spin off show emerged from this one called “The Flash”, and judging by the leaked Pilot that I have witnessed, it has potential to become extremely interesting, just like “Arrow”. What I find particularly compelling when it comes to “Arrow” is two storylines – one is about the present, whereas the other is composed of flashbacks which date back to 5 years ago from the current timeline. The flashbacks display the hero’s origin story, as well as the origin of some of his adversaries and how they are connected. Another one of its good aspects is that the show has it all – action, drama, high tension, good plot twists and mysteries, therefore, I heavily suggest you give it a shot.
Marvel agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
Regarding that Joss Whedon is involved in the production of this series, I expected it to be a lot more superb, considering he created Buffy, Firefly, and of course, the Avengers. The first ten to twelve episodes were a real challenge to watch – poor acting skills, cheesy lines and tedious story. However, as the plot thickens, and connection to other releasing movies became stronger, and the show started to generate huge momentum. It went completely from “Oh, I can’t believe I am still watching this” to “Oh my God, this is unbelievable!” Once you get past a certain episode, it is one surprise after another, and the show only keeps getting better and better. Honestly, I can’t wait to see what the second season will be like.
Gotham
Even though it is yet to be aired, I am really impatient to see what it will be like, despite the fact that Bruce Wayne is still a child, and that the story’s primary focus is on Jim Gordon and other notorious villains from Batman, such as the Riddler and the Penguin. However, a thought crossed my mind that it may just be another cop show with renowned names from DC comics. I sincerely doubt that anyone would like a show about two officers conducting cloak and dagger operations behind the backs of their officials, but I guess only time will tell. Taking into account the content displayed in the trailer, the mood of Gotham city is pretty authentic to the original one, which is the main reason why I have high expectations for this show.
Constantine
Just like “The Flash”, the Pilot episode can be found online. It would seem that producers do these things on purpose for the sake of receiving some sort of feedback from their target audience. As far as the production of the show is concerned, the special effects are quite admirable, but I cannot say the same for the storyline, at least not yet. It appears to me that the introduction moved at a somewhat rapid pace, making it hard to empathize with the characters – they manage to accept some facts as the general truth pretty fast. It is worth mentioning that this is not an uncommon occurrence when it comes to shows of this genre, a flaw which will most likely subside if you give it a chance. The main protagonist is an embodiment of brooding narcissism in a trench coat, much like Dr. House, only instead of a doctor he is a demonologist, which I am sure you’ll find interesting. The shows has angels, demons, evil spirits, parallel realms, heaven, hell and a relatively cliché plot so far… in other words, everything what we expect from a series like this one. Considering the fact that “Supernatural” is about to enter its final season, I think “Constantine” is going to be a great replacement.
