Ep 4 & 5 were a two parter (White Knights & Fail Safes) -dealing with a capture, recreating the Firestorm, and a Russian gulag.
The serious fun of this show is simply how they shuffle the deck on the character pairings. One, it's always fun to write the villain and his code against a hero, when there is no threat of a fight between them. That dialogue nearly writes itself.
and Routh can definitely hold his own screen presence. Victor Gerber chews the scenery better than most and still makes it interesting to watch. Purcell and Miller are fun as Cold and Heatwave in this group.
The cheesiness of it, like watching all those white American super ninja fighters in every 80s movie, is my appeal to the show. If you take any of this too seriously, you'll drown in how inane it can be.
But it's a buddy-buddy show where teammates learn to grow on each other and accomplish their goals.
However, the biggest flaws continue to be the main props of the show: Rib Hunter, Vandal Savage, and Kendra Saunders.
Badly written characters, poorly acted roles, and boring one note cyphers. I don't think the actress for Hawkgirl can really fill the boots of the character. She's about as strong as Laurel is as the Black Canary on Arrow. Now Sara? There's an actress who you believe is that ass kicking assassin in how she carries herself with the focus on her, as well as in the quiet moments of personal revelation.
It's also a hindrance to Kendra and the actress that the show continues to write her with no clue how to advance her. Does she weep for Hawkman, who she spurned, who she suddenly loved, as a warrior that remembers her past, doesn't remember how to fight to stand up...get it right, people!! After all, she's the only one who can permanently kill Savage, so "she's important."
Then there's Savage....what a shit actor. Gawd, he's just awful. Now HE is the same villain from every 80's white American super ninja movie ever! Being bad to be bad, acting like the most evil there is, he could be any henchmen boss that Arnold ever fought in a movie not labled Conan or Terminator. He's just awful. So, for that, he makes me laugh.
Rip Hunter...IS damned awful. Where as Savage makes me laugh, Rip has no redeeming screen time at all. Petulant and whiny when no one listens to him, stupid in his foresight and planning, annoying in his bossiness and characterization-Rip is no fun. Whatsoever. They tried the mysterious man from the future, but he can't even carry off the vibe Rufus (George Carlin) had when meeting Bill & Ted in a phonebooth time machine. They've tried making him the man on a vengeance run through time and space, but he doesn't have the mettle to stand up to anyone and truly make them listen to him. As a leader? He's no leader. He flounders, he messes up, he questions and derides his team, and they do what they need to and win IN SPITE OF RIP. Rip sucks. Rip kinda sucks in the comics, especially if you don't have Booster Gold there to keep him working well.
WHERE THE HELL IS BOOSTER?!!!!
That's what this show needs. That's how this show would epitomize all the awesomeness that 80s fun movies gave us in memories. Ditch Rip, bring in Booster as leader, and this show would RAWK!!!!
