After this week’s No Ordinary Family, I think I’m ready to call it quits. Honestly, I’m a little surprised I lasted so long, but I really thought there was something there. We’re way too far into the season for there to still be nothing doing on the show. Sure, the writers use the super-powered family as an allegory to problems that every family faces, or at least some families, but I’m just not connecting to it. For me, the show just seems dull, and there is no reason for a show about people with superpowers to be dull.
This isn’t exactly a new predicament for television. Before No Ordinary Family, there was Heroes. I don’t know that dull is the word that I would use to describe Heroes, but it certainly was not what I would like to see out of a show about superpowers. Everyone in Heroes, pretty much to a man, was a depressed, mopey sad sack. At the end, even the happy-go-lucky Hiro was feeling bad for himself. Of course, the steaming pile that Heroes became at the end of its run has been pretty well knocked around at this point, so I don’t think I need to take this point any further.
I must admit that I, myself, do not have superpowers (yet), but I’m pretty sure that if and when I do acquire some sort of superpowers I am going to use them and enjoy them. I would really love to see some folks on TV who actually use their powers and don’t get so freaking depressed because of them. At the end of the day super speed, flying, super strength — these are all immensely fun things to have. Maybe you want to have a secret identity, I get that. Pick up a comic book, pretty much any comic book, what do you see? People wearing masks! Problem solved!
Heck, some powers are stealthy enough that you don’t even need a disguise. For example, I just don’t get how the parents on No Ordinary Family aren’t encouraging JJ to use his big old super brain. I find the entire subplot with his suspicious teacher to be absolutely ludicrous. I also find it a bit silly that he is currently using his (admittedly kinda lame) superpower to win at pool and football. How about solving some of the scientific mysteries of the world? So maybe that wouldn’t make the best TV, but I’m not the writer who decided what superpower he would have.
The Cape is coming early next year to NBC, and it seems promising, but I’m wondering if it is going to skew a little darker and more serious than fun and exciting. I’ll reserve judgment and definitely give it a look when it airs.
I just don’t understand this new fad of the whiny superhero. It doesn’t end with TV, even the movies are getting in on the game. Spider-Man 2 was really well received, but I thought it was an angsty snoozefest. Really, I just want some fun, exciting superhero shows. Sure, there can be serious moments, and the characters can be real people, I’m not looking for cartoon characters. At the end of the day I think a large number of people, if presented with superpowers, would embrace them and have a little fun.
Clacked by Bob Degon
on Nov 11, 2010 @ 11:00 EST5EDT
I must say after the last three “South Park” episodes you have to add that non-animated Superpowers are non-fun.
I lasted two episodes by the way. “No ordinary Family” is, indeed, dull.
And “Heroes” was annoying.
. . . . .
“Angst” is in.
That’s the first thing that pops up in my mind.
And let me tell you: Angst isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Moody and angst ridden themes are seen to be edgy and cool. when in reality they are now mundane and boring. even in the comic book industry they are realizing this and going back to superheroes that are heroes and not anti heroes. To bad that Tv is a bit behind on this and will more than likely kill the genre before changing their thinking on it
I like that you added ‘Iron Man’ to your DVD list at the end, because if there’s anyone who is having fun with his “powers,” it’s Tony fucking Stark.
I didn’t see the last episode of ‘NOF’ yet, but I’d say they could save the suspicious teacher storyline by revealing that he has super powers and just suspects him of the same. I dunno.
Indeed, I almost mentioned Iron Man as the exception.
The teacher storyline has been going on all season and is just so over the top silly. JJ doesn’t seem like a bad kid, why would a teacher be so suspicious about suddenly getting good grades? Too much for me.
“At the end of the day I think a large number of people, if presented with superpowers, would embrace them and have a little fun.”
There are plenty of characters like that throughout fiction…they’re usually called “supervillains”.;-)
You mean like Sylar, that whiny angst ridden supervillain on Heroes? ;o)
I’ve always wanted to be a supervillain.
LOL… I loved Sylar, he was the only reason I kept watching… at least he was semi-interesting at least until he couldn’t decide if he wanted to be good or evil… I liked him evil.
Fair enough, but that was more around the time when the writers started trying to make him more sympathetic and kept jumping back and forth between whether to continue down the villainous path with him or make him into more of an anti-hero (eventually they caved in to the latter).
Part of the function of angst I suppose is to try and insert some drama into the lives of the characters (I’m speaking generally, by the way. I actually haven’t watched a single episode of “No Ordinary Family”). When you deal with characters where things seem continuously light and easy, that can sap away any real sense of drama or consequence and leave you with something equally (if not more) tedious and banal…like “Undercovers”.
I have never watched an episode of No Ordinary Family either but I want my heroes to be heroes and villains to be villains. You know Superman against Lex Luthor, Batman against the Joker, ect. Even though some of these heroes are a little angst ridden, they don’t whine (much) and they continue to save the world.
Alas, however, I am a female and admittedly, may not know as much as I think I do… lol ;0)
“Batman against the Joker…some of these heroes are a little angst ridden”
Arguably, Batman is the ‘ultimate’ in angst-ridden characters. He’s a man in his 30’s, with billions of dollars at his disposal to go anywhere and do anything he wants, and still spends the better part of his private time in mournful brooding and sulking over having lost his parents as a kid rather than really moving on with his life.
A series based around a superhero with no issues or problems other than how to defeat the bad guy would be little more than a thinly-disguised and gimmicky version of the numerous procedurals we already have on TV.
Angst and issues are not particularly a problem. Neither is a character complaining about them in an effective context. I’m sure we’ve all complained to somebody about something at some time, and the purpose of having a character (even a superpowered one) do so is to give them grounding and make them relatable rather than emotionally flat and stilted. The problem in something like “Heroes” wasn’t the existence of the angst, but that the strength of writing and consistency of character development weren’t there to make it feel justified.
I’ve enjoyed simple hero vs. villain scenarios and gotten that ad nauseam in the realm of cartoons (and without the budgetary and logistical limitations that would hamper a live-action TV series). In primetime TV I hope for something more.:-)
one word, Misfits.
I watched longer than I normally would have because I sort of trust shows that have Greg Berlanti’s name associated. Deleted the last two episodes from the DVR without watching, removed the series recording.
Why can’t having superpowers be fun?
Apparently, it wouldn’t be realistic, that’s why.
Angst and moodiness makes for dramatic conflict. Granted this sort of thing can be overused. A character who enjoys using his powers all the time would be seen as something out of a kiddie show.
HEROES was AMAZING and was absolutely wrong to be cancelled. No Ordinary Family is a piece of SHIT show, that needs to be cancelled immediately! JOIN https://www.facebook.com/pages/No-Ordinary-Family-is-the-Cheap-Copy-of-Heroes/117617504978400