Color me a fan, right from the first episode. So many characters, and not a single one of them uninteresting.
The first five episodes were filmed in July and August of 2019, before the necessity of post-Covid production rules, so they could "film large," with big sets and big crowds. So the first episode is a bit of a showoff display of Steampunk Sorcery, and I loved it.
I know it's not fashionable to still love Joss Whedon now that he's joined the ranks of men who have been accused of being...well...men, and thus being either consciously or unconsciously abusive in work situations in which they're the boss. But I'm a writer, so I still love his unique way of writing dialogue. I knew I was "in good hands" when I heard this early scene, as the women (and one male doctor) of the Touched debate what to do now that they have been openly attacked. Amalia is the effective leader; Penance is her #2, and she's kinda the MacGiver of the group, creating cool steampunk inventions:
Amalia: "We need to bolster our security. All entrances, windows bolted or blocked." Penance: "I could rig up a few surprises, as well. Nothing lethal, but very discouraging." Amalia: "Everyone signs in and out. Time and destination. No one goes out alone or after dark." Mrs. Haplisch: "I've been showing the girls a bit of scrapping." Amalia: "You'll show them all." Penance: "But not using their 'turns'." Mrs Haplisch: "Well, there's plenty you can do with what's at hand. It's about confidence, as my mum used to say, if you can look a man in the eye, you can stab him in it." Amalia: "Smart woman." Penance: "But also, don't do that."
It was Penance's "But also, don't do that" that grabbed me, made me laugh out loud, and made me thankful that Joss has finally stopped wasting his talents on comic book material written by other people.
No more details, because that would spoil it. Definitely stick around after the episode for a what-to-expect-in-the-series trailer, and a very fascinating making-of clip of what it was like to film the opera scene.
Two thumbs up, here. Accompanied by a big sigh of relief that finally I have at least *one* TV series to actually look forward to for the next six weeks of lockdown.
The first five episodes were filmed in July and August of 2019, before the necessity of post-Covid production rules, so they could "film large," with big sets and big crowds. So the first episode is a bit of a showoff display of Steampunk Sorcery, and I loved it.
I know it's not fashionable to still love Joss Whedon now that he's joined the ranks of men who have been accused of being...well...men, and thus being either consciously or unconsciously abusive in work situations in which they're the boss. But I'm a writer, so I still love his unique way of writing dialogue. I knew I was "in good hands" when I heard this early scene, as the women (and one male doctor) of the Touched debate what to do now that they have been openly attacked. Amalia is the effective leader; Penance is her #2, and she's kinda the MacGiver of the group, creating cool steampunk inventions:
Amalia: "We need to bolster our security. All entrances, windows bolted or blocked." Penance: "I could rig up a few surprises, as well. Nothing lethal, but very discouraging." Amalia: "Everyone signs in and out. Time and destination. No one goes out alone or after dark." Mrs. Haplisch: "I've been showing the girls a bit of scrapping." Amalia: "You'll show them all." Penance: "But not using their 'turns'." Mrs Haplisch: "Well, there's plenty you can do with what's at hand. It's about confidence, as my mum used to say, if you can look a man in the eye, you can stab him in it." Amalia: "Smart woman." Penance: "But also, don't do that."
It was Penance's "But also, don't do that" that grabbed me, made me laugh out loud, and made me thankful that Joss has finally stopped wasting his talents on comic book material written by other people.
No more details, because that would spoil it. Definitely stick around after the episode for a what-to-expect-in-the-series trailer, and a very fascinating making-of clip of what it was like to film the opera scene.
Two thumbs up, here. Accompanied by a big sigh of relief that finally I have at least *one* TV series to actually look forward to for the next six weeks of lockdown.