Monsters of Television

“I reserve the right to say ‘I told you so’ if we get out of here.”

As predicted, the Maelstrom and Lighthouse provided with some attractive looking set-pieces in a perfectly acceptable action-heavy episode (with some pleasant cutaways to Saint Walker beginning his journey). But as we close in on the end of the first season (the next episode is the season finale), I think I’m about done writing about Green Lantern: The Animated Series.

I know I should probably be announcing that next week (and the finale will be covered, of course), but since this episode is pretty much what the show does well at this point (slick looking action sequences with solid Razer one-liners), I don’t see much reason to hold back on that. I’ll likely continue to watch the show beyond the first season finale, but not sure it’ll be back on the blog unless there’s a particularly compelling (negatively or positively) episode.

So “Invasion” actually does work well for me on a pure action level. The interior of the Maelstrom is a very comic book looking setting, between the spiral energy field that creates the tunnel and then all those asteroids, it felt exciting and space-y in a way that I don’t think the show has been consistent about achieving (too many generic, same-looking planets for my taste).

While the first fight at the Lighthouse doesn’t offer too much excitement, it does offer a nice look at the building itself, which, again, feels perfect for the setting. I think this is the first time in a while I’ve really responded to the show’s aesthetics (though the interior of the Lighthouse could not have been more bland and boring, but we’re there for like a minute, so it doesn’t matter), and I’m glad I did.

And it pays off well enough as the team aboard the Interceptor and Atrocitus aboard his nimble freighter race to escape the Maelstrom. The would be battle/race isn’t particularly engaging, but for a space-heavy episode it’s the logical setpiece to finish the episode with.

I did have issues with Atrocious and his team sneaking aboard the Interceptor (when, exactly, did they do that?), and Drusa’s ease of hacking Aya made their final escape, and stranding of the Lanterns all too easy. It’s something of an artificial cliff hanger since there’s little doubt that everyone will get to take a shot at the Red Lantern fleet, and with Saint Walker’s help, of course.

Before the DC Nation short and the final thoughts, I’m going to prime the comments for a discussion since the show has decided to make itself a little more overtly political than I think any of us expected it to: “No building is worth the cost of a war.” Discuss.

DC Nation Short – “Vibe”: I have no attachment whatsoever to Vibe, but damn if this 1980s-tacular isn’t pitch-perfect. It’s not particularly funny by itself, but the animation style and dialog reeks of the late 1980s and early 1990s animated programs, down to the costuming of Vibe’s kid sidekick and the break dancing competition.

FINAL THOUGHTS

• “He did come down by 50 percent. That’s a pretty good deal, Master.”
• “You are a planet of few words, and I quite like that.”
• “Must go faster.” Hal is going to have make sure Razer gets a chance to watch Jurassic Park.