PART 1: The Dominance of DC Over Marvel in the Small Screen
Through the years, Marvel has not
only been taking the lion share in comic book sales most of the time, but they
have been also kicking DC’s butt in the market that really matters: the big
screen. To be fair with DC, they do make
the better direct-to-video animated movies (I think “Hulk vs. Wolverine”
is the only Marvel animated film that I get to really enjoy). But the money in direct-to-video is
incomparable from the money earnings from theatrical blockbusters, which will
come from ticket sales to merchandising.
So unless DC ever figure out how to create an engaging and profitable cinematic
universe as Marvel’s, Marvel, which
has a clear plan already until 2018,
will continue to be the winners for a couple more years.
However, DC has been clearly more
productive over Marvel in the small screen.
Not only does DC make more good-quality animated TV series (Marvel had
produced great animated TV series, too, but DC has three for every good one
Marvel makes; also, for every good Marvel animated series, there are two bad ones) but
they also have the most success in producing noteworthy live-action series,
both in volume and value. Up until now, Adam West’s campy Batman series from
way back in ’66 is still beloved by many.
There was the delightful
Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman in the 90’s, which Marvel had no
answer. Then, there’s
Smallville, which despite its many flaws
had its awesome moments as well, which, again, Marvel had no answer.
In the present, Marvel now has Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., which had weak
early episodes but eventually improved into a must-watch show. In fact, despite the lack of a legitimate
superhero presence, AoS is as
intriguing as DC superhero shows, Arrow
or The Flash. However, though S.H.I.E.L.D. is a concept
originally from the comics, AoS is nonetheless
more of a spin-off of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) rather than an avenue
for Marvel to freely render their comic book universe into the small screen. Hence, in this case, DC is having more
success with Arrow and The Flash in translating their comic
book universe into a TV universe.
In terms of quantity, there are
four ongoing DC TV series right now. Three
of which have just premiered this fall of 2014.
Clearly, DC went into “aggressive TV series production” mode, probably
to keep a foothold in their dominance of the small screen.
Sure, several Marvel shows are
coming up; there’s the Agent Carter
series, and then a couple of Netflix TV series featuring Marvel’s street-level
superheroes like Daredevil and Luke Cage (which I presume will also take place
in the shared MCU). However, a lot more
DC shows are also rumored in production.
It’s as if that for every one that Marvel plans to make, DC has two. And I’m quite excited with some
of the titles being mentioned. Maybe not
all of them will rock. But considering
the fact that I like 3 out of the 4 DC TV series right now, and my dislike for
the 4th one is not because it sucks (I will be discussing this
later), it’s presumable, based on historical data, that all will at least be watchable
and entertaining enough.
The advantage that Marvel has
here is their TV series will exist in the same universe as their movies. Again, the potential awesomeness in
crossovers alone is worth being excited about.
If it works, Marvel’s approach of expounding one shared universe instead
of establishing several universes for their properties will pay big dividends.
Nonetheless, even if not all of
DC shows exist in the same universe, as long as they can be individually
enjoyable, or at least adequately fun, it’s still going to be DC’s win due to the
sheer volume of their properties that they manage to get on screen.
PART 2: Pros and Cons of Each
Present DC TV Series
Constantine
PROS:
→ Matt Ryan nailed John Constantine.
→ It’s turning out to have the same charm and humor that made Sleepy Hollow a regularly entertaining supernatural/horror/fantasy series to watch.
→ It has been made apparent that this show will feature many of DC’s supernatural characters.
CONS:
→ Charles Halford’s Chas doesn’t give the same vibes as the Chas in the comics, who was a great supporting character.
→ It’s not “R”, hence,
Constantine is restrained in bringing into the small screen many of the things that made
John Constantine an awesome character and
Hellblazer as one of the most well-written comic book series ever. It feels too tame to give Constantine and
Hellblazer justice.
→ Its primary setting is in the US instead of England. Ugh.
The Flash
PROS:
→ It got me to finally check Arrow out.
→ Grant Gustin is the greatest Barry Allen version of any medium, including
comics, ever. As
I’ve explained in my post after watching the leaked pilot months ago:
The Flash’s Barry Allen is “Peter Parker-esque” – it’s as if there’s a lot of Parker’s trademark geeky charm, strong sense of moral responsibility, and bearing in The Flash’s depiction of Barry Allen – making this version mightily interesting. If this is sustained through the show, there’s a chance that this Flash could become my favorite speedster.
→ Jesse L. Martin as Detective Joe West and Tom Cavanagh as the mysterious Dr. Harrison Wells are consistent in providing the
strongest performances in the show.
Because of the magnificent acting from these two, we can always expect
compelling scenes whenever their characters are part of the scenes.
→ Clever premise of how super
powers became possible.
→ It has massive potential. The fun and intrigue it creates offset the
aggravation that any weak writing brings.
It hasn’t been a strong series so far, but it has made itself as
something worth being patient about.
CONS:
→ There is lack of chemistry
between Barry Allen and Iris West. And,
no, It’s not the race difference.
There’s just no “spark” between that makes me care for them as a couple
(to be fair, I also feel no interest rising from Oliver Queen’s parings in Arrow).
In fact, the whole Barry-Iris angle feels like a distraction to me.
→ Aside from Barry, Joe, and Dr.
Wells, the other characters are not easily likable. They might grow on me eventually. But, as of now, I can’t bring myself to be
invested in them.
→ When Arrow’s Felicity Smoak visited, that was the highest point of the
show so far. And it’s just a bad thing
that for The Flash to have its best
episode, it has to rely on a character (and the writer/s that probably came with the character) from another show.
There’s no interesting female character in The Flash so far. Moreover, Felicity’s
effortless chemistry with Barry also emphasized Barry’s lack of such with Iris.
→ The Flash suffers from uncreative and dumb writing half of the
time. Most of the episodes have plots
that are generic or Smallville-like. And there are many dialogues that are
excruciatingly cheesy.
Arrow
PROS:
→ This is easily the best among the current line-up of DC TV series. It’s not
perfect, but it is engaging and well-plotted most of the time.
→ It nailed what Green Arrow should
be, a Batman analogue that happens to work
with bow and arrows.
→ Since a Batman TV series seems to
be impossible at this point, I’ll take Arrow.
→ Oliver’s lateral pull-up/climbing exercise
is awesome. First time I saw such
thing.
→ The charming Felicity Smoak. Could be the most likable character in the
series.
→ Interesting supporting
and recurring characters.
→ It is bringing as much of the DC
Universe as it can possibly can to the small screen, without making it too crowded.
Amanda Waller (which I hoped would have the original fat appearance). Suicide
Squad. Deathstroke. Huntress. League of Assassins. Ra’s al Ghul.
Etc. Just awesome.
→ Superman as the Atom. Brandon
Routh’s charming portrayal of Ray Palmer is as fantastic as Emily Bett Rickards’ Felicity Smoak.
→ I appreciate the unique narrative
style: flashbacks that reveal the
happenings during Oliver Queen’s five year-hiatus from Starling City running alternately with the
present narrative. This definitely enhanced
the storytelling, and made the whole show more intriguing.
→ Great development of the
character from vigilante to hero.
→ It spun-off The Flash. The implication? The creation of a big DC TV Universe. I really hope The Flash is not the last
spin-off happening from this shared universe.
If many other non-Batman-Superman-Wonder Woman (since these three are
likely reserved for the movies) superheroes pop out in Arrow and The Flash, or
have their own spin-off shows, and they form a Justice Society of America (since
the Justice League of America is likely to be exclusive for the movies), it’s
going to be the best thing to happen in TV ever.
CONS:
→ It’s not a Batman TV series. This show’s existence sometimes drives me
crazy since that there is no Batman TV series instead.
→ It kind of annoys me that the
promotion for Arrow seems to always involve Stephen Amell being shirtless. To be fair, the man is pretty.
→ I feel that there is lack of usage and variations of trick arrows.
→ It’s not always good. The plot kinds of feel tiresome
sometimes. Only sometimes. I can’t really explain it much, only that I feel that it’s not fun sometimes. Again, only sometimes. Can’t stress “sometimes” enough.
Gotham
PROS:
→ Strong, winning performances from Ben McKenzie as James Gordon, Donald Logue as Harvey Bullock, and Robin Lord Taylor as Oswald “The Penguin” Cobblepot.
→ Beautiful production value.
CONS:
→ It’s not a Batman TV series.
→ My dream prologue Batman series
is that of young Bruce Wayne traveling around the world as he acquires the
skills and trainings that would prepare him as Batman when he returns to
Gotham. The existence of a Gotham TV
series means that my fantasy Batman prologue TV series hasn’t happened, and has
no chance of happening in the near future.
→ The fine production value means much
effort is exerted in creating a good Gotham setting and mood. Thus, it frustrates me that such effort is
not applied on a straight-up Batman TV series.
Too much Batman allusions are being done anyway, why not make the whole
thing centered on Bruce Wayne/Batman then?
→ Right from the start, I never got sold with the whole premise of the show. I gave it a chance. But I gave up on the third episode. The whole thing just reeks of gimmickry to me –
pretending that making it centered on James Gordon is a creative concept, when the
reliance of adding too much Batman Easter eggs is very much apparent as
gratuitous and having no confidence on establishing something original.
→ I understand why this show might
work on others, but it’s not my cup of tea.
→ I might get into this series in
the future, especially if the kind hype is created wherein it’ll make me feel
that I’m missing out of something awesome and important.
But with lots
of great TV series to choose from each week, I have no
problem of not getting into Gotham early.
I don’t think I will be missing out much.
