Krypton

Krypton is a show split between two different concepts, and that lack of commitment shows in the first five episodes. But those unfamiliar with the comics will find plenty to enjoy, as the plot gets twistier and twistier.

Krypton is nowhere nearly as nuanced--“Battlestar” frequently wasn’t either, for that matter--and in its opening hour trains much of its focus on building a soap opera bridge to the ancestral history of Earth’s greatest champion. But it is heartening to see a Syfy series take advantage of our ongoing fascination with the DC Universe, and other comic book properties, to attempt to make a statement about where we are and the possible dangers that lie ahead.

To be clear, Krypton is good, not super. Yet based on first impressions, that "S"-like symbol could just as easily stand for "surprising" and "satisfying."

It falls into certain trappings, seemingly being obsessed with the concepts of ranks and guilds just as many sci-fi and fantasy tales are. Granted, it does work in these confines, but I tired of it quickly. ... To get the most out of this series, you’re going to need to enjoy both the military and political intrigue as well as Seg-El’s journey.

Krypton’s special effects are pretty impressive throughout the first five episodes made available for review. But the overall storyline begins to bog down rather badly in the latter hours, making Krypton seem like too much of a slog en route to a seemingly long-in-coming payoff that’s already set in stone.

They manage to create a through-line, but one that is hardly compelling (and did we mention it already exists?).

There's a compelling narrative here, but the drama lacks the fireworks and color to keep things engaging.

The idea of focusing on Supeman’s grandfather, instead of his father, Jor-El, might mean there is a lot of room for story with this series and its lineage. But the show’s first few episodes have a nagging inconsequential air to them, as I wonder might be the overall case if Krypton doesn’t start putting its good intent toward a more innovative cause.

The series eventually begins to click but the pacing is slow, the action is sporadic and the special effects are, well, not all that special. ... Campbell and Ogbomo, and the battle of wills between daughter and mom, are consistently more interesting than Seg-El’s machinations to restore his family honor.

If your only complaints about "Marvel's Inhumans" were "Hawaii looks too pretty" and "not enough speeches," here's a grimmer, talkier comic-book dystopia for you, maniac. [March 16/23, 2018, p.104]

Ultimately, dull, dreary Krypton does feel like a waste of time.

There is a lot of clunky, melodramatic dialogue, like, “You have to find the Fortress; you have to save Superman!” There is a glowering supervillain in the form of veteran DC Comics bad guy Brainiac. Last month, I ventured a guess that, sight unseen, Krypton would be lousy. Now, sight seen, I confirm this is so.