Krypton

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]