Krypton

Cuffe lends a scruffiness to Seg-El that’s well matched by Shawn Sipos’ Adam Strange. We’re not in want of superhero stories, but this is a well-done prequel that adds some dirty layers to the history of a comic book icon primarily known as a Boy Scout.

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.

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."

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.

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

Krypton is the kind of series where you wonder what direction is being given to, well, everyone. Any series that looks and feels, at least 50 percent of the time, like a spoof is already in a pretty bad spot. But if that series gives off the vibe that the characters inside it look completely uninspired, then you have a whopper of a problem.

I'd like to love the series but aside from most of the show's actors doing a decent job, and the writing being ok, there's one character that just ruins the entire thing for me...Braniac. The actor playing that role is absolutely horrible. Braniac isn't a smirking dotard like this guy portrays him. He's an AI that is super focused and if anything menacing. His portrayal is so bad I find myself having to fast forward over Seg-El's interactions with him. Cameron Cuffe does a much better job when he is in "brainiac mode" than Blake Ritson does playing the character directly. Lose this lame Braniac and the show quality goes up significantly... or at least get the idiot to stop smirking all the damn time.

Krypton is a beautifully rendered show with solid production quality, great visual effects, and some good acting, particularly the two primary villains, Braniac - Blake Ritson and Gen Zod - Colin Salmon. Krypton's great failing is some insipid writing and a banal story line which fails to convince us that any of the good guy characters deserve to survive the chaos. Over and over our heroes save each other at the expense of about everybody else in the city of Kandor. ... And by the way where are all the other cities on the planet who seem to ignore the Kandorian plight? Understandable why it was cancelled. Show just ran out of steam.