PlayStation has premiered the first episode of its original series Powers online, free to watch. Based on Brian Michael Bendis’ comic book series, Powers follows Christian Walker (Sharlto Copley), a former superhero who now works for the LAPD apprehending people who didn’t get the memo about great power(s) coming with great responsibility.
A new trailer posted yesterday gives an idea of the season-long arc: People are creating, trading, and taking drugs that allow them to alternately become “powers”—that is, gain superhuman abilities that they’ll invariably use for the wrong reasons—or take away other people’s powers.
But just like energy, power can’t just disappear—it has to go somewhere else. Christian and his new partner Deena Pilgrim (Susan Heyward) will figure out where the f—- (because PlayStation has the freedom to include R-rated language and other material) it is. Oh, and Eddie Izzard seems to be lurking in Christian’s head via a Harry Potter-esque lightning scar on his back.
Watch the pilot below:
“The uploader has not made this video available in your country.” Thanks PlayStation!
(May I also include R-rated language? Because f- anyone who restricts content by location.)
You didn’t miss much.
That’s a shame. I have really enjoyed following the comics (although less since Deena left)
Finally got to watch the show and have seen the first ten minutes so far. I thought they had gone with Enki Sunrise as Walker’s partner (since they cast Susan Heyward, who is black) but it turns out she plays Deena Pilgrim instead (a blonde in the comic). I love that they kept Deena’s attitude, but if the show survives long enough, I wonder how they will introduce Enki when the time comes.
The main message I got from this was, “we’re gonna use the f-word every few seconds because nobody’s stopping us! And the rest of the time, we’re gonna come up with every other crude expression we can think of and use that too, just for variety!” It was juvenile. Beyond that, there was inconsistent characterization, silly plot choices, emotionally overwrought relationships with no attempt to earn any of that emotion, and dialogue that was more about attitude than substance. And there was the classic failure of young writers: they attempt to prove their maturity by having mature content but lack the experience or insight to approach it from a mature perspective. A fundamental misunderstanding of what “mature” means. Either that, or the execs just didn’t care if the show was any good as long as they could bank on the fan base and some sorta cool footage in a trailer.
I’m trying to think of a reason for this show to exist. The concept has merit, I guess. No early signs they’re doing anything with it, though.
First episode: Not good.
I just finished the fourth, though, and I can’t wait for the fifth! The show has gotten a heck of a lot better.
Wow, I must be inured to cursing because I didn’t even notice the show had any.
I didn’t like the trailer and the first episode was dire, but it has been improving quickly. I also found episode four (Wolf’s prison break) to be gripping. It probably helps that I have finally made my peace with the changes in character and motivation for the show versus the book.
The casting is also excellent in most cases. Deena is just like I imagined. Calista has exactly the right look for the role and is playing such a wannabe that it almost hurts to watch sometimes. Wolfe is appropriately disturbing.
My one remaining gripe is that I’m not sure I buy Walker. I think the show is going for a washed up celeb feeling (kind of like David Duchovny in Californication) but Copley isn’t at that point in his real life career so it doesn’t fully work. (well, that and if Walker only just recently met Wolfe then his name loses a lot of resonance)