Quibbling Siblings size up The Cape

Bob:

I was pretty excited about The Cape before it premiered. With Heroes crashing and burning, and No Ordinary Family turning out to be a huge disappointment for me, I had high hopes for the show. We’re a few episodes in, and The Cape isn’t quite the savior of the superhero genre that I was hoping for, but it has some potential.

Keith kept advertising it as campy, but I don’t get a real camp vibe from it. With that being said, a little camp might be welcome. The show certainly doesn’t have the dramatic edge that it is so clearly going for. I think it’s at its best when it’s a little lighter, not taking itself too seriously. I like a lot of the over-the-top characters at the carnival, and I love James Frain as Chess. Yes, he’s pushing the character over the edge into ridiculousness, but I think it really works. It helps to counter some of the mopey brooding going on with Vince. At least I feel like Vince has the proper motivation to be a brooder, unlike so many of the whiners that were on Heroes.

So, what’s your take on The Cape?

Debbie:

The two-hour premiere had promise, but The Cape just isn’t intriguing enough to make it a must-see for me.

I think what Keith calls campy, I just look at as poorly executed. It’s not trying to be campy on purpose. They are trying for some elements of humor, but they fall flat for me (although Tripp not letting Travis in this week was pretty cute).

The thing about a show like this is you have to adore the big bads. Who didn’t love the mayor on Buffy? Lucifer on Supernatural? Jasmine on Angel (yeah, I took that one a little too far …)? The cardboard cut-out that is Scales is so unsatisfying to me and I find Chess so unbelievable in this context that it’s hard for me to get into it.

And once, just once, I’d like to see a hero who can stay with his family. It irks me to no end that they think he’s dead and he feels this is his only choice. Sure, you say his brooding has some basis, but it’s of his own choosing.

I almost like Max as Vince’s mentor, though, and they could really make that relationship shine.

Bob:

I think poorly executed really sums it up. There’s a lot of potential in the show, it’s just not sharp. In my opinion there’s a lot to like about it, but at the same time there’s just too much poorly written dialogue, cheesy special effects, and illogical plot holes.

When the show tries to go for real drama or genuine emotion it just seems to fall short of the mark. The flashbacks in this week’s episode were awful. They were supposed to be emotional moments between Vince and his son, but I found myself chuckling at some of the contrived dialogue. I feel like the show is actually at its best when it is being over the top and ridiculous.

I’m afraid that The Cape is going to lose my attention before too long.

Debbie:

Seriously — if a dad got all goo-goo over his 10-year-old son (or thereabouts) in front of all his classmates, you can be sure it wouldn’t be a fond memory in that kid’s eyes!

Yes, I think some of the over-the-top action scenes and interactions between Vince and the bad guys are the most entertaining moments, as well as some of the interactions with Vince and Orwell.

I don’t have high hopes for the show finding its groove, and like you, I’ll probably be multi-tasking while Keith watches this one. This is a show you watch while playing Sushi-Go-Round.

Clacked by Bob Degon
on Jan 27, 2011 @ 11:00 EST5EDT