#the macgyver reboot was pretty disappointing to me

[kitkatt0430]

Since the new Quantum Leap show just started the other week, I finally watched the first couple of episodes of the original. I've always been interested in the show's premise and while the introductory episode was a little confusing at first, it made Sam's confusion really relatable. I definitely enjoyed the the episodes I've seen thus far.

Al is a little irritating, but I can see how he fit the mold of a popular character type from the 90s. Little kid me probably would have found him funnier than adult me does. Sam, however, is a pretty interesting character and I'm looking forward to finding out what why he tested out the the leap technology early and about the quantum leap project itself. I do know some spoilers about the show, like there are other leapers that show up and apparently he fights the devil? It sounds fascinating and ridiculous and I look forward to seeing it play out. Though I also know Sam's story ends with him never coming home, so I'm not expecting a resolution where his travels come to an end.

Though I've got to admit, Sam's anxiety over his memory problems and identity issues and his dysphoria over seeing faces in the mirror that aren't his own can be kinda distressing to watch. So I'll probably only be able to watch a few episodes at a time. But I do want to try and finish S1 before I check out the new show.

Apparently the new show is a soft-reboot style sequel where a new team has restarted the time travel project Sam and Al were a part of and a new person will become a leaper, getting lost in time similar to how Sam was. It'd be interesting if he were to run into Sam out there at some point in a later season. Even if it never happens on the show, I can already practically see the fanfiction being written for that very scenario. (Who knows, maybe I'll write some of it, if I enjoy the show enough.)

[getmemymicroscope]

Well, to start with - I didn't really hate Suicide Squad. At least not on re-watch before the Snyder-cut; at least not as much as everyone else seems to. It was fun, if pointless.

This one, though, came with something more fun: a massively gigantically starcast, including Peter Davidson and Peter Capaldi, amongst others. Plus, of course, Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn again - she's been absolutely wonderful Harley Quinn again - she's been absolutely wonderful in both previous occurrences. And David Dastmalchian, who is better known to me as one of Paul Rudd's friends in Ant-Man and as the serial killer in the better seasons of the MacGyver reboot.

And the movie starts with a whole bunch of characters: and within 15 minutes, almost everyone we've been introduced is ... well, yeah. If I may say so, I do hate when they advertise a huge starcast, but then 80% of them don't even show up after the first 15 minutes. Sort of disappointing. Captain Boomerang.

But the story we do have, and the characters we do follow, are great fun. Ratcatcher 2 and Polka-Dot Man really steal the show, but Bloodsport is fun too. And Harley, of course. She's brilliant again. So much fun. And then, of course, King Shark/Nanaue. The Groot-like character that they needed. Amanda Waller remains, like in the previous movie, an absolute bitch. She's not the main villain here, but she's definitely a character you quickly come to hate, and hate all the way to the end. And beyond.

But yes: Ratcatcher 2, Polka-Dot Man, and Nanaue really make this fun. On the other-hand there is, as expected, insane amounts of gore - overly much, even, like in the scene at the camp. Needed for humor, needed to truly introduce our two most kill-happy characters, needed to remind us what sort of movie we were going for (in case we'd forgotten about the first 15 minutes). But gore is sort of what this movie is bringing to us, so of course they're going to turn to it whenever they can. Which, of course, they can a lot.

Harley has a scene which almost calls back to the final scene in Kingsman: The Secret Service. It's pretty magical. But then, so are most scenes that she is in. She again is magical and appears to be having a lot of fun in the movie (all the movies, in fact).

The end of Polka-Dot Man's story is ... well, both triumphant and depressing. It's great to see his arc develop as it does, and David Dastmalchian absolutely kills it in the role, and he turns this otherwise almost useless villain into someone you really root for - with the caveat that you can sort of figure how it's going to end. The only real question is when.

The fact that, out of all these characters, Peacemaker is the one getting a show is very frustrating. I mean, Harley obviously needs more movies and all. But of all the others, I feel that Peacemaker's character is least deserving (along with Amanda Waller). And not at all fulfilling with the way the story goes.

Fun though. Lots of fun.