It takes a lot of chutzpah to create a superhero TV show. Fans of the genre are very opinionated and tend to attack anyone who tries to veer from the classic superhero style. Just look at what happened to Spiderman 3. While Peter Parker may have been a bit angsty in the comics, he never quite reached the level of emo that Tobey Maguire portrayed in the movie. Long bangs and superheroes shouldn’t mix. But the creators of the new NBC series “The Cape” succeed in creating a fresh, but faithful addition to the superhero genre. The show follows the story of Vince Faraday, a cop who, after being framed for a murder committed by supervillain Chess, discovers a mystical cape and fights against the privatized police corporation Ark (led by Peter Fleming, the real Chess). Faraday finds the cape at a circus run by bank robbers, led by the mysterious illusionist Max Malini (the name of an infamous illusionist of the early twentieth century). The cape molds to Vince’s body, allowing him to use it as a lightning-fast, super strong extension of his own arms.
“The Cape” follows a traditional superhero storyline, with archvillain Chess sending various underlings, such as the mob boss Scales (whose skin, as suggested, is scaly) and Cain (a poison master and part of a secret society known as Tarot), after The Cape and his brilliant sidekick Orwell. A key theme in the show is the true definition of what is right, with the real good guys being the underground vigilantes/bank robbers and the real bad guys being the evil corporation that appears to be good. “The Cape” is the classic underdog story; the do-gooder struggling against what seems an undefeatable evil. The desire to return to his family, who believe that Faraday is not only evil, but also dead, inspires him to continue fighting against Chess.
While the show received mixed reviews, many which said it was terrible, I thoroughly enjoyed the work that the creators put into constructing a true superhero universe. The score, written by Bear McCreary (who also writes for “Eureka” and “The Walking Dead”), draws from famous superhero scores such as Danny Elfman’s theme from “Batman” and John Williams’ theme from “Superman.” These influences give the score a familiar feel to those who follow the superhero genre. The performances by some of the actors and the traditional archetypes their characters represent compensate for the dialogue, which is weak at times. David Lyons, who plays The Cape, is believable as an honest family man who is willing to become a vigilante in order to return to his family. James Frain (Chess) successfully portrays a truly demented man who sees the world as a chess game that he needs to win.
The performances that deserve the most credit are Jennifer Ferrin as Faraday’s wife and Keith David as Max Malini. In her slow transition from doubting her husband to believing in his innocence, Ferrin’s few scenes in each episode capture a realistic response to her situation. The Cape often slips her evidence, trying to win her trust back. In my opinion, the star of this show is Keith David, who takes command of every scene he is in with a booming voice and large presence. Playing the mentor archetype, Max Malini’s strong beliefs about what is right influence The Cape’s journey to redemption. His mysterious past and unclear amount of power draws in the audience, who feel the need to find out more about Malini. Another role that I love watching is Martin Klebba as Rollo, a strong man in the renegade circus and the comic relief of the show. His vibrant presence and quick-witted commentary add a lighthearted aspect to the otherwise dark show.
Although “The Cape” cannot compare with anything created by Marvel or DC, it does have much to offer to the superhero fan. Faraday’s son Trip often reads a comic book called The Cape, which Vince Faraday tries to replicate, both to help with his quest and to maintain his role as an ideal hero for his son. A lot of the cinematography used in the show makes it feel like a live motion comic. The fight scenes are excellently choreographed, with the cape’s elastic ability appearing very realistically on the screen.
Yes, “The Cape” is a very cheesy name. Naming a superhero after what he wears isn’t very creative. But the show’s attention to detail and its devotion to the techniques of traditional superhero storytelling allow it to be entertaining for even the most ardent superhero fan.
1 Comment
A Manning
Max Malini was not infamous but famous; surprised at misuse language on a college web site! read about real Max at http://www.elks616.org/d/history_world_war_2.html