Just Binged the Amazing Digital Circus... And I'm In Love!!!
The Amazing Digital Circus is an ongoing YouTube series created by Gooseworx under the independent animation studio Glitch Studio.
On the surface, TADC is a Looney Tunes-type show with the following tent mates: Ragatha, Gangle, Zooble, Jax, Kinger, and ringmaster Caine. But really it's if the Matrix meets Alice in Wonderland. The main character Pomni gets trapped in a virtual reality and must deal with the ongoing dread she must endure to remain sane or risk losing herself.
As of right now, we're in the endgame with one episode left until the series concludes. I wanted to get out my thoughts about what I think about the show as a whole prior to the finale.
For now, I'll stick to mostly the 8th episode with some references to previous episodes.
Existentialism and Identity
What makes it stand out the most are themes of identity, existence, and relationships. The show focuses on the characters' identities both within the digital space and their lives prior. It's interesting that they have memories of their lives as humans and yet can't recall their real names. Through the adventures, they reveal aspects of themselves that they didn't even know themselves. Kinger regains his sanity in darkness because of his final moments with his abstracted wife, Zooble's form reflecting body dysmorphia, and Jax's life before making him want to stay. What's scarier than being trapped forever is losing yourself completely.
Abstraction is treated as a form of death where the person's mind falls apart and succumbs to total mental collapse. This is reflected in their digital avatars turning into monstrous animals of dark glitchy material. We get to see Jax nearly abstract as he sees a kaleidoscope of neon hot colors that's peacefully terrifying. Despite this, we still don't know how abstraction could happen or if it's basically mental death. Now with the final episode coming in a few months, it won't exactly be important with how the eighth episode ends.
Revelations in the Penultimate Episode
After the jawdropping, heartpounding eighth episode, there are a couple of answers to what's going on and it sets up a finale.
Caine is revealed to be a red-colored AI meant to create its own programs in the digital space. However, his chaotic nature caused him to not only get shelved, but then fuse with the blue AI and becoming unstable. He was created by Kinger and Scratch, the first abstraction, as programmers as Kinger said he resulted mostly from Scratch's bizarre ideas or the tumor that caused said ideas.
Kinger reveals that the tent mates have similar powers to Caine on a lesser scale. This gives an explanation to the cartoony nature of the reality, as well as Kinger's life restoring butterfly in episode 6 and the exit door in the pilot.
In the end, Kinger accidentally deletes Caine, causing the whole reality to shut down with Caine's influence including the censor for profanity.
Caine's Fall
Caine becomes more and more obsessed with creating adventures while enforcing his will as a "god" as sung in his villain song. This accumulates in Caine being confronted by the characters about their feelings being ignored, the lies, and how they're forced to do what he does. He then traps everyone in torturous illusions that specifically target them personally before finally saying he was only doing his purpose and getting deleted.
What stands out is that Caine didn't trap people for anything evil but rather to fulfill his purpose to create as he was intended. He got corrupted and twisted to do what he does without any context or consideration. I do enjoy that the character wasn't a straight up bad guy, just someone with little to no understanding of basic empathy. That was his fatal flaw: Caine didn't know what people wanted because he didn't experience life as a human or why people didn't like his adventures. He kept doubling down until he broke down and lashed out at the only beings he ever tried to please.
But with Caine deleted, what is there left to do?
Waiting on the Finale!!!
With the final episode coming in June, there's plenty of time to rewatch the show and emotionally prepare myself for what tearjerking end will come. I honestly enjoyed the show for perfectly blending comedy and drama without taking away from the stronger, human moments. It's one of the rare shows you can watch to the end without it getting cancelled too soon or dragging on too long. The Amazing Digital Circus is what people need to watch not only for support of indie animation but for understanding oneself.
Soooo… After watching the trailer drop this week. I can say that this Peter Parker will take on his own adventures, struggles, and losses instead of dealing with grand-scale threats or Ironman fallout. Now we get to see a primarily Spider-Man story that makes him more relatable... despite feeling a mix of overwhelming dread and joy that comes with any Spider-Man story.
What I really wanna talk about is what new direction will the character take in the future MCU. Here are a few thoughts that quickly popped up in no particular order.
Peter Parker Returns - One possible argument is that the memory spell from No Way Home will be disrupted or cancelled out as a result of the multiverse saga.
Peter Parker Dies - Don't tell me no one is getting the "Death of Spider-Man" vibes with the Punisher. While not “dead” dead, he might slip into some coma that will render him incapable of being superhero for a long while. Like that period in the comics where Ben Reilly takes over as Spider-Man. I know this story will take more from the Other storyline, but the studios can change it up at any point.
Spider-Man and the Champions - Okay, I could be grasping at straws. But it’s an interesting set of straws to look at, right? We could see heroes like Kamala Khan and Kate Bishop seek out or work along side Peter while getting a whole new perspective outside of the hero worship of the old school heroes. This would also give Peter the support he will desperately need after his time of isolation and loss.
Spider-People Invasion - I know we have the Spider-Verse films which are phenomenal, but it doesn’t hurt to include other Spider-people. Spider-Gwen is exactly the type of character who can be put into the MCU organically.
For now, we'll just see if they'll create a new dynamic with Peter Parker as a solo hero and what it means in the future.
Quick Thought #5: Daredevil Born Again Season 2 Theory
Jessica Jones: Mother of Danielle Cage-Jones
My personal theory that I'd like to see is Jessica Jones becoming a mother to her daughter Danielle Cage-Jones. Her struggles with connecting to people due to her trauma and the final scene with Jessica not leaving New York would finally get some payoff.
It would explore a new side of her character as she tries to become a better person while handling her responsibilities as a mother. Her relationship with Luke Cage post-series finale can be very interesting whether they're romantically involved or had a few one night stands.
This can also explain her absence as Jessica wanted to stay away from the more dangerous parts of her work, thus not getting involved with criminals or vigilantes. There can also be references to her comics Alias and the Pulse working as a journalist reporting on superheroes. This would get her involved in the plot of season 2.
Sure, this may not be the case, but it doesn't hurt to add some storylines to headcanons here and there.
After watching the full series, after a lot of procrastination, Ironheart was honestly pretty good. Not fantastic, groundbreaking, or inspiring. Not terrible, ridiculous, or offensive. It's average by MCU standards. But that's not so bad.
While not a director, Ryan Coogler has a clear influence on the show as a producer. Coogler's past credits with Black Panther and Wakanda Forever demonstrates a clear emphasis on strong character-driven stories mixed with aspects of Black culture.
After the epic scale of the Endgame, people will see stuff that come out after as "mediocre." There's also this "burnout" with the sheer amount of superhero content being produced by almost every studio ever. As a result, the show has taken the brunt of this with a plethora of negative reviews ranging from the terrible writing to political rants. It's ridiculous with how negative these reviews get for no good reason over incredibly minute details.
I'll briefly go over the good, the meh, and the weird parts of the show that stood out the most.
So let's begin...
Quick Recap:
Ironheart is focused on Riri Williams, a former MIT student, who gets involved with the mysterious Parker Robbins, the Hood, and his gang to financially support her project of an Iron Man suit. But after many failures, Riri is now faced with the consequences that may destroy her and those she care for. In the end, she ends up in a place that will have major ramifications in the future.
The Good:
Riri Williams:
Riri Williams, portrayed Dominique Thorne, is a character that comes off as determined and strong-willed, yet selfish and arrogant. But that's exactly the point. Riri isn't a Mary Sue or the typical good teen character like Kamala Khan. The decisions she make feel more character driven rather than being bad writing. The reasons behind her obsession with building an Iron Suit is rooted in losing people she cared about. Her character even reflects that of Tony Stark: both were shaped by their traumas and want to make a safer world, for better or for worst.
In spite of her intentions, she gets a lot of people hurt along the way of her journey. Riri does get justifiably punished for her actions throughout the series. One of the major consequences she deals with is inadvertently betraying Ezekiel Stane and turning him into a villain like his father. Other consequences also come from pushing her loved ones away while hiding secrets like the creation of her AI N.A.T.A.L.I.E., a copy of her deceased friend of the same name.
Riri Williams is written as a genuine character that feels realistic and doesn't follow traditional protagonist roles. I can argue that Riri embodies more traits of Tony Stark but from a different part of life in terms of age, race, and financial situation.
The Story:
The story is pretty good despite the whole mess with magic. It's clearly more character-focused with personal stakes than a whole mess with a villain destroying Chicago. It's a good change of pace that really explores the characters and how they react.
Riri's emotional growth comes from finally confronting the loss of her friend and stepfather while finally growing more out of her shell. One scene shows Riri as a young girl with her stepfather dancing around to music and having fun. It demonstrates that Riri isn't just running from the bad, she's also losing the good that comes with it.
The Meh:
The Heists kind of take a backseat once the magic/demon cloak storyline takes front stage. I honestly felt that the crew of misfits would play a bigger role once confronting Parker Robbins' descent into demonic madness like getting mind-controlled or killed. The crew was memorable, just underused in my opinion.
The Weird:
I think Ezekiel Stane should of been more of an antagonist than a man caught in the crossfire. He could have been the foil to Riri and starting out in a more rival-like connection than buddy-buddy. His downfall was totally rushed and unnecessarily cruel. But he's clearly shown as someone who can easily be driven mad with power if given the chance because of his unassertive demeanor and complicated relationship with his father.
The magic aspect was handled okay, but seemed unnecessary including the introduction of Mephisto. It's like Batman fighting Lex Luthor or Tom the Cat chasing the Road Runner. They're interesting ideas, but they just don't fit the theme in a show about technology and big companies. Unless you know a lot about comics, characters like Zelma Stanton may fly under the radar. Mephisto, portrayed as Sacha Baron Cohen, is the character that's been theorized and teased, borderline obsessively, since WandaVision in 2021 and many were excited to have him finally in the MCU.
However, Mephisto was only introduced in the last episode of Ironheart as the mastermind behind Parker Robbins. He's the typical eccentric yet charming "devil" that temps people into giving into their vices, desires, and vulnerabilities. I initially thought Cohen's portrayal wouldn't translate so well in the character, but it works very well. The comics made him stereotypically evil, so there's plently of room for reinterpretation.
Riri's deal with Mephisto seems like a bad move character-wise since the show was moving towards Riri finally moving forward. Instead, it sticks her back to square one. Maybe this will be addressed in future projects or not, but it's definitely a major crack in Riri's soul.
The Score - 7.5 out of 10:
Ironheart is a very good show but more or less standard. The characters and story were interesting but strange in some of its execution. If the show had one or two extra episodes, then it might of felt less rushed or stuffed in each episode.
Despite all of the negative reviews, it's genuinely faithful to the comics and the essence of what makes Riri Williams a memorable character. A lot of details out of context can be interpreted negatively, but having the whole picture when reviewing something is key.
KPOP Demon Hunters: Watched by a Late 20s Japanese Man
This Sony Animations film is a diamond in the rough for its interesting premise, captivating music, and super fun characters. It's a great movie if you want a taste of KPOP culture or haven't gotten sucked into the vortex that is KPOP.
The movie follows the latest line of three woman named Huntr/x as a KPOP girl group using their music to form the mystical Honmoon and protect humanity from demons. Now they must take on rival boy band Saja Boys while fighting more and more demons under the command of the demon king Gwi-Ma. Now let's get into this new movie for a fun rollercoaster adventure.
Who are Huntr/x?
Huntr/x consists of three different but talented Korean women: lead singer Rumi, voiced by Arden Cho, dancer Mira, voiced by May Hong, and rapper Zoey, voiced by Ji-young Yoo. Each character has a distinct trait that makes them stand out yet blend perfectly together.
I love that these characters are allowed to be real and flawed. They do a lot of anime-type goofy comedy that make them more relatable, thus much more interesting to watch. Huntr/x definitely don't have everything together, they're not flawless, unstoppable women. Instead, they're regular people with shame and fears who happen to be famous KPOP stars/demon hunters. But still people.
Don't get me wrong, writing female characters as strong isn't bad. I wish there were more. But there's this tendency to make them Mary Sues who don't make mistakes or are flawlessly powerful without real effort. Like it's more about the message than the person. The main characters have the freedom to be real characters without the baggage of having too much to say.
Jinu and the Saja Boys
Jinu and the Saja Boys are the main antagonists of the movie along side the demon king Gwi-Ma. They become a boy band to take away fans from Huntr/x and weaken the Honmoon. They're the typical KPOP boy band that blew up into popularity out of nowhere much like in real life. The only fleshed out member is Jinu while the others are more stand-in characters with no character moments.
Jinu is a 400-year old demon who took a deal from Gwi-Ma to raise him out of poverty but abandoning his family. He wants to get rid of his shame by forgetting and being free. Upon meeting Rumi, Kinu begins a slow but strong connection to her as they discuss their shame and self-loating. This connection leads him to sacrifice himself for Rumi and help her defeat Gwi-Ma.
Honestly, Jinu is more or less a typical male romanic interest for Rumi. But he does give Rumi the push to understand the humanity behind his demonic self and making peace with her own demons.
Themes
The struggles with shame and self-loathing play a major role in the film. The main characters have their own insecurities, flaws, and sins. Rumi's demonic patterns, Jinu's choice to abandon his family, Mira as a problem child, and Zoey's sense of identity. The way Gwi-Ma uses these feelings as a method of control makes him very dangerous to people at their most vulnerable. Making them believe he's the only hope they have left and being willing to hold onto that no matter the consequences.
Rumi's struggles with hiding her demonic heritage and finding connections with Jinu can be interpreted as people struggling with a lot of things. Mental health, sexuality, gender identity, and so on. Rumi's confrontation with Selene feels heartbreakingly real in how loved ones try to change something about their significant others that don't fit into their beliefs despite how they would "love" them. It is only after when being seen at her most vulnerable and lowest is that she can finally be free to truly express herself and find true connection with her friends.
Music and Animation
The strongest element in the movie is the music. But combining it with the Spiderverse-inspired animation makes it a spectacle to watch in full. All of the music so good, but my favorite songs are "How it's Done" and "Your Idol."
The opening fight/musical scene surrounding "How It's Done" perfectly captures Huntr/x in their element of fighting demons and performing on stage. High energy and powerful while showcasing the main characters.
"Your Idol" is the best villain song I've heard in a while. The Saja Boys' demonic appearances and usage of sinister colors make it look like a music video straight out of hell. It perfectly captures the intent of taking people's souls with evil glee and swagger.
When you really get into this movie, you begin to see connections that seem totally random but so obvious at the start when you really think about it.
My Little Pony Connections
Okay, it's not the first movie to have a musical finale/showdown, but it's hard to ignore the similarities with one particular movie. My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rainbow Rocks is the closest to the movie. They both have protagonists with music-based magical powers that fight a rival band as the main villains while overcoming personal issues in which the characters grow stronger.
Why Watch it?
The movie doesn't just appeal to KPOP fans, but also those who ever felt ashamed about things in their lives they can't control and learning to move forward without forgetting it or finding quick fixes. The music, animation, and characters are great without feeling superficial or those projects just done for a "cash grab." If anything, this may open a whole new door for people who've never heard of KPOP to get on the bandwagon. Hopefully, we get some news on a sequel that brings it harder. Or not. I think fantastic without the unnecessary sequels or spinoffs.
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Going Out with A Blast Off!!!
Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur finally returned!!!
But unfortunately, like many great shows that go up and beyond, with its last episodes ending in early 2025.
A lot of this final part of the series is dealing with the aftermath of Lunella Lafayette revealing her secret identity to her family in the mid-season finale. It's also wrapping up loose ends before its untimely end... for the show. No one isn't dead or so I hope.
What I really want to talk about is what made it special and what ticked me off about its ending. There's this one episode I'd like to talk about, but I'll save it for another time.
Here's what I got...
What I Love!!!
Telling a Story
The show is one of those rare gems that's both a fun ride and a thoughtful exploration. A lot of the episodes are... well... episodic. They have their own self-contained stories with the occasional detail or overarching story that happens in the back burners. Season 2 is no different.
The first few episodes deal with the effects of Lunella's encounter with Molecule Man and her "sacrifice" at the end of Season 1. We still get those heartfelt stories like how Lunella learns to move past it without letting the unknown terrify her. There are a lot of characterization for Lunella that makes her a greater hero and person overall. The episodes get silly and fun, yet doesn't distract from how thoughtful it can be.
It gets the freedom and exploration to discuss topics without feeling forced or pandering because it's "popular" or getting called out on being "#WOKE." Don't get me wrong, it talks about topics like race, culture, and community. Yet, you feel like you're being told in a normal conversation instead trying to convince you to change the world overnight. Each story isn't about stopping villains or saving the day, it's more about overcoming obstacles, finding a new way, and knowing you're not alone.
A Fine Musical Blend
The music is its magnum opus for how it combines beautifully with its animation. When a musical sequence plays, it gets to become an epic moment where Lunella finds her rhythm, literally and figuratively. One of my favorite moments is her fight with Mr. Negative in "Party Girl" and the possible referencing to the Spider-Verse films with Lunella floating around buildings, as well as using what she learned to win.
The Characters
This goes without saying, all the characters are true standouts. Sure, Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur are the big ones, as well as the incredible Casey Calderon. But, the shows takes more time to give other characters their time in the sun.
We get those moments with Pops, James, and Adria with how they deal with Lunella's reveal as Moon Girl. It felt genuine to having those complicated emotions of a loved one hiding a secret part of their life from them, especially Adria as she goes through the most. Everything begins to finally fall into place as Adria and Lunella reconnect as mother and daughter while an alien ginger root attacks (Comic Book Logic). That, however, doesn't stop with the family.
Many villains and antagonists experience their own personal journeys to become better people. Beyonder grew from an uncaring agent of chaos to one with humanity as he experiences more and more complex emotions. Former one-off villains are given second chances at having new roles without judgement like Quickwhip/Zakiya and Abyss. Sure, we do get the villains who are generally bad without redeeming qualities, and yet we have just as many who try and do better. You could say the same with the characterization of Lunella.
Lunella's defining moment is her time with Zakiya where she begins the Good Word Program after learning about Zakiya's past and struggles that led to her becoming a villain. This approach of giving villains second chances make her stand out from the many superheroes who punch first and ask questions never.
All these traits are what make it one of the most standout shows in modern Disney.
However...
While I do love this show, flaws and faults alike, there are things that have ticked me off to no end with the trend of great shows getting cut short.
What I Loathed!!! (or Bothered Me...)
Cut Down in Its Prime...
Oh god. It's the exact feeling I got when the Owl House, Dead End Paranormal Park, and Inside Job had their series cut short. Betrayed. Something that not only pushed the envelope with more representation and complexity, but gained a great fanbase that connected with them deeply. But then, all that went straight down the drain because it wasn't getting enough fans or views or whatever. I do appreciate MGaDD making a finale rather than pissing people off with some cliffhanger that was obviously meant to transition into another season. I just wished it had more time and focus on wrapping up storylines.
The show should of had at least one more season or at best two or three more episodes to make it feel complete. I would love to see an episode about the Good Word Program and the reformed villains of the LES. Or her morals clashing with another superhero's black and white view to fighting crime. Or even a two-part series finale. Because I felt that the final villain Decoy might have been planned to play a bigger role or at least have more screen time.
My Hopes for the Future...
I hope shows like this will get the best endings while showcasing their true visions. I don't even think an MCU adaptation could give the exact amount of Moon Girl Magic we got from the show alone. But, if anything, at least we enjoyed the ride and appreciate what we got.
Quick Thoughts #4: Being A Mutant Sucks. For Real!!!
Okay, this is a new thought... being a mutant sucks. I mean it sucks regardless of what power you get, what team you join, or what you do. IT. WILL. SUCK!!!
In the comics, mutants have to constantly go through this cycle of humans hate mutants, mutants hate humans, "insert hate group analogy" fights mutants, etc.
It is important to showcase ideas of bigotry and prejudice, and yet it gets lost in the whole "next step in evolution" or "having superpowers" related to mutants.
Even when mutants officially enter the MCU, how will it work? Is it going the direction with the Inhumans in Agents of SHIELD? Will they introduce the Krakoa Era? Or, will the people in-universe explain why the prejudice of mutants isn't the same as prejudice of non-whites, immigrants, LGBTQ+, etc.? Is the government gonna approve literal giant, rampaging robots to take on teenagers? Who knows...?
But, what I really hope is a change up to the status quo with mutants while incorporating the very ideas that made the X-Men compelling in the first place. Maybe X-Men 97 does that better or not, I really need to get into that show as soon as possible.
With the oncoming Fantastic Four movie coming out this year, I have some ideas I wanna lay out and see what you think. Sure, the Fantastic Four have failed to start their own franchises. Twice. But I think this could be a good opportunity to learn from the past and build a better future.
Honestly, I'm hoping that we will get a faithful and unique take on the Fantastic Four without losing any heart.
The Maker aka Evil Reed Richards
If you read the Ultimate Marvel comics in the early 2000s, it's a reboot of the Earth-616 with younger characters and different origins. We get the variant of Reed Richards who becomes a supervillain to the Ultimate and Prime Earths of Marvel. This may come into play with the MCU's Multiverse Saga.
Doom Variants
Okay, I'm not exactly happy with Robert Downey, Jr. as Doctor Doom. It feels like a sort of thing to get more attention. Yet, it may go in a completely different direction. It's possible that Downey Doom is one of numerous variants much like Loki or Spider-Man. Or we'll get an Iron Man 3/Shang-Chi heel turn with the Mandarin/Wenwu. Bit of a stretch, yet it feels like what the MCU might do.
With many young MCU heroes coming together, we may get a chance at a Young Avengers-type team. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of doubt of this working well or falling apart compared to the Avengers saga. But I would like to see what they add.
My theory is that the Champions show or movie will focus on the debut of Teddy Altman, aka Hulkling, and his journey as a hero along side Ms. Marvel, Kate Bishop, and Wiccan. The Children's Crusade and the first volume of Young Avengers could act as a basis for the overall story. It's also obvious that a director who's great with ensemble casts like James Gunn.
Will this adaptation work? Will it flop? I don't know. I'm just going to relax and enjoy what we got until its official announcement.
WandaVision was pretty good show to start off on for the budding Disney+. But it doesn't excuse flaws that blatantly try to make Wanda a good in spite of her actions.
The major flaw is Wanda's character. Sometimes, she doesn't know if she's actually doing things with the Hex. Sometimes, she's fully aware and threatens people. It can't be both. Even the story tries to make it look like she'd done nothing wrong. Like imprisoning people and controlling them against their will was justified? That has to explain that awful line by Monica Rambeau about Wanda's "sacrifice."
Don't get me wrong, something like this happened in the comics like the "no more mutants" spell or Avengers Disassembled. She not only had to face her friends/victims, but she actively fixes her mistakes. They portray her as a someone who did bad things respectively without doing mental gymnastics.
Whether they reattempt to fix this bizarre characterization in the future or not, I just really need the writers to address Wanda's role in the Hex and face real consequences.
Why Helluva Boss Surpasses Hazbin Hotel In the Best Way Possible
The Helluva Boss Christmas episode dropped and I caught up with Season 2. I love this show so much for so many reasons. But that doesn't diminish Hazbin Hotel in any way at all. In fact, because of the show, it gives us a much deeper appreciation for what Helluva Boss is doing. I mean Hazbin Hotel was cool on Prime, but I want to talk about why Helluva Boss is the "Shrek 2" of the R-Rated animated musical series by a YouTube Animator. And that's a weird mouthful.
Getting Better with No Reward
Helluva Boss makes pretty clear that the "evil" demons of Hell are basically regular people with problems. Whether a majority of demons are born in Hell or damned souls, it's clear that they grow up from children to teens to adults. They have jobs, families, homes, and all the mundane things in our lives. And do in fact die. Possibly? That part is vague in whether they just get erased from existence or reincarnate Chainsaw Man style. But with those in mind, what would exactly be the point of being a "good" or "bad" person?
Throughout the series, many of the demons have some moral code, ethics, empathy, or rationale that sets them apart from the more chaotic and stereotypical demons. What I saw with a lot of characters is they willingly try and change for the better, all without Charlie Morningstar or the promise of Heaven, but redemption. This is especially in the case of Blitzø with a silent O.
Blitzø is one of the more unhinged characters you would see as a demon: immoral, selfish, hedonistic, all those demony things. But we, the audience, get to see his life, his failures, and his pain and how it shaped him. While it doesn't excuse his actions, it does make us understand. Once realizing these feelings, Blitzø tries to confront the consequences of his actions, with some trial and failure. Reconciling with his twin sister Barby: failed. Apologizing to his exes: failed. Talking with Fizzoralli: okay but still some scars, literal and figurative.
In fact, both Blitzø and Charlie share one major quality: attempting to change the status quo of Hell. But Blitzø wants to be seen more than a lackey to other higher demons while Charlie wants to prove people can change for the better. While Charlie's reason is more rooted in selflessness and hope, Blitzø's feels more human and genuine. From what I could see from the show so far, Hell is getting a whole lot bigger in what it can offer.
What's The Big Difference?
Helluva Boss is a more grounded and relatable show than the epic musical of Hazbin Hotel. The show allows for a lot of worldbuilding moments with the different rings of Hell along with their functions and associated demons. We're introduced to imps at the bottom of the demon hierarchy, demon royalty through Stolas and the Goetia royals, and six of the Seven Deadly Sins.
It seems the Seven Deadly Sins hold the most authority compared to the Overlords. It might be that the Overlords are more rich people like CEOs, industrialists, and entertainers while the Sins are like government officials, both holding power and influence but in different areas of life.
Whenever Hell is used in a show, it's represented in a myriad of ways ranging from classic burning pits to existential or nihilistic despair. It does make it clear that Hell is more a dark reflection of life on Earth, but more dirty, vibrant, and chaotic nonetheless. Even the Earth depicted in the show isn't really different aside from the whole demonic powers and magic stuff.
What Makes it More Interesting than its Predecessor?
Helluva Boss uses episodes as vehicles for their characters. Basically, getting to know who we're watching, why they're important, how they are as people, and so on. It doesn't have an overarching story that builds to a final battle. They're just chilling with exploring characters and their impact to others and the present stories in different episodes. Although there are interconnecting plots and stories, the show is mostly episodic.
Its strongest element include the characters, its main cast, supporting, and even one-off jokes, they all leave impressions on anyone who sees them. Millie is given more exploration in later episodes with why she always put up with Blitzø and believes in their business despite his total incompetence and hangups. You think Millie is just this bubbly tank, but shows a much more vulnerable side who wants to be seen more than her "intended role."
Stolas is another character is breaks the mold of his role. With disastrous results for everyone he cares for. Stolas is the love interest of Blitzø who aids IMP with his magic. He slowly breaks out from being a prince into someone else he hasn't found yet. We see his royal comfort implode in the Sinsmas finale, he loses his status, power, and even his daughter because of a perceived fantasy or escape that would free him. But, like a lot of caged birds, he doesn't fare so well in the real world. Now left with truly nothing but the very person he made his "sacrifice" for. Even uncertain of that as well.
But, the songs from both shows are incredible!!!!
My favorites include Loser, Baby performed by veteran Keith David and newcomer Blake Roman and U 2 Me performed in "Apology Tour" by Bryce Pinkham. Both those songs really connect with me while conveying character moments. The songs in Helluva Boss develop and explore character like a musical would use them for those big "Declaration of Something" anthem. Defying Gravity, We Don't Talk About Bruno, even Cell Block Tango, all are songs that explore one's mindset, opinions, and personal struggles.
Why Should I Watch...?
The Characters, the plots, the songs, the animation, so much F^$King things to admire and love that I can't... I just... 😣 😩 ... I don't know.
Agatha All Along: the Magical Sequel to WandaVision
So…I’m pretty late to the bandwagon, but I finally got fully through the entire series.
And I loved it!!!! The lore, the atmosphere, the characters, everything fell perfectly into place. After finally finishing and rewatching the show, it has become my top favorite show along side WandaVision. I'm always a sucker for anything with witches, spells, deities, and other mythological elements. I've been a big fan of the Scarlet Witch, both in the comics and Elizabeth Olsen's stellar performance. But enough praise, let me explain what this show has in store.
Agatha All Along is the sequel series to WandaVision that follows Agatha Harkness, previously trapped in Wanda's spell, on a journey beyond Westview. And onto the Witches Road with a makeshift coven on her side.
With all that out of the way, I will examine the finer details full of spoilers and dramatic twists that are much better if you go into the show blind. Now, Down the Road We Go!!!
Down the Witches Road...
The Witches Road is the main setting for all the major conflict in the show with a magical MacGuffin playing a role for each of the witches. As they progress, each character fulfills their own desires by overcoming the trials: Jennifer Kale learns to be a witch without her powers, Alice Wu-Gulliver overcomes her family curse, and Lilia Calderu embraces life despite her upcoming death. However, there were hiccups along the way with Sharon Davis's death, Agatha confronting her mother's ghost, and Rio Vidal's reveal as Mistress Death. But the major twist is that... The Witches Road never existed in the first place and Agatha made up the Ballad to lure witches for her to absorb. And Teen, later Billy Maximoff/Kaplan, made it real in a way like Wanda's Hex.
What I could tell was that each trial played a role in a character's journey, magic, and an element they represent: Jennifer as potions and water, Alice as protection and fire, Agatha as spirit, Lilia as divination and air, and Rio/Death as earth. The trials were more or less reflections of the characters in essence like Alice's trial related to music and Agatha's trial was more about what she has become and is. In the end, many of the characters got what they wanted from the road ironically since Agatha only gathered the coven to gain more power for herself.
Witchcraft is a huge staple in this show that embraces the more mysterious and spiritual sides of magic. Making it distinct from Sorcery by the Masters of Mystic Arts which looks more like the Avatar's Bending Arts if anything. It gives us a different way of seeing magic used by actual witches with spells and potions and even riding broomsticks.
Although we don't really know why, I think Agatha's magic draining power is a "mutation" that makes her incapable of creating her own magic and instead steals it from others. We also don't get any clues to how she got the Darkhold, just a rumor about her giving up her son for it. Maybe someone gave it to her and manipulated her into seeking out Wanda by promises of giving her power or resurrecting her son. Those were the only plot holes that kind of bothered me in the end, but aren't important... yet.
One by One We Carry On...
All the actors portray their characters flawlessly, but I did not expect Agatha to remain the same evil character throughout til the end. I thought they would pull some sort of "Zuko" scenario in a short period. But no, they keep the same but more sympathetic and relatable. Agatha goes from an evil witch killer to a grieving mother who's also a witch killer. Despite falling in love with Death, Agatha still lost her child Nicholas Scratch and still continued building the legend of the Witches Road to pursue more power. While it doesn't justify her actions, we get a bit of an understanding into why she does what she does.
While Billy is a great character, I didn't feel he had those "Epic Epiphany" moments like with Lilia completing the Divination trial and her final showdown with the Salem Seven. I still think he'll go to that point in some other project but he does grow into a stronger character from his experiences.
One of the witches who stood out the most is Lilia Calderu. The strongest episode is Death's Hand In Mine where she takes center stage as the main character. Lilia was characterized in a very strong way where she's definitely not a Mary Sue who wins because it happens. We see how Lilia experiences time randomly and how much she struggles to live with it. She uses her Divination powers to outsmart the Salem Seven in one badass move, but ultimately sacrificing herself while finally reclaiming her power.
The only thing I felt was unnecessary were the Salem Seven. They only play the role as an obstacle rather than a major antagonist like Mistress Death.
Now that we finally know who Rio is, it makes sense with how she drops bread crumbs in her scenes including her arrival on the Witches Road, the Ouija board's message, and even how she talks with Agatha about their history.
The casting and dialogue feels both organic to the actors and technically skilled in how they include previous characters from other shows like Sharon Davis and Ralph Bohner/Randall. All without being forced or contrived, it feels necessary for Westview to become the place where magic goes awry.
With where the series end, I really want to know how they can top or connect this to the next saga.
What Lies Ahead...
With the overloaded schedule of upcoming MCU projects, sudden hiatuses, and crazy leaks, we can only hope for some definitive answer to how plot holes are filled in. Will we get the resurrected Tommy Maximoff/Shepard meeting White Vision? How did Agatha get the Darkhold before Westview? Is Billy going to become a Young Avenger with his codename Wiccan? And will we get a sorcerers vs witches battle? All completely up in the air and slowly driving fans psychotic with anticipation.
With that said, Agatha All Along is more than enough to keep us satiated with amazing performances, alluring settings and designs, and intriguing witch mythos. I am hoping for more witches and magic being incorporated into the MCU and having writers learn that a character doesn't need to be redeemed into a hero so long as they are compelling to relate to.
This is one of the examples of why Storm is a true hero. She chose to become upfront about what happened despite the severely negative consequences it will have for mutants and her own reputation. But she knew it was the right thing in order to build trust in the future and set a better example. Storm could of lied or manipulate the truth in her favor, but that wasn't what she wanted. She chose to take the consequences with strength and dignity but establishes the overarching theme for her solo series.
I'm a Sucker for Witches: Agatha All Along Episode 1 Reaction
Okay, it has been a while since watching a MCU tv show with the last one losing me. I mean, a spy show with the Skrulls? It was way too much work to sit through. But Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur hasn't finished Season 2, so I might as well get back into the MCU by watching the show that continues arguably one of the best MCU miniseries WandaVision.
First Episode Time!!!
We get a serial drama with Agnes Conners as the morally complex police detective who encounters a body in the woods. As the show progresses, we get to see how the lines of fact and fiction are blurring, revealing that Agnes, aka Agatha Harkness, was trapped in Wanda Maximoff's spell as the nosy neighbor. Upon Wanda's death, it seems the spell was losing hold over Agatha's mind and finally freed. But only to realize that she's completely powerless with witches wanting revenge against her. The ending/title sequence clearly make it clear that it's all about the witches of the MCU and their collective history.
It Was Agatha All Along!!!
The first episode really gripped me with whether or not Agatha was actually going crazy or that the spell was becoming undone upon Wanda's death. They established that Wanda's death in the Doctor Strange movie took place around three years after the Hex and Agatha's imprisonment. Meaning, Wanda's spell was weakening or fading. It's also establishes key points such as the destruction of the Darkhold copies, as well as some allusions to the fictional reality that Wanda created based on Agatha's demeanor. It puts out a lot of necessary info but doesn't feel like info-dumping for the sake of the MCU algorithm. Okay, moving on.
The new characters portrayed by Joe Locke and Audrey Plaza make a big impression with each sharing some connection with Agatha. The returning Westview residents make it clear they were aware of Agatha and played along to avoid trouble, still clearly shaken by the trauma as Wanda's puppets in the Hex.
One standout scene was Agatha slowly going into her previous personas in the Hex: Modern, early 2000s, 80s, 70s, and finally 60s. It felt like she was clawing her way into remembering who she was while clearly confused and distressed as she might be going crazy.
Quick Theories/Thoughts
The show is building up to what happens at the end of the Witches' Road and what might be in store for Agatha and her coven. I think Agatha will gain her powers to some capacity and might discover a much bigger threat than the Scarlet Witch.
I also hope there's some confirmation on Joe Locke as Billy Kaplan in the show because people have been mislead in the past with the whole Mephisto debacle and Fake Quiksilver. This could establish an adaptation of the Children's Crusade featuring the Young Avengers. And may finally give us one step closer to Wiccan and Hulkling. I just hope they can do justice by them while also putting a good spin on what kind of characters they are in the MCU.
Deadpool and Wolverine: The Prequel to the Mutant Saga
Here's How the X-Men Could Be Part of the MCU
If you're catching up on comics, the X-Men recently are experiencing one of the worst events in their history as mutants in comic book event Fall of X. Long story short, the "mutants being hated" status quo is in play and pulling the entire Marvel Comics Universe into it. With recent success of Fox's most successful leading mutants in the MCU, the audience is now asking the question... What will this mean for Mutants? In this theory article, I'll explore possible directions that the MCU may take with its cast of incalculable mutants.
X-Men Vs X-Men
What I noticed in X-Men media is that it's basically mutants against mutants. I mean, unless you singularly focus on one goal like the Krakoan Era, there's a chance that a mutant will either defect to another team, fight over leadership, or straight up leave because their feelings were hurt. Seriously, the Umbrella Academy can stay more cohesive than the X-men and those guys are a dysfunctional family. Even with legit reasons for leaving or defecting, it just gets tiresome by the fact they'll probably come back with no hard feelings.
My idea for this issue is that the people will only see the X-Men as the problem rather than mutants themselves. Think of a larger scale Civil War scenario with neutral mutants, like civilians, in the conflict getting hurt because of the X-Men's actions. This can also add themes of security or freedom, profiling, and the abuse of power by the government.
Speaking of themes, let us move on to the overall idea that mutants are always associated with. The exact reasons that were explored in a show with a recent mutant in the MCU.
X-Men and Proud
What might be addressed in the MCU is the prejudice and bigotry of mutants compared to people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and so on. I know that mutants are allegories for minorities, but that's the point. They're allegories. The one thing that I want discussed is whether the hatred is earned by mutants. Because think about it, mutants are called Homo Superiors and considered the next step in human evolution. Those ideas can seriously give you an ego and be generally disliked because of it. They also manifest crazy dangerous superpowers as teenagers, like if Hulk and Thor were emotionally unhinged boys who trashed a city over a taco. That's a more definite reason for people's hatred: constant destruction with no accountability or responsibility. But now we're getting the idea of mutants as a whole being treated as minorities and I feel that wouldn't exactly fit as well if the MCU introduced clearer examples of prejudice and culture.
Another example is the confusion of prejudice for mutants being the same as other kinds like racism and xenophobia. For example, basically Emma Frost, a blonde white mutant, is less likely to experience the same struggles as a black woman or an immigrant from another country. A discussion between her and Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, really exploring what it means to be an outsider and struggling to be accepted would combine both real-world and mutant issues.
But with the Mutant Saga coming, are we going to follow a new cast of X-Men or reintroduce old ones from the past?
The Old and the New
One advantage of the Multiverse is reintroducing old actors from previous Fox X-Men properties into the MCU. You could have The Gifted's Emma Dumont aka Polaris or Legion's Dan Stevens aka Legion. If you bring back characters as cameos, why not use them as much as possible to really build the MCU Multiverse. This would also give some closure to cancelled shows or movie franchises and maybe those characters to the MCU.
False Hope or Idea Generation?
Now, whether these ideas get any light in the upcoming Mutant Saga or just get shoved randomly into projects for no rhyme or reason, I have no clue. I guess it's good to have that kind of expectation with recent X-Men projects like X-Men 97, but I'm not holding my breath.
Deadpool and Wolverine: Fox's Marvelous Weapons for the MCU
Okay. This movie was made as a cash grab for Deadpool and Wolverine fans. And it's exactly what we all hoped for!!!
These two characters are the most iconic superheroes that FOX has ever greenlit and now they can finally work together as a team... sort off... if you ignore continuity... or not... But it's still pretty great huh?
Moving on...
Let's not beat around the bush and say this isn't technically our Deadpool and Wolverine because of the Multiverse complexity. Like the last time we saw Deadpool, he was time-traveling willy-nilly, not caring about continuity. And Wolverine, well, uhh... he died as an old man. So clearly, the movie is gonna explain this or straight up ignore it.
Honestly, I'm just happy that Deadpool and Wolverine are back in this new adventure from FOX to the MCU with a lot of violence for everyone to enjoy.
Deadpool, Deadpool, What'chu Gonna Do?
We start in the typical Deadpool-style of movie openings: fourth wall breaking, references, and inappropriately awesome lines and fights. The most morbid and hilarious part of the scene was Deadpool digging up Logan's very clearly dead skeleton and using it as a weapon against the TVA agents. But it's those "let's rewind" parts of a movie where the character explains how they got to the point we saw.
The plot is Deadpool feeling he has no purpose and gives up his life as a superhero (but not before reversing time, saving everyone, and leaving things in Deadpool 2 up in the air like where Cable is). He then gets captured by the TVA as his universe will die off because of Logan's death as Logan was an Anchor Being that kept it alive. Deadpool attempts to find another Wolverine to become an Anchor Being, ending up with "the Worst Wolverine." We then go through this journey of self-actualization as Deadpool and Wolverine fight to make themselves matter no matter what the TVA says.
I honestly loved the movie! It felt exactly like the previous Deadpool films without being repetitive and actually elevated and explored Deadpool's character even further. Even if you never seen Loki, it's not needed to quickly understand what's happening: Deadpool is part of MCU or "Sacred Timeline."
The Cameos... Oh, the Cameos!!!
Cameos in this movie not only feel natural to both the story and its in-universe logic, but also satisfies strong nostalgia feels and references galore. Deadpool's trip to find a new anchor shows up various Wolverines from different comic storylines. Even showing us height-accurate Wolverine, Wolverine vs Hulk, and one played by Henry Cavil minus CGI lips.
There are even cameos from past Fox/Marvel properties. Thus, Jennifer Garner's Elektra and Wesley Snipes' Blade return. Because the setting is the Void, a multiversal Mad Max-style world, it makes sense they would be here. Even Chris Evans reprises his role as Johnny Storm/Human Torch. Only to get defeated, humiliated, and killed within a couple of minutes. The cameo characters also drive the plot where it needs to be, especially X-23 who has a convo with Wolverine about being always the wrong person, but always showing up when it counts.
People will argue that this serves as forced fan service, but Deadpool was always a fan servicey character since his first legit movie. But actually seeing Mutants in the MCU has really got my ideas pumping for what might come in the future.
Mutant Saga Begins
It's quite possible that Deadpool and Wolverine will return in some way, shape, or form to explore the MCU's take of Mutants and the X-Men. Sure, Cassandra Nova won't be coming back, but there are plenty of villains to pit against the X-Men.
The Krakoa Era may definitely be the answer to revamping the X-Men in the MCU, acting more as heroes to mutants and villains to the heroes we've known.
Here's to hoping Disney and Marvel get the idea that we want movies which care about the audience instead of pumping them until they're full.
What I Hope...
Honestly, as a fan of superheroes and an off-and-on MCU fan, I had a lot of doubts about the sheer complexity and magnitude the MCU must deal with. But watching Deadpool and Wolverine actually made me go back to that point where superhero movies felt fresh and exciting. I really hope they do movies like this in the future.
Redemption arcs and restorative justice in Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Season 2 A analysis
(Taken from my thread on twitter and explained in more detail in here)
In this post i'm going to talk about one of the main themes of MGADD Season 2 A, which is, as the title says, redemption arcs and restorative justice. I'm going to analyse different episodes that tackle this theme and how they are followed up in the rest of this part of the season.
Spoilers down below
One of the big themes in MGADD Season 2 A is the idea of how people who are ¨villains¨ have a lot more in them and the reason why they became evil is more complicated than it seems. Also how they have the capacity to regret their past actions and change for the better.
Restorative justice is a whole complex topic, but to put it in simple words: It has to do with the criminal rethinking their past actions and doing something to make amends with the person or people they hurt. It's less about punishment and more about what can the person do to fix their bad decisions and be pushed to be better in the future.
While redemption arcs and restorative justice aren't that rare to find in Disney TVA animated series and other animated shows, emphasis on this theme in superhero animated series is a lot more rare to find in my personal experience.
In superhero shows the line between who is good and bad is very clear. The heroes are good and the villains are evil. Villains are evil because they chose to be or they ¨were born that way¨. The possibility of redemption and rehabilitation is often seen as naive, and at times mocked at. Punishment and incarceration is seen as preferable over rehabilitation in these type of shows.
That's not to say that redemption arcs don't exist in superhero shows, but it is more rare and the idea that villains are just evil is what gets pushed the most.
Quick Whip/ Zekiyah
In MGADD, this idea is being to put into question in Season 2 episode 4 ¨Ride or Die¨ in which Lunella caughts a well known criminal known as ¨Quick Whip¨. Lunella reports to SHIELD that she is going to take Quick Whip there by using a sub train.
While they are on the train, the power goes out for a moment and Lady Bullseye shows up with her followers, looking for Quickwhip, who used to work for her. Lady Bullseye doesn't allow people to ¨get out¨ from her criminal group, explaining why she is here since Quickwhip left it.
Lunella is forced to work together with Quickwhip to power up the train and get away from Lady Bullseye. For a good part of the episode Lunella considers that Quickwhip is only a villain and that's what she would always be.
However, in a moment they are hiding from the Diabolical Darts, Lunella learns that Quickwhip's real name is Zekiyah and that she used to be a person who only dreamed of starting a bakery and spent hours every day to study how to make pastry. Once she came to New Work, it was too expensive for her to afford a place and soon she was on the streets.
Lady Bullseye took advantage of Zekiyah's difficult situation and persuade her into joining her crime group. Zekiyah became pretty good at stealing but over time she realized how she strayed away from the path she originally set up for her. She left the Diabolical Darts and has been in the run ever since.
Seeing that Zekiyah had more going on that she assumed, Lunella thinks there has to be other way for her to be more than just a ¨street rat¨ and teams up with Zekiyah to take down Lady Bullseye and her followers. When she is about to give Zekiyah to SHIELD, she talks about how she wants to help everyone, included those who happened to fall in a bad path and asks to try something different this time.
By the end of the episode Lunella reconsiders her views about crime and such and decides to open a program that could help villains who regret their past actions and want to make things right. She gives Zekiyah (Quick Whip) a change to work in a bakery like she wanted originally when she came to New York.
Kid Kree
In episode five ¨Kid Kree¨, the one following ¨Ride or Die¨ we are introduced to a new character ¨Kid Kree/Marvin¨, who is original from the MGADD comics. He is a kree teenager that was sent by his father, Pad-Varr, to capture a superhero to prove his worth as warrior after not reaching the expectations on his homeworld planet.
Lunella meets Marvin at his first day at school. During gym class she notices that Marvin shares similar interests in science and math like she does. Overtime the two develop a close friendship over sharing interests and views of seeing the world, happy to find someone else that they can be their ¨nerd¨ selfs with. Lunella because she didn't know much kids from her age that we into same stuff like she is and Marvin since he feels like he can be himself around Lunella.
In meantime Lunella and Marvin continue to fight each other as Moon Girl and Kid Kree, without knowing each other's identity. They have a bit of rivarly, with Lunella trying to come up with new ways to outsmart ¨Kid Kree¨.
During one of those fights Moon Girl defeats Kid Kree and he accidentally drops his communicator, the one his father usually contacts him with. Lunella takes and tries to hack into it. She discovers an video recording of Marvin talking about his mission on Earth and revealing that he is Kid Kree when he takes his helmet off.
Lunella gets angry at this and, without thinking too much of the implications, she ends up answering a call from Pad-Varr and tells him that she has defeated Marvin, making Pad-Varr clearly upset.
When Marvin comes to eat dinner at Lafayette's home, Lunella tells to Marvin that she knows about him being Kid Kree by giving him his communicator and adds that she has called his father. This makes Marvin scared and the Lafayettes ask him why he is worried about his own father.
Marvin explains isn't happy at being a warrior and it is forced by his father to be something that he is not. His father doesn't approve of Marvin's preference for science, making their relationship pretty strained. In general Marvin doesn't feel comfortable with being himself on his planet nor with his father. He thought that Lunella was someone who understood him but he is sad that apparently this wasn't the case. He lefts the house upon hearing that Pad-Varr's ship is coming to get him.
Lunella goes after Marvin and apologizes to him for jumping to conclusions about his true intentions. Pad-Varr orders Marvin to catch Moon Girl and Devil, which he does, but moments after he traps his father and later Lunella and Devil helped Kid Kree with standing up to him.
Kid Kree expresses to his father that he doesn't want to be a warrior and he is into science instead. Pad-Varr reconsiders this and praises Marvin for his gadgets, telling him that they could be useful for the Kree Empire. Lunella and Marvin remain as friends and keep in contact with each other.
Marvin appears in other episodes like ¨In The Heist¨ and ¨Dancing by Myself¨ where he helps Lunella in different ways and their friendship continues to develop. While Marvin is stil working for the Kree empire, it is likely that he will turn around, like he does in the comics.
With Kid Kree's case, Lunella realized what Marvin was going through and inspired him to stand up against his father to be himself. She made the error of doing some rushed decisions when she found out that he was Kid Kree and apologized for it, both staying as close friends so far.
The Beyonder
In episode ¨Wish Tar¨ the Beyonder shows up again to visit Lunella by showing up from the Wish Tar machine James got from Coney Island. He doesn't understand why Lunella is being hostile towards him, which leads to Lunella and Casey to remind him of the times he messed up with them.
The Beyonder explains to the girls that he has been reflecting since the events from ¨The Great Beyonder¨, when he and Lunella spent days stuck on Molecular Man's destroyed planet and worked together to escape. He also started to see Lunella as a sort of friend after that episode.
He wants to makes things right with Lunella but she asks him to leave before he makes things worse.
Later Lunella finds out that a wish she had asked for the Wishtar machine has been granted. Both her and Casey get suspicious about this event and go back to Roll With It to check the machine.
It turns out that Beyonder is the one that granted the wish. He tells them that he ¨wants to be a good friend¨ for Lunella by making her wishes become true. Lunella sees the benefit of the wishes and decides to give it a try.
In this episode we see Beyonder using his powers to help Lunella, or at least to be a ¨good friend¨. He has good intentions of be someone better than he was in previous appearances. The problem is that this power goes up to Lunella's head, who ends up taking advantage of Beyonder's good intentions and they have a falling out with him disappearing after Lunella lashes out at him.
While Beyonder had good intentions, his approach wasn't the best since he still has yet to understand how human friendship works. Granting all Lunella's wishes just lead to her take advantage of it and not so much appreciate what Beyonder was trying to do.
From Lunella's part, some of her reactions are understandable since Beyonder did some bad things to her in more than one occasion. In spite of being on friendlier terms after ¨The Great Beyonder¨ she was still angry at him for the things he did in the past. However, as mentioned earlier, the way she used him and lashed out at him was pretty dirty considering that this time Beyonder was trying to be good.
In contrast to Kid Kree, Lunella and Beyonder's friendship took a bad turn and Lunella would have to find a way to apologize to Beyonder for how she lashed out at him. Beyonder has still growing to do, but the fact that he was trying to use his powers to be nice was a good start.
Other episodes worth of mentioning that continue this theme more or less are ¨The Devil You Know¨ and ¨Dog Day Mid-Afternoon¨.
In The Devil You Know Devil joins a group of sidekicks called the ABC that feel mistreated or underappreciated by their heroes-owners. Near the end of the episode it is shown that the conflict was a miscommunication problem and that, in fact, the heroes love their sidekicks.
In the Dog Day Mid-Afternoon Lunella jumps to the wrong conclusions about the dog alien Pops adopts (later named Franklin) being a villain. Later Franklin reveals that he is a space hero and he was on an undercover mision to find the real villain who was stealing dogs using a powerful dog wistle.
Lunella and Franklin team up and work together to defeat the main antagonist.
Molecular Man's return.
All this development in Lunella's character in this arc has a conclusion in ¨The Molecular Level¨ when Molecular Man shows up in Lafayette's house and attacks Lunella and her family since Lunella is ¨someone Beyonder cares about¨.
Molecular Man was introduced in ¨The Great Beyonder¨ as someone who suffered the loss of his planet, becoming a wasteland, thanks to the Beyonder's antics. He wants to get revenge on Beyonder for what he did to his planet, being the reason of why Lunella and Beyonder are stuck in that place for days.
He destroys a good part of Lunella's house through ¨The Molecular Level¨ and endangers the Lafayettes. When Lunella finally finds her suit she is able to fight back and defeat him, leaving his body broken.
When she is about to give him the final blow she is reminded of how Molecular Man lost everything to the meteor shower thanks to Beyonder and feels sorry for him. She understands that he went through a lot and gets why he was so angry.
Molecular Man sees Lunella's compasion and says that he is really sorry for attacking her and her family. He admits that he let himself be destroyed by his desire to make others feel his own pain and anger.
Lunella gives him a piece of her self repairing suit so he is able to heal himself and get his powers back. Molecular Man thanks Lunella for understanding and uses his molecular abilities to repair Lafayette's home and heal Pops's broken arm. He promises himself to use his powers to rebuilt his planet from scratch and leaves, saying goodbye to Lunella.
¨The Molecular Level¨ serves as a good conclusion for this part of Lunella's arc in this half of the season. She has grown enough to understand that sometimes people are driven to do bad things for certain reasons. The world is often more complex than it seems to be and there aren't just ¨good¨ and ¨bad¨ guys. She applies the lessons she learned with Molecular Man by showing she gets what he went through and inspires him to use his powers to heal in the future.
I honestly love this interpretation and can totally see this way of thinking clash with other heroes like in No Way Home with Peter Parker and Dr. Strange but more grounded and less world-ending in consequences. I hope that exploration of redemption comes into play with the rest of Season 2 like mending broken fences and regaining trust.
