So latest nostalgia show I got into is A.T.O.M. acronym for Alpha Teens on Machines. Helpful because it rhymes, infuriating because whenever I try to look it up, I get so many different, unrelated shows. Then again, you can't find it anywhere on streaming. Only youtube and I spent the past month binge-watching it.
The first season aired way back in the early 2000s and its the only one I remember because apparently they decided not to air the second season in the US. But I remembered very, very little of it. I didn't know of there was an overarching plot or villain or anything. Just four episodes-Trapped, The Experiment, Natural Magnetism and Stormy Weather.
So rewatching it now, I have to give it props for how epic it was!
Basic plot is "Five heroes forge friendships, break rules and push the limits of their high-tech gear."
Axel Manning (the leader on a search for answers about his dead father), Crey "King"ston (the brawn with a head for computers and heart for animals), Cataline Leon "Lioness" (the girl who is one of the guys), Olly "Shark"er (chill, surfer dude), and Zack "Hawk"es (the egomaniac actor/buttmonkey) are all basically stunt performers/adrenaline junkies who get their dream job testing out new machines for eccentric millionaire Mr. Lee.
The first season is them learning to live with each other, bonding as a team, and such. Nothing groundbreaking, but the dynamics are solid and they each have their moments of depth. Hawk, for the most part, is an egomaniac but when he is in his element (planes, and other flying stunts), you get to see a side of him that's serious and confident.
There's an episode where Axel is poisoned and Shark is forced to step up to plate as leader which is nice because it's the only limelight episode on him.
Lioness is typical tomboy, but there is never a "not like other girls" attitude as she's close friends with her cousin and implied to have others in her capoeira classes.
Also like I said, their dynamics are solid with Hawk and Shark being the odd couple best friends who rag on each other all the time. Axel, Lioness, and Shark forming a trio. Shark, King, and Hawk forming quite a few B-plots. Lioness helping out Hawk in his vulnerable moments, and the clear bond between Axel and Lioness who almost always choose to confide in each other's most vulnerable moments. It's my one sadness that they never got upgraded to couple especially when Lioness clearly has unspoken feelings for him! In my imagination, they get together in season three and no one can change my mind.
They also have a big nemesis, Paine with his two flunkies, Flesh and Spydah. Paine is the basic criminal mastermind who wants to take over the world/destroy it because he's insane yet at times he has his sophisticated side like playing piano on his downtime. If they had leaned into it more, he could have been like Hannibal I think. But he's the main antagonist and is Axel's enemy for his mysterious part in Sebastian Manning's death.
The funny part is Paine is voiced by the same guy as Mr. Krabs, Spydah is Spongebob's voice actor and Flesh's is Patrick's. Yes, it's basically evil Spongebob trio and while Paine and Spydah's voices are disguised pretty well, you can hear it at points. And yes, it's hilarious if you keep that in your mind while listening.
While Paine, Spydah and Flesh are the main antagonists, there are episodes with different, unrelated villains which keeps it from getting too formulaic which is good.
The action is top-notched and there is a good balance of regular episodes and plot episodes where we learn more about the mysterious death of Axel's father and how he is tied with Mr. Lee and Paine.
Some episodes I particularly enjoyed were the two part pilot and the third episode that gives Paine a villain upgrade which is essential to getting into the show, A Paine by Any Other Name P1-2, and A Touch of Paine.
Enter the Dragon-kicks off the overarching plot by introducing Dragon, a super cool ninja and well, you have to see it for yourself.
Final Frontier-Episode I mentioned above where Hawk shows some maturity and depth. Unfortunately, it's like the only one as the show seems happier with using him for comedic relief.
Natural Magnetism-This is only partial because I'm a Lioness-Axel shipper. Has a cool villain who pops up again.
Double Image-Cool invasion of clone people/prove your innocence episode. Also begins the pattern of having all military people be Texan or some other Southern twang. I know this was a partnership between a French-US studio so I just wonder if they think all military is Southern?
In Too Deep-While Shark doesn't get much character depth, this was a good episode spotlighting his smarts and action potential when he is faced against Dr. Eel alone.
Omega Team- Paine fires Flesh and Spydah to create a new team to destroy A.T.O.M. I loved the parody of Paine, Spydah and Flesh judging candidates like American Idol and I wish the Omega Team appeared again. They were such good evil counterparts.
Breakout-Funny episode where King and Hawk are sent to jail and have to face off with all the villains they've fought.
The Sword of Jo-Lan-Another plot episode which was epic, but I think if it were rebooted today Axel would have to be Asian because it does feel a bit too white guy pretending to be Asian, you know.
Showdown-Big finale!
Which brings me to season 2. Spoilers ahead.
Mr. Lee, their employer betrays them! Turns out he's a mad scientist who only hired them to steal their DNA to create mutant clones that will be the new, better human race. He gets more unhinged from there as A.T.O.M. defeat his team multiple times, and his goals just drill down to revenge.
While season 2 upgraded in some respects with tighter animation (including early CGI), new uniforms for the team, etc. There was more anime slapstick humor in this season and I think it was to make up for the fact that Mr. Lee is not a compelling villain like Paine. He didn't have the charisma or brawn to carry it off and his Mu-team were easily defeated time and time again.
It makes the middle half drag with filler episodes while the first half and the last half are solid and have some interesting plots.
So the episodes I enjoyed include:
Deception, Revelation and Movin on Down where they bit by bit reveal Dr. Lee's betrayal, the Mu-Team, and have the teens fend for themselves by getting (ugh) regular jobs and finding a new place to live. It really emphasized the change in status quo and I liked that it was shown over the course of several episodes.
Camping with the Enemy is a nice filler episode that shows the team's bond.
Paine Relief has Paine's return for the first time and he asks Axel to be his bodyguard in exchange for the truth about Sebastian Manning's killer.
Fathers and Daughters-A nice Lioness spotlight episode with a return of another great season 1 villain.
Programmed-Plot episode. No spoilers.
Fathers and Sons-Axel takes the team to his hometown on a scavenger hunt set by the late Sebastian Manning. So cool to get some more backstory, also is a rare show of Axel's mom. Like finally, one show acknowledges the Mom instead of only focusing on dead dad. Also Hawk's dad is here and ugh he's just as bodacious as his son.
Survival Skills-It's basically the Deadliest Game. Cliche but I enjoyed it.
Oddest Couple-Hawk and Wrecka (clone of King) team up against another villain. Mainly comedic.
Secret Admirer-A good episode with a team break-up/infiltraitor plot that actually had a surprise twist.
Hyper Reality-Like I said, later in the season they try more experimental episodes like this one where Hawk makes a documentary about the team and has them do talking head interviews.
Serving Two Masters-Another plot episode that sows the seeds for the finale and the season 3 villain if they had continued.
Full Circle, and The Serpent's Tale. Technically they're separate episodes but I think they make a nice bookend to the show closing out the Dr. Lee arc and continuing into what would have been season 3 in confirming why the spoiler ordered for Sebastian's death and their plans for world domination.
So fun show, has solid continuity and good pacing (except middle of season 2), but if it were rebooted, I would make a few changes. Primarily in deepening the characters backstories.
The title says they're teens but with Hawk mentioning that he went to flight school, and how they're all moved out of their parents' houses with no problem, I'd say they're 17-19 range. You know, already college age, somewhat mature enough to be on their own.
Axel's backstory is pretty developed but I would add that in the years between Sebastian's death and now that he went to regular school and had a part-time job as a karate instructor for money. He also got extra in the mixed martial arts circuit.
Lioness is mentioned as having moved to the US from Brazil for finishing school. So I would add that it was in the US, away from the watchful eye of her traditional mother, that she got into capoeira and motorcross racing. It gave her freedom, it gave her independence. Partly paid some expenses.
I would have her and Axel know of each other from the fighting scene so when they get hired together, they immediately get to talking and sparring, cementing their friendship.
King is super into health and weight-lifting. He originally wanted to be a vet, but he seized on muscle-man/iron man competitions as a way to get money for his four brothers' education funds.
Hawk is the son of an actor who said he'd did his own stunts. Hawk wanted to be just like him, so he went the same route. Only he actually learned to do his own stunts, completing flight school in record time, and do various barnstorming events to get his name out there. He loves the thrill of flight, but also the fame, baby.
Shark, like Hawk, is the son of surfers and naturally followed in their wake. But he didn't enter competitions for the money, he just did it without expecting to win. But win he did, over and over. He's the one who did competitions solely for the love of it, and is big into donating his winnings to ocean conservation causes.
See, little backstories that add to their personalities and inform their love for adrenaline
That's about it for my revisions as I think the show was pretty solid for its time, and you can watch the whole thing on youtube for free.
janainaart
theartofmadeline
snowghoul
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