As “Krypton” opens its second season, two reactions emerge — “wow!!” and “whaaa…?”
The first is a good thing. This series is visually impressive, giving us all the sci-fi splendor we expect from DC (which produced this) or Marvel.
The other is not as good. At times, “Krypton” simply tries too hard. It loads us up with time-travel and multiple dimensions … so many that we feel like we need an Encyclopedia of Geek to understand it all..
Indeed, the characters sometimes seem surprised by who’s in which dimension. Maybe the emperor in “Amadeus” was right: There are too many notes.
BUT … then there’s the redeeming touch. That’s Adam Strange.
TV shows want what’s called an “entry point” for viewers. That can be cynical – Cheech Marin once defined an entry point as “a white guy” — but it can help get viewers into a tangled world.
Krypton, it seems, is filled with big people and giant egos. Then Adam (Shaun Sipos) – going back in time – arrived; his goal is to preserve Seg, so someday Seg’s grandson can go to Earth and become Superman.
Adam is smaller than most Kryptonians. He’s heroic, but he has two things they lack – vulnerability and a sense of humor.
(After being rescued by an imposing and impassive woman, shown here, he wakes up with a quick question: Did she throw him over her shoulder and carry him there? He seems quite excited by the possibility.)
He came here from Detroit, wearing a Tiger hat, which isn’t random. This show’s co-creator (David Goyer) is a Tiger fan from Michigan; so is Geoff Johns, DC’s chief creative officer. They’ve given us a likable Michigan chap, to help us navigate the endless layers of “Krypton.”
— “Krypton,” 10 p.m. Wednesdays, Syfy.
— Opener (June 12) is simulcast on USA; it reruns on Syfy at 10:556 p.m. Thursday and 8:30 a.m. Sunday (June 16).
— To let us catch up, the first season’s final four episodes rerun from 6:30-10:30 a.m. Wednesday (June 12) on Syfy