I have to be honest here. When it comes to superheroes and other comic book content from both Marvel and DC, I don't possess much knowledge. Rarely have I ever sat down and stuck my head into either with the passion pop culture enthusiasts share. Other than one or two modern films, I own nothing related to the published works of fictional superheroes. Comics, figurines, clothing, collectibles and other associated merchandise are all pretty much a stranger to me. It can be said that I'm just not big on the stuff and it was never in my interests growing up. I did enjoy Spider-Man for a short bit through Sam Raimi and the occasional cartoon, but that was just about it. Even now with my investment in Greg Berlanti's Arrowverse, I still consider myself somewhat clueless and detached from the meaningful origins the world is centred around. Whether or not this changes remains unknown, as I naturally tend to build passions from things that fall in my lap. Never do I force myself to try something when the interest doesn't show.
One of the very few exceptions however, came in the form of a television series brought forward by Noah Hawley last year. A show called Legion, primarily based on the antihero of the same name from Marvel comics. It started off with me stumbling across several previews for new shows coming to American networks. The most intriguing of them being for a series titled Beyond. Around the same time came Legion, which didn't quite captivate me as much. The two upcoming projects despite differences in their content and finer details, shared a common mystical theme in their respective trailers which engulfed me. Having accidentally disregarded the specifics of both shows, I waited around to view Legion whilst thinking it was Beyond. It only took me a couple of minutes watching the first episode to realise that I mistaken the two. Little did I know then that the actual show of interest started a month earlier. Nevertheless, I persisted with Legion and fought through its bewildering ways.
Without giving too much away, the series centres around the character of David Haller who is played by actor Dan Stevens. David is first revealed to have been diagnosed with schizophrenia and sent to several psychiatric hospitals for treatment. He later finds himself in the clutches of a secret government organisation known as Division 3, not knowing or understanding why he's interrogated. That is until he is rescued by a small group of mutants (humans with an unusual genetic trait that sees them at some stage develop superhuman powers), and taken to a safe facility where he would learn of his unexplored abilities and train with them. But little does everybody including David himself know that something or someone hinders the process from inside David's mind and further goes on to mentally torture him. It becomes a battle for control and a race against the clock, as David and his new friends fight his parasite before being found and once again captured by Division 3.
More than a year has passed, and I have found myself completely and utterly mesmerised by Hawley's brainchild. Much to the point where I'm enjoying it more-so than Beyond, the show I initially favoured before viewing both of the pilots. On the first seasons alone, Legion had proven more indelible in its components and storytelling. It captured me with its lack of normality. Everything within it was oddly-constructed and shrouded by an atmosphere of mysteriousness. From the unusual character interactions to the slow pace and smooth transitioning of scenes, Legion was all about 'embracing each moment'. And it still is right now in season two. Just about every second of the story is made relevant through heavy use of absurd visuals with complex meaning. While I occasionally question what takes place and fail to gather certain ideas, I never feel like my time is wasted. Even when they test my patience, episodes of Legion always ensure that I take something out of the experience.
It was just recently I discovered my biggest connection with this series. Hawley has highlighted the importance of imagination and human creativity. One of the show's greatest strengths is it's alluring and elegant presentation of sounds and visuals. Every now and then, viewers such as myself are treated with sophisticated and well-planned material that signifies human ability, celebrates artistic brilliance and inspires visual and auditory evolution. Legion merges a range of contrasting elements in a sensible manner to bring forth something unprecedented while still fairly rational. Whether it be CGI, dance numbers, battles, silent films, pop music or even samples of work from older artists. Anything and everything is combined to provide audiences the ultimate adventure of its own kind. Most importantly, all of this is done with care and nothing is just slapped together for the sake of it. Legion isn't just a Marvel show for lovers of superheroes, comic books and pop culture. It's a contemporary masterpiece that caresses the finest qualities of art.
The picture at the very top of this piece is further proof of the show's artistic direction. This is arguably one of the greatest promotional posters for a television series in years. One can gather plenty from it by just gazing. In the poster, we have who's meant to be the main character David Haller. He is shown in monochrome with his hands placed towards his forehead as a mystified cloud of light and colour surrounds him, disseminating from his head and into the air. The thing that intentionally gets our attention is this light and colour. It further directs us to the source which is David's head and tells us where most of the importance lies. In this case, it's David's mind located at the very centre of the picture. Both the show and poster primarily aim to tell the story of a mind that's tricky, overpowered and potentially beyond control. But while seeing this, I also see approach to the story. The expanding cloud represents the countless possibilities and creative ways of delivering the narrative. The effort and strain shown by the David is the life given to imagination and the power of thought. The picture as a result emphasises the significance of not only the David's mind, but the human mind in general.
Another thing Legion does so amazingly well, is acknowledge the outside perspective. When planning the show, Noah Hawley had confirmed his desire of having the main character share the same vision as the audience. Much of David Haller is every viewer watching on. It is a journey together through a twisted reality, where thoughts and feelings of confusion and uncertainty are commonly possessed. People are intentionally left tense and searching for an explanation in regards to all of what occurs. Hawley has us not only sitting back and relaxing, but also keeping our brains active. While admiring the beauty of it all, Legion leaves us seeking the logical connection at the same time. It is the perfect blend of Art and Science, providing each and every person a chance at a deeper viewing experience. The eyes and ears of receivers have seldom been handed a greater responsibility. This series understands our position and further puts it through the ultimate test.
As stated before, Legion shows great care in the way it presents itself. Everything about it is put forward in delicate fashion. This includes the exemplary acting. All of the actors and actresses are in sync with their characters and create life within the fictional tale. Stevens especially after a little studying and a nudge by the crew in the form of hidden details, is given the room to build natural links with David Haller and understand where he comes from. It leads to a performance worthy of universal praise and numerous accolades. What's even better is that the exquisite delivery doesn't stop at Stevens. Taking crazy to a whole new level is the highly-respected Aubrey Plaza, who can be argued outshines the protagonist on many occasions. With her innate skills, Plaza grabs hold of an unsuited role and shapes it into something only she can bring to screens. Strong lines, choreography and the wacky manners of which she is portrayed have done nothing but leave people like myself in awe of the talented woman. Everybody else involved never at any stage, breaks or loses sight of who their characters are and what they stand for.
The series almost aces every aspect. I say almost because it still has its one or two shortcomings. Expert critics have pointed out possible imbalances in Hawley's intention. The biggest of them being the overwhelming desire to impress viewers with lights and sound at the expense of the story's flow. Some have suggested that the pacing as a result of the excessive attention towards stimulation, is slower than necessary. The progress made is considered to be very small, which would be a significant issue for a show with very few chapters. From my recent experience of travelling through social media, I've encountered plenty of regular viewers voicing this exact concern when discussing season two so far. As pleasing as the content can be, perhaps Hawley is to take it down a notch. The second problem often mentioned regards the difficulty of the narrative. Legion seems to over-complicate its story to the point where a certain number of people just can't comprehend it and keep on the track. I sometimes wonder whether this is the cause of decreasing numbers in ratings and viewership. While some enjoy the 'thinking' process, others find it to be an intolerable strain on the brain.
Nevertheless, Legion remains a rare gem in modern day TV. It has received critical acclaim for stepping away from traditional storytelling and enticing audiences with pure splendour. Noah Hawley had taken something so historical and dear to lovers of superhero material, only to add another dimension to it. This series is an abundance of twist and turns to prove appropriately unpredictable. It is a challenge for the intelligent and the strong-minded. And it's fun with a great purpose. Legion is a show that was made for people like me. People who see beauty for what it is and enjoy facing new obstacles. To think I did not see this was the case at first and that I held no interest in watching it. I guess it teaches me the lesson of not judging things too quickly. In this instance, I'm extremely glad I've proven myself wrong. Anything like Legion is always worth a try. For those who haven't seen the series, I highly recommend giving it the chance it deserves.
Travis "TJ" James
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