As a nerd dad that loves comics... specifically superheroes, I love sitting back after a long day and putting the kids to bed to watch a little of the tele. Now more than ever the small screen has been bursting with programming to make a nerd guy like myself swoon.
We have the CW aka DC network that had Arrow and The Flash. Both shows are in the same continuity and they've already had the first show to show crossover. I think I heard nerdgasms from the neighborhood during the commercials. Decent characters, stunts, and special effects make both these show a must. I've always loved The Flash's ROGUES gallery...specifically the group "The Rogues" Captain Cold has already been introduced and in the episodes to come in the next week or so, we're going to get Heat Wave as well. Even Firestorm paid the Flash a visit. OH JOY! Arrow has had to deal with Deathstroke, the (Ray Palmer) Atom, Soloman Grundy, Ras al Ghul, and the Suicide Squad. While some of the direction has been OK..for the most part the show is impressive.
Next we have ABC and the Agents of SHIELD. This show has continuity with the Marvel movies. So it was awesome seeing the show deal with the aftermath of Thor 2 and Captain America 2. We haven't had a Avenger cameo on the show, but we did get ol' one eye himself Nick Fury. A few other cameos include Sif, Absorbing Man, Blackout, and Deathlok, The focus of the show is Agent Coulson, a fan favorite from the Marvel movies. Recently Agent Carter debuted. This is a pre-Shield 1940s show that features our favorite femme fatale from the Captain America movie Peggy Carter dealing with bad guys while also dealing with sexism from her coworkers. The show isn't bad on the visuals and Peggy plays off of Jarvis (Howard Stark's butler) pretty well.
NBC has Constantine. The show is based more off the comic Hellblazer than the movie with Keanu Reeves. I've never read the comic, but I like the show. The characters are interesting and the monster of the week model works for it. Still there are a few serial threats and reoccurring characters. There is a lot of talk about cancellation due to ratings. If you haven't seen it, its worth at least one view.
Fox has had a hit with Gotham. A prequelesque version of Batman that focuses on Jim Gordon's life as a Gotham city cop. The show is peppered with cameos of Bat villains the biggest to date being the Penguin. The show is interesting but it has often left me feeling that Gordon's fight against the corrupt Gotham system is all but futile. Still I like Gordon and Bullock enough to stay along for the ride.
AMC still has The Walking Dead going strong for another season. Not a superhero show, but who doesn't love the zombie apocalypse? The characters from the pages of Robert Kirkman's comic have become real to many people. Plus we get the Nerdist Chris Hardwick's snappy commentary on the after-show the Talking Dead.
If this wasn't enough there are a host of shows on the horizon. Netflix will be hosting a few Marvel properties. We have Daredevil coming soon. And following that we have Luke Cage and Iron Fist as well. After these shows, we'll get a show called Defenders that will unite them all. This is a push for some more street level super heroes. I am definitely looking forward to it.
There are a Super-girl, Teen Titans, Powers, and Walking Dead spin off in the works. In addition to a possible Xmen show.
There are also other show that are sci-fi or fantasy based going strong on several different networks.
Its a good time to be a TV loving comic nerd...
