It’s been a long time since I binged a series. Stranger Things 2 came out last year and that was the last show that I properly binged until recently. Last year when returning from San Diego Comic Con I started to watch Legion on the plane. I really enjoyed the first episode but, as per usual, became overwhelmed with the other choices on the plane that I flicked through and watched several pilot episodes.
Luckily, Netflix New Zealand recently added the full season one of Legion. Over the last weekend I managed to binge all the episodes, including re-watching the pilot, and I found it highly enjoyable.
The series focuses around David Haller and his coming to terms with his mutant abilities and possible schizophrenia. We begin in a mental institution and, we slowly learn through flashbacks, that David been struggling with voices and strange hallucinations since childhood. After meeting Syd Barrett, another patient who has a severe aversion to touching people, he starts to question whether he is mentally unstable.
In the first episode he and Syd kiss and he finds out why she actively avoids touching others as his mind is suddenly transferred into her body. In the resulting confusion Syd, in his body, accidentally kills and traps many of the patients at the hospital. Eventually David is rescued by other mutants who reside in a facility called Summerland only to find out that he has been housing a parasitic mutant - the Shadow King.
If you are a fan of the X Men universe you will recognise Haller as Professor Xavier’s son who stars as an antihero across several major arcs in the comic books. In the show, Haller is played by British actor Dan Stevens (Adam/Beast from Disney’s live action Beauty and the Beast.) Stevens does really well as Haller, bringing sensitivity to the role along with several nuances that really make the character fascinating. But, ultimately, Aubrey Plaza steals the show as Haller’s “friend” Lenny. Her performance as the slightly maniacal Lenny (who we later learn is the Shadow King) means that she steals every scene she is in.
The show is undeniably different to anything we’ve seen in the Marvel Universe. The time frame alone is enough to confuse the viewer. There are elements that seem lifted straight from a whimsical version of the 1960s with bold coloured costumes, 60s coiffes, and dreamlike dance sequences but then a character will mention emails or get into a car that is definitely not from the 60s. This mixing of settings actually made the show more memorable as it would often catch you off guard.
The use of flashbacks to move the narrative was also brilliantly done. Noah Hawley, the creator of the series, uses these flashbacks to, ultimately, place us in Haller’s fractured sense of reality. We often see the same flashback again and again but there will be subtle differences, which highlights Haller’s role as an unreliable narrator and reinforces the concepts of his fractured mind. This does garner sympathy from the audience.
The rest of the cast is also superb with various mutants who appear so unassuming. Cary and Kerry really stood out to me. Cary is an older white male and Kerry is a Native American girl who “lives inside” of Cary, only coming out on occasion to fight. She doesn’t need to eat or drink and only ages when she is outside of Cary’s body. It’s a fascinating idea that I hope is explored further in the second season. (Which has started but since I have to wait on Netflix I don’t know when I’ll be able to watch it.)
I actually do not want to go into any more detail because I truly think everyone should go out and watch the whole of the first season. The eight episodes are entirely re-watchable with music, set, and characters all working brilliantly together.
Are there any series that you recommend I binge watch? What is the last show that you binged?
XJaime