Legion season 1 (new X-Men related tv show)
- Thread starter kitik
- Start date
It seems that way to me, with some caveats.
First of all, it seems that what it does is only buy them time to do something about the bullets, which are still in flight and coming to both Syd and David. Such time would not itself or otherwise offer or any protection. It seems that the bullets are coming, and that they only have a limited amount of real time to do something about them. The "space," such as it is, seems to exist only psychically.
Secondly, Syd seemed to be pleading to David to return them to the White Room for best protection. However, it's actually Lenny who seems to be in charge of the goings-on there, so I suppose it's possible that David isn't solely or even at all responsible for the White Room in the first place. At least, the Devil with the Yellow Eyes seems to be able to take over the White Room from David. I float that as a possibility, however: it seems most likely to me that David is responsible for the White Room, but the parasite has corrupted him in a very serious way; David's medical condition seems to be not schizophrenia but rather infestation with a psychic parasite who really messes him up. Lenny's motivations need not necessarily align with David's, which leads into:
Thirdly, Lenny says she wants David's body, but maybe Lenny doesn't really need it to survive, at least as long as she/he/it can enter another host, say such as the Eye. The Devil with the Yellow Eyes could conceivably forsake David under certain circumstances (and so no longer be interested in using the White Room to stall for time).
Just when I thought Legion couldn't get anymore surreal. And I loved every minute of it. 
The silent movie sequence was especially well done, from the editing and lighting to Aubrey Plaza's performance (as AV Club calls her, "live wire charisma machine"), I was left completely agog. I especially loved the placement of Lenny's lantern when she went down to a crouch.
I'm glad Cary's headband wasn't a perfect solution or even a very lasting one. But what will that mean for David and his mind?
I hadn't expected to see Hamish Linklater's character to return and I'm guessing he won't be back for just one scene, so I'm betting David/Shadow King won't immediately tear him into shreds as the resolution for the cliffhanger.
I'm not at all familiar with the Shadow King (beyond what's occasionally been mentioned in this thread) so I'm going to have to look that character up. I really enjoyed David and Rational David's chalkboard discussion about David's history and situation. Between that, Oliver and Cary's discussion about the Shadow King, and Amy's flashback of the wheelchair, it's all but confirmed with his name that David's father is indeed Charles Xavier (as if there was any real doubt).
Walter's death (both versions) was perhaps one of the most terrifying deaths I've seen committed to film. Cartoonish yet oddly realistic. Pity he was killed off because I liked the character and the actor who played him.
The longer Kerry was terrorized by Walter while Cary was busy doing other things for Oliver, the more I wondered if there would be some kind of repercussion for his decision. I'm relieved that action wasn't just brushed aside.
The silent movie sequence was especially well done, from the editing and lighting to Aubrey Plaza's performance (as AV Club calls her, "live wire charisma machine"), I was left completely agog. I especially loved the placement of Lenny's lantern when she went down to a crouch.
I'm glad Cary's headband wasn't a perfect solution or even a very lasting one. But what will that mean for David and his mind?
I hadn't expected to see Hamish Linklater's character to return and I'm guessing he won't be back for just one scene, so I'm betting David/Shadow King won't immediately tear him into shreds as the resolution for the cliffhanger.
I'm not at all familiar with the Shadow King (beyond what's occasionally been mentioned in this thread) so I'm going to have to look that character up. I really enjoyed David and Rational David's chalkboard discussion about David's history and situation. Between that, Oliver and Cary's discussion about the Shadow King, and Amy's flashback of the wheelchair, it's all but confirmed with his name that David's father is indeed Charles Xavier (as if there was any real doubt).
Walter's death (both versions) was perhaps one of the most terrifying deaths I've seen committed to film. Cartoonish yet oddly realistic. Pity he was killed off because I liked the character and the actor who played him.
The longer Kerry was terrorized by Walter while Cary was busy doing other things for Oliver, the more I wondered if there would be some kind of repercussion for his decision. I'm relieved that action wasn't just brushed aside.
Best line of the whole episode. Good to see Dan Stevens was able to put his natural accent to good use."You're British?"
"Like I said, I'm your rational mind."
Last edited:
I loved the chalkboard animation, and I loved the silent-film sequence. This show just keeps getting weirder.
Despite the "rational mind" thing, I don't think there's any way David could actually have deduced everything he figured out about his father's battle with the "monster." It was too dead-on to the specifics of Xavier's battle with the Shadow King from the comics. I think he must actually have been intuiting it some way with his powers, or as a result of the King's mind being inside his for so long. The fact that his "rational self" had a British accent, and that he did kind of a Patrick Stewart impression when speaking in his father's voice -- not to mention drawing his father as a bald man -- suggests that he's somehow sensing truths beyond what he'd normally be able to deduce.
It strikes me that Amahl Farouk in the comics was drawn as a bald, very fat man, and the Yellow-Eyed Demon is something of a grotesque caricature of that.
By the way, the "classroom" was a familiar Vancouver location I remember from The 4400 and Legends of Tomorrow, among others. It's the Telus Studio Theatre in the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia.
Despite the "rational mind" thing, I don't think there's any way David could actually have deduced everything he figured out about his father's battle with the "monster." It was too dead-on to the specifics of Xavier's battle with the Shadow King from the comics. I think he must actually have been intuiting it some way with his powers, or as a result of the King's mind being inside his for so long. The fact that his "rational self" had a British accent, and that he did kind of a Patrick Stewart impression when speaking in his father's voice -- not to mention drawing his father as a bald man -- suggests that he's somehow sensing truths beyond what he'd normally be able to deduce.
It strikes me that Amahl Farouk in the comics was drawn as a bald, very fat man, and the Yellow-Eyed Demon is something of a grotesque caricature of that.
By the way, the "classroom" was a familiar Vancouver location I remember from The 4400 and Legends of Tomorrow, among others. It's the Telus Studio Theatre in the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at the University of British Columbia.
Considering "Rational David" flat out says that David knows everything the Monster knows, I think the show wants us to see it as David picking up on info bleeding off the Shadow King. Either through the use of David's powers, or just through sharing the same mental space for so long. Farouk can clearly screw with David's memories, essentially directly hacking his mind, but I think this is the first time they've explicitly suggested that might be a two way street, with David able to access the King's mind as well. Which makes perfect sense, when you get right down to it. Farouk probably has defenses and barriers David never got to build, but David has raw power on his side.
Fantastic episode, this one blew me away. Which is tough considering I expect this show to be batshit crazy.
But this quote sums it up well. We got a ton of answers, and we got entertained as hell along the way.
So... Looks like Shadow King/Lenny isn't done yet.
And apparently David is now a Pokemon.
And apparently David is now a Pokemon.
Every time I think I know where Legion is heading, it makes a sideways turn to elsewhere.
First and foremost, I didn't expect the episode to start with a catch-up on Clark's (I doubt that's his actual name) doings since he was left to die at the swimming pool, even with his sudden return at the end of the last episode. Not that I'm complaining because I'm always happy to more of Hamish Linklater. I wonder if like Walter, Clark is also a mutant employed by Division 3 considering the weirdness regarding the glass of water.
I loved the Pink Floyd sequence, and while "Breathe" is an excellent choice, I think "Brain Damage" would have been a better choice, although I'm biased considering it's my favorite song. Once again, the episode's music selection and creation in general was spot-on, leaving me wanting a copy of the score all the more.
While I was able to follow most of the strangeness of the final act, there was one thing I wasn't clear about: What exactly was Oliver doing in the shaft, other than being perfectly placed for the Shadow King to take him over?
Speaking of which, until that moment, I had been pondering how Aubrey Plaza could stick around and I began to suspect perhaps she would exist as an echo in David's mind if and when the Shadow King was removed from him. That thought was even reinforced by David's talk about phantom limbs. Again, not what I expected, but I'm glad Aubrey Plaza is sticking around. Pity about Oliver, especially when it seemed like has just beginning to reclaim some of his memories back.
One thing I had worried about the show is how it depicts schizophrenia and whether it would just say David was only "crazy" because of the Shadow King, so I was greatly relieved to hear his discussion with Syd about how he's certain he's schizophrenic despite/without the Shadow King. I certainly hope that's something that will continued to be explored in the next season.
I wondered during David's initial negotiation with Clark while the Shadow King had its dialogue with Syd that perhaps David would try to create an alliance with Division 3 in order to the fight the "greater threat" and that seemed to confirmed towards the end when David helped Clark up after the attack. However, then David was kidnapped by presumably the "Equinox" during the mid-credits scene. I strongly suspect Division 3 is familiar with the Shadow King based on their reaction to the brief glimpse of the creature.
With the season sadly over already, I think I'm going to go back and watch the season again. I have a feeling certain things will be better understood now, although I think there are also some lingering unanswered questions.
First and foremost, I didn't expect the episode to start with a catch-up on Clark's (I doubt that's his actual name) doings since he was left to die at the swimming pool, even with his sudden return at the end of the last episode. Not that I'm complaining because I'm always happy to more of Hamish Linklater. I wonder if like Walter, Clark is also a mutant employed by Division 3 considering the weirdness regarding the glass of water.
I loved the Pink Floyd sequence, and while "Breathe" is an excellent choice, I think "Brain Damage" would have been a better choice, although I'm biased considering it's my favorite song. Once again, the episode's music selection and creation in general was spot-on, leaving me wanting a copy of the score all the more.
While I was able to follow most of the strangeness of the final act, there was one thing I wasn't clear about: What exactly was Oliver doing in the shaft, other than being perfectly placed for the Shadow King to take him over?
Speaking of which, until that moment, I had been pondering how Aubrey Plaza could stick around and I began to suspect perhaps she would exist as an echo in David's mind if and when the Shadow King was removed from him. That thought was even reinforced by David's talk about phantom limbs. Again, not what I expected, but I'm glad Aubrey Plaza is sticking around. Pity about Oliver, especially when it seemed like has just beginning to reclaim some of his memories back.
One thing I had worried about the show is how it depicts schizophrenia and whether it would just say David was only "crazy" because of the Shadow King, so I was greatly relieved to hear his discussion with Syd about how he's certain he's schizophrenic despite/without the Shadow King. I certainly hope that's something that will continued to be explored in the next season.
I wondered during David's initial negotiation with Clark while the Shadow King had its dialogue with Syd that perhaps David would try to create an alliance with Division 3 in order to the fight the "greater threat" and that seemed to confirmed towards the end when David helped Clark up after the attack. However, then David was kidnapped by presumably the "Equinox" during the mid-credits scene. I strongly suspect Division 3 is familiar with the Shadow King based on their reaction to the brief glimpse of the creature.
With the season sadly over already, I think I'm going to go back and watch the season again. I have a feeling certain things will be better understood now, although I think there are also some lingering unanswered questions.
I assume he's doing the same thing Scotty does when he's in some crawlspace during the climax, getting everything out of the engines/keeping her from blowing etc..
Yes, the music selection is spectacular, always puts a huge smile on my face.
I liked humanizing Clark and how they did it (I believe he is human mainly because of the our/your children conversation). Walter was such a POS that we needed someone much more sympaphetic from D3 to see how working together might be a possibility. Also agree on the schizophrenia discussion, that was handled very well.
So sad the season is already over.
I didn't see anything weird about the water-glass sequence -- just "Don't get close enough to the prisoner that he can grab your wrist and hurt you/take you hostage." No mutant powers needed for that. Heck, they should've given him water in a plastic cup, since a drinking glass can be easily weaponized.
The only song I recognized was "If I Ruled the World," and that's just because the title was right there in the lyrics.
Evidently that's where the complex's power systems were.
I agree about not stigmatizing mental illness, but I didn't think that was what David was saying. The key was his line, "This only works if it's not about me." What meant was that the classic schizophrenic delusion is that he's not schizophrenic, just superpowered and surrounded by magical friends and special because he's the chosen one. If he played into that narrative, he'd never be sure that any of it was real. The only way he could be convinced it was really happening was if he didn't just act out that narrative, if the events unfolded in a way that didn't just revolve around him and his wishes/fears/etc.
I guess so but the way that exchange was presented, it felt like there was more to it. Kerry was standing right there and could easily stop Clark if it was just a simple case of grabbing Cary's wrist.
Well, so was "Breathe."
Yeah, I got that. But what was he doing there in relation to what was going on with David? Probably a blink and you miss it moment and I'll catch it when I watch the episode again.
Hm, maybe you're right. I'll see how it all feels when I watch the season again.
It was Syd's wrist. But it wouldn't necessarily be easy. It's better just not to take chances with that sort of thing. Clark was starting to lean forward and stand up to take the glass, and that was dangerous in itself.
Which is a song I've never heard of, so I'd have no way of knowing that word was its title.
He was controlling the generators that were providing the power for what they were doing to David. They were asking him over the intercom to increase the power.
Er, right. Syd. Stupid brain.
Still, it felt like a weird moment because how it was presented. *shrug*
Really? You've never listened to Pink Floyd?
Ah, okay. I must've missed that.
The Dark Side of the Moon is only one of the most sold albums in history. By the way, as soon as I noticed a recurring triangle motif, like the triangle on David's shirt, I began thinking of the album (because of the cover, for those who don't know). That was beyond the Syd Barrett allusion and asylum setting.