Ugly Betty Reviews

“I expected this to be a really lame version of a B superhero movie. I was pleasantly surprised. The quality of the acting alone really helped keep the show from becoming cheesy, but it had a few other things going for it as well. They also did a decent job of mixing the superhero concept with "normal" family drama in a way that seemed organic and not too "on the nose." I think the major danger for this show will be falling into cliched superhero plotlines and/or having the powers overlap too perfectly with the personal dilemmas the characters face. Overall, though, I liked the pilot.

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Want to know more, huh? Oh, I can definitely expound. Just remember that you asked for it! ;)

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Ok, so the premise of this show is pretty simple, if not extraordinary: a family that has grown apart, goes on vacation and, after a plane crash, falls into some radioactive goop or something and finds themselves in possession of super powers, and they have to come together to help each other cope.

Each member of the Powell family has a power that compliments and/or seems to come from the personal problems they're experiencing. The father, Jim (played by Michael Chiklis), who has always been concerned with being strong enough for his family, has super strength. The mother, Stephanie (Julie Benz), who has been struggling to keep up with her fast-paced career and her duties as mother, has super speed. The daughter, Daphne (Kay Panabaker), who has been dealing with trying to ascertain whether her boyfriend is sincere in his claim that he's ok with waiting for her to be ready to "go all the way" finds herself with the ability to read his (and her other classmates') mind. The son, JJ (Jimmy Bennett), who has been struggling at school with a possible learning disability, suddenly has (as far as I can tell) super problem solving abilities.

When Jim (the father) discovers his abilities, he confides in his friend, D.A. George St. Cloud (Romany Malco), who sets him up with a sweet high-tech lair (complete with wifi) so he can fight crime. While doing so, Jim discovers that a) despite his ability to catch bullets, he can still get knocked out if someone fires from close range at the back of his head, and b) there are other people (in this particular case, a criminal) with super powers (in this case, a teleporter, a la X-Men's Nightcrawler). Jury's out on how these other people have super powers, but I have a hunch it has something to do with a South American flower that Stephanie (the mother) was researching for her company. The flower has the ability to live for a really, really long time, and it was the entire reason the family went on vacation (well, vacation slash research business trip for Stephanie) where they got in a plane crash and landed in the radioactive lake. But that's for another episode, obviously.

Anyway, what the pilot managed to be fantastical while resisting being too over the top, which would have been easy for a superhero premise. It has set up for the coming season (if this doesn't get canceled after 2.3 episodes like some of the other new shows this fall) is that the family needs to work on getting back in step with each other--particularly the parents--while presumably fighting crime while balancing their "normal" lives. The daughter, I think, will have a hard time navigating high school while being able to hear the thoughts of her classmates, and the mother will have to try to balance her career and her family life more effectively, while also dealing with the added complication that the head of the company she works for seems to be the main villain of the show.

Ok, well that's all I can handle for now, kids. I'll try to remember to write a review for the second episode to see if the show can live up to the standards it's set for itself. Let me know if you agree/disagree with my assessment!”

“Lol. If this is the episode from the icon, then I definitely have to recommend it. That dude is TRIPPING.”

“This show is one of the best, ever. Every episode is a work of mastery.”

“Best talent show EVER.”

“My favorite episode of House of all time!! Words can't describe it. Go watch this!!”

“Ok, I'll be frank: I've watched a LOT of tv in my day. But this seriously might be the funniest, most enjoyable episode of television I've ever seen. You'll especially love it if you're an action movie fan, as it references, among others, Die Hard, Terminator 2, The Matrix, Highlander, Rambo, The Running Man, Scarface, Face/Off, Battle Royale, Predator, The Warriors, Hard Boiled, and 28 Days Later.

I'm not kidding--watch it.”

“A solid start to season 5. 30 Rock has been shaky in the last season or two, but I thought this episode definitely had enough comedy to keep me laughing--except the Tracy Jordan/Kenneth plotline. That was dumb.”

“Good show I like it”

“I had stopped watching this show but i think i've been missing out, it's still really interesting after all these years.”

“Ha Ha! Nelson”

“Short, sweet, and spot on--I'm glad they didn't try to make this more than it was. Good on you, SNL writers.

P.S. Hire me.”

“I watch this show for Roger.”

“This is the first episode from season 2 .. new transfer students are amazing singers ..”

“Wonderful in terms of creative mockery”

“It was alright, I suppose. They've had better.”

“Wonderful episode :D”

“Family Guy just always gets better.”

“Hahahahah, this show always makes me laugh. The comedy is perfect with a touch of drama but not enough to override the comedy :)”

“one of the most interesting episodes ive seen in 2010”