tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088555461299761566.post983699818288510315..comments2023-03-27T20:47:51.999-07:00Comments on The Super Saturday Short-Lived Showcase: Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future, episode 22 "Retribution, Part 2"NoelCThttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01744014386233716741noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088555461299761566.post-5324390107704422322015-12-28T14:20:28.620-08:002015-12-28T14:20:28.620-08:00As I come to think of it, maybe a great depth of c...As I come to think of it, maybe a great depth of characters was not aimed at, in the first place. Guess the series was meant basically to serve selling the toys and had aimed to have more commercial orientation than some really meaningful plot. After all, skipping the intro and the closing scripts, we were left with what, some 18-19 minutes per episode. Barely enough for some powerful deep storyline to be developed. And, in view of this, I think that actually Pilot and Power got most of the screen time. In some episodes Hawk, also, but Tank and Scout were in fact much more overlooked. This only given the scarce length of the episodes. There is no doubt that there could be much more character development under different circumstances.<br />As for Jessica, she was quite talented, even in her 20s. But with those looks of her back then, I cannot imagine her playing some cocky chick...Somehow, it suited her to play innocent sweethearts. I cannot imagine her in a role different than the one she had in CP and then Sing (which is much more different that the one she had in Trial and Error). But it was back then, later she proved she could be a real tough cop :)<br />By the way, I have seen Maurice most recently in Haven, loved this show. And he was pretty good, too.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07702465416327039357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088555461299761566.post-68978053125911919332015-12-28T13:48:07.209-08:002015-12-28T13:48:07.209-08:00In terms of why they went with death instead of he...In terms of why they went with death instead of her just leaving, and why Maurice stayed, we get into that a bit in our <a href="http://saturdayshowcase.blogspot.com/2015/03/captainpowerseason2.html" rel="nofollow">season 2 post</a>. He had a major character arc lined up, and they Pilot's death to propel Power's emotional arc. The later of which still doesn't prevent it from feeling as cheap as it did because yeah, she had a whole lot more story to tell with probably the most intriguing character backstory of the bunch. Still, I do feel the execution of the sequence was well done, fridgey though it is.<br /><br />And I understand not only why she left, but why they did it in a way where she wouldn't just slip back in from time to time or rejoin down the road. Steen was offered a role in Wiseguy, a major prime-time show that she'd have to travel down to the States for and sign a multi-season contract. Alas, her character didn't stick beyond the first season, and by then, Power was already cancelled.<br /><br />I don't know about Steen being a better fit for Ranger, Ross. I agree she was underserved, but the way Steen blended wide-eyed youth with the steely edge of her character's past was a perfect fit for me. The impression I get from Ranger was she was supposed to be more rowdy and reckless, a Han Solo type. Steen could definitely pull that off, but I don't know to the extend of topping Pilot. Plus, I didn't really like what we learned about the Ranger character, so already it doesn't have the same hook as the basic pitch of who Pilot is.NoelCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01744014386233716741noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088555461299761566.post-89271776189183554552015-12-28T12:35:14.680-08:002015-12-28T12:35:14.680-08:00I think it's easy enough to understand why Jes...I think it's easy enough to understand why Jessica left given how woefully underserved her character is in all but two or three of the scripts. The real mystery is why Maurice Dean Wint didn't bow out as well. The obvious parallel is with Denise Crosby in Star Trek at the same time: the writers never quite seemed to know what to do with her or how to write to her strengths. <br /><br />Ironically, from the few details you can pick up about the character of "Ranger" who was supposed to be Pilot's replacement, I can't help thinking that Jessica Steen would be a much better fit for that character than she was for Pilot. Everything else she's done seems to suggest that playing a more forward, emotionally open character would suit her a lot better than the ultra-reserved character who's still learning how to interact with people on an emotional, human level.Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09703211229982182936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088555461299761566.post-70492322701959181222015-12-28T12:14:31.584-08:002015-12-28T12:14:31.584-08:00Exactly, the whole ending circles around Jessica S...Exactly, the whole ending circles around Jessica Steen's decision to leave the show after season 1. Which decision I truly don't understand. Looks like she cannot remain committed to a long-term project which is a pity because she's truly awesome and people like her work and get fond of her and sick and tired of her getting killed in every other decent series (not having in mind Earth 2 and Heartland. Sorry but I don't think these two were the best shows she could permanently join. And it's not like Earth 2 didn't get cancelled after the first season).<br />Basically, my point is that CP could be a great show in the long run. But only with Jessica in it. Taking her out of the team and being just a guest and not a regular would be lame. Besides, keeping her away would hardly find plausible grounds given her feelings for him. <br />The delicate moment is that if they knew there would be no season 2, they could spare the fans' feelings and come up with a different ending. We would not be about to see another episode ever again, so why all the heartbreak caused by her death? But they did not know. And, honestly, I cannot see how they would sustain an entire season without someone really good at acting, like Jessica. Cause the guys themselves cannot handle this depth of character, apparently. Or even if they could, she would always be missed, given her presence in season 1.<br />In general, I think it was a bad timing and some poor management decisions for the CP series, as a whole. Great idea but poor script. Also, the strings attached to Mattel, which actually buried the show. And finally, hiring a lead who explicitly asked to be let go of at the end of the first season without having a clue that this would become the most loved character on the show.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07702465416327039357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4088555461299761566.post-3829376651249258162015-03-09T16:32:08.839-07:002015-03-09T16:32:08.839-07:00I do ultimately agree with you, Tony, that Hawk wo...I do ultimately agree with you, Tony, that Hawk would have been the better one to lose here. On top of the base, he's another tie to Jon's father that would be ripped away, as well as free Jon from the watchful eye of a mentor figure.<br /><br />Alas, I read that it was Steen who asked to go, so I guess the issue is ultimately moot. Would have been cool to just drop her from the main cast, but have her go off and lead a group of other reformed Dread Youths or something, popping up a couple times each season. Alas.NoelCThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01744014386233716741noreply@blogger.com