Weekly Report from the N.T.A.B. Division of Media Review
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners/Lupin III: the First/Andor/Wayne/The Serpent Queen
With Halloween fast approaching and everyone in the bunker behind certain deadlines, we’ve opted for one of our infrequent “clearing the cache” updates, speed round style, in order to get the newsletter schedule back on track.
Note: it’s not our fault. The problem lies squarely within Administration, and they are well aware of it, even if they aren’t acknowledging it. We’ll endeavor to stay timely, but we need you to understand that we’re hamstrung by the front office.
Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (Netflix)
A new anime series set in (wait for it) a cyberpunk world, specifically a mega-city where the corporations have taken over and run all facets of life. In other words, about nine days from now.
David and his mom Gloria are barely squeaking by to pay for the basic necessities and also David’s tuition to an exclusive private (is there any other?) corporate school, run by Arasaka corporation. When David is clothlined by a personal tragedy, he drops out of school and begins hustling with a group of edgerunners, a group of for-hire ne’er-do-wells that boost and sell military-grade tech and body mods. As David chromes up, he begins to suffer from the effects of cyber-psychosis, and the gang gets caught between a tech war with Arasaka and their rival, Militech.
If you read all of that and make a squee sound, then you probably recognized it as being straight out of the Cyberprunk 2020 role-playing game that Mike Pondsmith created and published in 1988 and recently relaunched as Cyberprunk 2077 on every current video game platform. In fact, this anime? It’s the official prequel to the game. I mean...talk about an age of miracles and wonders. Something I never thought I’d see.
Now, that’s the good news. The bad news is, this is a bit of a downer, just like the game itself. It’s hyper-violent, downbeat, and about as grimdark as it can get. The show is very well done, but I don’t recommend binging it, or watching it without having a palate cleanser show on deck in case you need a hug.
Lupin III: the First (Hulu)
More anime, sort of. This is a CGI-rendered version of the classic manga by Monkey Punch, which I first encountered in the laser arcade game Cliff Hanger, and later by watching the classic anime, Castle of Cagliostro. The plot is, well, pretty much like all of the other Lupin III movies and anime you’ve ever seen. But if you’re new to this: It’s half caper, half Indiana Jones, as Lupin the third (grandson of the original Arsene Lupin, and also the world’s greatest thief) stays one step ahead of his police inspector nemesis and jousting with rival thieves for the big plot maguffin and the Neo-Nazis trying to bring back Hitler.
I love both Lupin, and Lupin III. I love the darker, more mean-edged Manga, and the lighter, bouncier anime that followed. Big fan over here. But I had real problems watching this not-quite live, not-quite Claymation-sorta-looking Lupin—with the same original design, mind you—doing anime-level shenanigans. It just looked weird, man. And I kept trying to get over it, to no avail. The story is fun, breaks absolutely zero new ground, and, if you don’t mind how it looks (not ANYTHING like the Tin-Tin movie, which is what I think they were trying for), then this is a great introduction to a classic anime that you will spend a lot of time playing catch-up with.
Andor (Disney+)
This Rogue One prequel introduces the low-stakes hustler Cassian Andor (a role reprised by Diego Luna) and details how he goes from being an amoral thief to the leader of the Rogue One team of spies and rebels who obtain the plans to the Death Star and...well, you know the rest.
I’m starting to think that there may be some value in the obvious prequel, especially if it’s used as an excuse to world-build, or experiment with tonal shifts. In this case, here’s a Star Wars story, set in the Star Wars universe, that’s got more in common with a 1970s cop drama than Episode IV: a New Hope. Andor starts out on an industrial mining planet, looking for his sister, and quickly runs afoul of crooked cops on the take, bureaucrats riding a desk, and a young corporate go-getter, trying to make a name for himself, and then when what happens happens, his world goes upside down and he’s got to run for it.
If you’re not a fan of Rogue One, you may be disinclined to give this show a try. Don’t do that. Rogue One might have not been your cuppa for its proximity to OG Star Wars, but this one takes place five years prior, when things are just getting started. It’s a different kind of story, told in a different kind of way. As someone who is tired of the Dysfunctional Skywalker Family Saga, I welcome these attempts to do something different, while still being recognizable as part of that larger storytelling universe. How will it end up? I’m betting Andor figures out how to be a rebel. But that’s not the payoff. It’s watching a morally bereft character get a new magnet for his broken compass. Sound like any other main characters you might know with a Wookie best friend? Just watch the damn show and marvel at the fact we have Star Wars TV to complain about now. Enjoy the future.
The Serpent Queen (Starz)
The story of Catherine de Medici, the infamous Queen of France, known as (among other things) the Serpent Queen for her penchant for using poison to remove obstacles to her desires in court and elsewhere. BBC America this surely ain’t.
Someone on the production staff must have spoken up and said, “Remember that movie, A Knight’s Tale? This medieval story told with modern language and used a Bowie song in the courtly dance sequence because no one likes pan flutes? Let’s do that with this!” Watch the show trailer and see if you don’t get the same vibe.
This show is a hoot and a half. It’s all scheming and plotting and stuff happens all the time, right out of the gate, with two concurrent stories going on, and you know what? I care as much about the framing sequence as I do the main narrative and how freaking rare is that? Wicked, weird, and wild, in equal measure. Colm Meany is back! Chief! Lots of fourth wall breaking. Probably the most irreverent historical drama I’ve seen in a long time. I guess this is counter-programing to Outlander. Watch this show. It’s worth a binge.
Wayne (Amazon)
16-year-old Wayne hates bullies, hates seeing people being pushed around, and is fiercely loyal to his friends, of which has have very few. To everyone else, he’s an anachronistic throwback, practically a neanderthal, with a gift for violence and a seemingly limitless capacity to endure pain that would send anyone else screaming into the night. Wayne has to go on a quest to go get his father’s car. He takes his new girlfriend Del with him, and they start out on a motorcycle, riding from Massachusetts to Florida.
And utter freaking mayhem ensues.
I re-watched this recently because I was thinking about Robert E. Howard and Conan during the kerfuffle over Tolkien and textural fidelity in a show clearly trying to make their own way in the world. I remembered this series and how it was probably the most faithful version of Conan the Barbarian ever put onscreen, and I am not exaggerating, either. You’re just going to have to trust me and watch this hyper-violent, blood-soaked, foul-mouthed bloody-trail-of-vengeance story that will leave you with your mouth hanging open in disbelief. If that’s your thing, that is.
If you thought Kill Bill could have used a little more blood, then Wayne is in your wheelhouse. Or if you’re a frustrated Conan the Barbarian fan and sick of hearing the Tolkienites freaking out over canon-adjacent projects. Decent Godfearing folk shouldn’t watch this.
Ten 30-minute episodes. Some of my most favorite TV ever. I hope we get a second season.
Weekly Report from the N.T.A.B. Division of Media Review
And just like that, I have added 4 shows to my "Need to Watch" list. Especially happy to add some new anime.
Another show about one of the Medici? That's all you needs must say. Thanks so much for this! I cannot watch a lot of TeeVee or I would also watch Wayne as it sounds way cool but even adding the one show about the Medici is much for me. I thank you, sir!