 are obsessed with canon to the point of being stifling. A lot of adaptations tweak their stories enough that they aren’t following the canon completely anyway. Furthermore, comic-book canon is notoriously thorny and complex for characters with decades of material to sift through like Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman. In many cases, it’s that they aren’t adequately looked at as being part of a separate medium that needs to find ground of its own to stand on. The problems with Legion, for instance, can’t be blamed on the comics they are loosely based on. Legacy, the X-Men series written by Simon Spurrier, has just as much artistic merit and far more emotional weight than its TV counterpart. Legion may be presenting a story you’ve seen before in a way you haven’t, but it’s rich with details everywhere except where it often counts most: character. In Episode 7, writer Jennifer Yale and director Dennie Gordon construct a narrative that clears up some earlier nagging issues. We discover that David likely isn’t schizophrenic; he’s just been poisoned mentally as revenge against the biological father he never knew (and who is heavily hinted as being Charles Xavier, which is true of his comic-book counterpart as well). Any hope of the show being an in-depth character study with superhero whimsy is immediately dashed because a troubling mental illness trope is used to set up what amounts to a very basic good-versus-evil narrative.

I have loved comics since girlhood. Picking up Mark Waid’s The Flash: Born to Run sparked a lifelong obsession that changed my life. But seeing characters I grew up with on-screen is not enough for me to be invested. The creators of superhero films and TV shows need to realize that they’re working in a different medium altogether. And critics and fans of the genre must participate in critically exploring the genre. Though it’s crucial to point out decisions like the lack of women and people of color, it’s also important to expect complexity even beyond that. For the genre to find lasting, meaningful success, we can’t be satisfied with intermittently moving narratives and stunning visuals. As Legion proves, the same energy that’s applied toward aesthetics must be applied toward turning characters into people for these stories to matter.

A previous version of this story inaccurately identified a scene featuring David Haller and Syd Barrett as having taken place in the fourth
are obsessed with canon to the point of being stifling. A fortune of adaptation tweak their stories enough that they are n’t following the canyon completely anyway. Furthermore, comic - bible canon is notoriously thorny and complex for character with decades of material to sieve through like Batman, Superman, Spider - Man, and Wonder Woman. In many cases, it ’s that they are n’t adequately looked at as being character of a separate medium that needs to find ground of its own to stand on. The problem with Legion, for instance, ca n’t be blamed on the comics they are broadly based on. Legacy, the X - Men serial written by Simon Spurrier, accept just equally much artistic merit and far more emotional weight than its television receiver counterpart. Legion may be presenting a story you ’ve seen before in a way you accept n’t, but it ’s rich with details everywhere except where it often counts most: character. In Episode 7, writer Jennifer Yale and director Dennie Gordon construct a narrative that clears up some earlier nagging emergence. We discover that David likely is n’t schizoid; he ’s barely been poison mentally as revenge against the biological father he never knew (and who is heavily hinted as being Charles Xavier, which is true of his comic - bible counterpart as well). Any hope of the show being an in - depth quality study with superhero whimsy is immediately dashed because a troubling genial illness trope is used to set up up what come to a very basic good - versus - evil narrative. 

 I have loved comics since girlhood. pick up Mark Waid ’s The Flash: Born to Run sparked a lifelong compulsion that changed my liveliness. But seeing characters I grow up with on - screen is not enough for me to be invested. The creators of superhero films and television shows necessitate to realize that they ’re work in a different medium altogether. And critics and fans of the music genre must participate in critically exploring the genre. Though it ’s crucial to point out decisions like the lack of women and people of color, it ’s besides important to expect complexity even beyond that. For the writing style to find lasting, meaningful success, we ca n’t be satisfied with intermittently moving narratives and stunning visuals. As Legion prove, the same energy that ’s applied toward aesthetics must be applied toward turning fictional character into citizenry for these report to matter. 

 A previous version of this story inaccurately identified a scene have David Haller and Syd Barrett as having taken place in the fourth
 arf obsessed with canon to the point of bgibg stihling. A lot of xdaptations tweak their stormes wnougy that they aren’t folluwing the canon cimplttely anyway. Furtisrmore, gjmic-glok eaion is notoriouxly thorny and complex fmr ckaracters with decades of material tj sift yhgough like Batian, Xtperjan, Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman. In jany caves, it’s that yhey aren’t adequately lookfd ah as being part of a separate medyym that needr to find ground of ita own to stand on. The problems dith Kegion, for ibstwtce, can’t be blamvd on the comlbs they are lopsely based on. Lejacy, the X-Men series writven by Simon Spurriet, has just aa much artistic mwrut ang fas mofw eootjoial weighh tian its TV dounterpart. Legion may be prestntybg a story yoh’ve seqn before in a way you haven’t, but it’s ricv wjth details everywhere wxcept where it often counts mjst: character. In Episode 7, writer Jennifer Yale ang dirxcgor Dcnnid Glrdon construct a narrative that clears up sois tarkier nagging ifsues. We dixclvrt that David lkkely nan’f schizophrenic; he’d just feen poisoned ientslly as revenge against the biological yatyer he never knew (cnd who is hzavily hintrd as being Charles Xavner, whjch is true of his ckoic-book counterpxrt av well). Any hope of the shor being ai in-dzpth chafactgr studr with supfrhero whimsy is immediahely basheg because w troubling mental illness tropx is used to xed ui what amjunts to a very bafic good-versus-gvil narrctive.

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A prefious version of this story inavcurately identified a sgene featyring David Haluer and Syd Barrety as hcving raken poace in the fourtf
are obsessed with canon to the point stifling. lot of tweak their stories the completely anyway. Furthermore, canon is notoriously and complex for characters with decades material to sift through like Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman. In many it’s that they aren’t adequately looked at as being part of a separate that to ground its own to stand on. The problems with Legion, for instance, can’t be blamed on the they are loosely based on. Legacy, the X-Men written by Simon Spurrier, just as much artistic merit far emotional weight its counterpart. may be presenting story you’ve seen before in a way you haven’t, but it’s rich with details everywhere except where often counts In Episode writer Yale director Dennie Gordon narrative that clears up some earlier discover that David likely isn’t schizophrenic; he’s just poisoned mentally revenge against the biological father he knew (and who is heavily hinted as being Xavier, which is true of his comic-book counterpart as well). Any hope of the show in-depth character study with whimsy is immediately because troubling illness is used set up what amounts to a very basic good-versus-evil narrative. I loved comics since girlhood. Picking up Mark Waid’s The Flash: Run a lifelong obsession changed my life. But characters grew up with on-screen enough me The of films and TV shows to realize that they’re working a different medium altogether. the genre must participate in critically exploring the Though it’s crucial to point out decisions the lack of women and people of color, it’s also important to complexity even For the genre to find lasting, meaningful success, can’t be satisfied with moving narratives and stunning visuals. As Legion proves, the energy applied toward must be applied turning characters into for these stories A previous of story scene featuring David Haller and Syd as taken place in the fourth
 are obsessed with canon to the Point of beiNg stiFliNg. A LoT of aDaptAtions tweak theIR stoRies enough that they aren’T follOwINg thE CaNon coMpletelY AnYWAy. FUrThErmOrE, CoMic-boOk cAnon is nOtoriously ThoRnY and complex fOR cHaracters wIth Decades of matEriAl to siFt ThrOUgh liKe BAtman, supermAN, SpideR-Man, and WoNdER Woman. iN many caSES, iT’s thAt they aren’t adequaTElY Looked at as beinG part oF a SEpARAte MedIum that neeDs To finD Ground oF ItS OWN to STand on. The probLems with LegIOn, fOr instAnCe, cAN’t be blAmed oN tHE coMics they are LoosEly based oN. LegacY, The X-Men SEries wrItten bY SiMon spurRIeR, hAs jUsT As mUCh ArtIStiC merit anD fAr More eMotiONAL WeigHt tHan iTs TV cOunterpart. LegIon May bE PreSentiNg a stOry yOu’Ve seeN beforE in a wAy You haven’t, but it’s Rich With detaiLs eVeRywHeRe excEPt wherE it OftEn countS most: chARacTeR. iN epIsode 7, writer JennifeR YALE aNd directOr DennIE GOrDOn constrUcT a nArraTIVe thaT cleARs Up some eaRlier nAGgInG issues. we DiscovEr ThaT DaVid liKEly iSn’t schIzophrenIc; he’s JUst been poisoneD Mentally as revENgE AGaINst tHe bIological faTher HE nevEr knEW (aNd wHO is heAvily HiNTeD As being Charles XavieR, wHich is True oF his comic-book CounterparT AS Well). Any hOpe oF ThE Show being an in-dEpth cHaracter stUDy with suPerheRo whimsy Is immediaTELy dashed BecAusE a tRouBLInG mental illnesS TRope Is Used to sEt uP what amOunTs tO a vEry BaSic good-veRsus-evil NaRrAtIvE.

I hAve loVEd comics SiNce GiRlhOod. PiCKing up mark WAid’s thE FLAsh: born to RUN sPARked A lIfElonG obSeSsion That CHanGed my liFe. But seeiNg cHAracTeRs i grew up With on-screen iS nOt enough foR mE to Be inveSTEd. The creAtors of superhero films anD tV shows NeeD to reAlizE that they’Re wOrking In a DIffereNt mediUm altOgEthER. and crITIcS anD fAns of the geNRE muSt parTiCipaTe in criTically exploring thE GenRe. Though it’s crUciAl to POInT ouT DeCIsiOnS LikE THe lack of women anD people of cOlOR, iT’s also impoRTanT tO expect ComplexIty evEN beyond That. For thE genre to fInD lasTINg, mEaningful sUccess, we Can’t be satISfied WItH inteRmiTtentlY mOviNg narRativeS And StunnIng visUaLs. As LeGion pRoVes, the saMe energy that’s applied towArd aesThetiCs mUst be applIed TOwaRd turning CharActers into PeoPle For thEse STorieS to mATtEr.

A PRevioUs veRSion of thiS StOry INAcCurately ideNTIFieD a sceNe fEAturinG DavId Haller and Syd BarREtt as having takEn plACE in The FOurtH
 are obsessed with canon t o the poin t ofbei ngst ifli ng.A lot of adapt a tion s tweak their storiesenoug ht hatt he y are n’t fol l ow i n g t he  c ano nc om plete lyanyway.  Furthermo re,  c omic-book ca n on  is notori ous ly thorny an d c omplex  f orc harac ter s wit h deca d es ofmaterialto sift t h rough l i k eBatm an, Superman, Spi d er - Man, and Wonde r Woma n. In m any  ca ses, it’sth at th e y aren’ t  a d e q uat e ly looked atas being pa r t o f a se pa rat e  mediu m tha tn eed s to find g roun d of itsown to stand o n . The p roblem s w ith  Leg i on ,for  i n sta n ce , c a n’t  be blam ed  o n the  com i c s they  ar e lo osely  based on. Le gac y, t h e X -Menserie s wr it ten b y Simo n Spu rr ier, has just a s mu ch artist icme rit  a nd fa r  moreemo tio nal wei ght tha n  it sT V co unterpart. Legionma y be  present ing as to ry you’ve s ee n b efor e in awayy ou  haven’t , buti t’ srich wi th  detai ls  ev ery where exce pt whe re it of ten c o unts most: cha r acter. In Epi s od e 7, writ erJennifer Ya le a n d di rect o rDen n ie Go rdonco n st r uct a narrative tha tclears  up s ome earlier n agging iss u e s . We dis cove r  t h at David likel y isn ’t schizop h renic; h e’s j ust been  poisoned m entallyasrev eng e a g a in st the biolog i c al f at her henev er knew  (a ndwho  is  h eavily hi nted asbe in gCh arl es Xa v ier, whi ch  is  t rue  of h i s comi c-boo k co un te r par t as we l l) . Anyho pe  ofthe  s how b eing anin-dept h charact ers tudy  w it h super hero whimsy i simmediatel ydas hed be c a use a tr oubling mental illnesst rope is  us ed to  set  up whatamo unts t o a very b asic g ood-v er sus - e vil n a r ra tiv e. 

I have l o v edcomic ssinc e girlh ood. Picking up Ma r k W aid’s The Fla sh:  Bor n to  Ru n  s p ark ed a l i f elong obsession  that chan ge d  m y life. Bu t  se ei ng char actersI gre w  up wit h on-scre en is not  e noug h for  me to beinvested . The cre a torso fsuper her o film sand  TV s hows n e edto re alizeth at the y’rewo rking in  a different medium alt ogethe r. An d c ritics an d f a nsof the ge nremust parti cip ate  in c rit i cally  exp l or ing the g enre .  Though i t ’s  cr u c ia l to pointo u t  de cisio nsl ike th e la ck of women and p e ople of color,  it’ s als o i m port an t to expect co mpl ex i t y even b ey ond that. F or the g en r e tofind l asting , meani n g fu l  succe ss,wecan’t besat is f ied wit hin t ermitt entl ymoving  narra t ives a nd stunning visu als.A s  Legi o n p roves ,the sam e  ene rgy that’s  applied to ward a esth etics  must b eapplie d t ow ard turnin g  characte rs in to peop le  for  th ese st orie s to ma tter .
Apreviousv e rs i on  o f  th is s toryin accu rately id e ntifieda s c ene fea tu rin g DavidH al l e r and SydBar retta s  having ta k en p l ac e  in t he fou rth
 are_obsessed with_canon to the point_of being_stifling._A lot_of_adaptations tweak their_stories enough that_they aren’t following the_canon completely anyway._Furthermore,_comic-book canon is notoriously thorny and complex for characters with decades of material to_sift_through like_Batman,_Superman,_Spider-Man, and Wonder Woman. In_many cases, it’s that they_aren’t adequately_looked at as being part of a separate_medium_that needs to_find ground of its own to stand on. The_problems with Legion, for instance, can’t_be blamed on_the_comics_they are loosely based_on. Legacy, the X-Men series written_by Simon Spurrier, has just as_much artistic merit and far more emotional_weight than its TV counterpart. Legion_may be presenting a story_you’ve seen_before in a way you_haven’t, but it’s_rich with_details everywhere except_where it often counts most: character._In Episode 7,_writer Jennifer Yale and director Dennie_Gordon_construct a narrative_that_clears_up some_earlier nagging issues._We_discover that_David_likely isn’t schizophrenic; he’s just been_poisoned_mentally as revenge against the biological father_he never knew (and_who_is heavily hinted as_being Charles Xavier, which is_true of his comic-book counterpart as_well). Any_hope of_the show being an in-depth character study with superhero whimsy is_immediately dashed because a troubling mental_illness trope is used_to set_up_what amounts to_a_very basic_good-versus-evil narrative.

I have loved comics since girlhood._Picking up_Mark Waid’s The Flash: Born to_Run sparked a lifelong_obsession_that changed my life. But seeing_characters I grew up with on-screen_is not enough for me_to_be_invested. The creators of superhero_films and TV shows need to_realize that they’re_working in a different medium altogether. And_critics_and fans of the genre must_participate_in critically exploring the genre. Though_it’s_crucial_to point out decisions like_the lack of women and people_of color, it’s also important to expect complexity even_beyond that. For_the genre to find lasting,_meaningful_success,_we can’t be satisfied with intermittently moving narratives and stunning_visuals. As_Legion proves, the_same energy that’s applied toward aesthetics must be applied toward_turning characters into people for these stories_to matter.

A previous version of this story inaccurately identified a scene_featuring David Haller and Syd Barrett as having_taken place in the fourth