0/5

Legion

X-Men universe goes mental with imaginative direction from Noah Hawley and a solid leading man.

If you’re expecting Legion to be a rip roaring action ride from Marvel you could be in for a bit of disappointment.

But with Fargo‘s Noah Hawley at the helm, you have plenty of food for thought. His latest series, executive produced by Bryan Singer -amongst others- will mess with your mind. Ok let’s not be shy, it’s a mind f***.

From its opening strains of The Who’s Happy Jack to it’s hopeful conclusion, the opening episode toys with time and place, real and unreal, all imaginatively directed by Hawley.

Downton Abbey‘s Dan Stevens discards all airs and graces and adopts and American accent as he plays David Haller, a young man who was diagnosed as schizophrenic as a boy and who has been institutionalised all his life.

For much of the opening episode he is a patient at Clockworks Psychiatric Hospital, hanging with lively friend Lenny (Aubrey Plaza). But the arrival of the attractive Syd (Rachel Keller) changes everything. There’s just one problem ….she can’t bear to be touched.

Concurrent to their developing non-tactile relationship, is an interrogation of David by shady suits (Hamish Linklater) trying to get to the bottom of “the incident” (I won’t spoil it for you).

Littered throughout are various flashbacks, both recent and early, which hint towards David’s unusual powers. Call it telekinesis, psychic abilities, or even delusions, this jigsaw is full of visual and startling mosaic pieces.

The charismatic Stevens is inspired casting here, against type, without taking the popcorn Hollywood approach to the genre.

The production design deftly merges 1960s retro with modern style, and there’s even a dance routine in the opening episode. Hawley is clearly signposting to expect the unexpected.

Other cast members will include Jean Smart, Bill Irwin and Katie Aselton as David’s sister and grip on reality, Amy.

The first chapter is a little long in the tooth (67 minutes without ads), but there’s a lot to set-up and if Fargo is any indication, it will be worth the investment.

Where to for David Haller is anybody’s guess. But as one of the shady suits warns, “He may be the most powerful mutant we’ve ever encountered.

“He has the power but he doesn’t understand it, or know how to control it.”

We’re about to find out.

Legion premieres 7:30pm Thursday on FX.

3 Responses

  1. Was looking forward to this anyway but your review reinforced my decision to watch, thank you for your reviews David, they are always extremely helpful.

  2. Thanks. Your review affirms my decision to give this a look. I have been disappointed with most of the superhero TV series (and let’s not even mention the truly awful movies of recent times) but Hawley’s involvement was def a drawcard.

    Rachel Keller and Jean Smart were also both in Fargo S2. Smart was a standout and Keller’s character is named after Pink Floyd’s Syd Barrett so how could I not give this a look? Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords is in this too. Looking fwd to listening to the score as much as watching the show.

Leave a Reply