La Ron S. Readus
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Hulu's MODOK Series ISN'T WORTH WATCHING (VIDEO SCRIPT)
🕑 Added 2021-05-24 20:01:00 +0000 UTC(Starts with head in hands, then low growling, then yelling)
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Readers, before I get into the meat of today’s video, I feel like I have to break down a bit of confusion regarding how Disney Plus Star works outside of America.
Yes, I know. I’m stalling. But you already knew the type of video this was gonna be from the thumbnail alone, so don’t worry; you’re gonna get your outrage in a minute. JUST LET ME HAVE THIS.
Anyways, if you are a resident of Canada, the UK, Australia or New Zealand and you have a Disney+ account, you now have access to the STAR feature as of February 2021.
What the STAR feature does on the Disney+ app for those of you who don’t already know, is that it acts as a home for more adult-oriented tv and films on the otherwise family-friendly streaming service
And the reason why there’s no STAR feature on AMERICAN Disney+ is because we have the Disney-controlled Hulu to access said adult content.
The downside is that Hulu is its own streaming service with its own monthly subscription, unless we get the Disney/Hulu bundle that includes...I dunno some sports shit.
Now Hulu, because it was pretty much Netflix’s original competition back in the day and hasn’t really switched to the same content release schedule as the more newer subscription services, still operates under the same simultaneous release schedule as the red N; an entire season of a television show released on the day of the premiere as opposed to the one episode a week model adapted by Disney+ and HBO Max when they feel like it.
And because the STAR feature on versions of Disney+ in the UK, Canada, New Zealand and Australia first and foremost follow the Disney+ format...
That means whatever new series THAT service gets that’s shared with Hulu here in the states is released weekly as opposed to being readily available.
That’s why Marvel’s adult-themed animated series MODOK has the entire season available in America thanks to Hulu, as opposed to the show being released on Disney+ STAR once a week
So to all of my Readers in the UK and the countries the monarchy used to own that still think it's worth a damn, that is why you only received episode 1 of the 10-episode first season of MODOK. AND CONSIDER YOURSELF FUCKING LUCKY.
Because as someone who sat through all 10 episodes, I can confirm that you want ABSOLUTELY no part of this show
Now normally I’d follow that statement up with something like “Not that the show is bad, mind you” dot dot dot
But no, that’s... th-tha-that’s EXACTLY what I’m telling you; this show is fucking terrible.
No, it’s not Patton Oswald’s fault. No, it’s not the Moral Orel-slash-Robot Chicken stop-motion animation.
/It’s the lack of understanding regarding who MODOK is at his core in the comics that doesn’t allow this new comedic take of the character to transition well into the scenarios we find him in./
So, a little background on the show; Modok follows, well...MODOK; one of the top villains in the Marvel Universe.
Like his comic counterpart, he runs the company-slash-villain organization AIM with Monica Rappaccini.
But all of his schemes against the Avengers -- in which the only one that ever makes an on-screen appearance is Iron Man for some reason -- have pretty much bankrupted the company.
He sells AIM to this Google equivalent, and his obsession in trying to get it back combined with the lack of attention he’s been giving his family (?) causes his wife Jodie to want a divorce.
So now we see MODOK at his lowest trying to reclaim his spot on the top while also trying to get his family back.
Now like I said before Readers, Patton Oswalt as MODOK isn’t the problem. He’s exactly who I would immediately consider to play the character if a more comedic take on him was needed.
What IS the problem, is that the show doesn’t make me want to care about his plight.
And what makes things heartbreaking about it, is that thanks to the scenario and the roles that they plopped MODOK in, there are just so many situations within the show that actually work.
But because of how he’s characterized within it, he never GOES anywhere development-wise
Like, I can count on 1 hand how many episodes there were in season 1 that were both entertaining AND could’ve helped the progression of this version of MODOK as a character. So spoilers for everyone who hasn’t seen all of the season yet.
The first one is the second episode, when he time-travels with his newly separated wife to a concert they were supposed to go on back in the 90’s as a way of trying to change her mind regarding her wanting a divorce.
The second one is episode 3, where MODOK takes his kids to a company retreat and attempts to try and make a good name for himself in front of the execs that the new AIM CEO is trying to make him seem lesser in front of.
The third is episode 4, where MODOK hangs with a bunch of no-name street level villains that he later befriends after sympathizing and learning to appreciate them.
And the fourth and final one was episode 7, and I have to give it credit.
I’ve never watched an episode that successfully delivered a scenario that revealed so much about so many characters...
Proved to be a damn near perfect vehicle to produce so much potential growth for the main one...
But still made me want to blow my brains out.
And this is the episode with Nathan Fillion’s Wonderman in it! Like, how did you do that?
Basically what happens in this episode is that after seeing his wife Jodie dating Wonderman, MODOK asks his even MORE estranged daughter a makeover to impress her at her book release party.
We find out that Jodie is using both MODOK and Wonderman to help market her as an influencer and an author, and MODOK actually makes some healthy improvements to his life after he leaves the party embarrassed.
Like I said earlier. All of these are GREAT scenarios that help build and develop the main character in ways where they become better.
But the problem with them is that none of them stick.
MODOK never learns. He never grows.
Every time he experiences one thing that he can learn from and use to better himself for the sake of reclaiming his company, his family and his dignity, it’s immediately washed away and he damn near has to start from scratch as a result of it in the next.
It’s like I’m watching Sysyphus constantly roll his boulder up the hill, but instead of it falling back to the bottom every time he’s about to reach the top, it falls every 5 feet, then 10 feet, then 20 feet, then 5 feet again, then 10 feet again, then 20 feet again. It’s absolutely maddening.
But you wanna know a comic book character with their own animated series who DOES show a sense of progression in their development?
One that despite slipping a few times always finds a way to learn from the lessons they experience and better both themselves and their views without eliminating the show's potential for comedic moments?
One that doesn’t have to start their progression from the very beginning of their nature every two-to-three episodes (pause) I feel like you already know the answer to this question, but I’m gonna say it anyway. IT’S HARLEY FUCKING QUINN.
So realizing this made me think. How is it that an adult animated show like Harley Quinn can not only do right by her, but also allow her to progress in these scenarios the show drops her in without sacrificing its comedy?
And that’s when I realized why Harley Quinn works but MODOK doesn’t. Because the creative team behind Harley Quinn first and foremost understands her fundamentals; they know and understand how she works at her core.
And BECAUSE they know and understand how she works at her core, the writers and producers can put her in scenarios unlike the ones from the multiple animated movies, series, comics and live-action films before it, in ways that still feel like I’m watching an adult-oriented action comedy animated series about her and her posse’s shenanigans across the DC Universe.
I didn’t feel that when I watched MODOK, because it was evident that the creative team BEHIND the show didn’t know what made him tick outside of being the funny-looking big-headed supervillain from marvel comics that has an army of scientists in yellow radiation outfits
Which, considering one of the main executive producers of the show is Seth Green and factoring in both the animation style of his show Robot Chicken along with the Adult Swim show in question usually making the type of jokes the show is now associated with, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if that was the main way they looked at MODOK in the first place.
Does it have potential? (Huffs) Sure, I guess...
Will I be watching a second season? NO.
Can I honestly recommend this show to anyone? Absolutely not.
But if you’re only to get into it just because of the Robot Chickens stop-motion and the type of humor usually associated with it, then knock yourself out I guess.
But once again, to my Canadian, UK, Australian and New Zealand Readers who have to wait a week for new episodes because they can only watch it on Disney+ Star, consider yourselves lucky...and do something better with your life.
But, I digress, Readers. Your homework assignment for the day:
Write in the comment section what you thought of MODOK if you’ve seen it.
Or if your only access to this show is through Disney+ STAR and you feel like sharing with the rest of the class, write in the comment section below how ELSE you plan on spending your Friday nights now that you know this show is a waste of your time.
Whichever question you decide to answer, I’d love to know your thoughts.
