The Guardian… yay or nay?
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Marvel/DC
justjess-05530 — 9 years ago(January 30, 2017 02:39 PM)
On the latest Super Chat, we talk about The Guardian. Was it too soon to turn James into a vigilante? Should they have taken longer developing that arc? Do we NEED another hero?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWYjvDy7d-0&t=141s -
aspiringwriter16 — 9 years ago(January 30, 2017 04:02 PM)
It really seems like it's not going anywhere storyline-wise and it's blatantly obvious that this is just the writers' attempts at finding something for James to do since he and Kara are no longer love interests, he has no other purpose on this show.
Don't Jdg a Bok by Its Move -
barrelofmonkey — 9 years ago(January 31, 2017 02:07 PM)
From a viewer's viewpoint it's out of nowhere, but they did give an in-universe explanation that his desire to do this originated with his relationship to Superman, but he's only managed to get the pieces in place with his relationship with Winn and Winn's ability to create supersuits on demand.
That said, so far, I'm not a huge fan.
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koffeenkreame41-1 — 9 years ago(January 31, 2017 05:17 AM)
I love James, but he was better as the love interest/confidante. The show is not as good now.
I preferred him in that role but I have to admit, I really do like him as The Guardian, it adds more to his character but I just wished they took a longer to time t build it up. They keep rushing alot of these storylines, Maggie & Alex, Kara & Mon-El, James as The Guardian and it isn't working for some, it doesn't come off authentic, it comes off kinda forced for the most part. That's why some haven't been liking the season after Cat & Clark left because they're trying to push too many storylines this season without really letting it flow better. I do like his interaction with Winn but I agree, his Guardian character probably would fit in more on Arrow or Flash.
"I'm the ultimate badass,you do NOT wanna f-ck wit me!"Hudson,Aliens -
Educator07 — 9 years ago(January 31, 2017 05:38 AM)
I've felt that the Berlanti shows are about the destination not the journey. Look at all the stuff they cram in the pilot episode. Jame's arc should have been at least 4 episodes. It seems like he became Guardian overnight. I wish he focused on his paying job a little more.
Cat & Clark?
Good job Oscars! Hopefully Asian and Hispanic nominees in 2018! -
jimmydeanbakker — 9 years ago(February 06, 2017 01:13 PM)
James was like, "Get me a suit! Get me a suit!" Bam! Now he's fighting crime like his last name is Chan. How do you write a story like that with absolutely no freaking backstory? If anything, they could have done a montage of him training from his childhood with different instructors from around the world. What's the backstory on his father? I think his father was actually a secret agent like James Bond or Special Ops. I can't remember, but whatever he was doing, it got him killed. The writers should be using that to develop James' backstory. If the writers they have can't humanize James, then they need to find writers who can.
A person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance.
Anatole France (1844 - 1924) -
Educator07 — 9 years ago(February 06, 2017 01:48 PM)
These writers simply aren't that good. I watch because of the characters not the writing. If this show had a decent showrunner, Jame's transformation could have been a yearlong arc. They could have even used Krypton technology. Again, it's all about instant fulfillment with zero build-up.
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Amethyst-El — 9 years ago(January 30, 2017 08:25 PM)
Guardian would only work in Arrow! Not on an alien show. Sorry but he can get killed easily and keeping him alive and making him strong is just very silly. And remember if you remove him from the show, nothing will change because he is not a huge or important character. I wouldn't even notice if he wasn't around.
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Educator07 — 9 years ago(January 31, 2017 10:18 AM)
Everyone on the show can easily be killed. You have Alex and Winn who work at the DEO, a place that houses dangerous aliens. Supergirl was saved last season by firemen or she'd be dead.
None of these characters are important to SG's mythology because she barely has one. That said Jimmy Olsen is known more than Mon-El, Winn, Cat Grant, John, and Alex.
Good job Oscars! Hopefully Asian and Hispanic nominees in 2018! -
lamont-hard — 9 years ago(February 07, 2017 07:00 PM)
People want back story as if on a series like this they would have the time. James story arc is no different in background than the rest. I can't wait for his featured scenes because though they are short he and Winn are different.
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thesnowleopard — 9 years ago(January 30, 2017 11:43 PM)
I don't think he works as a vigilante. Granted, I side-eyed Supergirl's speech about how he couldn't be a hero because he was human (I'd like to see her tell her sister that), but I think he's not really a heroat least not right nowfor other reasons.
As Guardian, he's arrogant and unlikeable. He thinks he's always right and he seems to have this attitude that he is invincible in the suit. Plus, his motivations seem very selfish. He's doing this to "prove" himself and be a BDH, not to help other people, and I think that will come back to bite him.
It just doesn't do very much for his character. I get they're looking for something for him to do, but I don't think this is it.
The Historical Meow
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barrelofmonkey — 9 years ago(January 31, 2017 05:12 PM)
Granted, I side-eyed Supergirl's speech about how he couldn't be a hero because he was human (I'd like to see her tell her sister that)
I think this is a recurring theme in the show. We are used to the TV trope of the hero of the show giving some definitive speech, and basically ascribing that speech to the view of the show as a whole.
But Supergirl often jumps to conclusions, and has those self-righteous speeches, and then is shown to be dead wrong, even in the same episode. I think it's a subversion of the "views of the writers through the mouth of the hero" trope, and it shows that she is idealistic and impulsive, but will (often begrudgingly) accept that her first instinct was wrong when shown the evidence.
The theme is also echoed by Martian Manhunter's views on M'Gann, and Supergirl's on Mon El.
I think the basic message of the show is to be willing to learn and change.
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thesnowleopard — 9 years ago(January 31, 2017 07:28 PM)
But Supergirl often jumps to conclusions, and has those self-righteous speeches, and then is shown to be dead wrong, even in the same episode. I think it's a subversion of the "views of the writers through the mouth of the hero" trope, and it shows that she is idealistic and impulsive, but will (often begrudgingly) accept that her first instinct was wrong when shown the evidence.
Yeah. Unfortunately, James is doing a pretty good job of proving her point.
The Historical Meow
http://thesnowleopard.net -
johntarmstrong-56068 — 9 years ago(January 31, 2017 05:06 AM)
They should have written in an arc where Winn had been working on the suit as a pet project but it was turned down at the DEO. This would made the suit out to be something a little more special and would help justify some of his ability when wearing it.
Then they should have put in an arc where James starts witnessing scumbags hurting innocent victims while Supergirl is too busy fighting all the alien problems. Then James' ex-girlfriend, Lucy, comes back into town and after he and supergirls falling out, start to rekindle their romance. Then Lucy gets either killed by the street thugs or severely beat down. Then James takes on the mantle of the dark knight..err I mean Guardian.