The Cape "Scales" Review

Photo Credit: NBC

This will not be a banner week for TV With The Foot aka The Blog Formerly Known as Jacob's Foot. Instead of preparing for another season of LOST, I'll be reviewing such shows as The Cape and returning to the hellish world of Hellcats. Why exactly? Well, the normal shows I review aren't new this week so other shows will receive a spot start in the review rotation. Think of Hellcats as Rocky Biddle--the former Expo who went from closer to middle relief to spot starter in one season who boasts a career ERA of 5.47, a career 1.5407 WHIP and an ERA+ below 100. I don't think The CW will use this comparison on promotional posters or future DVDs. I digress.

Mere days after declaring that I'd never return to the world of The Cape again, I found myself watching The Cape. Recall, if you will, that I couldn't even make it through the entire third episode without becoming extremely annoyed; however, I prefer to write every day from Monday through Friday and I needed The Cape tonight unless the readers wanted another post about how great Joss Whedon is (which I'd love to write but my Whedon posts aren't popular unless the great Whedonesque.com finds them and links said posts).

The fourth episode of The Cape didn't annoy me as much as last week's episode--mostly because grown men weren't arguing over a piece of clothing. In "Scales," Vince began turning some of Fleming's pawns against him like Scales, and the list of pro-Vince or pro-Cape people began to grow. The Cape doesn't move as slowly as the other superhero shows I watched (Heroes and No Ordinary Family). The Cape benefits from a 13 episode order due to its mid-season placement but Tom Wheeler, the creator, seems to have an actual plan. It's a wild idea to have the season arc outlined from beginning to end. And, yes, I know that shows are organic and evolving but any good showrunner has the landmarks for every season. Tim Kring and his writers barely planned ahead and it showed. Wheeler has the season obviously planned even it's full of clichés. I digress, sort of. The point, episodes of The Cape don't feel like complete messes.

For example, "Scales" toyed with the idea of Fleming discovering that Vince Faraday is The Cape while Trip began his elaborate plan to get his mother's employer to prove his father's innocence to the world. Fleming also came a step closer to figuring out who Orwell is. These three respective stories aren't exactly page-turners, and I'd probably ignore the comic on comic book shelves, but it's better than nothing. Fleming and The Cape are forced to work together when the train they are on won't stop. As Vince lowers Fleming to fix the brakes, Fleming demands The Cape to reveal his true identity. It sort of reminded me of the scene in Point Break when Bodhi refuses to pull the parachute cord and makes Utah do it but Point Break's much better. I digress. Fleming eventually fixes the break and, seemingly, forgets his demand to The Cape after a bout of maniacal laughter. The Cape, however, re-threatens Fleming shortly after the bout of maniacal laughter that springs amnesia.

The Vince/Fleming feud isn't that bad though it is tiresome already. The show has yet to reveal how Fleming became so powerful and influential to get away with running his own privatized police unit without the federal government intervening. "Scales" seems like the tip of the iceberg in terms of bad plotting for Vince and Fleming. Vince became the reluctant protector of Fleming when he learned that the circus planned to rob the patrons on the train. Vince became the protector because he thought Scales would reveal Fleming-as-Chess and the people on the train would instantly believe a thug with actual scales on his face. How stupid is Vince? The plan fails and this leads to Fleming nearly learning the identity of Vince-as-Cape.

Speaking of the Circus, Vince couldn't avoid the fact that his new friends make their living through robbing innocent people. In my review of the first two episodes, I noted how the main character wasn't exactly the swellest dude on Earth considering he ignores how the criminal behavior of Max and company. Vince essentially ignores the criminal behavior again though he warns Max that one day they will oppose one another--I assume when Vince feels like being self-righteous.

Also, the events of the episode took place on Trip's birthday. Vince kept remembering times with his son on this day and, near the end, Orwell asked Vince if a parent will ever stop loving their child. Vince says no. Orwell, obviously, is the daughter of Peter Fleming. But, at least, the two continue to bond. Speaking of Trip, he made friends with a powerful defense attorney so Vince will have his defenders by season's end. By the way, Trip is 10.

The Cape's a simplistic series. The theme of the costume party on the train was heroes vs. villains after all. But it doesn't take itself too seriously which is a positive. Unfortunately, it's not interesting to watch or write about. But don't surprised if I write about The Cape in the future if desperate.

Tomorrow, I return to the world of Hellcats for the first time since September.

THE YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK