This should have gone live for you guys last Thursday, but life kind of got in the way. Sorry.

Ok, so we ventured out into new media territory this weekend, between trips to the storage unit and packing, so much packing.  

Q-Force is about a queer unit of spies who try to force the agency into taking them seriously.  The voice acting talent, including Laurie Metcalf and Wanda Sykes, is great. It’s campy as hell, so if you aren’t into queer camp culture it is probably not for you.  As I grew up in what some people view as the height of “camp” culture, I really enjoyed it.  

The premise is that a promising young agent, the top graduate of the Academy, comes out at his graduation with the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”  This results in the Agency claiming he wasn’t actually the top graduate and being sent to West Hollywood.  

I really enjoyed it and I’m looking forward to the rest of the show.  

Cowboy BeBop.  Ok, I know this one is, weirdly, more controversial.  I’ve heard people complaining that it’s too much like the anime, that it’s not enough like the anime, that they’re trying too hard.  

I dunno, I liked it.  We watched the first episode which introduces the big characters, and begins introducing Spike’s backstory. One of the complaints is that instead of leaving Spike’s backstory to a one off episode, they’re interweaving it throughout the series.  Honestly, I like it.  

The main cast is solid.  The writing for Faye is waaaaay better.  She was always way too airheaded in the anime, and her costume is miles better than in the anime.  The fight scenes are beautifully choreographed, at least in the first episode. The effects are pretty great.

Someone said Spike spends too much time brooding, and all I have to say to that is that they never saw the anime.  I think the brooding is much more reasonable in the live-action.  

The look and cinematography of the series feels like a natural successor to Dick Tracy (1990) and Sin City (2005).  The colors are a touch oversaturated, and the lighting is very dramatic.  

So, yeah, after watching the first episode, I’m optimistic about the rest of the series and I’ll report back.