Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship
- Episode aired Oct 27, 2019
- TV-MA
- 55m
As Angela relives haunting memories of an attack on her family, she detains a mysterious man who claims responsibility for Tulsa's most recent murder. An original play is performed for an au... Read allAs Angela relives haunting memories of an attack on her family, she detains a mysterious man who claims responsibility for Tulsa's most recent murder. An original play is performed for an audience of one.As Angela relives haunting memories of an attack on her family, she detains a mysterious man who claims responsibility for Tulsa's most recent murder. An original play is performed for an audience of one.
- Seymour
- (as Robert Ray Wisdom)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe newsstand scene is a callback to the comic, which used the vendor talking to a boy as a frequent mix of exposition drop and commentary on events in the comic.
- GoofsWhen Night dumps the pens out of the mug she doesn't wash it out before putting it under the coffeemaker spout. It would have dirt and ink in it.
- Quotes
Angela Abar: We don't do lollipops and rainbows. Because we know those are pretty colors that just hide what the world really is. Black and white.
- SoundtracksBall of Confusion (That's What the World Is Today)
(uncredited)
Written by Barrett Strong and Norman Whitfield
Performed by The Temptations
So hopes were high for "Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship", despite it also being considered one of the show's lesser episodes and an episode that others also found slow and not always easy to follow. Can completely understand why after finally watching 'Watchmen', as they are my overall feelings too. If asked which is the slightly weaker one of the two, though rating wise they are the same for having similar problems and strengths, it would be "Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship", the pace and coherence for me were a little more problematic and there is not many scenes here on the same level as the brilliant opening scene of the previous episode.
"Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship" could have been better. The episode does well on building upon what was set up previously, we see more of Angela and Judd's relationship, what Phillip and Mrs Crookshanks are and foreshadowing of Veidt being up to no good. The storytelling though is still very slight and moves along slowly, on top of that ideas-wise it does try to do too much and doesn't develop them enough. So instead of previous questions had being answered, more questions are raised.
Although the flashbacks are beautifully filmed,acted, help make the current affairs make more sense and set the tone of the episode well, they do make the error (like a lot of flashback-structured episodes for any show/adaptations have) of slowing down the episode's rhythm, they do drag somewhat and are not always eventful. Again the Veidt scenes are entertaining and oddly intriguing, 'The Watchmaker's Son' play scene is hilariously amateurish as intended if a little out of place within the rest of the episode, they are again too much of a disconnect with everything else and one still does not have a clue who he is and what his purpose is.
However, despite how all of this sounds there is so much to admire in "Martial Feats of Comanche Horsemanship". The above made it sound like it is a bad episode, it isn't. Just heavily flawed that's all. Once again, the production values cannot be faulted. The production design is some of the best and most atmospheric of the year and there is again a cinematic quality to the photography. Especially in the prologue, which was baffling but interesting, and Angela's trip to the Greenwood Center (some cool world-building here too). The sound is also very atmospheric and cleverly used, while the soundtrack itself continues to haunt the mind. Continue to love the diversity of the music choices and that they do not fit awkwardly at all. It is always great to see Mozart's powerful "Lacrimosa" from his Requiem but the standout, as it is so apt to the episode's tone and subjects, is The Temptations' "Ball of Confusion".
Furthermore, the script is witty, pulls no punches and really provokes thought. The story may be very flawed in execution, but still has a lot of intrigue, boldness, cultural relevance (in a quite scary way) and more ambition than most shows of 2019. There is also a surprising reveal that is well done. The acting is again fine, with a powerful turn from Louis Gosset Jr and Jeremy Irons plays this wonderfully strange and eccentric aristocrat with delicious glee. The show still belongs to Regina King, in fearlessly brave form.
Overall, problematic but interesting. Again, the show is still very much finding its feet at this point but it has more than enough to it to be worth sticking with. 7/10
- TheLittleSongbird
- Aug 5, 2020
Details
- Runtime55 minutes
- Color