Here’s my reviews of VisionQuest Episode 1 and Episode 2 streaming now on Disney+, it’s fair to say I like it so far, but don’t yet love it. Let’s explore why I feel the way I do and get into it. I’m going to stay as Spoiler Free as possible to be in this review, just because it’s only been a day or so since release.
Episode 1
Episode 1 lays the ground work well for what is to come. We see Vision’s new life in public and in private as we see his pub working life and his mindspace shown in many of the trailers, where other AI exist.
We meet the cast of AI and their roles in aiding Vision in his goals including Ultron. However, an unexpected threat sets the season’s events into motion.
What I like about VisionQuest, and this goes for both episodes, is the back and forth between Vision and his other AI, no doubt Ultron being the prize of the bunch. This is kinda what I expected from this series; Vision processing the world and trying to understand both it and himself in the process.
I actually did not expect the amount of action and implied jeopardy across these opening two episodes that we got. It does start with a bang and for the fan base that thought Lanterns too slow recently, I think you’ll be happier here.
For me though, the show is straddling a line between serious mature drama and popcorn TV and I’m not sure it’s maintaining that balance. The character interactions and development of Vision’s pysche are great. However, when the show moves into more comic book action territory it’s like suddenly there’s a bit less care and attention to detail. This is more evident for me in Episode 2 than Episode 1.
Episode 1 GRADE: B+
A good start which sets everything we need to know up well. However, after one specific event the show pushes the acceleration button, which should be great. With hindsight though, having already seen Episode 2, I feel like the series so far instead struggles to have an identity. It’s trying to be a mature character drama but one that’s also simple enough and action packed enough to get keep kids, young adults happy.
A good start though and as you’d guess Bettany and Spader are brilliant. I also enjoyed how aesthetically VisionQuest seems to follow on the heels of both WandaVision and Agatha All Along, despite different creatives.
Episode 2
As alluded to above, Episode 2 is kind of a mess to me. The acceleration button was pushed in Episode 1 and in this one it feels like someone held their finger down too long. A LOT happens in this episode and sometimes it feels like there’s no room to breathe.
So far I do not like the villain, who whilst only a hired gun, still gets a lot of screen time. There’s also a few TV logic issues for us to get into. Like, why Vision meets with said villain 1-1, leaves him be, then gets ready to go to a more heavily armed place with same said villain to fight him there. Why not deal with said villain now, then go do what you need to? That felt like just an excuse to have a 1-1 conversation that added nothing of note for me.
Vision making sure he tells the audience that no bullets can harm his Vibranium body, just ten minutes before a scene proves him wrong. This is the kind of line dropped in by producers because they think people who have never heard of Vision are going to click on this show and need to have that explained. However, the explanation given is so ‘Marvel nerd’ anyway that you wonder who it was actually aimed at? Sadly it seems the answer is Marvel geeks who can’t be bothered paying attention to the show itself and need it spelled out in advance.
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There are also a few moments that just felt… weird to me, like implausible level stuff. One is how Terry Matalas thinks of the U.K. where the show is set. Apparently we should just accept that in Britain people can suddenly be sent to a lunatic asylum with no chance of release. Oh and the prisoners are only informed on the bus on the way, not by their legal counsel before hand. In fact It seems like they didn’t even have legal counsel and you can now be sectioned without hope of release, just for being kleptomaniac. Oh and the guards taking you there are evil and have taser guns, which they may actually need, since no one has handcuffs on. Very fascistic, but sadly the show isn’t trying to make any comment on it, it’s just there to make it more exciting.
It’s hard to get into what I mean without spoilers, but what I’m saying is, you can see behind the curtain far too well in Episode 2. ‘Oh, we need character A to be in this situation, what’s the quickest way we can knock up a plot which puts that character into that situation?’ It really feels like no one in editing asked the question, why would this person do this, why are these people so evil, etc? “Just accept it and move on, you’re watching VisionQuest, not Breaking Bad“, and that’s I think, the problem.
Wasting Talent
Lastly in terms of notes, it would be that the show has laughably wasted U.K. treasure Diane Morgan in one of the most inconsequential roles in the show. Morgan, who is a comedy genius and leads entire shows in the U.K. is here relegated to the woman in the chair helper for the series (so far) one dimensional villain. Morgan get’s one or two funny lines here and there initially, but is soon relegated to watching her computer screen say “Hack in Progress” just in case we didn’t know, whilst she blandly tell the villain that said hack is in progress. I’d love to know if she filmed all here scenes in one afternoon sat in a tiny recording studio. If her part grows, I’ll apologise, but I think not.
Behind and around all these details I didn’t like is still the central core characters of Vision, Ultron, the other AI and eventually Tommy. This content is great, however it feels like the rest, (the moments that catalyse the next plot actions) are just a little less polished and quite a bit of TV logic being used.
Episode 2 GRADE: C+
The same elements are there from Episode 1, but now ae are also dealing with some ‘classic’ TV plotting and an uncharismatic and annoying villain. The core players of the various AI are still solid, but the story given to them to show this growth has so far been underwhelming for me, with too much TV logic in play.
So folks, this is as I said why I like VisionQuest so far, I cannot however love it so far because there are too many weak moments from a script point of view. I know there are more layers to this story, like who the real villain is. However, I have an idea already and if I can see the ‘strings’ this early that’s never a good sign. I genuinely hope the series leans more into its character development as it progresses, but Episode 2 was distinctly average for me.
As always, let me know your thoughts on VisionQuest Episodes 1 & 2 and whether you agree or disagree with my take.
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