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| Scene from Crisis on Earth-X |
Welcome to a new column called Channel Surfing, in which I sporadically look at current TV shows and talk about them. These are not ones that I care to write weekly recaps for and are instead reflections either on the episode, the series, or particular moments. This will hopefully help to share personal opinions as well as discover entertainment on the outer pantheon that I feel is well worth checking out, or in some cases, shows that are weird enough to talk about, but should never be seen.
Any movie or TV show that has more than a few superheroes in 2017 and doesn't do a crossover at some point is foolish. With Justice League battling it out at the box office, and The Defenders appearing on Netflix; the comic book phenomenon has realized its full potential. Audiences don't just want to see one hero doing cool things, they want to see an entire room full of characters work together to achieve incredible feats. For The CW, it has become an annual past time in which it combines its increasing superhero series to create a lengthy story that's worthy of every character. In their most recent entry, Crisis on Earth-X, they perfected the crossover with a four hour event over two nights that combined the wits of: Supergirl, Arrow, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow. Each series brought forth a handful of characters for a journey against a gang of Super-Nazis from Earth-X. What they got was nothing short of an impressive miracle, especially in the realm of TV.
This isn't the first time that these four shows have worked together. Last year's Invasion! saw them awkwardly fit into each other's stories. This time, they all coexist in a way that is more fitting of a cohesive narrative. It may be difficult for those who don't watch all of these series to witness the poignancy of certain moments, but the arcs in general are perfectly formed to the four episodes. Almost every show has a woeful subplot about romance, which is fitting given that the catalyst event is a wedding. Beyond that, the event does the sleuthing necessary to understand what Earth-X is and why it is going to possibly impact the Earth of which the beloved heroes exist. By the end, it gets the sentimental payoff, and does so with a bit of heart.
But the idea that these shows could work together is the biggest draw. While the biggest and most exciting action set piece takes place in "Part 4" during Legends of Tomorrow, every episode has one or two moments that are exciting TV action. Mind you, this isn't quite as well choreographed as early Daredevil episodes, but it definitely has a spectacle that is only matched by the humanity of its dozens upon dozens of characters working together. To some extent, the grandiose nature is so ridiculous that it becomes inspiring, creating one of the most engaging action finales since 2012's The Avengers movie. The three hours building up to that moment are incredible, and it manages to work even more because the event has earned integrity beats along the way. It's as exciting as it is sweet and heartbreaking. The show may never dive into drama as deep as Justice League, but it still captures the complexity of what a superhero crossover should be.
More than anything, it creates a perfect distillation of what these four shows have, which is young charismatic actors who are capable of impressive work. Even during the serious moments, there's an earnestness to their performances that is refreshing. They are a force of good in a world of Super-Nazis that want to spread despair. While it's possible that Crisis on Earth-X was inspired by political events, it still manages to be apolitical beyond the fact that bad guys need to get beat up. In a world where "Punch a Nazi" has become a meme, this event series is the only one to apply it in a way that's cathartic. It sees the evil in the world and the heroes wish to abolish it. The clear cut nature of this motivation only makes the finale stronger, and the general impact of the villain all the more interesting.
In some ways, Crisis on Earth-X is just another crossover superhero show. However, The CW's Arrowverse has been doing this long enough that it feels like more than a bandwagon act. If nothing else, this is what the franchises have been building towards. They all play to each show's strengths and produce something that is just great TV. It may still be full of silliness and sometimes less impressive effects, but the ability to expand worlds and physical limitations is itself an achievement. You don't have to have seen all of these shows to enjoy what Crisis on Earth-X does, but it would help to get further empathy out of the rich subtext of the event. It's a strong example of how to do crossovers right, and hopefully the expanding series won't make the next one too overbearing.
This isn't the first time that these four shows have worked together. Last year's Invasion! saw them awkwardly fit into each other's stories. This time, they all coexist in a way that is more fitting of a cohesive narrative. It may be difficult for those who don't watch all of these series to witness the poignancy of certain moments, but the arcs in general are perfectly formed to the four episodes. Almost every show has a woeful subplot about romance, which is fitting given that the catalyst event is a wedding. Beyond that, the event does the sleuthing necessary to understand what Earth-X is and why it is going to possibly impact the Earth of which the beloved heroes exist. By the end, it gets the sentimental payoff, and does so with a bit of heart.
But the idea that these shows could work together is the biggest draw. While the biggest and most exciting action set piece takes place in "Part 4" during Legends of Tomorrow, every episode has one or two moments that are exciting TV action. Mind you, this isn't quite as well choreographed as early Daredevil episodes, but it definitely has a spectacle that is only matched by the humanity of its dozens upon dozens of characters working together. To some extent, the grandiose nature is so ridiculous that it becomes inspiring, creating one of the most engaging action finales since 2012's The Avengers movie. The three hours building up to that moment are incredible, and it manages to work even more because the event has earned integrity beats along the way. It's as exciting as it is sweet and heartbreaking. The show may never dive into drama as deep as Justice League, but it still captures the complexity of what a superhero crossover should be.
More than anything, it creates a perfect distillation of what these four shows have, which is young charismatic actors who are capable of impressive work. Even during the serious moments, there's an earnestness to their performances that is refreshing. They are a force of good in a world of Super-Nazis that want to spread despair. While it's possible that Crisis on Earth-X was inspired by political events, it still manages to be apolitical beyond the fact that bad guys need to get beat up. In a world where "Punch a Nazi" has become a meme, this event series is the only one to apply it in a way that's cathartic. It sees the evil in the world and the heroes wish to abolish it. The clear cut nature of this motivation only makes the finale stronger, and the general impact of the villain all the more interesting.
In some ways, Crisis on Earth-X is just another crossover superhero show. However, The CW's Arrowverse has been doing this long enough that it feels like more than a bandwagon act. If nothing else, this is what the franchises have been building towards. They all play to each show's strengths and produce something that is just great TV. It may still be full of silliness and sometimes less impressive effects, but the ability to expand worlds and physical limitations is itself an achievement. You don't have to have seen all of these shows to enjoy what Crisis on Earth-X does, but it would help to get further empathy out of the rich subtext of the event. It's a strong example of how to do crossovers right, and hopefully the expanding series won't make the next one too overbearing.
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