TV Series Review: Krypton

Starring Cameron Cuffe, Georgina Campbell, Shaun Sipos, Elliot Cowan, Ann Ogbomo, Aaron Pierre, Rasmus Hardiker, Wallis Day, Blake Ritson and Ian McElhinney
Developed by David S. Goyer (Based on characters created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster)
Network: SyFy, Wednesdays at 10P
Rated TV-14-LV
My Rating: ****/5

“Krypton” is a TV series prequel to the story of “Superman,” released to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the character’s first appearance in “Action Comics #1.” Following the wake of the success of similar series such as “Smallville” and “Gotham,” the show presents a flawed, but ultimately unique and entertaining, take on the source material that definitely has potential to grow.

The series takes place years before the familiar origin story, which follows the ancestors of Jor-el trying to reclaim their honor after being wrongly exiled and stripped of their “rank.” With the help of a mysterious stranger from Earth, a young man named Seg-el must face a host of rival villain factions to live up to the name of a family who will one day give birth to Superman.

With decades of comic book mythology and other adaptations that have come before, this series manages to craft a distinct version of the Superman lore that integrates elements from almost all previous versions to create something of its own. Visually, the series boasts impressive sets; costumes and CGI that craft a stunning vision the planet Krypton. The visual style is one that resembles a combination of the classic 1978 “Superman” movie by Richard Donner and more modern adaptations such as the DC Extended Universe.

One admitted flaw is that the symbolism of the plot can often get heavy-handed. While not quite as dark as many of its contemporaries in DC Comics TV adaptations, the series makes it quite clear that those looking for a more lighthearted story will not find it here. Still, the series definitely has enough of a compelling story and potential from its early episodes to grow further. The acting from a cast of relatively unknown actors is solid across the board, and everyone seems to fit their parts well.

While “Krypton” may not reach the lofty heights it leaps for in one bound, the series makes a strong enough landing in its early episodes that it definitely has what it takes to stand out among other “Superman” adaptations and makes a solid way to celebrate the legacy of the character.