Inhumans isn’t the worst TV series, but it is the worst Marvel TV series, which makes it feel worst than it actually is. I initially thought that Inhumans took place in the past and chronicled the first humans whom the Kree experimented on, but it unfolds soon after Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 2, 3 or 4. The important distinction between the Inhumans in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and their titular series is that the latter do not start as human beings (I think) and have lived in exile from Earth because of this difference for a long time. As a result, they are more technologically advanced, but their socio-economic world is not so there is a formal royal caste system complete with mines. The central conflict in Inhumans is inequality, but the show wants us to root for the establishment to change and not trust the revolutionary, who is just a selfish fascist dictator. If you watch Game of Thrones, you will be able to guess who it is fairly quickly, but if you don’t, you won’t have to wait long because the series starts with a coup.
If I had to quibble about the Marvel universe, which is not an easy thing to do, it is that they don’t spend enough time establishing group dynamics before breaking them up. The Avengers were together for one movie and a few minutes before they split up, and at least I was invested in them as individuals before they became a team. It took a long time to get invested in the individuals in Inhumans, and even then, it was more because of how they reacted to each other when they were together, not because they were inherently interesting.
If I’m being frank, I thought Auran was the most textured character, and she was only a supporting character. The King and Queen, Black Bolt and Medusa, were more riveting together than apart. The eight episode series did not really begin to gel until episode 5. Most of the characters were inadvertently stereotypes. The black guy’s power is brute strength. He can’t swim, isn’t too bright, may as well wear a red shirt then fits the description of every person who was a victim of an extrajudicial execution. All the Asian guys are experts in martial arts (side note: Triton’s fight scenes are the best, and the rest can be tossed in the bin), but the main one, Karnak, is super smart and has no game. Inhumans at least gives him a love interest to counter the usual sexless Asian male stereotype.
Inhumans definitely tried to give every superpowered character a weakness so viewers could empathize with them with mixed results. I think that it worked for Karnak and Medusa. Supernatural has depicted supporting characters that are deaf before so I felt like Black Bolt’s silence (he is not deaf, but is forced to be mute and use sign language) played into the strong and silent type trope for men. During the first episode, I was a little turned off by the women’s power being so feminine and pretty. I did not know Bumblebee head’s power until she landed on Earth. Let the damn dog rest!
The best actor in Inhumans is Iwan Rheon, but even he has problems suppressing his real accent. Ellen Woglom reminded me of a mashup of Felicity from Arrow and Kristen Johnson, but she provided much needed humor in a fairly grim and serious show. The most emotionally resonant moment is when a human who has powers as a result of exposure to the terrigen crystals and an Inhuman part, and the human feels reassured that he is not a “freak.”
I applaud Inhumans’ effort to caution audiences about unchecked power (“I don’t think this is the freedom that they’re looking for”) and prejudice, particularly on Earth (“Your kind tends to react badly to anyone different, especially those in authority”), but until the plot starts popping, the surrounding moments are not strong enough for these lessons to truly take root. I think that the narrative and characters have to work before a lesson can be learned otherwise it feels like a character is just screaming “Message” and hoping that the power of the message bolsters the plot.
Inhumans clearly hopes to be renewed. We have allusions for a real threat against the Inhumans that explains why Black Bolt’s power is needed. We don’t know the human who is Louise’s boss and is so intrigued with the moon. We have the tension that these Inhumans are trying to remain isolated while the governments on Earth are probably trying to destroy their GMO brothers. How will this show affect and fit in to the Marvel universe? The Inhumans had a civil war so I can’t believe that everything is suddenly cool so I expect more conflict there as people are trying to reestablish their society.
Inhumans does make me angrier that Agent Carter did not get renewed, but I didn’t hate it. It is an average show, but Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. got better with time so I’m definitely willing to give it a chance. Inhumans is only must see viewing if you are into the Marvel universe and a completist otherwise skip it.