Season 1 Discussion Thread

[Jack Malone]

"Super Start" part two

A two-parter that actually gets shit done! What a great follow up to the premiere. There's so much to talk about, and I kind of wish I read/reviewed these episodes together, but oh well, here we are...



First and foremost, I have to talk about the big reveal. So I felt it was strange that Detective Ashlock was introduced in the last episode, and had little to no role, but then when she appeared in this episode, it all finally made sense. In all superhero shows and movies, I like the law and order side of things, and that whole mystery of "will they find out the truth" and they really balance out the morals of "is that right or wrong", so I love that this show has a character that can do that. So, going in, I thought, you know, she'd be there to try and figure out about the powers, and learn more about Bright Day and try to uncover that- NEK MINNIT- reveals that someone murdered Frank. And yes, yes I am legitimately shocked about that, and intrigued to read more and find out!

Speaking of Frank, Janice is still grieving, understandably, only this time round, Clark very much puts her in her place about it. She was being rather crude to her siblings, and especially Sara, so I was glad that early on in the episode she kind of received a bit of a wake up call, despite the circumstances she's under and the right to be a little angry and upset she had going for her.

After Janice is saved, we're really introduced to Jonathan's motives and role in the episode, and he seems rather hellbent on the idea that the government was up to it, and that there's a huge conspiracy theory behind the events that took place, which is contrasted by the trio's disagreement on that, and how they strongly view otherwise. So you've already got this powerful distinction between the main protagonists and the antagonist of the episode, that stems from the very thing that made them all 'super'. So I like that, for the shows very first baddie.

We're also introduced to Dr. Uucscio (which is a prick of a name to remember, spell and pronounce; thanks for that one Brady), and just as excited as I am for that whole law/order aspect being in the show, I'm glad there's this kind of "in the know" doctor that the heroes can turn to, and I feel like he's going to have a strong role in the series playing that part for the trio. Plus, he was a part of one of the best scenes of the two-parter:

DR. UUCSIO
Define “super”.

Sara points to Janice.

SARA
Lasers shot out of her eyes.

She points to Clark.

SARA (CONT’D)
He pulled a Man of Steel. And I hit
a high note Adele would beg for.

DR. UUCSIO
Well. That’s a new one.

Moving on, it was incredibly smart to pull Clark away from the sisters to very much tackle the emotional aspect of this two-parter, which was the conflict between Sara and Janice. He was very much the mediator, the guy in the middle trying to make sure everyone got along, and you removed him through the big confrontation as he was captured, and dealt with that conflict simultaneously with the big Jonathan battle, and that was just such a smart move. It demonstrated a lot of thought into the storylines you set up in the premiere that were effectively carried out into this part two, and dealt with, so props for that. Ultimately, I enjoyed this second episode a lot more than the first, because everything just flowed so brilliantly, and it was exciting with each new page (then, you threw on that massive twist/reveal and I was floored).

So all in all, a 10/10 for this one.

[Brady Brown]

Aug 30, 2013 0:36:25 GMT -6 Jack Malone said:

"Super Start" Part One

Sorry I'm just now getting to reply to these, Jack! Had a very busy day yesterday, but I just wanted to thank you soooo much for sitting down and reading the show! I saw this yesterday morning and it legit made my day. Anyways, onto the reply!

Just started this series, and already love the potential it has, and hope to read even more episodes over the weekend. First and foremost, I have to talk about the trio. I love that you introduce these siblings as extremely dysfunctional. Janice and Sara always seem to butt heads, with Jonathan in the middle trying to sort it all out and make sure everyone gets along. Then they come into these powers, and they start to really bond, and deal with the issues at hand. I love that whole aspect of it, because it reminds me of Charmed, in that, when they got their powers, they became closer sisters, and I think, it could be just as effective for this series- instead of complaining how cursed they are because of these powers, it really has helped pull them all together so in a way I can see them being extremely thankful for that. But again, I've only read this first episode so far, so I have no idea what to expect.

Hope you can get to read more!

I really wanted a driving conflict that was established prior to the series, before the series started. People seem to enjoy it, so that's AWESOME! Charmed was a huge inspiration, in terms of relationships wise, when I first started to sit down and actually plan this out. I loved their sister bond, and wanted to have that on this show - just had to establish it first. Even though they eventually bond, that's not to say these powers don't take a toll on them, and that they don't eventually complain about how tough their lives are now - they are teenagers after all, haha!

I remember reading the pilot and noticing all the changes you've made to it, particularly to Janice's storyline of losing Frank. I've got to commend you on this, because it really held the emotional drive I thought the pilot was lacking when the show was pitched, and you slowly let us as the audience into the emotional turmoil of Janice's character, as she was grieving; and it didn't just happen in one big go, it came in waves. The first few flashbacks at the very beginning, I was kind of like, "ah, maybe it was bad advice, its not working so much," but then when I kept reading until the end and more and more flashbacks occurred, it felt more organic, and mirrored what grieving for someone was like, and ugh, you pulled it off so well. I think it makes all the more sense with these flashbacks connected to her storyline that Janice was so detached from everyone else in the premiere, because she's dealing with someone so personal, in comparison to the "trio", if that makes any sense. Either way, you handled that really well, and I loved Janice's entire story for the first episode.

I was never fully "happy" with Janice's story in the pilot; even after all the feedback was given, I just wasn't seeing how it could work. With that said, it's great to know that you enjoyed that aspect! Don't think Frank won't arise again (not like a zombie, we won't go that far), so always expect the unexpected with The Super Teens!

Moving on, the discovery of their abilities was priceless, and really organic too, which was great. It didn't seem forced, like "okay, I need to demonstrate this power by this point, so I can do this, and that, and that too..." Plus, it felt like they were all in a position to have the power revealed, and it came naturally to them. Then, trying to replicate that power was classic, and I love that they had to really tap into memories, and emotions to use their newfound abilities.

I looooved writing the scenes where they discovered their powers! I wanted them all to be different, and have them all have different reactions. I will sat I liked Clark's the best, just because I would probably have the same reaction, 100% no doubt. Anyways, I took a lot of inspiration from Smallville, in the sense that "hey, they're not going to get everything right the first time. let's make it funny." So to see that it worked gives me a sense of accomplishment!

Jonathan seems like a total whack-job, and of course you had to end the first episode with a big cliffhanger. I'm gonna try and read the next episode now and leave a review for that later tonight too. Ultimately, it was a great start to the series. In this script, you really showed your talent in writing action, and creating atmosphere and the scene that these characters are appearing in- the teaser of this episode is just brilliant, all in all. There are some areas of dialogue that could be fixed up, but you know me, I don't like to touch the technicalities of scripts anymore, and prefer to just review the story, and the characters, and the arcs, and all that jazz, which you're a master at. For the first episode of Super Teens, I give it an 8/10.

Oh, yeah. Jonathan - total psycho. And again, don't think you've seen the last of him. But anyways, thanks so much for reading and reviewing again, Jack! I'm so glad you enjoyed it! The action gets better and better, in my opinion (I really loved writing the finale if I had to pick a favorite). Being my first script, I feel like I mature in my writing (hopefully) as the series goes on, so hopefully the show itself with improve as you go along!

THANKS AGAIN!

[Brady Brown]

Aug 30, 2013 4:59:36 GMT -6 Jack Malone said:

"Super Start" part two

First and foremost, I have to talk about the big reveal. So I felt it was strange that Detective Ashlock was introduced in the last episode, and had little to no role, but then when she appeared in this episode, it all finally made sense. In all superhero shows and movies, I like the law and order side of things, and that whole mystery of "will they find out the truth" and they really balance out the morals of "is that right or wrong", so I love that this show has a character that can do that. So, going in, I thought, you know, she'd be there to try and figure out about the powers, and learn more about Bright Day and try to uncover that- NEK MINNIT- reveals that someone murdered Frank. And yes, yes I am legitimately shocked about that, and intrigued to read more and find out!

THE REVEEEEEAAAAL. *suspenseful music* Oh, trust me when I say you don't know half of what is coming. Det. Aslock's main purpose this season is to find answers - she wants to know what "Bright Day" is and just what the Knox's are hiding. She brings that sort of police force area to the show and will not stop until she finds answers, to sum it all up. The reason Frank was murdered will be revealed in the season finale, so hopefully it shocks you just as much as this did, haha!

Speaking of Frank, Janice is still grieving, understandably, only this time round, Clark very much puts her in her place about it. She was being rather crude to her siblings, and especially Sara, so I was glad that early on in the episode she kind of received a bit of a wake up call, despite the circumstances she's under and the right to be a little angry and upset she had going for her.

I'm really glad you liked that aspect! Clark really only wants what's best for his sisters, even if it means hurting their feelings in the process, lol.

After Janice is saved, we're really introduced to Jonathan's motives and role in the episode, and he seems rather hellbent on the idea that the government was up to it, and that there's a huge conspiracy theory behind the events that took place, which is contrasted by the trio's disagreement on that, and how they strongly view otherwise. So you've already got this powerful distinction between the main protagonists and the antagonist of the episode, that stems from the very thing that made them all 'super'. So I like that, for the shows very first baddie.

There are always those people that think the government is behind anything and everything, and I wanted to showcase that through Jonathan and give off all these different reactions to this catastrophe that has affected everyone.

We're also introduced to Dr. Uucscio (which is a prick of a name to remember, spell and pronounce; thanks for that one Brady), and just as excited as I am for that whole law/order aspect being in the show, I'm glad there's this kind of "in the know" doctor that the heroes can turn to, and I feel like he's going to have a strong role in the series playing that part for the trio. Plus, he was a part of one of the best scenes of the two-parter:

DR. UUCSIO
Define “super”.

Sara points to Janice.

SARA
Lasers shot out of her eyes.

She points to Clark.

SARA (CONT’D)
He pulled a Man of Steel. And I hit
a high note Adele would beg for.

DR. UUCSIO
Well. That’s a new one.

Aw, thanks! There might be another name that gives you trouble to spell, so hopefully you'll looooove that too! HAHA! Dr. Uucsio, along with his family, serves as the Chloe Sullivan to the show (if I had to make an analogy). And while Mrs. Uucsio has a different storyline towards the middle of the season, the others are really there to help as well as gain information. Hopefully you stay interested with them, because they become sort guardians in the second season, which probably doesn't make any sense to you, so stay tuned! So glad you liked that line; hopefully you pick out some more favorites!

Moving on, it was incredibly smart to pull Clark away from the sisters to very much tackle the emotional aspect of this two-parter, which was the conflict between Sara and Janice. He was very much the mediator, the guy in the middle trying to make sure everyone got along, and you removed him through the big confrontation as he was captured, and dealt with that conflict simultaneously with the big Jonathan battle, and that was just such a smart move. It demonstrated a lot of thought into the storylines you set up in the premiere that were effectively carried out into this part two, and dealt with, so props for that. Ultimately, I enjoyed this second episode a lot more than the first, because everything just flowed so brilliantly, and it was exciting with each new page (then, you threw on that massive twist/reveal and I was floored).

I needed Janice and Sara to work together, so taking Clark out of the picture, even if for a little a while, was must for me. Then ALL HELL EXPLODED and they all had to work together, as not just a team, but a family. Family is a huge aspect this season, along with just adjusting to their new lives. It's also great to know you enjoyed this episode more than the first!

So all in all, a 10/10 for this one. [/quote]

Thanks again for reading and reviewing, Jack! Hopefully you can catch up soon, because I'd love to hear what you think of the rest of the season!

[Jack Malone]

S01E03 "SUPER SCENT" REVIEW

Trying to play catch up. This was an incredible episode with a really solid plot and character beats. It made me incredibly reminiscent of Smallville's early days, and I just loved every part of it. I think what made it so interesting was how everything connected, and had a strong purpose, from the introduction of the "sweetheart week" to how Randle, and his intentions infected Sara, and called for greater attention on Janice's emotions in losing her boyfriend in the premiere. It really worked and came together to form an impressive installment of "The Super Teens!"

My favourite character is probably the Doctor "way-too-hard-to-spell-so-I'll-go-back-into-the-script-to-copy-and-paste-his-name" Uucsio and he is very much a supporting character so he's kind of there to advance the plot, and add a solution to the problem, but his personality and brains behind what his purpose is just adds more layers and is a reason why I love him so much.

The transition from lust to rage was really unexpected because we hadn't really been given the description of Randle's powers, and so that transition coming BEFORE the explanation added a lot of shock factor and suspense to the already established plot and made it that much more enjoyable to read. It definitely had me flipping through the pages, reading quicker to see what was happening, and of course, it led to a really epic confrontation between the triplets.

I love that you captivate on the "sibling rivalry" when it comes to this, and makes me think about how Buffy the Vampire Slayer tackles "demons" as a metaphor of what teenagers have to go through in their teenage years, and how you do a similar thing but with the concept of family. So while on the supernatural side of things people can look at it as "Sara was infected and wanted to jump every man's bones", it dealt with teenage rebellion a little in her choosing to wear different clothes, and seeing how Debbie and the rest of the family responds (before they come to the realisation its a supernatural problem). So I love how you manage to draw from that concept of "Family" that works really well for the show

Overall, another great episode and an obvious 10er.

[Brady Brown]

Dec 11, 2013 2:23:48 GMT -6 Jack Malone said:

S01E03 "SUPER SCENT" REVIEW

Trying to play catch up. This was an incredible episode with a really solid plot and character beats. It made me incredibly reminiscent of Smallville's early days, and I just loved every part of it. I think what made it so interesting was how everything connected, and had a strong purpose, from the introduction of the "sweetheart week" to how Randle, and his intentions infected Sara, and called for greater attention on Janice's emotions in losing her boyfriend in the premiere. It really worked and came together to form an impressive installment of "The Super Teens!"

I am definitely okay with this catch up game you are playing! Haha! Smallville is definitely one of my inspirations when I plan and write this show. It's my all time favorite series, and the whole idea of Clark having to deal with these powers in his school really fascinated me. And plus I really loved the episode where Lana becomes infected and completely changes her attitude. Stoked you enjoyed the episode! There were so many problems during the production of this episode - the plot was changed several times and a storyline was completely thrown out the window. So it's great to know it seemed to pay off!

My favourite character is probably the Doctor "way-too-hard-to-spell-so-I'll-go-back-into-the-script-to-copy-and-paste-his-name" Uucsio and he is very much a supporting character so he's kind of there to advance the plot, and add a solution to the problem, but his personality and brains behind what his purpose is just adds more layers and is a reason why I love him so much.

HAHAHA! Well I'm glad you really like Dr. Uucsio! His main role this season it to just assist any way he can, because that's just the person he is. And while he doesn't have an episode devoted solely for his character, at least in this season, he's always there watching over the triplets. Sort of like how Chloe was with Clark. But there is some troubles for him in S2! hahaha

The transition from lust to rage was really unexpected because we hadn't really been given the description of Randle's powers, and so that transition coming BEFORE the explanation added a lot of shock factor and suspense to the already established plot and made it that much more enjoyable to read. It definitely had me flipping through the pages, reading quicker to see what was happening, and of course, it led to a really epic confrontation between the triplets.

This was really a problem when writing the episode. I couldn't figure out how I was going to incorporate the reveal of Randle's powers without he just saying "this is what I can do." So the Bright Day Blog came into play again. I can't remember if it's used again though, haha! I try to make each episode have at least one action scene, whether it be at the end or not. I just love action so much, though writing it is a completely different story, HAHA!!

I love that you captivate on the "sibling rivalry" when it comes to this, and makes me think about how Buffy the Vampire Slayer tackles "demons" as a metaphor of what teenagers have to go through in their teenage years, and how you do a similar thing but with the concept of family. So while on the supernatural side of things people can look at it as "Sara was infected and wanted to jump every man's bones", it dealt with teenage rebellion a little in her choosing to wear different clothes, and seeing how Debbie and the rest of the family responds (before they come to the realisation its a supernatural problem). So I love how you manage to draw from that concept of "Family" that works really well for the show
Overall, another great episode and an obvious 10er.

Being that the three main characters are siblings, triplets in fact, they're definitely going to butt heads over the course of the series. They'll disagree tremendously, but will always find a way to work it out in the end, because while they may want to rip one another's hair out, they're family, and that's really the strongest bond of all. *cue inspirational music* Anyways, Sara is probably the most rebellious of the trio, not that she'll act out on occasion, but she's not afraid to speak her mind or step on anyone's toes. She'll definitely be at Janice's throat again sometime soon, haha

Thanks again for the review, Jack! Hopefully you can catch up with the show sometime soon, because I would love to hear your thoughts on season one!!

[Jamison]

REVIEW: The Super Teens (Season One)

The first season of The Super Teens was a fun, thrilling ride full of great character moments, engaging storylines and some of the most well written and intense action sequences of anything I've ever read. Series creator, Brady Brown takes the idea of everyday teens getting superpowers and is able to create something unique and interesting. Taking a more science fiction based approach, made most apparent in characters like Dr. Uucsio, who often uses his intelligence and scientific knowledge to assist our heroes, the show is able to maintain a sense of realism in rather otherworldly circumstances.

The show also combines a few different stylistic approaches. When reading, you can't help but get comic book vibes. And of course I mean that in a good way. There are also some subtle hints of other shows thrown into The Super Teens', such as Smallville and Charmed. It's a serious, emotionally charged, character and plot driven series, but it's also about friendship and family and even lighter themes to balance the darker elements. That's part of The Super Teens' charm. It seems knows exactly what kind of show it is, which makes it easy to get invested in.

The two part season opener, "Super Start" truly lives up to the name, which its fast paced narrative that never seems to really take a break. Starting with such a bang (literally), we immediately get to see how the main characters (Janice, Clark and Sara) act under pressure. We're also able to form a bond with them quickly, as we're constantly learning things at the same rate they are.

By episode three, "Super Scent," we're pretty much familiar with all the characters and their relationships with each other. And we also get a taste of a procedural/freak of the week styled approach. However, even though this series sometimes relies on that format, the ever lingering threat of the, then unnamed 'Upsville Killer' and other villainous persons and organizations, are seamlessly threaded throughout the season, making for a more serialized tone, especially in the later half.

Perhaps one of the strongest aspects of the series lies in the characters. Our trio of super-powered siblings, Janice, Clark and Sara Knox have a very typical, relatable and passionate bond, even though they're not always in agreement with each other. The two girls seem to butt heads the most, but when they're able to look past their differences and work together, it makes for a very powerful show of the strength of family. Because this show, at its core, is about family. And that definitely shines through in those tender scenes with the triplets, and their mother Debbie.

Speaking of Debbie, this bold, committed mother is definitely one of the standout characters of season one. Not only does she manage to love and support her kids in all that they're going through, but she's also pretty bad ass her self. Moms (or parents, in general) of super-powered children are typically one of two things, oblivious of the entire thing and shoved in the background or used as leverage and is in need of saving every other week. Debbie Knox takes up neither of those roles. She's her own woman, has her own storylines and that makes me care for and want to root for her even more. (Just read "Super Mom" if you don't believe me)

Though the Upsville Killer (later revealed to be named Cloranda) is the major antagonist of the season, other antagonistic forces like the group Chosen, is what really catches my interest. It's so shrouded in mystery and will obviously come more to the forefront in season two. But that doesn't mean Cloranda wasn't a foe worthy of your attention. She was a wickedly evil, manipulative space witch who has no problems killing anyone who got in the way of her getting her powers back. My point is, she was brilliant! She read like a some classic comic book villain. Sometimes a bit over the top, but in a way that made you love to hate her even more. She had many minions at her disposal, most notably in a character named Jonathan who you will more than likely despise with all your being. But even he serves his purpose to the story, and is a viable threat for the Knox triplets. All in all, The Super Teens has some pretty great bad guys.

The pace of The Super Teens seems to build with each passing episode. While the pilot starting pretty strong, the scope simply reaches new heights in the two part season finale! With Cloranda revealing her origins and setting up so many possibilities for future storylines and seasons. I'm looking forward to dig into season two of the Super Teens and anyone reading this review should jump on this SUPER awesome bandwagon (I'm sorry, I had to do it at least one)

Overall, The Super Teens is something special and is certainly unlike anything the VPN has ever seen in terms of style and tone. With memorable moments, characters and a head writer with a genuine love for the story, I can't help but completely be in love with The Super Teens for everything it is. Already a classic in my book.

[Brady Brown]

CHRIS! I don't even know what to say besides THANK YOU! This literally means so much to me, and I'd go through and reply to each section, but it would literally just be me screaming thank you in all caps. Your words are so kind, and I can't thank you enough for reading the entire season and leaving your thoughts on it. I love that you've found yourself connected with everyone, and I love that you love Sara so much, haha! Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH I LOVE YOU YOUR WORDS ARE AMAZING! I HOPE YOU ENJOY SEASON TWO EVEN MORE, AND I CAN'T WAIT TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ON IT!

[Jack Malone]

"Super Kill" Review

This was another great instalment for the series. First and foremost, I have to talk about the Upsville Killer. They are genuinely terrifying as all shit. Just thinking ahead for the show, it's got to be hard to top this villain (unless they're someone who remains as the constant big bad for the series) because they can literally say "kill" and your dead. I'm interested to see how this conflict can be solved because right now it seems like there would have to be a pretty big reason not to kill any of the main characters to keep them at heads otherwise it's a short ass battle and a short ass season. That said, I realise the Upsville Killer is after their powers, but it seems a bit strange considering they're way more powerful than 'The Super Teens' in my book. But I'm interested nonetheless.  

Moving on, I think my favourite part of the whole episode was probably - again - the family stuff. From the small amount of episodes I've read so far, they always seem to link back to family and to that sibling bond, so I really enjoyed the part where Janice wasn't in control, and Sara and Clark had to reel her back from it all and it was just a huge standout for me. 

While I'm glad a character like Detective Ashlock exists on the show, and there's a nice blend of "normal" there to sort of enhance the "not-normal" aspects of the show, I hope the show doesn't position her as a main character all the time in the way it did here. The format of having a case to solve was probably my least favourite aspect of the episode, and I wanted to get back to Clark, Sara and Janice, and was more interested in the Upsville Killer and things of that nature. I completely understand the purpose of doing it for this episode, and it did work pretty well for the story you were telling, but with Ashlock going on her own course here, I'm worried it might become a pattern of "we have a case to solve." Instead, I hope it's just a way to reel her into the story, and I loved the surveillance footage at the end kind of pulling her in more. So where this story goes, I'm happy to follow. I just don't want a repetition of this format to achieve it, if that makes sense. 

Overall, a really cool episode. Despite not being a huge fan of the format of this particular episode, you nailed the jargon and the "case" solving aspects.  The action scenes were stellar. I love the Upsville Killer as an antagonist. You're starting big, and the show can only get bigger and better, so I'm just genuinely excited about this series and where it can go. Of course, the show, and what I love, is grounded in the family dynamic, and you've played on that really well in the first four episodes I've read of 'The Super Teens.'

Hope I can finish the first season soon, and sorry for the short ass review. I'm terrible at reviewing shows until I'm near the end of a season, or into the second one and know all the characters more.  

[Brady Brown]

Feb 12, 2016 4:39:03 GMT -6 Jack Malone said:

"Super Kill" Review

This was another great instalment for the series. First and foremost, I have to talk about the Upsville Killer. They are genuinely terrifying as all shit. Just thinking ahead for the show, it's got to be hard to top this villain (unless they're someone who remains as the constant big bad for the series) because they can literally say "kill" and your dead. I'm interested to see how this conflict can be solved because right now it seems like there would have to be a pretty big reason not to kill any of the main characters to keep them at heads otherwise it's a short ass battle and a short ass season. That said, I realise the Upsville Killer is after their powers, but it seems a bit strange considering they're way more powerful than 'The Super Teens' in my book. But I'm interested nonetheless.  

Okay, so i completely forgot to reply to this, omg. I'm so sorry, but I probably thanked you on Twitter so don't hate me. Anyway, I'm so happy you enjoyed this! I had a lot of fun crafting the Upsville Killer. There's a specific reason that she doesn't just kill the Knox triplets, and that should be revealed to you soon. Hope it's too your liking

Moving on, I think my favourite part of the whole episode was probably - again - the family stuff. From the small amount of episodes I've read so far, they always seem to link back to family and to that sibling bond, so I really enjoyed the part where Janice wasn't in control, and Sara and Clark had to reel her back from it all and it was just a huge standout for me. 

I absolutely love writing the family stuff. I try and interweave a family aspect into every episode, because even though this might be a show about superpowers, at its core it's a show about family and the relationships that form in that. Janice, Clark, and Sara have the best relationship on the show, for me personally, so I'm glad that specific scene was a standout

While I'm glad a character like Detective Ashlock exists on the show, and there's a nice blend of "normal" there to sort of enhance the "not-normal" aspects of the show, I hope the show doesn't position her as a main character all the time in the way it did here. The format of having a case to solve was probably my least favourite aspect of the episode, and I wanted to get back to Clark, Sara and Janice, and was more interested in the Upsville Killer and things of that nature. I completely understand the purpose of doing it for this episode, and it did work pretty well for the story you were telling, but with Ashlock going on her own course here, I'm worried it might become a pattern of "we have a case to solve." Instead, I hope it's just a way to reel her into the story, and I loved the surveillance footage at the end kind of pulling her in more. So where this story goes, I'm happy to follow. I just don't want a repetition of this format to achieve it, if that makes sense. 

That's fair. I don't remember her having to solve a case every single episode she's in, but with that being said her overall goal is to find out what the Knox's are hiding. So, the cases she will solve in the remainder of the season will be essential to the story/allow it to move forward. I hope that subsided your worries haha.

Overall, a really cool episode. Despite not being a huge fan of the format of this particular episode, you nailed the jargon and the "case" solving aspects.  The action scenes were stellar. I love the Upsville Killer as an antagonist. You're starting big, and the show can only get bigger and better, so I'm just genuinely excited about this series and where it can go. Of course, the show, and what I love, is grounded in the family dynamic, and you've played on that really well in the first four episodes I've read of 'The Super Teens.'
Hope I can finish the first season soon, and sorry for the short ass review. I'm terrible at reviewing shows until I'm near the end of a season, or into the second one and know all the characters more.  

Awesome! Thanks again for the read, Jack! Hopefully your small concern moving forward has been diminished a bit, and I can't wait to see what you think of the rest of the season!

[Jack Malone]

'Super Drunk' Review

I am very determined to play catch up on all theVPN shows. I tend to get caught up in *trying* to deliver thorough reviews, but instead, I'm going to do quick, bullet-point reviews for these shows until I'm caught up and can get back to my usual write-ups. 

POSITIVES
→ There were a lot of comedic moments in this episode that is clearly one of your greatest strengths as a writer. 
→ The plot was *super* unique. At first, it seemed to follow a bit of The Hangover plot and I was nervous about it because I hate being that person that is like "this reminds me of" because more times than not it's seen as a criticism rather than a compliment and can degrade the work (and it's rare for anything to not have shades of something else). But you offered a mid-episode twist that made this episode a standout and completely unique. I enjoyed the "alternate reality" twist, and what it did in expanding the mythology of The Upsville Killer, and Bright Day. 
→ I really enjoyed the Sara and Fred dynamic. 
→ The suspense/mystery in this episode was fantastic. Revealing Ashlock as the Upsville Killer, and then pulling the rug out from under everyone with a "ha, got you" moment was genius. It was captivating from the moment you see Debbie start firing at her own kids with a shotgun. And I felt like the explanation we got in terms of these "wtf" moments felt very organic (in regards to The Upsville Killer needing them to develop their powers, and essentially use them in these great times of distress). 
→ The Upsville Killer is a terrifying villain. Whenever she is locked in combat, the simple word of "push" and its effects always make me wonder how they're supposed to stop her. I really enjoyed what this episode did for her, and ending with her needing to heal and recharge, was a good way of probably allowing us to explore other threats outside of her and/or get away from the A story for a while. 
→ There's something so great about the episodes ending with that 'family' vibe between the siblings. The family is what's at the core of the show, and you always find the perfect way to captivate on it. After such a crazy episode with magic, alternate realities, powers being used left and right, it was refreshing to end on them squabbling over photographs from their night of getting wasted. 

NEGATIVES
→ I think there were some better ways to deliver the exposition. There was a lot of repetition from The Upsville Killer at the end when she was explaining that it was an alternate reality, and did the classic "I'm going to tell you everything right now" even though she decided pretty quickly that it was time to pull back. 
→ The only other thing I wasn't too big on was how quickly things rushed into a conclusion. I think ACT FIVE was two pages? I think if we got more resolution between Sara and Fred, and Clark and Lucy, and followed up on those specific dynamics that were present throughout the episode, then it would feel more wholesome and less rushed. 

Overall, 'Super Drunk' was a great episode. It was nice to see the heroes go up against the Upsville Killer in a really unique plot. There was a perfect blend of action and comedy (not to mention mystery as well), and the way things unfolded made for a truly captivating episode of 'Super Teens.' 

[Brady Brown]

Thank you SO MUCH for this review, Jack! That's all I can really say. I think trying to remember everything I was thinking when writing this episode and putting myself in the mindset of why I made certain decisions with the episode would end in a mess of a post. But THANK YOU! I always love reading your thoughts, and I can say with confidence that as the show goes on, everything, specifically my writing, becomes stronger.

[Jack Malone]

I already left some thoughts on "Super Mom" when we were talking earlier, but I really loved this episode. You're genuinely so good at writing the horror/suspense stuff that went into that -- it was easy to visualise, and was actually pretty eerie, especially with the shadowed figure looming around. There definitely seemed to be a Saw-type influence in the episode that I loved, kind of like when 'Smallville' did an episode inspired by the franchise, and it worked so well here, especially paired with the main villain, and this hidden agenda of theirs that got all the more intriguing with these "tests." I also loved the fact that you devoted a whole episode to Debbie, because it established her beyond her role as a mother and showed that she was a really strong, feisty, take-no-shit character with a heart of gold for her family, and I hope as I continue to read the series and play catch up, there are more situations that call for a focus on her and we get to see her shine. And then, very quickly, I really liked the subplot with the actual Super Teens at the school. I love when they all work together and have their on-point sibling remarks to each other. And the twist at the end was like?? Also, I'm bad at reviews when I don't write them directly after reading, so that's why this is a quick little ramble of love and support and not as thorough, haha. But yeah, it was great. I can't wait to catch up! 

[Brady Brown]

Nov 29, 2017 23:13:27 GMT -6 Jack Malone said:

I already left some thoughts on "Super Mom" when we were talking earlier, but I really loved this episode. You're genuinely so good at writing the horror/suspense stuff that went into that -- it was easy to visualise, and was actually pretty eerie, especially with the shadowed figure looming around. There definitely seemed to be a Saw-type influence in the episode that I loved, kind of like when 'Smallville' did an episode inspired by the franchise, and it worked so well here, especially paired with the main villain, and this hidden agenda of theirs that got all the more intriguing with these "tests." I also loved the fact that you devoted a whole episode to Debbie, because it established her beyond her role as a mother and showed that she was a really strong, feisty, take-no-shit character with a heart of gold for her family, and I hope as I continue to read the series and play catch up, there are more situations that call for a focus on her and we get to see her shine. And then, very quickly, I really liked the subplot with the actual Super Teens at the school. I love when they all work together and have their on-point sibling remarks to each other. And the twist at the end was like?? Also, I'm bad at reviews when I don't write them directly after reading, so that's why this is a quick little ramble of love and support and not as thorough, haha. But yeah, it was great. I can't wait to catch up! 

Thank you so much for reading, Jack! It really means a lot. I definitely wanted to have an episode focus on Debbie and to establish her as not only this matriarchal Knox family figure but as a character independent from that aspect of her life. She's got a lot more good stuff coming up this season, but especially next season. This episode also served the dual purpose of the twist at the end, which comes to a head in 1.08 "Super Past". I'm glad you enjoyed that aspect of it. I also love focusing on the triplets solely at school and how it affects them. There's an episode in season 2 where they're just in school the entire episode and don't use their powers, but just have to deal with the stress that school puts on them. I loved writing that, and I don't know why I said that since it's literally next season but I wanted to give you an idea of what I was talking about haha.

Again, thanks so much for the thoughts! Hopefully you can catch up soon!

[Jack Malone]

"Super Reveal" Review

Duuude. This was one of the most intense episodes of a virtual series I've ever read and it was so perfectly crafted to build the suspense. I was genuinely stressing about how things were going to end. 

First up, I have to say that I'm really happy with the reveal. When I saw the title, and saw this burgeoning mystery about Upsville Killer so far throughout the season, I was worried I'd be overwhelmed by being introduced to the main and supporting cast of characters that I'd forget who is who, and not be as on guard in trying to find clues, so I'm really happy that it's a new character and wasn't a reveal in the sense that it would expose a character as evil this whole time. And the reveal was done so damn well — the build up, the descriptions that slowly painted a clear picture, and then the dialogue in the scene that gave us some nice details about "Cloranda" (really cool name by the way). Sometimes unmasking a mysterious figure can take away some of the magic that character maintains in their presence, but this reveal somehow elevated it all. She's a million times more interesting than she already was now that we know her a little better and got to see so much more of her in this episode. I truly don't believe she's dead — although, the episode did seem to set up this notion that she was just the first, an introduction into the whole town having powers, and that potentially there's bigger threats on their way. However, Cloranda seemed to have a solid plan that we didn't fully see unravel, and her disappearing act could very well have been part of it. 

Outside of that particular conflict, I was really invested in the sibling drama of this episode. I like that it was grounded more in reality — Clark not wanting to hide who he truly is and also feeling like the odd one out in the trio, Janice not wanting to go to the dance because of Frank, and Sara feeling underappreciated. Part of me wondered if Cloranda had done something to set up that drama, but it was really about building towards a really nice moment during the A-PLOT conflict that I think solidified the siblings in a stronger way. It was like this episode culminated with an acceptance that they're always going to have each others back, and that they have to accept what their lives are now and that there are risks, but they'll always have each other. It was definitely shown more through Sara and Janice in their moment, but it still resonated throughout Clark and his storyline, too. 

This episode also had a great arc for Debbie. I love that we saw her take charge in her job, and it was nice to see her cross paths with Detective Ashlock and get caught up in that mess for a bit. There was so much talk of her thanking people, and saying "I love you" to her children, that I was seriously worried at where she might end up at episode's end, but I'm glad she stayed drama-free (for the most part). I think its a testament to you and your writing to have that aura of fear over a character's fate without actually having to go through with something at the end. As I said, you did such a good job with the suspense and the build up throughout this episode, and this was another example of it. Also, with that cliffhanger, and how it was introduced through Debbie's episode, I'm eager to see if it threads back around to her and if she's got a really exciting arc in the back half of the season! 

Speaking of Detective Ashlock, I'm definitely getting more invested her. I can tell this is building towards something, and I'm excited to see where that goes in the back half of the season. A character like her (in the role that she plays) is quick to get irritating, because they do endanger the main characters and their secret, but she's just grown more fascinating as the season has gone on. I'm torn between wanting her to find a smoking gun, and wanting the teens and Debbie to keep avoiding trouble, haha! 

One more thing I wanted to mention was the action — it was so intense. I loved the showdown at the dance. Cloranda felt unstoppable, and the fight sequences were definite page turners from everything that was going down. The way you cut back and forth from what was going down there to scenes where Fred and Lucy were fleeing, and Debbie was trying to get to the school, and the police showing up -- it was very reminiscent of the building suspense you see on TV, and even though I know you're a great writer and aren't surprised by that, I just appreciated HOW you crafted this. I also haven't read a show like this from you before, so it's still new in that regard, and I just thought the whole action sequence was done really well. It deserves its own paragraph of praise. 

Overall, another really great episode. This one is probably my favourite. I didn't realise it was a mid-season finale until you told me, and if that's the case, I am so not prepared for what the rest of the season, and the season finale, is going to deliver. Can't wait to finish catching up and get onto Season 2!!!  

[Brady Brown]

Dec 19, 2017 23:13:28 GMT -6 Jack Malone said:

"Super Reveal" Review

Duuude. This was one of the most intense episodes of a virtual series I've ever read and it was so perfectly crafted to build the suspense. I was genuinely stressing about how things were going to end. 

Thanks so much for the review, Jack! Was even better reading your thoughts liv as your read

First up, I have to say that I'm really happy with the reveal. When I saw the title, and saw this burgeoning mystery about Upsville Killer so far throughout the season, I was worried I'd be overwhelmed by being introduced to the main and supporting cast of characters that I'd forget who is who, and not be as on guard in trying to find clues, so I'm really happy that it's a new character and wasn't a reveal in the sense that it would expose a character as evil this whole time. And the reveal was done so damn well — the build up, the descriptions that slowly painted a clear picture, and then the dialogue in the scene that gave us some nice details about "Cloranda" (really cool name by the way). Sometimes unmasking a mysterious figure can take away some of the magic that character maintains in their presence, but this reveal somehow elevated it all. She's a million times more interesting than she already was now that we know her a little better and got to see so much more of her in this episode. I truly don't believe she's dead — although, the episode did seem to set up this notion that she was just the first, an introduction into the whole town having powers, and that potentially there's bigger threats on their way. However, Cloranda seemed to have a solid plan that we didn't fully see unravel, and her disappearing act could very well have been part of it. 

Yay! I never wanted the main reveal to be about it being about someone we had already been introduced to, but rather what this killer actually is. I think the information that Cloranda was giving was way more important than going for a shocking reveal of who might be terrorizing the city, so I'm glad you agreed! I'm not 100% sure what exactly was revealed about her and where she's from in this ep (it's been so long omg) so I don't want to spoil anything in regards to that. I won't say whether she's truly dead or not, but the Knox's and co. definitely have some more threats looming around them, and they'll be figuring out how to handle them in the next couple of eps.

Outside of that particular conflict, I was really invested in the sibling drama of this episode. I like that it was grounded more in reality — Clark not wanting to hide who he truly is and also feeling like the odd one out in the trio, Janice not wanting to go to the dance because of Frank, and Sara feeling underappreciated. Part of me wondered if Cloranda had done something to set up that drama, but it was really about building towards a really nice moment during the A-PLOT conflict that I think solidified the siblings in a stronger way. It was like this episode culminated with an acceptance that they're always going to have each others back, and that they have to accept what their lives are now and that there are risks, but they'll always have each other. It was definitely shown more through Sara and Janice in their moment, but it still resonated throughout Clark and his storyline, too. 

I almost love writing the human drama aspect of the show just as much as I do the superhero one. I think it's important to have a show like this balanced with real life themes and issues, and that's something I definitely still try to do to this day. It's hard to remember that the triplets are literally only 17 years old and were thrust into this life and crime fighting and having to deal with everyday teenage angst. So I'm glad you appreciated that part of the episode—there's definitely a lot more to come. And everything Cloranda did was intentional

This episode also had a great arc for Debbie. I love that we saw her take charge in her job, and it was nice to see her cross paths with Detective Ashlock and get caught up in that mess for a bit. There was so much talk of her thanking people, and saying "I love you" to her children, that I was seriously worried at where she might end up at episode's end, but I'm glad she stayed drama-free (for the most part). I think its a testament to you and your writing to have that aura of fear over a character's fate without actually having to go through with something at the end. As I said, you did such a good job with the suspense and the build up throughout this episode, and this was another example of it. Also, with that cliffhanger, and how it was introduced through Debbie's episode, I'm eager to see if it threads back around to her and if she's got a really exciting arc in the back half of the season! 

I looooove writing Debbie. I was pretty much raised by a single mother, so showing how strong Debbie is as a single parent is something I try to highlight as much as I can. She doesn't have superpowers but she's just as strong as those who do. She and Det. Ashlock are definitely going to clash again in this season, so look out for that! 1.08 "Super Past" deals a lot with that cliffhanger and how it ties back into Mrs. Uucsio and how it relates to Debbie!

Speaking of Detective Ashlock, I'm definitely getting more invested her. I can tell this is building towards something, and I'm excited to see where that goes in the back half of the season. A character like her (in the role that she plays) is quick to get irritating, because they do endanger the main characters and their secret, but she's just grown more fascinating as the season has gone on. I'm torn between wanting her to find a smoking gun, and wanting the teens and Debbie to keep avoiding trouble, haha! 

Yay! I love writing conflict that's not black and white. From her perspective, she's just trying to find the truth, because that's what she does and it's who she is. I think Bright Day has changed how a lot of people view the law/justice, so Ashlock is definitely trying to find some answers in the craziness. Lots more of her to come!

One more thing I wanted to mention was the action — it was so intense. I loved the showdown at the dance. Cloranda felt unstoppable, and the fight sequences were definite page turners from everything that was going down. The way you cut back and forth from what was going down there to scenes where Fred and Lucy were fleeing, and Debbie was trying to get to the school, and the police showing up -- it was very reminiscent of the building suspense you see on TV, and even though I know you're a great writer and aren't surprised by that, I just appreciated HOW you crafted this. I also haven't read a show like this from you before, so it's still new in that regard, and I just thought the whole action sequence was done really well. It deserves its own paragraph of praise. 

I'm always so nervous about the action sequences! So I'm glad you liked this one. It was a lot to write. I love how TV shows cut back and forth between the action and the people on the sides not knowing what's happening, or have an equal amount of tension building, so that's what I was trying to capture here, so yay! Plenty of more action to come

Overall, another really great episode. This one is probably my favourite. I didn't realise it was a mid-season finale until you told me, and if that's the case, I am so not prepared for what the rest of the season, and the season finale, is going to deliver. Can't wait to finish catching up and get onto Season 2!!!  

Thanks again, Jack! I'm so happy you loved this as much as you did. Can't wait to see your thoughts on the rest of the episodes!

[Jack Malone]

"Super Jolly" Review

After such an intense mid-season finale, I really appreciated the fact that this episode had a much simpler story in that all the characters were wrapped up in the same problem and worked to solve it by episode's end (as opposed to other plot threads or perspectives looming around an episode). There was still quite a handful of really interesting twists, but for a Christmas Special, I was glad it was a one-off sort of story and not entangled in the rest of the arcs of the season. 

First up, I want to talk about the threat: Katrina/Samantha. The mid-season finale definitely had a nod towards this type of thing happening — a nod towards Bright Day affecting more people and giving more people powers. And so, at first, I definitely really liked that the episode immediately following that focused on someone who could multiply themselves. But even with that, there was it's own twist in revealing her as a "multiplier" and that there were a group of people who were dedicated to catching them (hello spin off). Speaking of which, really quickly, I wasn't sure if I liked that addition and if I'd have preferred Katrina was just someone affected by Bright Day and there wasn't a team of people hunting her, but giving it more thought, it felt like a great world-building development and it was a nice little twist that I ultimately appreciated. But back on the conflict, I thought it was done really well, especially because you had these undertones throughout certain interactions that offered a great pay off, and made me go back and read those scenes when Jamie first showed up. As Shrek would say, it's like an onion — it has layers (I don't know why I'm like this just go with it). 

So much of what I loved about this episode was just its natural progression, from Detective Ashlock investigating a case, to the Super Teens catching wind of it and getting involved, to more stores being robbed throughout the episode, and then delivering that twist that made it a threat for the Super Teens to actually go up against. The pacing of it all was really satisfying. 

I do kind of wish that there was more of a Christmas-themed element to the episode, rather than it just being the context for when this story takes place, but if that's like my only gripe then you know you've done a great job, haha! 

And I just want to end this review by saying how damn fascinated I am in Detective Ashlock's story. I'm excited to see what's coming up for her because she's definitely more involved now than I remember her being early on, and we got a few glimpses of what her life was like (spending Christmas alone), and got to see a different side of her when she was alone. I think she fits into that interesting category of being a hero, but having this antagonistic role (as a cop that could expose the secrets of the super teens), and the more human we see her, the less antagonising she becomes (which is a good thing). I'm super intrigued to see where things go from here because this episode was definitely one that highlighted her character and gave us some meat that's more significant to the overall season than the one-off story with Clark, Janice and Sara taking on this multiplier — like what this episode did for Ashlock built character, and has an impact on how I view her moving forward. So I'm glad that even though I praised the episode for not doing anything too major in its Christmas Special, there was something to take from it that felt significant to the progression of the season/series.

Also, are Jamie, Scott and Piper characters you've introduced to bring back later on, or was this a set up for a potential spin off, or is there some idea to bring them back for any and/or ever Christmas Special that follows? I have questions, fam! 

Anyway. Really enjoyed this episode. I'm smashing through this catch-up. Watch me go! 

[Jack Malone]

REVIEW: "Super Past" 

Just finished reading this episode, and I'm just going to jump straight into things — I absolutely loved Elise Uucsio's backstory. The conclusion of the mid-season finale definitely set something interesting up with her, and this was just the pay off it needed. And before I get into the crux of it all, I just wanted to say that the way you've planted the seeds early on (with the "Super Mom" episode) and how it's squirmed its way into a really compelling story by this episode, was pretty impressive and hit all the right marks. It also enhanced a lot of the emotion, and elevated the climax of the episode which came at the point in the story when Elise told her "origin" to Janice, Clark and Sara. It blew up in a really nice way that wouldn't have worked had there not been some connection in past episodes. 

So this mythology of "Chosen" is really fascinating. I think Alexander makes for a very compelling and interesting "villain" and I'm interested to learn more about him as the story unfolds. But this episode definitely introduced the organisation through Elise's eyes, and I think what was so great about it was how unexpected it was, especially for this character. I never really saw that coming, and then when more and more information came out, it did its job in making me more and more interested in this one particular character. Her backstory is a TV Show of its own, in a way. It's so rich and exciting, and I think coming to her at this point in the story where that's a thing of her past and she's reformed and disconnected from "Chosen" makes it all the better. 

The conflict with Alexander always seemed to build, too. You kind of had me looking for Elise's out in every scene, and Alexander was always two steps ahead of the game. I think when you trap a character in that kind of conflict, it can wither away quite quickly if the circumstances don't feel as suffocating as they did here, and so I wanted to make a note of how well you did that for Elise's story. 

My only real problem with this episode is that it felt so detached from "Super Teens." The focus was so heavily on Elise, and on introducing us to Alexander and Chosen, that it felt like the main characters were neglected and quite secondary to everything else going on. In the past, external conflict has roped back around into a conflict that Janice, Clark and Sara have had to confront, and this one didn't really do that. It also tonally felt like a completely different episode. But the main reason I'm not going to drive too hard on that is because it is the first season, and I've said in the past that this show blends a lot of genres together that I love, and I'm sure as the show goes on and as you figure out how to balance all these characters and their distinct worlds, you'll nail that tone and that balance. But that was just my one problem with it. 

All that being said, I like that you didn't just drop all this information on us. You really did utilise all the tools to tell this story without having to drown us in exposition. It was a nice pace between holding back some secrets to keep the intrigue, and giving us a taste of what went down. The only point in the story where you offered an information dump was when Elise relayed what we discovered throughout the episode to Janice, Clark and Sara, and that was paired with a really great emotional conflict and response that connected the dots from this episode to "Super Mom." So I was really impressed with how you handled that, mostly because it's such a fascinating backstory and it would be so easy to just blurt it all out. 

The rest of this episode followed a really interesting story with Janice, Clark and Sara. I don't think I'd be able to say any story was more fascinating than what was going down with Elise, but their storyline carried enough intrigue for it to not be completely overshadowed by the introduction of Chosen. And that's just the "get ready" note that was left. It later evolved into a strange development with Clark and Sara's powers that hinted towards a pretty damn exciting story to come and that's the fact that THEIR POWERS CAN GET STRONGER? Y'all, this immediately reminded me of Charmed when the sisters have this baseline ability and throughout the seasons, it expands (eg. Piper can freeze things, and then she can blow things up). I'm just wondering if it's something along the lines of a second ability that stems off the first, or expanding the already developed power (so maybe Sara's ability can reach a larger radius or frequency), or if it's not a development necessarily but rather a nod towards them just being better at it (eg. should Cloranda come back, they're all stronger ability-wise and this explains how they're better in any future confrontation with her). I really hope it's ONE or TWO, and not option THREE. I'm all here for the idea that their powers amplify over time. 

Speaking of Cloranda, I feel like the "get ready" sign was ABSOLUTELY about her. There's no way she's toast. Although, this season seems to establish a lot of different threats out there, and even the Christmas Special offered up the "Multipliers" and the "Diminishers" (I think they were called). This episode brought in Chosen, and brought back a familiar threat, so if Cloranda isn't stepping back into the fray, there's still a lot out there that The Super Teens need to be prepared to go up against. 

Anyway, this was another really great episode. I know had a whole paragraph about a certain gripe I had with this episode, but like I said, in a first season of anything, I think it's forgivable to see a show play around with tone, and story and world-building, and even focus for a bit, in order to figure out what type of show it is and with the amount of really interesting characters on 'The Super Teens,' I have a feeling that while Clark, Janice and Sara will always be the stars, they'll sometimes take a bit of a backseat to the supporting characters who are just as strong of characters that they're able to carry the show for an episode or two. So it's not a huge problem at all. And as I said in the review, I absolutely loved what this did for Elise, her character, and her place on 'The Super Teens.' It's all good things. 

[Brady Brown]

Dec 29, 2017 4:19:29 GMT -6 Jack Malone said:

REVIEW: "Super Past" 

Just finished reading this episode, and I'm just going to jump straight into things — I absolutely loved Elise Uucsio's backstory. The conclusion of the mid-season finale definitely set something interesting up with her, and this was just the pay off it needed. And before I get into the crux of it all, I just wanted to say that the way you've planted the seeds early on (with the "Super Mom" episode) and how it's squirmed its way into a really compelling story by this episode, was pretty impressive and hit all the right marks. It also enhanced a lot of the emotion, and elevated the climax of the episode which came at the point in the story when Elise told her "origin" to Janice, Clark and Sara. It blew up in a really nice way that wouldn't have worked had there not been some connection in past episodes. 

I'm so happy this episode really solidified Elise as a favorite for you. Moving forward, a lot of her actions/motivations are going to be a lot clearer, and with her background, it's going to offer a lot of, in my opinion, cool and interesting twists to the story. I will say that Chosen definitely isn't done, and it's going to be a threat that will resurface eventually. I just won't say when.

So this mythology of "Chosen" is really fascinating. I think Alexander makes for a very compelling and interesting "villain" and I'm interested to learn more about him as the story unfolds. But this episode definitely introduced the organisation through Elise's eyes, and I think what was so great about it was how unexpected it was, especially for this character. I never really saw that coming, and then when more and more information came out, it did its job in making me more and more interested in this one particular character. Her backstory is a TV Show of its own, in a way. It's so rich and exciting, and I think coming to her at this point in the story where that's a thing of her past and she's reformed and disconnected from "Chosen" makes it all the better. 

Like I said, Chosen is definitely something I want to revisit soon. It has a ton of information about how it operates and backstory that I think it'd be stupid not to dive into it. Chosen was a foil to expand upon Elise, someone I really wanted to expand upon, because it's something that directly impacts her, her husband, and her sister, so that's how I felt that it added the most drama and story.

The conflict with Alexander always seemed to build, too. You kind of had me looking for Elise's out in every scene, and Alexander was always two steps ahead of the game. I think when you trap a character in that kind of conflict, it can wither away quite quickly if the circumstances don't feel as suffocating as they did here, and so I wanted to make a note of how well you did that for Elise's story. 

Yay! Hopefully that tension continues in the rest of the episodes

My only real problem with this episode is that it felt so detached from "Super Teens." The focus was so heavily on Elise, and on introducing us to Alexander and Chosen, that it felt like the main characters were neglected and quite secondary to everything else going on. In the past, external conflict has roped back around into a conflict that Janice, Clark and Sara have had to confront, and this one didn't really do that. It also tonally felt like a completely different episode. But the main reason I'm not going to drive too hard on that is because it is the first season, and I've said in the past that this show blends a lot of genres together that I love, and I'm sure as the show goes on and as you figure out how to balance all these characters and their distinct worlds, you'll nail that tone and that balance. But that was just my one problem with it. 

That's fair. There's always going to be episodes that don't solely focus on the triplets, because while this definitely is their story, I think their lives and Bright Day affect a lot of people around them, and so I always make it a point to try and give other characters a large focus. I really love mixing different genres and tones, so there will be a lot more darker episodes (like this one) and ones that are heavily reliant on comedy (Super Drunk), so I guess I would say just expect that in the future. Not to discredit your criticism, because I think it's valid, but just a head up moving forward.

All that being said, I like that you didn't just drop all this information on us. You really did utilise all the tools to tell this story without having to drown us in exposition. It was a nice pace between holding back some secrets to keep the intrigue, and giving us a taste of what went down. The only point in the story where you offered an information dump was when Elise relayed what we discovered throughout the episode to Janice, Clark and Sara, and that was paired with a really great emotional conflict and response that connected the dots from this episode to "Super Mom." So I was really impressed with how you handled that, mostly because it's such a fascinating backstory and it would be so easy to just blurt it all out. 

This is something I always try to do, and hopefully it'll continue to be that way without large info dump

The rest of this episode followed a really interesting story with Janice, Clark and Sara. I don't think I'd be able to say any story was more fascinating than what was going down with Elise, but their storyline carried enough intrigue for it to not be completely overshadowed by the introduction of Chosen. And that's just the "get ready" note that was left. It later evolved into a strange development with Clark and Sara's powers that hinted towards a pretty damn exciting story to come and that's the fact that THEIR POWERS CAN GET STRONGER? Y'all, this immediately reminded me of Charmed when the sisters have this baseline ability and throughout the seasons, it expands (eg. Piper can freeze things, and then she can blow things up). I'm just wondering if it's something along the lines of a second ability that stems off the first, or expanding the already developed power (so maybe Sara's ability can reach a larger radius or frequency), or if it's not a development necessarily but rather a nod towards them just being better at it (eg. should Cloranda come back, they're all stronger ability-wise and this explains how they're better in any future confrontation with her). I really hope it's ONE or TWO, and not option THREE. I'm all here for the idea that their powers amplify over time. 

I always thought it was pretty natural for the powers of the triplets, especially with how much they've been using them, to develop further. I'm glad you're really excited about that! I don't want to give anything away, but it's definitely something that they will have to deal with for the remainder of the season, and I hope you enjoy the turnout whatever that may be

Speaking of Cloranda, I feel like the "get ready" sign was ABSOLUTELY about her. There's no way she's toast. Although, this season seems to establish a lot of different threats out there, and even the Christmas Special offered up the "Multipliers" and the "Diminishers" (I think they were called). This episode brought in Chosen, and brought back a familiar threat, so if Cloranda isn't stepping back into the fray, there's still a lot out there that The Super Teens need to be prepared to go up against. 

YOU KNOW NOTHING!

Anyway, this was another really great episode. I know had a whole paragraph about a certain gripe I had with this episode, but like I said, in a first season of anything, I think it's forgivable to see a show play around with tone, and story and world-building, and even focus for a bit, in order to figure out what type of show it is and with the amount of really interesting characters on 'The Super Teens,' I have a feeling that while Clark, Janice and Sara will always be the stars, they'll sometimes take a bit of a backseat to the supporting characters who are just as strong of characters that they're able to carry the show for an episode or two. So it's not a huge problem at all. And as I said in the review, I absolutely loved what this did for Elise, her character, and her place on 'The Super Teens.' It's all good things. 

I'm really glad you enjoyed this episode so much! Hopefully the momentum keeps up, and things balance out, and you just have a blast with the rest of the season