JUPITER'S LEGACY is a new Netflix original series based on the comic book of the same name. It's all about superheroes, but not in the way we've seen them before. Consider Watchmen rather than Avengers. In a way, indeed.
In this tale, the superheroes were ordinary people until an incident in 1929 transformed them into "supers."
You'll have to wait as you learn how "ordinary people" become superheroes with a variety of abilities. In reality, the origin story won't be revealed until nearly the end of the season.
Though I was hooked from the first episode, I was annoyed that I was left in the dark about the story's most basic "how" and "why."
And, for the record, I loved the story that took place in 1929. It did feel almost like watching an Indiana Jones movie at times. A huge plus in my book. The main story plays out in the present, but we’re told the origin story in flashbacks that intersect. Once you get into this storytelling style, it’s smooth sailing, but I wasn’t happy with it at first.
Basically, I felt left out. Like I was supposed to already know the basics of this story and if I didn’t, then it was my own damn fault for not having read the comic. But, at the same time, it was obvious that we would be told the story. I’m still not sure why the story was told in this manner.
The casting of Jupiter’s Legacy is pretty close to perfect for me. Of course, I am not familiar with the comics, so fans of the original material might feel different. Josh Duhamel (11.22.63) just works well for me as the Superman-like character that insists on being good even when the supervillains are becoming increasingly bad (and deadly).
Josh Duhamel’s character, Sheldon, is married to Grace, who is played by Leslie Bibb (The Babysitter: Killer Queen). I love her character. Grace is a feisty broad in 1929 and a badass superhero in the present day. Sheldon’s brother, Walter, is played by Ben Daniels (The Exorcist series).
Sheldon and Grace also produced the next generation of superheroes with the son Brandon (Andrew Horton) and daughter Chloe (Elena Kampouris). Both have amazing powers and while Brandon wants to continue in the footsteps of his parents, Chloe wants nothing to do with it.
Another offspring from the band of original superheroes is Raikou (Anna Akana) but I won’t reveal how she fits in. She is a very impressive character, though. Obviously, there are many other characters and actors involved with this series, so I recommend you check it out and look up familiar faces as they appear.
My one pet peeve – and it’s actually a pretty big one – was that the aging make-up was nowhere near as good as what we’ve seen in other productions. Because the original superheroes were already adults in 1929, when they “turned super”, they age at a different rate.
They basically look like sexy silver foxes despite being over 100 years old.
Obviously, they still have wrinkles do look older, but their hair and most of the beards (on male characters, obviously) look extremely fake. I mean, we know the change in skin elasticity isn’t real, but the hair and facial hair is much worse and should have been better. It’s distracting and in a story about superheroes, bad hair shouldn’t be what breaks the illusion.
Watch Jupiter’s Legacy on Netflix now!
The new Netflix series was created by Steven S. DeKnight and based on the comic book series by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely. I am not familiar with the comics, at all, but I found myself loving the universe from the first scene. It’s all about good versus bad and how the world is not black or white. It’s full of gray and our original superheroes must understand this.
The directors on volume 1 of Jupiter’s Legacy include Charlotte Brändström (The Witcher), Christopher J. Byrne (American Gods), Marc Jobst (The Punisher), and Steven S. DeKnight (Pacific Rim: Uprising). Obviously, some episodes had more amazing moments than others, but every single episode was actually very entertaining!
With just eight episodes – and a lot of backstories to cover – we barely scratch the surface this first season. I am very excited about watching the next installment (volume 2 or season 2, whatever they call it), so I guess they did a whole lot right. Even if it took a while to really land. Then again, so did Watchmen and I ended up adoring that series!
Jupiter’s Legacy Volume 1 (or season 1) is out on Netflix globally from May 7, 2021.
Details
Release Date: May 7, 2021
Episodes: 8 episodes x 1 hour
Series Stars: Josh Duhamel as Sheldon Sampson aka The Utopian, Ben Daniels as Walter Sampson aka Brainwave, Leslie Bibb as Grace Sampson aka Lady Liberty, Andrew Horton as Brandon Sampson aka Paragon, Elena Kampouris as Chloe Sampson, Mike Wade as Fitz Small aka The Flare, and Matt Lanter as George Hutchence aka Skyfox
Also Starring: Ian Quinlan as Hutch, Tenika Davis as Petra Small aka The Flare II, David Julian Hirsh as Dr. Richard Conrad aka Blue Bolt, Tyler Mane as Blackstar, Gracie Dzienny as Ruby Red
Executive Producers: Mark Millar, Frank Quitely, Lorenzo Di Bonaventura, Dan McDermott, Steven S. DeKnight, James Middleton, Sang Kyu Kim
Based on the Graphic Novels by Mark Millar and Frank Quitely
Developed by Steven S. DeKnight
Directors: Steven S. DeKnight (101, 102), Christopher J. Byrne (103, 104), Charlotte Brändström (105, 106), Marc Jobst (107, 108)
Plot
After nearly a century of keeping mankind safe, the world’s first generation of superheroes must look to their children to continue the legacy. But tensions rise as the young superheroes, hungry to prove their worth, struggle to live up to their parents’ legendary public reputations — and exacting personal standards.
