After I viewed the initial set of VisionQuest episodes, I reported on them (see October post). I felt they held a throwback feel (one that tapped earlier, Marvel lore, parenthesized by Twilight Zone, Tron and Matrix allusions). However, what flowed from that pair was eclipsed by tricky introspection, trimmed (at least early on) by sporadic nods to Sanford and Son, All in the Family, Small Wonder and Star Trek, as filtered through Paul Bettany's reactionary android, The Vision (sometimes red-faced, sometimes white).
Above all, the format recalled Fox's near-forgotten Herman's Head, where a young man's intrinsic fancies manifest as "real people" who guide his decisions. Vision's inner avatars mirrored this behavioral function and consisted of James D'Arcy's J.A.R.V.I.S., Orla Brady's F.R.I.D.A.Y., Emily Hampshire's E.D.I.T.H. and Henry Lewis' D.U.M.-E.
James Spader's Ultron roamed Vision's thoughts, as well, leaving room for the Bride of Ultron to enter, compiled from a complicated hub propelled by the consciousness of the often name-dropped Dr. Jo Corrington. As part of this component, the sweet-talkin' Lady Ultron sought revenge on Mary McDonnell's Katerina Wells, who hijacked Corrington's A.I. research, but this wasn't the fabricated woman's main motive.
Ultron's disdain for the human race remained at her core, carried out by her nanobot/biometric-key-loving drive, and when the couple's debauchery was conjoined, Ultron took time to bond with his "grandson," Ruaridh Mollica's quick-silvery Speed (aka Tommy Maximoff/Tommy Shepherd), but to what dangling end?
Yes, Ultron was to benefit from his mate's domineering goal and subsequent consumption, and I suppose Vision and Speed could have pursued such, too, if they were so inclined to embrace the dark side, but why all the ponderous zigzagging to get there? There was too much exposition and never enough outcome: a problem further exasperated by the appearance of the shadowy Client (a vague Freddy Krueger type voiced by Spader), despite the apparition being linked to a Marvel character who existed long before Marvel gained its name. (Sure, this was a nice nod to the Golden Age, yet with everything but the kitchen sink tossed in, including later additions of Glen Campbell's "Rhinestone Cowboy," Roger Whittaker's "The Last Farewell," and a knock-off HAL 9000, why bother? For cryin' out loud! Whew!)
Please remember, Disney+ promoted this series as one where Todd Stashwick's Paladin would act as Vision's relentless, Gerard-ish pursuer, but that simple, all-too-familiar prospect died on the vine, with the henchman reduced to guest-starring window dressing in favor of Inception spiraling. (Paladin does rather shine in the episode, "Deadlock", but even there, his presence is minimized: a shame since Stashwick's Paladin was quite charismatic and deserved substantial ascension.)
This character deflection was reminiscent of Sigourney Weaver's Alexandra Reid in Netflix's The Defenders. Reid was ballyhooed as the show's reigning antagonist, but then within a feeble blink, she met her demise. Granted, this type of tactic holds surprise, but it never overcomes its innate deceit. I wouldn't say that Paladin's demotion, in this respect, was anywhere near as definitive as Reid's, but Paladin's perched publicity was still a come-on, and come-ons, by their insincere design, can't help but leave folks high and dry.
Even with these heavy criticisms lodged, at least VisionQuest sewed a consistent, good-vs-evil thread: that is, Ultron (in any number of misdirected forms) maintained his grand, Frankenstein-ish villainy. How could his deeds, his murders, ever be downplayed or forgiven? (Then again, there's that whole Loki thing, but that's another analysis for another time.)
So, what am I driving at here? Hmmm... Okay, if you haven't already watched, why not throw caution to the technological wind and give VisionQuest an unfettered try? The worst is you'll get a headache, and if so, just turn away, pop a pill and find another Vision-ary track (of any sort or genre) to occupy your time...er make that, mind. It's not as if those nasty nanobots could ever surf the streaming waves and lock your brain. On the other hand, in this ever-changing world of adapting A.I., the vexatious possibility does linger, does it not?ðŸ§
