The Cape: Pilot (S1E1)

Hi there, apparently I've already been introduced. I was convinced into giving my input since I have been immersed in television as of late.

Onto the topic: NBC's new show "The Cape" sounded pretty interesting when I first saw the commercials for it. But honestly, I'm a huge fan of superheroes, so I'm not going to lie, it kinda already had an edge. I'll just give you a basic plot and such and try not to put too many spoilers in.

A man named Vince Faraday living in Palm City is a very decent cop and all around good guy. In fact, it's pretty hard to find a straighter arrow than him. He's well respected in the police force, people like him, and he's a great family man -- he even reads comic books about a superhero named the Cape with his son Trip. How quaint.

Vince and his son Trip reading the comic book

On the other side of the law, there's Chess, an inscrutable outlaw who wears a black mask and assassinates people. Only Orwell, an anonymous blogger, seems to know anything: already there's a list of dirty cops. As the lawless seem to be prevailing in the eyes of the public, Peter Fleming steps in and suggests a privatization of the police force under his company, ARK. When an attempt by Chess on the new Chief of Police's life is successful (due to misdirection of someone faking Faraday's orders), it seems inevitable and Faraday takes a job at ARK with his partner Marty Voyt.

First appearance of Chess

Fleming

Orwell leaves a message for Faraday telling of a deal Chess has set up with Scales, an arms broker of sorts, and knowing what a good guy Faraday is, Faraday goes to check it out. Long story short, Faraday is framed, escapes from his pursuers and is presumed dead -- and guilty. He is then brought unconscious to a circus full of bank robbers, headed up by Max Malini, aptly nicknamed the Carnival of Crime. He, thinking that he has brought back Chess, expects Faraday to fall in and commit some crimes together. He refuses, but gives them means to rob any bank which employs ARK to do their security-- which by this time is practically every single one.

The Carnival of Crime

Faraday understandably feels conflicted since he's a cop and he's aiding and abetting crime. With Max's help, he comes up with a plan: he will become the Cape, the hero who stepped forward when the world needed someone to, and in the process prove to his son at least that justice -- and proving his innocence -- will prevail in time.

Max gifts Faraday the cape and teaches him the ins and outs of using the cape. It is super tensile (apparently made completely of spider silk), "stronger than kevlar and thinner than filament." He learns to use it basically as a whip, picking up and throwing things. Along with that training, he also learns the methods of an escape artist. When Max finally declares him ready, he goes out on his first mission: to stop Scales's latest shipment. On this mission (which he kinda botches), he meets Orwell for the first time.

Flyers Orwell leaves at places she spies to let all her enemies know: Orwell is watching.

They agree to help each other -- Orwell will take care of the intel and the technological problems while Faraday goes down and dirty, up close and personal, and whatever other cliche you can think of. They both have the same goal: take down Chess.

Meanwhile, Chess figures out the identity of the bank robbers and kidnaps Max with an intent to kill him (he's not very cooperative). The Cape interferes, predictably, and ends up fighting Chess. Chess escapes of course (there really wouldn't be a season if he didn't).

The episode ends with the Cape paying a visit to Trip Faraday, telling him of his father's innocence and the promise that they'd be united someday, before he disappears off into the night. Very reminiscent of Batman.

My thoughts

Personally, I loved it. I'm totally into the superhero thing, have been since forever. This pilot episode totally gives you a delve into the backstory of the newest "caped crusader." Yeah, I know he's not Batman, but they gave him pretty a impressive toolbelt anyway -- well, metaphorically speaking anyway. He's got Orwell to watch over him, Max's place to hide out in, and learned to use his cape as an effective weapon. Not to mention the cool disappearing acts.

My favorite part is when Max starts teaching him to use his cape. Makes me wish I knew how to throw things with a cape, although I wouldn't want all the danger and tragedy that seems to go with it.