Powers

True to its comic book roots, POWERS has a conflicted hero, a damsel in distress, some seriously disturbed bad guys, and more plot points than you can shake a stick at. There's a lot going on in this world, which, like ours, is obsessed with social media and celebrities but also has powers casually flying through the skies. It takes a while to get oriented, especially with the frustratingly slow pace and stilted, profanity-laden dialogue; it sometimes feels like the show was written by a tween who's just learned to swear. It's also hard to pin down what South African actor Copley is going for with Walker; as the wounded hero, his delivery is all over the place: one moment gruff and silent, the next spilling his guts to the eager, patient Pilgrim, who's likable enough but is essentially an exposition device. Taylor and Izzard fare much better as the bad guys; they seem to be having fun inhabiting their villainous characters (and chomping on the scenery just a bit).

That said, the premise is interesting, and the powers' world is a skillful blend of the realistic and cartoonish, from Retrogirl's mod sanctuary to Royalle's seedy nightclub and lair. The ideas explored also have potential: What does it feel like to lose a power, supernatural or not? What would happen if superheroes were in the same tabloids as Jennifer Aniston? As Walker and Pilgrim peel back the onion to discover new clues, unexpected alliances, and more questions than answers, you'll find yourself ignoring the corny dialogue and getting sucked into the mystery.