The Tourmaline Necklace

To be completely honest, I really appreciate the art style that the new DCU is embracing. The animation and series overall have come together beautifully, and the fight sequences are truly impressive. I also admire the subtle nuances woven throughout the episodes; they are perfectly executed. Additionally, the voice actors are doing a fantastic job in bringing these characters to life. However, one aspect I don't particularly support is the frequent use of songs. It feels very James Gunn-esque, and I think it would be better if songs weren't repeated multiple times in the same 20-minute episode..

Frankenstein's monster has come a long way since Mary Shelley penned her seminal novel "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus" in 1818. Initially a cautionary tale about scientific hubris and the monstrous consequences of unchecked ambition, the creature has since evolved into a cultural icon. In comics, Frankenstein's monster and his bride have been reimagined as complex, compelling characters who toe the line between monstrous and deeply human. Episode 2 of "Creature Commandos," "The Tourmaline Necklace," directed by Sam Liu and written by James Gunn, takes full advantage of this rich and deeply layered legacy, delivering an emotionally charged, bittersweet exploration of love, regret, and identity The episodic nature of "Creature Commandos" allows the series to delve deeply into its ensemble, and this episode focuses on the Bride of Frankenstein with exceptional depth. The Bride's origin story is both tragic and poignant, shedding light on her creation and the fraught connection she shares with Frankenstein. The journey into the Bride's past is equal parts touching and harrowing, painting a vivid picture of her painful emergence into the world as the unwilling subject of Frankenstein's misguided love and ambition. The flashback sequences, which revisit Frankenstein's attempts to woo her, oscillate between darkly humorous and devastatingly raw, showcasing the contradictions of his character - both monstrous and pitiable. Gunn's writing touches on themes of emotional abuse and the struggle for autonomy with surprising subtlety. The pain in their dynamic is palpable, and yet, it avoids caricature, presenting both characters with layers of complexity. It's a rare feat for a superhero-adjacent story to weave such emotionally resonant threads into its fabric, and this episode does so with finesse. James Gunn is no stranger to balancing humor and emotion, and his fingerprints are all over this episode. The dialogue crackles with wit, and there's a welcome irreverence in some of the exchanges that help to lighten the heavy thematic elements. While the episode excels as a self-contained narrative, it does highlight one of the show's ongoing challenges: the lack of a compelling overarching story. The Bride's origin is riveting, but there's a lingering sense that the larger stakes of the series have yet to coalesce. This isn't a dealbreaker - episodic storytelling allows for deeper character work - but one hopes future episodes will connect the threads into a more unified tapestry.

"The Tourmaline Necklace" cements "Creature Commandos" as more than just a quirky experiment in superhero storytelling. It's a show with heart, ambition, and a willingness to explore its characters in surprising and meaningful ways. This episode, in particular, stands out as a testament to the power of great writing and emotional depth of these often-misunderstood monsters.

Well, this is also a nice episode. The first two episodes of the series are not necessarily the best superhero project in recent times and probably not the best James Gunn superhero project but they are very enjoyable and good piece of television. I was kind of surprised that they were only 22 minutes each but it's not really a bad thing. I had a great time watching it.

This episode mainly follows the Bride and Nina Mazursky as they search for a necklace that is tied to the Bride's past. We also get an origin story for her. There's the first fight with Circe. She wasn't explored as a villain yet but we're on a second episode so far so that's understandable.

There is a sex scene in this episode and male back nudity shown. The scene is taking place mainly behind the closed door and we see characters making jokes about it while the two characters are moaning loudly in the nearby room.

While still retaining some of the problems I had with episode 1, this is a marked improvement! What really helps this one is that it's a character-driven episode, namely focusing on the Bride. While there are elements of the story that take a, shall we say, weird turn, I do like the darker take on the Bride of Frankenstein story that provides a nuanced yet rather disturbingly realistic take on male entitlement and how that translates to violence against women. It'll be interesting to see how that story progresses. As for the rest of the episode, I do enjoy the characters, but the story isn't grabbing me yet. It's still early so I won't make any huge judgments yet, but as of now, Creature Commandos is a good show but an underwhelming start to the DCU!