POWERLESS Season 1 Episode 2 Review: Wayne Dream Team

POWERLESS, fresh off of its series premiere last week, spent some time developing its characters in its second episode. Though last week we were introduced to the cast, this week was all about showing what each cast member is going to bring to the table. There were several highlights throughout the episode where the actors and actresses behind each character were able to shine through, yet the episode possessed a slightly lacking script. POWERLESS, still gauging itself to see whether or not it will connect with audiences, hit some roadblocks in this episode, but it continues to be on the way to becoming a worthwhile series.

Emily and her team are still at odds. They can’t seem to actually get along, which hurts Emily more than it even slightly bothers anyone else. Emily’s massive desire to be liked causes her to go behind her team’s back when she can’t motivate them to get any of their work done. When she complains that no one is focusing on their work to the head of Human Resources, Emily unintentionally gets their entire Internet access taken away. 

This is very much a workplace comedy type episode. With what feels like a clichéd conflict, POWERLESS begins to step into the realm of cheesy television rather than a series with a substantial or rewarding plot. Though there is still plenty of humor throughout that makes the episode enjoyable, “Wayne Dream Team” seems like it could practically be replaced with any other workplace comedy that has done this same plot and it wouldn’t really change anything.

Later on in the episode, when Emily takes the complete blame for everyone in the office, her team begins to realize just how much Emily cares, bringing everyone a little closer together. What happens throughout this episode is relevant to the series and furthers the characters’ development, but it still seems unnatural. Though procrastinating in an office environment is all too familiar today, it still seems aggressively forced on these characters who feel out of place in this overused formula of workplace conflict. 

At one point, a conversation between Emily and her coworkers is almost verbatim Emily saying, “I like you guys!” and her coworkers saying, “We don’t like you!” and then everybody shrugging while looking into the camera. The script focuses so much on following this workplace conflict format that it sacrifices its opportunities to add an original spin. 

During the episode, it feels like POWERLESS forgets that it’s set in the DC Universe. Not to say that there aren’t superhero references, because there are still plenty, but it seems like a missed opportunity to not incorporate more of the possibilities that come from being in a world with superheroes in this overused formula for an office quarrel. 

Outside of the plot, however, there are still moments that shine. Though the plot doesn’t add to the show’s overall themes, some of the jokes that are made still cause even the dull moments to be laughable. The three main coworkers, Ron, Teddy and Wendy, all have laugh out loud moments throughout the episode. Though each character stands out on their own, when they’re together, they accent each other’s jokes, as well as defend even their most outrageous of claims. The chemistry and banter between them makes their friendship almost feel real instead of being completely scripted. 

On a side note, these employees are shown as being part of a Fantasy Superhero League, much like Fantasy Football, where points are given for the heroic deeds of the superheroes on their fictional teams. Two things: (1.) How is this not already a thing? (2.) Where can I sign up? 

I’m excited to see what these coworkers get to do together as the series goes on. Three superhero-obsessed friends seems all too familiar in the first place, but being hyper intelligent engineers at a Bruce Wayne funded company makes their possibilities for fun seem endless. 

One other aspect of this show that continues to shine after the pilot episode is the hilarious Van Wayne. Alan Tudyk plays this over-confident, yet impressively idiotic character unbelievably well. Van Wayne continues to surprise, being literally any high school bully with an infinite budget behind him. Van’s incompetence seems to be a recurring theme throughout the show, yet one that is invited and welcomed with open arms. Where the plot dips with the clichéd workplace conflict, Van is there to pick up the pieces by Photoshopping a picture of himself into a company photo using finger guns. 

POWERLESS dropped a bit in its second episode. However, even with a plot that is unnatural and feels forced, all is not lost with this series. In the early days of any television series, it’s understandable to follow some of the conventional aspects of the genre. Workplace comedies focus on workplace conflicts, and this type of conflict happens between bosses and employees regularly. Most of the jokes that are made are still hilarious, so despite the setbacks with the plot, it is still able to make audiences laugh. It’s disappointing to see that POWERLESS did not experiment more with this clichéd formula, but now that some of the typical conflicts are out of the way, and the relationships in the series are more established, POWERLESS can move on to bigger and brighter things.

Written by William Staton, POWERLESS Beat Writer -- Click to read William's posts

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