Episode 5: Princeton Offense
Directed by: Ry Russo-Young
Written by: Niceole R Levy & Koe Pokaski
Whatever microbial progress gleaned from “Princeton Offense” is drowned out by a tortuous plot that saps any enthusiasm or intrigue out of this series and its main characters. This is only exacerbated by the return to the elementary monochromatic motif thought left behind since the pilot, which is in full force here.
Half-way through “Cloak & Dagger’s” premiere season, and our two protagonists remain for the most part separate, and when they do get together for brief moments, they only get on each other’s nerves, which does not bode well for any chemistry (good or bad) between Aubrey and Olivia. Both characters have also run themselves into a rut with waning focus on the supporting cast, which further isolates our drab duo.
Dagger’s story has more substance as she pursues the shady Roxxon Corporation and its top officials, making the sinister company come off as a pastel of real-world oil conglomerate BP. Tandy is much more comfortable using her powers such as her light-dagger and “hope” touch to progress her story, as she infiltrates a corporate gala, but the road there is so devoid of zeal, it is hard to get invested in her breakthroughs.
Meanwhile, Tyrone’s story is equally, if not more, disinteresting, with his droll romance with Evita Fusilier (played by Noelle Renee Bercy). If there isn’t an ulterior motive to her flirtatious ways, then I would have to say she is poorly written and underdeveloped. This leaves their budding teen love feel tacky and a bit forced for no reason. The only saving grace with Tyrone’s story is the fact his arc involves the state finals for his school’s basketball game. Using his “fear” touch, Tyrone makes a tough call at the last second, that will sure to have consequences for him.
Lackluster best sums up “Princeton Offense”, from the dull, muted visual pallet of the entire episode, to the character performances and the plot itself. Even the Brigid O’Reilly sub-plot feels like tacked on filler. The more “Cloak & Dagger” seems to go on, the more disinterest it seems to become, as everything just meanders for too long before the story remembers there is supposed to be some semblance of a plot with a purpose and goal to accomplish. Unless episode six does something dramatic and throws the story into high gear, there is little left to justify your commitment to this rambling series.
Hailing from the eastern-most Caribbean island of Barbados, Fabian Wood has long since been fascinated by the power of storytelling to inspire and invoke emotions – whether in film, comics or videogames. No longer content to be just an avid comic book reader and videogamer, he’s eager to exercise his literary acumen as an aspiring writer and reviewer.
