CLEVELAND, Ohio – FX strengthens its position as television’s top-quality programmer with the addition of the smart, bold and visually stunning “Legion.” The innovative cable newcomer is inspired by a character from Marvel’s X-Men universe — and inspired is the right word.
REVIEW Legion
What: The premiere of a drama series inspired by the character David Haller from Marvel’s X-Men comic books.
When: 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8.
Where: FX
Although movie and television screens are overrun with comic-book characters, nothing about the richly textured “Legion” feels remotely familiar or cliched. It, in fact, inhabits a universe very much its own, and it does so brilliantly.
If you’re thinking that you wouldn’t be at all interested in comic-book fare, whether from the Marvel or DC world, you might want to temporarily put aside your perception of the genre.
“Legion,” which FX premieres at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 8, is a series about the ways perception and reality wrap around each other. And the reality is that here we have a comic-book-based project that will appeal to both fans and those who don’t know a DC from a Marvel.
The opening hour ingeniously draws you into the shadowy world of David Haller (Dan Stevens), a troubled young man haunted by voices and visions. Diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, David has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for much of his tortured life.
When we meet David, he is in his early 30s and again institutionalized. Here his voyage of discovery begins – self-discovery, actually, as his perception of what is and isn’t real begins to change.
Those with more than just a passing knowledge of the X-men comics know that David does have a multiple personality disorder, but he’s also a powerful mutant. The son of Professor Charles Xavier, he slowly begins to realize that those voices and visions might be real.
Turned into a series by writer-executive producer Noah Hawley (“Fargo”), “Legion” makes its way toward answers by playing with mind-bending possibilities through sequences that often take place, appropriately enough, in the lead character’s mind. It isn’t a straight line, not by any means. It’s a complicated yet fascinating trail that demands your patience and attention.
It all may seem bewildering at first, and that’s because what’s happening is so bewildering to David. His journey is our journey, and we take each uncertain step from a lot of darkness to some light with him.
That patience and attention to detail are rewarded handsomely, however, as “Legion” serves up a an instantly compelling narrative laced with an intriguing sense of mystery and wonder. It makes for a riveting adventure packed with razor-sharp dialogue, clever visual touches, surrealistic flourishes and wonderfully winning performances.
Stevens leads an exceptional cast that includes Jean Smart, Katie Aselton, Rachel Keller and Bill Irwin. The less you know about their characters, the better.
What you need to know about “Legion” is that, like David, it has the X-gene. And thanks to Hawley and his FX team, that’s X as in excellent.
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