Product Review: Hakko-CHP-170 Micro Cutter - Red

 

These are very good for smaller wires, like those that may be used in jewelry making or for wires that you would use on a circuit board (as well as clipping off the terminal ends of resistors, capacitors, inductors, or the like, after soldering them onto a circuit board). Because the clippers are small and very low-profile, it is good for making very clean cuts against edges so you do not have the ends of wires sticking out where you do not want them. They are, of course, a lot better than trying to use scissors and give you more control than the wire cutters that are included in the jaws of pliers, especially for fine jobs. Definitely a good pickup.

Product Review: Welding Soldering Iron with Thermostatic Digital-Controlled and LCD Screen Display, 60 W, Temperature Adjustable

 

This is a soldering iron that allows you to control the heat of the iron and see on an LCD screen, what the current temp is, and allow you to adjust it up or down. It is between the cheap irons and the expensive ones that plug into control units. It is definitely a good deal, especially if you have some experience soldering, but a lot of experience with it.

Workout Update: Insanity Max 30/Chalean Extreme/Body Beast/P90X Hybrid Day 1

Day one of the new workout is in the books. Today's workout was Cardio Challenge from Insanity Max 30 (which will be my base M-F workout). This workout is a pared-down version of Insanity, with all workouts lasting just a half hour, in which you "max out" at whatever time you take your first unscheduled break.  I am just following the modifier in this round (I plan to do two rounds back-to-back, one strictly following the modifier and one unmodified as much as I can), and maxed out at about 14 and a half minutes. For comparison, the first time I did the workout I think I maxed out around the five-minute mark (which is technically still in the warmup) or just after the warmup. There is a five-minute warmup in which you cycle through four exercises, then there are three blocks of five-minute rounds that cycle through three exercises. Between each round, you get a 30-second break. 

On the weekends, which are technically rest days from the Insanity portion, I am going to do one arm-focused workout from CE, Body Beast, and P90x (rotating every couple of weeks), and then will continue to do the Recharge workout from CE on Sunday. As I said, I plan to do two rounds, and then I will evaluate my fitness level. I will either do another round of the Max 30 hybrid, or I will go on to do P90X plus, after which I plan to go back to the OG Insanity (which has the 35-45 minute workouts). That plan may change as time goes by and depending on my fitness level. Ultimately, I want to get to the point where in Max 30 I can keep up with the people in the videos who max out at the lastest time, which in Cardio Challenge is around the 27-minute mark when Darren in the back row maxes out.

One observation from doing the workouts through the Beachbody app vs. the DVDs. On the DVDs, you have the option to watch the modifier track alone (so the modifier and Shaun T. are always shown). On the app, you can only watch the "regular" version, which basically follows Shaun T. around, so you do not always get a good view of the modified moves. Although at the start of every new exercise, they usually do a wide shot so you can see what the modifier is doing (unlike say T25 when there are times the modifier is never shown in full view). Still, it would be nice if they added the modifier track to the app. 

My workout plan for this workout is to get up early and take my pre-workout at about 6AM and then do the workout at about 7AM to get it done and over with, on an empty stomach in the morning. I partly want to do that as a part of transitioning to going back into the office on a part-time basis, so workout out before work. I am still hoping to lose fat during this round. As most know, I try not to be hyper-focused on scale weight, but I know I have enough stored fat on me that I can easily stand to lose another 25-30 lbs of scale weight. I hope to drop about 14-15 lbs of that by the time the two-rounds of this hybrid workout is over.

Supplement Review: NutraBio Micellar Casein - Protein Powder, 2 lbs Strawberry Ice Cream

 

This is a slow-digesting protein that is good to use between meals or before bed. It tastes very good (especially with milk) and blends well using a BlendJet or similar blender. I am not sure how well it mixes in a shaker cup, but I have not used a shaker cup to mix protein powder for a long time. The only drawback is that you do not get 30 servings per container (1 scoop = 1 serving). For some reason, this only has 27 servings per container. But, you get 25g of protein and just 2g of carbs per serving which can be adjusted depending on what you mix it with.

Product Review: Velleman Sa Electronic Decision Maker Kit

 

During my introduction to electrical engineering class, we had to do a couple of small soldering projects. This is a small kit that requires a push-button, some capacitors, resistors, etc to be mounted/soldered to a very small circuit board. The instructions are okay, but not the most well-written instructions. But, they are not impossible to figure out. Basically, you push the button, and either a green LED (representing "yes") or a red LED (representing "no") will light up, randomly. The board is so small that it can be difficult to work with to get the components mounted, and you will need to be careful to keep your fingers out of the way when you are soldering. It is a fun project that can be put together fairly quickly.

DVD/TV Series Review: American Dad: Volume 9

 

American Dad is, of course, the other long-running animated show created by Seth McFarlane. It tells the story of a CIA agent and his quirky family living in Langly Falls Virginia. Like with the Family Guy DVD releases, the American Dad DVD sets are released as "volumes" so it can be confusing which season of the show corresponds to which volume(s). In this case, Volume 9 contains all of the season 8 episodes of the show. The series continues to utilize a story (or stories) of the week format. Usually, the story involves some character or Roger (the alien living with the family) and one or two of the other family members. For example, in the season premiere, Roger hires Haley to sing in his bar after hearing her sing in the shower. Although sometimes, an episode will be more Stan-centric, either involving his CIA co-workers or meddling in the lives of one of the other members of the family (such as trying to break up Steve and Snot's friendship because Snot is not cool).

The DVD release is an Amazon-exclusive MOD release. So, it just has the episodes and no extras. However, the episodes are uncensored, so the jokes are sometimes dirtier, and swear words are not bleeped out as they are in the broadcast and streaming versions. But, if you only get DVD sets when there is a lot of bonus material, then you may just want to stick with streaming the show.

Overall, the series continues to be funny even though, like Family Guy, it is getting a bit long in the tooth. As the years have gone on, the series has changed the focus being Stan's job, which in some ways has been good and in other ways (e.g., with some of the crazy apocalyptic episodes) has not been so good. By this time into the show's run, however, you pretty much know what you are getting. If you like it, you will probably enjoy this season. If you don't then this season is probably not going to make you a fan.

DVD/TV Series Review: Family Guy: Season Twelve

 

This is the season in which the DVD sets finally stop being titled volumes and correspond to the actual season that corresponds to the set. It is still a bit confusing because there is also a Volume 12 that contained the season 11 episodes, but for this season and beyond (for the handful of additional seasons that got a physical DVD release), the DVD sets finally make sense.

By now, people who have watched Family Guy, especially after it was revived by Fox after having been canceled, know what the show is. It has followed the same formula for years and continues to do so in this season. The season has the typical story of the week shows, a couple of the larger adventure-type episodes, and "the" storyline that caused fans to lose their shit. It played out over multiple episodes and was definitely a topic of conversation. Chances are most people reading this know what it is, but for the few who may not, I will not spoil it. This season also sees the return of Cleveland after the cancellation of the spin-off show.

There are quite a bit of extras included on the DVD set. These include commentary tracks for select episodes, deleted scenes for every episode, animatics, and a couple of character-specific featurettes. So, if you like watching the bonus material there is a lot there. Plus, you do get some uncensored jokes that were not a part of the broadcast episodes.

Overall, the show continues to be good. An argument can certainly be made that it is getting long in the tooth, but at this point, it appears that the show will be on the air for as long as Seth McFarlane wants to keep doing it. I think the show does a good job coming up with new storylines, although the is not really any more character development going on. If you have been a fan of the show the season is still worth watching. If you have not been a fan of the prior seasons, this season is not likely to turn you into one.

Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 94

Day 94 was the last day of the Hybrid workout. This was just the CE Recharge workout (which I still plan to do in the next workout, which will have Insanity Max 30 as the base workout and mix in others on Saturday and Sunday). Recharge was weird today. It almost felt like I had not done the workout at all for about two weeks, even though on some of the moves I was able to get deeper into the stretches than I have in a long time. But, I managed to get through it and got it done. Tomorrow morning will be the first workout of Max 30, Cardio Challenge.

Product Review: Cap Barbell 47-Inch Standard Threaded Solid Easy Curl Bar

 

This is a fairly standard E-Z Curl bar. It is not as bent or angled as some of them are, but it is not completely straight like a bar with which you would do barbell squats. The bar itself is about 11 pounds and you can use any barbell plates that have a 1" hole. The ends where the plates are loaded are threaded so you can either use a spring collar or a collar that can go on a threaded end. It is great for doing moves like skull crushers, upright rows, bent-over rows, and the like. It is definitely a good deal and perfect for a home gym setup.

DVD/TV Series Review: Family Guy: Volume 12

 

Volume 12 of Family Guy contains all of the season 11 episodes. Thankfully, this is the last DVD set that uses the "Volume" label. As some may be aware, when the DVD sets were initially released they contained episodes from multiple seasons and were labeled Volume 1, Volume 2, etc. Even though Volume 11 contained all of the season ten episodes, Fox called it Volume 11 instead of just calling it Season 10. So, it is still confusing as this is Volume 12 when it should really be labeled Season 11.

By now, most people reading this are aware of what Family Guy is like. It is basically a story-of-the-week show that usually focuses on one or two characters at a time. This season has a couple of obligatory Brian and Stewie adventure-centric shows. In one of them, Brian reverses the course of time and risks Stewie being "unborn", and in another, the two decide to teleport to Vegas and end up making duplicates of themselves. There is an episode in which Lois begins working at a phone sex line, and one in which Mayor West is put on trial for murder. The episodes are very adult, and the DVD episodes do have uncensored jokes that include some f-bombs that get bleeped out (or omitted entirely) on TV.

For those who get the DVD set, there are commentary tracks on seven of the episodes. None of the cast members appear in the commentary, it is just the writers, producers, directors, etc., of the various episodes. Then there are deleted scenes, a featurette on the 200th episode, a table read of the 200th episode, scene animatics of scenes from a couple of different episodes, and a full episode animatic for the ninth episode of the season, "Space Cadet". Then there is a portion of the 2012 Comic-Con panel. So, there is a lot there if you like the bonus material.

Overall, the show continues to be strong. Certainly, an argument can be made that after 200 episodes some of the jokes are recycled and a bit stale, but I think the show does a good job keeping the storylines fresh. The brand of humor is definitely not for everyone, and the show has not been as edgy in the later seasons as it was in the first couple of seasons (before it was canceled and then subsequently revived by FOX). That said, if you have been a fan of the show, you will probably like this season. If you have never liked the show, then this season is not going to change your mind.

Product Review: SERMAN BRANDS RFID Blocking Slim Bifold Genuine Leather Minimalist Front Pocket Wallet

 

I am one who prefers bifold wallets but do like the more secure card slots in the "slim" wallets. This is the best of both worlds. There are two slots on the outside of the wallet. One is clear so you can put a license or ID in it, and the other can store a couple of credit cards and a couple of paper cards (like a health insurance card). There are three card slots on the inside of the fold. Two that allow you to see the top of the cards in the slots and one in which a card can be completely inserted. In the latter, there is a fabric pull that gets pushed down when you insert the card and has a tab that you can use to pull it up to get the card to come up out of the slot. There is not a pocket for cash, but there is a money clip that slips into the center of the wallet and allows you to put unfolded bills in the middle. I prefer that to folding up bills and clipping them to the outside of the wallet like many of the slim wallets require (if they even have a money clip). Unlike the card slots on traditional bifold wallets that can loosen up over time risking the cards falling out, there is no sense that the card slots in this will ever get to the point where cards will be in danger of falling out. And, it is a lot less expensive than wallets with a similar (or the exact same design) and seems to be well made. I will update the review down the line if anything changes, but my first impression is that it is a great wallet.

Product Review: Wacom Intuos Small Graphics Drawing Tablet

 

I use this mainly to annotate Word documents, using the tools on the "draw" tab in Word. For that, it works well. It has fairly good control to allow me to mark or write where I intend. I would not say that I can make writing look great, or as good as I can with a pen and paper or even with an Apple Pencil on an iPad, but on the documents I am annotating, it is not important to make things look perfect.

I will say that this is not exactly plug-in-play (at least on a Windows machine). When you plug it in, Windows does recognize it and does some setup. But, I did have to go onto Wacom's site to download the setup file and manually run it. Once I did that, it opened a pretty typical setup dialog box and it was very easy from there. You do have to restart your machine halfway through the process, so it is best to close everything besides your browser before you start the setup. Once the setup is complete, it works very well. The pen comes with one nib already inserted and then there are three extra nibs stored in the base of the pen (which screws apart).

Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 93

Day 93 was the last Power-90 Sculpt 3-4 workout. I think it went well, but I had increased the weights on a few of the exercises from the last workout so I was back to maxing out at 8 reps on most of the exercises in this workout. It is amazing how the 5lb increase can really affect the ability to do the move. On the lawnmowers, I actually had to max out at six reps when jumping from 35 lbs the last workout to 40 this time. Tomorrow will be Recharge and then Monday morning will begin Insanity Max 30.

Product Review: Akro-Mils 10144, 44 Drawer Plastic Parts Storage Hardware and Craft Cabinet

 

I purchased this when I was working on an Electrical Engineering degree to store various components for my labs. This has a combination of smaller drawers that are perfect for holding items like resistors, capacitors, LEDs, etc. Or, for those of you who craft, can easily store beads, small spools of thread, or things like that. The larger drawers can hold larger items like small scissors, small wire cutters, solder spools, or things of that size. When I purchased it I paid $28 for it. At that price, it is a good deal. I would not pay $50 for it however, so I would definitely do some price shopping.

Product Review: My Pillow - Queen Sized

 

The one good thing about this pillow is that it does not go flat. Some others have experienced that, but I have not. It has kept the same shape since the first day and I have only run it through the drying one time (the initial run-through that is called for in the instructions). What is lacking, however, is comfort. It is not nearly as comfortable as other premium pillows I have used that also maintain their shape just as well as this one does. For the price, it should be much more comfortable than it is. I have come to use it more as a body pillow than under my head because I find myself constantly having to turn it over or reposition it when I try to put it under my head.

Of course, given that the owner of the company has turned out to be a batshit crazy MAGAt, I would not spend another dime on the brand even if it was the best pillow ever, which it most definitely is not. If you are in the market for a premium pillow, the Nectar pillow and the Purple Harmony pillow are much more comfortable and do not go flat. 

Product Review: Elenco TL-6 Alligator Lead Set, 10-Piece

 

I used these in a few of my circuits labs when I was working on my electrical engineering degree. They are good for putting a small amount of current through and I used them so I could more easily measure the current through portions of a circuit using a multimeter which can be tricky if you do not have another person to help you. The clips helped to hold components so I could have my hands free to use the multimeter probes. For something like that, these will work fine.

Book Review: Star Wars: Darth Plagueis

 

Darth Plagueis is a novel that is a mix of Canon and Legends in the Star Wars Universe. It was one of three novels that the same author wrote close in time, only one of which (Tarkin) was brought in as Canon after the Disney takeover of Lucasfilm. But that novel refers to events in this one, so some of what is in this novel is Canon.

The novel is in part about Darth Sideous' master, Darth Plagueis, who, like Sideous hid in plain sight. In the case of Plaguies, he was a Munn banker named Hego Damask. He takes on Sheev Palpatine as an apprentice and the two live out under the "rule of two" plotting to take down the Jedi. The novel is as much an origin story for Palpatine as it is about Darth Plagueis. It is set mostly before, but partly during the events of The Phantom Menace. It opens with the murder of Plagueis by Sideous and then flashes back 35 years to chronicle the rise of both Plagueis and Sideous. Then it ends during the events of The Phantom Menace. One notable change that has been made in canon versus this novel, in the book, Sideous takes Maul as an apprentice before he kills Plagueis. That has been retconned in canon (according to Wookiepedia anyway) so that Sideous kills Plagueis earlier in time before Maul becomes his apprentice.

Overall, the book is very well-written and has a nice blend of action and the same kind of political intrigue, scheming, and backbiting we saw in The Phantom Menace. We do get some insight into Plagueis' powers and his quest for immortality, and we see just how ruthless Palpatine was, even when he was younger and less powerful. Even though it is a legends novel, it is definitely worth reading.

Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 92

Day 92 was cardio and abs. The workout went pretty well, but I did get a bit winded in the middle. I am not quite sure why. I am actually looking forward to doing the Insanity-based workout. I am determined to get into better cardio shape again. I do think doing the modified version and then modifying less and less as I get stronger will get me there. I know I cannot get through it unmodified right now, so I am going to work my way up to the point where I can keep up with the people in the cast.

Product Review: Alex Tech 10ft - 1 inch Cord Protector Wire Loom Tubing Cable Sleeve Split Sleeving For USB Cable Power Cord Audio Video Cable

 

This is a very good cable clutter solution for under a desk or behind an entertainment center. It is very easy to stuff cables inside and it looks a lot better than just using cable ties. Also, if you have a robotic vacuum this will prevent smaller cables from getting twisted in the brushes. It is definitely worth the pickup.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: The Flash: Season 1

 

The Flash is the first show spun off from the series Arrow, creating what has come to be called the Arrowverse. It had a backdoor pilot in season two of Arrow, introducing Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) who at that time had no powers and was just a CSI for the Central City police department who was also trying to solve the murder of his mother (who was killed when he was a young boy) and to free his father from prison. The actual pilot episode gives the backstory of the death of Barry's mother and why the police believed his father, Henry (who is played by John Wesley Shipp, who also played The Flash in the 1990s series). The pilot establishes that Barry gets his powers because of an accident at the nearby Star Labs in which a particle accelerator explodes, which has ramifications throughout the season. As Barry discovers his powers, he is aided by the Star Labs staff including Dr. Harrison Wells (played by Tom Cavanagh), Cisco Ramon (played by Carlos Valdes), and Caitlin Snow (played by Danielle Panabaker). We also learn that Barry was taken in by Joe West, a detective at the CCPD (played by Law and Order's Jesse L. Martin), and raised basically as his son. We also learn that Barry is in love with Joe's daughter Iris (played by Candice Patton) who is engaged to another Central City cop, Eddie Thawne (played by Rick Cosnett).

As most of the Arrowverse shows are, The Flash is a mix of a case-of-the-week procedural (in the Flash's case kind of like the "freak of the week" ala Smallville) in which different people who got powers because of the particle accelerator explosion (called Metahumans) have to be tracked down by the team, and a serial with a large story arc that plays throughout the season. That arc is the mystery of the murder of Barry's mom, which has a lot of twists and turns that are slowly revealed throughout the season. There is a Big Bad of the season, but who it is (although chances are most people reading this by now know) is a huge reveal that is not apparent until well into the season. There is also the first crossover with the parent series Arrow, in which a storyline starts on Flash and finishes on Arrow. Besides the crossover, characters from Arrow make other appearances on the show throughout the season. By the end of the season, some of the storylines are wrapped up, and others are revealed as the season ends on a huge cliffhanger going into season two.

For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the show looks and sounds great in HD. There are a lot of extras including a Commentary by Executive Producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg and DC Comics' Chief Creative Officer Geoff Johns for the pilot episode, about 35-minutes of deleted scenes spread across all the discs, a feature called Behind the Story: The Trickster Returns! that runs just under nine minutes, about the original series; a making-of/behind-the-scenes featurette titled The Fastest Man Alive (30:39/HD), a neat history of the character. You also get Creating the Blur: The VFX of The Flash that runs about a half an hour, a feature on Emily Bett Rickards and Grant Gustin's chemistry together, a half-hour long feature on the DC Comics Night at the 2014 Comic-Con 2014, and a Gag Reel that runs about eight minutes. So, a lot there if you like the extras.

Overall, this is a very strong season for the show. It has a much different tone than Arrow and really stands on its own as a show despite leaning on the characters from Arrow from time to time. It also has several nice tie-ins with the original Flash series using John Wesley Shipp, but also using Amanda Pays as Tina McGee (who also starred in the 1990s series) and Mark Hamill as The Trickster. Season One also introduces characters that will have much larger roles in the Arrowverse down the line. It is definitely worth watching if you are a fan of superhero shows like Smallville (which was really the predecessor to all the CW Superhero shows) and Arrow. It is well written and very well acted, and worth the time to check out.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Arrow: Season 3

 

+++Warning, this contains spoilers from the prior season, but no major season three spoilers+++

Season three of Arrow picks up down the line from the season 2 finale in which Slade is defeated and Malcolm Merlin is revealed to be alive and helped Thea escape from the Mirakuru-enhanced army. Oliver and Felicity attempt to date, but to throw the obvious wrench into the relationship to keep them apart as long as possible, Oliver tells her that he cannot be The Arrow and be normal at the same time. This, along with the introduction of Ray Palmer (played by Superman Returns' Brandon Routh) as both a personal and business rival for Oliver, provides a bunch of hurdles. The serial arc of the season involves a mystery about Sarah Lance (the recast Caity Lotz) who was revealed during season two to have survived the shipwreck and joined the League of Assassins. The League, and their leader Ra's al Ghul (played by Matt Noble). The season also makes heavy use of flashbacks, telling the story of Oliver's time on (and as we discover this season, off) the island before his rescue in season one. The flashback sequence also is used as a way to have Tommy Merlin (the guest starring Collin Donnell) return in one of the early episodes of the season. This season also sees the first of what would become numerous crossovers with the newly minted Arrowverse show, The Flash (which had a backdoor pilot episode during season two of Arrow). There is the official two-episode crossover that starts in an episode of The Flash and ends in the Arrow episode. And, Barry Allen/Flash (Grant Gustin) makes an appearance in the season finale to help the team out.

For those who get the Blu-Ray set, the A/V quality kind of bounced between good and great. Some scenes look extremely good in HD, and others do show some noise and grain. But honestly, unless you are a real video wonk, you will probably not notice it. There are commentary tracks on two episodes, including the midseason finale which has a huge cliffhanger at the end of it, 15-minutes of deleted scenes, a half-hour-long segment of the Comic-Con panel, and a short gag reel. So, if you like watching the extras, there is a decent amount there for you.

Overall, the season is very good. It continues to be a very dark show that has a lot of violence, some sex, and is not shy about killing off characters. The writers do a good job juggling the very large ensemble cast, giving all of the characters some depth and continuing to develop them. One of the best episodes of the season shows a younger Felicity in her college hacktivist days, and fleshing out her backstory and giving insight into how she has changed from that time to her time on Team Arrow. Emily Bett Rickards pretty much steals every scene she is in, and is one of the few characters on the show that is not dark and brooding. As much as the DC Movie Universe has been panned, the DC TV Universe gets a lot right, and provides for a lot of compelling stories, with Arrow being at the forefront. So, if you liked the first couple of seasons, then you will probably like or love this season as well.

Book Review: Star Wars: The High Republic: Midnight Horizon

 

This novel is set at the same time as The Fallen Star, which chronicles a major attack by the Nihil (the main group of antagonist pirates during the High Republic era), and tells of a parallel attack by the Nihil on the planet of Corellia. It includes some characters that have been introduced in the other novels such as the padawans Ram and Reath and includes the species of worm-like creatures that were introduced in Solo: A Star Wars Story. This is the first of the High Republic novels to do something with Yoda beyond mentioning his name and helps to set up what is sure to be the next major battle between the Jedi and the Nihil.

The book is just under 500 pages long and was, at least for me, a slog to read until the last handful of chapters in Parts Four and Five. That is when the action really picks up and the readers find out what the Nihil are really up to. The first 2/3 of the book is basically exposition and set up, which could have easily been condensed. An annoying point is that the author, likely trying to appeal to a younger audience, makes the vast majority of the characters sound like Earth teenagers. So, some of the dialogue is just eye-roll-inducing, which has not been the case with the other High Republic novels, even some of the junior and young-adult novels. So, ultimately, if you only read some, but not all, of the novels, I would not put this one in the must-read category.

Workout Update: Power-90/Chalean Extreme Hybrid: Day 91

Day 91 was the sculpt 3-4 workout again. I hit the 10 rep max on a few of the exercises today and generally felt very strong throughout the workout. I have one more go around with this workout and then will be switching up again. This time I am going to do a modified version of Insanity Max 30 and (which has 5 workout days a week) and then on Day 6 I will do some arm workouts (either P90x shoulders and arms) or one of the Bodybeast arm workouts. Then, I will do another round of Max 30 less modified until I can make it through the program without modifying it.  

Product Review: ProTapes Artist Tape Flatback Printable Paper Board or Console Tape

 

I used this to make labels for drawers on a craft cabinet that I was using to store electronic components for my electrical engineering labs. Basically, I could put components like LEDs, resistors and capacitors of different values, etc., in the drawers and then mark the drawers so I could easily find what I needed. For that kind of thing, this works great as it adheres to the plastic well, and it is easy to write on. So, for that kind of thing, this works great.

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Gotham: Season 1

 

The first season of Gotham included 22 episodes that aired during the 2014-2015 TV season. The story of Bruce Wayne/Batman has been told countless multiple times in live-action. In most versions, we see the murder of Thomas and Martha Wayne in front of a young Bruce Wayne and then flash forward to his decision to become Batman (or once he is Batman). Of course, that pretty much has to be done in the movies so you can have an actual Batman movie. None of the movies or TV shows have told the story of what happened to Bruce as he was growing up, until now. Gotham is an origin story for Gotham City itself as well as the villains whom Batman would ultimately come to face when he grew up. The easy comparison to make is to Smallville, which showed a teenage Clark Kent before he became Superman. Here, a young Bruce Wayne, played by David Mazouz, has to deal with the trauma of the death of his parents, try to be a kid, and start his journey toward becoming a vigilante with the help of his butler, Alfred (played by Sean Pertwee). The rest of the first season cast included Ben McKenzie, Robin Lord Taylor, Carmen Bicondova, Erin Richards, Morena Caccarin, Cory Michael Smith, Donal Logue, Jada Pinkett Smith, Drew Powell, and had recurring characters including Carol Kane, and Peter Scolari.

The focus of the first season is really on the criminal underworld of Gotham, not controlled by Supervillains but by mobsters staking out their turf and the corrupt police department that largely looks the other way. At this point in the story Jim Gordon (played by The O.C.'s Ben Makenzie) is a rookie detective, paired with a grizzled veteran Harvey Bullock (played by Donal Logue). Bullock is one of the loo the other way cops, who sometimes dabbles in being corrupt, and of course, Gordon refuses to do either. The show is in part a case-of-the-week procedural and also has some serial arcs that play out throughout the season. The large ones this season involve mobsters Fish Mooney (played by Jada Pinkett Smith) who has ambitions beyond being an associate of mob boss Carmine Falcone (played by the recognizable character actor John Doman). We also get the introduction of the iconic bad guys including Oswald Cobblepot (Robin Lord Taylor), Edward Nygma (Cory Michael Smith), and Selina Kyle (Camren Bicondova ). The show also has a very strong supporting and recurring cast including Morena Baccarin (from Firefly), Erin Richards, Drew Powell, Carol Kane, Peter Scolari, and more. There are also some swerves and misdirection when it comes to some characters. The season ends with a couple of cliffhangers and a couple of reveals that will set up season two and beyond.

For those who get the Blu-Ray, the show looks and sounds great in HD. The show uses a mix of practical and special effects and everything looks seamless. The Blu-Ray set is a four-disc set. Each disc has deleted scenes for the episodes on that particular disc. All the other extras are on the fourth disc, including a three-part making-of featurette that lasts about a half hour. Then there is a 20-minute feature on designing the look of the series, a 26-minute feature on Penguin, and a 21-minute series of short web featurettes which has more cast interviews. Then there is a DC night at comic-con, a feature that lasts about half an hour and includes material from the other series, Flash, Arrow, and Constantine. Finally, there is a short gag reel.

Overall, the season is very good. Obviously, this is not a Batman show, as David Mazouz was just 12 or 13 when the season was filmed. In fact, while Bruce appeared in every episode, he was not always a focus of the episodes and was often just an ancillary character. While the show was on the air at the same time as Arrow, it was, aside from a blink and you'll miss it Queen Consolidated logo in the pilot, was never established as being in the Arrowverse. In fact, it is not clear exactly what time the show was set in as all of the cars in the show are older but they have cell phones. The show is well written and very well acted, with Mackenzie and Louge doing much of the heavy lifting on the "good guy" side of things. There are definitely some elements from the comics that are incorporated, but the show also aims to tell its own story and not be a carbon copy of any other variations of Batman. It is definitely worth watching.