In this VisionQuest review, Marvel's latest TV show feels like it could have been made by a computer, according to critics. The series follows The Vision, a synthezoid, as he grapples with the concept of selfhood and what it means to be humanesque. But does it succeed in conveying emotional, psychological experiences?
What Is VisionQuest About?
VisionQuest is Marvel's newest television offering, centering on The Vision, a synthezoid, as he reckons with the concept of selfhood. The show asks: what does it mean to be humanesque? It's a timely question, and the series is visually striking, formally experimental, and eclectically genre-bending. However, it is also a shouty, fighty blockbuster that retains everything typical of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The background to this story is set out in Celebrity: latest articles. A related thread runs through Nicolas Cage Calls Marvel Movies a Glorified WWE Spectacle. Earlier coverage in Cinema Start Times: Why Films Should Begin on Time, Not 30 Minutes shows how the argument developed.
The MCU's Reputation
Martin Scorsese compared Marvel films to theme parks. Nicolas Cage likened them to WWE. The products of the MCU – 38 films, 18 television shows and counting – are not generally well regarded as works of art. They are derivative, corporate, and somewhat mechanical – not just in their CGI-heavy production or phased rollouts, but in their preoccupations with robotics, technological combat, and complex webs of association. As Scorsese noted, this is not the cinema "of human beings trying to convey emotional, psychological experiences to another human being." The MCU barely features actual humans at all. A closer look at the same subject appears in Robyn Williams Exits The Science Show After 51 Years at ABC. Anyone following the wider picture can start with Ryan Gosling Ghost Rider MCU Movie: What to Expect. The same theme surfaces in Ryan Gosling Joins Marvel as Ghost Rider in New MCU Film, which takes a different angle.
VisionQuest Review: A Computer-Made Feel
Despite its ambitions, VisionQuest feels like it could have been made by a computer. It is a visually striking, formally experimental, and eclectically genre-bending package, but it is also a shouty, fighty blockbuster that retains everything – the cliches, the mechanical plotting, and the lack of genuine human emotion. The show seems to harbour ambitions of illuminating truths about the human condition, but it falls short. Context on how this played out before sits in Spider-Man Brand New Day Review: New Characters, Tech & MCU. A companion piece, Spider-Man Brand New Day Review: MCU Future Twists Explained, approaches the same subject from another angle.
Comparison to Other Marvel TV Shows
| Show | Rotten Tomatoes Score | Audience Score | Theme |
|---|---|---|---|
| WandaVision | 91% | 88% | Grief and reality |
| Loki | 92% | 87% | Identity and free will |
| VisionQuest | 68% | 72% | Selfhood and humanity |
Key Takeaways from VisionQuest
- Visually striking: The show boasts impressive visuals and experimental storytelling.
- Genre-bending: It blends various genres, but often feels disjointed.
- Mechanical feel: Critics say it lacks genuine human emotion, feeling computer-made.
- MCU trappings: It retains the shouty, fighty blockbuster elements typical of Marvel.
- Ambitious but flawed: It aims to explore selfhood but falls short of profundity.
FAQ
What is VisionQuest about?
VisionQuest follows The Vision, a synthezoid, as he explores the concept of selfhood and what it means to be humanesque.
Is VisionQuest worth watching?
It depends on your tolerance for typical MCU fare. If you enjoy visually striking, genre-bending blockbusters, you might like it. But if you seek profound human emotion, you may be disappointed.
Why do critics say VisionQuest feels computer-made?
Critics argue that despite its ambitions, the show retains the mechanical, derivative, and emotionally hollow elements typical of the MCU, making it feel like it was assembled by a computer rather than crafted by humans.
Conclusion
VisionQuest is a visually striking, formally experimental, and eclectically genre-bending addition to the MCU. However, like many Marvel offerings, it feels computer-made – derivative, corporate, and mechanical. While it ambitiously explores selfhood, it ultimately falls short of conveying genuine human emotion. For fans of the MCU, it may still be worth a watch, but for those seeking profound artistic expression, it may disappoint.