Watched: 02.19.12
Random Fact: First episode of the series.
Did I read the comic book version?: Yes
Similarity?: Eh...fairly similar but with more adult themes.
Synopsis: Executioner really enjoys his job. The state for which he works outlaws the death penalty, and the penitentiary for which he works fires him. After mulling over unemployment, he decides to kill people who are guilty but get off free from their crimes. He finally gets caught and, wouldn't you know it?, the state just recently reinstates the death penalty, allowing the executioner to get his just desserts. Also, boobies. Lots and lots of boobies.
Highs: The narrative. The fourth wall-breaking style of narration and the protagonist's accent was soothing. Opening scene is extremely creepy.
Lows: Death scenes were bush league. The plot is very monolithic, there are no real twists and turns, and there is barely any form of development.
Comic synopsis?: Honestly, I barely remember. At this point I've probably watched the TV version more than I've read the comic version, so it screws with my memory. The executioner was bald, he may have worn a mask, and he may have adopted more of a prototype slasher movie antagonist style. I think there was more intrigue involving his eventual capture.
Views: First of all, if I recall correctly this show was a hit when it first came out on HBO in 1989 (Wikipedia confirms, it ran for seven seasons and had several spinoffs). That's another thing, the show came out in 1989; taking that into consideration, I have to be more forgiving with the special effects while watching this show. Secondly, this show was on HBO. At the time, HBO was still in it's "It's not TV, it's HBO" phase, where it really wanted to relish the fact it did not have the same rigorous censorship standards that network and cable television had. Therefore, the show shoehorned needless sexuality whenever it could. This is kind of a treat for me, as I guess I get to see excessive full frontal nudity with my horror; however, considering I read the comics (made for kids) the stories were based upon first, this excessive shoehorning will be even more obvious to me. Yes, the comic book nerd in me is very small, but very big when it comes to the series from which this show came.
Alright, now on to the episode itself. There's really not much to say. There was barely any development outside of his firing and murder. The opening scene, in which a convicted murderer is put to death with the electric chair despite his pleading desperation, is surprisingly creepy and dreadful. After the executioner starts his killing, the plot practically drops off the face of the earth. There is no real exploration of why he kills, outside of a naive bartender putting the idea indirectly into his head. Yes, he was technically a state-funded killer, but that doesn't give him an inspiration to take the law into his hands. That wasn't his job and he never expressed a real motivation in putting people to death because they deserved it. Also, if anything his motivation is electricity, as he seems to have more respect and interest in that then the actual "art" of execution. Why does he kill? It makes no sense.
Also, his killing consists of three independent scenes. The second and third involve gratuitous nudity; one involving killing a couple while they are in a hot tub, and the other attempt involving a public execution of a dancer at a strip club. Notice I said attempt because he is caught in the act. How is he caught? It doesn't explain, he is caught and convicted and put to death in an ironic similarity to the first scene.
A good horror story? Not really, there is nothing scary about it outside of the heart-wrenching scene at the beginning and the death scenes--all involving electricity. The narrative style is unique and somewhat interesting, as the main character explains the events in a story involving plenty of metaphors, symbols, and emotionless yet superfluous details.
Overall, the shortfalls of the plot in this episode highlight the true motivations of the director and perhaps the show. It's not so much about the cohesiveness of the story as it is the visuals. Not so much in this one, outside of the nudity, but the show goes more for visual pleasure, whether it be horror or sex. Unfortunately for show, the dated look of it REALLY hurts. While these scenes may have been shocking for the contemporary audience, my visually spoiled eye loses all fear and kills the effect for which the show was going. Except for the nudity, that will always be timeless.
Rating: 2.0/5
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