Premise: David Haller is a troubled young man. He is diagnosed with schizophrenia because he hears voices in his head and the dominant voice at the time takes control of his persona. David is institutionalised and it is there that he meets his future girlfriend, Syd. The girl doesn’t like to be touched. The relationship flourishes regardless, until the day Syd is released from the hospital and David kisses her goodbye. All hell breaks lose when Syd and David realise the powers they have.
David is unaware that he is a mutant. A mutant who possesses powers like telekinesis, pyrokinesis, telepathy, time travel, shape-shifting, and the ability to absorb the consciousness of others. They also change depending on whatever absorption David has made. This makes him a wanted ‘weapon’ and a powerful threat for an organisation called Division 3. Other mutants escaping Division 3 rescue David and try to help him understand the abilities he has.
Not an easy task, given the instability of David’s mind and the strength of the powers he has. Every episode will keep unspooling the secrets from David’s life and help viewers understand his actions of today.
Performances: In a world where cinematic universes are a sure-fire hit, Noah Hawley makes a compelling case of how a superhero story doesn’t have to belong in a saga. Hawley looks at David as an unreliable narrator and plays that concept to the hilt. His vision is brought to life by cinematographers Dana Gonzales, Craig Wrobleski, and production designer Michael Wylie. Gonzales and Wrobleski make a smart use of colours and shrinking and expanding frames to show the mental state of David. The trippy ’60s set designs and use of props combined with modern-day machinery highlight the uncertainty of the stories David is trying to tell.
Dan Stevens plays David Haller. He brings out the vividness of reality for the people suffering from mental illness. He is the perfect chameleon to play David. You blink and his expressions will have changed from ecstatic to paranoid to dazed. He brings power to David’s struggle with understanding his abilities. But you also get to see the longing of a boyfriend who can never touch the love of his life and acceptance of that situation.
Legion is David’s story. But Rachel Keller’s Syd, Jean Smart’s Melanie are key players too and do a good job. A special shoutout to Aubrey Plaza who plays David’s friend Lenny. She lives in his head and is one of the voices taking control of his life and ability. Plaza plays the character androgynously and pads David’s vulnerability by becoming his willpower. This is Hawley’s creation and Stevens does justice to the role.
Why watch: It is more than a superhero story. It’s a love story which shows a different light on consent. It is also a story of understanding the struggles with mental illness, albeit told with a whimsical touch. And because you became a Hawley fan since you watched Fargo.
Why avoid: It’s a cerebral show. Don’t go for it if you are looking to kick back and relax.
What to do: Give it a chance. Because the show displays that there’s more to superheroes than laser beams and X-ray vision.
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 "TV, Television, Hollywood, Legion, Legion Review, superhero, noah hawley,dan stevens,aubrey plaza,fargo,jean smart,lenny,melanie")
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