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Youtube's Impulse is the superpowered coming-of-age drama that Jumper should have been

More_Badass

More_Badass

Member
Oct 25, 2017
23,623
For me personally, Jumper is the most frustrating and worst adaptation I've ever seen and I've seen World War Z. At least people know about the WWZ book, but most people's first, last, and only introduction to Jumper will be that shitty movie. Jumper the movie ruins literally every single single thing that made the book so good: the characters, the narrative and its themes, the heart of the story. It's Jumper in name only, but even worse so than World War Z because at least the movie was still a globe-trotting adventure with zombies. The book was mature, personal, and explores the mechanics of teleportation in a compelling methodical fashion: intelligent experimentation to explore the limits of how the ability works and then building upon on that in clever and thrilling ways

I think this quote from an AV Club book vs film article sums it up well
Turning a quiet, methodical coming-of-age story into a brainless action-adventure film is kind of missing the point, but it's also kind of typical of what happens when Hollywood gets its hands on a good story. Far more disturbing to me is the way Jumper the movie turns a morality tale into an anti-morality tale, and transforms a kid's search for himself into a sociopath's wet-dream justification for any crazy, murderous thing he wants to do
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Which is why Youtube's new Impulse is so satisfying and enjoyable. Three episodes in, and it's everything that Jumper could have been, Much like the book, it's a quiet, grounded, personal coming-of-age story about struggling with emotional trauma, where the teleportation is both metaphor and a supernatural unknown that the characters methodically experiment with to understand the limits of the power. It's well-shot, the main actress anchors the series with a solid performance, the effects are effective when used, and the snowy upstate New York setting gives it a atmosphere fitting the neo-noir-ish crime elements happening in the backdrop of the character-driven drama.

Whether you've read the books or not, or though the movie was shit and thus didn't care about this at all, or just like grounded people-with-powers stories like Chronicle, I'd recommend giving Impulse a shot.

​


http://www.indiewire.com/2018/06/impulse-youtube-premium-review-jumper-tv-show-1201972244/
YouTube Premium 'Jumper' spinoff is a new, surprising kind of superpower story. Examining personal trauma and supernatural abilities without conflating the two, Maddie Hasson anchors a solid start to an expansive TV world.
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https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/impulse-review-1117385
Having dispatched and dismissed the major selling points for Impulse, it's possible to really respect the show for what it actually is, namely a surprisingly effective exploration of a young woman dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault, while at the same time learning very little about her newfound ability to travel through space in moments of extreme emotion. It's often quite solid and Maddie Hasson effectively leads a fine ensemble, but Impulse really isn't the show you might be expecting.
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https://screenrant.com/impulse-series-premiere-review-jumper-youtube-premium/
The story of the first season is primarily concerned with Henry's journey of self-discovery, her desire to leave her home town, and the various elements that keep her stuck there. The conflict with the Boone family and their criminal enterprise keeps the story moving, as does the larger world-building that involves fellow teleporter Dominick (Keon Alexander), and his conflict with members of a clandestine organization -- played by Keegan Michael-Key and Callum Keith Rennie -- determined to bring him down. But even when the series is jumping to the arctic or to a deadly rooftop brawl in another country, the story is constantly striving for and achieving forward momentum. Again, it seems like the effort to keep this many plates spinning would send Impulse off the rails, but the series proves itself more than capable of handling multiple story threads and weaving them into a coherent, compelling, and surprisingly fast-paced story that's not just miles beyond Jumper but beyond what similar fare is capable of achieving right now. As far as moody teen dramas go (with or without superpowers), Impulse is one of the best options available to viewers at the moment.
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kadotsu

kadotsu

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,505
For being the platform holder, youtube chose a surprisingly terrible screengrab for the thumbnail.
 
Afrikan

Afrikan

Member
Oct 28, 2017
17,031
Hm. I enjoyed Jumper and World War Z.

Mind you I didn't read the books. >_<
 
OP
OP
More_Badass

More_Badass

Member
Oct 25, 2017
23,623
Afrikan said:
Hm. I enjoyed Jumper and World War Z.

Mind you I didn't read the books. >_<
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As movies, they're fine for what they are (well, at least Jumper's action scenes were cool) but as adaptations, they're name-only travesties that butcher the source materials (Jumper more so than World War Z)
 
Claire Delune

Claire Delune

10 Years in the Making
Member
Oct 25, 2017
4,289
Greater Seattle Area
The books were okay. There are some modest explorations of the implications and limitations of teleportation, and it wasn't just a superhero romp, for the most part, but I didn't find them to be all that remarkable.

Idunno, maybe if I'd read them as a kind instead of an adult. I've grown to have kind of a pathological hatred toward YA fiction.

His girlfriend getting teleporting powers too was all kinds of dumb.
 
Afrikan

Afrikan

Member
Oct 28, 2017
17,031
More_Badass said:
As movies, they're fine for what they are (well, at least Jumper's action scenes were cool) but as adaptations, they're name-only travesties that butcher the source materials (Jumper more so than World War Z)
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Yeeeah I would be Royally pissed off if I were a fan of the books and they changed hella shit.
 
Chopin the Third

Chopin the Third

Member
Oct 25, 2017
12,447
Underground
Randomly decided to watch the first two episodes last night. Surprisingly enjoyable. Guess the teleporting should've tipped me off, but I didn't know this was related to Jumper, which I really liked.
 
Charpunk

Charpunk

Member
Oct 25, 2017
10,642
I watched this over the weekend and was surprised how much I enjoyed it. It was way darker than I thought it would be going in.

It better get another season because that ending was bullshit lol
 
HeartlessNobody2134

HeartlessNobody2134

Member
May 10, 2018
5,704
Saw a preview for this at the movies and had no idea what it was.

It only caught my attention because it was a YouTube show that looked like it had decent production quality.
 
Geist

Geist

Prophet of Truth
Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
4,580
This show is basically all-suffering, all-the-time. Really makes it hard to watch sometimes. I mean, it's a very serious subject matter, but this was like watching 8 hours of masochism.

I'm not saying it was bad, but if season 2 is still in Reston I think I'm out.

And Jesus Christ, I know Clay is a piece of shit, but at what point is enough enough? Paralyzed for life, house burned down, Brother on the run for murder (and probably going to be killed), Dad dead, Harry should have just shot him at this point, put him out of his misery.
 
Slayven

Slayven

Never read a comic in his life
Moderator
Oct 25, 2017
93,225
Angelus Errare said:
That dude who's supposed to be the guy friend is terrible casting choice, dude doesn't pass for HS student at all lol
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latest
 
J_Viper

J_Viper

Member
Oct 25, 2017
25,742
Nice to hear this turned out well. I was interested in giving it a shot since Liman was involved.

I have Youtube continues to capitalize on their Cobra Kai success
 
Smoolio

Smoolio

Avenger
Oct 25, 2017
2,847
This was great, Henry's acting with what happened to her was powerful. Sky is the limit for season 2. Hopefully gets renewed.
 

Superking

Member
Oct 25, 2017
3,630
Two things:

1) Youtube's making movies now?
2) Totally agreed on how shitty the Jumper film is. It's particularly irritating because it was such a cool concept too.
 
KimiNewt

KimiNewt

Banned
Oct 27, 2017
1,749
Binged the whole show, was good, though I would've probably liked it if
she had gained some better control over her teleportation a little sooner.

I like how pretty much everyone's an asshole. Except maybe that guy from the team who Jenna dated.

I hope this gets a second season. Anyone know what our chances are?

EDIT: Also, do other people have opinions on the Jumper books? Opinions seem to be split. I don't really like YA stuff like the Hunger Games (though I did like "kiddie" titles like Harry Potter and Animorphs).
 
foxdvd

foxdvd

Member
Oct 30, 2017
334
The show is amazing...but I think some will be disappointed in the slow pace...and the fact that the supernatural elements are almost not even important outside the first couple of episodes and the final episode.

Really though Maddie Hasson acts her ass off in this, and deserves every award she can get. I was in tears at some parts, as I could feel her pain. Some of the writing is rough, and there is really one part of the show that had me scratching my head that I will put in a spoiler at the end, but overall a great experience.

You have a 16 year old girl, while older than her years is still a girl, who is sexually assaulted, then have an obviously adult ex-boyfriend who while they don't give the age, appears to be in his 20's have a sexual relationship with the girl...and no issue is brought of this, and even the mom just shrugs it off as if it is not big deal
 
ody

ody

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
16,116
This... is not what I was expecting.

It's damn good, and for those curious the Jumper stuff is mostly in the background. I went in only watching the trailer so the things they cover came as a surprise.

Also, more Townes, please!

Also also great to see Enuka Okuma and Matt Gordon from Rookie Blue!
 
OP
OP
More_Badass

More_Badass

Member
Oct 25, 2017
23,623
ody said:
This... is not what I was expecting.

It's damn good, and for those curious the Jumper stuff is mostly in the background. I went in only watching the trailer so the things they cover came as a surprise.

Also, more Townes, please!

Also also great to see Enuka Okuma and Matt Gordon from Rookie Blue!
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Yeah, that's what the original movie was so bad. The source material, the Jumper book, was very much like the show. Coming of age, emotional trauma, etc. The book became more of a thriller towards the end, but the core of the story was the emotional and thematic struggle of the character.

The movie throw all of that out the window and made it a blockbuster with a religious cult antagonist and a selfish unlikable asshole protagonist. They even messed up the teleporting, which was understated and had limits to discover and physics mattered in the book
 
ProfessorLobo

ProfessorLobo

Banned
Oct 31, 2017
1,523
foxdvd said:
The show is amazing...but I think some will be disappointed in the slow pace...and the fact that the supernatural elements are almost not even important outside the first couple of episodes and the final episode.

Really though Maddie Hasson acts her ass off in this, and deserves every award she can get. I was in tears at some parts, as I could feel her pain. Some of the writing is rough, and there is really one part of the show that had me scratching my head that I will put in a spoiler at the end, but overall a great experience.

You have a 16 year old girl, while older than her years is still a girl, who is sexually assaulted, then have an obviously adult ex-boyfriend who while they don't give the age, appears to be in his 20's have a sexual relationship with the girl...and no issue is brought of this, and even the mom just shrugs it off as if it is not big deal
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Eh, I think the show was going for him recently being out of high school.
 
Remmy2112

Remmy2112

Member
Nov 5, 2017
1,139
More_Badass said:
As movies, they're fine for what they are (well, at least Jumper's action scenes were cool) but as adaptations, they're name-only travesties that butcher the source materials (Jumper more so than World War Z)
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So they are the opposite of the adaptations of Mark Millar's stuff, which are name-only adaptations that end up being better than the source material? Usually, anyways.
 
hordak

hordak

Member
Oct 31, 2017
2,543
Anaheim, CA
yeah the show is pretty good but theres just wayyyyyy too much time spent on teen angst and
drug dealings and the Boones
versus the actual superpowers. Felt like a MCU netflix show, just needed a few less episodes. Also the cliffhanger - wtf?

foxdvd said:
You have a 16 year old girl, while older than her years is still a girl, who is sexually assaulted, then have an obviously adult ex-boyfriend who while they don't give the age, appears to be in his 20's have a sexual relationship with the girl...and no issue is brought of this, and even the mom just shrugs it off as if it is not big deal
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well the age of consent is 16 in some states, so its not that big of a deal?
 
OP
OP
More_Badass

More_Badass

Member
Oct 25, 2017
23,623
hordak said:
yeah the show is pretty good but theres just wayyyyyy too much time spent on teen angst and
drug dealings and the Boones
versus the actual superpowers. Felt like a MCU netflix show, just needed a few less episodes. Also the cliffhanger - wtf?



well the age of consent is 16 in some states, so its not that big of a deal?
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To be fair, the source material isn't exactly about the superpowers either. Jumper does explore the limits of the power in a methodical manner but it's more focused on the person and his personal struggles with abuse and abandonment and whatnot.
 
Extra Sauce

Extra Sauce

Member
Oct 27, 2017
5,927
After seeing trailers for Sideswiped and that Logan Paul movie, my view of YouTube original content could not possibly be any
more negative.

Edit: just remembered Cobrai Kai is a thing. I guess it's not all hot garbage.
 
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HeartlessNobody2134

HeartlessNobody2134

Member
May 10, 2018
5,704
Watched all 10 episodes over the weekend and enjoyed the hell out of it. It's definitely some serious and heavy shit but it was handled well.

Maddie Hasson did a great job, even more so when I remember she was one of the leads in that show Twisted from ABC Family.

I also really liked the arc for Lucas.

Hope it gets a season 2. That cliffhanger had me wishing for more immediately.
 
Lotus

Lotus

One Winged Slayer
Member
Oct 25, 2017
106,020
Just binged the hell out of this, surprised at how great it was. Gotta agree with everyone praising the actress that played Henry. Can't wait for Season 2!

Also everybody needs a friend like Townes. Also concerning a random thing that I'm still scratching my head over:

I swear to god that the person that's seemingly catfishing Townes is his sister, but maybe it's just me.
 
rsfour

rsfour

Member
Oct 26, 2017
16,793
I don't remember where I stopped, maybe halfway through. It's interesting enough, so I'll get around to finishing it.
 
Jay Shadow

Jay Shadow

Member
Oct 28, 2017
2,615
Cool, was hoping they'd get another season. Only thing other than Cobra Kai worth watching on Youtube Red.
 
ody

ody

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
16,116
I feel like this may need a proper OT or at least a title change? I'll admit I scrolled past this thread a few times before entering because of the long-ish title
 
Kuro

Kuro

Member
Oct 25, 2017
20,731
ody said:
I feel like this may need a proper OT or at least a title change? I'll admit I scrolled past this thread a few times before entering because of the long-ish title
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I didn't even know this show existed. Youtube has done an awful job advertising this. The show feels like Jessica Jones but better. It really surprised me. Maddie Hesson was incredible as Henry.
 
BadWolf

BadWolf

Banned
Oct 25, 2017
12,148
Thanks for posting about this OP, checked it out and absolutely loved it.

Can't wait for season 2.
 
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