Jeff’s Reviews > Swashbucklers > Status Update

The seams are widening.

The premise behind the weapons is incredibly cool and were it fleshed out, could probably carry this action-adventure, but right now, it's a lot of pressure on our tenuous suspension of disbelief to insist on these "weapons" affecting real-world objects.

“Wait for my signal. Cisco, you and I are going to make a run for it. We’ll be the bait. Keep firing at Father Christmas, weaken him a bit more, and as soon as we’ve drawn him into the shadow of the wheel, I’ll punch out the supports underneath.”

...Oh and do you guys remember the car full of kids we left vulnerable and unsupervised in a parking garage a couple pages ago? Nah, me neither. Let's blast 'em!

This first action scene has syfy-channel depth: all sound effects, bright flashes and catch phrases.

Little bit lacking in character development and transitions here. Stories like Fun Times at the Bloodbath and Meat Bees capture a similar spirit without being facile and reductive.

There are some serious concessions to sentimentality here, but overall, this is still an inspired re-imagining of The Losers' Club that captures the tone of that novel better than any other imitation I've seen.

NOT THE PARAMOUNT! You slimeballs!
...
IYKYK

"Yes, a bit like in that book. You’d be surprised by how many stories you humans read that contain little trails leading back to the truth of the world you live in."

"...I’m the one who believed it was real, so I had to go. Although…” he laughed, “…obviously it didn’t help! I well and truly anchored myself to the past, forgot the present, and ended up in between. I absolutely limboed myself.”

"Then you grow up. You discover life doesn’t work out for most people, you’ll fuck up, you’ll have regrets, the nightmares you had will never truly leave you, but those friendships you treasured will. And that magic you remembered so well? It’s just a memory now. A feeling you can’t really explain and can’t ever get back."

A touch on the sentimental side, but the plug for Cobra Kai is enough to overlook it.