Cloak and Dagger Pilot Review

Marvel’s Cloak and Dagger is finally here! This show has been in development since July 2011. Seven years later we finally get to see the iconic due on screen. Cloak, or Tyrone Johnson, played by Aubrey Joseph and Dagger, or Tandy Bowen, played by Olivia Holt.

I’ll be honest; I was scared during the first twenty minutes of the episode. I was not impressed, and luckily the show got better.

The introduction is just so dull. It didn’t feel creative at all; it was a cookie cutter origin story. It doesn’t help that the two child actors were not very good. It was trying to be a powerful and impactful opening, but it felt rushed and soulless.

Next, we start to meet Tyrone and Tandy, complete with lousy pop songs playing in the background. The transition between the two characters was clunky, awkward, and it made no sense. There was no creativity behind it, no weaving themes or imagery. The scenes were so short; there was no time to get invested in the characters between the 10-second cuts.

Tyrone is yelled at by his coach.

Tandy gets invited to a boy’s house.

Tyrone is knocked over during a basketball game.

Tandy tells the boy that her dad died, but she doesn’t want to talk about it.

Tyrone is knocked over once again.

There needs to be more to scenes, it felt like a poorly cut trailer.

Luckily, the episode starts to pick up after the two characters get past their introductions. The real actors are a lot better than the kids and they way Tyrone and Tandy meet for the first time is believable.

I liked the conflicts between the parents and Tyrone/Tandy. They each had to deal with an unspeakable tragedy, and the parents both dealt with their grief in different ways. Tyrone’s parents became strict and worrisome while Tandy’s mom because reckless and carefree.

The two kids also went on very different tracks in life, each of which makes total scene based on what we know about Tyrone and Tandy so far.

The last scenes of the episode were intense and well done. Bowen’s acting when a rapist corned her was very impressive. It makes me look forward to more of her acting in future episodes. The discovering of her powers is done perfectly, especially in contrast with Tyrone’s character. Their storylines flow a lot better than they did at the beginning.

The “black and white” and “light and dark” contrast is blatantly obvious throughout the episode, but it is done beautifully. The theme is displayed in the writing, acting, lighting, and set design.

This contrast especially shines when Tyrone and Tandy discover they can read, or possible influence, other people’s emotions and memories. Tandy’s ability was displayed as heavenly and generally happy, even if the characters were struggling. Tyrone’s ability was dark, gritty, and left the cop who was touched very distressed.

This looks to be another successful addition to the TV side of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The show stands out from other superhero TV shows and the drama is believable and real.

Overall the first episode of Cloak and Dagger was pretty good. The beginning was a struggle, but the end result was worth it. It did what a TV show pilot is supposed to do – get me excited for the rest of the series.