(658-word review) It was about time that I (re)watched this show/first season. Back in 2019 was my first viewing of it; I binge-watched it in four days: two episodes on the first day, one on the second, two on the third, and three on the fourth. Since then, I've "matured" a lot, for lack of a better word; 2019 was a long time ago: my reviews for episodes, seasons, shows, and films are properly reviews now, or close to it, not so-called, and as an off-shoot of that, my outlook and takeaways have massively improved.
Packed to the brim with enough information to get your thoughts and theories going, yet hardly any information at all in a general sense, which adds much mystique, intrigue, and anticipation, this premiere was nothing short of engaging. It also had some supernatural elements/undertones, connected to James Delaney specifically, genuine or with some rationale - I feel ambiguity would be best, as it would create dialogue, discussion, and theories, keeping the investment strong - sprinkled here and there: for example, one that likely went under the radar for most people was the woman from his visions, presumably his mother, showing up on the top left of the screen in the scene with him and the East India Company; a significant part is how others perceive him. That possessed (pun intended) some of the overall mystique and intrigue.
One might say it was too much so, or maybe not enough, whether due to the appearingly-slow pacing or a subjective lack of content that meets the individualistic criteria of engagement and investment: thereby scratching that yearning itch, in which case, that's understandable. But I feel either of those things or both are a positive impact.
Naturally, as this was the premiere, it was a bit slow or not as exciting yet, with its focus more on introducing the characters but, more importantly, setting the groundwork for various avenues of interest that will evolve and progress each episode. Telling you, "there will be plenty of unraveling throughout the season regarding so much." I thought that was its most potent feat; enough was happening in different ways to where it was almost too much to handle, on the surface, as, in actuality, it was somewhat the opposite. That added even more to the intriguing nature, increasing your anticipation for what's to come and making you desire to dive in immediately, leaving no time to waste.
Moreover, the performances were exceptional: yet another incredible feat, as this is only the first episode. My main observation was how alive the characters already feel; the characterizations are a factor, too; however, the playing and portrayal of a character are just as important. Tom Hardy, of course, was the highlight: his character, James Delaney, seems rich in complexity and nuances. But even other performers, whose characters weren't as much of a focus as his, were as successful at administering a near-conscious, if not conscious, identity to their characters, like David Hayman, Jonathan Pryce, and Oona Chaplin: even Jefferson Hall, Richard Dixon, Leo Bill, Nicholas Woodeso, and Franka Potente, which, I know, is every significant character, and that goes to show why I spoke of it as an incredible feat.
Other commendable aspects were the cinematography and the score. Particular shots stood out, and they were good shots. And the score cue playing when James was walking very intently and on a mission had that feeling of intensity; the score cue playing at the end, which is used other times in the episode, was just as good, and it reminded me of the theme song of The CW's Arrow. Mark Patten and Max Richter did their jobs well.
To conclude this review, this was a compelling premiere to a thrilling and captivating show/first season, from what I remember, which is 99.9%. Nearly everything (if not everything) was at a level worthy of enthusiastic appreciation, which also coincided with each other, elevating it further.
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