Who Want's To Be A Superhero - Bee My Captive!
Episode 2 Recap by J.G. Bird August 3, 2007
The tease from last week: "To bee continued…" leads into this installment's promised clash with a bee-autiful villainess. There's no waiting in this episode for the pain-giving. Like a Sixties episode of Batman, the whole mob of superhero contestants are easily caught by an escaped convict holed up at an abandoned schoolyard.
Meet Bee Sting. Boxing the heroes up in two separate Plexiglas jails makes the episode's challenge phase look like a carnival dunk tank for overdressed sardines. A personal insight from Hygena to the audience that she's a bit claustrophobic doesn't seem like much of a concern. Their captor offers to release both teams as soon as one group can get three points in her spelling bee. This kind of bee-ing in harm's way gives you plenty to see about individual egos of the contestants. The lesson to be learned from this challenge is less about teamwork than exhibiting concern for the well-being of the team.
The contestants that step forward to answer the spelling bee questions under Bee Sting's altered spelling rules get few answers right. And as each wrong answer is buzzed, larger and larger quantities of bees are allowed into the enclosures of the flagging team. But, ten minutes later, one team spells three correctly and frees both teams. Even when they've earned their freedom, a dump of honey over the heads of the entire group completes the humiliation.
A big deal was made over showing the heroes jetting away from the lair in the Superhero SUVs in the morning. It's doubtful these do-gooders would sully the nice rides. So, maybe that explains the entire group's dragging return to the Lair by dusk. Hygena halts everyone outside the entrance, and the sticky supers get to scrubbing away at their capes and tights. Like good little kittens, they wash their mittens (and whips, and gauntlets) and leave them out to dry. Naughty boys will agree that some of the ladies are more than just "feeling" exposed. Mindset wouldn't notice, he's too whiny about his ruined cape. He also made the biggest mistake in the main challenge, showing he understood the villain's expectations for spelling every word with "b-e-e, " but obstinately refusing to "play her game."
It's just another quiet socializing time in the bunkroom. I tell you, these people haven't lost enough friends from their exclusive group yet to be at each other's throats. Right now, they're all trying to figure out how their costumes will function again. Suddenly, Stan calls the group to meet him in the game room in costume within fifteen minutes.
Some of the costumes are ruined. Apparently Mr. Mitzvah felt his pants were so ruined that he couldn't bother to wear them at all. Ms. Limelight is the young waif first to notice that the multi-millionaire is scuttling around without pants.
Some individual time between Stan Lee and each contestant is lead into by his simple question to Ms. Limelight (Trisha Paytas), to tell him her main superhero power. She is overcome by uncertainty. Stan supplies the suggestion that she be endowed with the power to absorb the abilities of any movie or television character she's viewed. All of the Superhero2 contestants' powers and catchphrases can be viewed on the Sci-Fi Channel website: scifi.com\superhero
Most of these ideas are directly from or heavily modified by Stan Lee
Basura (Aja De Coudreaux), commands the insect kingdom.
Hygena (Melody Moody), comes out of her tête-à-tête with Stan Lee with a modified catchphrase: "I Fight Crime AND Grime!"
The Defuser (Jarrett Crippen) is shutdown by Stan for being over-talkative; instead, he wants a character that is a loner, a brooder.
Mr. Mitzvah ("Sir Ivan" Wilzig) espouses philanthropy and defending children, which Mr. Lee agrees with; shifts the focus to say his
powers come from Life itself, and that he is a "Bruce Wayne" type.
Parthenon (Dan Williams) has more catchphrases than any hero needs, but Stan Lee isn't complaining. All of Parthenon's catchphrases get airing at least once in the episode. "Bling's My Thing" "Rock On" (rhymes with Parthenon) and "Who Says Diamonds are a GIRL's Best Friend?" as well as a lengthy explanation of the gems in his gauntlet do get an askew look from Stan when Parthenon exits.
Mindset (Phillip Allen) must have had a dull meeting with Stan Lee as the power of telekinesis is quickly given and accepted.
The last two contestants are more personal in their sharing with Stan. Each relates something painful in their childhoods. Stan sees that kind of experience as the seed which drives them as heroes. HyperStrike (John Stork), was heavier as a kid. Stan tells him to use that as a basis for his superhero origin. The idea Stan puts forward is of HyperStrike being a teased kid who decided to sculpt his adult body to that of superhero.
WhipSnap (Paula Thomas), shows a very emotional side; crying as she relates being called names and even being mistaken for a man. Stan tells her that her hero can embrace those street smarts and make use of a 6th sense which alerts her to trouble. (Remember, Stan Lee is the one who invented Spidey sense)
All are given new costumes. In my opinion, WhipSnap's transformed costume is the best improved. It is the only costume with a cape added that appeals. It's also unique for having a monogram stylized like a letterman's jacket. HyperStrike is willing to accept Stan Lee's redesign of his outfit, but he is visibly embarrassed by its inclusion of red tights.
Stan Lee looms over them all via the big-screen built into the billboard on the roof of the downtown Lair.
The second elimination from the Lair: Mindset
In the spelling bee challenge, Mindset was obstinate in the face of danger presented by the villain to his entire team. He stands firm in righteousness for good spellers everywhere, but that is prideful Stan Lee feels. Mindset's blunt commentary about Ms. Limelight not being dumb, but that she may be "playing that part" backfires. Stan Lee is forgiving of some actions, particularly if the hero is showing growth and humility. In these instances, Mindset showed neither.
Ms. Limelight is around for another round to lead some cheerleading, or 13-25 year old male ratings at least. And there are murmurs for the coming week that one among the remaining eight is a mole. Given the short schedule of the series, I would anticipate that the eliminations will build to two or more starting this next episode.
About J.G. Bird
J.G. Bird has been writing for three-quarters of a lifetime, over-analyzing and using big, yet appropriate words in an on-going dialogue with the universe. She works at a great metropolitan newspaper, but has never used the broom closet to change into a costume. Both the Internet and Reality TV give her the power of flight. You'll find her portfolio here. You may contact her at walkinbird@writing.com.
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