Krypton
Superman prequel has potential, family drama, some violence.
Krypton
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Krypton is a prequel to the story of Superman, taking place on his home planet several generations before its destruction. Viewers looking for constant heroic thrills should look elsewhere, as Krypton plays less like a superhero show and more like Game of Thrones with its warring political factions, love triangles, and questions of family honor. Older teens with an interest in intrigue and the ability to keep all the names straight may find something to enjoy here.
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Good show, bad cussing
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What's the Story?
Set generations before the birth of Jor-El, aka Superman, this series explores the political landscape of the planet KRYPTON. After Superman's great-great-grandfather, Val-El, is stripped of his name and rank for insisting that life exists on other planets and for refusing to vow allegiance to the new leader -- an eerily masked religious figure named The Voice of Rao -- Val is executed in front of his 10-year-old grandson, Seg-El. Cut to 14 years later, and Seg is a brawling lad who scrapes by running scams among the rank-less in the lower levels of Krypton's Kandor City. After inadvertently saving the life of The Voice of Rao, Seg is reinstated to society by the evil house of Vex, whose head, Daron, is the man who executed Val 14 years ago. Also part of the deal is an arranged marriage with Daron's daughter, Nyssa. Unfortunately, Seg is already having a secret affair with Lyta Zod, member of the merciless security force known as the Sagittari, headed by Alura Zod, Lyta's mother. Among all this societal and political intrigue, a visitor from present-day Earth, Adam Strange, comes to Seg with an artifact that will reveal past secrets and possibly the future destiny of the House of El.
Is It Any Good?
Kind of like Game of Thrones Lite on an alien planet, this series has the potential to be a fun sci-fi soap opera. For that to happen though, Krypton will have to slow down its plotting and let the characters develop a bit more. The Adam Strange storyline ties more directly to Superman and feels a bit out of place. It's as if the creators lacked confidence in the world of Krypton itself and felt like they needed to have the iconic power of Superman as a larger part of the story. It may end up being the most enjoyable part of the show, but hopefully not at the expense of exploring the interesting social order of Krypton and Kandor City.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about superheroes. Why are they so popular? What kinds of people are they? What are their flaws?
Prequel stories sometimes have the difficult job of keeping an audience interested in characters whose fate may already be known. How does Krypton compare to other prequels you've seen? Does it do anything different or unique?
TV Details
- Premiere date: March 21, 2018
- Cast: Cameron Cuffe, Georgina Campbell, Ian McElhinney, Elliot Cowan, Ann Ogbomo
- Network: Syfy
- Genre: Science Fiction
- TV rating: TV-14
- Last updated: October 13, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
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