Special Exhibit: LEGION

 

Year: (2017-2019)

Seasons: 3

Episodes: 27

Duration: 45-60 minutes

Where to watch: Amazon Prime, iTunes

 

I’m not sure if I personally think Legion is actually good (most reviewers seem to agree it is), but I think it is essential television nevertheless because there’s nothing else like it.

The series is supposed to take place in the same universe as the X-Men Fox films, but it never acknowledges it in any way other than mentioning the existence of mutants among humanity. Taking in consideration that the movies themselves never cared about continuity at all (is there any other film series with such a messy continuity? Maybe Terminator), Legion is all the better for distancing itself from the franchise, because it doesn’t resemble it at all.

Created by Noah Hawley, the man who gave us the creatively rich Fargo series, this show is even more genre-defying. It follows the life of Marvel character David Haller (Dan Stevens), who might be schizophrenic, possessed by an evil entity, a psychic mutant, or all three.

In any case, he is insanely powerful, and possibly powerfully insane, which doesn’t bode well for anyone, but which guarantees that you’ll go through three mind-bending seasons of extremely trippy stuff. Maybe you won’t understand everything. I certainly didn’t, but I’m sure most of it isn’t meant to be understood as much as experienced.

Since the narrative is so ineffable, maybe I should discuss something tangible, like the cast. Stevens is joined by Fargo’s talented Rachel Keller and Jean Smart, appropriately zany performers Aubrey Plaza and Jemaine Clement, and villainous Navid Negahban in the two later seasons. There’s also an army of female androids with 70s’ mustaches (?), John Hamm voicing Season 2’s hysterical narrated segments, a samurai with a straw basket over his head, a time travelling mutant (Lauren Tsai) who joins a weird cult, a mental parasite who sometimes looks like this, and a middle aged caucasian scientist (Bill Irwin), whose Native-American “twin sister” (Amber Midthunder) lives literally inside him and only comes out to fight.

The third season also introduces Harry Lloyd as a young Charles Xavier (who’s the protagonist’s father). I should say that Lloyd portrays a terrific, noble version of the iconic character. His heartwarming storyline with the lovely Gabrielle (Stephanie Corneliussen) is one of the show’s best.

Again I must emphasize: there's no other show quite like Legion. Even now that it's over and assimilated, I'm not sure I liked it. But I'm glad I watched it, because even at those moments when I had no idea what was going on, it was always an unique experience, much like tasting an exotic poisonous fish.

Except, you know, without risking your life.