“Nothing wows them like a good vanishing act.”
Well, if you’re one of the few people sitting around tonight wondering where the new episode of “The Cape” is, let me assure you its disappeared into thin air (the “final“ episode will be released at midnight online). Cut three episodes short from a proposed initial season of 13 “The Cape” is left in that place all gaudy awkward pubescent shows go; reran-to-see-if-people-get-interested-at-another-timeslot land. NBC has decided to not officially cancel Vince Faraday yet, but I’m going to go ahead, as one of the few people who liked the show, and call it deceased. Heavily criticized by many as a ridiculous romp through “circus” of standard vigilante (un)reimagining, I cannot foresee a buzz stirring. To be honest, the show started off with a huge viewer group but ratings consistently dropped every week. 
In my opinion, the show was a little piece of genius as on the surface it presented fast-paced story lines that kept one’s interest through the absurdities of a hero being trained by a sideshow of absurd characters played rather poorly. The pace however let each episode be filled with moral dilemma & metaphysics inquiry. As the writers raced through Palm City bringing us Kozmo, Dice, & the Tarot Hitmen it became clear that there was plenty of back story prepared for this series leading me to believe we only got to see the tip of the iceberg as to how awesome (or for the majority) unwatchable the show could have become. Also, let’s look at some of the quiet moments that went unanswered: What was the calendar that Max Malini looked at when the implication came across that the coming of The Cape was foretold? What is Peter Fleming’s psychiatrist’s endgame in trying to get Chess to become stronger? What’s the deal with Orwell painting herself in a white room? These are the things we’ll never get to know. To rewatch & make your own opinion check out the official site here.
I’d like to say a brief Hale & Farewell to finalize the eulogy for the death of one of my favorite recent story arcs. Cape, you portrayed the family-revenge plot very well, as we could hope for you to get your family back instead of continue to mourn their ghosts. Your unbelievable circus acts were wildly effective & entertaining. A truly mediocre cast, you all came together as well as you could and delivered something Tim Burton never seemed to do right; a dark feel with a big smile. Hopefully with the hanging of The Cape NBC will at least learn from the experience to make other upcoming superhero shows better and at least they didn’t overrun this one like they did with Heroes to the point where we were all relieved when that finally got cancelled.
Tags: Jared Walter, Movies & Television, NBC, The Cape
About the Author
Written by Jared Walter
I occasionally write for ComicBooked.com but mostly I focus on my podcast Vigilante Nation and joining the other heroes of CB for some of their podcasts. I'm the guy that is pretending to be smart.
Good riddance that show was dreadful. Poor Blur was supposed to go through and review episodes but didn’t even make it past the first episode. I made it to episode 2 and 8 minutes into 3 before I realized this show was not for me.
ur prob one of those sad egits that prefare to watch xfactor r dancing on ice rubbish the cape is best thing on tv at the moment
There’s no apostrophe in ‘wows’.
And punctuation goes inside quotes
Though I myself was not a loyal audience member to The Cape, I did check out the last two episodes. Just in time, I might add, to see it wither and die. No, not “wither and die,” more like burn out way too quickly.
I feel like we should address the choice of a velour cape for a superhero costume…but next to all of the melodrama, this fashion choice doesn’t even so much concern me. Yes, the acting sucks, but I watched SMALLVILLE…so my gauge is probably a little more tolerant for comic-related shows. It has to be; there are so few of them running.
All that having been said, good point with the pacing. I liked that about the series, although you are probably right– that there was more packed into those episodes then was originally planned. That is to say, like Ron Howard on the Titanic, you just throw in all your best plots and shots and have what we call an “Irish Wake” in the television drama world. You’re right about The Cape– it burned out in style.
Nice wrap-up.
sad state of affairs that the silver screen can hold a super hero, but the serialized model of video can’t hold up…what’s the deal?
Many a night I walked over to Jared Walter’s room and watched the cape. We both agreed I think it wouldn’t last long. I liked it for what it was though. A man trying to get back to his family by way of vigilantism. Sweet article!
the cape was the awesomest tv show ever. It might have been campy but it did a hell of alot more then smallville,heroes,and no ordinary family combinded. They made amazing villians like the lich,scale,and googles and hicks. And it was the first live action show to have a super hero wear costume/cape plus he used his cape as a weapon. What more could you want
This show was awful. It’s why people hate when superhero stuff is brought to TV. The effects were terrible, the acting was ridiculous, the plot was so overblown, the villain was as cliche as could be, etc. Halfway through the terrible first of two hours in the premiere, I knew it would get canned and that I wouldn’t watch episode 2. What a waste of money that could have been used to make an intelligent hero story with good stunts and action.
I have watched the pilot and 3 episodes on Netflix, and really Like the show, I don’t see why its a bad batman rip off. It seams like very the same to Firefly, and yet they cancel the show?, Both where great shows, I enjoyed watching them all. And will watch this on Netflix till my gift subscription runs out. I like the show Heros, well mostly the upcoming commercials about it. after that it got stupid and they still aired it, and I never watched after that. I also don’t think its revenge for his family , It to do what is right, no mater what. Why dose everything have to be about revenge? It never is right, cause “To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.”
Sure he has a cape with what appears to be mystical powers, though who’s to say that the cap wasn’t replaced? or updated? Take a whip for example it can grab something, like in Indiana Jones, so why can’t the cap?, and you know the stretchy pants, and the forum hugging things that’s supposed to make pudgy woman look skinner, their all woven. So why is it that hard to believe a cape like that isn’t possible, sure perhaps a bit sci fi, even CSI has sci-fi in it like how fast they get DNA results back.