Legion is FX x Marvel's comic book television series that tells the story of David Haller, a troubled young man with schizophrenia who is struggling to control and understand his condition. Legion is in a league of its own when compared to any other Marvel television series to date. While shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Daredevil are full of action, adventure, and epic fight scenes, Legion is dramatically different in aesthetic and theme. Much of the story takes place in David's mind, providing for a mind-bending visual experience. And as the show digs deeper into David's psyche, the more it starts to feel like a dark and gritty psychological thriller.
I had no prior knowledge of the story of Legion other than the fact that it existed in the X-Men universe. While watching the show I couldn't comprehend the extent of David's abilities until I did further research on his character. Legion is described as the most powerful mutant in the Marvel universe, and it's no surprise considering he's the son of Professor X. David has the ability to absorb other mutants' abilities and personalities, all of which fight for control over his mind, making him very unstable and very dangerous. With David's schizophrenic condition, it's also no surprise that the show shares similarities to the film Fight Club, which is coincidently my #1 all time favorite movie! The viewer is exposed to David's mindscape, exploring his memories, but which of his realities is actually reality? Which of David's personalities is his core personality? Who is Tyler Durden?
I binge watched season 1 and the visuals stuck with me days after. The creepy imagery of David's memories combined with those teeth gritting violin screeches create an intense urgency as the viewer struggles to distinguish dreams vs reality. I have a great appreciation for the visual effects of the show which seem practical in production and that, along with the music/score combine to create a sitting on the edge of your seat, nail biting television viewing experience. And let's not forget the amazing cast of the series. David Haller is played by Dan Stevens who is fantastic as his personality shifts from sweet and innocent one moment to menacing and powerful the next. (sidenote: Dan Stevens also plays Beast in the live action Beauty and the Beast adaptation which I'm now dying to see even more!) And if I wasn't already a fan of Aubrey Plaza, I would be after her performance in this show. Aubrey Plaza is fucking phenomenal as Lenny, or Benny, or whoever the hell she is...