After viewing the first episode of Sigma Six, I was well prepared for an incredibly horrible series based on G.I. Joe. To say the least, I think many people were under the same impression and while some still are, some have come to see the light.
There is much to appreciate in the series as an old fan or a new arrival to it. Granted, the show is fast paced and action oriented, people must realize that kids today want action, it's what keeps them watching. Let's face it, not all the Saturday Morning cartoons are amazing, or anywhere near some of the stuff most of us grew up with in the 80s or 90s, but they're not meant for us. Sigma Six was designed with this in mind. It doesn't have deep, complicated plots, it's to the point with light, G rated humor. It also gets one simple point across, good wins against bad and will always fight bad. That's not too shabby for a kids show. Plus the violence is mild and limits the human vs. human combat.
Now, for the avid fans of the original G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero and others included), Sigma Six seems to be trying, to say the least. At least, for 13 complete episodes, we haven't seen Snake Eyes' face, nor does it seem likely that we will (let's face it, plenty of people want to see it), the show managed to pick up from Valor vs. Venom the movie and while the voice casting isn't amazing, it doesn't sound like a low budget anime (Nor is it, to have some of the voices, i.e. Duke). There has been a lot of argument over Heavy Duty being Road Block. This issue was addressed in Spy Troopers, Heavy Duty is Road Block's cousin. And it seems a lot of people are disgruntled by Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow being brothers. No where in the series do they say they're blood related (yet). The idea of Snake Eyes and Scarlet having a relationship may be voided simply because of the fact it's a kids show, but let's face it, Snake Eyes is almost always saving Scarlet. The idea is underlying.
(For the visually aware, some may even recognize character design style from the hit Playstation RPG Xenogears. To some, that really says something. Scarlet/Elle, anyone?)
Not to mention the show has revived people's interest in G.I. Joe, which is the idea. The toys are selling like crazy and some of them are impossible to find. People are already eager to see a Season 2 in fact. And from the trend of the series so far, it seems very intent on covering a LOT of back story on Snake Eyes and possibly other characters in the series which would benefit fans by filling loopholes.
In the end, yes, it's a vastly different approach to G.I. Joe but at least it's working and people need to realize the show wasn't made to meet or exceed expectations of a scrutinizing fan base but to increase the fan base itself. With Sigma Six, G.I. Joe will continue to survive as an icon in the cartoon and action figure world.
There is much to appreciate in the series as an old fan or a new arrival to it. Granted, the show is fast paced and action oriented, people must realize that kids today want action, it's what keeps them watching. Let's face it, not all the Saturday Morning cartoons are amazing, or anywhere near some of the stuff most of us grew up with in the 80s or 90s, but they're not meant for us. Sigma Six was designed with this in mind. It doesn't have deep, complicated plots, it's to the point with light, G rated humor. It also gets one simple point across, good wins against bad and will always fight bad. That's not too shabby for a kids show. Plus the violence is mild and limits the human vs. human combat.
Now, for the avid fans of the original G.I. Joe (A Real American Hero and others included), Sigma Six seems to be trying, to say the least. At least, for 13 complete episodes, we haven't seen Snake Eyes' face, nor does it seem likely that we will (let's face it, plenty of people want to see it), the show managed to pick up from Valor vs. Venom the movie and while the voice casting isn't amazing, it doesn't sound like a low budget anime (Nor is it, to have some of the voices, i.e. Duke). There has been a lot of argument over Heavy Duty being Road Block. This issue was addressed in Spy Troopers, Heavy Duty is Road Block's cousin. And it seems a lot of people are disgruntled by Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow being brothers. No where in the series do they say they're blood related (yet). The idea of Snake Eyes and Scarlet having a relationship may be voided simply because of the fact it's a kids show, but let's face it, Snake Eyes is almost always saving Scarlet. The idea is underlying.
(For the visually aware, some may even recognize character design style from the hit Playstation RPG Xenogears. To some, that really says something. Scarlet/Elle, anyone?)
Not to mention the show has revived people's interest in G.I. Joe, which is the idea. The toys are selling like crazy and some of them are impossible to find. People are already eager to see a Season 2 in fact. And from the trend of the series so far, it seems very intent on covering a LOT of back story on Snake Eyes and possibly other characters in the series which would benefit fans by filling loopholes.
In the end, yes, it's a vastly different approach to G.I. Joe but at least it's working and people need to realize the show wasn't made to meet or exceed expectations of a scrutinizing fan base but to increase the fan base itself. With Sigma Six, G.I. Joe will continue to survive as an icon in the cartoon and action figure world.