Expectations for MST3K's return were definitely high, and while I am pleasantly surprised, there is room to grow. The sets are fun, the casting good, but the chemistry simply hasn't had time to grow yet.
Strengths: Solid joke writing, and some amusing guest appearances for the host segments (I particularly enjoyed Mark Hamill as a carnival barker). Plus, the cast really has a lot of potential.
Weaknesses: Pacing! The riffers tend to race through their lines and it is painfully obvious at times that it is scripted. The old MST was scripted as well, but there was natural flow to it that made it feel like the bots and host were providing spontaneous commentary. While a lot of the jokes are really funny, the rushed delivery of almost every line can really detract from it. I am hopeful, however, that as the performers get more comfortable with their characters and what they're doing, things will improve. We saw a similar growth curve with the original MST, too.
All-in-all it's definitely worth watching and quite funny. I'm also appreciative of the fact that the season is light on the SUPER BORING old black and white sci-fi movies (more like walk-a-thons!). There's plenty of cheesy fantasy crap and monster movies that are genuinely fun to watch and ripe for riffing.
Strengths: Solid joke writing, and some amusing guest appearances for the host segments (I particularly enjoyed Mark Hamill as a carnival barker). Plus, the cast really has a lot of potential.
Weaknesses: Pacing! The riffers tend to race through their lines and it is painfully obvious at times that it is scripted. The old MST was scripted as well, but there was natural flow to it that made it feel like the bots and host were providing spontaneous commentary. While a lot of the jokes are really funny, the rushed delivery of almost every line can really detract from it. I am hopeful, however, that as the performers get more comfortable with their characters and what they're doing, things will improve. We saw a similar growth curve with the original MST, too.
All-in-all it's definitely worth watching and quite funny. I'm also appreciative of the fact that the season is light on the SUPER BORING old black and white sci-fi movies (more like walk-a-thons!). There's plenty of cheesy fantasy crap and monster movies that are genuinely fun to watch and ripe for riffing.