GlintOfHope.com Hero Envy Web Series
Review By: Pugilist
Back from Origins and I get a treat; a new episode of Hero Envy. Episode 21, Hero oreH is a send up of the classic, and often done, "Mirror, Mirror" from Star Trek, the Original series and other science fiction classic alternate universe treatments. "Mirror, Mirror" is one of those timeless tales from the original series were we get to see the women in the Star Trek universe act like 1960's porn stars so, without a doubt, it's a geek favorite. It's also got a morality lesson, unrelated to porn; more's the pity, that plays well. We've seen it done in different contexts by different shows with some good, some bad, and some indifferent results.
Why is it then that the Hero oreH version strikes such a sound chord?
Because they didn't default to a standard good/evil plot line which is, at best, a simplistic treatment of the concept.
The first 8:29 of the show is standard Hero Envy interaction with the characters. Oh certainly they highlight what makes each character unique and special and thus set us up for their doppelgangers but this is something you don't catch right away. For the longtime viewer it is just the characters being the characters. There is no heavy handed "look at Wally, he is a geek!" moments though it is very clearly indicated that Wally is a sad, sad geek. The JD character makes hilarious commentary to this effect that is also bitingly true of much of the geek world. Wally's phone conversation aids this, of course, with a geek inspired comparison that reminded me of many conversations I've witnessed with a combination of awe and disgust.
You know what I mean. That quintessentially geek moment when you realise an obscure geek culture reference has been slipped into a conversation with folks claiming to be normal and you first are amazed that it could have happened and then are horrified that you too are being classed as culturally deficient merely because the "normal" is an unimaginative twit; with a hot girlfriend who is looking at you with pity.
And not the good kind of pity either.
Each of the characters is similarly defined and Dekker's zombie convention spiel is so couched in dark humour that I expected any moment to go blind. The same might be said of the setup for JD's character, though for an entirely different reason. If you watch the episode and don't understand, drop me a note and I'll explain the reference.
And then we have Orson. From his arrival, initiating an excellent usage of stereo channels that made me laugh out loud, to his scientific, to a point, analysis of JD's and El Diablo's concoction, Orson is defined exactly.
And then we move into the Alternative Universe.
Let's start with the transition. The Transition in "Mirror, Mirror" was simplistic and low budget. We can admit that now, some 40 years later. And the options to update and "enhance" the transition from our universe to the alternate must have been legion. Wisely the crew at GlintOfHope.com decided to stick with the classic transition. It's not important because they did not change it. Had they "improved" the transition it would have become a focus point and detracted from the story.
Good choice.
In the alternate universe we don't have evil as much as we have the mirror images of the familiar crew. The portrayal of each of the characters is both biting and funny and, in a Colbert moment, I can just imagine the templates for the mirror Wally and Dekker viewing the section and saying "Damn Right! HOO!" while completely missing the point.
And then there's El Diablo. Apparently Mr. Diablo is a universal constant, so, at least, we have that evening things out.
This episode is a great ride from start to finish and the resolution is perfect, if slightly disturbing and, if I'm not entirely mistaken, a bit ambiguous as to where, exactly, Orson resides now. It was a very Slider's moment and although I might be reading too much into it, I did enjoy the exercise.
Now, as for production issues; none. I believe some of the facial lighting was different than we've seen previously but it was consistent and not jarring in any way. of course, I could be wrong and it may just be my eyes showing the combined effects of Dekker and JD.
I do have to give extreme kudos to prop management. Dear God, the attention to detail was incredible and although I believe I may have found one (1) error, I had to spend a good five (5) minutes rewinding and pausing and the like just to be uncertain. When it hits DVD next Spring I can see if the toothpaste lettering is consistent with the rest of the lettering in the alternate universe. If you've ever seen Journey to the Far Side of the Sun, you may have an inkling and what they did in the episode.
OK, we have good writing, good character development on both sides of the issue, incredible prop management, no production issues, homages to, at least, four (4) separate geek classics (Star Trek, Journey, Sliders, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century near the end), a running time around 19:15, and a send up of the anti-geeks who get all the girls who would never be interested in us anyway.
Damn, that's a lot.
The episode is a solid 9, no doubt; the prop management is worth another half point just for the attention to detail and the obvious case of nothing being "good enough." It was either right or fixed before we saw it.
Using higher mathematics, I get a 9.5 for the episode. If you have a different score, let me know and we can fight about it.
Perhaps electric razors at 10 paces?
Take a trip to GlintOfHope.com and see the episode for your own damn self!