The Tick S01E07 Review: Tick Returns

The Tick, Season 1, Episode 7: Tale of the Crypt

We're back with the Tick! It took me a bit longer to return to reviewing the Tick since its mid-season break last year. And it's just... it's just fun, yeah? The Tick is equal parts a parody of superhero conventions while at the same time committed to actually playing the conflict within the story that Arthur and company faces really straight. That said, I felt that episode 7 was a bit of a miss for me. That's not to say the writing is bad, though, because Arthur, Tick, Overkill, Dot and Dangerboat are all as hilarious as ever, but there were times where the comedy and pacing seems odd. Dangerboat and Tick are 100% always funny, though. The episode is basically "Arthur in the Terror's base", with his capture being the crux of the mid-season cliffhanger, and here... he just runs around and sort of interacts with everyone, while Tick, Overkill and Dot race in to rescue him from the Terror's base. 

I'm not sure I'm as enamoured as the Terror as I'm supposed to be. Jackie Earle Haley is an amazing actor, of course, but there are times -- like Terror playing the drums -- that it seems that we're having a "look at this eccentric villain!" thrown in there for no real reason other than to be weird. It's me nit-picking, of course, as The Tick isn't a super-serious show, but still. 

Meanwhile, Arthur gets freed by a seemingly-sympathetic Ms. Lint from his cell, only to find out that it's actually under Terror's orders. Arthur ends up meeting the enigmatic Dr. Karamazov, who... is tiny! Arthur ends up playing hero, grabbing his suit and freeing Karamazov, not aware that his little superhero game is all orchestrated by the Terror. It all ends up sort of coming against Arthur, though, because Karamazov punches him in the dick once he's free, and runs away. The episode ends with the evil lair blowing up, with Arthur escaping just as the Tick and Overkill goes in. I'm sure they're all going to be fine since we still have half a season to go. Overall, it's more of a 'get things in order' bit, and while I do think that the bit with Arthur as the Terror's prisoner didn't end up panning out that much beyond allowing Arthur the crucial information that Superion actually has a weakness -- a Kryptonite analogue called Big Bismuth. Oh well. It's still pretty enjoyable to watch. Bring on the rest of the season!