Powerless

Our Review

A promising DC workplace comedy that never found its powers: in a world where superheroes exist, the employees of Wayne Security — a research firm making products to protect ordinary people from superhero collateral damage — deal with office comedy in a world of gods. Vanessa Hudgens’s Emily, an idealistic new hire, joins Alan Tudyk’s Van Wayne (Bruce’s cousin, a preening executive) and a strong ensemble (Danny Pudi, Ron Funches, Christina Kirk) who deserved better material.

The concept is genuinely great — insurance adjusters for the DC universe, the human cost of Metropolis battles — but NBC’s interference (the show was retooled mid-production, episodes shuffled, DC connections stripped out) left a show that was neither a good workplace comedy nor a good superhero parody. Canceled after one season, with a handful of episodes unaired. A fascinating what-if.

Verdict: Skip it — a “watch this not that” cautionary tale. The good version of this show exists in a better timeline.