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.