Great Things About The Tick 2017

Day 18: The costumes. They're cool. Especially Arthur's. That's that.

Spoilers!

Day 17: The scene where Arthur relates his trauma to Dangerboat's. It's an absolutely heart wrenching, beautiful monologue, and I think it's one of the best parts of the whole series. I get choked up just thinking about it. The things Arhur says about it not getting easier, and still feeling his dad's absence every day - they resonate with me on a level I'm embarrassed to describe.

Day 16: The physical affection. I know I've already said "the hugs," but for this I specifically mean the physical affection shown between The Tick and Arthur, and the way that it's treated. I really appreciate that Tick and Arthur are allowed to hug and hold hands and it's not made a joke of. They're friends, and they love each other, and men are allowed to display affection.

Spoilers!

Day 15: The parallels in the way Arthur and Dot react to the other’s superheroing. At the start of S1, Dot is terrified for Arthur, and she’s trying to convince him to just live a normal life. At the start of S2, Arthur is terrified for Dot and he’s trying to convince her to just live a normal life. By the end, both of them have accepted their sibling’s choices, and their relationship is much stronger for it.

Spoilers!

Day 14: Walter’s relationship with Joan. Unbearably sweet. The concept of this badass, decorated AEGIS agent falling so deeply in love that he’s more than happy to settle down and live the most boring life possible, as long as he can live it with her... absolutely tooth rotting.

This guy spends his days picking out the most environmentally friendly paint chips, and he is just delighted about it. He loves Joan so much. He loves her so much. I cannot and will not ever get over it.

Day 13: The positivity. This is another one I’m surprised I haven’t mentioned before. Modern superheroes are so saturated with angst and edginess. It’s incredibly refreshing to watch this show with superheroes who like being superheroes, and who do good for the sake of doing good. The Tick can be heart wrenching and complex, but it’s never hopeless. I like dark themes in media as much as the next guy, but sometimes you just need a break, and The Tick comes as a much welcomed reprieve.

Day 12: The Flag Five. They're such a loving poke at early superhero culture. Their brightly colored costumes, their patriotic theme. They're a perfect replication of the golden age, and showing them violently killed at the beginning of a show that's going to parody the edginess of modern superhero media is just genius. It's all wonderfully done.

Day 11: The hugs.

Day 10: The music. The music choices are just... absolutely amazing. Blind and Brave? One Fine Day? Shine? JFC, they're amazing.

Day 9: The fanbase. Not to get mushy, but y'all are wonderful. We're little but strong. Everybody knows everybody. All the artists like each other's works. All the authors leave kudos on each other's fics. Discourse is rare and resolved in a civilized manner. No matter what happens, I'm proud of what we've built and I hope you'll stay here with me.

Day 8: Good representation. Women with agency, minorities without stereotypes, gay boats - The Tick's got it all. There's not a hint of unsatirical stereotyping. They're just characters like every other character, and that's the way it should be.

Day 7: It's funny as hell. I'm surprised I haven't posted that yet, since it's main genre is humor, but it's some of the best comedy I've ever seen on TV and there's not much more to say than that.

Day 6: Ben Edlund cares. He cares a lot. The Tick is his baby and he hasn't just brought it back for a quick cash grab, he's brought it back because he has a story to tell. Every incarnation of The Tick has been something different, and they've all been great.

Day 5: The cast and crew are all utterly devoted to their work and it shows. Their chemistry, both IC and OOC, is some of the best I've seen in a long time. Whenever I interact with them online they're nothing but wonderful. They really deserve the best.

Day 4: Flexon.