Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Is Fantastic

Spoilers ahead! If you are interested in this show at all or are a fan or the movie and want to see it, then read this post after watching. Spoiler warning!

When I first saw the advertising for this series, I was excited, I love Scott Pilgrim vs. The World as a movie, flaws and all, and enjoy the video game too. I have never read the comic, but I have glanced over the first issue and the comic is just the movie and the game's plot. Seeing an animated series telling made me wonder how they would expand or if the series would just be another retelling of a story I really enjoyed but differently, then the first episode ended.. and Scott Pilgrim died. Losing to Matthew Pattel of all people, my jaw hit the floor. The series took a whole new direction, now focusing on all of the characters that are not Scott Pilgrim in a series that bears his name as the title character. That twist had me hooked on this show and kept me hooked until the last episode wrapped up, eight in total.  

The show now focuses on Ramona, Scott's friends, and now without Scott to defeat them, even the evil Exes. Turning characters from the film who did not have a lot of screen time, or just there to make jokes, be there to help move the plot along, or be an obstacle, suddenly became more real. They became more than just jokes or someone to fight, they became people with hopes and dreams. The comedy and action were still there but the show then dives into what happens when the lead is suddenly gone, and the show continues. Now causing interactions, situations, and new ideas to play out. And I prefer this much more than just a retelling. This gives a spotlight to so many other great characters and shows many more angles of this world that I always wanted to see more of. 

The writing leaves room for so many great character moments, growth in ways that were never expected, and full of twists and turns. With multiple mysteries at play that unwind as the episodes press on, and still pack tons of laughs. The comedy still fits the style this series is known for and is full of great moments. There are also great dramatic moments, the episodes are well-balanced and well-paced, full of moments of different types woven together seamlessly to make a great narrative. The action sequences are a fun spectacle to watch, the drama to move and help the cast grow, the comedy to break up the serious moments, and the mystery to keep people guessing and engaged. This series packs it all tightly into eight episodes with fantastic pacing all the way around, keeping the plot moving while keeping it entertaining at the same time. 

The music is incredible, from the second the show starts with a full-on anime opening, to its background. The animation is clean and smooth, looking like the comic came to life, and has a great color palette that makes the show pop more than Ramona's ever-changing hair. The presentation that made the movie stand out, is here as well, with plenty of references to games of the past, both in dialogue and visually, and now there are also even musical references, and movie references. The easter eggs expand to the other forms of Scott Pilgrim as well, for the biggest fans of the property to find. This show has all the charm of the film and game and stands out as its own amazing entity. Not erasing the book or movie but rather a different take to go along with it and be celebrated. The references are present in the foreground and background, some more apparent, and some more subtle, just like in the comic and film. 

There are so many great moments that I want to get into, but this needs to be watched, this show took a twist for the better and has so many stand-out scenes, whether they be action, comedic, or character driven. This show is for more than just fans of Scott Pilgrim, it is just a great show. There are plenty of easter eggs and references for long-time fans, but is still pretty beginner-friendly. I feel that watching the movie first is the best course of action, to catch all the easter eggs and see just how different this version is. Comparing the strengths and weaknesses of both civilly to see both are still great. This show also has way less dated content and even addresses some of the dated content from the movie while not acting like it is better than the film, so that is just another plot for me. Both are fantastic, this show is amazing for its great writing, great animation, stellar presentation, and overall good character-driven story in a way no one expected. This is a show I can see myself pressing continue on, again and again.