High Society Member since Oct 13th 2003 7375 posts
Wed Sep-04-19 07:34 PM
1. "I like the portrayal of Rza, Divine, & Ghost so far." In response to Reply # 0
Dave East is a little stiff as Method Man, doesn’t have the charisma. The young man that played Shaolin Fantastic In The Get Up is Raekwon. I like him, I think he’s a good actor. He just doesn’t have the physical build of Rae. So that’s bugging me, it’s nitpicking though.
They are sliding in various hits of Wu nostalgia: Kung fu flicks, Mazda MPVs, a Voltron action figure. Rza has the camo jacket, Ghost wears the color coordinated skully. Ghost and his brothers talk about Ironman comics. They eat a lot of Chinese from the spot I assume is supposed to be on Targee across from the projects in Staten. There’s always been on a Wu mural on the side of the Chinese spot. It can be seen in the movie Black & White. Maybe in the Can It Be video as well.
They are using terms like Gat’n Staten which I don’t really remember from any of their rhymes... must be what they called it though before forming Wu Tang and changing it to Shaolin.
Finally introduced to Gza in the 3rd episode. We haven’t caught up with Deck, U-God, or Masta Killah yet.
Cappadonna is in jail.
It’s fun, I had my doubts considering was being produced by Hulu. But it’s got a mature rating. Rza and the clan are producers and consultants. It’s not 100% accurate but Ghost and Rae are in rival crews. We’re introduced to Power early. They are playing up turf war: Stapleton vs Parkhill. I can see younger viewers possibly being annoyed by the slang, they say SON a lot. It makes me smile though lol. like I said I love Wu Tang Clan, it was going to take this being pure trash for me not to like it.
So I’m probably biased, but so far... it’s very enjoyable and any 90s head should watch.
4. "RE: I like the portrayal of Rza, Divine, & Ghost so far." In response to Reply # 1
Agreed on Meth.. He lacks that star power charisma and style. He seems relatively reserved for someone we have come to know as an extrovert and an attention grabber
I think Raekwon is perfectly executed (aside from the physique, but whatever)..
Divine is perfect
Dirty is pretty good..
Power is good
I wasn't sold on Ghostface at first, but he grew on me. He is WAY more serious and angry than I pictured Ghost.
I thought Rza was good from jump, but then.. he kinda lacks that edginess and unique accent.. he captures his spirit though.
Deck is whatever. Joey doesn't do much.
Cappa was basically a cameo.. but didn't feel like him at all to me.
U-God and Masta Killa (so far.. I'm on ep 9) are non-existent. Maybe they make cameos right at the very end..
I would say it's pretty good, but it can be slow and dry at times.. I know it's a drama and the Wu have some gritty origins, but I feel they all have way more charisma and sense of humor than these actors..which is the opposite of what we've come to expect from biopics.. Actors are usually more charismatic and electrifying than the real life people they portray.
3. "I'm digging it so far." In response to Reply # 0
The stuff about the music and the process of creating is the most interesting to me. I don't really care about the Park Hill vs. Stapleton angle and the whole thing of Divine forcing RZA to take over the drug game side, but I know that it's really essential to the crew's development and origin. I'm just looking forward to the part when they just move past it and it's mostly about them recording and dealing with bum record deals.
Acting wise, I'm fine with everyone except Dave East. Saunders, Moore, and the kid who plays ODB are doing a great job. In fact, the kid who plays ODB has got him down cold. I keep wanting to see more about him.
5. "It's held my interest" In response to Reply # 0
I'm a big Wu fan tho.
I like the guy playing Rae even though he not physically the same. Dude playing Dirty is hilarious, nice casting
I always saw Ghost as the strong arm but the writing hasnt showed many other dimensions other angry and brooding. Well some of his scenes with Jah Son and Rza's sister shed a more comedic aspect.
It's weird to me when Rza's sister and Ghost are together cuz baby girl looks soooo much younger.
Dave East as Meth is wrong
I wouldn't have known that was Capp if it wasn't for the bars he spit
Dude playin GZA looks like him in the face but he's kinda tall
I like the kid playing Bobby wish he had the weird accent thing tho
7. "Shit is dope but it's Hollywood whereas the documentary was more reality" In response to Reply # 0
Casting has been pretty cool. We think of Meth as charismatic but remember he was the dude they clowned the shit out of on 36 Chambers. Around a bunch of street dudes, half of who were hustling, he may not have been as bold as he came off on the public eye.
The Rae-Ghost shootout shit is madeup for cameras, but I recognize they were trying to get a broader audience. The true headz want 100% biographical but you know them streets ain't gonna tell the whole story.
I am enjoying it though and can see it lasting at LEAST 5 years. All depends on how much they wanna get into the drama.
8. "episode 1 in season 2 almost made me quit it" In response to Reply # 0
i found that episode really hard to get through for some reason. i think it could be dude thats playing rza. i dont know if hes being too faithful to talking like him or exaggerating too much but the more dialogue he has the less interested i am.
i went back to episode 2 after like a week and enjoyed the rest of this season so far.
9. "That was definitely the worst episode of the series so far" In response to Reply # 8
It's gotten better since then, but it still has it's flaws. I'm getting used to Sanders channeling RZA's speech patterns. And it's definitely much more interesting when it keeps the focus on the process of making the music. I'm tuning out the family drama.
I'll give it props for its ambition. They're trying a lot of different narrative structures and mechanisms and tricks. Some of it misses, some of it hits. But at least they're trying different shit.
10. "I hated the boat one the most. I like the family drama stuff" In response to Reply # 9
I don't need it to all be a behind the scenes of the crew, that would eventually be boring and better seen with actual footage. I like that theres some heart and family stuff in it.
11. "And now, "Protect Ya Neck" is by far the best ep of the season so far" In response to Reply # 10
And it's not a coincidence that it's the first ep of the season entirely about the music and the musical process.
Now, that doesn't mean the remaining of the episodes need to be about how they recorded C.R.E.A.M. or something, but keeping the focus on the music is when the show is at its strongest.
13. "RE: I hated the boat one the most. I like the family drama stuff" In response to Reply # 10
>I don't need it to all be a behind the scenes of the crew, >that would eventually be boring and better seen with actual >footage. I like that theres some heart and family stuff in it. > > > Agreed. The ferryboat episode really dragged.
I feel like that ferry ride was a lot longer than it needed to be.
14. "Anyone on here remember the buzz at Fever?" In response to Reply # 0 Thu Oct-14-21 07:12 PM by Beamer6178
Or was it even Fever? I'm sure the challenges in them getting the spot was dramatized, the single alone was probably enough to get them on, but it was still cool to see it all come together.
15. "I liked the episode a lot, but it fell **just** short of great." In response to Reply # 14
In this case, I really don't think La-La is a good actor at all, and making her the narrator for the ep didn't add anything. I figure that with the talk of the Dave East as Method Man spin-off, they wanted to establish her as a character.
It's the second episode in a row where things are **almost** great. The radio episode was awesome, until they did that dumb "Rae and Ghost as The Killer at WKCR." I said above that I kind respect them trying to do left-field shit, but that had me rolling my eyes.
16. "the real story is better than the fictional but, hey, street code" In response to Reply # 15 Fri Oct-15-21 03:54 PM by Beamer6178
I think there's part some interest factor part "we ain't gonna snitch on ourselves here"
I mean for those rappers that have lived a real street life there are some who without a doubt have murdered other people.
Like are we really to believe that DMX never killed someone, whether by accident or intention? I say this without judgment or any direct knowledge, but come on now...
RZA only got knocked because the person he shot lived to tell on him.
My larger point being that if the show was based on the real life documentary, it would be that much better. Given the deep grounding in familial relationships and responsibilities, I'm curious about how much depth they will go into regarding groupies, not an insignificant part of a global rap collective's benefits package, if you will.
Printer-friendly copy 
Email this topic to a friend
Pass The Popcorn
#/media/File:Firefly.png)
