After looking deeper into the show
and sets, I think it’s starting to grow on me. I can’t help but feel like a traitor however. When I first laid eyes on the castles, I immediately thought “that looks like Imaginex!” But then I watched the first episode (several times)... and took a closer look at the klickies, and their names...and the sets...and now I like them.
While I find the emblems gaudy (especially that plaid behind the gear), there are plenty of unique items and klicky design here. But what did it for me was naming them. That’s the quickest way to get me attached to something.
I feel like I’m torn between two major generations, neither of which really applies to me because of my age: the old “golden age” that was more historically inclined and larger than life; and the newer, flashier generation that adheres to tropes. On one hand, I like the idea of generic play and leaving things nameless so you can make your own story. I also love historical accuracy and details in sets to make those stories. On the
other hand, I’m a major fantasy lover and love a good occasional romp into the bizarre and new. Heck, I think I’m one of the very few who actually liked the ghost pirates!
I felt apprehension against Super 4 once upon a time, but then it grew on me as well. It was still rough around the edges,
really rough, but I appreciated the idea behind it.
In fact, Novelmore feels like a retread of Super 4 in several ways, but on a
slightly better foot....so far. The first episode had some of the best combat scenes I’ve seen in a playmobil animation, (some) characters I liked (Lucifex and stole my heart), and an engaging plot to me. Instead of anthology, there’s an overarching story, which may or may not be tidier. However, it suffers heavily from cliches in an extremely predictable way: The prince who wants adventure (goody, Alex 2.0...), the girl who wants to take up a job typically for boys but would be ostracized for it (hi Ruby 2.0...), the idiot who’s secretly a genius, “fire bad, water good”; the stubborn, old king who shuns change, etc. I found myself mentally rolling my eyes when Gwynn showed up, like, “here we go again!”
God forbid we have actual lady knights in this exaggerated,
fantasy setting (especially when the enemy technically has one already, and another will show up soon).
But anywho, only time will tell if this show’s good or not—or if Playmobil will continue this line of thinking for their products. I personally think it’s just a little joy-trip into the realm of make believe, and will possibly be over sooner than they think. Even if it isn’t, I don’t think they’ll truly get rid of contemporary and historical sets. Because I still believe someone, somewhere realizes there’s still a market for that sort of thing.
At least I hope....
