TV REVIEWS: FTN Reviews Naomi Episode 4: Enigma

Four episodes in and Naomi continues to walk a very fine line between mysterious and dragging in terms of its overall plotline. After the “revelation” last week of Naomi’s parents knowing since her “arrival” that she wasn’t from Earth, I was very curious to see how things progressed. And the answer is it did…and it didn’t.

The biggest thing by far that we learned was the confirmation that like the comic version of Naomi, she’s not from her “current universe”, but rather, the Multiverse. In this case, Earth-29. A place that was one “beautiful” and yet now is not so much that. In a recent Justice League comic arc (Naomi is in the League if you didn’t know), we actually went to her planet and found out how it’s very much a wasteland because of a great war that happened. A war that her parents were a part of. Whether we visit Earth-29 (or at least glimpse it in flashbacks) this season is unclear, but hearing that they’re going this path opens up a lot of pathways. Especially since certain other characters like Dee (and technically the military) are aware of the Multiverse.

Furthermore, we learn that the disk (more on that later) is a way of finding the other 29, almost like a compass. Which obviously should lead to many revelations in the future in terms of character.

The relationship between Naomi and her family was also put under the microscope for better and for worse, including how the dad put his career on the line to ensure that no one found the spot where Naomi landed in. I’m very curious how that is going to play going forward because eventually someone (like his commanding officer) is going to realize that he’s covering for someone. And as we saw last episode, this version of the military is more than happy to shoot first and ask questions never.

Finally (on the good side at least), we got some development in how Naomi factors into the grander picture as a bounty hunter of the multiverse came looking for her. Which also opens up a lot of pathways to what comes next in terms of whom…you know…might crossover?

So, what were the bad parts? There a few things. But I want to start out with something that I was personally terrified by…

THAT FIGHT SCENE!!! WHAT WAS THAT??!?!

I’m not going to say I’m an action-movie aficionado, but I know a good fight scene when I see one, and that wasn’t it. The massive amount of cuts (who do you think you are, Iron Fist?), the bad positioning of camera spots, the lack of showing impacts, and more, it was just…bad. This was the true first action scene for the series and…it’s not going to be hard to beat, at all. I’m not saying they had to show Dee’s wings all the time, or the teleport abilities of the bounty hunter, but go at least some of the fight without jumping to a random angle that takes away the momentum! Come on, man!

Second, certain parts of the dialogue were so trope-y it hurt. Such as the dinner with Dee (for the record, THAT definitely didn’t happen in the comics), or how her dad tried to interrogate him, “I’m just making conversation”. Or the opening scene with the whole, “I hope one day you’ll forgive us…” only for it to cut to Naomi and Annabelle talking and Naomi saying, “Yeah, I forgave them.” Wow.

Certain scenes were fine, like Dee’s talk about his lost love (also comic accurate, Naomi in the comics even first thought that Dee’s love was her mother), but others…not so much. Including the talks with Jacob that led to Naomi kissing Jacob…for reasons? Even though she was flirting with her other best friend…and Lordis. So…yay for making a pick?

Speaking of Lordis, we had yet another “team adventure” but this time…it was in an Escape Room. And she asked them all to come because…reasons? Just saying.

Also, with the disk, I was fine with it being a compass, especially after our “art lover” noted that it was a “Mistake” to have it. But for it to point to a street corner…and for Naomi to be there RIGHT when the person she is looking for is there? And then to learn basically nothing and…have to call Dee for a ride? Really?

Oh, and the school President thing? That’s a bit poorly timed, and while I love how Naomi is popular, is she really the only one everyone trusts to go and be the new class President? Because we all know this won’t end well.

In the end, “Enigma” did setup some big plot beats for the future. But with 3 weeks until the next episode, it’s going to be curious to see how it all plays out when it returns.

3.5/5