Legion

BY: Smriti Girish

David Haller is a troubled young man who was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a child. He has been in and out of psychiatric hospitals for years and, now in his early 30s, finds himself institutionalized again. His daily routine — including therapy, taking medications and silently listening to talkative friend Lenny — is upended when troubled new patient Syd arrives, and they are inexplicably drawn to each other. After a startling encounter between the two, David confronts the possibility that the voices he hears and visions he sees may be real. He escapes from the hospital and seeks refuge with sister Amy, who wants to protect the picture-perfect suburban life she has established for herself. Syd eventually gets David involved with therapist Melanie Bird and her team of specialists, who open his eyes to a new world of possibilities.

Shrugging off the traditional, good vs evil punch-fests, Legion is a refreshing new take on the superhero genre. Imagine Inception with loads more inceptions and counter inceptions and you might begin to comprehend how overwhelmingly trippy and insane this show is. Legion never let’s you settle into it nor is there a singular “Aha!” moment at the end of the show where you finally come to grips with it. Instead you find yourself falling into the story, often questioning it’s reality and never really fully understanding it.

A few other things that make the show worth watching are the stunning retro visuals, inventive cinematography and the first-rate acting. Aubrey Plaza most notably delivers a Heath Ledger as Joker-esque performance as Lenny Busker, the show’s main crazy. Legion is also one of TV’s more important shows because of the way it depicts mental health and people suffering from mental illnesses. So if you’re looking for a drama heavy, romance infused, psychological thriller, Legion is your answer.