Naomi Review: Fallout (Season 1 Episode 10)
Naomi Season 1 Episode 10, “Fallout,” explores the fallout from Naomi’s shocking discovery while weaving new alliances into the narrative. It’s somewhat of a letdown from the high-octane stakes of the previous outing, but there are still exciting developments to propel the plot forward.
“Fallout” delves into the nature of the truth and whether honesty is the best policy. Nobody is genuinely 100 percent truthful on Naomi, with the exception of Lourdes. The writers do a great job of conveying Naomi’s pain and reminding viewers that while she has every right to be upset, she also keeps secrets from her parents. Pot, meet kettle.
NAOMI: I spent my entire life believing what everyone told me about myself. It’s time I find my own truth.
One downside to the writing, particularly on this week’s episode, is the overabundance of exposition. Sometimes, the series relies too heavily on show rather than tell, and “Fallout” leans on exposition quite a bit to dictate the story. Sure, explaining things narratively is necessary, but there are certain moments in “Fallout” that don’t require expositional dialogue.
“Showing” usually packs more of a punch, especially on a genre show like this. This week’s episode feels too dialogue-heavy; the majority of its 40-minute runtime is spent with two characters talking in a room.
LOURDES: Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for you to release your inner rebel?
Even the fight choreography leaves something to be desired. We only get maybe two minutes of legitimate action between Naomi and Mac (played by Briana Venskus) before the fight quickly stops, and reinforcements arrive. For a superhero series, the action feels immensely tame.
Additionally, the special effects appear cheaper in “Fallout” compared to previous installments. Naomi has so much potential — if only The CW could see that and help the Powers That Be fulfill said potential. Admittedly, in today’s age of advanced technology, the cheap effects can be distracting and pull one out of an otherwise immersive story.
On another note, Naomi and Lourdes’ will-they-won’t-they halted abruptly in “Fallout,” much to the dismay of shippers everywhere. It’s notably disappointing when Naomi doesn’t boast much by way of chemistry with Nathan and Anthony, yet the writers insist on shoving her with Nathan.
They have the opportunity to break barriers by giving us a queer Black teen superhero, but the writers purposely avoid it. Perhaps there’s a bigger picture we’re missing, and maybe we’ll watch Naomi come to grips with her romantic feelings for Lourdes. It’s best to stay positive, right?
NAOMI: I’m supposed to have this big destiny, but everyone keeps treating me like I’m a child.
That said, “Fallout” also harbors fun character moments, from Akira and Zumbado’s alliance to Mac’s arrival, which hopefully leads to the monumental reveal of Brutus, Naomi’s archnemesis. In addition, it’s intriguing to watch Greg interact with Zumbado knowing they have history.
Overall, “Fallout” doesn’t live up to its potential nor does it reach the heights of episode 9, but it lays the groundwork for an explosive final three episodes. Here’s hoping we get some pulsating, white-knuckled action soon.
Stray Observations:
- Annabelle’s comment about wall phones being from old movies “like in the ’90s” undoubtedly made everyone born before 1995 feel incredibly old.
- Not pairing Lourdes and Naomi together after they exhibit the best chemistry in the series is a major oversight on the writers’ part. Here’s hoping Naomi reconciles with her true feelings for Lourdes.
- More Stephanie March is never a bad thing. Give us all the Akira, please!
- If Naomi gets the Season 2 greenlight, we can only hope The CW will invest more in its special effects.
- Annabelle’s little sister, Sophie, is a bona fide star. She deserves her own series AND a podcast!
What did you think of this episode of Naomi? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Naomi airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on The CW.
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Melody McCune
Melody loves TV. Maybe too much. Besides being a Senior Writer for Tell-Tale TV, she's the Managing Editor for Geek Girl Authority, an Independent Contractor for Sideshow Collectibles, and a Senior Writer for Eulalie Magazine. Additionally, she has bylines in Culturess, Widget, and inkMend on Medium. To top it all off, she's a critic for Rotten Tomatoes and CherryPicks.