Forgotten Television: Legion

David Haller (Dan Stevens), a troubled young man, has spent most of his life in psychiatric institutions after being diagnosed with schizophrenia. At one of the institutions, David meets Syd Barrett (Rachel Keller) and starts a non-touching relationship with her as she does not allow anyone to touch her skin. David begins to question the reality of his condition when he discovers that the voices and visions he experiences may be real and connected to powerful mutant abilities. As he’s drawn into a secret organization of mutants led by Melanie Bird (Jean Smart), David learns that he may be one of the most powerful mutants alive, but his mind is not entirely his own. David is inhabited by a malevolent entity known as The Shadow King, who takes on different personalities, the main one being the image of Lenny Busker (Aubrey Plaza), a friend of David’s who was killed in the first episode. Throughout the series, David battles the Shadow King in a race to save the world.

Legion premiered on February 8, 2017, on the FX network. Created by Noah Hawley, known for his work on Fargo, the series ran for three seasons until its conclusion in August 2019. The show was widely acclaimed for its bold visual style, experimental storytelling, and strong performances, particularly from Stevens and Plaza. Critics praised Legion for redefining what a superhero television series could be, blending elements of psychological drama, horror, sci-fi, and surrealism. Its unconventional narrative and artistic ambition set it apart from typical comic book adaptations. The television version of Legion draws inspiration from the Marvel Comics character David Haller, originally created by Chris Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz in the 1980s. In the comics, David is the son of Charles Xavier (Professor X) and suffers from dissociative identity disorder, with each of his alternate personalities controlling a different mutant ability. While the series preserves David’s fractured psyche and immense power, it departs significantly from comic book canon. The show does not explicitly tie David to Professor X until much later, and it emphasizes stylized psychological exploration over traditional superhero action. Whereas the comics often focus on broader X-Men storylines and conflicts, the show is more introspective, abstract, and artistically daring, offering a unique reinterpretation rather than a direct adaptation.

I am conflicted with this series.  It is visually stunning and artistically unique.  The mix of fantasy with reality keeps the viewer on their toes trying to discern what is real and what is in David’s mind.  The story is intriguing and well-presented and the acting, especially on the part of Stevens and Plaza, is very good.  But I had a hard time getting through the pilot, the storyline just seemed to move so slowly taking a long time to eventually get to the point.  I think that the series got so wrapped up in the visuals and the amazing cinematography that they forgot to actually tell a story.  On the other hand, the show does explore mental illnesses in a way that no superhero series has ever done. Overall, the show is beautifully filmed, well-acted, uniquely told, with intriguing storylines, but it can also get confusing, and the tempo seemed a bit slow to me.