the first iteration of the dream team is so funny.
imagine youre a regular new yorker and you’re being attacked by santas or bugs or devils at an art show and things are weird but you also can’t quite tell what’s actually happening (got to love umbral arcana) ? but you’re scared out of your mind until a drunk lady punches the scary monster in the face and the guy who’s clearly a drug dealer starts blasting fire out of his hands?? maybe he’s got a lighter and some hairspray, though he’s also holding a gun? and then a very nice and serious older guy is keeping everything calm and encouraging his friends and you think everything is going to be okay, especially because this nice sweet firefighter is making sure everyone’s safe. and you think he looks like mr march from the calendar!
then a massive rat man summons some crocodiles or a pack of rats or a cockroach that is unusually juicy and then broadway legend misty moore literally insults a monster to death whilst indiscriminately flirting with her friends.
and when it’s all over they’re acting like this is business as usual. and maybe you’re confused for like three minutes until you remember this is new york — who else would save you but a broadway star, a rat, a firefighter, a drug dealer, an alcoholic and kingston brown from uptown who helped you jumpstart your car three months ago
So something I'm loving about the unsleeping city so far is the commitment to being kind? Like I don't know if it's intentional but from the very first episode onwards we meet people like Kingston, whose whole aim is that he protects the city. He's there for his people, his neighbourhood, his community, he's giving himself to help them. He's a nurse- a healer- he knows everyone and everyone knows him. Kugrash, who lurks in subway tunnels and sewers, watching over subway workers and giving warmth and shelter and food to those who don't have it. Who makes little plastic shoes for a drunkard in an alleyway. And Ricky, whose only desire is to keep people safe, to use his skills to fight danger on their behalf, to interpose himself in harm's way. Even though it's not as evident in the others, it's still there. Sofia addresses a bachelorette party after her husband leaves her not to mock them or discourage them- but to wish the bride-to-be happiness and joy. Pete (though again, not as obvious, especially at first) takes his ex, who was actively trying to hurt him at the time, in his arms and carries her to safety. And Misty, though often vain and dismissive, has nothing but kind words and compliments for her friends and compatriots. Sorry for the rant, it's just something I think is really cool, especially given the setting of new York being portrayed as somewhere where people are cold-hearted and self-centred.