As a network pilot it was fine. Whedon has clearly given up trying to sneak a proper first episode past network ninnies, and apart from some glances at the fourth wall by the Joss-gloss in the dialogue this episode has very little in the way of overt intelligence. It’s essentially an episode of Alphas (in themes and tone and general mediocrity of trope) that has had some after-the-fact input from folks who aren’t just marking time in a writer’s room.

Despite the snooze-inducing nature of the pilot I’m looking forward to the rest of the series. There is too much potential. With this sop behind us, the setup is done and I can get down to being frustrated for another half-dozen weeks until Whedon finds the thing about the premise that he wants to bring out.