I'm gonna state right off the bat that while I do question the logic of putting this on Cartoon Network, I won't hold it against the show. My opinion is based on what happens in it rather than whatever's surrounding it. Now, getting to the actual review...this series (unlike the students) is nothing special.
Created by Paul Dini (famous comic writer and creator of [1]) Tower Prep is about a secret boarding school designed for mutant kids different from everyone else to help them master their powers. Sound familiar [2]. However a much darker twist is thrown in, the students are kidnapped by the school, cut off from the outside world, and are subject to various experiments. Paranoia runs rampant throughout and is only solidified by the strange guards around the school called "Gnomes". We follow 4 students: Ian Archer, CJ Ward, Suki Sato, and Gabe Forrest, as they try to find out the secrets of Tower and eventually escape.
The characters on the show aren't that different from what you'd expect from a teen mystery show, but are characterized to get the most out of what they've got. The acting on the other hand is shaky at best though. Sometimes the actors play it too subtle and as a result their delivery comes off as bored (Ian is a prime example). The pacing of most filler episodes is rushed as their not really important to the plot, but the ones that are plot relevant can drag on to the point where it gets boring (the pilot is the worse offender of the latter). Only the first season finale seems to have a good balance.
One of the more positive things about the show is the powers. While most would write it off as the result of a low budget, I think it's a little more realistic than most other of these types of shows. The powers are subtle and are more like enhanced human traits than super powers. The most "flashy" powers featured are super strengh, speed, and a Doppleganger Spin. Seriously. The atomsphere on the show is also pretty good at invoking the feeling of paranoia and isolation. Going as far as to say the stars in the sky are completely different. However, the look of the "Gnomes" can break the paranoia quickly and highlight how small the budget is.
In conclusion, Tower Prep is average at best and is okay to miss out on.
So Okay Its Average
I'm gonna state right off the bat that while I do question the logic of putting this on Cartoon Network, I won't hold it against the show. My opinion is based on what happens in it rather than whatever's surrounding it. Now, getting to the actual review...this series (unlike the students) is nothing special.
Created by Paul Dini (famous comic writer and creator of [1]) Tower Prep is about a secret boarding school designed for mutant kids different from everyone else to help them master their powers. Sound familiar [2]. However a much darker twist is thrown in, the students are kidnapped by the school, cut off from the outside world, and are subject to various experiments. Paranoia runs rampant throughout and is only solidified by the strange guards around the school called "Gnomes". We follow 4 students: Ian Archer, CJ Ward, Suki Sato, and Gabe Forrest, as they try to find out the secrets of Tower and eventually escape.
The characters on the show aren't that different from what you'd expect from a teen mystery show, but are characterized to get the most out of what they've got. The acting on the other hand is shaky at best though. Sometimes the actors play it too subtle and as a result their delivery comes off as bored (Ian is a prime example). The pacing of most filler episodes is rushed as their not really important to the plot, but the ones that are plot relevant can drag on to the point where it gets boring (the pilot is the worse offender of the latter). Only the first season finale seems to have a good balance.
One of the more positive things about the show is the powers. While most would write it off as the result of a low budget, I think it's a little more realistic than most other of these types of shows. The powers are subtle and are more like enhanced human traits than super powers. The most "flashy" powers featured are super strengh, speed, and a Doppleganger Spin. Seriously. The atomsphere on the show is also pretty good at invoking the feeling of paranoia and isolation. Going as far as to say the stars in the sky are completely different. However, the look of the "Gnomes" can break the paranoia quickly and highlight how small the budget is.
In conclusion, Tower Prep is average at best and is okay to miss out on.