📝4/10
Thworping through time and space, one adventure at a time!
"Bad Apple Brigade: Missy Meets Horror, but Misses the Mark"
Freddie Valcosta's Bad Apple Brigade sets out to be a horror-inspired story with a unique Missy twist but struggles to find its footing. While the premise—a group of troubled girls on an isolated island being stalked by a mysterious monster—has potential, the execution falls short in both atmosphere and engagement.
Missy's presence is surprisingly minimal, which is an odd choice given her magnetic personality is usually the driving force of any story she’s in. Instead, the focus shifts to supporting characters, particularly Grace, who is given room to shine. While Grace’s development is commendable, her prominence comes at the expense of the story's central charm: Missy herself.
The attempt at horror falls flat, with little genuine tension or suspense. The monster, initially intriguing, is revealed to be a shapeshifter from Missy’s future, a twist that diminishes the stakes and turns the narrative toward comedic territory. While this aligns with Missy’s penchant for dark humor, it undercuts the earlier attempt to craft a traditional horror atmosphere.
Ian Conningham’s performance as Solaire adds some gravitas to the proceedings, but the character ultimately feels like a weaker attempt to replicate the charm and complexity of Blakelock from Missy and the Time Assassin. By the time the story attempts to ratchet up the tension in its latter half, it’s too late—the lack of engagement and emotional investment has already set in.
Final Thoughts:
Bad Apple Brigade has the ingredients for a compelling Missy adventure but fails to capitalize on them. With Missy sidelined and the horror elements diluted by an uneven tone, the story struggles to leave a lasting impression. While Grace and Solaire have their moments, the overall result is a forgettable entry in Missy’s otherwise vibrant catalog of chaos.
