Jean Smart’s Best Role is in This Surprising Superhero Series!

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Over the past four decades, I’ve been captivated by the illustrious acting career of Jean Smart, a talent that shines brilliantly on stage, silver screens, and TV screens alike. From her memorable roles in “Designing Women” and “Frasier,” to her appearances in “Sweet Home Alabama” and “24,” Smart’s versatility is undeniable, particularly her knack for bringing laughter to our lives through comedic roles. Her latest triumph as Deborah Vance in “Hacks” has earned her three consecutive Emmy Awards, and rightfully so – the series is exceptional.

However, if I were to pick one of her TV performances that truly stands out, it would be her role as Dr. Melanie Bird in FX’s peculiar superhero series “Legion.” Smart’s portrayal in this series was nothing short of extraordinary and deserves recognition for its depth and complexity.

2017’s “Legion,” conceived by “Fargo” mastermind Noah Hawley, required Smart to put aside comedy for a while, offering something entirely different. Her portrayal of Dr. Bird showcased aspects of her talent that she doesn’t often get to explore; she was thrilled to take on the challenge. While “Hacks” allows Smart to shine in her comedic niche, her performance in “Legion” is a bold, transformative act – one might even say, her finest.

Jean Smart Brings Years of Expertise to ‘Hacks’

In 2021, Max’s “Reinventions” debuted, centering around the dynamic between two comedians of different eras, initially unwilling to collaborate. Jane Played by Smart portrays Deborah Vance, a renowned Las Vegas stand-up comic whose long-running casino residency faces jeopardy after years of triumph. As her career falters, her management decides to team her up with Ava (portrayed by Einbinder), a promising young comedy writer who faced Hollywood exile following a contentious tweet.

In a depiction by Vance, Smart’s character emerges as a tenacious, witty comedy artist who forged her path in an era when female comedians encountered more obstacles than they do currently. Her comic flair is enriched with dramatic depth as her role navigates professional hurdles, personal remorse, and a complex bond with Ava. This exceptional performance has deservedly won Smart a multitude of new admirers, four decades into her illustrious career.

‘Legion’ Is an Unlikely Superhero Story

I was there, witnessing the captivating three-season run of “Legion” on FX from 2017 to 2019. This Marvel-inspired series and covert X-Men spinoff centered around David Haller (played brilliantly by Dan Stevens), a man who was initially misdiagnosed as having schizophrenia, but in reality, his symptoms stemmed from his extraordinary psychic abilities. This unique condition thrust him into the heart of an immense power struggle.

In the series, I admired Rachel Keller’s portrayal of Dr. Melanie Bird, a psychiatrist leading a group of mutants at Summerland, a facility designed to help individuals with special abilities. Initially, she appeared as a composed mentor figure, but as the story unfolded, she underwent a profound transformation that added depth and intrigue to the series.

In a different phrasing: Aubrey Plaza is another great choice for the cast; she immediately sparks interest. In this movie, she portrays Lenny Busker with versatility, transforming from David’s friend at the hospital to embodying David’s adversary, the Shadow King. Alongside Plaza, the talented cast includes Amber Midthunder, Rachel Keller, Navid Negahban, Katie Aselton, Bill Irwin, Hamish Linklater, and Jemaine Clement, who plays Melanie’s husband.

Here, I tried to maintain the original meaning while making it more readable and natural for an average audience member.

Legion, stemming from the Marvel comics series The New Mutants, delves into topics such as mental health, reality bending, time travel, and the exploration of truth versus illusion. This allows Smart to venture far beyond her usual comedic boundaries. She expressed to The Hollywood Reporter, “I need to fully immerse myself in this. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever tackled before. I believe it’s fair to say it’s unlike anything any of these actors have done before. It’s even unlike what most viewers are accustomed to seeing on television.

Dr. Melanie Bird isn’t just Smart’s single television role as a comic book character; in the year 2019, Smart appeared in another unusual TV series inspired by a graphic novel titled “Watchmen,” produced by Damon Lindelof for HBO. In this show, she portrayed an older version of Laurie Blake.

‘Legion’ Is Underrated as a Marvel Superhero Spectacle

Noah Hawley, a creative genius, is primarily recognized for creating the FX anthology series, Fargo, which adaptively expanded on the Coen Brothers’ film into multiple seasons (Brian Smith played Floyd Gerhardt in Season 2). This marked the beginning of his path towards crafting a successful Marvel TV adaptation. Known for balancing fidelity to source material with taking bold creative leaps, Hawley proved an ideal choice for this endeavor. Transforming Legion from comic book pages to television screens, Hawley’s unique visual and storytelling approach, coupled with his accomplished novelist skills — he has penned several books such as Before the Fall and The Good Father — enabled him to explore the unconventional elements of Legion’s narrative.

I found myself utterly captivated by the three-season run of this series, as it effortlessly earned a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from both critics and viewers alike. Matt Zoller Seitz from Vulture aptly stated that its aesthetic appeal is so unique and innovative, I’d continue watching it even if it somehow turned out to be mind-numbingly dull – just to catch a glimpse of the next imaginative storytelling technique dreamed up by showrunner Noah Hawley and his talented team. Interestingly, despite being a superhero series within the Marvel universe, Legion manages to maintain an understated charm that sets it apart from other offerings in its genre.

Regardless, shows like “Hacks”, “Legion”, and “Fargo” are all exceptional, and Jean Smart delivers outstanding performances in each of them. Though “Legion” has concluded, Smart continues to shine in shows such as “Hacks” and more, suggesting she’s far from slowing down. You can stream “Legion” on Hulu via the link provided below:

Watch Legion

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2025-04-15 00:06