The Syfy network, in collaboration with showrunner and director David S. Goyer (Blade II, Blade: Trinity, Constantine), has created a new show exploring the origins of Superman and the history of his home planet. Krypton is entertaining and intriguing.

Cameron Cuffe (The Halcyon, Time After Time) plays a young Seg-El, Superman’s grandfather. Seg-El’s family name was disgraced after Val-El, his grandfather, began making claims that the planet Krypton was not alone in the universe, and was executed for heresy. Seg soon learns that his grandfather’s claims were right after an encounter with Adam Strange, played by Shaun Sipos (Life Unexpected, Melrose Place), who tells Seg-El that his grandson’s existence is endangered by a threat in Krypton’s past. The two then resolve to work together.

The first thing I noticed about Krypton is an immediate visual contrast. Krypton is portrayed as a highly advanced planet with technology centuries ahead of our own, and yet its society operates similarly to a medieval kingdom. The characters alternate between contemporary clothing styles and garments that would be more suitable in Game of Thrones.

Krypton also has similar politics to Game of Thrones, with many characters on Krypton’s council planning to fulfill their own hidden agendas. Seg-El is Krypton’s own version of Ned Stark, a morally upright guy caught in the middle of everyone else’s schemings. Chief Magistrate Daron-Vex arranges Seg-El to marry his daughter and take on the Vex family name as his own. Daron-Vex and General Jayna-Zod clash over Zod’s strong sense of duty versus Vex’s own ideas on an ideal Kryptonian society.

The action scenes are fine, if not very paint-by-the numbers. There’s no style or flair to them. Daredevil’s action scenes are well-filmed and brutal, Flash’s action scenes are fast paced and energetic, but Krypton’s action scenes are too quick and too short. I find it hard to get involved in the scenes when every dispute is resolved with little to no tension.

Seg-El struck me as an incredibly strong protagonist. Seg-El is old and grumpy in the comics, but in Krypton he is young, charming and bold. Our first scene with the protagonist is a bar fight, where he owes two Kryptonians some money. Seg-El’s recklessness and irresponsibility nicely contrasts Superman’s more cautious and responsible nature.

Seg-El’s motivation is established very promptly, and I think Krypton’s quick pacing works in its favor. The pilot is a barrage of information that can be hard to keep up with, but the revealing of major plot developments early on can help pave the way for more character development and focus.If you were looking for an action-heavy show, then Krypton may not be for you. There is action, but it’s typically used to move forward the plot and story. There is more political intrigue and worldbuilding for the setting of the planet Krypton. I would recommend Krypton if you are looking for Game of Thrones with a Sci-Fi twist. Krypton is a mixed bag; entertaining and interesting, but lacking a definite stylistic touch.