The LXD: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers

I just watched season 1 on Netflix streaming. Sure, the story is a little cheesy and disconnected in places, but wow, the dancing (what really matters anyway) and the music are awesome! And I'm not even a huge fan of hip hop dance or rap music, (which feels like it mostly stems from) but I still really loved this.

I really loved it when the story/segments were more dark, and I can't wait to see season 2, since it's supposed to be about the villains. For instance, I loved Dark Nurse, when the Bad Doctor dances with the one girl (don't want to give anything away), and even though it's not as dark, I loved the Tap Dancer.

I was super surprised, but happily so, to find out Harry Shum Jr. was in this, and did a major part of the choreography. He's not just a great dancer and a cute face on Glee. Loved his segment, which it also says he wrote. Nice!

Wow. Anyone who hasn't seen this and loves dance should watch it asap!

Cheesy? Sure. But holy crap, the choreography in this show is an artistic delight. Seriously talented dancers too. If you're one of those people that watches SYTYCD but fast-forwards through everything that's not dancing, this show is for you. If you're a fan of hip-hop, break dancing and pop'n'lock, you are going to explode at the skill in this movie. I hope Season 3 showcases some different dance styles (I would have liked to see the Dark Nurse character do some more ballet besides the tiny bit of point she did in the hallways) and they always seem to work popping in to every style, but it's still really excellent. The tap dancing and stepping was a nice change of pace from the hip-hop styles, but more variety of dance would be even better. Anyway, I'm not one to let cheese get in the way of my enjoyment, so you may not like it if you don't like a bit of extra sharp cheddar. :P Think Disney-movie cheese. I would also like to see some more plot explication. I do love the dancing, but a little bit more story would be helpful to quicken the pace of the show. It seems like the story is secondary to the choreography-- if that was the intention, great. If not, more plot would help balance it better.

Think Newsies meets Heroes meets X-men meets Lost.

When i first saw a DVD of this show at my local video shop (season 1), I wasn't really interested but when i saw what the storyline was and who all the casts were on the internet, i came back the very next day and bought the DVD. This is probably one of the best series i have seen in a while. I was so intrigued that i even started to pick actors i had seen previously on Step Up 2 and Step Up 3D as well as finding out about the new upcoming dance stars. There is barely any dialogue in the whole series but that is probably the best thing about it because it tells a story not through words, but through music and dance. I have been impressed by the director, Jon Chu before (Step Up series) but this is a whole new level of entertainment. Those that enjoyed the Step up series as well as the TV Series, "So You Think You Can Dance" would really enjoy this series. Its a 10/10 from me.

What I love about this is that to get the full impact of the story you have to be able to find it in the empty spaces filled by dance. If you're waiting for it to do the work for you, sorry. You'll miss out. If you watch it, and let the dancing tell it's own story you'll enjoy this very much, I think. I know that there were points where the dancing alone made me choked up. Sure, it's not your every day expression. That's what makes it worth the effort. Dancing is under utilized these days as a way to express deep emotion, or even tell it's own story. I think to some of the older cultures and am reminded they used dance as a way to tell their stories, express their emotions, and even pass along wisdom. For me, at least, that's exactly what this does.

The LXD is an example of art in it's purest form. Yes it can be clichéd and cheesy at times but it has soul. For those of you who don't like it, hey it's you're opinion. This series has the potential for big things as well as opening doors for dancers futures all around. Jon Chu said in an interview that this was just the beginning. He has a lot more in store with dance and giving it the appreciation that it deserves. If you haven't seen The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers I would recommend that you do so! This series makes me go through an emotional roller-coaster I don't think I could ever forget.

...Dream on, stay inspired, live happily...