The 'Inhumans' Stars Are Feeling Like the Sad Ben Affleck Meme After the TCA Press Tour

As any Marvel fan will know, Marvel's Inhumans has had a rough few days. The cast came out in force at ABC's showcase at the Television Critics Association summer tour, but it doesn't sound as though the critics pulled any punches. It all led to Anson Mount, who's playing Black Bolt on the show, making a quip that will resonate with any meme fan.

"You're making me feel like Ben Affleck right now."

The Sad Ben Affleck Meme Seems Appropriate

The Ben Affleck meme which Mount was referring to sprung up shortly after the controversial release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, when Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill were interviewed about the film. Cavill discussed his arc in detail, while Affleck sat in silence. It didn't take long for one YouTuber to dub Simon and Garfunkel's 'Sound of Silence' over the interview, whilst zooming in on Affleck's glum expression. From there, the photo became a popular meme in its own right.

You can see exactly what Anson Mount is getting at. Fan reaction to the first Inhumans trailer was disappointing to say the least, with complaints focusing on the poor CGI for Medusa's hair. Critics have now seen the first episode, and their reaction has hardly been inspiring; only one brief review has so far been posted online, and it was pretty harsh. The review was pulled for breaking embargo, but by all accounts other critics don't seem to have been impressed with the first episode either, and they seem to have expressed their displeasure at the TCA.

Reports suggest that the panel was so awkward, ABC actually cut it a few minutes early.

It would take a heart of stone not to be moved by Anson Mount's comparison. Inhumans is generating the kind of controversy that everyone involved will be struggling to deal with. But there may still be a sliver of hope; Jeph Loeb defended the show by arguing that they're working to respond to the critical reviews.

"I can tell you that [the reviews were] written on the material that you were given that the show that you have seen is not the finished product. If you’re asking me whether or not it was done, it’s not."

His comment was supported by ABC President Channing Dungey, who made a similar observation:

"I think that the episode that you guys have seen is still a bit of a work in progress. We are still a month away from final air, but I do feel like there’s great opportunity there as well."

You can see dramatic evidence that the show is improving if you contrast the first Inhumans trailer with the one released at SDCC. You can easily see the difference in quality, and even the CGI is dramatically improved. Less than a month from release, it seems the show is still something of a work in progress. The clock is ticking on this particular #Marvel show, and Jeph Loeb and Channing Dungey suggest they're cutting it close.

Right now, the Sad Affleck meme really does seem to be a fairly appropriate response for the cast and crew, but as the old saying goes, "it ain't over till the fat lady sings." Marvel Television's crew are still working hard to make this right. On September 1st, at IMAX cinemas worldwide, we'll get the chance to see if they've succeeded.

(Sources: ComicBook.com, Sabconth, Variety)