This series was definitely ahead of it's time. Sure it's derivative... there are parallels and outright swipes from the Batman mythos, but it actually has more in common with an obscure Marvel hero called "The Shroud." It's compelling and you really care about the characters. This was a serious attempt at a super-hero show -- without camp ala Batman 1966 -- before such renditions became en vogue -- ala the Marvel Cinematic Universe. (Which is still over-ripe with camp, in my opinion.) Granted... it would be cooler if the hero had a better name... but they do go to great lengths to explain why he's called "The Cape." (Again, echoes of "The Shroud.") The real pisser here -- *SPOILER ALERT* -- is that there is no ending. No resolution whatsoever and we were left hanging. Even though they tried to wrap it up with a final web episode, you will be very angry that the show ends with so many plot threads left untied and when there were some really interesting things developing between some of the characters that could have lead in any number of directions. All that said, it is worth a watch if you are looking for something a little different than the wham-bang-crap-blowing-up-every-5-minutes-cgi-fests that are currently passing for comic book (inspired) movies.

Just finished the series. The series is not bad, so far as it went. It is unfortunate that just as things were heating up and getting especially interesting that the series ended. For that I should give it two stars. The first few episodes were kind of ho hum, but after that we started getting into it and rather enjoyed it as a whole. Wish there was more. Wish the writers and actors could have at least brought closure to some of the dangling plot lines. Shame on the producers parts or whoever makes these decisions. The episodes are clean and there is no sex. Don't think I noticed foul language either. That doesn't rate high in the minds of many people these days, but it does in our home.

I liked parts of this show, but maybe it just didn't have enough time to get in it's groove.
Sort of tried to be 'what if there was a real superhero', and add some almost campy villains to the mix.
I think this was more along the lines of Hercules/Xena saturday afternoon serial and should have been done for that and it might have at least made a full season, but this lowly eight episodes, NBC must have pulled the plug after the dailies came in from the pilot.
Instead it was done as a 'crime procedural', which doesn't work.
At least they guy didn't go around complaining about how stupid costumes are.

The Cape is a lot like the CW's Arrow but it just wasn't given a chance by NBC. It did premier in the Summer and we all know a show has to be really great to survive a Mid-Season premier.
A policeman in a corrupt police force taken over by a privet firm who's CEO is an arch villain is seemingly killed for being that arch villain. He is aided in his recuperation by a band of misfit thieves calling themselves the Carnival of Crime. After the ringmaster teaches him how to use a cape with special powers an alliance is formed. Vince Faraday, the policeman, adopts the name of his son's favorite comic book character The Cape and goes after the arch villain Chess. The Cape is aided in his crusade by a mysterious, beautiful computer geek whose skills help him keep his eyes on the workings of the arch villain with the dual personality, Chess. The story-line has a resolution but the series has no conclusion. The Cape is still after Chess and Orwell remains a mystery, who are her parents and what dark secrets does she hide. If you like Arrow or Batman's Dark Knight series you'll like this. There's plenty of action -- fist fights, gunfights, explosions -- and the special effects are up to the best 2010's standards as well as costumes, props and sets. David Lyons , The Cape, was Sebation Monroe on Revolution and James Frain is Eric Renard on Grimm.

The first rule of any good super-hero t.v. show: the audience wants to see the super-hero, as much as possible and for as long as possible, come on in and save the day and do great heroic things (set to a rousing and heroic musical score).

It's so funny how most t.v. show producers/writers completely keep forgetting about that one very simple golden rule. Especially right here on THE CAPE television series.

The first episode(the pilot episode) of THE CAPE was truly fantastic and gets 4 humungous big stars! Plus, I really loved KEITH DAVID'S(DISNEY'S:THE PRINCESS & THE FROG) haunting portrayal of MAX MELINI, the leader of the Carnival of Crime! Another great reason for the 4 star ratings.

Sadly,though, the rest of the remaining 9 episodes of THE CAPE were nowhere near as fun as the first episode. On an average 39 minute episode, VINCE FARADAY (DAVID LYONS) was only in his dark super-hero outfit doing heroic deeds for like about 6 minutes or so. The other minutes of this show are just grossly invested on all this set-up and character building. Many's a time, while watching THE CAPE, I kept wanting for there to be less talking and way more super-hero action and fighting.

I mean, THE CAPE character declared all-out war on the insanely corrupt police force in Palm City! Half of this show should've been about THE CAPE busting corrupt ARK Corps. cops on the take, rescuing kids from burning buildings, fighting real super villains with real powers,storming drug houses, gliding over rooftops and dodging ARK helicopter gunfire, and slamming gang members against brick walls and then disappearing back into the shadows.

Like the NBC t.v. series before it, HEROES, THE CAPE just wasted too much time on set-up and character building and bored and exhausted it's audience away. Us comic book/super-hero fans are tuning in for cool action and hot super-powers. Not 40 minute talk-fests. Remember this: A way-too chatty girl-friend is an ex girl-friend waiting to happen.

Plus, I could already tell from just from these 10 episodes alone on this disc that the writers/producers of this show was just going to drag and drag this "THE CAPE vs. the villain, CHESS, and the crooked cops of Palm City" thing on out for like another 2-3 seasons. THE CAPE should've taken down CHESS in just one season and then kept moving on to even bigger and badder villains per episode and per season. Now that's how you do a great super-hero t.v. show, baby!

Still, I do say to please check this series out just for KEITH DAVID'S spectacular performance and a few other cool super hero moments that'll bring a smile to a COMIC-CON fan-boy's lips!

The cake was really good in it's short life span on television. NBC wanted a hit right off the bat did you really did not give this show a chance it had to grow but you know how TB is active if they don't get 18 million viewers every week they will pull the plug on a show. This show had great actor it had a good story and an original character it really should have lived longer. The DVD is really priced well and I think you should pick it up if you are into superheroes you will not be disappointed by this show I do recommend it in for this price it's a good buy.

I wish I could give proper credit to the author of the above quote, but it has been eleven years. I can't explain that review, but I felt it. It makes sense if you've seen this show. Basically a good cop is framed as a super criminal and every thinks he is dead. He is rescued by Keith David who runs the Carnival of Crime. Keith gives the cop a very special cape that he can use to get vengeance and clear his name. Coincidentally, the cop and his son bonded over reading a comic book about a Batman-like super hero vigilante called The Cape so he assumes that identity. He gets help on the tech side from Summer Glau. There are plot holes a plenty, some questionable performances, but it's only 10 episodes.

Hi,

I normally enjoy superhero movies and series, but this one didn't live up to the standard for me. Don't get me right its still an enjoyable ride, but it could have been so much better.

To begin with I was left unmoved by the hero's decision to put on the cape, it seemed like a silly device for a cop with a gun to use, and though it comes with some cool tricks, it can stretch out and hook things, grab things, and help him be sort of bullet proof, quite frankly a gun like punisher would have been so much more logical. Having said that our hero is a likeable enough sort and for the most part part he carries the show.

On the sadder side were the other members of the production. His family were nice enough, but the gooey sentimentality that kept interrupting the show, slowed things down immensely and just made it harder to watch. The circus (carnivale of crime) though were more difficult to follow. No matter how I tried I couldn't get my head around who they were or why they did what they did. At one point right at the start they rescue our hero and want him to help them. Then because he's not the truly evil murdering bad guy they thought he was, they want to run him out to the desert and cut his head and hands off. Then when he gives them a key card, the boss takes him in, gives him the cape and starts training him in the art of illusion. Their motivations were all over the place. Possibly this was intentional and would have been explained had the series continued. But as it was they just confused me.

The action though was good, the special effects with the dissappearing gas bombs good, and had our hero been just a touch more tough (had he been Batman for example) it could have been really swinging.

I wanted to give it three and a half stars, a sort of good but could do better, but Amazon only allows three or four so I boosted it to four.