Early this morning, Amazon Prime Video launched the action/comedy series Jean-Claude Van Johnson. The series stars action movie icon Jean-Claude Van Damme playing a parody of himself. Van Damme is out of shape and has been retired for a couple of years, but previously worked as a highly-talented international black ops agent, using his movie sets as cover while performing undercover missions as Jean-Claude Van Johnson.

After a chance meeting with ex-partner/ex-lover Vanessa (Kat Foster, The Goodwin Games, ‘Til Death), JCVD decides it’s time for him to get back in the game, and asks handler Jane (Phylicia Rashad, The Cosby Show) to assign him to Vanessa’s mission. So he heads to Bulgaria, to help stop a group of drug runners. For his cover, JCVD is starring in an action re-imagining of Huckleberry Finn. And supporting him on the mission are Vanessa—doing recon as his on-set hair stylist—and weapons expert/tech guy Luis (Moises Arias, Hannah Montana), who’s been inserted into the production crew. However, the team soon discovers that they have stumbled upon a plot much larger and more sinister than they imagined.

This series is so entertaining—it is equal parts comedy and solid action/thriller. Much of the humor comes from the overly-dramatic acting, witty dialogue, and absurd situations that arise. Jean-Claude is a hilarious, and does a great job of poking fun at himself. His character is so in love with himself, and never misses an opportunity to mention his previous work. However, sometimes JCVD starts to believe that all of the movie magic is real, and overestimates his own abilities, getting himself into trouble. Jean-Claude also plays a second character in the series, who literally had me laughing out loud.

The show is very self aware, making fun of the tropes you see in all of those action films of the late 80s/90s. The first season follows a serialized story, with interesting and unexpected twists and turns that keep you guessing. While the show is quite funny, it also provides some incredible action sequences. Jean-Claude proves that he’s still got it—using kicks, spins, splits and punches to take out the bad guys.

I can’t recommend this series highly enough—it’s a really fun and exciting romp that is definitely worth checking out. The first episode is available for free to everyone, but the rest of the season requires an Amazon Prime subscription.

This morning, Netflix dropped quite a few seasons of TV as well, including Part 2 of the animated series DreamWorks Trollhunters. I was a big fan of the first season, devouring all 26 episodes in less than 2 days. Part 2 is only 13 episodes, but still features the voice talents of the late Anton Yelchin (Star Trek) as fifteen-year-old Jim, who found a magic amulet that transformed him into the first human Trollhunter—the protector of the hidden troll world of Heartstone Trollmarket. In the first season Jim and friend Toby learned that their world was inhabited by the Gumm-Gumms. Their leader, the evil Gunmar the Black, was plotting to take over both the human and the troll worlds. The Gumm-Gumms were kidnapping humans and replacing them with Changelings. One of those who was taken was Enrique, the baby brother of Jim’s friend Claire. As the first season came to a close, Heartstone Trollmarket came under attack, and Jim’s mentor AAARRRGGHH!!! was killed. Jim felt guilty and responsible for putting his friends in danger, and so he headed off into the Darklands alone to rescue Enrique and the others. However, the only way Jim will be able to leave the Darklands is by using the three Triumbic Stones to kill Gunmar.

Will Jim be able to complete his mission? What dangers await him in the Darklands? DreamWorks Trollhunters is an exciting show that is superbly animated, and features a talented voice cast. I thoroughly enjoyed the first season and I’m excited to see what this next chapter brings for Jim and the others, and what new characters we will be introduced to. I have mixed feelings about the fact that Part 2 is only 13 episodes—I’m kind of happy because I have so many other things to watch, but also sad because this show is quite entertaining. That said, I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens in Part 2, and where the story will be left going into next year’s third/final chapter.

Tonight, I’ll also be watching/recording Wormwood and Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..

For additional suggestions on what to check out tonight, including Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. & MacGyver, check out the If We Controlled Your Remote… 12/15/17 post at TVisMyPacifier.com.