The CW's Tom Swift can't overcome its clichés, even with a charismatic star

[TMC]

https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/tom...ew-1235279990/

"As played with slick charm by (Tian) Richards, Tom is a Black, gay, brilliant inventor whose tendency to declare himself the center of everyone’s universe belies his deep need to be loved, trusted, and accepted," says Caroline Framke of the Nancy Drew spinoff. "When the show leans into this more personal conflict, thus allowing Richards to deepen his performance and character, it works. Outside its flawed hero, though, Tom Swift suffers from a surprising lack of imagination given all the ostensibly impressive innovation at the heart of the Swift empire. Too many of the actual inventions get lost in made-up jargon, while attempts at conveying Tom’s untouchable cool... end up feeling very, 'how do you do, fellow kids.'"