Amazing Stories episode 3, “Dynoman and the Volt,” on AppleTV+ is pure Spielberg magic, a superhero adventure story from the perspective of a kid. Although the rebooted Amazing Stories has not yet delivered any horror stories as viewers have seen in other similar episodic series such as The Twilight Zone and Black Mirror, it does continue to pay tribute to the original.
“Dynoman and the Volt” begins with Dylan (Tyler Crumley), a junior-high student who is still into comic books and Halloween. When his best friend ditches him and he’s made fun of for a photo online of him dressed up in a Batman mask, he’s understandably upset. Meanwhile, his grandfather (the late Robert Forster) is living with them while he tries to recover from an injury that keeps him from working. One day, Dylan’s grandfather gets a small package in the mail that has a ring inside it that he ordered from the back of a comic book sixty years ago. Soon, Dylan and his grandfather discover their mutual love for comic book heroes and when the ring gives Dylan’s grandfather super strength, they are amazed.
Dylan’s grandfather shows Dylan the comic book. In it, the superhero Dynoman gains three powers from the ring: strength, speed, and flight, but it only comes to him in times of need. Dylan’s grandfather uses it to go back to work and show off to the younger workers. He promises to come home that evening to go trick-or-treating with Dylan, but when he gets caught up at work he forgets. Angry at being ditched, Dylan discovers that some of the magic from the ring has transferred to shards from a table his grandfather smashed while wearing it. So, he builds himself a mask using the shards and sets out to do something that his grandfather told him he did to make himself cool and popular: put the principal’s car on the roof of the school.
What Happens In Amazing Stories: Dynoman And The Volt’s Ending
Episode 3 of Amazing Stories, “Dynoman and the Volt” ends on a classic note for comic book fans. Dylan manages to use the power from his new helmet to get the principal’s car up to the roof of the school, but only just. Then, while it teeters on the edge of the roof, he opens one of the car’s doors and tries to push it from the inside but his helmet falls off and smashes on the sidewalk below. He becomes trapped inside the car as it tips on the verge of falling.
After being scolded by Dylan’s father, the power in the ring abandons Dylan’s grandfather. He then discovers signs of what Dylan has done in the workshop and goes after his grandson to save him, despite no longer having superpowers. He gets to the school and tries to save Dylan, but instead becomes trapped in the car with him just as it is about to plunge over the roof. Just as the car begins to fall, Dylan’s father catches the car and lifts it back up onto the roof, saving them. In disbelief, Dylan’s father realizes that the ring came to him just when he needed it. Together, they bury the ring in the yard since they no longer need it. As they are walking away, however, a sprout grows quickly from the earth where the ring is buried and begins to glow.
What Can The Dyno-Tree Do?
While “Dynoman and the Volt” is a fairly self-explanatory story, the big question that remains is: what can the tree that’s growing from Dynoman’s ring do? Throughout the episode, the ring provides three different powers. First, it gives Dylan’s grandfather the strength to go back to work and lift heavy things. Second, it provides him the speed to run to Dylan’s school and back again during his lunch break. Finally, it enables Dylan’s dad to fly so he can catch the principal’s car as it is falling. Given these three attributes, what sort of things might the tree be able to do as it grows larger?
The tree is likely to be very strong, and might not be able to be broken or chopped down. It’s also likely to grow very fast, as even the sprout grew from the soil in a matter of seconds. As far as the ability to fly is concerned, will the tree lift out of the ground and float away? Perhaps it will bear fruit that, when eaten, will give people the abilities of flight, speed, and strength. What this could mean for Dylan’s family remains a mystery.
Dynoman And The Volt Pays Tribute To Robert Forster
One of the things that makes this episode of Amazing Stories so special is that it is one of Robert Forster’s last performances before he passed away. Forster is most known for his roles in Quentin Tarantino’s Jackie Brown (for which he was nominated for an Academy Award), as well as various television roles in shows such as Heroes, Twin Peaks, and Breaking Bad. “Dynoman and the Volt” is dedicated to him. Despite the episode being about Dylan, Forster’s role as the grandfather steals the show. He portrays an aging man who has lived a tough life filled with a lot of responsibility and does a masterful job representing an older generation. The fact that the episode is an adventure story with a lot of heart serves his memory well.
Amazing Stories: Dynoman And The Volt’s Real Meaning
Amazing Stories episode 3, “Dynoman and the Volt,” touches on themes of family, aging, and the idea that strength will come when you need it most. In the episode, Dylan’s grandfather uses Dynoman’s ring to give him the strength to prove to the world that he’s not done yet. Through his experiences, he’s able to learn to accept his age and to spend his time connecting with his family. Similarly, the ring comes to Dylan’s dad just when he needs it to save the lives of his family members. Although, in this case, their strength may come from a magic ring, this plot device highlights the idea that even when things are hard in life, people find the will to go on.
This episode is pure Spielberg magic in the tradition of classic movies of his such as The Goonies (1985) and E.T. (1982). It is told from the perspective of a child (Dylan) and features action, adventure, and magic. If Amazing Stories continues to deliver episodes of this caliber, it may yet find a larger audience other than those nostalgic for the original despite critical reviews.
