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Reviews
True Detective: Night Country: Part 1 (2024)
Not my True Detective
So right from the get go this feels off...
Do HBO not know? If you can't pull it off with CGI then don't bother at all.
I WAS so excited, Issa Lopez seemed like an interesting choice, Tigers Are Not Afraid, was an interesting horror. Jodie Foster is Jodie Foster, astounding as always. Fiona Shaw, John Hawkes and Christopher Eccleston, how could they go wrong?!
However, it just doesn't feel like True Detective. I was up for two female leads because it hadn't been done previously but you can't ride on that alone. The music, tone and editing are not in keeping with previous seasons. Previously there was a real moody atmosphere and sense of dread. The supernatural elements of the first season were background to the actual crime mystery. It was ambiguous and left to interpretation but here it seems front and centre.
Besides season 2, True Detective was timeless and this is very post 2020. I really don't care for contemporary issues, which I feel have been done to death at this point, unless you have something original to say don't say anything at all.
The dialogue is basic in comparison to Pizzolatto's, which was sharp and philosophical at times. I think that this is acceptable for another show but to attach the True Detective name... is just wrong. I feel like this show was on the up with the previous season, which wasn't nearly as incredible as the first but was a step in the right direction. However, I feel this may and truly be the end. In an era where shows are cancelled left right and centre, it's a cause for concern.
This is only the first episode but I just feel these issues will hinder the entire season. Never mind, it's only January so hopefully something else will come along of quality but I am deeply disappointed.
Fargo: The Useless Hand (2024)
One BIG issue
This season has been exciting to begin with and dull at its centre. The previous episodes have been better but it's almost like 10 episodes was asking too much of the writers. The characters have been varied and I can't help but think it's been weird for the sake of weird. The acting has never been poor but some of its been one dimensional to say the least.
This episode was better paced and more engaging. The overall atmosphere was interesting and the cinematography like previous episodes beautiful.
My big issue is... Dot/Nadine has shown her resourcefulness from the very start but her choice to leave her gun when entering the grave/pit was unbelievably stupid. From what her character has achieved previously this just seems like bad writing or laziness. As if... it was merely there for a bit of tension. I feel this is indicative of this entire season. Brilliance one moment and laziness another. I feel that season 1 and 2 were phenomenal, 3 was adequate and it's just been downhill from there. Typical, American shows never know when to end and always opt for more episodes, to their detriment.
The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon (2023)
Well I didn't expect that?!
Yes it's not perfect. However, this might be the best thing in TWD did since season 5 and in some ways better.
I forgot this was anything to do with "The Boring Dead" a pogwash soap opera with zombies. The cinematography for one was far better than previous seasons.
The plot though familiar was somewhat engaging. Largely because of the superior cast which was hired to work on this.
I was genuinely surprised by this, yeah there were moments that felt cringeworthy and yawn inducing.
BUT this six episode show was far better than anything we had seen in years... Norman Reedus, Clémence Poésy, Adam Nagatis and Roman Levi maybe the reason for this but the actual colour palette and style just made it refreshing. I actually feared the Walkers like I hadn't previously and gave a s*** about the characters.
Maybe it's cheaper to film in France but honestly this puts the main series and spin offs to shame.
The Book of Boba Fett (2021)
This is actually Madalorian 2.5 with some Boba Fett bonus content.
I was never the biggest Django or Boba Fett fan they just looked cool
and that was it...they both had pathetic "deaths" and never did much more. Worse than that, muddling the continuity of Mando so I am forced to watch content I had no interest in is a con. Disney will do anything for a buck and to get those streaming hours up.
My main problem with the Book of Boba Fett is largely how it damages Season 3 of Mandalorian. I had very little interest in Mandalorian a year ago. I recently gave it another chance and finished Season 2... I was so pleasantly surprised. So much emotional weight, fun and action.
However, Disney + automatically started the 3rd Season after the 2nd had finished and I was shocked to see that many plot lines and set ups from the Season 2 had already been resolved in another show which wasn't obviously connected. I was gutted to see Grogu back with Mando as if the emotional finale had never happened. I was worried I had missed an episode or two but actually I hadn't it happened in another show.
Disney + is guilty of forcing audiences to watch extra content just to keep up with the continuity. Dr Strange made little sense because I didn't watch Wandavision.
Boba Fett and the Mandalorian or Madalorian: The Book of Boba Fett would have made so much more sense. As result, I have had the continuity ruined and I have been forced to watch four episodes of mediocrity. I would of given this an even worse score if it weren't for the final episodes featuring the Madalorian. Having now seen the inconsistencies of Madalorian Season 3 would it of not been better, to have included these episodes in that season as opposed to some of what we got.
The Last of Us: Endure and Survive (2023)
Finally feels like the Last of Us
Finally an episode which was true to the game. Still wasn't a huge fan of Kathleen despite this episode fleshing out her character more. Sam speaking sign was an actually fresh deviation from the source material. Emotional, action packed and intense. This episode managed to feel like a faithful adaptation. It's just taken some time to get here. The chemistry between Ellie and Joel has taken a much better direction to some of the earlier concerns. I do feel like this episode could have been just that but better with actual violence. It's not just this show but offscreen deaths have to be done so well to have any impact. I am disappointed that HBO haven't taken full advantage of the sheer brutality of The Last of Us. It feels very watered down, otherwise a great episode.