Change Your Image
bobcobb301
Reviews
Ring of Honor Wrestling: ROH on HonorClub #64 (2024)
May 16
Wrestling continues to be in a downward spiral right now and it is really disappointing because ROH has some good talent at their disposal.
Rachael Ellering and Skye Blue had a decent match, but I know both are capable of better. Thankfully, the production team was able to drown out some of the rumored inappropriate comments made during the bout.
Jay Lethal back in ROH is a good thing, but not in this role. He should be in the main event of the next PPV facing Mark Briscoe for the title.
Athena vs. Queen Aminata should be good, but hopefully Athena retains. Not nearly time for her title reign to end.
The Conners: Flying, Applying and Rassling Gators (2024)
Flying, Applying
Dan getting in fights felt very reminiscent of Roseanne and the episode where he got revenge for Fisher hurting Jackie, but I wish we could have actually seen a punch get thrown.
For a show that is very dated and behind the times, seeing them tackle flight controversy actually felt current. This is still going on and is not going to stop anytime soon.
The Mark story is a little bit underwhelming, but I just don't care about his highs or his lows. I don't really agree with Darlene that telling him was a good thing though. It is better to not know and wonder, but that's just my opinion. Not a parent so I'm indifferent.
The Big Door Prize: Night Under the Stars (2024)
Episode 205
"Night Under the Stars" seemed like it wrapped up most of the relationships and put them in a good place, except for the one with the two leads.
There was some good comedy thrown in and as someone who has battled some gambling issues over the years, it is appreciated that they can poke fun at that, but not quite as memorable as some other episodes this year.
The show is in a good position though. Very few of the half hours feel like a letdown and I feel like you get a lot each and every week.
More people need to start watching the show, but if that does not happen then I am fine keeping this as a secret gem.
American Idol: The Search for a Superstar: 718 (Grand Finale) (2024)
Finale
I feel like Abi Carter was destined to win the show. She isn't who I would choose, but I can't necessarily argue it was the wrong move. I would have picked Emmy Russell, but out of the final three Will probably should have gotten the nod.
There was a nice variety of guest performers too, which was good to see. For The Voice they usually go all current acts that are boring and maybe one nostalgia one. This was a good mix and they seemed to find some natural fits for the talent.
Okay finale, not the strongest group of talent in the top 3, but it was a fun season as a whole. Feel like a slight reboot might be best ahead of next year though.
Law & Order: Organized Crime: Redcoat (2024)
Redcoat
I am glad that the farm storyline is over. This wasn't that bad, but it never seemed to really make any sense. Stabler took down a heroin ring instead of avenging a teammate's death? The operative would have been called off as soon as he showed up dead.
I also wonder why the police didn't just rush in earlier. Is nearly killing a cop really any worse than the one they actually killed?
This show is having a decent fourth season, but far too often it feels like you have to throw logic completely out the window with this show and that is really disappointing. Still fun to watch every Thursday though.
Law & Order: Organized Crime: Goodnight (2024)
Goodnight
We knew that Joe was going to get free, and then we knew it would be to try and help Elliott. We have all seen too much TV to wonder anything differently.
But this was still a solid episode. Some laughs thrown in and it just feels a bit edgier than the other two Law and Orders. The move to Peacock feels natural, even if it does mean the crossovers will probably not be as often.
I just have to wonder how Stabler can consistently go undercover in these different organizations. No one recognizes him as a cop, or even as an undercover from a competing or rival gang? I am not buying that they do not do that research.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Prima Nocta (2024)
Prima Nocta
This was an okay episode of SVU, but one thing I like about what this season has given us is that we are getting a closer look at how the team finally cracks what is going on.
Most of us at home that have watched a procedural or two could easily tell that it was going to be something related to the wedding planner or the flower delivery, but seeing the team slowly get it felt different than how SVU usually does. Having the stepmother be clever and protect him was a nice change of pace too, as too often these people are easily manipulated by police.
Good, but not a memorable or standout episode.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Marauder (2024)
Marauder
It was good to see the team go a little bit off the book and go through some cold cases. It was funny when the old attacker tried to make a run for it in his house when we knew he could not get away.
But having Sykes' sister not turn up alive, or really any of them turn up alive, it just seemed odd to do this now. I don't even know if Sykes is going to come back to the show, so why rush this kind of resolution.
Are there really cops out there that get haunted by past cases and keep boards of the details around them in their basements long after retiring? Or is that just a thing done on television?
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Duty to Hope (2024)
Duty to Hope
Fin going out of his way to protect the son shooting him felt like something we'd see on Walker Texas Ranger or a police show of yesteryear, but it did not really work here.
The bulk of this episode just felt really all over the place. Not sure a new DA butting heads with SVU and Carisi is what this show needs heading into next season, but I expect that to be the case.
It was a solid episode, but just a little too corny here. Having another hostage crisis so soon after the last one on SVU just felt a little tacky and a little bit lazy from the writing team, but that's just my humble opinion.
AEW Collision: Bust Em Up (2024)
May 11
I cannot take this long Adam Copeland matches anymore. I disliked them in WWE and they are worse here. This is not elevating the opposing talent, and Tony Schiavone calling Kyle O'Reilly "kid" felt a little strange.
Tommy Billington had a breakout performance here. He has a lot of work to do, but it would be good for AEW to slowly build up someone like this. Not sure if it was a one off or not.
I'm a fan of Thunder Rosa and Robyn Renegade, but the match did not quite work here.
Will Ospreay remains one of the best wrestlers in the world and having a match like this proves there isn't an ego there which is a positive sign.
All Elite Wrestling: Rampage: Episode #4.7 (2024)
May 11
Most of these matches were good on paper, but they all just felt like squash bouts. They ran too long, but they didn't give the underdog a chance to win.
Deonna Purrazzo and Lady Frost both should be on TV every single week, but I'll take what I can get here.
Dalton Castle is loved by the AEW audience and has a unique gimmick, but for some reason Tony Khan keeps him solely in ROH. I don't really get it at all.
Johnny TV finally getting on AEW TV is a positive sign, but we know he'll never get a push here. Such a disappointment and a rare case where maybe he would be better off if he could get back to WWE somehow.
Halo: Onyx (2024)
Episode 6
The sixth episode of the second season was titled "Onyx" and we finally got a little bit of action, we finally got a "slam" or two, to make a dated rap reference. John going bezerk and fighting for what he believes in and letting the viewer know the stakes of what is going on is what works about this show.
We do not need all the heavy emotional stuff. That is not what the video game was about, I don't think that's what the fans want, and it is not even well done.
Just give us simple storylines with clear good guys and bad guys and let them battle it out to see who wins it all in the end. Not complicated.
Halo: Thermopylae (2024)
Episode 7
You can give the episode a cool title like "
Thermopylae" but you have to actually give us a reason to care about everything. This was way too much talking and dragging on and not nearly enough action or storyline development.
The whole point of John was that he was not this deep character, but that's way too much of what they gave us here.
I see a lot of people talking about the CGI and graphics and directing, but I don't really waste too much time worrying about stuff like that. It all seems pretty impressive to me, but the content is what I care about and the content did not work here tonight.
Halo: Halo (2024)
Episode 208
If this is not the series finale of this show, they might want to reconsider.
This season has had a few good moments, but for the most part it has just been disaster after disaster. It just feels boring and it feels like it is dragging on and on.
I guess the virus bit was okay, but we have had so many other shows fully focus on this that I don't think anyone wants to see Halo donate significant time to covering this.
And for all of the random action and battle sequences we have had throughout the show's second season, this one was surprisingly light on the action on that front. That was odd.
All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite: Episode #6.20 (2024)
May 15
I am sure people are going to whine about Jeff Cobb being in the opening tag without much build, but he adds credibility to the show and has a style that works with this audience. I feel like he probably will end up in AEW soon, but I wish somehow it could be as a Matanza Cueto.
Another Anarchy in the Arena does not seem like the best idea, but AEW is committed to this concept.
The Willow and Mercedes segment was better than their last one, but it still is not really connecting. It is clear a full Mercedes heel turn is coming, but I'd rather have Willow retain the title than get that at Double or Nothing.
General Hospital: Episode #1.15535 (2024)
May 16
Wedding episodes of soaps do not have the same kind of pull or power that they used to, but this one was actually surprisingly well done. It was not between major characters, so maybe that helped, but this was solid from start to finish.
Having Gregory struggle with his health and then power through and then the emotional speeches by Brooklyn and Chase both felt special.
The right amount of balance and family drama, while not being too over the top, once the actual ceremony was over too. And then a cute little song at the end.
GH may not be great right now, but this was a pretty good episode.
Mr. Birchum: Welcome Back, Birchum! (2024)
Episode 1
You can definitely argue that we need an "un-woke" show on TV, but this is like a parody of how a Democratic operative would do it.
The jokes are painfully unfunny and everything about this feels completely dated. Megyn Kelly may be good as a commentator, but her work as the mother here left a lot to be desired.
It doesn't seem like the lead character has a coherent thought too. He is just growling all the time.
Brett Cooper playing the daughter is one of the few standouts here, but no surprise as she has more acting experience than almost everyone else on the show.
This needs a whole lot of work though.
The Big Door Prize: Storytellers (2024)
Storytellers
We were overdue for a gay character with a sad or romantic backstory and now we got that here. This was not good or bad because of that, I couldn't care less, but I feel like this didn't really do much and didn't answer any longstanding questions.
The rest of the show was pretty good though and The Big Door Prize continues to be delivering strong for Apple TV+.
Stick with more comedy though. I want the personal growth and to see what the next stage for the machine really is, but I feel like they need to tap into the comedy and use the cast to its fullest potential to create the best episodes possible.
NWA Powerrr: Episode #17.6 (2024)
May 14
Vampiro can still cut decent promos, but I don't know why they are not giving him real storylines. Feuding with The Insane Clown Posse, and now trying to lure Natalia Markova to the dark side is just not a good use of him.
EC3 vs. Thrillbilly Silas is one of the few money matches that NWA has left. This was not great, but it did have the feel of an old school NWA Title match, which comes with its highs and lows.
This show is a fine watch and there really aren't many other wrestling shows really delivering right now, so I guess it is consistent. I feel like Billy Corgan could be doing much better though.
The Big Door Prize: Power & Energy (2024)
Episode 3
Apple TV giving us three episodes at a time for most premieres works and it really helped here as we learned a lot more about the characters. We had a lot of funny moments here, but this show is smart enough to tackle a sitcom-y premise of Dusty going on a date/non date and still do it in their own way.
Jacob and Trina going through the highs and lows of relationships was good too. They write the teenage characters a little bit awkwardly, but they make us care and it does not feel like a significant shift from how the adults are presented.
Wish a lot more people would discover and start watching this great show.
American Idol: The Search for a Superstar: 717 (Disney Night) (2024)
Disney Night
I feel like this is too late in the game for Disney Night as it forces the contestants out of their element to an extent. Right now they should just be preparing for their absolute best songs and we did not get that here.
I knew the deck was stacked against her with the song choices, but unfortunately Emmy Russell did not advance here. I think she is better than the three that did move on to the finale, but she certainly has a shot at a career post-American Idol regardless.
Excited for the finale, not at all sure who is going to win, and I guess that will make for an exciting final episode next Sunday.
The Big Door Prize: Visions (2024)
Visions
Trina does such a good job in the challenging role of playing the daughter on a comedy that is really more about the parents. The actress doe sa good job of balancing teenage angst while being sensible at times.
Dusty excitedly reiterating their desire to do the ridiculous "self-ploration" was a laugh out loud moment though.
I know that this show is not going to be for everyone, but so far I am thoroughly enjoying the second season. I was worried that they might not have a story any more with us learning the cards don't mean much, but they have surely found a way to keep us guessing what comes next.
The Big Door Prize: The Next Stage (2024)
The Next Stage
I enjyoed the first season of The Big Door Prize, but also did feel like there were a lot of missed opportunities throughout. It seems like they are going to deeper into the backstory of a lot of characters and this episode turned out to be thoroughly enjoyable despite me not being a particularly huge fan of Hana at first. She has grown on me though and I liked a little bit of explanation of where these Orfo machines come from.
I feel like the show should pick a lane and lean a lot more comedy or a lot more drama instead of towing the line of both, but this is a good start to the new season for sure.
Ring of Honor Wrestling: ROH on HonorClub #63 (2024)
May 9
ROH is usually the best weekly wrestling program, I feel like I say that almost every week, but not this week yet again. They are spotlighting a lot of good female talent, but the matches are just not delivering.
It feels like Billie Starkz has lost a lot of momentum since winning the TV Title.
The Righteous need a rebrand or something fresh because they are just not connecting. They are just being used as any other team and it does not really make a lot of sense.
Glad to see Lady Frost getting TV time though. ROH gives the women a chance, but we need a better booked show than we are getting.
Star Trek: Discovery: Mirrors (2024)
Mirrors
Star Trek Discovery continues to drag its feet for the final season of this show. This was arguably the first big show for Paramount+ and it feels like it is going downhill and down fast.
Michael Burnham will go down as a good TV character, but the rest of the cast really feels forgettable as we saw here. I don't know if that is by design or if the supporting cast is just not intriguing at all.
We need some better premises though and having these interoffice politics at play and acting like things really matter or are a big deal when it comes to who is second chair, who is third chair, it just doesn't matter.