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Reviews
The White Lotus: Departures (2021)
The White Lotus - Departures
What's very interesting about this show is that, while there is no real hero or villain, the people that you least expect to get a happy ending, do, while the people you root for the most and want them to get a happy ending, don't. I'm specifically referring to Belinda, Paula, and Rachel. Each of these women are sort of the punching bag in their respective scenarios: Paula is needlessly trying to survive the Mossbachers and keep her head above water, Rachel is suffocating in her marriage and Belinda is just trying to survive while trying everything possible to make her dream, the one she's been working years for, come true.
In the end, each of these women don't get ahead, but instead end up right back in the same place. Belinda, after having her business proposal shut down by Tanya, comes to the realization that her dream may never come true and that she may only ever get stuck serving rich people. Paula, who gets in a fight with Olivia about how she's only a prop to get 'woke' points from everyone around her, succumbs to the fact that her friendship with rich, snooty Olivia will always be one-sided. Rachel, who recognizes that she doesn't just want to be a trophy wife, willingly accepts her place as Shane's arm candy and plasters a fake smile on her defeated face. Ultimately, the women we root for to overcome their tribulations end up giving into it, while the characters who started off , like wealthy Mark and Nicole, Tanya, and Shane, only end up MORE well off than they were before. Shane finally overpowers his wife and gets her to come crawling back. Tanya, after crushing Belinda's dreams, finds herself a new man, finally lets her mother go, and finds a sliver of happiness. Mark and Nicole rekindle their rocky relationship for the time being and ignore everything else.
As a viewer, I try to relieve myself of any great expectations but with this show that was hard to do, because I really got attached to these characters and wanted to see some of them find happiness or success, and others a reality check. All in all, I thought it was a compelling and addictive story, and I'm excited to see where season two takes us.
Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Kamino Lost (2021)
Everything a finale should be
This finale ends where the season begins: with Clone Force 99, all five of them, on Kamino. Yet we end in an entirely different place. All of them, over the course of the season, have become different people with different values, but discover that they still all need each other. People will say this finale is disappointing, but I'll be the first to disagree. This finale holds more emotional depth and nuance than arguably any episode before, and reinforces the idea that the Bad Batch can survive anything together. I'm really excited to see where their journey takes them in season 2.
Shameless: Father Frank, Full of Grace (2021)
A lot of people are gonna be angry, but it doesn't mean it's not a fitting ending.
This show did a lot in its run, and gained a large fan base, and as sad as we all are to say goodbye to the beloved Gallagher family, I think this show ended how it needed to. We ended the way we came in, with a celebration of life, family, and the Southside. Although it might've been nice to see a few familiar faces or see a few things play out differently, I'm glad they stick to their roots and didn't change who they were for the sake of anybody. I know a lot of people wanted this whole big finale type ordeal but I think true fans will recognize that this ended how it needed to, and who knows... maybe we'll see the Gallagher clan again someday.
Genera+ion (2021)
WATCH IT BEFORE YOU JUDGE IT
Genuinely enjoyed it. Pretty accurate depiction of teens in today's society, which I heavily related to. Don't listen to the bad reviews. Watch it for yourself before you judge.
WandaVision: The Series Finale (2021)
satisfying ending
I feel like a lot of people are only hating on this because they listened to a all of the fake hoaxes and theories on YouTube about possible cameos and alternate endings that were completely wrong. In my opinion, I think they did a great job wrapping up the story for the characters while leaving a bunch of things open for many more adventures in the future.
Superstore: Employee Appreciation Day (2019)
Fantastic
What this episode does best is showcase the relationships between everyone and just how much they love each other. Every aspect of it was just funny and heartbreaking at the same time. So great!!
A Teacher: Episode 10 (2020)
Decent Actors + Bland Story/Finale = Conflicted.
This finale leaves me conflicted for a number of reasons: on one hand, it gives me a sense of closure to see where the characters end up after 10 years and what the situation has done to each of them, but on the other hand, it still feels VERY unfinished (not to mention the episode itself feels very bland and all over the place).
I'm mostly angered by the lack of character development in the show, especially considering the fact that the finale takes us 10 years into the future and the main characters are almost the exact same people that they were in the very beginning, motive-wise. While Eric has learned and changed a bit, Claire hasn't changed at all, besides being a mom. She doesn't take responsibility for her part in their relationship and puts all the blame on Eric ("I should've never let YOU kiss me... I should've never let YOU take it that far...) even though she is just as much at fault as he is, if not more at fault. Eric isn't innocent but at least he owns what he did and has grown from it while Claire develops a "woe is me" victim attitude and fails to grow at all.
There are good parts within it, especially the performances of Nick Robinson and Kate Mara, but most of those parts get overshadowed by the messiness, dryness and weakness of the entire episode. Sadly, I was left dissatisfied.
Rating: 5/10 stars
Grand Army (2020)
BLOWN AWAY...
A show that correctly reflects the real life adolescent experience is something I've been looking for and this show is IT! The design, writing, depth and more had me hooked from the very beginning. I highly recommend it.
9-1-1: Lone Star (2020)
woah
This, like the original 911, kept me engaged the entire way through and had total wow moments throughout the episode. This season is going to be sooooo good!!
AJ and the Queen (2020)
this show is GOLD !!
I binged all the episodes and they are all amazing. I love seeing RuPaul. Both him and Izzy G are great as AJ and Ruby Red. This show is hilarious, dramatic, emotional, relatable and overall GLAMOROUS! I hope this gets a season 2, 3,4, and 5! It definitely deserves it.
Harriet (2019)
CYNTHIA ERIVO IS GLORIOUS
Cynthia Erivo brings a fiery and mournful passion to the woman who was Harriet Tubman, and she does it spectacularly.
If there is any reason to watch this movie, it is her performance. No matter historical accuracy, this is a great film, and her performance is one for the books.
Living with Yourself (2019)
FINISHED IT IN ONE DAY (if you're a fan of Santa Clarita Diet, this is for you...)
I've been looking for an offbeat dark comedy since Santa Clarita Diet and I finally found it! Paul Rudd is stellar and brilliantly portrays both characters. The style, tone, and writing are all charming and intriguing. I definitely recommend this if you are a fan of Santa Clarita Diet and other notable works of Paul Rudd. It's fantastic and I hope it gets picked up for season 2!!!
The A List (2018)
Pleasantly Surprised but Thoroughly Enjoyed
I loved this show. It reminded me of the teen mystery shows I used to love as a kid. Like House of Anubis, which was my favorite, and it reminds me of it so much! I was skeptical about the first episode but now I love it so much! Give it a chance....
Amphibia (2019)
LOVE THIS AFTER THE VERY FIRST EPISODE!!!!
If you're a fan of Gravity Falls and Star vs. the Forces of Evil, then you'll love this show. It has the humor of both shows, the mystery of Gravity Falls, the wonder of SVTFOE, but it's its own type of special. I definitely recommend fans to watch it and fall in love. If you're suffering from extreme Gravity Falls and SVTFOE withdrawal, then definitely watch this!!!!!
The Perfect Date (2019)
DONT LISTEN TO THE BAD REVIEWS!!!!
Develop your own opinion on the film. I for one loved the chemistry between the two leads and the goofy antics that come along with it. Although this is a bit predictable that doesn't make it any less enjoyable or fun or spontaneous. Please don't avoid it b/c bad reviews tell you to...
The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
IGNORE THE CRITICS AT ALL COSTS!!!
This movie was a fantastic film to sit down and watch. I found myself emotional, on the edge of my seat, scared and excited. All critics HATE Christmas movies but I for one loved this. Kurt Russell makes a fantastic Santa and the story blends well while also moving at a good pace. Watch it or not, this is a good one to treasure this Holiday Season.
The Princess Switch (2018)
DONT LISTEN TO THE BAD REVIEWS !!!
I loved it and was a great "sitting-in, down-time, relaxing" kind of movie. What's with the bad reviews?
Yes, the idea of identical people meeting and switching places MAY seem a bit played out but this movie has its own charm to it.
And to all the bad reviews, it's ok if you didn't like it, but I did. I think others should give it a shot as well. I mean, who can turn down a Christmas movie?
Cloak & Dagger: Lotus Eaters (2018)
The infamous Cloak and Dagger team is finally formed.
In this episode, Tandy and Tyrone have to work together to free the survivor of the Roxxon Rig Explosion from his own mind.
After 8 years, they see that the man, Ivan Hess, is repeatedly living the events leading up to the explosion: Grabbing a cookie made by his daughter, Mina Hess, taking a phone call from an angry man, and watching as the red distress signal blasts through the rig. In a matter of minutes, the first explosion goes off and then comes the explosion that kills the crew blows everything up. It all repeats again.
Once Tandy and Tyrone enter his mind, they do everything that they can do in order to piece together everything that went down right before the explosion, but Tandy soon realizes that the angry man on the phone is her father, Nathan Bowen. She also realizes that Ivan was the last person he talked to in the car the night of the explosion. She is overwhelmed with emotions and forgets the mission that she came here to accomplish. She then refuses to aid Tyrone in their quest to stop the explosion but instead tricks Tyrone into exiting Ivan's subconscious and leaving her their to talk to her father.
Once Tyrone realizes that he has been tricked, he jumps back into Ivan's mind in order to convince Tandy to help him. Once inside, he finds Tandy alone and seemingly bored, waiting for her father to call. Tyrone asks her how long has she been their, but she suddenly conjures a dagger from her hand and kills one of the monsters/crew workers attacking them. Tyrone, confused by Tandy's actions, asks again and she answers that she has stopped taking count after about 200 repeats of the explosion. This means that Tandy has been trapped reliving this experience just like Ivan has been. Tyrone also realizes that the only thing tethering Tandy to this world is the phone call that she receives from her father. In order to break Tandy from this, Tyrone interrupts the phone call and pleads for her to stop. The explosion occurs and they are back to where they started, with Tandy waiting for the call. Tyrone threatens to hang up the phone every time her father calls until she snaps out of it, but Tandy, fed up, conjures a dagger and threatens Tyrone as well. She throws a dagger but Tyrone cloaks away. He tries to reason with her but she keeps throwing daggers until finally he gives up and makes a proposition. He will leave her there to keep talking to her father as long as she answers the phone and asks him one question only her father would know. She reluctantly agrees.
The phone rings as the distress signal is still blaring and Tandy picks up. She asks her dad the question: who is in the backseat of the car with him. If it really is her father, she knows that he would answer Tandy, but instead he answers that no one is in the backseat. Realizing that Tyrone is right, she hangs up and the explosion occurs once again.
Tyrone and Tandy decide to snap Ivan out too, by reminding him that the cookie he always picks up at the start of each repeating event was made by his daughter, Mina. He denies this at first but Tandy convinced him by saying that Mina put a secret ingredient in the cookie for him to find out. He remembers. He recounts that morning and how she made it for him. Once they convince him that Mina is waiting in the real world, they go down to the core of the rig to stop the explosion. They realize that only Ivan is the one who can shut off the valves and stop the explosion because it is his mind. Tandy and Tyrone fight the attacking rig workers in order to buy time for Ivan to shut off the valves. They hear the giant explosion coming just as Ivan turns off the last valve and suddenly...
Tandy and Tyrone appear in Ivan's hospital room, right where they started and Ivan has finally woken up from his catatonic state, although he doesn't remember Tandy nor Tyrone. They inform Mina that her father has finally woken up and she runs to give him a big hug as Tandy and Tyrone look on from the door. Tyrone knows the loss that Tandy feels because of what happened to her father and the same thing that happened to his brother. In the night, Tyrone calls her and plays her a tape of young Tyrone and Billy, Tyrone's deceased brother. They find solace in each other as the episode ends.
I particularly liked this episode because it demonstrates the bond that has developed between Tandy and Tyrone and I also think it was very well written. This is a smash hit and I believe that Cloak and Dagger are here to stay!
Cloak & Dagger: Call/Response (2018)
The chemistry and realness between Cloak and Dagger is extraordinarily beautiful and heartbreaking.
They don't have a romantic relationship but instead have a budding friendship. The further I get, the more I get hooked on the show. The pain that surrounds these characters is heartbreaking and real. The only thing I wish is that the action be intensified. Other than that, this show is a winner!!!
Coin Heist (2017)
Why all the bad reviews? ITS A DECENT AND FUN FILM
I get what the reviews are saying about the actors being terrible and it's a waste of time but don't let that dictate your decision. It's no Oscar winning Steven Spielberg 5 stars film but the characters are real and some moments actually leave you on the edge of your seat. Please, before you judge this film: GIVE IT A TRY! you might actually enjoy it. :)