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I review movies and shows through the lense of an INFP, woman, wife, cinephile, philosopher, poet, and American. I have also seen the most disturbing and controversial films in cinematic history. I have not watched a lot of basic network TV shows, and have no interest in them. Therefore my reviews can be harsh if I come across the wrong show!
I also don’t believe in watching trailers, and I try to go into a movie or show as blind as possible. So you’ll notice in my reviews, I don’t rehash plot summaries and go into a whole expositions.
Reviews
Taboo (2017)
Dark and brooding masterpiece
The story is complex and layered. The unfolding mystery is gripping and compelling. The production value rivals an award-winning, epic blockbuster film. The score is excellent; the perfect tune is ascribed to each character or situation. Tom Hardy's performance is enigmatic and mesmerizing-I fear him, yet want to know him and can't take my eyes off of him. I love his just character-even with the violent streak-and his clever, chess-playing-like, seemingly psychic abilities to outwit his adversaries.
This is not for everyone. If you only watch and love Scandal and CSI and the like, you're not going to care for this or appreciate it. If you love period pieces and lavish set designs, if you're into history, and you enjoy talky shows like Mindhunters (this one is very dialogue-driven), then you might enjoy this show.
TIPS: Watch it as though it's one long movie. There are some slower, heavily dialogued moments, especially early on, so be prepared. Research ahead of time East India Company. Fascinating. There's a nice conclusion that wraps up all major plot points, if you're worried about any cliffhanger, especially since Season 2 is nowhere in sight (possible 2021 release?).
Bancroft (2017)
This is the kind of show I love!
Bancroft is low brow. It's trashy. Mid-to-low production value. So-so script writing. BUT it is salacious as hell, and such a fun ride!
Here's my criteria when I watch something: is it compelling? Is there something in the storyline that grabs my attention and demands that I watch further? Do I FEEL something-any emotion, whether good or bad? With Bancroft, yes, yes, and yes!
There's nothing worse than not feeling anything when watching something. Think Liar season 2, The Fall season 3. I, personally, could not get into Dracula 2020 and felt I had wasted an hour and a half of my life. Or check out my review for Bosch, where I couldn't care less about the characters or story.
With Bancroft, right away I'm feeling upset, anxious, flabbergasted, completely shocked. I. Must. Continue. I found myself yelling at the screen! It was so much fun. Season 2 did not disappoint, and I was totally addicted. I want a season 3, and I want it now!
I recommend that you go in blind. Don't watch any trailers, don't read spoilers, and don't read plot synopses. If you go in with the right expectations, after S1E1, you will be hooked.
I May Destroy You (2020)
The final episode is sheer perfection
I May Destroy You is not for your average viewer. It is uncomfortable, disturbing, sometimes gross. But isn't that part of life-the good, the bad, AND the ugly?
I've seen many foreign movies that are graphic, gratuitous, and grotesque, so watching this fast paced drama series (with darkly humorous moments) was not shocking or offensive.
Some reviewers are saying cruel things about the characters, or blowing them off as unlikable. I challenge the viewer to see these as real human beings-immature, reckless and careless. Haven't we all been there on some level? And aren't we ALL worth saving? Aren't we all worthy of empathy and love, even when-no, especially when-we're at our worst?
If you take that into consideration and go in with an open mind, you will find that this show is a master class in writing. The pacing moves at lightning speed. The plot is razor sharp focused. The themes are strong and relevant. The characters experience trauma and grow and evolve over the episodes. Especially the main character, Arabella.
Without spoiling it, by the final episode (which is SO cleverly meta in terms of writing about writing), she is able to come to terms with her trauma in one of the best final episodes I've seen in a dramedy show. It's sheer perfection: fully resolves everything, funny, violent, shocking, thought provoking and smartly written and executed. It would be perfect if this was all there was. Not sure how a second season would fare or what it would focus on.
One last and very important thing: Americans need to watch this with subtitles! I had no clue what they were saying in the first three minutes. Once the subtitles were on, it was smooth sailing.
Mr. Robot (2015)
Needs to be experienced
Mr. Robot is one of the most underrated, under-seen, and misunderstood TV series out there. It is a near perfect cinematic masterpiece.
I was amazed that this was on the USA network. This show plays like a foreign film--edgy, dark, risqué, and cerebral, with stark, daring, and aesthetically pleasing cinematography. The writing is top notch, not dumbed down for general audiences.
Every detail you see needs to be taken in and catalogued in your brain so you can refer to it at a later time. Because the smallest of details will come into play in a later episode or season.
Sam Esmail is a writing and directing genius, and ALSO a genius for enlisting Mac Quayle, the MUSICAL genius who created one of the top scores in television history. Esmail also chose the perfect songs throughout all seasons that truly fit the mood and emotion of the scene or character. Some of the songs and score are now part of my music collection.
Some people seem to have given up on the show around the beginning of Season 2, which is noticeably slower paced and darker than usual. But believe me, it picks up steam less than half way through and doesn't stop. Season 3 is stunning (there is a "one take"/real time episode that is groundbreaking and outstanding). Season 4 is brilliant! Too many brilliant aspects to list. This series also has one of the best endings ever: clever, mind blowing, and bittersweet. 100% satisfying.
So forget all the reviews right now. This one, you will have to see for yourself whether you'll like it or not...it will take you on a roller coaster ride of emotions: it will amaze, it will frustrate, it will upset, it will inspire, and you will be sucked deeper and deeper into this dark, melancholic, nihilistic world...it doesn't need to be read about right now, it needs to be experienced!
Bosch (2014)
Not for me
Having heard great things about this show, I decided to give it a chance. I really did. I overlooked the machismo banter and borderline toxic masculinity jabs at one another, I tried to accept Bosch's sporadic Dick Tracy-The Big Sleep noir speak. I tried to get into the slow pacing. But after four episodes of Season 1, it's time to give up.
After seeing shows like The Wire, Fargo, True Detective (esp. S1 & S3), Ozark, Breaking Bad, and even recent well written shows like Ramy, Fleabag, I May Destroy You and David Makes Man, this show pales in comparison. In those shows, EVERY scene is important, deliberately written to move the story forward. This keeps the pacing strong and keeps the viewer engaged.
Here, in Bosch: scene starts with them pulling slowly into a parking lot...they park...they show them sitting in the car...meaningless chit chat and banter ensues...cut. That's just ONE small example. The scene that clinched it for me was when Bosch and his boss, Chief Irving, were in a cafe, talking. At the end of the conversation, Bosch crooked his neck to blatantly check out the barista's backside as she's working and putting things back on the shelf. After Bosch gets caught leering, Irving, a woman, just gives him a "Really?" stare. End of scene. What was the point of that? Oh, I guess boys will be boys. How am I supposed to like this main character when he's the worst offender of the male gaze?
A better detective show is Cardinal, by leaps and bounds compared to this. It's not perfect, there are some minor pacing issues, and a lot of times they speak in a downbeat, quiet manner, but John Cardinal, although not perfect, is a likable character: sensitive, respectful of others, intelligent, perceptive, and played authentically by Billy Campbell. That is a representation of a REAL man. Plus, each season is six episodes long, and each case is strong and compelling.
Final conclusion: Subpar writing and directing (some of these actors are way better in other shows), writers are channeling their inner 14 year old boy selves, an unlikable main character, the storyline is boring (not one aspect is compelling), pacing slow with NO payoff. If this show had better writers, and was only six tight episodes long, I may have liked it, who knows? I just know that this show is not for me.