frank_ack Reviews

Secret Invasion: Home (2023) Season 1, Episode 6

S01E06 - Again, boring, low-budget and sub-scale

[3/10 · 26 July 2023]

Yet again, this series is determined to underwhelm in every way.

After the dross of the previous episodes, MCU fans will want, at least, a final episode that redeems the whole sorry show.

This is not it.

As with the whole of this series, it is under-funding and sub-scale. Even the one fight scene between the protagonists fails to deliver.

The MCU reached its peak with EndGame.

Since then it has focused on quantity over quality, mundane storylines filled with superficial sub-plots and a total inability to create a meaningful narrative universe that engages with the audience.

Instead we're now expected to accept a continuous offering of mini soap-operas focused on emotional needs of minor characters.

Just wowful in every way.

Secret Invasion: Harvest (2023) Season 1, Episode 5

S01E05 - Small scale, low budget and Underwhelming

[2/10 · 19 July 2023]

The Secret Invasion has an Earth threaten storyline but is told on a ridiculously small scale.

Clearly Marvel made this show on such a low budget, the whole story arc seems farcical as evidenced by:

• scenes with the US President with no security, in an empty hospital
• Multiple scenes with 2 or 3 people talking about the forthcoming global apocalypse
• low grade CGI, if any.

The obvious retort to this critique would be to emphasis the word "Secret" in the title, to which one could simply reply this is a thin veil for a "Cheap Invasion".

Consider the grand scale of the Battle for New York vs this show.

At no time does the threat to Earth seem real - not withstanding this point, wouldn't such grave threat require Fury to call for some help from the league of Marvel heros to help, as he has done many times before?

The answer is simple, Marvel don't have the budget for this show.

As so the decline of the MCU continues ...

Secret Invasion: Beloved (2023) Season 1, Episode 4

S01E04 - Too short with 2 episodes to go

[6/10 · 12 July 2023]

The first 3 episodes were setting the scene nicely. They went back to the basics that launched the MCU; gritty meaningful characters and intriguing story arcs with which the audiences could connect.

Secret Invasion needs to be the Marvel production that reverses the downward trend of the drivel they have been producing since their peak at Infinity War and Endgame (Loki being the obvious exception).

However, the offering in #4 is rushed, way too short and does not challenge the audience in any way - apart from the obvious and mundane question of how it will end.

Unless #5 and #6 are each 60 minutes long at least, there can be no way this series can come to either a meaningful and satisfactory conclusion or start to restore their previous level of storytelling.

The Essex Serpent (2022)

Great initial story and compelling. Then disappears into area not related to the initial story. Disappointing.

[5/10 · 12 June 2022]

Great initial storyline during episodes 1 to 3, then divides into multiple plot points which are not connected to the original story.

Is this a monster mystery, an examination of science vs religion, a love story or a commentary on social change.

A total mess.

From (2022– )

Great idea for a story, but way too slow and cumbersome ...

[6/10 · 22 April 2022]

The concept is different and very interesting, however each episode plods along.

The story telling is focused on the emotional development of the characters to the detriment of the overall narrative. Huge portions of each episode are "fillers" and can be fast forwarded before getting back to the real arc of the story.

Doctor Who: Legend of the Sea Devils (2022) Season Unknown, Episode Unknown

Davies and Moffat - please come back

[1/10 · 18 April 2022]

Yet another example of the incoherent story telling that has plagued this current phase of Doctor Who.

I hope the likes of Russell Davies and Steven Moffat can return and reboot this classic series to the levels it once reach.