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Reviews
Bridgerton (2020)
Season 1 give sex & Season 2 romance
An absolutely exceptional season that opens up the world of Bridgerton to greater explore the family history and dynamics along with the towns people. The addition of Kate and Edwina Sharma only create a fresh story that plays out in beautiful and dramatic fashion. Most especially Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey as Kate and Anthony give a new definition to chemistry and the slow burn that pays off in the end. They are exquisite together and absolutely mesmerizing. This is a must watch for fans!
All the Bright Places (2020)
Brightness with Darkness
As a fan of the book, this movie has been a long time coming and wanted by so many who embraced the beauty of this tragic story. Elle Fanning is literally the perfect Violet and she encapsulates the character beautifully and was the fan favorite for casting. Justice Smith gets to the heart of who Theodore Finch really is. I know a lot of people were upset because he doesn't aesthetically fulfill the description from the book, but as a character in this movie, he really nails why we love this person so much.
One of the things that I thought was beautiful, if not a little on the nose, was the fact that we get a very dour and gray filming up until Violet and Finch come together. Then the sun comes out and both of them have genuine smiles and laughter that really warms this film. Unfortunately, there is an overwhelming sense of doom and darkness and this is a very difficult film to watch at times.
I have to say we are missing a little bit of the levity that would elevate the movie, so it's not so harsh, but I don't need pandering to be palatable. This movie really digs into some very difficult topics and is not shy, which I must respect and this film can be very triggering, but necessary nonetheless. I like that they portray these teens accurately and truthfully, there is not enough representation on this level on screens. So as much as I would've liked a little bit more to the film, this is a great movie a s worth watching.
A Discovery of Witches (2018)
An Impressive Show
If you are anything like me, one of the most difficult things about reading a great novel is the inevitable dread that accompanies when you realize it will be adapted and it may not live up to the great written work. Luckily, this show achieves a pretty rare and difficult feat. The show-runners take incredibly vivid, descriptive, and dense material and adapt it in such a way that the show flourishes.
There is the general argument that people must take adaptations as just that, a way of telling the story in another medium, not a direct translation. What is successful here is the story is opened up to think about future storylines that will be concurrently happening and the characters deeper motivations. This makes for fleshed out characters with exceptional actors breathing them to life.
The casting for this show is ON POINT! It is outstanding! I have to mention the incredible work and chemistry of Teresa Palmer and Matthew Goode. They transform these characters and make them relatable. Their connection and physical ease with each other makes us believe these lovers are bound by a greater fate and a love that can not be destroyed.
Overall, the supporting cast is wonderful with lovely sets and care to detail. The special effects can be slightly hokey, but I understand budget and think they do a wonderful job with what they have. Overall, this show CAN NOT be missed. It is exactly what you will want to watch and enjoy.
Outlander: Of Lost Things (2017)
Difficult Material Handled Well
It must be said straight away that the acting on this show is phenomenal. There is not a weak link in the casting and everyone gives top-notch performances of the highest caliber. The novel "Voyager" by Diana Gabaldon, upon which this season is built, is epic and dramatic and for many their favorite story lines. I have more issues with this book than any other, so believe me when I say I was VERY impressed and happy with how this episode handled VERY challenging story points.
The episode begins with Claire, Brianna, and Roger discussing what may have happened to Jamie and they do find his time spent at Ardsmuir prison, but the trail starts running cold. We then take up with Jamie as he enters his new home, Helwater. I won't go too much into detail, but we see Jamie acclimating to his new home and having to put up with the eldest daughter of his new Lord and Lady, Geneva. She is a cruel, spoiled, and deceptive brat who we see is set to marry a much older man of wealth and privilege, who does not regard her more than a mere possession.
After a few encounters by the stables where Jamie has told Geneva what he thinks of her, she propositions him to sleep with her before her wedding, or she will expose the truth about him to her family (who HATE Jacobites) and he will be sent back to prison again and Lallybroch will surely crumble without his help.
Feeling like he has no other option, he goes to her and does the deed. Now, there is MAJOR controversy in the readership over this encounter and I believe it was handled as best as could be expected. Several exchanges are omitted and it is a simple and tasteful "love scene". You don't feel like it disrespects what has come before it and you don't question the conflict within Jamie.
Later we discover this "union" has produced a child. The husband declares the child a bastard, since Geneva (now dead from childbirth) never bothered to consummate their marriage. Everyone now "knows" that Geneva was with another man and it's pretty accepted that people know it was Jamie. After rescuing the baby from the enraged Earl of Ellesmere, Jamie shoots him in defense. Geneva's mother later offers him the opportunity to go home to Lallybroch and Jamie declines. He wants to be near his son, if only to see him grow up. After a few years, the rumor mill is strong enough to push Jamie away, back home, to keep everyone safe.
Jamie reaches out to Lord John Grey (LJG), his "protector", who had originally placed Jamie at Helwater. The two men discuss the situation of Jamie's leaving and when Jamie "offers himself" to LJG for the protection of his son, we see LJG genuinely shocked and touched. He reveals that he would very much wish this to happen, but would never do such a thing in exchange. His character is very much solidified in this moment.
Meanwhile, we have popped back and forth between 18th century England and 20th century Scotland. Claire is given back the Scotch pearls she received from Jamie on their wedding night, that Frank made her give up 20 years ago. You can see Claire trying to work out how to continue "chasing a ghost" despite overwhelming obstacles. She decides to give up the search.....for now.
There are brief moments of levity with her daughter Brianna and their friend Roger Wakefield. This is VERY welcome, considering all of the darkness that has surrounded the season so far. Roger and Brianna grow closer and we see Bree wrapping her mind around the possibility she may need to let her mother go back to see Jamie.
Overall, this was a strong episode and I was very please with the entire thing. I must applaud Hannah James (Geneva), for taking on such a difficult role. She handled it well and was able to bring a good balance to the character. It's not easy to play one of the most hated characters in a series and to do it unapologetically. Another nod to Richard Rankin for creating moments of ease and truth. You can see everything you need to about Roger and his natural charisma is engaging to watch.
Outlander has come leaps and bounds and no season can be compared to another without taking into account the obstacles that each faces. Voyager is pacing really well and we are a quarter of the way through the season. This is promising for the better things to come.
The Syndicate (2012)
The Syndicate- Season 3: Hazelwood Manor
Having not watched either of the 2 prior seasons, this show is an epic surprise. A very interesting cast of characters back-stories and clues make for an extraordinary TV watching experience. A great whodunit/what happened, really spreads it's wings and flies through 6 episodes that make you shout out loud and hold your breath. Great work by Richard Rankin, misdirecting his character early on and using all of his high quality acting chops to psyche us out. He handles his character with such expertise, you can see everything in his eyes and he is phenomenal.
The twist and turns were truly spellbinding. At one point, I could see how EVERYONE had a secret and there are so many clue sitting right there for us to discover. Lenny Henry is heartbreakingly wonderful as Godfrey Watson, the caretaker with so much depth and love. So many strong actors create a wonderful story. The ending is slightly unsatisfying in the sense, you don't quite figure out what her angle was. I could watch an entire series JUST about this Manor and it's owners/inhabitants.
The Crimson Field (2014)
Important Time Expertly Executed
This vital time in history is continually overlooked in television and movies. With "The Crimson Field", there is an accurate depiction of the trauma and life of World War I soldiers and nurses. Expertly crafted by the writers and directors, the accuracy of the production is also worth noting. The show both draws you in with the poignancy of stories and repels you with the brutality of war. Important to note the work of Oona Chaplin as our heroine Kitty Trevelyan, who holds mysteries within that seem to prevent her from opening up to others. Her behavior is intriguing and perplexing. Another character of note is Suranne Jones as Sister Joan Livesey. I wish Sister Joan had been given more of her story sooner than the last few episodes. Her work is really quite extraordinary and the resonance of action and character work would have been nice to see earlier. Her story comes to fruition quite abruptly and then dominates the end of the season. Lastly, Richard Rankin as Capt Thomas Gillan is the moral compass and voice of reason in the chaos of war. He silence is golden and emotes every possible thought and feeling, communicating with the audience on another level. His tet-a-tet with Kitty is playful, sensual, emotional, and freeing. There a lot of wonderful work here.
It is too bad that BBC didn't choose to renew the show for another season. There was a lot of story and character to be developed. That might have been the issue some would have with the show later, they wrote it with a need to discover more, but there has to be more "pay-off" sooner for viewers. Overall, an interesting and important show that won't disappoint with a very minimal commitment. Beautiful, warm, and lovely, "The Crimson Field" doesn't disappoint.
Outlander (2014)
Epic Storytelling of Genre Blurring Saga
******SPOILERS ARE ABUNDANT*****READ AT YOUR OWN RISK**********
Approaching with trepidation, I had only heard of the books and hadn't seen much about the series. I came to the show with an open mind and as a voracious television viewer was interested in what I though to be a sci-fi/fantasy romance. It starts out fairly normal with the exposition and a few clues to tell us the protagonist, Claire Randall, isn't your average post-war housewife. We jump into the "time travel" portion, which I felt was VERY astutely handled. No explanation of the facts or understanding of the science. Claire is back in time and we don't know exactly how or why, but we are with her. The episode progresses and I find no errors I could fault with preventing me from continuing, so I did. I put on the next one, and the next one, and before I knew it, it was 2 am and I had watched half the season!
What initially separates "Outlander" from any of it's predecessors or companions is firstly, the material and next the production values. The author of the source material, Diana Gabaldon, creates REALLY rich characters with a lot of depth and humanity in them. They come alive on screen in no small part to the INCREDIBLE actors. The production team, who's previous credit "Battlestar Galactica"(2004), also had the same genre-blurring attitude.
It is fine to catalog and define things, but when it is used to lessen the product, therein lies the root of the issue. "Outlander" is a meticulously crafted show that allows for epic, dramatic, funny, romantic, sad, action-packed stories. This show is a revelation to viewers. There is something for everyone and the quality of the show is undeniable. People like to brush off or invalidate any show that isn't a clearly defined comedy or drama. By doing so, viewers are robbing themselves of truly great television watching experiences.
Much fervor has been made over the two leads Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan. The do have incredible chemistry and are excellent actors, but what is even better, is they are so honest and vulnerable in their performances that you can truly see the journey these people take and you along with them. Just watch them listen to each other and react accordingly. It's harder than it seems and they are flawless.
The "villain" of the show Black Jack Randall, is played with finesse by Tobias Menzies. He has a dual role of Claire's husband, Frank Randall, and his ancestor Black Jack Randall. To say Menzies is a good actor in this role is the most severe understatement. He is probably one of the greatest villains of all time. What he does to Heughan's character Jamie Fraser, at the end of the season is both sickening and fascinating. Menzies never judges this man and plays him so truthfully you have a difficult time separating the actor from the character. He is sublime.
The creative team on "Outlander" deserve an outpouring of praise. They are not only re-creating mid-18th century Scotland to perfection, but they are getting it all right! Costumes are authentically made and worn, sets are masterfully erected with every detail in place, and the use of Gaelic only heightens the reality.
One other point to mention is the flawless teamwork of the writers and directors. For example, in the pivotal episode 7 "The Wedding" (both written & directed by women), the story is laid out to us midway through the action. The event has occurred and the wedding night continues to play out while the two leads, in one room with only each other, recall the events leading up to this moment and the night and action progresses. What is rarely seen on television is a memory play of beauty, drama, intimacy, laughter, trepidation, sex, romance, and ultimately love and loss. We watch two virtual strangers plant the seeds of love and with wordless moments create a safe place for the the viewers to inhabit while we watch them learn to communicate and love each other. It is graphic and intimate and lovely all at the same time. This episode is innovative and brave.
The previous one "The Garrison Commander" also had us in one room for most of the episode, while Claire and Black Jack exchanged witty banter and barbs, each trying to get out of there with something. Mezies and Balfe perform monologues to each other and in Menzies case, we see it acted out in flashback. Both show an inner demon within themselves that they must suppress and the tension is suffocating. This is the brilliance of "Outlander", it trusts the story, actors, and scene are enough to hold the viewers and take them along on the story.
Episode 6 is really where the show comes into it's own and from that moment on no holds are barred and nothing is sacred. The actors are doing things I've never seen before and are completely devastating and sublime. By the end of the season you can see why "Outlander" is in a class above the rest and is not only one of the best, bravest, and boldest shows on television now, but an embodiment of the new "golden age of television".