sarahbbbyyy Reviews

Pretty Little Liars (2010–2017)

Nothing that great about the show

[3/10 · 26 April 2018]

The only thing mysterious about this show is it's popularity. Some people like what they like but the fact that the general population watch and find this interesting is something I still find surprising. I watched this when it first came out and I was 15. I found it so fascinating and interesting. I liked it at first but the more I watched it, the more boring it became. I was not in love with the characters. They were okay but I liked the casual high school vibe, the fashion, and it felt like it was going to be intriguing. Unfortunately, the A storyline dragged and I got so bored, I just stopped recording it on my DVR. I started skipping episodes at first when realizing I just did not care. The A storyline just felt like it dragged and the stakes just did not feel that high.

I rewatched it in the last few years to see why people still were interested. Instead of proving me wrong, I saw more issues. I don't know if I saw these issues before but I noticed that the dialogue was cringy, the main characters make the same dumb decisions over and over again(I get that they are teenagers but I don't know anyone that does the same thing, expecting different results, even from young people), and all of the adults around them are completely useless. The girls never go to the cops when they get into more trouble. Not that it would help too much because the cops are even dumber than them most of the time. However, it would still be a lot more useful to the girls if they approach the adults when they are in trouble.

There are so many ways where they could have gotten help. They were hiding things that would have been resolved if they just went to the adults in the first place. One person always suggests going to the cops but the rest of them just ignore it, acting like it's a stupid idea. Our protagonists, ladies and gentlemen. This is what I mean by them being dumb. If they were smart, they would not choose to make these dumb choices and ignore the intelligent ones to make.

Also, their secrets were not only too bad but the more they lied, the more they hid and the more the stalker had something to use against them. This stalker, everyone, is someone who is always there, always knows every single move they make, whether they are in the privacy of their own home or just in any public place. They all can be in completely different places yet this person has such superhuman abilities that they can be in many places at once. They sent anonymous texts with threats so juvenile and lame that a preteen kid could come up with them. Also, if they got a new person harassing them through text, they could have gotten some help and had actual professionals track the person down and it would have been over.

I get that this show is called Pretty Little Liars but not much they have done is so bad that they have to hide it. If the stakes were higher, the girls were more clever and had something actually worth lying about, then this show would more more interesting. This person stalking them also feels so non threatening. Some of the things they do would never happen in real life. The only way some of the actions would make sense if this show was a sci-fi or a supernatural but it is not. It just makes it seem like the audience is treating us like children.

I would avoid this show like the plague!

My friend's review of the show:

One thing people will be frustrated about is that the police are useless, the adults can be as well when it comes to this mystery and the life dangerous situations these girls go through, which is not really well written. Most teenagers are completely clueless on how to run their life without all the stuff that these girls go through and yet, we are supposed to believe that they handle all of that and still dress fabulously with very normal social lives with their boyfriends(and girlfriends)? I do not think so. Just like most shows, there are continuity errors and some plot lines will not make much sense considering what we learn about the mystery thus far. The story does go around in circles, there are a lot of useless subplots, and wasted stories that go on for far too long. This mystery also feels like it could take an unrealistic amount of time when it should have been figured out in only a short amount of time. There is also the fact that this A character is everywhere like it is a ghost. Again, not very realistic and well written. There has got to be some crucial reason why this person is the way that they are and there is no way they are always aware of everything that is going on with the girls. None of their secrets are that big either for them to be scared of this person nor is it realistic that Alison has such power over everyone, even the adults that she has manipulated every single of them and has the entire town on edge. I mean, she is just a teenage girl. She might be a horrible person but there is no way she has that much power.

Mean Girls 2 (2011 TV Movie)

A cute preteen film but very non Mean Girls related

[2/10 · 1 December 2017]

This movie is just an overtly sexualized Disney Channel version of what 50 year old writers think Mean Girls is about.

I voted it two because if this was not called Mean Girls 2, it would be a perfect film for preteen girls to watch at a sleepover. It's adorably cheesy for that reason.

Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–2000)

It is a staple of it's time but that does not make it good.

[4 July 2017]

90s was a time of cheesy, over romanticized television and Beverly Hills 90210 is no different. This show paved the way for teen drama shows today. However, that fact is not saying anything in any way pleasant.

Every teen drama show borrows staples from this show and is basically the same but with different premises. However, they are ultimately not as impactful for the current generation of kids who would rather watch "reality" shows and HBO programs. Remember, 90210 was popular at a time where this show was the first of it's kind and it was also on a huge network channel, Fox. It was on when there were only a five channels to watch on TV and a limited number of shows that got the entire family together. It was the first time there was a show geared toward teenagers in a decade of hokey family sitcoms like The Cosby Show and kid shows like Saved By The Bell.

However, with the diversity of shows today, that does not mean much considering the shows it paved the way for, ultimately have no place in today's TV except for maybe satisfying the preteen girl demographic who have no idea of what it is like to be a teenager or have ever step foot in a high school. They are very much like a Taylor Swift or Britney Spears(in her early years) song: no actual substance or grounds to reality but are very stylish and pretty, so people love it anyway.

Beverly Hills 90210 is probably the third most sappy, over sentimental, and condescending teen drama show I have ever watched, behind Secret Life of the American Teenager and One Tree Hill. It is not the best written show in the universe.

Every episode has a very self righteous character basically talking down to another for making whatever mistake they are making with their lives. This happens literally in every episode. These characters, no matter how old they get, seem to not learn a thing from their own mistakes but once another person does not fit the standards of their faux moral "ethics", they have the audacity to judge them.

One of the characters, Donna, works for a production company that hires a young girl to shoot a commercial for them. She was a spoiled kid who is forced to work by her mother but is also babied and given in to whatever demands she presents. Donna, a young 20 something who is just out of college, has no job, not much life experience or any children for that matter, actually tells the mother how to be a parent and talks down to her about how much she spoils her daughter and over works for her.

Guess what happens at the end of that episode? After getting fired for not giving into the demands of a child, Donna gets her job back and the mother actually took Donna's words into consideration. Happy Ending, shall I say? That is exactly how life works in real life, huh? Something like this happens in every episode.

This show also glorifies white privilege and ultimately takes real life issues, putting an over the top, very unrealistic spin on it.

One character Kelly has been a burn victim, a rape victim and a shot victim. She also went through a miscarriage. She was almost married to character Brandon and yet broke it off on her wedding night. She also had an affair with her best friend's(Brandon's sister might I add) boyfriend and yet is easily the most judgmental character in the entire series, despite her obviously mistake driven personality.

This show is not very character driven, it is far more story driven, which is part of it's problem.

Ultimately though, despite it's ridiculous amount of flaws, we can not rid of it's impact on culture of teenagers in general. It opened up doors to talk about issues relating to adolescence. It might have not been the most accurate portrayal but was the biggest show during it's time and finally gave teenagers something to watch that interests them. Without it, we might have never had anything better.

90210 (2008–2013)

Not too bad

[5/10 · 27 January 2017]

The thing about teen dramas is they are all terribly written. Shows like this usually have few fascinating characters with mostly boring characters who serve no purpose. Continuity is not a priority. Little details are not explained and there are always boring subplots have nothing to do with the bigger picture. The majority of the romances are boring with the exception of one epic one. 90210 is no different.

However, I can talk about how to make this a better show period but it still needs an improvement to be on the level of other teen drama shows in it's caliber. Lots of young people have never heard of the original version of this show and yet this remake was less successful than most during it's time, such as Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars. There are a few things that this show is missing that those shows have.

The premise of this show is unoriginal. It is set in Beverly Hills, a location that is used in almost every movie and TV show ever made. Every show seems to stand out from another when it comes to it's cinematography but this show does not. What I mean by that is every show has a unique yet predictable(in the show's context) way it is filmed, whether that would be camera angles, the use of a soundtrack or musical score, etc. If you take the characters out of the screen and just go by film techniques, you would not know what show you were watching. The other teen drama shows stick out because they have a unique filming style and theme throughout the show. We basically know what we are getting (most) of the time. Again, teen dramas are scattered and not always well written but they still stay consistent in their delivery. This show seems to film their characters in a very basic way with an okay but uninspired soundtrack.

This show does not really bring anything new to the table or attract kids of this generation that are all about the superficial. The growing adolescent population with it's ongoing progressive technology that seems to impact it, drives shows like Gossip Girl and Pretty Little Liars, which 90210 has not picked up much on. These shows played with teenager's obsession with technology to keep them interested and to make the show relate to modern adolescence. The writers of 90210 seem to forget that this is not the early 2000s. It is such a simple, straightforward high school premise that it does not really stand out. These other shows are popular because of their unique premise that are presented: a female narrator and a gossip column that follows a bunch of young, rich elitists in NYC and a stalker of four females who have lost their Queen B by murder. Teen Wolf and Vampire Diaries highlight young girls of this generation's favorite themes, sexy vampires and werewolf's. All of these shows are also set in different locations that are not familiar to the California area, which again has been overused in the entire eternity of the film industry.

Let's not forget the basics of what makes any show great, the relationships between the characters. No show has as much of a shambled group of friends(if you can call them that) than 90210. Everyone is always switching best friends all the time and most of the male and female characters rarely interact with one another, yet they are all in the same group and sometimes hang out in public together. This show is very inconsistent when it comes to their friendships, especially with the females. The male friendships are more consistent but a tad bit confusing. Navid and Dixon are best friends, Dixon is also best friends with Liam but the other guys just sometimes treat each other like they all have the same friendship. However, you can associate that with them just being guys.

One of the biggest problems with this show that is the most obvious is the production values. Now, first this show was starring the Wilson family where Annie is the main girl and her brother Dixon is supposed to be the lead male. Suddenly, the next season comes on and they are pushed to the background and all of the other characters steal the spotlight. The first season has a balance of the adults and the young kids, yet completely switches around to 98% the kids and 2% of only ONE parental group. The other parents just disappear because the writers suddenly decide they have no purpose. There is also barely any background information on the character's family dynamics. The fans basically never figure out who Adrianna's father is or if she even has one, even though she is one of the main characters. No show hides the backstories of the teenage characters that much. Naomi does not have her parents around, has such a large trust fund that she was able to buy two mansions in two years for herself, and just lives freely without any adult supervision. Yeah, okay. We can not believe any young girl has that big of a trust fund or is just allowed to do whatever she wants as a minor who is not even emancipated.

The show was also very dated and cheesy in it's first season. It was a snooze-fest while it finally had interesting story lines by the last few episodes. Then, a new show runner remodeled it in Season 2 and it became a completely different show, for the better. The dialogue still cheesy, yet less noticeable; the fashion was high end, the production was glossy, and the California setting became elevated like it was not in Season 1(It was barely noticeable that it was set in California in Season 1), with lots of scenes outside and on the beach.

In conclusion, it is an okay show by teen drama standards and entertaining if you are bored.

The O.C. (2003–2007)

The O.C. could be a lot better!

[8/10 · 18 January 2017]

With that said, it is a great show!

Description: This show is about a rich Newport Beach family, with the father Sandy Cohen working as a defense lawyer. When he takes on a case of a young man named Ryan Atwood from a real life city in California called Chino, he feels a connection to him because he reminds him of himself when he was growing up. He decides to help this kid out when he meets Ryan in juvenile hall where he was arrested. Ryan leaves his neglectful and abusive family behind to live with the Cohen family, when Sandy offers to take him in. Even though he runs into some trouble, he tries to fit into the life that he never knew, of wealth and realizing that people tend to have problems everywhere, even in the richest of places.

This show gets a lot of things right. There has been no teen drama with a more realistic family dynamic than the Cohen's. They are not overly sappy, stereotypical, two dimensional, annoying as most families on TV. They are actually very real and embody how a really grounded family in America actually acts. Sandy Cohen is one of the best television fathers of all time and is the best character on this entire show. He is charming, funny, caring, and really empowering. His wife is not nearly as charismatic but she is sweet and dignified. She also embodies very much the modern, educated woman with a fulfilled career and wonderful husband. She is also a great mother to her kids and is very much the central maternal figure on this show, written in a very realistic way. These parents have problems like anyone else, do not claim to be perfect, have problems in their own marriage but always seem to work it out and really show the rest of Newport what it is like to be a functioning couple. Then, there is Seth, played by Adam Brody, who is easily the best and most charming actor out of the core group of the four teenage stars of the show. (Three out of four of the actors, including Adam, are not actually teenagers but play them on the show) In fact, he is probably the only talented actor of the core four. His character is the star level performance of this show. Without him, there would be no humor and the show would probably take itself way too seriously. The creation of Seth Cohen made nerds popular in modern society and he is the one character that is full of relevant pop culture references that makes the show funny and incredibly self aware. He can be incredibly selfish a lot of the time but he is also a very good friend to most people and is very good at making the other characters on the show feel better when they are down.

The least interesting after Kirsten, who is the mother previously mentioned, is the character Ryan Atwood. Now, there is a lot of things that the writer got right with the character, Ryan. He grew up in a troubled environment but he is more misunderstood and not exactly troubled himself the way most people think of him. He is completely sweet and selfless. He is also probably the most realistically and well written bad boy turned good character any teen drama show has seen. I am not saying that because he is the most interesting or the most charismatic but I am saying that he is the best written in a sense that his story actually makes sense. Most bad boy turned good characters are always rich guys who have daddy issues and terrible relationships with their mothers. Majority of the time, those stories seem unbelievable considering the fact that wealth seems to have an effect on how people treat their kids most of the time and you do not meet a lot of abused kids who turn out bad in an environment where their parents are rich. I am not saying it never happens but it seems that every show tries to make us feel bad for the poor little rich boy rather than a character like Ryan who grew up in a terrible environment. Ryan comes from poverty, his mother is an alcoholic, and his father and now brother in the pilot are in prison. He grew up around terrible crimes and in an environment where school was not encouraged or even of high quality, no matter how smart he is himself and how high he tested on a college aptitude test.

Now, the downfall of the Ryan character is two things: There is the actor himself. Now, Ben Mckenzie does embody the characteristics of the Ryan character and he himself is a very charming human being but he does not have any screen charisma nor does he stand out at all. He has the tendency to blend in to the background, especially when the characters Sandy and Seth just overpower the screen with star quality. He also is not the most expressive actor and is just very stiff throughout. It almost feels underwhelming and he also has the tendency to have tension in his face, which is more distracting than the audience connecting with the anger that the character is feeling. The other thing is the Ryan's backstory. Instead of making the struggle long and hard for Ryan to feel like he belongs to the Cohen family and the city of Newport, they just brushed it under the rug for a romance with the troubled girl next door, Marissa Cooper, who has become the revolving story. Her melodrama grows tiresome to the point where the show loses it's spark.

The show is definitely a step in the right direction compared to most earnest teen dramas that tend to talk down to it's viewers, unlike the O.C., I recommend everyone check it out.

Keeping Up with the Kardashians (2007–2021)

People take this way too seriously...

[7/10 · 18 December 2016]

Honestly, the Kardashians are just people. They might seem greedy and narcissistic but to be honest, as long as you live in this world and get to know people, you will know that they are no different than anybody you meet in your everyday life. If you had the opportunities they had, then you would probably take it and try to make the kind of money that have. They might be super inappropriate at times but they seem to at least work for what they have. I know that they are "famous for being famous" but there are tons of people that hold that title whom are too lazy and entitled. Majority of the family members seem to work hard, no matter how easy these opportunities come their way. Plus, the show is fun because it is all realistic family dynamics. They are all very straightforward and do not try to be something that they are not. I am proud that it is not over the top with antics nor is it dull or trying too hard to be sophisticated. The family and each of the members just say what they feel and it is entertaining!

Audrina (2011– )

Judging by reality show standards...

[2/10 · 18 December 2016]

It is REALLY boring! With all the fake and melodramatic soap opera style the Hills was taped in, it was obviously manipulated by producers of the show to create drama and even with the monotone voices and girly problems that show had, it is still FAR more entertaining than this show! This show's biggest issue is that no one cares about this family's drama. I mean, I know people talk badly about the Kardashians but at least their show is somewhat fun for their viewers to watch. This show's biggest flaw happens to be that they do not explain where the weird friction between the mother and Audrina's sister Casey comes from. It makes us not even care and just point to it being about the sister being a brat and the mom being an alcoholic, drunken mess. This show does not have the flaws of the Hills but it does not have any upsides to it either. Maybe, Audrina is just not charismatic or nearly as interesting on her own. She comes off very sweet but ultimately does not have much to say. Yes, Kim Kardashian is technically not the star either when you actually watch Keeping up with The Kardashians for entertainment but her whiny, self absorbed, insecure and submissive personality is enough for us to loathe her while not being able to look away. Maybe if this show had more Audrina's friendships and that drama, along with her struggles with her career and fame, then it will be a ton better. Right now, this show is just not striking a strong enough chord for the audience. Now that it was canceled after one season, she can move onto a new project.

The Hills (2006–2010)

It's fun while it lasted.

[4/10 · 14 May 2016]

There is something about this show that is different from other reality shows and it's mostly negative things. I mean it's a fun show and all but let's keep it real. The women (mostly young girls) are the ones who watch this show. It is incredibly feminine and it is way too monotone for a guy to pay attention to unless he really wanted to. I don't know why they would want to though since the drama is also very high school and childish. A bunch of he said she said and girls screwing each other over and fighting over guys and boyfriend drama. None of them seem to have mature relationships and it seems more of the fault of the people who are producing this show. They are taking the reality out of it and creating a bunch of soapy material. You can also feel the scenes are being set up by the producers to start petty drama that probably wouldn't exist if they weren't on the show. Do people still tune it? Absolutely. It was actually pretty popular but it still would have benefited from being a little more realistic.

There are all of these conflicts that can easily be resolved if you just stop speaking to those people. They are not still in school and they can easily avoid the people they don't like. This show obviously doesn't get that. It's not like the Real World or Jersey Shore where everyone is stuck in the house together and yet the same group of people hang out with one another. There is not much sight of other family members that some of these people are known for seeing all the time when the cameras are not around. There are also paparazzi around them 24/7 and them going into interviews and photo shoots but none of that is seen on the show since this show is trying to portray these girls as working jobs at places like Epic Studios and Teen Vogue where they are the ones who work behind the scenes for the famous people and are not famous themselves. This show doesn't display what we all know is that these girls get the royal treatment and get free designer stuff and get VIP to the Super Bowl and concerts and red carpet events. They are trying to portray them as normal everyday girls who just happen to be wealthy and have some connections to jobs that us watching don't get because we are not the 1% of the population and we don't live and can't afford Hollywood Hills homes.

Overall, it is mostly fun due to the drama but then again, that's why so many young girls love it. Warning: It is filmed in such a dull way because it seems like there is more talk about drama and less action, yelling and fist fighting. These women look like they have so much self control because they seem to have fights in a calm and rational manner, totally unrealistic but it's okay.