rebecca_l_johnson Reviews

Love It or List It Vancouver (2013– )

Unreal and fake

[1/10 · 29 September 2021]

If I could give zero stars I would. How is it possible that with a $140,000 budget all you get is an open concept kitchen, dining and living room? Not the family room? Not the two bathrooms? You could build a brand new home for not much more than that. At best, a new beam for an open concept would be around $8,000-$10,000 (maybe $20,000 if new footings are needed) and a kitchen is about $25,000. Where does the rest of the money go?

I also find it just unreal that there are always problems that seem to come up in every episode. Even I know that you need to check the plumbing and electrical to make sure the addition of a bathroom will not add to the electrical load or require larger pipes yet a "professional" contractor and designer seem to be blind-sided by this? I would not hire any of them to work on my home.

ETA: the last episode I watched the couple gave $140,000 to renovate the kitchen, powder room, solarium (which does not get done because of, you guessed it, a leaky roof), bathroom/laundry room and main bathroom.

Granted that is a big list but what struck me is that when I paused on the approved plans shown at the beginning of the episode it clearly shows that the homeowner's existing fridge and dishwasher will be reused. Yet, later in the show, in order to bring the drainage plumbing up to code (why did Kenny not know about this before?), Jillian suggests returning the fridge and dishwasher that she "bought" for the kitchen to pay for the plumbing? The owners were fine with keeping their existing appliances because they were only 2 years old. Uhm, the plans already had those appliances being reused so why did she say she bought new appliances? Obviously this is all just done to create drama.

This has to be the fakest show on TV and I will not be watching it again.

When They See Us (2019)

Those young actors were phenomenal

[10/10 · 6 June 2019]

What a compelling film about the corrupt justice system in the United States and even more shocking is that your current President wanted the death penalty for these boys.

The young actors in this series were outstanding and I can see them winning many awards. I was riveted from beginning to end. Thank you for bringing back to light the indescribably painful injustice these boys and their families had to live with. Giving them $100 million could never make up for what they lost and I think the police officers involved should be the first ones to pay up. They were an embarrassment to policing and disgusting human beings; spotlighting the racial prejudice that still is alive, well and prevalent in the United States today. Put them all in solitary for 10 years and see how they like it.

Live (2018)

What a fantastic series!

[10/10 · 10 May 2019]

Writing from Canada and this Korean police drama just ticks all the boxes. I have laughed hysterically and even cried and I rarely cry watching films or TV. This series takes you through every emotion without even realising it until an episode is over just how much it affected you. The acting is superb as is the directing and filming. Most of the Korean shows I watch from Netflix are hits for me: a few getting a second viewing regardless of how many episodes there are. There is something about the way Koreans approach movie making that is so fantastic and "Live" is another example of it. I will not give out any spoilers but if you are a fan of a great TV series this is one to watch. I really hope there is another season.

PS: I am not Korean...I am Deaf and will watch anything, from any country, as long as it has closed-captioning. :-)

The Hollow Crown (2012–2016)

Historical Accuracy in Costuming

[8/10 · 19 January 2017]

I have enjoyed watching the first series and I am about to begin the second set with Henry VI and Edward III.

The acting is impeccable (how could it not with that cast?), the closed-captioning appreciated by a Deaf individual and the battle scenes fascinating and interesting. I am a big fan of historical costuming and valued the work that must have gone into them.

For those who are not fans of Shakespeare this series may not be for you. I did not mind the old language but it takes a bit of getting used to if you are not familiar with it.

I was disappointed to see Charles VI, King of France, wearing the Order of the Golden Fleece during Henry V. This Order was established by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy (aka Philip the Good) in 1430 to celebrate his marriage to Isabella of Portugal. Henry V and Charles VI both died in 1422, eight years before the Order's inauguration.