viceinvirtue Reviews

Prison Break (2005–2017)

Good lord - what is with the hate!?

[9/10 · 25 April 2017]

I find it amusing that all the "reviews" whining about this new season crack down on it being "unrealistic", with too many unanswered questions, and how it's an inaccurate portrayal of x-amount of things.

Now, I'm not going to say anything plot-wise because I'd like people to watch the show and decide for themselves, but I can say for a fact that this is a) not a paid review; and b) being an extremely critical viewer, these above "issues" do NOT interrupt the level of entertainment I get from this show.

Everyone who's comparing this revival to the original series are saying how things aren't adding up / doesn't make sense / it's too ridiculous to be believable. Um.. okay, so we're saying that in the original series it wasn't "ridiculous" that a guy who's *apparently* really intelligent tattoos his whole body just to break his brother out - because his brother was framed by this crazy conspiracy!? Okay, wait, that doesn't sound "ridiculous" to anyone at all?

Look - the original Prison Break was amazing. No doubt about it. Yes, the first few episodes of this new series raises a significant amount of questions. But that's always been the case with a show like this, no? There were always more questions because we as the viewer don't have all the details yet. Isn't that why we kept watching in the first place?

I do see and understand people's distaste of their portrayal of Yemen; I can only presume that this is nothing like what it is in reality. However, it's clear that their filming locations aren't in Yemen (for obvious reasons)... point is - this is fiction. I could argue we've seen Hollywood do worse by casting a white person for an Asian character. At the very least, they're casting POC actors to fulfill these roles in Prison Break, and thank jebus for the diversity we're seeing across our screens!

Ultimately, this show brings back real good memories of the bond we had with these characters. I'm down for the ride and if I hit a roadblock with this show, I'll come back and let you all know. Until then, I'm going to keep an open mind and see where this takes us!

Hustle (2004–2012)

I love love love Hustle

[10/10 · 2 June 2010]

I don't think I can verbalise or express through words how much I love this show. I genuinely hope they don't stop this series until they have exhausted every possible con or character they have on the show.

Their cons are always elaborate and intricate, even if it's a simple one. The characters all have a past that makes you want to find out more about them, especially Mickey Stone of course. Though even dear old Albert Stroller and quirky Danny Blue have some interesting pasts too.

I'm sure someone else has mentioned this already, but I'll say it again. The fact that this show breaks the fourth wall and addresses the viewer directly is what makes Hustle stand out from all the other con/grifter shows. It's funny, entertaining, amusing... whatever you make of it, it's a positive feedback. You never get lost within the con because you know what they're doing every step of the way. Even when they have untold surprises and twists, you will understand exactly what happened at the end. I have to admit with the Americanised version of Hustle: Leverage, it got me a little mixed up here and there a few times and I had to rewind and see it again to get it. With Hustle, I don't.

Hustle is a damn good show.

Leverage (2008–2012)

Great show, but Hustle was better.

[8/10 · 2 June 2010]

After watching two seasons of Leverage, it seems appropriate to review it. I enjoyed every moment of watching it and it's not a bad show at all. Some cons were easy to guess, others were not. Interesting characters, but I haven't learnt much about most of them so far. There was some back story to Nathan Ford's character and to Parker too, but very little on the rest. This makes it difficult to relate to them and the impact of the cons less effective on me as a viewer.

I have to admit, I watched the British show Hustle first, and I must agree with another reviewer and say that Hustle is better. So if you like and enjoy Leverage, watching Hustle is a must! In my opinion, the cons in Hustle are much more elaborate/intricate and the narrative is played out really well. I'm sure other reviewers have mentioned how the pauses in Hustle are entertaining and when a character breaks the fourth wall, it's amusing, intriguing and it's like you're being taught how to be a grifter - which is simply fantastic! This also brings out the personalities for each of the characters. I have to say the characters in Hustle are more unique than those in Leverage - especially when it comes to the team leaders. I prefer the cocky Mickey Stone (from Hustle) with a bad past and something to hide than the tragic hero that Nate Ford is. NOT saying that I don't like Nate, but with him already beating the insurance company that hurt his son, it doesn't seem like there could be more development in that area.

Nevertheless, Leverage is a good show and I only hope to find out more about Parker and Eliot in particular. If you enjoy watching the real bad guys go down, and seeing justice served (especially the rich and corrupt), this is definitely something that will brighten up your night.