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Another Life (2019)

Not sure what these downraters were watching but this is excellent sci-fi.

Yes ... you have the be patient through the first few episodes. It gets better and better. Storyline is clever, details that other sci-fi shows might get glossed over are not here. Other than the fact that there are only two seasons, this could be one of those shows that are very fondly thought of down the road. Shows like Fringe, Farscape, Torchwood, Dark Matter etc.

I am halfway through season 2 and have been hooked. I tend not to binge (I like to have about 5 shows of varying type in rotation at any given time. But Another Life has me skipping the next in the rotation to watch another Another Life. And again. There is a lot of story here ... a lot to be explored. While I am only halfway thru season 2 ... I supect there would have been much more to work with in a season 3, season 4 and season 5. Unfortunately we won't bet any more.

Side note: most reviewers writing scathing reviews have only watched one, maybe two episodes. They are stuffing all of their vitriol into a small sample size. Watch more ... you'll be rewarded.

Psych (2006)

Should be thought of as among the greatest comedy television of all time.

In 10, 20, 30 years ... when people look back at the greatest comedy television ever ... Psych should be considered in with the likes of Seinfeld, Friends, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Family Guy, American Dad, South Park, Arrested Development, Silicon Valley, The Office, Veep, 30 Rock, Parks & Recreation, That 70's Show, Rick & Morty, Coupling (UK), The IT Crowd, and, if going back further ... shows like Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Hogan's Heroes etc. It may not immediately come to mind ... but when it does I would think anyone who has watched it through would then think ... 'yeah, Psych has to be considered on of the greats'. If you maintain a rewatch list of shows you'd like to watch again once enough time has passed, Psych has to be on it.

The Morning Show: Love Island (2023)

Jump the shark episode.

This is the type of episode that signals the beginning of the end for a show, often referred to as jumping the shark (referencing a ridiculous episode of Happy Days in which Fonzie was to be jumping a live shark on his motorcycle). Poorly thought out, poorly written, dull and preachy. Did nothing to move the story forward. Hard to work through more things you could stick into an episode to turn away viewers. For whatever reason, the writers...and I have to stretch to use that word for this particular episode...decided to flash back to bore the viewer. It has us considering not watching any further.

The Recruit (2022)

Very very good... Outstanding actually!

It has been some time since a new show reeled me in like 'The Recruit' has. The show is different. Part spy thriller, part action adventure, part political drama and a touch of comedy. A bright, resourceful main character finds himself in multiple situations that are well over his head. The writing is excellent, the character building is solid and the acting is good. I do not typically super binge. I prefer to rotate through multiple shows and the occasional movie of varying types... but this one has been an exception. Each episode has left me wanting the next one right away with the season has me anxiously awaiting the next. KUDOS!

Just changed my rating from an already rare (as I rate) 9/10 to an extremely rare 10/10. This show is brilliant! It's been a long time since I've been this thoroughly addicted to a show.

The Old Man (2022)

Very well written. Superb acting. Intelligent spy...ish thriller.

There is lot of depth here. Like a John LeCarre. Did not know much about Thomas Perry as an author... but I am interested now. Bridges and Lithgow are at the top of a game within which they have set a high bar throughout their respective careers. Alia Shawkat and Amy Brenneman were both strong. I was also impressed with a couple of actors which were less familiar to me...E. J. Bonilla and Gbenga Akinnagbe. Bill Heck was an excellent choice for young Dan Chase as was Christoper Redmon as a young Harold Harper. Each were so believable as you ger Bridges and Lithgow that I might have thought it was cgi created young version.

Side note ... not sure why Amazon is now requiring 600 characters. I'm not likely to write many reviews this way. I was really done with what i wanted to say in the first 100 .

Paper Girls (2022)

6 episodes in, good and bad

Starting with a sidebar. Anytime you see a review with a header reading 'ignore all of the negative reviews' or 'ignore all of the positive reviews' ... it is actually that review that should be ignored. People have opinions ... that's the point of reviews. I find I get the best feel for something by taking in the positives and the negatives.

Now... the good and the bad

The good:

• the story is a good one. Love the time travel
• always like the 80's vibe, although they give it up quickly;

The bad:

• acting is mediocre, at best
• character development is weak. Erin (young) and PJ are wet blankets. Mac is too over the top too often. Her character should have grown a bit with events but she is the same irritating hyper-angry girl in episode 6 that she started out being. Tiff is probably the best of the four but even so ... shows only mild development. It's difficult to be invested and any of them (young versions).

• story is rather slow. A lot of dialogue ... a lot. Side ventures accomplishing little and taking up too much time. Was PJ's lengthy (and quite dull) side venture in episode 6 really necessary?

I am this far and plan to finish. I am finding it mildly entertaining. Just seems like they left a lot on the table. It could have been done better.

Upload: Welcome Back, Mr. Brown (2022)

Love the show to this point ... but this episode was slow.

I get it ... it's setting up. I'm okay with that ... but if they spend too much time off the grid growing fruits and veggies ... this show is going to become as boring as the dirt they are growing in. This was the weakest episode thus far.

Sixteen Candles (1984)

A nearly perfect 80's comedy.

Each time I watch it I pick up on additional subtleties. It's in the very small group of nearly perfect 80's high school movies including the likes of Risky Business, Breakfast Club, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Ferris Bueller's Day Off etc. Part of my 'again and again' watchlist.

Ready Player One (2018)

Enjoyable film... even if you've read the book

As long as you can set aside detail comparisons with the book and view on its own ... it's a fun watch. It can be difficult to do an average length book complete justice in a two hour movie. Some shortcuts have to be taken. Character building has to happen more quickly. These were handled about as well as can be hoped for.

The Wheel of Time (2021)

I suspect the majority of the negative reviews come from hardcore fans of the book series.

In my experience, the fans of a book or book series have a difficult time not finding much fault in any video adaption of the book or series. I can understand it. I've had the same issue. Recalling my initial reaction to The Bourne Identity 15 minutes into the film... loudly complaining of key differences ... and then ... 'this isn't even the same story'. It was my wife telling me to forget that I read the book and enjoy the film on its own that did it for me. While it had significantly diverged from the book, it was quite enjoyable on its own.

I did not read this book series and so I have no such issue to overcome. On its own ... this has been quite enjoyable (5 episodes in).

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022)

Wow ... this is dull. Still... it's the best of the newer Star Treks. And yet... dull

Early on I gave it a 7 on potential. I thought it had a chance to be more like TOS. Nope. Not even close. I have since reduced 2 stars to a 5, and that is probably generous. It's really just a soap opera in space. Waaayyyyy too much dialog about nothing, too many personal problems. Light on the actual adventure. I really wanted to like it. I just can't.

Maybe, someday it will get to the true adventure sci-fi of TOS or the films (JJ Abrams) but I suspect they just can't get there with these writers. I'll have to hear about it and return because I can't bear it any longer. I would rather spend time rewatching TOS or Stargate (any of them) or Dark Matter or Torchwood or The Expanse or the Star Trek films or any of a number of others than watching any more of this inane drivel. It can often be like watching a Hallmark Channel show set in space.

Note: TOS typically had a message... a lesson to be learned ... but it was typically subtle. More recent Treks have been so intent on the lesson that the knock you over the head with it to the point in which the show is about a lesson. Preachy.

What If...?: What If... Killmonger Rescued Tony Stark? (2021)

30+ minutes I'll never get back

Can't imagine who green-lit this open wound ... or who wrote it. This is among the worst things out of Marvel in 20 years ... and that includes the 2015 Fantastic Four stink-pile. If you like the series ... this one may be the one to skip.

Reacher: Welcome to Margrave (2022)

I'm a Cruise fan ... but this is the guy who should be playing Jack Reacher.

Fame and draw power aside, Cruise was an improper casting. Reacher is 6'5" and blonde in the books. Now it's right. I read this book... and the first episode is an outstanding start. Assuming they maintain the quality, I look forward to the rest ... and hopefully many more seasons.

What If...?: What If... T'Challa Became a Star-Lord? (2021)

If a writer from Sesame Street and one from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood got together, had a couple of glasses of wine and wrote some Marvel... this might be what you get.

By Marvel standards ... this was rather poor. Dialogue was rushed, often with responses coming with no logical pause... as if each character knew what the other was going to say before they said it. Rather amateurish. The story itself... wtf? All the turning over of new leaves ... the over politeness. It's as if they were writing to teach 5-year old their manners. Another one like this from these writers and they will be on my avoid list.

No Activity (2017)

Genius, comedic genius!

This show is a poster child for excellent comedic writing and acting. Each episode has little to no action with a light storyline that serves as little more than background. Focus is on the conversations. Conversations between a pair of cops, a pair of dispatch and a pair of bad guys... with the occasional additional character and setting change. The conversations are comedically brilliant. Love it!

Another Life: How the Light Gets Lost (2019)

Strange, empty episode with little substance

Soooooo....let's just waste an episode on getting high and random mixed sex stuff. Episode does little to advance the story. It's as if all of the writers had overlapping writers block. Disappointing.

Kevin Can F**k Himself (2021)

Is the payoff worth the pain?

This is pretty much the question you'll have to answer for yourself. There is some potential here ... but you have to live through some pain ... actually quite a bit if pain... to get there. The sitcom portion is mostly... well... horrendous. And I know that's the point. But there is so much sitcom and most of it is so bad. There were a few chuckles but it took some time to get there... and only maybe half of them were within the sitcom portion. Anyone watching this without an idea of the premise ... what they were shooting for ... likely moved on by the 10 minute mark. I almost did myself and I did know. It was just taking too long to get there.

Ófærð (2015)

Stop after season 1

Season 1: atmospheric, beautiful in its moodiness, well told... if not a tad slow getting there. Overall a worthwhile watch Season 2: as others have indicated ... an over-the-top virtue signaling mess. I don't mind a message being slipped into the story ... but this season bludgeons you with message after message with a limited story. It's as if they provided an overview of the show to a group of rabid activists with limited writing skill and asked them to create the second season. Was it even the same writers as the first? I couldn't make it through season 2.

Utopia Falls (2020)

Imagine that Bernie Sanders, AOC & Stalin decided to sniff some airplane glue and take a bath together in tub filled with water laced with horse tranquilizers and peyote.

While bathing, and alternately making out and screaming obscenities and one another ... their combined efforts birthed this utopian morass. Yes... I did say 'morass'.

Aunty Donna's Big Ol' House of Fun (2020)

Early on but ... so far so good.

Wildly absurd. If you like this ... try 'I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson'

Counterpart (2017)

20 episodes of pure perfection. 20... and that's all. Because some network nimrod who hadn't checked or unchecked the box and poof... It's cancelled.

Quality like this does not come along often. Be not so quick to dispose of a show. How many gems like this one are sacked too soon or by someone who did not take the time to watch the show.

The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)

Solid potential ... put to waste by the writer(s) pushing their own politics

The relationship between Falcon, Winter Solidier and Zemo was fun. Sharon as well. Villain was horrendous and the battering of woke social commentary was exhausting. Some episodes appear to be written by different people ... each with their own idea on the direction for the series as it meanders in and out of storylines while digging into their political messaging. I may have been generous giving this a six... and if this had been typical series length... I likely would have checked out. They wasted some great characters and a potentially strong relationship.

Note: my entire family are Marvel fans. The rest decided to pass after hearing much of the aforementioned from others.

SEAL Team (2017)

Outstanding military show. Shades of The Unit.

We were big fans of The Unit and were sad to see it get pulled when it was. Seal Team has filled that hole. Each episode as good as the one before it. Creative in that each assignment is not similar... or often not even in the same part of the ballpark... as the one before it. Love it... always looking forward to the next one.

Rutherford Falls (2021)

Disappointing. Weak humor, weak storyline compounded by Hollywood's recent, all too common brand of preachy wokeness.

Four people in the room it and it seemed a struggle for all to fight through the first episode. The previews gave me high hopes but this never really got out of the starting gate. When the show preaching began I noted the faces in the room seemed to slip from 'trying hard to give this the benefit of the doubt' to 'I'm done with this'. Granted... there were a few amusing moments along the way... but once it was over ... it was a universal thumbs down in the room.

Moonbase 8 (2020)

Big fat ... Meh

Wasn't terrible ... but not especially good either. Yes... the humor is subtle... so subtle as to be nearly nonexistent. Nothing in the first episode reeled me in to make me want to watch the second. Characters ... meh, story... meh. Granted... it may get better. Unlike Avenue 5 ... which ratcheted up to very funny quickly ... this one did not. With the large amount of good content out there ... and the size of my watchlist... this one just won't get any more of my time.