CellariusMack

This season is absolutely abysmal. I cannot remember the last time a show I enjoyed so much fell off such a huge cliff. Each preceding season was always centred around a particular space mission and figuring out how to make it work was where the tension and drama drew from. The mission in this season has gotten about 20 minutes screen time total in 8 episodes so far and 95% of each episode is garbage dialogue about preachy tired tropes. This is a shame when I spent the past year looking for updates on when this season was gonna finally drop. Out of curiosity I looked up how the writing staff has changed throughout the seasons and everything now makes sense. We went from writers who previously worked on shows like TNG, DS9, Battlestar Galactica and Fargo to current writers of this season with only 2-3 previous credits (sometimes not even for writing) of garbage no one has ever heard of and one with their highest profile credit being a CW show. Such a disappointment.

First few episodes seemed like it was setting up a interesting take, but goes off the rails into the most absolute opposite direction and finally breaking both legs and its spine on the attempt to stick the landing.

It seems like the writing/dialogue parts of the first season that were annoying but worth tolerating have been put on full blast this season and is really dragging it down like an anchor. I’ll admit I’m only 4 episodes in as I write this and will amend if proven wrong in episodes to come, but as it stands now I wouldn’t be surprised if Season 3 comes with a laugh track while the bumbling balloonheads on screen (reflective of the writing team no doubt), just happen to stumble into each episode’s latest coincidence.

After terrific first 2 seasons, a middling 3rd season we reach an all time low point with season 4. The Frank Lucas arc could have been a high point for the season but is instead the most contrived and cliched nothing storyline. Add this to Chin’s absence and replacement with the ever annoying Mary Sue Stella and this season is a jumbled parody of what it once was and seemingly written by a staff fuelled by huffing their own flatulence.

The first episode will leave you optimistic, the second episode is passable and then it all comes off the rails. Get prepared for episodes laden with the usual “Netflix-speak” dialogue that their writers seem to imagine is peak “quirkiness” and plot contrivance solves all. Paul Giamatti is probably the highlight this season in a competent episode 5. Lastly, the Callister episode will leave you scratching your head as to why all the characters are suddenly devoid of 50 IQ points from their previous incarnations and if it really needed revisiting when so little effort of having something to say was made. 3/6 episodes being good is still better than what we got last season at least.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

While not nearly as good as season 1, it is still a pretty decent ride. Downsides are the lame romance angle and the awful performance by Mandy Moore who thinks making the same stupid confused face the entire time constitutes acting. Not bad if you liked season 1, though there’s better things out there.

Season one captured the setting and aesthetic for a pulpy noir quite well and was cleverly written as far as plot and dialogue. While I was glad to see it back for second season, 1932 certainly seems more like costume direction than an actual setting. The writing is a lot more hamfisted this time around and while the actors do a tremendous job of keeping the spirit alive, I wouldn’t have been surprised to learn that Netflix developed Season 2 instead of HBO.

Well I gave it a chance only because I’d already suffered through season 1. Essentially they leaned harder into every criticism people had with the first season. Every 2nd scene is someone crying, Richter is there just to be a tag along punchline and any lore established is all out the window. Such fantastic writing with classic lines like, “Most of what’s bad in the world is because of stupid old men!!” I certainly hope the angsty 14 year olds who wrote this were well compensated. Isn’t it just so great when all history is just contemporary Murica with people wearing funny clothes? I’m sure no one is tired of that yet. Skip it if you have any value for your time.

In a world without dentists people try to survive deadly plaque? Great summary proof read

Not a bad take with an interesting perspective to differentiate it from the Law & Order: True Crime series from a few years ago. Certainly worth a watch if you have any interest in the story. Less about the trial and more about the story with an ambiguous stance which suits the tale.

Really wanted to like this show, had read the books a couple years before hearing about this and had my hopes up. Unfortunately just another contributing piece to what will be come to be known as “The Cultural Dark Ages”.

A hilarious outing with a sharp wit and excellent cast. Highly recommend and can’t wait to see where they go with it

Are we sure this wasn't just satire? It would have been more appropriate for them to release this on April 1st.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Fantastic and gripping examination into the ultimate price some individuals had to pay as casualties in a war of ego, pride and titles. Frightening most of all was how little recourse these individuals invariably had and a chilling reminder that corruption rules supreme.

Not nearly as flawless as "critics" would have you believe. Maybe read the book instead.