Season 2 lacks depth, detail, and tension. No giant waves, no struggles within the Going Merry, no epic sea battles. The entire set looks like a newly-opened One Piece theme park, dust free and organized. And the Straw Hats, who seem to be spending more time on land than at sea, look like a bunch of city kids cosplaying as pirates with their clean clothes, nice hair, and sunburn-free skin. Scurvy can be ignored. But sailing across the perilous waters for many days, and no blisters? Come on! They should be called Straw Hat Island Hoppers, instead of pirates. As for the peformance, well, it's a mixed bag. I really like the renditions of Wapol, Nami, Zoro, Chopper, Nico, Mr. 3, and Kureha. The rest of the cast is not quite there yet, especially Luffy. The lines he delivers don't get through to me and end up being cringey. Take a cue from Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow. Just the right amount of quirkiness. Anyways, perhaps my expectations were high. I don't **** more thing though, the One Piece anime or manga should only serve as a guide to tell a much richer and more convincing story, and not as a universal template. The writers should have taken some liberties, just like what the writers of Rurouni Kenshin did. Perfect fusion of reality and fantasy. No wonder why no anime live adaptation ever comes close to RK. That said, I hope they get the Alabasta storyline right (think of Lawrence of Arabia or Dune meets the Pirates of the Caribbean). If not, then, Netflix should axe this show. Try to raise the **** bar a little bit higher!
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a tv show I can easily Identify with. I'm kind of a hedge knight myself (see what I did there?), or in modern terms, a digital hobo. But seriously, this show is a breath of fresh air, a respite from GoT and HoD's deadly game of chess. It shows us that not everything in this fantastical world is about dragons, ****, and tyrants. There's also virtue, honor, and brotherhood to be had, like Dunk and Egg's relationship, which is wonderfully rendered by Peter and Dexter, and Prince Baelor, who is played by Bertie Carvel (a masterful actor who can go toe-to-toe with Benedict Cumberbatch in terms of serious acting. Damn, I hope he gets a superhero role in Marvel or DC), siding with Dunk. I would be remiss if I didn't mention how beautifully the writers and directors set the the tone, the scenery, and the atmosphere of the show. It's like watching the result of a successful alchemic fusion of Excalibur and the Green Knight. Ultimately, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms is a heartwarming and inspiring show that has the potential to become the next HoD, which is, by the way, a very well-received series. HBO you're on a roll!
Dark matter is both a sci-fi show and a philosophical invitation. It shows us how weird, chaotic, deep, and interconnected reality is. It offers us a glimpse into the world of quantum physics devoid of info dumping and pedantic tendencies. Yes, it's ambitious in scope. But its grandiose premise is counterbalanced by its zoomed in view of each of the characters' lives and their unquantifiable struggles as they navigate their way in and out of the mysterious, labyrinthine box. And speaking of struggles, Joel Edgerton, the beautiful Ms. Jennifer Connelly, Jimmi Simpson, and Alice Braga effortlessly showed me the different facets of the human psyche, how painful, terrifying, and beautiful it is to be human, and that our efforts in searching for hope in the midst of adversities somehow supersedes our reality and renders it inconsequential. Ultimately, dark matter is a mind-bending sci-fi show that'll surely rattle you down to your last atom. It's one of the best shows I've seen since Silo. Mr. Blake Crouch, you're the man!
**** the naysayers. The Witcher 4 has surpassed its predecessor. The darkened texture, the beautiful landscape shots, the well-executed fight scenes, and the snappy dialogue. They're all there. Liam, Thor's younger brother, is an excellent Geralt as Henry was. And Anya is getting prettier and prettier every season. A bona fide Yennifer. Damn you Geralt (lol). Jaskir (Joey) is still suave as ever, and a bard we don't deserve. Freya is getting there, too. Overall, The Witcher 4 is a step closer to becoming an epic saga. Steadfast, Netflix. Steadfast. ( I also noticed Solomon Kane sitting side by side with the evil king. Nice to see a great actor.)
First off, Mr. Vincent D'Onofrio has done a great job as the Kingpin (Wilson Fisk). He's calculating, vulnerable, and terrifying, especially that scene when he screamed at the wall (Haaah!). Damn, that really got me. Charlie really shines as Matt Murdock. His portrayal as a defense attorney shows as that he's not just some random dude trying to be Batman. Overall, this show is better than some of Marvel's big-budget movies. I'm excited for season two. And I really hope Daredevil gets to have his own movie (I want to see more Murdock vs Fisk mind games). Kudos to Mr. David Fiege!
This show is like a foie gras. And I don't even know what a foie gras is, or what it tastes like. My point is, it's not overdone and you don't have to be a chef or a cook to appreciate the show. The writing, the cast, and the cinematography have been mixed and turned into a spectacular dish. All you have to do is savor it. Thank you, Chef!
The moment I saw Mark and Tom on the cover, I knew this show was going to be awesome. And I was right. The first two episodes blew my mind. Of course, the writing (courtesy of Mr. Brad) was top-notch. Another win for HBO.
