Archive | July, 2015

Penny Dreadful “And They Were Enemies” Review (2×10)

6 Jul

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“I know what I am. Do you?”

Identity may be the major theme governing the Penny Dreadful universe, but the writers expertly tie that into other topics like religion and darkness, weaving together the show’s characters in a large tapestry of past, present, and future. Going in, you might not expect this kind of depth and complexity from something that’s a horror series in its simplest form, but as you keep watching, you realize that the show works because its characters are fascinating to watch. They’re flawed individuals just trying to find some light in a room full of darkness, and that’s exactly what makes their journeys so compelling.

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True Detective “Maybe Tomorrow” Review (2×03)

5 Jul

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“Do you want to live?”

The past weaves its way throughout the narrative of True Detective‘s second season, leaving indelible marks on all these characters as they attempt to deal with its effects. It can be a nasty thing haunting you at every turn, or it can be something full of moments you long to recapture. The people we’re witnessing at the moment seem to be stuck in a middle ground of sorts, one that lies between life and death and past and future; not everything’s working right now, but Pizzolatto and the actors seem to be grasping ahold of their characters a bit better.

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Hannibal “Contorno” Review (3×05)

2 Jul

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“If you don’t kill him, you’re afraid you’ll become him.”

The Hannibal Lecter-Will Graham dynamic is one of the most fascinating dynamics on television, and what’s impressive about this show is its ability to develop their relationship through the use of other characters. Last week, we witnessed an episode all about the long-lasting impact Hannibal’s had on a plethora of people, and this week, it all explodes in a truly masterful final sequence. Even though the show’s two main characters aren’t physically by each other–the passionate sex that inevitably will ensue is more of a finale event–the writers still take care to note just how close they are. We see just how tightly the two are entwined, and it only makes the upcoming reunion even more intriguing as a result.

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Mr. Robot “eps1.1_ones-and-zer0es.mpeg” Review (1×02)

1 Jul

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“You either do something or you don’t.”

The second episode of Mr. Robot is about choice, about the push and pull between E Corp and Fsociety, about the idea of an “illusion of control” in regards to that choice. The hour may not be as intriguing as the pilot is, but it’s still able to strike a balance between character study and thematic umbrella, taking us into Elliot’s mind and asking us: “How much of this is real?”

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