Archive | Television RSS feed for this section

The Leftovers “Axis Mundi” Review (2×01)

4 Oct

2.Kevin-and-Nora-VR-850x567

A perfectly understandable reaction to this premiere would be: “What the hell?” That was mine, after all, when we were introduced to the season through a 10-minute sequence involving childbirth, an earthquake, and a snakebite. There are certainly a plethora of ways you can look at it, and that can be both a frustrating and an engaging aspect of the viewing experience. I think it’s clear, though, that the series is more concerned with the emotional fallout of the Departure–or in this case, the lack thereof–than with the concrete answers.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Affair “201” Review (2×01)

4 Oct

02AFFAIR-master675

“The sooner we figure this out, the sooner we move on with our lives.”

The season two premiere of The Affair delves into the muddy waters of divorce, taking us into the minds of the characters as they deal with the aftermath of season one’s ugly finish. This year, we’re getting the perspectives of Cole and Helen, and we see the latter’s play out alongside Noah’s in the opening hour. It is, as expected, a beautifully acted episode for Maura Tierney, and she does a nice job of conveying her emotional state as she attempts to move on with her life. Of course, the big question swirling around in her mind is: Can she move on? Sure, there’s Max and his dirty talk, but it’s clear that this whole situation has taken an immense toll on her. Her seemingly perfect–perhaps too perfect–life has been completely upended, and she’s stuck wondering how she could’ve missed the cracks in her earlier years.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Homeland “Separation Anxiety” Review (5×01)

4 Oct

saul-carrie-homeland-season-5-5

“All that suffering, and nothing changes.”

It’s the sad truth about espionage and terrorism: it’s a perpetual cycle of suffering and violence and death, a slow-changing situation in which our enemies are willing to do whatever it takes to kill us. And like Quinn bitterly asks near the beginning of the episode, “What strategy?” What exactly are we doing? We seem to be avoiding the brutal truths of foreign intervention, convincing ourselves that we’re always doing good work and always holding our people in the highest regard. In the end, though, people are going to get hurt, and the question becomes whether it’s worth it or not. What Homeland understands is that this battle against terrorism seeps into every little crevice of the government, that what we’re left with is an institution that sometimes behaves in similar manners as its enemies.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Joe Biden Interview

11 Sep

Because everyone needs to watch this.

Video credit: CBS, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Tags: , ,

You’re the Worst “The Sweater People” Review (2×01)

9 Sep

YOU'RE THE WORST -- "The Sweater People" -- Episode 201 (Airs Wednesday, September 9, 10:00 pm e/p) Pictured: (l-r) Aya Cash as Gretchen Cutler, Chris Geere as Jimmy Shive-Overly. CR: Prashant Gupta/FX

“Love is putting someone else’s feelings above your own.”

You’re the Worst might have a cynical outer shell, but it’s less a criticism of relationships and more an examination of the trials and tribulations of those very relationships. Stephen Falk and co. understand their characters extremely well, and there’s still quite a bit of warmth to be found beneath the layers of sarcasm and illegal activities; these are simply people trying to navigate themselves and their relationships, and the roadblocks they encounter are inevitable aspects of their shared experience. Rom-com cliches don’t drive this show. The characters do, and even though they might be “the worst”, they’re still extremely fun to watch.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Series Premiere Review

9 Sep

colbert-desk2

Stephen’s back, and it’s a wonderful sight to behold. What I love most about this first episode is the fact that we get to see a genuinely excited Stephen Colbert, a guy who finally gets to be himself after years and years of playing “a narcissistic conservative pundit”. Now he’s “just a narcissist”, and we can see in every movement just how happy he is to be here. This is someone who’s building a late night show around pure talent and personality, not around the generic celebrity gushing that seems to dominate much of the country’s cultural conversation. This version of The Late Show is a blend of old and new, and it’s exactly what the format needs as we move forward.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Mr. Robot “eps1.9_zer0-day.avi” Review (1×10)

3 Sep

Screen-Shot-2015-09-02-at-2.37.58-PM-615x334

“We live in a kingdom of bullshit!”

Mr. Robot’s big monologue near the end of the episode is essentially this show in a nutshell. Throughout these ten episodes, Sam Esmail and co. explore the idea of reality in both an individual and societal context, using unique visual cues to convey Elliot’s mindset as he navigates the world around him. It’s certainly an interesting ride, one filled with burning questions about who’s “real” and who isn’t, about who might just be a part of our main character’s mind. In the end, though, the finale monologue hits the nail on the head when it comes to reality in this show. “Is any of it real?” Mr. Robot asks. “I mean, look at this. Look at it! A world built on fantasy.”

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Show Me a Hero “Parts 5 & 6” Review

30 Aug

show-me-a-hero_article_story_large

“You can’t confuse votes with love.”

Over the first four episodes of the miniseries, Mayor Nick Wasicsko’s storyline has been the main interest-grabber, the anchor in a show populated by its fair share of scattered plots. In these final two episodes, things switch up a bit, the previously disjointed residents’ storylines coming together beautifully as Nick fades into the background. And it’s not that there’s less time devoted to the former mayor; it’s just that Yonkers is moving on from him, fading “the face of this ugly mess” out. He without a doubt did some good in this city, but it ultimately ends up being the cruel beast of politics that pushes him downward.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Hannibal “The Wrath of the Lamb” Review (3×13)

29 Aug

Screen shot 2015-08-28 at 3.53.43 PM

“This is all I ever wanted for you, Will. For both of us.”

For three seasons and thirty nine episodes, Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter have crafted an incredibly twisted, violent, and beautiful love story. They’ve followed a more unique version of the Base System, however, with making out/feeling each other up/having hot sex being replaced with fun actions such as cannibalism, bloody hugging, and brutal murders. This is the only show on television where someone getting stabbed can potentially make you go “Oh, that’s adorable!”, and I love Bryan Fuller and co. all the more for it. In “The Wrath of the Lamb”, he writes the show out in style, both giving us closure to the central relationship and leaving us with a sense of ambiguity. It’s a fittingly poetic masterpiece of a series finale, and I’m glad I got to experience it.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fear the Walking Dead “Pilot” Review (1×01)

28 Aug

Fear-the-Walking-Dead-promo-pic-82

Written by: Maria Leia

AMC’s wildly successful zombie drama The Walking Dead turned into a cultural phenomenon after it was popularized as a cult comic series. Now, creator Robert Kirkman and AMC have launched a companion show, Fear The Walking Dead, set in the same universe. While the two shows necessarily have a lot in common, there are plenty aspects to differentiate them that should make the new show a worthwhile experience for fans of the original.

Continue reading →

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →