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Mr. Robot “eps1.4_3xpl0its.wmv” Review (1×05)

23 Jul

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“People always make the best exploits.”

Even though hacking–and technology in general–oftentimes comes with a depersonalizing element, Mr. Robot is still fundamentally about what it means to be a human in modern society. To be a human is to have deep fears and vulnerabilities, to care about others, to be someone easily exploited by the harsh outside world. As Mobley so aptly puts it: “People are all just people, right? When it gets down to it, everyone is the same. They love something. They want something. They fear something. The specifics help us, but the specifics don’t change how everyone is vulnerable. It just changes the way that we access those vulnerabilities.”

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True Detective “Other Lives” Review (2×05)

20 Jul

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“It’s never too late to start all over again.”

It’s been 66 days since the shootout at the end of episode four, and we’re now at a point in the story where we’re seeing both the ways these characters have changed and have stayed the same. We’re also at a point where they just want everything out in the open, things laid bare and cases solved even if “nobody [else] fucking cares”. Things have been dragged on for far too long, and many of them simply want it to all end. Interestingly enough, though, they have to dive back into past waters in order to attempt to put an end to things, and that raises the question of whether or not they can ever truly find peace. In a city filled to the brim with corruption, will they ever get exactly what they want? Or, is it just all a fantasy?

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Hannibal “Digestivo” Review (3×07)

18 Jul

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“Some beasts shouldn’t be caged.”

What an episode. This is the culmination of several seasons’ worth of pain and heartbreak and betrayal and love, an hour that both closes off the season’s experimental first half and sets up what very well could be the show’s final stretch. It’s an hour filled to the brim with dark humor and truly disturbing imagery, and it does well by all the characters involved, delving deep into their relationships and pasts as they all come together at Muskrat Farm. This is simply the series–and television–at its best, and it’s one more example of why it’s a shame that the show is going off the air soon.

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Rectify “Thrill Ride” Review (3×02)

16 Jul

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“You’re not like me either, and that’s a good thing.”

Early on in “Thrill Ride”, Daniel paces back and forth, uncertainty written on his face as he repeats the same question over and over: “What should I do? What should I do?” This is a guy who hasn’t always had a set purpose in life; he’s explored the world around him and has found beauty in the smallest things, but now, the people in his life are looking for some sense of structure. Even though they obviously don’t want him to be in jail, the weight of the past still lingers on their shoulders, causing bitterness and regret and sadness as they attempt to move on.

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Thoughts on the 2015 Emmy Nominations

16 Jul

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THE GOOD

-This is actually the best the Comedy Series category has been in a while. Aside from Modern Family continuing to be the Meryl Streep of Emmy nominations, the other six shows are legitimately great. I’d be fine with any of them winning (although I’d still love to see shows like Nathan For YouYou’re the Worst, and Review here).

-Tatiana Maslany finally got the nomination she deserved a couple years ago. She’s a brilliant actress who deserves all the recognition she’s getting.

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Mr. Robot “eps1.3_da3m0ns.mp4” Review (1×04)

15 Jul

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“Intentions are irrelevant. They don’t drive us; demons do. And me, I’ve got more than most.”

Last week’s episode revolved around the weaknesses inside every human being, around our collective ability to be exploited as individuals and as a society. This week, the show takes the idea further by delving into the concept of an inner demon, of something that doesn’t merely allow for control like a vulnerability would; instead, it controls us from the inside, seducing and manipulating and owning us as we attempt to push on through the monotony of life. The illusion of control might be oftentimes created due to the manipulation from the outside world, but sometimes, it’s frightening to look within yourself at your own “monster”.

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True Detective: More Than What Meets the Eye?

13 Jul

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Written by: Maria Leia

In its first season, True Detective developed a reputation for being the thinking man’s crime drama, a philosophical procedural whose finale disappointed some viewers when Rust Cohle’s nihilistic worldview gave way to a soulful epiphany following a near death experience in Carcosa. The first couple episodes of the second season have also been a letdown for those expecting the same kinds of profound platitudes and abstract imagery. While it’s true that the show has its flaws, to give in to the critical backlash is to miss out on what is still one of the most thoughtful and original programs on TV.

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True Detective “Down Will Come” Review (2×04)

12 Jul

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“Those moments…they stare back at you. You don’t remember them; they remember you.”

The past is a painful thing for all these characters. They’re very different people, but what ties them together is the fact that they’re still haunted in some way by history, that the decisions they made prior to this case still affect them in the present. They’re each attempting to hold onto some kind of life raft in order to push through the mud, but only moving forward is impossible in their cases because shit stays with them; it propels them backwards and sideways as well. As Ray tells Frank about being poor: “Nah, that shit never leaves you.”

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Masters of Sex “Parliament of Owls” Review (3×01)

12 Jul

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“We ARE the Sexual Revolution.”

As the third season of Masters of Sex begins, we arrive at a critical point in the Masters/Johnson journey. Their new book, Human Sexual Response, has just been released, and they’re facing a wave of scrutiny as their work reaches the masses. And it’s not only the turning point from private to public in terms of their work; their private lives at home are shifting as their kids grow up and attempt to figure out the world. These parallels aren’t exactly subtle in nature–especially once their kids start exploring their own sexuality—but they’re still interesting comparisons to delve into for the show.

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Inside Out Review

10 Jul

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Inside Out simplifies without losing sight of the complexity in human feelings. It builds off of five major emotions and a fairly conventional human story to produce a gorgeous and layered inner world, and its impressive world-building and lack of unneeded exposition allow it to shine. Moments that seem like throwaways are used both to make you laugh and to flesh out the characters, and the creative team seems to have a firm grasp on what’s needed for infectious fun to work in tandem with serious topics. The movie takes Riley’s journey seriously, understanding that profound stories can be told about kids with real, human emotions, stories that aren’t boxed in by action or romance or binary statements that oversimplify a child’s struggles.

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