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Reviews
Angel from Hell (2016)
Good Show
The writing was lackluster at first, but really started to find its voice by the end of season/series.
At the beginning, all the characters except Amy sounded too similar. Their dialog was mostly the same and quite boring. If I had to read the script without character headings, I wouldn't have been able to distinguish who was saying what. That's how similar they were.
It took a solid five or six episodes for the characters to establish their behavior patterns, which was unfortunately too late as the network had announced its cancellation. The eps burnt off during the summer were slightly different in tone and were actually quite funny because the series had enough time to establish itself.
Allison was also a problem. Her character is poorly conceived because she's too generic. There have been countless attempts at Amy/Allison duos, and they are always the same dynamic. Allison could have had a more interesting backstory, profession, or some other trait to make her stand out. She starts as a copy of her dad, and her character growth is mostly stagnant, but differentiates from Marvin because he's now dealing with his own issues (age, relationships, etc.) that make him more dynamic. From a casting perspective Maggie Lawson's resume seems to have similar types of characters.
There was too much time wasted for setups, and this usually hurts a show and its ratings. Rather than consuming half a season to establish the character universe, plot arcs, or behavior patterns, Angel from Hell likely would have been more well conceived had it jumped straight into the chaos without warning.
Jane Lynch is divine in all her scenes and steals the show. The cast has a chemistry with each other toward the end and it's apparent they enjoyed working together.a
It's evident from watching the show that the series concept wasn't fully developed prior to shooting, and used valuable time to do so as the writing room explored its possibilities. That's why ratings tanked and it's unfortunately gone.
It was just a nice show to watch. I don't really know how to describe it, but Angel from Hell was entertaining and that's all I can ask from in a TV series.
From Here on OUT (2014)
Hot mess
It's hereTV at it's best: low-budget, hot dudes, nudity, simulated sex, terrible acting, and lackluster writing. What makes From Here on OUT entertaining is its ability to be a parody of its host network. Everything good and bad about hereTV is portrayed through its incompetent, young, and immature network exec/president.
As with all gay-themed comedies, this show is no exception when it comes to cringeworthy actors that seem incredibly fake. TJ Hoban is the saving grace here, not only for his muscle god looks, but also his acting skills to save this program from being an unsalvageable disaster. Suzanne Whang is hysterical in her role, and an excellent caricature of the Asian stereotype, with an overly exaggerated accent.
While there's really nothing here to write home about, or moments that will stick with you forever, it's still a fun ride for what it is. Given the surreal nature to the show itself and the network's business practices, there's a 20% chance for renewal and Season 2. Even if it doesn't return, the show within the show (Guy Dubai: International Spy) was only going to have two full seasons of one episode each, and then probably cancelled after that. So, if From Here on OUT is cancelled by hereTV, the cancellation decision is somewhat ironic. Nonetheless, you should watch it it if nothing else for TJ Hoban's incredible body and sexy looks.