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reneewestberry
Reviews
Outer Range (2022)
I don't know what's happening, but I like it.
Lots of intelligent reviews about this show already so I'm going to just take this opportunity to talk about the amazing performances. In particular, Lili Taylor. I did not know I needed Lili Taylor as rancher matriarch in my life, but oh I really did. How I enjoyed watching her just own this part! The way she zig zags from wife to mother to slightly unhinged to feral while also somehow simultaneously heartbreakingly vulnerable and back again with absolute mastery. Even if I didn't like the show I'd watch it just to see what she's going to do next.
Fortunately I do like the show and am looking forward to season 3. I have absolutely no idea where it's going from here, but the easiest way to watch is just to accept it as it comes. I'm not even trying to figure it out. Just watch it and enjoy the surreal wonder of it.
Frasier (2023)
This could be good!
I admit I was a little disappointed to not see my old favorite characters at first. But after watching the first three episodes I think it might be a good thing to start over fresh instead of trying to recreate something we've all already seen. (I'm also holding out hope that we might at least get a cameo from some old favorites.)
I genuinely laughed a lot and particularly enjoyed the gorgeous sets and wardrobe. Frasier still has that thing where he can just set his face into a particular expression and make me laugh without even having to speak.
I'm going to give it a chance because even if it's a little awkward at first, as most new sitcoms are, I can see the potential for better things to come.
The Power (2023)
Better than the book!
I read this book a few years ago and remember liking it, but not as much as I thought I would. It didn't grab me and make me want to read it again, but this series- I want to watch again. And that's unusual for me to like a series better than I like a book. Like I just finished the 1st season a few days ago and I'm already considering watching it again.
This series wasn't promoted much so I'm really hoping enough people end up seeing it and liking it so we can get a 2nd season.
The acting was exemplary as well as the pacing. And I'd really like to see where all the characters end up because I forgot the specifics of how the book ended other than the general big picture.
Also want to mention that the soundtrack was excellent.
Mayfair Witches (2023)
A bold representation that doesn't quite work.
So I've only been able to watch one episode (because it was free) but I think I've seen enough to have some thoughts. The Mayfair Witches is my favorite series of Rice's so I had hopes even while knowing some things would be different. However I didn't foresee a complete absence of the main male lead! Interesting choice! I really don't know how they're planning to pull it off without Michael, but ok...
Rowan was better than I originally expected- she's got the stare down and just enough presence to pull off such a strong character.
Carlotta was perfect- just as I always imagined her.
The First Street House was also beautifully done.
Ellie was a surprise, but not an unwelcome one. I have no problem with changing her ethnicity.
Much of the rest was either absent or somewhat disappointing. I wish they had used more of Rice's dialogue as it was one of her biggest strengths as a writer and the show writer's efforts to modernize the dialogue only seemed to dumb it down to near absurdity.
The acting was somewhat heavy handed which I'm going to blame on direction rather than the skill of the actors. The whole mood of the story was just... too much- too overdone. One of the spookiest things about the Mayfair family was their matter of fact manner about all the weirdness and spookiness surrounding their lives. They didn't sidle around giving people meaningful and menacing stares every time something strange happened which is part of what was terrifying about them. Uncle Cortland came closest to capturing this casual creepy decadence though even he was over the top.
Lasher was also not quite right from what little I saw of him. He's supposed to be lithe and menacing but elegant- the actor seemed to be more smoldering and overtly sexual which seemed a bit too much.
All in all I didn't hate it, but I do feel there were a lot of missed opportunities. I also feel like the assumption that the audience has to be beat over the head with what's happening was a mistake. Some nuance would have been welcome. Stop assuming we're too dumb to get it if it's not blatantly obvious. It's supposed to be a mystery.
If they'd done a better job I would have paid for the streaming service, but it wasn't quite captivating enough for me to pay for another service to watch it.
Foundation (2021)
Couldn't stop watching!
I'm mystified by all the angry bad reviews, but then I never read the books so maybe going into it without expectations is the way to enjoy this series.
I genuinely loved it and found it to be one of the first series that I've enjoyed in a long time. I plan to watch it again which is the highest praise I can give to anything.
I especially appreciated the level of detail that went into the sets and photography. It was a genuinely beautiful show to watch.
The characters also kept me watching waiting to see what they would do next.
There were a few timeline things that had me pretty confused, but I think that was by design.
I'm glad I watched it before reading all the hateful reviews.
Can't wait for the next season!