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Reviews
Clone High: Saved by the Knoll (2023)
Trash as Building Blocks: The Unintentionally Perfect Metaphor for the Failed Attempt to Reconstruct Clone High
This episode epitomizes everything that's wrong with the reboot. From the forced metaphor about the dangers of nostalgia to the absence of its most key character, it fails to capture the magic that made the original so beloved.
One of the most glaring issues is the lack of Gandhi. In the original series, Gandhi's character provided a perfect blend of humor and controversy, setting Clone High apart as an adult cartoon that dared to take risks for the sake of free comedic expression. In stark contrast, the reboot resorts to excessive blood and cursing as a desperate attempt to prove its adult-oriented nature.
The episode's message attempts to preach about the dangers of nostalgia and the importance of moving on, paralleling the fan base's need to accept the new version. However, the new iteration falls flat in terms of humor. There are painfully few moments that elicit genuine laughter, leaving viewers grasping at straws for anything remotely entertaining. One scene in particular where Joan enters a lamp store and clumsily breaks things with her "silly legs" is akin to the humor found in cartoons aimed at fourth-grade viewers.
Though the show's foundation still holds potential, it desperately needs Gandhi's return for the next season. His absence is a void that none of the new characters, including Harriet, Frida, and Confucius, can fill. In order to recapture the essence of the original, the reboot must let go of these unsuccessful additions and focus on resurrecting the core elements that once made Clone High great.
Simply put, the reboot lacks the wit, humor, and distinctiveness that made the original series a cult favorite. While there's still hope for improvement, significant changes must be made for the next season to salvage this lackluster attempt at resurrecting the beloved show.
House of the Dragon (2022)
Is there a better show on TV? I don't think so.
House of the Dragon delivers on the best aspects of Game of Thrones and does so in a way that invites new fans to the series without the barrier of understanding GOT lore. The only thing I don't like about the show is that Milly Alcock won't be on it anymore after episode 6! All of the actors are great, but Milly steals every scene she is in. I'm glad Ryan Condal recognized how great of a character Rhaenyra is and chose to center the plot of the show almost entirely around her. Daemon is also very well written. There are times times when he says or does something absolutely irredeemable and you hope he dies the next episode, and then when you watch the next episodes it is impossible NOT to root for him (you know the fight sequence I am thinking about). Condal has proved he can make incredibly likable characters, spectacular fight sequences, and riveting drama.
The Rehearsal: Pretend Daddy (2022)
Nathan Fielder makes a great show, and he would be a great father
Although Nathan comes across as empathy-deficient at first glance, a more thorough inspection reveals his heart as big as the number of variables he accounts for in every situation. His interaction with one child actor in particular brings up a litany of moral questions about thrusting a young person, who may not be able to differentiate reality from scripted fantasy, into television acting. Beyond raising these questions, Nathan makes an exhaustive effort to find answers via The Fielder Method.
As hilarious as The Fielder Method is to watch because of its plain absurdity, its also deeply profound. It forces a person to consider how their actions are perceived by others, the role they play in the lives of other people, and at what point selfish desires for things like self-discovery or self-actualization create harm onto others. In this respect, the purpose of a rehearsal extends beyond the realm of making predictions about others into a space of meaningful self-reflection.
Sure, I could make the argument that Nathan is genuinely a good person by referencing the lengths he went to to ensure one particular child actor was not negatively affected by his experience on the show, but I think a better argument is made by looking at the production itself. Nathan wielded the mighty budget of HBO to give a payday for dozens of child actors families, to provide opportunities for actors that took a chance taking his truly outlandish Fielder Method course (and remember when he used HBO cash to pay one of an actor to make pizzas in his studio bar) and every person who had to plant whole cucumbers in the dirt or cover the house with snow or construct his many sets, I could go on.
I am so glad this show has been renewed for a second season. Nathan, I am all for you.
The Rehearsal: Apocalypto (2022)
A fitting sendoff for a great (or atleast very entertaining) TV character
Say what you will about Angela being the human embodiment of self-centered narcissism and the least desirable person to build a family with imaginable, but you have to admit Nathan's project benefited from having her as a first subject. From watching Angela admonish Nathan's religion, defeat the purpose of the project by breaking character with the child actors, and blame her failures on Nathan's "lack of clear and specific communication" an audience member like me has learned how important it is to know a person fully before building a life with them. Signs you might be dating a self-centered narcissist include: 1) she believes in wild conspiracy theories (what did she say about Halloween again???), 2) she doesn't respect other religions/cultures, and 3) she looks for excuses/ways to shift blame rather than solutions. No matter how many variables Nathan accounted for, Angela never would have gained anything from this experience. Why? Because a person who can not engage in honest self-reflection is incapable of genuine self-discovery. For subject 002, choose the polar opposite of this woman.