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Reviews
Ojing-eo geim: Mugunghwa kkoch-i pideon nal (2021)
Everything you could want from a pilot!
A great first episode that sets us up perfectly for what is to come. It has everything; a flawed main character with clear motives, brief exposition, some unexpectedly cool visuals (the production design of the show warrants watching it alone), and a final act that is beyond shocking. I cannot imagine anyone viewing this episode and not wanting to see more, even if it's just to find out what twisted game is up next.
I did find it a little odd that no one asked what the punishment would be if they lost the games but once you wake up in a room of 100 mega-bunkbeds I suppose your mind would be a bit scrambled.
The White Lotus (2021)
It's complicated
I personally think it's a really good sign when a show is as polarizing as The White Lotus. Half of reviews will complain about an anticlimactic ending, inaccessible characters, and an overall lack of action. The other half will praise the show for its brilliant dark humor, critique of wealth, and ability to weave seemingly unrelated stories into one cohesive plot. What makes this dichotomy so interesting is that neither side is wrong, it all just comes down to how you engage with the show.
In some regards, I do think the show misses the mark. Through the murder mystery theme and forceful implementation of the (brilliant) score, Mike White creates a sense of suspense and despair that never really feels justified. There are definitely moments of shock and awe, but overall each separate storyline comes to a lukewarm ending instead of the cataclysmic finale the show convinces you is coming. Likely this is intentional, but it nevertheless is hard to swallow.
On the other hand, the elusive intelligence Mike White constructs the show with leaves you wildly impressed that something could be so repulsive, intriguing, heartfelt, and scary all at the same time. The acting is phenomenal. The music is incredible. The cinematography is great. The critique of modern philosophies is done with sharp wit and understanding. It's hard to dislike it, even when some of the characters make you want to swallow glass. It deserves the praise and acclaim it is receiving (and will hopefully continue to receive).
P. S. I will single-handily end the Emmys if Jennifer Coolidge is not seen accepting an award next year. She deserves the world.
Game of Thrones: The Iron Throne (2019)
Yeah... no
The hallmark of Game of Thrones for me has always been the show's ability to juggle a dozen storylines at once with ease. So many characters, so many conflicts, always an excess of social politics. So someone tell me why this final episode has approximately 3 storylines (the fate of Dany, the fate of Jon, and the fate of the throne). Tell me why Jon and Tyrion are the only characters deserving of impactful ending. Tell me why Bran, a character with very little development and complexity in this season, became the penultimate individual.
It comes down to something very simple. This season needed more episodes. You'll see I left 3 stars due to the fact that, as wasted as it was, the acting, special effects, visuals, score, and stunts were INCREDIBLE. Game-changing. History making. Undeniably fantastic. The sad truth is that they were wasted on 6 episodes that had no writing to back them up. If less time went into large-scale sequences (that were NEVER what made Game of Thrones great), then more time could have been put into a dozen more episodes that honed in on Bran's rise, Sansa's need for northern sovereignty, Arya's random desire to be Christopher Columbus, Brienne, Davos, etc.. In this dream scenario, perhaps we would have gotten more than 2 storylines in this finale.
As I look back, the only way I can stomach this final season is to imagine the true Game of Thrones ended after Season 6. What S7 and S8 were, then, were Hollywood adaptions of the show; movies that pandered to the most glamorous storylines in an attempt to satisfy casual fans. That is the only reason why they exempted what a true fan would want: the nitty gritty details. How are they rebuilding the wall? Where the hell is the dragon? When did Podrick get his new title? The list goes on. Things only the book will be able to tell us now.
Also- one last thing- "A Song of Ice and Fire" being the history book for Westeros? Y'all smell that cheese?
Aggretsuko (2018)
Yes!
Perhaps it is the oddball element of Aggretsuko that makes it so worthwhile, but the episodes don't always entail screaming death metal. In fact, the storylines of the show are incredibly mundane; it chronicles the degrading office work our main characters suffers through and how she finds relief. It's very human, to say the least. NOTHING can prepare you, though, for the outrageously funny lyrics to the songs the main characters belts. No matter how often it happens, it always hits me like a freight train and leaves me gasping for air laughing so hard. These moments alone make the show golden.
I took one star away because, on occasion, the show's witty rhythm trips up; you feel like the comedic and heartwarming delivery is interrupted by poor translation and poor direction. It's not noticeable in the slightest, but it is what kept me from going all-in with a 10.
Rilakkuma to Kaorusan (2019)
Absolutely Heartwarming
It is remarkable when you can watch a show and automatically know it will be something you keep with you forever. I stumbled across this title on Netflix one night and decided to dive in (as I'm a big fan of anything Japanese and cute) and I was NOT expecting HALF of the quality this show has. First of all, the stop-motion art style blends beautifully with these characters and story. It is executed in a way that makes you constantly recognize how fantastic it is. On top of that, the writing and storylines are surprisingly real and mature. This isn't a gag-for-laugh show. This probably isn't even a comedy. This is a heartwarming book with chapters focusing in on dead-end jobs, the changing of the seasons, and the uncertainty we have about where our lives are going. What makes this show an undeniable 10 (I wish I could rate it even higher) is that it is all about simplistic joy; the happiness that hides in the littlest of things. You'll watch the show, grow jealous of her romanticized cartoon life, then realize all of the things she has are things you do too. This show reminds you how beautiful life really is.
Do yourself a favor and watch it. Even just an episode (they're only like 12 minutes!). You'll be beginning for a season 2.
Game of Thrones: The Bells (2019)
Am I missing something?
If the show runners wanted SO BADLY to resolve the story via "The Mad Queen" narrative, they needed more than 4 episodes to build up to it.
When the surrender bells rang out and Dany made the decision to burn down King's Landing, I literally had to restart the episode to see if there was something I was missing. You spent 7 seasons building a character up to be merciful, intelligent, and graceful. You really expect the audience to forget all of that after 4 episodes of half-baked "Dany won't listen to anyone!" scenes?
Simply put- when she decided to do that, it made no sense. It needed to. The moment of the show with the most kairos failed for me, and I am honestly a little sad that I wasted so many years on this show. I'm going to just imagine the show ended after Season 6 and be content.
The only reason I have any stars was to give credit where credit is due. The stunt coordinators, special effects team, and set designers did an incredible job. I just wish it was on a better episode.
Game of Thrones: The Long Night (2019)
Exactly What You Think
The scale and production of the episode is so incredible it will go down in television history. It will serve an emblem for what Game of Thrones was.
I subtracted 6 stars due to lackluster resolution to several storylines. If you watch, you'll know which ones. I'm just trying to ignore it at this point and hope for better episodes to come.
Pokémon the Movie: I Choose You (2017)
A Haphazardly-Written Love Letter to Pokemon
It's decent. The animation is refreshing and elevated and the storytelling is what one is to expect from a Pokémon movie. It's not a ground-breaking concept nor is it a stand-out film in the tapestry of Pokémon, but it certainly fulfills its role as the 20th anniversary celebration. If you decide to invest time into the movie, make sure to stick around for the credits. In my opinion, the visuals and music found there is the best of the movie, making one wonder why an entire film had to be crafted just to have it's essence buoyed primarily by nostalgia. What this movie does successfully (that nostalgia) isn't necessarily hard for a 20-year-old childhood-favorite franchise to muster up. Perhaps they realized this and took the easy way out.
Nevertheless, expect to walk away with your heart full of childhood warmth and your mind forgetting the rest.