nevynh Reviews

Cypher (2021– )

Ridiculous

[1/10 · 3 December 2021]

How this was ever greenlit is beyond me. The writing is HORRIFIC.

Whoever wrote this doesn't seem to have ever used a computer. There's a line in there about how the bad organization has the best computer security! This is right after noting that EVERYONE uses the same password. Writing a script like this and not realizing that doing code breaking without a computer is pure insanity is unforgivable.

It's rough. Like no one actually checked for any consistency at all. At one point a character talks about saving countless lives when there's a list of countable lines (23. It's 23).

There's no story in here. Like there's no reason given for most major plot points. No one asked "why?"

And the worst of it is the fact that the writing is sexist and horrible. Women are just bad or foolish. Men are masculine and controlling. It feels like those comedic "male authors are terrible" jokes. It was just icky.

Mr. Corman (2021)

Is this going somewhere? Anywhere?

[2/10 · 27 August 2021]

I really wanted to like this but after 4 episodes it feels like they're still character building. We get it. He's got anxiety.

It never goes anywhere. We're never treated to anything within the classroom except for an early scene in the first episode. Otherwise it's this weirdly almost college dude hanging with his friends, hanging out in bars and occasionally tending to some obligations. And it's all from a very singular view.

It kind of feels like those stories written by a 10 year old where they're describing EVERY SINGLE LITTLE THING in a scene. Once they've written their 3 pages of scene building, they're not quite sure where to go with it. Nothing of consequence ever seems to happen.

Miracles from Heaven (2016)

But really... are they worthy?

[2/10 · 10 October 2020]

Another of those "are they worthy?" type films.

Little girl develops a rare genetic disease and America's health system is broken. So family (almost?) go bankrupt. It's all down to the sanctimonious beliefs that hopefully bring order out of chaos. I mean... they're worthy right?

I wish Hollywood would stop presenting America's broken system and the few people lucky enough to escape it as a "feel good story".

Cobra Kai (2018–2025)

Move on. It's not the 80's anymore.

[5/10 · 22 September 2020]

What should have been a fun single season of "I'm a loser obsessed with this thing that happened in the 80's" spoof goodness turned into something that didn't elicit the laughs but instead took itself semi-seriously. While "oh we get it. You're the bad guy now and he's the good 'un" was cute, it then doubles down for a second season.

The second season seeks to turn all of the kids into mini versions of the two antagonists. The 80's sports movie rivalry is played out on a grand scale. Gone is the Mr Miagi pacifist leanings of the movie instead turning an entire school into a war ground - consequences be damned!

What you end up with is a soul less (although lets face it. 2 and 3 were pretty much "Oh people liked it? We should do it again!" efforts. Imagine if they did that with every sports movie? Like Rudi 2: This time he's shorter!) extension to the movies.

How this is popular is a complete mystery to me.

All Together Now (2020)

Gross Feeling!

[4/10 · 30 August 2020]

Amber Appleton is everything a poor person should be. She smiles, she's optimistic, she works several jobs while she's attending high school and is homeless. She's self sufficient.

This movie could have said something poignant about the value of a person. Instead Abby is held up as someone deserving, not because she's a person, but because she's the very model of what a poor person should be in the eyes of those with a lot more privilege. She's got the tenacity and hardly ever lets the smile slip. The fact that her choices are to live with the abusive alcoholic boyfriend of her mother or be homeless isn't presented as a societal issue.

Her dreams of going to a music school (they focus on making her audition rather than discussing the cost of doing so) feel vapid in the grand scheme of things. Her passion for music is never really at the forefront except perhaps in a single scene. Otherwise they make allusions to it with a small record collection left by her deceased dad.

When her mother and her mother's boyfriend die, all hope is lost and she needs a savior. The big emotional payoff is her receiving some cash from someone who thinks she's deserving of existing... This is what made it truly gross. That she's only saved because she's the very model of a virtuous poor person.

This isn't a story that could happen in other developed places in the world.

You (2018–2024)

Oddly Uncomfortable

[8/10 · 11 September 2018]

I watched this without expectation. I hadn't heard of the book. I hadn't seen any previews or descriptions. What i found was a pleasantly dark show. It's uncomfortable and unpredictable and has what is hopefully an amazing story to tell from a unique perspective.

We're put into the head of a stalker who seems to be a hair's width away from violence. The tension is held well.

But what REALLY made it feel uncomfortable for me was a rather odd choice from the network. Swearing is censored out. There are these conspicuous blanks in the dialogue. It had me obsessing. When you've got a show this dark, who the hell do they think they're going to offend with a little swearing? Are they expecting kids to be up watching it? It's content is far more offensive than swearing could ever be.

Apart from that one VERY annoying point, it's a brilliantly put together show. I'm looking forward to watching more (though I'll probably find myself swearing at the TV about the missing dialogue).

The Fake News Show (2017– )

Move aside big foot, Angela Merkel as Hitler's love child is taking center stage

[6/10 · 8 May 2017]

The Fake News Show is a current affairs show taking on fake news. Move aside big foot, Angela Merkel as Hitler's love child is taking center stage.

It doesn't offer anything new from existing British faux quiz shows like QI, 8 out of 10 Cats, Just a Minute etc. but it can try a whole lot less harder to find the comedy and where it really gets fun is when they take possible strange facts and ask the panel to decide if they're real or not.

It's a fun 25 minutes, if you enjoy dry English wit, unless you're entirely too willing to ignore the findings of intelligence agencies in the States around interference in their elections or don't believe the 90%+ of scientists that say global warming is a genuine problem.

The Man in the High Castle (2015–2019)

AMAZEBALLS! When is the next episode?!?!?

[10/10 · 25 January 2015]

Having not ever heard of The Man in the High Castle, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I LOVE alternative reality things.This one is very compelling. Sort of Fatherland on a much grander scale.

The production was spot on, the acting brilliant. By the end of the pilot I found myself fully invested in the characters ready to binge watch the living crap out of the show. Luke Kleintank plays it very straight in a more than convincing young lad. Alexa Davalos' character has probably got the most to lose. It's REALLY nice seeing a strong female character in a role outside of "she's a mother AND a cop!" in television.

If this doesn't get picked up for a series there will be much gnashing of teeth and cries for the stubbing of toes of horrible horrible people who wouldn't know a great TV show if it punched them in the face.

Are You There, Chelsea? (2012)

Canned laughter in this day in age?

[1/10 · 10 February 2013]

I wanted to like this. I really did. The show felt me feeling like the creators didn't trust in it's audience's intelligence to be amused at the right spots - with the addition with the god awful canned laughter.

Laura Prepon, while having the right physical attributes for the role (i.e. looks like she could hold her own), left something to be desired. The character just didn't seem to come naturally to her.

Lauren Lapkus' character felt a bit unnecessary. In fact, I would say that it was this character that had the show feeling insanely formulaic. I kind of think that making this character not nearly so quirky and having her as a real character rather than just comic relief would have given this show much needed depth.

The Hothouse (2007)

The Hothouse follows the complicated lives of five 20-somethings who share a run down inner-city Wellington dwelling.

[7/10 · 26 April 2007]

New New Zealand drama, The Hothouse follows the complicated lives of five 20-somethings who share a run down inner-city Wellington dwelling. The Hothouse is a contemporary drama with moments of black humor, that explores themes of loyalty, morality, friendship and, of course, love. Cops Daniel, Ruth and Neru, and lawyer Isobel are long-term flatmates. When Levi Wise, a charming rogue who's secretly on the wrong side of the law, joins the house, the delicate balance of the flat is upset in one swoop. The black and white line between right and wrong becomes increasingly blurred with shades of gray, as the 'upholders of the law' struggle with their inextricably entwined professional dilemmas and personal lives. A delightful short series made in New Zealand. Gritty and sensual in all the right places. Only 7 episodes long, this drama concludes well while still leaving you wanting more. The same guys also made "The Insiders Guide to Happiness" and "The Insiders Guide to Love", both of which were brilliant, and while this wasn't as good, it's still definitely worth a watch.