jonny-pears Reviews

Sex Education (2019–2023)

Season 1 and 2 were brilliant. 3 & 4...

[6/10 · 23 September 2023]

I can't say enough how well season 1 and 2 were. Stories of young people coming to terms with their sexuality whilst dealing with real life family/friend problems. But also fantastic drops of comedy. The characters felt real. Otis, Meave, Eric, Amiee, Adam all have issue that many people face at some point especially in the younger years. From sexual assault, bullying family members to simply falling in love with your friend. A story we all wanted to watch.

But by season 3, the drama and comedy was becoming a little over the top and even the Otis/Meave storyline was running a little thin. At risk of becoming a Ross and Rachael fiasco. But Season 3 had a hilarious singing performance towards the final. Season 4 however is just a depressing slow ending. There is very little comedy. Even Eric has become boring and depressed. Most of the cast have if I'm honest. Meave is depressed. Adam is still depressed. Otis is just angry. Jean is depressed. I could literally go on.

It's a shame. I really loved this show but I wish it was just cancelled after season 3.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

One of the best MCU movies!

[9/10 · 8 May 2023]

I honestly can't believe how amazing this movie was. It was hilarious, heartbreaking and visually stunning all rolled into one.

The movie gives a brilliant backstory to Rocket whilst the rest of the guardians are on a mission. I must warn, The backstory isn't for the faint hearted and it will become emotional. My wife doesn't cry at movies but this had her sobbing. But it's also filled with cute and sweet moments which probably only add to the heartbreak but they were still lovely moments.

The main story itself has a great plot with all the guardians doing a great job but for me, I applaud Pom Klementieff. She has really brought Mantis from a background character to easily one of the funniest in the MCU who can lead scenes with strength.

Also we finally have good CGI back!

I couldn't recommend this movie enough and already can't wait to watch it again. Probably my favourite since Infinity War.

Get Shorty (2017–2019)

Fantastic, underrated show!

[8/10 · 25 January 2023]

I never thought I'd see a tv show with Ray Romano and Chris O'Dowd let alone one as brilliant as this. It's dark comedy is timed perfectly with the gritty story of a hit man who works for the cartel yet finds his way into producing Hollywood movies along with his best friend ( also a hit man ). Throughout the 3 seasons there are ups and downs, twists and turns, laughs and shocks but the storytelling is by far the masterpiece of this show. The acting is very good with Romano being the comedy relief when needed ( his whole storyline is funny as it just gets worse for him as the show progresses ) and O'Dowd very quickly makes you realise he can play a sinister, cold person who will do anything for himself or his family.

My only downer is I'm not too sure that season 3 was planned to be the final season. It kinda cuts short and doesn't close anyone's story as such. Seeing as I'm writing this in 2023, I doubt there's anymore episodes planned. But still a fantastic watch. I've said what I can without spoiling any plot lines but watch this and enjoy.

House of the Dragon (2022– )

Had an issue from the very first scene

[6/10 · 26 August 2022]

The series literally starts from the half way point of Fire and Blood. The first scene states it's 101AC. Soooo much of the story has been dropped and we start at a point that misses so many fantastic arch's. I wanted to see land turn into a city. Even the kings road being built. I won't say the major storylines from the book in case you want to read ( which I recommend) but believe me, this already feels like the story will be made up soon. At least GOT started from the very beginning. But as a first episode, it was gory and led on a good impression from the book. Some good acting too. Matt Smith does a good job in the first episode and I already dislike him which is the point. Obviously there hasn't been much to go on in one episode but it's promising. I'd give it an 8-9 but I can't stop thinking about how much has been missed.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022)

Sensitive men

[8/10 · 18 August 2022]

So many guys are hating on the show because they don't like the idea of a female Hulk. It was a COMIC DECADES ago! It's not new, it's not feminism, it's not a joke. It's a comic turned tv show. Get over it boys ffs.

1st episode was good. Really good. Me and my wife laughed a few times and chuckled a couple of times. Tatiana is so talented and really made me like the character from the off. The 4th wall breaks are good and the fights already hold well.

Only bad points for me is the CGI( which isn't awful at all just not amazing ) and the idea of Bruce's blood falling into Jennifer's cut. Again it's not a big point but he never bleeds in MCU( bar Incredible Hulk) so it felt slightly forced. Other than that, it's fun.

Windfall (2022)

My biggest issue is the ending

[5/10 · 3 April 2022]

So the movie is about a home intruder that gets caught when the home owners unexpectedly return and so he holds them hostage whilst waiting for ransom money. That's basically the whole plot. Then not an awful lot happens. A chase scene, awkward conversations and an unexpected moment with the couples gardener. A few secrets come out between the couple but these are overheard by each other and aren't directly spoken about. They're easy to miss but I guess this is why the ending took place maybe? Here's the main spoiler, the money turns up, intruder takes it but before leaving he tells the husband a big secret about his wife. Then he walks out with the money but stops to do up a shoelace. The wife has cut herself free from her restraints and uses a household ornament to kill the intruder. She returns to the tied up husband and shoots him dead. Then wipes the gun and places it in the dead intruders hand ( yet didn't wipe her prints after placing said gun so good luck ).

I just always find the "stage a murder scene" as an ending to be a complete cop out. A lack of ideas so let's do the lazy thing. The wife would have to explain the gardener situation, the intruder killing the husband, the intruder not killing the wife and how she killed the intruder too late without touching the gun that has her prints on it.

It wasn't the worst and I enjoyed seeing Jason Segel in a role that didn't require comedy but it was pretty boring and the ending was stupid. You can happily not watch this. You'll miss nothing really.

Dexter: New Blood (2021– )

Too many inconsistencies in the Finale

[5/10 · 11 January 2022]

Dexter: New Blood had the chance to fix what was a rather poor ending to the original series and perhaps give older fans the ending they had wished for. Yet somehow New Blood manages to make less sense and leave viewers feeling more frustrated than it's father show.

Without breaking down all episodes, I can only give an overall opinion and I may miss a few facts but the show starts well, becoming strong only to finish...flat. Kurt is this seasons serial killer that Dexter needs to stop and in episode 9 he does just that with his son Harrison. Kurt makes so many strange choices whilst dealing with Dexter which includes telling people and officers his son is alive when he's not, Posting his dead sons leg screws to a sheriff with a note claiming Dexter is a murderer and having a warped trophy room just yards away from a building he owns leaving the faces and names of his victims for all to see.

Angela is the sheriff who is dating Dexter ( why oh why would he date a freaking cop??? ) and yet she becomes a world class detective in around 2 episodes and manages to do what nobody else could do in Miami. Capture Dexter Morgan the Bay Harbour Butcher. Mostly from the help of a podcast. She also meets Angel Batista at a conference and by sheer luck, he talks about Deb, Dex and Harrison. Now isn't that convenient?

Long story short, kurt places his sons leg screws in her post box with a note saying Dexter is the murderer of his son and has an associate hand one screw to dexters son Harrison. This particular screw is found in dexters home after it's been burned down. These screws are used to put Dexter behind bars. This makes no sense. Dexter can easily say kurt killed his own son, told everyone that he's spoken to said son to appear innocent and that he's trying to frame Dexter( some of this was kinda tried in the final but never pushed) by placing his dead sons screws in certain places. Dexter never challenges the police with "why would I place his screws in your post box and keep one at home?" Never.

He does let the police know the whereabouts of Kurts trophy room which would surely see Dexter released for this particular murder but for some reason Dexter needs to make a run for it. Maybe because he knows Angel is on his way? Not sure. It all becomes a bit of a rushed mess with lack of conviction which ends with Harrison killing Dexter. Angela ( the sheriff ) then allows Harrison to run away. So she would have to surely tamper with the crime scene? This is obviously never seen.

It's a shame. It actually goes so well until the last two episodes but then it becomes rather silly and out of character. Michael C Hall does well with what he has but even he could only take this so far. I just prey to god we don't see another season with Harrison as the lead. Count me out.

Me, Myself and Di (2021)

How is this a 12?

[5/10 · 20 September 2021]

It's okay, Lucy Pinder does a pretty good job of being the mouthy friend that brings comic relief. But it does fall flat after a little while. Maybe this would have been funnier if it was aimed at an older audience. It feels as though it wanted to be raunchier or more grown up but was restricted by the age limit. There are plenty of F words, T*s and b*****ks being said so not sure why it was only a 12 but it lacks conviction. Saying that it was still a good watch. It just won't blow your mind.

Billy Madison (1995)

Some of you take life so seriously!

[7/10 · 21 August 2021]

So there are a lot of bad reviews for this movie and although we don't all have to agree with the same thing, I feel some reviews were made out of spite. Is it a stupid movie? Yes. Is it immature? Yes. Did some of the reviews take this too seriously? Yes. It's a movie about a man-child who goes back to school in the hope of getting grades so he can own and run his fathers business. There is a cast of children. Why did anyone try to take this seriously??? Look it's not the funniest movie ever and it's really silly in places but it's enjoyable and harmless enough. There are some random but funny acts and some strange scenes but all in all it's not that bad. I first watched this 26 years ago and I still giggle at some of the stupidity. Especially a random song.....

Twist (2021)

Terrible

[2/10 · 10 February 2021]

I can honestly say this movie was hard to sit through. I started to get headaches from the running and jumping scenes that added very little to the movie. Michael Caine was also awful. It's like he took the easy money then put in no effort. Then again there wasn't much to put effort towards. I'll be honest, most of the acting here was awful from Caine to Ora to Headley. Only Noel Clarke worked. Give this a miss. Another Sky production that fails to be worth it.

The Emily Atack Show (2020–2022)

Just as bad as I thought it would be

[3/10 · 12 November 2020]

It's so bad. Cringe to watch really. Her stand up gags are basically jokes about her being a tart and having lots of sex. That and jokes about willies. Her impressions are terrible too. I didn't exhale slightly harder once let alone laugh. Don't bother with this tripe

Power (2014–2020)

My main review is on season 6 but I'll add...

[6/10 · 18 April 2020]

Season 1,2,3 were at least an 8/10. The acting is a slight let down as it seems more a soap than a series but if you're like me, you can easily get away from that and certainly enjoy the story line and characters. The character build up I believe to be pretty damn good bar Kanan who never changes but Kanan had a great role to play. However, season 4 I felt the actors stood up and actually did a very good job. The guy who played Jamie was always good may I add. There were a lot of twists and turns with ghost, Tommy, Dre, Tireq, Tasha etc throughout which kept the mind wondering. That's all good. Until season 6. It fell so so flat. I personally felt Joe Proctor was killed too early and could had helped smooth the season out better however he was killed too early for me. I think we all knew he was a dead man walking but I'd personally liked to see that in episode 9 or 10. But here lies my issues: Proctor was killed too early, Ghost was killed with 5 episodes to go, Not too many people like a cat and mouse ending that lasts 5 episodes, loose ends were tied up but cheaply, it seemed rushed and even though the ending was bittersweet...it wasn't the right ending. Tireq has to be super rich to do certain things but he was certain things he has to do. He basically wanted to be Kanen to the point he calls himself ghost to his dad....makes little sense. I didn't get his role after season 5. He was a scapegoat. A bad one. I loved this show until the 5th season, disliked it in season 6. Dre burning was good. The rest was poor. I'd like to see a certain woman get the needle.

Tommy for a spin-off?

Friends: The One with the Princess Leia Fantasy (1996) Season 3, Episode 1

"Hate it" review was hilarious to read!

[8/10 · 15 January 2020]

The guy who got real mad about this episode in the review made my laugh so much. Imagine being that butthurt over a harmless joke in a fictional show from over 20 years ago! This episode is a great start to series 3. It has laughs and also a sweet moment with Elliot Gould towards the end. Don't take a comedy seriously lol

The Affair (2014–2019)

I want to like this more but I can't.

[6/10 · 12 October 2019]

Firstly, it's not an awful series. In fact, it's pretty good. To a certain point anyway. I'm writing this in regards to season 5 so I'll take the last 4 seasons on board too. It loses its way around the second season which is a shame as the first season was very gripping. It was Noah and Helens point of views that made the show so gripping but buy season 2 it was Noah,Helen,Alison and Cole's points of view in the show. A bit too much personally. By series 4, we have the same characters plus Vic. Then by this series(5) it involves more. However.......Alison and Cole are no longer in the show by season 5. This is a killer for me. They were pretty important and now don't have anything to add so it's basically the affair from 10 years ago that is kinda pointless. Noah and Helen have long been separated so there is no longer an "affair". Not for many years. So this show lost its way. It became boring to a level but not a too high a level for me to quit watching. I wanted to see an ending. It wasn't great from season 2 but by season 5 it was pretty bad. Nobody is in the right. In fact, all characters are in the wrong by this point. Helen has cheated on vic. Vic has cheated on Helen. Noah cheated on Helen. Alison cheated on Cole...and Noah. Cole cheated on his girlfriend....it just becomes a mess. Shame as it started very strong. It's just to weak to keep hold of. But it's not an awful show. It just needed a little consistency

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (2018)

Not sure why this I hyped at all! Average at best!

[5/10 · 28 December 2018]

Okay, so the thought of an interactive movie had me excited, especially as it's a Black Mirror movie. I love the she so genuinely couldn't wait to get my hands (or control ) on this. Well what a let down this Was! Literally the 3rd option you are given in the movie tells you that you chose a wrong path so you have to go back again and choose the other option. There are very slight changes to the scene once this happens but very little else happens. Towards the end of the movie, if you choose incorrectly you are forced to watch every single stupid alternative ending until you get yo the right one. One scene includes the main character and shrink turning into a Kill Bill mess which had me laughing for all the wrong reasons. Finally i get to the final ending and its....flat. give me Kill Bill back! The idea is amazing but I figured the whole point was to watch the movie with your own choices and if enjoyed, watch another time and see the other choices. But no. You're forced to do it 1 way in the end and I personally felt let down. I'm being nice because I love Black Mirror so 5 star.....though it could really be a 4.