scubafiend Reviews

Special Unit 2 (2001–2002)

Watching the DVDs again.

[9/10 · 3 March 2024]

I love this show! I periodically binge watch it end to end.

My only complaint (other than it got canceled too soon) is that the audio engineer should have been fired! I don't have a particular opinion one way or the other of the music selection itself - not my favorite but not the worst. My issue is the abysmal mix. The music is so loud I have to have the remote handy to mute it whenever the music comes blasting on. The only option in order to hear the dialog is to do the mute thing or suffer the ear splitting music volume, both of which detract from the enjoyment of the show. If it wasn't a consistent issue I would guess it is a one episode issue but unfortunately that is not the case.

As to the complaints that it is a rip of MIB or other similar movie/show is like saying every space movie/show is a rip of Star Trek or Star Wars. Not true. The stories are fun and unique. Sad that it did not continue!

Gods of the Deep (2023)

Lots of issues

[4/10 · 2 March 2024]

1. On the surface if it is that cold why no breath?

2. Really unrealistic (even in a sci-fi movie) time to break depth records

3. The water would be freezing. Not even a wetsuit in the remote vehicle.

4. Lame "pressurization" process, and massive gap re the remote. Walls??? They never put them on. Water leaking in would be highly pressurized, not just dribbling in.

5. Seriously useless containment of a sample!!! Even if they were only collecting rock samples, they should have followed decent process if they wanted it believable.

6. Sad graphics for the sub. Audio mixer as the controls.

7. No context for the backstory??

8. Why is the older man naked and rubbing something on his body?

An hour in and I'm playing games on my iPad with the movie on my tv.... Keeping it on to see if it starts making sense by the end. Not holding my breath....

Ghosts (2021– )

Love it! Better than the UK version! (Sorry)

[9/10 · 24 February 2024]

While I typically prefer the UK versions of productions, in this instance this version is much better. This version has an awesome cast which is part of the reason for my preference. Rose McIver became one of my favorite actors in iZombie and has continued to be so in Ghosts. Utkarsh Ambudkar is perfect casting as Jay (and is big fun in Pitch Perfect too)! I can't imagine better casting for any of the ghosts! It is this wonderful synergy between the characters and actors that make the show so fun. I'm very bummed there will only be 10 episodes in season 3 but I am very hopeful for a prompt season 4 with many more episodes!

I recently tried watching the UK version again to supplement my Ghosts viewing but I just haven't warmed to the characters after 6 episodes.

The Crown (2016–2023)

Yes, it is a drama but it is close enough...

[4/10 · 23 December 2023]

... to fact to further cement how much I despise Charles and Camilla. I thought Diana made a critical error marrying him, an attitude which continued to grow as time went on. He is - IRL and on the show - a massive PUTZ! A temperamental spoiled brat so completely selfish and self-involved it astonishes me that anyone might find him honorable. His only redeeming qualities including support for the arts and climate change are not enough to successfully counter his behavior for years! I was never a particular fan of the British royalty, I honestly did not much care about them one way or the other. However, my opinion changed somewhat when Diana's humanitarian actions became public in hopes she would be a good influence on the rest of them. A hope that was in vain with the exception of Prince Harry. I'm at the beginning of Season 5 which so many reviews panned, so it will be interesting to see if I agree... Not sure how much more I can stomach of Charles - he and his tart are bad enough in real life, I don't need them to ruin my entertainment as well so I may stop watching shortly.

The Love Boat: Spain Cruise: The Matadors/Mrs. Jameson Comes Out/Love's Labors Found/Marry Me, Marry Me: Part 2 (1986) Season 9, Episode 23

Disappointed at the glamorizing of bullfighting

[1/10 · 5 September 2023]

I acknowledge that this was filmed over 30 years ago but that doesn't excuse having such a brutal and senseless "sport" as a central part of this episode! In my opinion at no point is bullfighting acceptable.

Despite the protests during the episode that the bull is not killed, it is still tortured. It is baffling how anyone can consider that entertainment.

There are plenty of episodes that have slightly cringeworthy moments, but on the whole I enjoy the nostalgia watching them. This is NOT one of them!

Final thought- so very over the "Mermaids". Glad they didn't add them until Season 9 - I would have had to stop watching.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Subspace Rhapsody (2023) Season 2, Episode 9

As a rule I'm not a fan of musical episodes in TV shows, but....

[10/10 · 8 August 2023]

Basically, I figure if I want to see a musical, I will watch a musical. From Rogers & Hammerstein to Gilbert & Sullivan there are plenty out there to enjoy. So when I saw the direction this episode was heading I said a mental "uh oh" to myself and figured I would probably not watch the whole thing. But......

OMG! Who knew what amazing singing voices the cast have! There were some truly stellar solos in addition to the excellent ensemble numbers! I was also impressed at the compositions - the melodies were very catchy. I'm hoping I don't wake up at 3am singing one of them in my head.

So despite my usual distaste of musical episodes in TV shows (particularly SciFi shows), I thoroughly enjoyed this one and will be sure to relish watching it again! Note that I'm baffled by other reviews that cite the musical Buffy episode as being so much better - it is probably the only Buffy episode I have never been able to stomach. Hated every minute, and never watched the whole thing. So there is that - if you loved that episode like a few reviewers have commented, you will likely not agree with my assessment.

I love this series and this episode just added to my enjoyment!

Good Omens (2019– )

Finished Season 2.... CAN'T WAIT FOR 3!!!!!

[10/10 · 5 August 2023]

Come on Amazon - we want Season 3. We NEED SEASON 3!!!!!

Based on the article I just read (while Season 2 end credits rolled...) Amazon is waiting to make a decision on Season 3 until they see the viewer stats on Season 2. I will be watching it again and again!

Already a huge fan of David Tennant (Dr Who) and Michael Sheen (Underworld), I was thrilled when the announcements and previews for the show first came out. Utterly brilliant casting! Add to that the "quirky" writing of Terry Pratchett (RIP-if you haven't seen Hogfather, give it a try...) and Neil Gaiman and you have a vastly unique and entertaining experience!

I hope Amazon will not keep us waiting for the next adventures of Crowley, Aziraphale, and the rest of this intriguing bunch!

Grey's Anatomy (2005– )

Like the show, really DISLIKE MAGGIE! Meredith is no better....

[7/10 · 17 June 2023]

Obnoxious, condescending, selfish witch- Maggie makes my blood pressure rise and I yell at the Tv screen when she is onscreen! Can't put the names I call her in this review. Make her GO AWAY! She and her holier than thou sister Meredith just set my teeth on edge with the way they think they are always right and everyone else is always wrong. UG! Case in point - a man moved across the country for Meredith but does she even bother to tell him before sending a global email that she is moving to Boston? Nope. Selfish. And now in season 19 ep16 Amelia is displaying cluelessness about her horrible sisters. Can't wait for Maggie to JUST GO TO CHICAGO! But there are enough other characters that are not obnoxious to make it worthwhile to watch! Guess I'll just have to keep yelling at the Tv. Final note - sad that the heartless reviewers that have a problem with the societal topics display a lack of self reflection!

Second Chance (I) (2016)

Typical Network STUPIDITY!!! Cancel another great show!

[9/10 · 27 April 2023]

Why oh why do Networks think it is a good plan to cancel shows with the slightest bit of intelligence in favor of mind blowingly USELESS shows? STUPID! And alienating! Why get invested in a new show when the likelihood is that it will disappear just after I get hooked? So instead of getting viewers pumped about shows, they fail because- well - why should I bother?

So I've finished the LAST EPISODE! And boy am I very annoyed about a few things.

1. Why do I have to write so much to complete my review? Seems excessive.

2. Hate Otto. Glad he and Connor Griff bite it! Painfully and slowly!

3. I abhor shows that leave you on a cliffhanger!!!!!!!

4. Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The Pretender: The Inner Sense: Part 2 (2000) Season 4, Episode 20

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE NETWORKS?!?

[1/10 · 18 April 2023]

I love this show. So inevitably, the Network chooses to end it without any resolution leaving an extremely dissatisfied taste in my mouth. In my opinion, ending a series with a final episode like this shows a distinct disrespect for the fans and the world created over the last 4 years! It is perverse and downright nasty to end it this way! There are supposed to be one or more movies that I suppose might clear things up a bit, but I haven't been able to find them.

I'm sick of getting invested in shows and having some jackass at the network decide to end it in favor of criminally STUPID so-called "reality Tv" shows which usually show people at their worst and have no redeeming value (exceptions do exist but not a lot).

I just finished watching this episode so the anger is very fresh.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022– )

Galadriel is ruining this...

[4/10 · 8 April 2023]

Could be the writing, could be the direction, could be the actress. I was looking forward to seeing the show with great anticipation! As a fan of the books and films, the casting and production values on the films faithfully represented the books. As the main character in the series, fair or not much of the tone of the story is set by that person. If the viewer is not invested in what happens to them, it is difficult to maintain anticipation for what happens next in the story. There are many elements I love - but my antipathy (edging towards outright dislike) for Galadriel may overshadow the entire show for me. 5 episodes in, maybe that will change if it is the writing or direction. If it is the actress- game over I'm afraid.

Dance Monsters (2022)

Feel bad for the dancers - terrible judges

[4/10 · 26 January 2023]

Almost stopped watching several times because the judges so clearly have favorites and made bizarre decisions. I give full credit to the dancers for accepting some truly questionable decisions with class and grace. Given the 250k on the line the judges should be making fair decisions.

Not even bothering to watch the final. If there is another season I won't bother watching unless they get some fair judging. And no, I don't know any of the competitors.

By the way- Who is this Lele? At least I have heard of the other judges. Fake window dressing! Really - cried? Bull. And she really is nothing special as a dancer from what I've seen.

The Real Love Boat (2022)

Finale results = thumbs DOWN

[2/10 · 22 December 2022]

The challenges did not test their connections. Whole format is not about fostering a real relationship although some couples were able to forge a real connection despite this. Not the winners who I suspect spent their time together on strategy to win the prizes, not on the relationship. Their choice but it shows the flaws in the show.

The one couple in the finale that should have gotten first got third. The one that got first should have gotten third. I don't believe Emily (least favorite person) had an actual connection to new guy and she completely turned my stomach on how she manipulated Marty and then threw him under the bus. Will not watch if there is another season.

A California Christmas (2020)

Only made it 1/3 of the way through

[5/10 · 26 November 2022]

4.5 stars.

First, I almost turned it off in the first 5 minutes thanks to really annoying music choices. It did not get better.

Beyond that I found it trite and with sub-par acting. Lou was the only redeeming bright spot. The story was completely predictable. That said predictable is not always a bad thing. If the actors are engaging and you become immersed in the story, then predictable isn't bad- more like catching up with an old friend you haven't seen for a while. You know their stories and they know yours but you still enjoy the retelling. This is not that kind of predictable.

To be fair it may have improved later on, but I was unwilling to invest the time to find out.

The Blacklist: Dr. Laken Perillos (No. 70) (2021) Season 8, Episode 10

Please kill off Elizabeth!!!!

[7/10 · 9 November 2022]

I totally disagree with the petulant child reviews about Laverne Cox. She is an excellent actress but apparently beyond the appreciation of immature viewers who can't discern subtlety.

My only complaint is the continuing storyline where these men continue to believe Elizabeth isn't stone cold psycho - she really needs to die- sooner rather than later! Not sure how much more I can take of their wide eyed denial of how far from redeemable she is. Her hypocrisy is intolerable and it is ruining what started as an original and compelling series which has become annoying. I'm only pushing through to see her get killed off.

Hawaii Five-0 (2010–2020)

Losing interest in Season 7...

[7/10 · 21 September 2022]

Almost without exception I love the first seven seasons. However, I am definitely less enthralled with the exit of Grace Park and Daniel Dae Kim. They were core part of the ensemble cast, and The network made a huge error and not doing everything they could to retain them. I also agree with another review that said that the Danny character has become quite annoying and the sniping between McGarrett and Danny is starting to turn me off. I'm glad they finally formalized Jorge as part of the team, and it is nice to see Willie Garson in a fun role - I miss seeing him since he has passed away. I bought the entire series, I wish I had remembered that Grace and Daniel were not in the entire series.

The Good Liar (2019)

Do only women understand this plot?

[7/10 · 8 July 2022]

I don't understand the reviews that rant about the plot. Guilty conscience? As a woman I totally related to Helen Mirren's character and understood her motivation. Excellent acting by everyone in the film, and the plot was interesting. Was it their best film? No, but then again the actors in this film have an extremely high bar to surpass to make that happen. I enjoyed it and will watch it again.

The Orville (2017–2022)

Continue to love the show and hope for Season 4...

[10/10 · 5 July 2022]

But I really can't stand the Charley character and can't fathom their tolerance for her blatant insubordination! I want to slap her every time she opens her mouth. I find her intolerance out of step with the rest of the crew.

One other pet peeve- many of the crew (Charley...) seem to forget that Isaac was following orders. They seem to think it is fine if their crew does unsavory things when they follow orders (lights on the Krill ship that killed people...) but fail to accept that he had orders too - orders he ultimately disregarded in order to save them. He turned against his 'people' making himself an outcast in order to save them!

Gripes aside- love the show!!!

UPDATE: I continue to love the show in general but abhor Anne Winters' character Charly Burke and hope she is not part of the show in the future.

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

Very disappointed

[1/10 · 19 March 2022]

I bought it sight unseen because it has some of my favorite actors in it and it had high ratings. It was not worth it even on sale.

Why? Many reasons but the highlights: I had a hard time caring about most of the characters. Not showing the little girl right from the start made concern for her very abstract resulting in a very detached feeling throughout the film.

The ending was not a surprise to me at all. Casey Affleck's character made the choice to call the cops because he made it about HIM not what was best for the little girl which made me want to cheer when Michelle's character left him. If I could have slapped Helene I would have as she is running out the door for a date shortly after her little girl is recovered. She won't change and her daughter will suffer for it (or would if it were reality).

Overall a very disappointing film which I blame largely on Ben Affleck because these are excellent actors. Many of his choices made the film tedious instead of suspenseful. I should not have believed the ratings. Highly unlikely I will every watch it again.

Hellboy (2019)

Lousy audio mix ruins it

[5/10 · 15 January 2022]

I can't really comment on the dialog since the audio was so poorly mixed that much was inaudible! The music in many scenes drowns it out leaving major gaps in the story! As a prior sound engineer I have a little credibility on the topic. As far as the story, seems interesting and the visuals are good. But I still prefer the first two films.

Welcome to Earth (2021)

Interesting and absolutely stunning cinematography

[9/10 · 12 December 2021]

I'm only half way through the first episode (will update if my opinion changes as I proceed through the episodes...) but so far I am entranced! It is visually stunning and fascinating to experience this amazing adventure! Sometimes having a 'celebrity' involved can ruin a production but this is NOT the case here. Will Smith brings a genuine dimension to these unique experiences. He does a great job of explaining things he is learning in an entertaining yet serious way, and he is authentic in his nervousness and the fears that he is confronting. While his films show more extreme adventures, as he acknowledges - this is real. I'm truly impressed and will continue watching!

The Blacklist (2013–2023)

Hate Elizabeth. Please kill off that character!

[8/10 · 9 December 2021]

I've plowed through season 8 episode 2 and it is by sheer stubbornness that I have made it this far because of this character! There are many good characters but she is NOT one of them and she is ruining the show.

The Blacklist (2013–2023)

Really hating Elizabeth at this point!

[8/10 · 5 December 2021]

What a bitch! She just keeps getting worse and worse, nastier and nastier to Reddington, despite everything he has done for her. Apparently NO ONE deserves to have any secrets that they want to keep private. She forgives all of the lies and deceptions by Tom, but won't let Reddington keep ANYTHING private if she decides she wants to know it. I'm holding on - watching season 5 now (bingeing) and getting more annoyed by her every episode. I'm on the last episode of the season and based on other comments, I'm fairly certain I'm going to be royally annoyed by the end!

Cinderella (I) (2021)

YIKES! Every other iteration of Cinderella (including the various Prince & Me films) are astronomically better!

[1/10 · 7 September 2021]

I must admit I was unimpressed in the first few minutes of Rhythm Nation. I fast forwarded thru many songs trying to find something worth watching but I gave up at the ball. The acting is terrible- Camila Cabello is not an actor nor is Nicholas Galitzine. Of course it is possible that the blame lies squarely with the script and director but I suspect that would be a charitable assumption. I love Pierce Brosnan and Minnie Driver but their parts are so small they could not salvage this travesty.

Thoroughly pointless and a waste of time- I just ended up annoyed and questioning what the reviewers that gave it high marks consider a poor film.....

The Ideal Companion (2007 Video)

Adopt don't shop!!!! This video is all about purebreds. Find a shelter cat that you feel a connection to and ADOPT!!!

[1/10 · 28 June 2020]

I'm a HUGE cat lover and have had cats for years. My issue with this video, while informative about breeds is all about BUYING a cat and purebreds. The reality is that if you want a cat as a pet, you should go to a local shelter, pick up and play with them, and find one that suits you that you suit. Cats from a shelter are frequently (but not always) a mixed breed so unless you know someone who can identify the different elements in a mixed breed cat, this video is unlikely to help you because you won't know which characteristics to expect other than from getting to know them.

I agree that cats ARE the ideal companion, but there are very few circumstances under which I agree with buying one - the main one being allergies. There are extremely low allergen breeds, and if you have never been able to have a cat due to you or a family member having severe allergies, look into one of these cats - I recommend Siberian Forest Cats from a reputable cottage breeder who tests the cats and can give you the ratings.

The other thing I do agree with in this video is that cats should be INDOOR pets. There are too many dangers to let them roam free. Particularly if you are in an Urban or Suburban environment. I read daily about horrific abuses that befall pets (dogs and cats) when they are found by animal abusers. So love your pet and keep them indoors or only out when they are with you.