sheepandsharks Reviews

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: I'm in Love (2019) Season 4, Episode 17

I'm just going to pretend ep. 16 was the finale.

[6/10 · 2 April 2024]

There was a time when the "I choose ME" ending was new, shocking, and empowering. That time was 20 years ago. At this point, we've all seen it in other shows. This seemed like a cop-out because the viewers were divided on Greg and Nathaniel. (Did anyone ever root for Josh?)

The show has already said many times that relying on a relationship to make you happy is a toxic way to go through life, and we've already watched Rebecca work on herself for the past 2 seasons. Hell, we've even seen her say that theater is what she wants to do, so no revelation there. I think Greg saying "You don't have to do it alone" was a better message than what we were left with.

It also just felt like an abrupt switch from "Rebecca Bunch is based on me" to "This is me, Rachel Bloom, simply talking about myself and how I got into songwriting." I think the entire audience already picked up on your backstory, Rachel.

The medley was nice, but no show-stopper. The previous episode really had a show-stopping number with "Love's Not a Game" (plus the reprise), and it really had a sense of closure with Rebecca and Greg's ending. This episode was nice for wrapping up everyone else's storylines, but to me, Rebecca chose Greg and he was with her while she worked on songwriting. Fin!

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: I'm Not the Person I Used to Be (2018) Season 4, Episode 8

I think it works!

[9/10 · 30 March 2024]

Full disclosure: I knew that Greg would eventually be played by Skylar Astin when I first started the show, so this wasn't a shock to me, like it must have been for others. What DID surprise me was how well Skylar was able to replicate the mannerisms of Santino Fontana. Despite it being a "new Greg," it really doesn't feel that new! I like the chemistry between them, and I've swung so hard to Team Nathaniel in the past 2 seasons that I'm not sure how I'll end up feeling about the romantic plots for the rest of the season! (Maybe Rebecca will pull a Kelly Taylor "I choose ME"?)

The high school reunion was fun. I loved the "popular" song, and the revelation about Valencia and Father Brah. Overall, a really enjoyable episode!

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: I'm Making Up for Lost Time (2018) Season 4, Episode 4

Best. Song. EVER!

[9/10 · 28 March 2024]

There isn't much plot development in this episode, but it deserves to have a higher rating simply for "I Want to be a Child Star." It's my favorite song of the whole series. It's dark, hilarious, extremely well-written, and Luca's performance is great! I love it so much.

It's also really nice to see Rebecca break the cycle of neglect in her family. She doesn't want Tucker to grow up to be as miserable as she is, and it's so sweet that she takes action to prevent that.

Other plotlines: Paula bonding with her kids is nice. Nathaniel continues to scheme to win Rebecca back, and it's so frustrating that she keeps rejecting him, because they really were happy together! I'm not sure if we're supposed to agree that they're toxic together or if we're supposed to see this as Rebecca self-sabotaging her love life again, but I hope she eventually gets her happy ending.

Sorority House Massacre (1986)

Slasher with an identity crisis

[5/10 · 27 March 2024]

This is a slasher that unapologetically follows trends, but not the trends the cover (and title) lead you to believe.

There really isn't any reason to set this in a sorority house, and aside from one requisite scene where the women all try on clothes so we can see their bare breasts, it isn't the "fun, sexy slasher" that the cover art wants you to think it is. (I mean, that woman isn't even in the movie.) It seems like it wants you to think it's a rip-off of "Slumber Party Massacre," when it's really a rip-off of "Halloween" with some psychic horror trends thrown in (a la "The Eyes of Laura Mars," "The Fury," "Carrie," etc.). I do like that the sorority sisters (all 3 of them) are portrayed as nice to our main character (which is more than we can say for Laurie Strode's friends), and considering that almost NOBODY in this movie ever took more than 3 other acting jobs in their lives, the acting is pretty decent. (The script leaves more to be desired.)

This isn't a bad watch if you're in the mood for a by-the-numbers slasher. BUT if you want something that takes place in a sorority house, has far better-defined characters and interesting kills, and even has some unexpected moments that elevate it beyond the average slasher, I would recommend The House on Sorority Row instead.

The Twilight Zone: I Shot an Arrow into the Air (1960) Season 1, Episode 15

Underrated

[10/10 · 2 March 2024]

This is one of my favorite episodes of the entire series. The story is clever and dark, the acting is great, and it contains so many classic Twilight Zone elements: doomed space travel, paranoia, man vs. Nature being superceded by man vs. Man, and - of course - a twist ending!

Based on an original story by Richard Matheson, this episode also credits Rod Serling as a writer, and it's evident in the dialogue that compares the men's situation to that of war. Throwing out the rulebook, throwing away your humanity, etc. -- these are themes that Serling almost always included in his stories. He served in WWII and suffered from PTSD the rest of his life, and I can only imagine the things he saw in humanity over there. (His mid-episode voiceover expresses so much disgust for Corey that it almost gets comical.)

Side note: anyone calling the ending "predictable" sounds like a moron. The only reason you would predict it is because Rod Serling made it famous in the first place. Not just from this (and a dozen other) TZ episodes, but HE WAS THE ONE WHO WROTE THE TWIST ENDING OF PLANET OF THE APES, FFS.

Hell Fest (2018)

Better than expected!

[6/10 · 5 February 2024]

I didn't go into this with any expectations, as it was clearly a low-budget affair without much plot and even less acting ability. But I came out pleasantly surprised! It's not a masterpiece, but it's definitely a fun time.

Let's start with the positives:

-The budget absolutely went to the most important part: the setting! The Hellfest park is dope as hell, and it desperately makes any horror fan wish that a horror theme park that huge and detailed existed. The way the camera follows the characters through the attractions make us feel like we're part of it, and there are some genuinely gross displays.

-There are some great, creative kills here, with some awesome gore. There are a couple boring ones too, but they at least manage to surprise you.

-The killer's anonymous status keeps you on your toes (this isn't a whodunit); and the final scene is PERFECT.

Now, the negatives:

-The cast gets pretty annoying at times. They were clearly given free reign to improvise, and it *shows.* Some of the awkward flirting scenes work, but they go on WAY TOO LONG. Please stop and write some real dialogue.

-The characters also make some very dumb choices near the end that really take you out of the movie.

-The killer's mask is pretty meh.

...And lastly: there has been no sequel! This was just BEGGING to become a franchise, and I hope someday it does.

I give this one a 6.5/10.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Foghorn (1958) Season 3, Episode 24

A different sort of episode

[8/10 · 18 December 2023]

This isn't the typical AHP episode. There isn't a mystery or crime... Just a slow love story that keeps us wondering where it's going. To my surprise, I quite enjoyed it.

The 2 leads are both charming to watch and have a lot of chemistry. Their conversations are even quite interesting to listen to. The episode does get a little maudlin at times, but not enough to ruin it.

I had no idea how this one was going to end, and I think they nailed it. There is a bit of a Hitchcockian "Psycho" moment after our big reveal where they have a character unnecessarily spell things out, but *shrug* what can ya do?

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Right Kind of House (1958) Season 3, Episode 23

Clever and enjoyable

[9/10 · 18 December 2023]

There are two things that can make me really love an episode of AHP: captivating performances from the actors, or an ending I didn't see coming. This episode has both! It is one of the more clever entries of the show.

Our 2 leads are able to switch between character archetypes in a way that remains completely believable. In only 22 minutes, you feel like you understand everything about both of them. The bit characters of the real estate agent and his secretary are also really fun. I wish we could've seen a bit more of them.

This doesn't get a perfect 10/10 from me only because I feel the pacing could have been better. The placement of the flashback killed the momentum that was building. I think it would've worked better if it had been shown earlier in the episode, and told by the real estate agent or police officer.

Slasher: Vengeance (2023) Season 5, Episode 8

By far the best season...

[10/10 · 14 November 2023]

...and it's not even close!

I've watched and enjoyed every season of Slasher now, and Ripper is definitely my favorite. Every previous season has its strengths and weaknesses (many of the end-of-season twists/revelations are frustratingly dumb, and oftentimes it's a chore to get through some episodes because the characters are so annoying or the plot drags), but I have no complaints about Ripper.

The writing is a step above previous seasons, the acting is great, there are characters to hate and to love, and the resolution actually feels earned. The final scene of the season was incredibly satisfying.

One drawback for some may be that there is far less gore than past seasons, but that didn't bother me. The violence in Ripper is more realistic and feels more visceral and personal. (Plus, it meant far less scenes of characters screaming nonstop, which gets unbearable at times in other seasons.)

Definitely give this one a shot! It's well worth a binge.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Design for Loving (1958) Season 4, Episode 6

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Twilight Zone

[9/10 · 27 August 2023]

Alright, alright -- The Twilight Zone didn't *invent* sci-fi. But this is definitely an episode you'd expect to see on TZ rather than AHP! (I believe AHP has 2 other sci-fi episodes, which I haven't revisited or reviewed yet.)

You can never go wrong with Ray Bradbury, and his "Marionettes, Inc." story is such a classic that it is STILL a pop culture staple. (Of course, these days you're more likely to see it played for comedy in animation, like The Simpsons and American Dad.) The other "1965" technology is also pretty amusing.

Still, I think this episode shows exactly why we needed The Twilight Zone. AHP didn't exist to put forward ideas about technology, society, racism, paranoia, etc. It existed to tell little mystery stories where someone gets their comeuppance. Rod Serling wanted to challenge society through metaphor. He would have had some words of wisdom to drop on us before and after this Bradbury story. (Fortunately, he gets his own chance to adapt Bradbury multiple times.)

This is a really fun episode that does something completely different than we generally expect from AHP... But if you're into sci-fi, head on over to TZ!

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Across the Threshold (1960) Season 5, Episode 22

Hitchcock once again explores mommy issues

[8/10 · 27 August 2023]

This is an all-around enjoyable episode with great performances, and it's not quite the standard "mommy issues" parable we've come to expect from Hitchcock.

For one thing, the women actually get some depth of character (not typically Hitchcock's strong suit) and the actresses get a chance to shine. Patricia Collinge doesn't play the overbearing mother as a cliche. She actually makes us like her, and it's even quite obvious that her childish son needs a bit of looking after. Barbara Baxley, likewise, isn't the gold-digging or henpecking girlfriend -- she wants to be part of her boyfriend's family and isn't after money or a ring. I was happy to learn that she wasn't in on the murder plan and ended up calling the police. Not only does it reflect positively on her character, but it provides tension at the end as we wonder when the police will arrive and who exactly is going to be going down for murder.

There were only a couple possible endings, so the resolution isn't a huge twist, but it is a satisfying one that feels appropriate to all characters involved.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Not the Running Type (1960) Season 5, Episode 19

Get busy living or get busy dying.

[9/10 · 20 August 2023]

I love these quirky episodes with happy endings when they pop up. There isn't much going on in this one, but the performances are fun to watch and keep you invested. (The police roles are especially interesting to me, as they reflect many now-common tropes in police portrayals AND actual behaviors we see from cops in real interrogation videos.)

For sheer entertainment value, this episode is probably more of a 7. It got an extra 2 points from me for 2 reasons:

1. I actually had no idea where this one was going or what a possible twist might be. This rarely happens when I watch this show, so I'm delighted when it does! (Being too genre-savvy can be a curse.)

2. "Shawshank Redemption," anyone? There's a lot of Andy Dufresne in Mr. Potter! I wouldn't at all be surprised if Stephen King took inspiration from this episode for his story. He's done it before, with the Twilight Zone episode "A Thing About Machines" and his novel "Christine."

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Little White Frock (1958) Season 3, Episode 39

A tour de force from Herbert Marshall

[10/10 · 8 August 2023]

This isn't your typical episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and it's all the better for it.

I'm not at all familiar with any of Herbert Marshall's other work, but this episode makes me want to find and watch it all. He's truly a captivating actor, carrying this episode entirely with his performance. I could watch this man do a dramatic reading of a phonebook!

It's appropriate that the episode ends up being a love letter to actors (which I'm sure Hitchcock just loved /s). Usually, an AHP episode with a lot of monologuing and flashbacks is a dull, dragging affair. In this case, it didn't last long enough.

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: No Pain (1959) Season 5, Episode 5

Fantastic entry

[9/10 · 27 July 2023]

This is a great episode that has exactly what I want out of the series: a twist ending I DIDN'T see coming within the first 5 minutes, and actual suspense filling the 22-minute runtime! It falls slightly short of a perfect 10 only because it doesn't do enough with the first half of the episode.

The long scene where Brian Keith is out of the iron lung is extremely uncomfortable and kept me guessing just how it would end. It reminded me of season one's "Breakdown," which might just be my favorite episode of the entire show. (Admittedly, those scenes affect me personally due to my own experiences of being in comas and on ventilators, but I'm quite sure they're still plenty suspenseful for everyone else!)

Stray observation: Yale Wexler, who plays Arnold, is a perfect mixture of Anthony Perkins and Jimmy Stewart. Hitchcock certainly had a type!

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Man with a Problem (1958) Season 4, Episode 7

Intentional and unintentional comedy

[6/10 · 27 July 2023]

To start, I'm surprised at this episode's high rating and all the praise for the twist. Maybe this is just because I watch too much Hitchcock, but I knew exactly what was coming the second the police officer first appeared. Because of that, the episode was a bit of a slog to get through.

What made it worthwhile was all of the comedy in the episode -- both intentional and unintentional. The teens chanting for Carl to jump, the photographers agreeing to coordinate their death shots, and the cabbies making bets on a man's life are all great moments of dark humor.

I found myself laughing more, however, at the unintentional moments: the cop thinking that handing a cigarette to a man on a ledge is a good idea, the psychiatrist delivering the hokiest soap opera-quality psychobabble imaginable (not to mention, immediately lighting a cigarette when he arrives), the plan to have Carl lean out and grab a rope tied with the loosest knot I've ever seen... I was cracking up!

Alfred Hitchcock Presents: The Waxwork (1959) Season 4, Episode 27

Atmospheric and unexpected

[9/10 · 20 July 2023]

A creepy wax museum isn't anything new in the horror genre, and there are only so many ways the story can go -- which is why I was pleasantly surprised that this episode didn't end up going down any of the expected paths.

Will we discover that the eccentric museum owner is harvesting actual humans to create his wax creations? We are certainly led to believe that it's going that way in the first half of the episode, but... Nope! (Admittedly, this would have been less cliche and also more shocking in 1957.)

Will the waxworks come to life in the night, attacking our protagonist? Well... Not quite. There is actually great restraint on this front, with only a few minor movements (which are believable as tricks of Huston's mind) before our understated confrontation.

The horror in this episode is purely psychological, and watching Huston quickly feel the effects of being locked away (first in a room, and then in his mind) are thrilling and uncomfortable -- particularly if you suffer from claustrophobia yourself.

I can't end this review without mentioning the fantastic waxwork effects on display. The makeup applied to the dummies (and then to the "live" Bourchette) isn't overdone, and falls perfectly into the uncanny valley of a corpse prepared for a viewing. A few well-placed, truly brilliant shots -- holding on blank wax visages, an eyeball being removed from a wax head, a leg bent unnaturally beneath the trouser -- are enough to make your skin crawl without being forced. There is also a distinct lack of the obvious "dummy was just switched out with a real actor and now looks completely different and is also noticeably wobbling" shots that plague this genre. The effects alone bump this from an 8 to a 9.

The Wonder Years: Goodbye (1990) Season 3, Episode 20

Beautiful and heartbreaking

[10/10 · 17 July 2023]

What is there to say? This is a perfect episode of television.

Even knowing what's to come (which is not difficult to decipher about halfway through the episode, if you know your tropes), it feels just as cruel and shocking for us as it does for Kevin. It also perfectly captures that confusing childhood experience of losing a trusted figure in your life who wasn't family, leaving you feeling upset and angry and detached and a bit lost, all at once.

Kevin's crushing realization that he let Mr. Collins down right before the end is incredibly heartbreaking... Until we learn, of course, that Mr. Collins has Kevin's back and believed in him all along. Beautiful.

The "you don't have to grade it" quote coming back around to bookend the entire Collins storyline was the perfect cherry on top.

The Wonder Years: The Unnatural (1990) Season 3, Episode 19

Kevin/Jack episodes always get me

[8/10 · 17 July 2023]

Alright, so this one isn't overtly about Kevin's relationship with his dad. It's about the grade school politics of being "favored," the realization that maybe you don't quite cut it in the sport you love, and the desperate urge to make your parent(s) proud. Hey, we can all relate, right?

From watching this show as a kid, my memory of Jack Arnold was that he was a stereotypical hard-ass '60s dad. Like a less-funny Red Foreman. But my adult rewatch has shown that this isn't the case. He does have the stoic, grumpy thing going on a lot, but he's always genuinely rooting for Kevin, concerned when Kevin's struggling, and eager to help. For the time period, he's a pretty involved dad. (Dan Lauria is also simply a joy to watch, and it's great when he gets the rare comedic scene like the battle one here.)

For all its sentimentality, The Wonder Years didn't generally end episodes the way this one does -- which is a good thing -- but I think it was done perfectly here. I think every kid has one perfect, inaccurate memory like that.

The Wonder Years: On the Spot (1989) Season 3, Episode 5

Winnie's time to shine!

[9/10 · 14 June 2023]

Love you his episode. I've been really annoyed at how Winnie never shows up in episodes that aren't directly about romance and dating, and this episode remedies that (though there ARE still some strong feelings passing between her and Kevin).

It's heart-wrenching watching her struggle through rehearsals, and beautifully uplifting watching her succeed on the night of the performance. Even Kevin is moved to tears by her. (Danica McKellar also does a great job at selling a believable junior high performance. She's good, but a step down from her normal performance as Winnie.)

I think the final line about her dad moving back in is a bit too contrived for my liking, but I can rationalize it as "there was already a reconciliation in the works, which is why he came in the first place."

I'd still love to see Winnie showing up in episodes where she isn't a focus and is just in class or the lunchroom, to lend some consistency to the show.

The Wonder Years: Mom Wars (1989) Season 3, Episode 4

Ah, growing up

[9/10 · 14 June 2023]

Bittersweet and realistic episode about that point in life when you grow sick of Mom's overprotectiveness and have to push her away. It has to happen, and it has to hurt us all.

Of course, I totally get Kevin's mom's perspective, despite not being a parent myself. Unsupervised contact sports has to be a terrifying prospect, especially if your son is as small as Kevin Arnold is at this point. (Knowing what we know about CTE in the present day, you are genuinely unhinged if you let your kid play football in any capacity.)

I expected Kevin to relent and ask for his mom's help in bandaging his hand at the end of the episode, but that would be a bit too sappy and forced for a show like The Wonder Years. The reference to the difficulty of bandaging one-handed is a perfect metaphor.

Bupkis: Picture (2023) Season 1, Episode 3

These guest stars, man...

[8/10 · 14 June 2023]

How? Why? What made people like Al Gore, ajon Stewart, and Joe Pesci want to do a goddamn Pete Davidson show? Do they have very young grandchildren who are into this guy? It makes no sense to me.

Regardless, the guest stars are what make the show worth watching. Jon Stewart and Al Gore are actually pretty pointless (though they each draw a laugh), but Charlie Day was PERFECT. I didn't even see that reveal coming, because I figured that Charlie as a therapist was already a good enough guest spot. His unhinged, Charlie Kelly-esque rant at the end absolutely bumps the entire episode up from a 5 or 6 to an 8.

The Wonder Years: Math Class (1989) Season 3, Episode 2

Felt this one could have been stronger

[7/10 · 14 June 2023]

There is a great premise here that I'm sure a lot of young people can probably relate to. How do you deal with suddenly being in over your head academically? What if you aren't as smart as you thought you were?

But I think the show dropped the ball by having Kevin improve while still refusing to go to the extra help hours. I know this isn't an after-school special and it doesn't exist to teach kids The Right Thing To Do, but the truth is most people have to suck it up and find some humility when they're struggling.

It WAS nice to see Kevin tell his dad he wasn't okay, and to see his dad helping him study. We still don't see a lot of dads (on TV or in real life) helping with the non-fun aspects of parenting. At the same time, the average parent isn't going to be too much help with academics.

The Wonder Years: Summer Song (1989) Season 3, Episode 1

Sweet little vacation story

[8/10 · 12 June 2023]

Alright, it must be addressed at this point: the show's creators claim the setting is southern California (where it was filmed), but it's obviously New England. Considering Kevin's NY Jets jacket, Paul's reference to going to "Lake Cohasset" over the summer, Winnie going to Maine, and now the family driving to Ocean City (either Maryland or New Jersey) in a day, it's pretty clear that the setting is actually somewhere in New York.

Okay, on to what actually matters! We have another exploration of a common sitcom trope: the miserable family vacation which is nothing like the happy family vacations of yore, until the family comes together at the end. In this case, the coming-together moment is understated enough to be believable. The summer love (which is really just a weekend love) experience is also one most teens can relate to.

The Wonder Years: Whose Woods Are These? (1989) Season 2, Episode 16

"There's no Old Man Harper?"

[10/10 · 12 June 2023]

Another beautiful episode that tackles growing up in a very literal and metaphorical sense. I think a little piece of us dies whenever we see our childhood playground, school, house, etc. Torn down. Ironically, a lot of us are now watching the shopping malls where we spent our adolescent years be torn down or abandoned. The cycle of life continues!

We also get a quick glimpse of the present day at the end of the episode, with another very sweet closing shot.

Once again, Paul Pfeiffer delivers a line that made me pause the episode to laugh. His belief that there MUST be an Old Man Harper is such perfect kid logic. I never appreciated how hilarious this character was when I first watched the show.

The Wonder Years: Brightwing (1989) Season 2, Episode 14

Middling

[7/10 · 11 June 2023]

This would be a great episode of any other series, but for something as good as The Wonder Years, it's on the mediocre side.

It's a nice exploration of the estrangement between older and younger siblings. As a younger sibling myself, I can totally relate to Kevin's excitement at being included in the "big kid" activities.

Outside of that, it doesn't have a lot to say. We got a better character exploration of Karen and her hippie side in "Angel," and we got a better look at the disillusionment of youth in "The Walk-Out." I think we could've gotten more insight into Karen's character if more scenes were spent on her relationship with their parents.

Still, it's a far better episode than the one we got about Wayne earlier this season, with a very touching ending.