Mr Robot is criminally underrated and deserves more hype as a top 3-5 show ever in my opinion. Very few shows have the narrative journey and build up of Mr Robot's 4 seasons. The writing is ELITE in many ways- my favorite things about the show are:
1. The Misdirection. You'll be extremely surprised at how well plot twists are pulled multiple times in every season.
And 2. The Backfilling. The show will purposely omit some of the chronological storyline and go back to fill in with details that prove relevant. This way of storytelling can be so interesting when there's a lot of story to tell, and it's pulled off perfectly in Mr Robot.
The main cast (Malek, Slater, Chaikin, Doubleday) is unbelievably good. The secondary characters (Wallstrom, Wong, Cristofer, Gummer) are unbelievably good, and the guest stars (Joey Badass, Craig Robinson, Villar, etc) bring unique roles.
Now that this show is on Amazon Prime Video, hopefully it will get the recognition it deserves! It's rare to find a show with a story this well-written and well-acted, it's a must watch.
Reviews
14 Reviews
Avatar: The Last Airbender
(2005–2008)
Perfection
13 June 2020
Avatar The Last Airbender was such a pleasure to watch. This show is truly special. Superb writing that hits your heart, brings laughter, brings wisdom, and really makes you a better person for having watched.
Love the structure of the show and how each episode can kind of stand on its own, while also advancing the story.
Seriously great character arcs throughout - my favorite being Zuko's journey to redemption.
I believe Uncle Iroh is an all-time great character of ANY show, and it's unfortunate the voice actor Mako was unable to finish Iroh's story in the way that I think the writers intended due to his passing. My only gripe for Avatar is that we didn't really get to see Iroh in season 3. However, I understand they wanted to preserve what Mako created.
So good from start to finish. Very thankful for this show and all it brings!
Love the structure of the show and how each episode can kind of stand on its own, while also advancing the story.
Seriously great character arcs throughout - my favorite being Zuko's journey to redemption.
I believe Uncle Iroh is an all-time great character of ANY show, and it's unfortunate the voice actor Mako was unable to finish Iroh's story in the way that I think the writers intended due to his passing. My only gripe for Avatar is that we didn't really get to see Iroh in season 3. However, I understand they wanted to preserve what Mako created.
So good from start to finish. Very thankful for this show and all it brings!
Uncut Gems
(2019)
Mostly Nauseating
6 June 2020
The combination of the horrendous score, Sandler's character being quite possibly the most annoying human on earth, and the constant yelling make this a very frustrating and nauseating watch. I actually felt sick to my stomach watching it. I do not get how this movie got the hype it did!
Never Have I Ever
(2020–2023)
Really Enjoyed It
10 May 2020
NHIE was way more deeply layered than I had anticipated. It's got your usual teen romance shticks, but it also deals with real issues - grief and insecurity being the most prevalent. The show also highlights all sorts of different struggles that people face, whether it's Fab coming out, Ben's lack of parental affection, Kamala's life in America with Indian relatives back home wanting a certain direction for her, Devi's mom's life as a single parent, etc.
The show can really pull on your heart during scenes involving Devi's father, yet it also is very high-brow in its comedic writing (Mindy Kaling, no surprise). The show is that perfect mix of light and fun alongside the dark realities that life throws at us.
I'm looking forward to a season 2, I think NHIE has room to grow!
The show can really pull on your heart during scenes involving Devi's father, yet it also is very high-brow in its comedic writing (Mindy Kaling, no surprise). The show is that perfect mix of light and fun alongside the dark realities that life throws at us.
I'm looking forward to a season 2, I think NHIE has room to grow!
Succession
(2018–2023)
The Makings of a Classic
17 March 2020
I just finished Season 2. This show has the potential to be a top 2 or 3 show of all time in my books.
I love the familial love/hate that has taken place over these two seasons. I love the constant battle the three potential heirs to the Waystar throne have amongst themselves, with outsiders, and with their father.
This show is more than you want. No episode is ever cliche. I love the business strategy, the ebbs and flows of each character. No character ever gets too high or too low, there's always unexpected highs and lows for each.
The dialogue written for Succession is so unique and verbose, and the acting is second to none. Every character is bringing something to the table- there is no storyline that will leave you uninterested.
I'm very excited to see what Season 3 and beyond brings!
I love the familial love/hate that has taken place over these two seasons. I love the constant battle the three potential heirs to the Waystar throne have amongst themselves, with outsiders, and with their father.
This show is more than you want. No episode is ever cliche. I love the business strategy, the ebbs and flows of each character. No character ever gets too high or too low, there's always unexpected highs and lows for each.
The dialogue written for Succession is so unique and verbose, and the acting is second to none. Every character is bringing something to the table- there is no storyline that will leave you uninterested.
I'm very excited to see what Season 3 and beyond brings!
Long-winded Series, anticlimactic finale
9 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This series should've been 6-8 episodes for sure. Tons of filler. There were great moments and I liked the idea of the entity, but the finale kind of ruined the mystique and horror of it. Not only did we not learn any further information about El Cuco, the finale established that he really wasn't anything to be that concerned about, as he was killed easily about 30 minutes in.
The remainder of the episode following El Cuco's death was uninteresting. We've been force fed the fact that Ralph was slow to believe and Holly was quick to believe, so the final scenes between the two rehashing this fact were just overkill.
The show really does not need a second season. The story has been told. If this wasn't a very hyped up HBO production, it would be rated where it needs to be on IMDb, about 7.5-7.7.
The remainder of the episode following El Cuco's death was uninteresting. We've been force fed the fact that Ralph was slow to believe and Holly was quick to believe, so the final scenes between the two rehashing this fact were just overkill.
The show really does not need a second season. The story has been told. If this wasn't a very hyped up HBO production, it would be rated where it needs to be on IMDb, about 7.5-7.7.
Barry
(2018–2023)
Perfect Balance of Humor/Drama
9 June 2019
Bill Hader and Alec Berg have created something truly special with Barry. I just finished Season 2, which was beautiful. I love the subtle humor. I love the tension in Barry's character and his battle of good and evil. It's great that we can have a show with smartly written comedy while also having an incredible story to go along with it.
Season 1 was great, Season 2 is award-worthy. I'm really looking forward to more Barry in the future!
What Could Have Been
20 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
What hurts the most after viewing this episode, and all the other episodes of this season as well as season 7, is imagining what GoT could have been. It's still my greatest show of all time simply for how amazing the first 6 seasons are, but man is it sad to see this show go out in such a tragically bad downward spiral of writing quality.
There were plot holes in the finale, just as there has been in all of the previous 12 episodes. This may be the ending GRRM has planned (I hope we get something different and better in the books), however the rushedness in how they have brought the show to a close just makes it impossible for a lot of the major plot points to make sense.
This show will forever be a game changer for entertainment and I'm not sure anything like it will ever come again. It's complexity will likely never be matched--Martin spent 20+ years developing each character and plot. That's what makes this generic and straightforward ending such a knife to the heart.
There were plot holes in the finale, just as there has been in all of the previous 12 episodes. This may be the ending GRRM has planned (I hope we get something different and better in the books), however the rushedness in how they have brought the show to a close just makes it impossible for a lot of the major plot points to make sense.
This show will forever be a game changer for entertainment and I'm not sure anything like it will ever come again. It's complexity will likely never be matched--Martin spent 20+ years developing each character and plot. That's what makes this generic and straightforward ending such a knife to the heart.
Why?
13 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This episode seems like it was written by someone who did not watch the first 60 episodes of the series. Why did Daenerys unnecessarily kill thousands of innocent people? She had basically already won the war: Iron Fleet was gone, scorpions destroyed, Golden Company gone, Lannister soldiers surrendered. Has she not proven in the past that she is a pragmatic, level-headed, just leader? Most of all, hasn't she proven that she's smart? I would understand her burning everyone if it was the LAST resort, but like I said she had basically already won the war. I'm sad for Emilia Clarke and for the character Daenerys. I know that this either does not happen in the last two books, or it at least does not go down in this rushed of a manner.
Speaking of character arcs being ruined: Cersei brought nothing cunning and conniving to the episode. She cried and had no plan B. I thought we would see some smart maneuvering from her character but.....nothing. Jaime: 60-70 episodes of one of the best arcs on the show. I was really disappointed to see him revert to basically who he was in Season 1. What was the point?
Overall the battle was an EASY win for Daenerys, there really wasn't much conflict to it whatsoever, and several characters were ruined. I'm hardly looking forward to next episode now.
Speaking of character arcs being ruined: Cersei brought nothing cunning and conniving to the episode. She cried and had no plan B. I thought we would see some smart maneuvering from her character but.....nothing. Jaime: 60-70 episodes of one of the best arcs on the show. I was really disappointed to see him revert to basically who he was in Season 1. What was the point?
Overall the battle was an EASY win for Daenerys, there really wasn't much conflict to it whatsoever, and several characters were ruined. I'm hardly looking forward to next episode now.
Average Writing
6 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
It's no secret this show has gone downhill since season 6. I hate complaining about this show, but when you nosedive from GOAT to average, the audience has to hold you accountable. Here is my top issue about the past two seasons, which has carried over and manifested into this episode: the lack of character integrity. The rushed nature of the past two seasons has forced the show to sacrifice the traits and actions of our favorite characters just to keep the plot moving. You see it most often in these beloved characters:
1. Daenerys. We watched Dany blossom from a shy understudy of her brother to an incredible leader in the first six seasons. Does she make a few mistakes? Sure. But overall, she is morally a good person who wants the best for everyone in her quest for the Iron Throne. In seasons 7 and 8, they're trying to spin it like she might have a little Mad Queen in her. How are we the audience supposed to buy this, after watching her for 60 episodes be a great leader and a great person at the same time? The conflict of it bores me because I know either a: the whole charade is just for drama or b: they do make her the Mad Queen, in which case it would be a laughably horrible mistake by the writers.
2. Jon Snow. Jon has made horrible mistake after horrible mistake. Going north of the wall to get the wight to show Cersei was easily the stupidest plot on the show. It led to a losing a dragon which got the WW south of the wall. He did basically nothing in The Long Night battle except lead the Dothraki directly to their death and have no strategy for defense other than sword fights and arrows. What happened to the cool battle strategies? Jon is supposed to be a great commander and we just don't see it any more. Not to mention he is no longer practical, and rushes his army directly into the next war with Cersei, which proves costly in this episode.
3. Jaime. Six seasons of character development, all for him to revert back to being a "hateful" person this episode?
4. The Starks. Arya's character is now boring. The writers should have toned down her "assassin" characteristics. Humanize her more. Her personality isn't even recognizable from seasons past. Sansa seemingly only complains. Dont get me started on Bran.
Furthermore in this episode, characters are just overly dramatic for no reason. We've never seen so many characters cry. The emotions seem so forced and awkward like a soap opera.
I'm still watching, but I've basically given up hope on the writing of this show getting back on track. When I rewatch this show (for the fifth or sixth time) I'll probably just roll with seasons 1-6.
1. Daenerys. We watched Dany blossom from a shy understudy of her brother to an incredible leader in the first six seasons. Does she make a few mistakes? Sure. But overall, she is morally a good person who wants the best for everyone in her quest for the Iron Throne. In seasons 7 and 8, they're trying to spin it like she might have a little Mad Queen in her. How are we the audience supposed to buy this, after watching her for 60 episodes be a great leader and a great person at the same time? The conflict of it bores me because I know either a: the whole charade is just for drama or b: they do make her the Mad Queen, in which case it would be a laughably horrible mistake by the writers.
2. Jon Snow. Jon has made horrible mistake after horrible mistake. Going north of the wall to get the wight to show Cersei was easily the stupidest plot on the show. It led to a losing a dragon which got the WW south of the wall. He did basically nothing in The Long Night battle except lead the Dothraki directly to their death and have no strategy for defense other than sword fights and arrows. What happened to the cool battle strategies? Jon is supposed to be a great commander and we just don't see it any more. Not to mention he is no longer practical, and rushes his army directly into the next war with Cersei, which proves costly in this episode.
3. Jaime. Six seasons of character development, all for him to revert back to being a "hateful" person this episode?
4. The Starks. Arya's character is now boring. The writers should have toned down her "assassin" characteristics. Humanize her more. Her personality isn't even recognizable from seasons past. Sansa seemingly only complains. Dont get me started on Bran.
Furthermore in this episode, characters are just overly dramatic for no reason. We've never seen so many characters cry. The emotions seem so forced and awkward like a soap opera.
I'm still watching, but I've basically given up hope on the writing of this show getting back on track. When I rewatch this show (for the fifth or sixth time) I'll probably just roll with seasons 1-6.
Battle of Winterfell had its Ups and Downs
29 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I loved how this episode started. I was physically nervous for the fight to get started, and when it did finally get ramped up, you could truly feel the intimidation, size, and strength of the Army of the Dead.
The WW army killed all the Dothraki in like 15 seconds, then they got through the fire trench and it's fair to assume at this point that either the Winterfell crew needs to have some amazing war strategy here or they're all going to die. Nope. Just straight up sword fighting and arrow shooting it is. No cool dragonglass weaponry or anything else with fire. I was expecting strategies similar to what the Watchers on the Wall used in their season 4 battle. Flaming barrels, a dragon glass slicing blade. But no such luck. They should have all died but somehow like 5 main characters fended off about 10,000 wights each. Several scenes where they were backed up to a wall about to be dogpiled and it would cut to another scene and then later in the show that character would be alive...this happened to Sam, Brienne, and Jaime like 10 times. Seriously- WW army makes quick work of the legendary Dothraki horde- but can't kill Sam...right.
NK literally raised about 1,000 wights that surrounded Jon Snow and they just stood there. Every other time in the show they're blood thirsty running for people? I didn't get that. The no name characters got trampled and dog piled and dominated with ease yet all the main characters were rescued at the last minute at least once each. Hate that they built this battle up in episode 2 like "were all going to die were singing songs in the library and having our final drinks" and not one character from the library scene died in battle. Not even Pod! I think they could've done so much better it was just way too straightforward. Bran said NK was coming to him at the tree, he did. NK did nothing unexpected, he pulled out no strategy it was just straight up bad vs good. Plus all the deaths were really spelled out and not surprising. Theons was super cheesy and pointless. I didn't mind Arya killing NK but would've preferred a more articulate way of doing it. It was just straight up one on one combat. Between two characters with no history. People are okay with it because ~she's an assassin~ but this just left me feeling a little unfulfilled and didn't tie together as nicely as you'd expect the death of a major villain on GoT to be.
Overall, The Long Night was just missing what makes Game of Thrones really cool. The battle was long and of a massive scale, sure. But it was too straightforward. There were no interesting strategies or defenses. Bran seemingly had no plan and brought nothing to the table. I'm hoping they can keep things interesting with what seems like an even more straightforward obstacle going forward- Cersei.
6/10.
The WW army killed all the Dothraki in like 15 seconds, then they got through the fire trench and it's fair to assume at this point that either the Winterfell crew needs to have some amazing war strategy here or they're all going to die. Nope. Just straight up sword fighting and arrow shooting it is. No cool dragonglass weaponry or anything else with fire. I was expecting strategies similar to what the Watchers on the Wall used in their season 4 battle. Flaming barrels, a dragon glass slicing blade. But no such luck. They should have all died but somehow like 5 main characters fended off about 10,000 wights each. Several scenes where they were backed up to a wall about to be dogpiled and it would cut to another scene and then later in the show that character would be alive...this happened to Sam, Brienne, and Jaime like 10 times. Seriously- WW army makes quick work of the legendary Dothraki horde- but can't kill Sam...right.
NK literally raised about 1,000 wights that surrounded Jon Snow and they just stood there. Every other time in the show they're blood thirsty running for people? I didn't get that. The no name characters got trampled and dog piled and dominated with ease yet all the main characters were rescued at the last minute at least once each. Hate that they built this battle up in episode 2 like "were all going to die were singing songs in the library and having our final drinks" and not one character from the library scene died in battle. Not even Pod! I think they could've done so much better it was just way too straightforward. Bran said NK was coming to him at the tree, he did. NK did nothing unexpected, he pulled out no strategy it was just straight up bad vs good. Plus all the deaths were really spelled out and not surprising. Theons was super cheesy and pointless. I didn't mind Arya killing NK but would've preferred a more articulate way of doing it. It was just straight up one on one combat. Between two characters with no history. People are okay with it because ~she's an assassin~ but this just left me feeling a little unfulfilled and didn't tie together as nicely as you'd expect the death of a major villain on GoT to be.
Overall, The Long Night was just missing what makes Game of Thrones really cool. The battle was long and of a massive scale, sure. But it was too straightforward. There were no interesting strategies or defenses. Bran seemingly had no plan and brought nothing to the table. I'm hoping they can keep things interesting with what seems like an even more straightforward obstacle going forward- Cersei.
6/10.
Stepped up from Last Week
22 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I rated last week's episode a 2/10. Episode 8.2 took a major step towards me regaining my faith in the showrunners' ability to end this thing the right way.
This episode was everything that 8.1 was not. There were actual legitimate interactions amongst characters, actions weren't taken for fan service reasons, characters are beginning to show their characteristics from the past again. I finally feel emotions beyond boredom and frustration with the new Bran. I finally feel like Sansa has been brought back into character a bit. Tyrion, after truly being dumbed down by the writers for the past season+, was witty, clever, and FINALLY shown respect by his comrades. Jaime's scenes were great. Brienne's performance with Jaime and others was special. Arya's scenes with Gendry, the Hound, and Berric weren't forced as they were in the past episode.
More importantly, the plot built in a smooth and cohesive manner. Jaime's trial/save by Brienne, Sansa's conversation with Daenerys, Daenarys' conversation with Jorah, Tyrion with Jaime and others in the fireplace room, and finally the interaction between Jon and Daenerys.
This episode lacked the amount of corniness seen in 8.1, but there were still some "un-GoT-like" moments here. It's expected at this point, we've passed the source book material and the show is being rushed into a shortened final season. If they can keep limiting their mistakes like this for the remainder of the season, I will be happy!
This episode was everything that 8.1 was not. There were actual legitimate interactions amongst characters, actions weren't taken for fan service reasons, characters are beginning to show their characteristics from the past again. I finally feel emotions beyond boredom and frustration with the new Bran. I finally feel like Sansa has been brought back into character a bit. Tyrion, after truly being dumbed down by the writers for the past season+, was witty, clever, and FINALLY shown respect by his comrades. Jaime's scenes were great. Brienne's performance with Jaime and others was special. Arya's scenes with Gendry, the Hound, and Berric weren't forced as they were in the past episode.
More importantly, the plot built in a smooth and cohesive manner. Jaime's trial/save by Brienne, Sansa's conversation with Daenerys, Daenarys' conversation with Jorah, Tyrion with Jaime and others in the fireplace room, and finally the interaction between Jon and Daenerys.
This episode lacked the amount of corniness seen in 8.1, but there were still some "un-GoT-like" moments here. It's expected at this point, we've passed the source book material and the show is being rushed into a shortened final season. If they can keep limiting their mistakes like this for the remainder of the season, I will be happy!
Just Not Good.
15 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I thought Season 7 all in all was a major step down from Seasons 1-6. The show had a shift from unpredictable, well-written, developed seasons in 1-6 into a rushed mess in 7. This episode kicks off Season 8 in the same fashion.
Sadly, the only thing that surprises me on this show any more is how the writers continue to disrespect and dumb down many of the characters they (or GRRM) built for the first 5 or 6 seasons. Example 1: I know Bran is the Three Eyed Raven now, but really?? He's just being weird for no reason. He can know things AND have at least a trace of the same characteristics that he had in the other seasons. Instead he's this meloncholy stump that is not enjoyable to watch at all. He's only used as a device to reveal things that the show doesn't have time to spell out any more. Example 2: I have no clue why the writers have decided to make Sansa out to be someone she isn't. Arya literally says Sansa is the smartest person she's ever met. Sansa? I mean she isn't dumb by any means, but after watching the previous episodes, I would not give her the right to say "you know I used to think you were the most clever man in Westeros." To TYRION! Tyrion was an incredible "game player" in the early seasons. He's very smart. Now the show has reduced him, as they did to my guy Littlefinger, to someone he isn't. Getting dissed by Sansa...never thought I'd see it. I could go on and on about how every character on the show just seems to be acting out of character- and it's not their fault, it's the dialogue and plot written. People are doing things they just never would've done previously.
Another thing I really disliked about this episode: the dragon scene with Jon and Dany. What was that? It was like something you'd see in some corny movie. That was not Game of Thrones material...(why did they even go flying anyways, they had just said how the dragons had barely been eating, and hated the North, why waste their little energy by flying further North?) the cheesy dialogue along with the dragon being behind them as a punchline made this feel like How to Train Your Dragon or a Disney film.
Overall this episode was just corny, sloppy, and boring. I was hopeful they'd turn it around after all of Season 7's rushed mistakes and plot holes. Doesn't look like that will be happening, barring a miracle.
Sadly, the only thing that surprises me on this show any more is how the writers continue to disrespect and dumb down many of the characters they (or GRRM) built for the first 5 or 6 seasons. Example 1: I know Bran is the Three Eyed Raven now, but really?? He's just being weird for no reason. He can know things AND have at least a trace of the same characteristics that he had in the other seasons. Instead he's this meloncholy stump that is not enjoyable to watch at all. He's only used as a device to reveal things that the show doesn't have time to spell out any more. Example 2: I have no clue why the writers have decided to make Sansa out to be someone she isn't. Arya literally says Sansa is the smartest person she's ever met. Sansa? I mean she isn't dumb by any means, but after watching the previous episodes, I would not give her the right to say "you know I used to think you were the most clever man in Westeros." To TYRION! Tyrion was an incredible "game player" in the early seasons. He's very smart. Now the show has reduced him, as they did to my guy Littlefinger, to someone he isn't. Getting dissed by Sansa...never thought I'd see it. I could go on and on about how every character on the show just seems to be acting out of character- and it's not their fault, it's the dialogue and plot written. People are doing things they just never would've done previously.
Another thing I really disliked about this episode: the dragon scene with Jon and Dany. What was that? It was like something you'd see in some corny movie. That was not Game of Thrones material...(why did they even go flying anyways, they had just said how the dragons had barely been eating, and hated the North, why waste their little energy by flying further North?) the cheesy dialogue along with the dragon being behind them as a punchline made this feel like How to Train Your Dragon or a Disney film.
Overall this episode was just corny, sloppy, and boring. I was hopeful they'd turn it around after all of Season 7's rushed mistakes and plot holes. Doesn't look like that will be happening, barring a miracle.
Fitting End to an Odd Season
25 June 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I'll start by saying that I thought Season 1 of Westworld was a true masterpiece. Nearly perfect writing the likes of which had never been seen on television before. Pure confusion for the first 6 episodes was perfectly tied up in the following 4 episodes of Season 1, with possibly one of the best season finales ever, "The Bicameral Mind."
Although Season 2 started out slowly, I stayed the course (Season 1 started somewhat slowly too, remember). "The Riddle of the Sphinx" is where the season started to show promise and give me hope. However, it was followed up by "Akine No Mai", my least favorite episode of Westworld to date. One hour of pointlessness used as a plot device to teach us that Maeve can control minds of other hosts basically. Episodes 6 and 7 bounced back and were stronger, and Episodes 8 and 9 were VERY well done. After these two episodes I really had high hopes for our Season 2 finale. After watching last night, all I can say is that I'm very disappointed.
Getting into the episode itself, the pacing and writing started with no rhythm. I could tell something was off. But I figured with the 90 minute run time, the episode would find its way out of the odd funk it was in. This did not happen. Though there were times where genuinely solid scenes took place, there were several holes in the writing. For example, Dolores and William team up. Dolores claims, "I need a monster to make it to the Valley Beyond." Although she doesn't at all...William is not needed whatsoever and in fact is left in the dust no later than the very next scene. Then there's the scene with Lee where he "bravely" sends his comrades along their path while yelling his speech, ending with him getting shot and presumably killed. I think the writers wanted this to be a heroic ending for Lee, instead I felt nothing. I like the idea of him dying heroically, but in this instance he just as easily could have either rode along with the rest of the gang, or come out with his hands up and survived while his friends got away. This may seem picky, but we're talking about Westworld here. These things shouldn't happen!
I actually like the Charlotte being Dolores dynamic towards the end, because it gives her a legitimate way to get out of the park and advance the story. However, I think the show is getting too reliant on revealing that important characters who are inferred to be human are actually hosts. When it happened in Season 1 with Bernard, it was done masterfully. When it happens in Season 2 with William and Stubbs, it feels like they just wanted to throw in a pointless plot twist and say "Gotcha!" which isn't creative to me. In fact, making William a host really ruins his character that has been built so well by Ed Harris and the writers over the past two seasons. The thing that made William who he was: unique, flawed, yet searching for his humanity or some sort of meaning in a world filled with the hosts, playing "the game" out of genuine desire, was all taken away in this episode. I no longer really care about who he is presently, I now only care about his past, how he died, etc. And that is where I think the Westworld writers missed in this season: rather than give us what made Season 1 so fanastic...the flaws of both the humans and the hosts and how they interact and search for greater purpose, the writers put more stock (and amount of screen time) into things we do not care about: Maeve's daughter (I honestly would prefer if she died at this point so we don't have to see the same two flashback scenes any more), more people being revealed as hosts, and hosts being super-beasts with no flaws or weaknesses (Dolores and Maeve were pretty much unstoppable).
This wasn't a 10 star episode as many reviews paint it, or a 9.2 star episode as it is currently rated on IMDb. This was a mediocre ending to a season that never really grew wings. I will be watching Season 3 in hopes that the writing returns to its former self. Showrunners: Give us Episodes 7-10 of Season 1. Give us Episodes 4, 8 and 9 of Season 2. THAT is the show I want to watch. 6/10 stars for me on this episode. 7/10 for me on the season.
See everyone in Season 3.
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