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What If...? (2021)
Had a great start
I originally watched the first season of What If when it first came out, and I recently decided to rewatch it. To my surprise, they had released a second season, so I watched both.
The art style is beautiful, and the 3D animation is surprisingly good. Color and lighting play a massive role, as they give a certain tone and feeling to the scenes, and this show is bold in how it uses both.
I gave the show a 7 solely because of how entertaining and creative the first season (8.5/10) was, compared to the newest release (6/10), which I'll get to. In the first season, the highlights were definitely the Killmonger, Evil Strange, and Ultron-winning episodes. Other concepts like zombies, Captain Carter, and all the Avengers dying were also engaging. I really enjoyed the introduction episode - both Carter and Steve are very charming, and their chemistry is fun to watch. The jokes were solid too, and it didn't feel like I was watching another agenda conveyor piece. Instead, I enjoyed how they handled Captain Carter, as she breaks stereotypes by genuinely being a selfless hero.
One nitpick I have from Season 1 is how Tony's robot could've easily just shot Killmonger in two seconds but didn't. One single line explaining how the robot's bullets were too explosive to use indoors, or that Tony or others might get hurt, would've solved this issue. Considering Stark's life was on the line, he would've used the robot's full capabilities.
Now, about the second season... In a show called What If, where you have the creative freedom to do absolutely anything, they end up reusing the same heros from Season 1 and introducing boring concepts that aren't as groundbreaking. I felt like they should've brought in more new characters instead of going back to the same Evil Strange and Captain Carter. They have the entire multiverse in the palm of their hands, so why not bring in some long-forgotten characters like they did in Deadpool and Wolverine? Or even from other Marvel series like Daredevil or Moon Knight. The possibilities are endless, and What If is the perfect excuse to explore wild, creative ideas.
Realistically, the episodes about Hela and Kahhori were awful. They were so cliché and corny that I predicted every "plot twist" a mile away, so I ended up skimming many scenes. I was highly disappointed by the writing of these episodes. The tribe living inside the Tesseract realm had absolutely no reason to leave, and Kahhori's speech wasn't convincing at all. And making Odin the villain? Why? When Odin punishes Thor for his arrogance and recklessness, Thor learns his lesson and becomes a better person. But when the same thing happens to Hela, suddenly Odin's in the wrong? What's the message here? I'm so tired of how the heavy agenda push corrupted the art form as everything now has to be viewed through the lens of inclusivity. Compared to the first season, there's a noticeable increase in female protagonists, but the quality of writing has dropped significantly. Do you see the trend? Female protagonists don't automatically make a story bad (Captain Carter is proof of that) but it's how they and the male characters around them are portrayed. It's getting old...
You can tell that some of this show was made with passion before corporate Disney got involved and turned it into another soulless product.
Hoodwinked! (2005)
Don't judge a book by its cover
OR "Don't judge a movie by it's animation". While comparing Hoodwinked to other 3D animated films from 2005 like Robots or Madagascar, it's clear that those films look far better, especially Robots, where the use of metal characters is easier to animate than fuzzy animals that require more organic movement. However, this comparison would be unfair, as both Robots and Madagascar had massive $75 million budgets, while Hoodwinked was made with just $8 million. Despite the lower production quality, Hoodwinked still managed to earn $110 million at the box office, more than 13 times its budget. This proves that even with weak animation, a movie can succeed if it has good script and voice performances.
I remember watching this as a kid, and rewatching it now brought all those memories flooding back. It's just as good as I remember, regardless of the dated animation and character designs. If you can get past the undercooked animation and weak lighting effects, you'll find a great story with funny, charming characters. Watching this as a 20-year-old, I still enjoyed every second of it. The pacing can feel a bit rushed at times, but for my Gen Z brain, used to processing short-form content, the movie's constantly changing scenes were perfect. I highly recommend watching it with friends, as the movie's comedy, along with its poor animation, makes the experience even more hilarious when shared.
Shinseiki Evangelion (1995)
Fandom ruined it for me
This is one of the most praised and considered by many as the peak or greatest anime of all time. After hearing so much hype, I decided to finally check out Neon Genesis Evangelion. First, I want to touch on the good - the art style and animation are stunning. The aesthetic of 90s anime is as beautiful as it gets, and so many scenes could easily be screenshotted and used as wallpapers. The mecha designs are super cool and iconic too.
I went into watching Evangelion 1995 with very high expectations due to the reviews and fanbase's regard of this as a "masterpiece." When I see something regarded as "peak," I subconsciously become more critical of a piece of media because it now has to correlate to a higher standard, and I want to see if it really lives up to the name. I'm not gonna go around proclaiming my favorite anime as perfect and a masterpiece because my opinion is subjective, and I realize that what I like others may not. And me promoting something as peak can be toxic and create prejudice in others' opinions, which will steer them away from a show they could've potentially enjoyed.
After viewing the anime, I was really confused about two things: 1. What's so special about this anime regarded by fans as the best piece of fiction ever made? 2. What the heck just happened before my eyes? I believe I paid close attention to the story but still couldn't make sense of what was going on in the end. The anime makes very little effort to reward you with an explanation and instead expects you to make your own interpretation. Maybe that's what draws others to this anime, but that's just not my thing. So I went down a rabbit hole of watching hours of video essays, analysis reviews, and plot explanations. And I was met with countless videos overanalyzing the anime and SYMBOLISM. Some critics, who suddenly seem to have philosophy degrees, break down every frame of the anime to find symbolism. I just eye-roll every time someone brings up how a color, shape, or piece of clothing plays such a massive role in the story if you just "pay close attention." Symbolism, references, and easter eggs don't inherently make a story better; they only enhance your viewing or post-viewing experience. What makes a great story is characters and plot.
For example, Breaking Bad, arguably one of the best-rated shows of all time, has plenty of exposition regarding symbolism and color THAT I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE until I watched some video analyses! I was still able to enjoy the show because that's not the whole point of it. This makes it so ironic when the Evangelion creator Anno, in an interview, admitted that features like the Angels' deaths emitting a beam of light reminiscent of a cross were added because "it looked cool." Or how the anime was named Evangelion because the Greek word sounded complicated. Hilarious!
Another thing I see often is that some Youtubers only pick scenes that fit their theories and ignore the rest. That's why I'm usually skeptical when people hyper-analyze symbolism in a show or movie. Sometimes fans just need to acknowledge that IT AIN'T THAT DEEP. This is beautifully articulated in the YouTube video "You SHOULDN'T Overanalyze Evangelion" at 10:13.
Most of my frustration and issues with the anime's plot are best expressed in Scamboli's video, sarcastically titled, "YoU JUsT doN'T UNdeRStaND EvA." He explains it far better than I would in this review. The first half of the anime is repetitive and offers very little to the overarching narrative, which gets stale very quickly. This "monster of the week" format, where each episode focuses on a new Angel attack, feels like it's dragging the story without adding much depth to the overall plot. Some cool concepts like the Lance of Longinus or the Second Impact are barely explored in the show. Mysteries, while being dope and what made many people get into franchises like Gravity Falls or FNAF, aren't the only factor that makes them good, but rather a nice bonus for people who like to theorize. Because if there isn't a direct statement in the story or from the author, you can only speculate in theories.
Vinland Saga (2019)
First season is PEAK FICTION
I liked the first season SO MUCH! The second season, not so much.
The first season of this anime made me emotional several times and even brought me to tears. For example, when the old lady looked at Thorfinn with disappointment after he and the pirates raided her village. That hit deep... Thors' death and Thorfinn's trauma is something I could relate to, and his pain was depicted perfectly. His bitterness towards Askeladd felt real, and his helplessness as he's just a little boy was palpable. Although he missed his dad's philosophy on mercy and peace, he still held onto his honor and warrior code, which prevented him from killing Askeladd in his sleep. The transformation into the cold, apathetic assassin Thorfinn became is tragic. And the antagonist... Askeladd is such a compelling villain, and his sacrifice was the best possible ending that left me speechless. Thorfinn's reaction was peak writing. It's ironic that the chance to avenge his father was stolen from him as he's still unable to do anything. His vengeful spirit crumbled in an instant. He believed his only reason for sticking with the gang was vengeance, but deep down, subconsciously he was seeking a father figure all along. The deep emotional connection Thorfinn built with his nemesis over ten years is such a compelling theme. Lastly, Thorkell is a lot of fun and definitely one of my favorite characters from the series.
Now for the downside... I had high expectations for the second season after such a strong finale, but I was greatly disappointed. Most people blame the lack of action or the shift in tone compared to the first season, but I think the biggest problems are pacing and focus. Thorfinn's character development happens off-screen during the s1 to s2 time skip. I would have loved to see Thorfinn deteriorate as he lost his purpose in life, gradually becoming numb to reality, and slowly grasping the horrific things he did in his quest for vengeance. Instead, we skipped over this "boring" character development and got Thorfinn playing a Minecraft simulator for half the season, along with irrelevant characters and filler plot arcs like the one with the slave lady and her husband. My favorite characters from this season were Snake and Thorgil.
Today, I watched a YouTube video titled "I Didn't Love Avengers Endgame." I was skeptical since I loved the concluding movie of MCU Phase 3, but I was open-minded. In the video, author expresses frustration over the significant character development missed during the five-year time jump from Infinity War to Endgame. The film only tells us about the characters' grief through exposition, rather than allowing us to experience their emotions firsthand. The author critiques this approach with the phrase "Show, don't tell." This critique also applies to the time skip in Vinland Saga between the first and second seasons. It's also ironic how the time jump is also about five years in this anime.
This might be a controversial take and somewhat unpopular, but I enjoyed the first season of Vinland Saga more than the Golden Age Arc from Berserk. I connected with Thorfinn on a much deeper level than with Guts. While Askeladd is portrayed as not entirely evil and even selfless, sacrificing himself for his people, Griffith's darker nature only fully reveals itself in the climax of Berserk. By the end of season one, it becomes clearer that Canute is a better candidate for comparison to Griffith. Both characters have long hair and feminine features, hold positions of power, and lead their respective groups. They inspire others with their grand visions, drawing people to follow them with unwavering loyalty. Additionally, both are willing to commit horrible acts of violence to achieve their goals. Ultimately, they each strip the main character of everything by the end of the first season. The manga panels showing both Griffith and Canute standing on a mountain of corpses in pursuit of their dreams further solidifies this parallel. Lovd both animes though.
It's refreshing to see an anime grounded in a somewhat realistic story that avoids magic or over-the-top powers, keeping things down to earth. Some events and characters are even based on history, though their depiction may not be entirely accurate. While certain characters' strength and agility might seem superhuman, it can be viewed as a Viking recounting his feats, often exaggerated for dramatic effect, much like when the old man shares his sea adventures and stories of Vinland, and the children listening don't believe him.
If the second season didn't exist, I would have rated this anime a 10/10. Although the second season was disappointing, it doesn't ruin the brilliance of the first season. Hopefully, the next one will address some of the issues, and the directors will listen to the audience to fix the obvious problems.
X-Men (2000)
Great intro to the X-men unitverse
Just watched Deadpool and Wolverine and decided to revisit the X-Men movies. I have absolutely no issues with this film from a writing standpoint. The mutants' powers are well-balanced and used at the right moments, with the plot creating circumstances that prevent their abilities from being overused. For example, when Magneto traps the heroes in the metal dome, it prevents Storm from using lightning, as it would have killed everyone inside. Magneto wearing a helmet that blocks Professor Xavier's telepathic abilities is a brilliant counter.
I never found myself nitpicking the plot or the heroes' powers because every time I had a concern, the movie promptly explained it with logic. When watching recent Marvel releases featuring characters with immense powers, I often catch myself asking, "Why don't they just...?" in situations where characters like Wanda or Doctor Strange could easily end a fight in 2 seconds with their established abilities. While doing so might make the story too simple, it raises the question of why introduce such powerful abilities in the first place. Watching something from over 20 years ago was refreshing as the stakes weren't as massive, making it easier to control and balance the powers.
The way Magneto turns the senator into a mutant - the very thing he despises with all his soul is so sinister, and I love it. The political debate on how mutants should be dealt with was intriguing, and at times, I even found myself siding with the American government. After all, people fear what they don't understand, and it's natural for humans to want to eliminate what makes them fearful. The opposing ideologies of Xavier and Erik added an interesting thematic layer, even though it was clear who the true villain was.
One could argue that Magneto is a sympathetic antagonist due to his tragic and traumatic backstory, which makes his plan to turn world leaders into mutants somewhat understandable. However, I'm glad the directors didn't make Erik's trauma the sole focus of the movie. His actions are still evil as the politicians would die as the result. It's refreshing to see a villain whose motivations are complex but who isn't required to be sympathetic. Sometimes, a villain's evilness is compelling enough on its own.
The humor was well-placed and used appropriately throughout. Overall, I enjoyed the movie more than I remembered from my first viewing. I still felt like something was missing to achieve a perfect 10, though I'm not quite sure what it was.
Moon Knight (2022)
Better than expected
I decided to watch the Marvel/Disney shows in 2024 to see if I had missed anything. I expected yet another soulless superhero series, but it turned out to be surprisingly creative and interesting. I really enjoyed Oscar Isaac's performance, particularly how he portrayed the three distinct personalities. And wow, I LOVE THE SUIT DESIGN - definitely in my top 10 superhero designs ever. Most fighting scence were exciting too.
The first episode is a 10/10 for developing an intriguing story, and I was so hooked that I ended up binge-watching the entire series in one go. However, I was a bit disappointed with the ending, which left me with a bad aftertaste. It felt like the writers ran out of creative ideas toward the end. The show's exploration of whether criminals should be punished before they commit their crimes, so others don't have to suffer, was thought-provoking, even though I disagree with that philosophy.
First Squad: The Moment of Truth (2009)
Great Vibes
Storywise, this is a mid movie. Fifty minutes just isn't enough to develop a solid plot for this story, nor is it enough time to really connect with the characters. The final fight should've been longer, especially since they didn't even properly defeat the 'big bad.' Maybe the intention was to continue the story, idk.
That said, this movie gave me great vibes - everything from the Soviet aesthetic and animation to the overall atmosphere. One scene even gave me chills. The two agent twins were cold, and some of the action scenes were epic.
The creators nailed a specific feeling in this anime that I definitely got, but it struggles in most other writing aspects. I'm giving this anime an 8, partly because I'm Slavic, so I'm biased, and partly because of the vibes. I respect the art and effort. Probably won't watch it again, though.
Hagane no renkinjutsushi (2009)
Overrated
I gave this anime 1 star to bring down the inflated score from the stans. My actual rating is a solid 7 (though I'll probably never watch it again).
The over-the-top humor initially made me drop the show, and on rewatch, I still found it irritating. At least they toned it down in the last 10 episodes, which was a relief. The repetitive jokes about Ed's height are overdone, as if they get funnier with each repetition or as if his height affects the narrative in any meaningful way. The anime also misuses humor, inserting it into traumatic or serious scenes, which detracts from full immersion into the show's darker themes.
Characters:
Ed's character development is well-executed, particularly in how he comes to terms with his past actions, especially human transmutation.
Roy Mustang is so COLD. He reminded me of a more buffed-up version of Captain Levi. His post-war trauma feels realistic, and I appreciated how the show becomes more serious when he's on screen. Flame Alchemy is epic, and the fact that it's limited to one character makes it even more impactful.
Markiplier, I mean Maes Hughes was amazing. The murder mystery subplot was engaging and intriguing. He's one of my top characters from the series.
Riza Hawkeye and the rest of Roy's team are consistent and engaging. I felt the most suspense when they were on missions, as they seemed more vulnerable to death being side characters. Funny enough, I worried more about them than the Elric brothers, who clearly have plot armor.
The dynamic between Ling Yao and Greed was entertaining, but I was disappointed that Greed's sacrifice led to nothing.
Scar was great as a vigilante seeking revenge for his people. He was intimidating as a villain in the beginning, but as we learn more about his background, he becomes more sympathetic. I expected him to play a key role in the finale, but I was disappointed by how he was nerfed in the end.
Issues:
Alchemy isn't well-explained, nor does it have well-defined boundaries. Boundaries are key in developing a power system, especially a magic one. In the end, most alchemists use alchemy just to earthbend, which is so uncreative given the limitless potential of hundreds of chemical elements. Yet all they can think of is spawning a few rock spikes? Are you serious? And Roy Mustang is basically just firebending? If most alchemists just bend natural elements, why not have a system based on elemental powers instead? This would be more consistent and wouldn't require overlooking the many times they resort to throwing stones or metal spears instead of coming up with original uses of alchemy.
Al could've easily killed Pride inside the earth dome when he was helpless and unable to cast shadows. He was most vulnerable, yet Al did nothing except let him send an SOS signal. You could argue that Al wouldn't kill anyone, but if that's the case, why is he constantly fighting the homunculi? The more pacifist route would be to run away, as he might injure the poor homunculi :( The thing is, they aren't even human and are just personifications of Father's character, who's pure evil with no remorse or morals. So why should Al have a problem with killing one of them?
Envy should've been defeated the first time. Mei Chang only took him to Central to create more filler. What a convenient plot device.
The second confrontation with Envy is where I really got heated. It was an unnecessary and inconsistent subplot. Roy Mustang, who has always been calm and collected, suddenly loses his cool because the character who killed his best friend triggered him? He's never shown signs of anger before, so everyone acting like he has anger issues feels out of character. Mustang should have been allowed to avenge his best friend, especially since they were going to dispose of the homunculi anyway. Envy killed himself in the end, so what was the point? Anger and a thirst for revenge wouldn't have consumed Mustang this was never shown in the series. When he asked Lust if she killed Hughes, and she said no, he still blasted her with intense flames and then returned to his normal calm mode, unaffected by the confrontation. The worst part of this interaction is that Hawkeye says they want to kill Envy anyway, so who cares who does it? Also, it's pointless because Mustang has been shown as the only one capable of taking down homunculi single-handedly.
Why didn't Mustang just demolish all the homunculi in two seconds like he did with Lust and Envy, since fire seems to be their weakness? Oh yeah, that would make the series too short. So maybe give each of the seven deadly sins a unique weakness?
There's no tension or suspense in the ending when I saw all the characters fall to the ground, as I immediately knew they'd all be fine, nor did the final battle feel any tense, as I could already tell everyone will live.
Roy Mustang should've stayed blind, which feels like the natural consequence. Otherwise, the show's lesson seems to be that you can kill hundreds of people and face no repercussions as long as you turn out good. You can still rule the country that began the genocide you participated in. Imagine if one of Hitler's higher-ups had a change of heart and was then allowed to rule the country. A radical change is not enough; people remember your past actions.
Lastly, the fanbase of this anime is just ruthless glazers. They claim to be open-minded and universally agree that FMAB is the best piece of fiction of all time, as long as you agree with everything they say. As soon as you show any level of disagreement or don't share the same love for this show, they immediately dislike bomb you without even hearing out the critique. Look, I have no issue with anyone liking this anime or even having it as their favorite, just please don't go around forcing this opinion on everyone else and raging on anyone who disagrees with you.
Loki (2021)
Loki got nerfed
I decided to watch the Loki show in 2024 and here's what I think:
Season 1: 8/10
The first six episodes were entertaining and engaging, though Loki wasn't as strong or intelligent as he is in the Avengers or Thor movies. It made sense that he couldn't use his magic in the TVA headquarters, but outside of it, he could have solved many problems with invisibility, shapeshifting, or telekinesis. Instead, he struggled to keep up with regular humans. He once used telekinesis to save himself and Sylvie from a falling tower, but then never used this ability to its full potential again. Despite this, the first season had a lot going for it: intriguing mysteries, a beautiful retro sci-fi aesthetic, and a great soundtrack. I found all the story arcs engaging and didn't see any filler, however...
Season 2: 6/10
This season felt like it should have been a 2-hour movie instead of 6 episodes. The season 1 finale teased He Who Remains' faces on the TVA walls, leading me to expect Loki and Sylvie to confront an army of Kangs this season. Which they didn't probably because this idea is too ambitious and would require a massive budjet, which is reasonable. Instead, we got filler arcs about Victor Timely and Renslayer that dragged the plot. Victor's sole purpose seemed to be fulfilling OB's line: "Containment doors can only be opened with the live scan of the person who designed it". What a convenient plot device. Remember how Victor, the genius, was distracted by a coffee machine, making him vulnerable and extending the plot unnecessarily?
Ouroborus is definitely a highlight-funny, charming, and smart. Though he's a toned-down version of his "Everything Everywhere All at Once" character, he's still as entertaining.
The Renslayer filler arc was there just to stretch out the plot without affecting character growth or relationships. While it was satisfying to see Renslayer face consequences, Sylvie's actions, which almost led to universal destruction, went unaddressed...
Sylvie is inconsistent and often frustrating. Her trauma is told rather than shown, making it hard to empathize with her. She constantly gives attitude to everyone like some angsty teen. Like when she threw a tantrum about Loki and Mobius wanting to eat some lime pie while they wete waiting for OB and Timely to finish engineering the loom. What else could they do?! Her lack of acknowledgment of her mistakes and continuous blame on Loki were irritating. The romance subplot was also lacking. Her decision to send Renslayer to the "end of times" instead of killing her felt like another convinient plot device.
"He Who Remains" lacks intimidation and suspense. His constant talk about other variants would have been more convincing if he had shown their impact. Instead, it felt like empty chatter.
I wanted to like this show and be open-minded, but I can't ignore some glaring issues. I'm giving it a 7/10. I'd rewatch the first season but would skip episodes 2-4 of the second season to get to the good parts. The ending, however, was excellent-one of the best character developments in fiction. For that, the show is worth watching.
Infinity Train (2019)
10/10 First 2 seasons the rest is meh
The show had a great start but the writers seemed to run out of creative ideas at the midpoint. I had a weird aftertaste finishing 3rd and 4th seasons, which kinda ruined the whole series for me. If there was just 2 seasons I would've kept the 10. I still really like the concept of the Infinity Train and the overall VIBE. This show has a lot of mysteries that we are discovering alongside the main characters as the plot progresses. I think the episodic nature of this show works great as we get to see a lot of crazy concepts that work within this universe. I think the villain was alright. Should've been a 2 season show.