jewellz48 Reviews

Fallout (2024– )

Entertaining

[9/10 · 9 May 2024]

I haven't played Fallout, so I can't compare to the game, but this was immensely enjoyable as an adapted video game. It felt like a perfect balance between a stand-alone series and gameplay-- there were times that I could really feel the video game vibe in the exploration of a new space or on a mission to retrieve an object, but it was so well integrated that it enhanced the viewing experience, rather than detracting from it.

The humor was unexpectedly good, and I loved the juxtaposition of the mid-century modern aesthetic and music with the dystopian landscape and technology. They combined to give a sort of zany, modernized steampunk feel, similar to Legion, but less serious.

Walton Goggins was exceptional, as always. He really elevated his role, and Ella Purnell was a delight. I thought the Maximus storyline was rather weak, but I don't know if that was from the acting or writing. The only other quibble was the lack of true peril; I never really felt like our heroes were ever truly in jeopardy.

Very much looking forward to more!

3 Body Problem (2024– )

Good, but not great

[7/10 · 24 April 2024]

I went into this completely blind--never read the books or saw the Chinese version, and only knew it was a sci-fi show by the guys from GoT. So I had no expectations. I thought it was good, but something was missing that kept it from being great.

The production was good, but not inspiring. The acting was good, but I never really felt emotionally connected to the characters, although I came close with Jin. It would have been nice to have more background and world building to become more vested in the story and characters.

The plot itself was fine enough, but events seemed to unfold quite quickly without ever showing any effort. A lot happened, but it lacked depth. I thought it was good enough to watch another season, but it didn't really knock my socks off at any point. Good enough, I suppose.

The Gentlemen (2024)

Stylish romp

[9/10 · 12 April 2024]

I thought this was fantastic as a highly entertaining, stylish romp! Sometimes, it's fun to just be entertained, and The Gentlemen scratches that itch supremely well. The acting and pacing are snappy and snazzy without being maniacal, and the setting and music complemented the tone well.

Theo James really nailed his role as a newly minted Duke with a heart of stone, and the rest of the cast effortlessly held their own. The chemistry between Eddie and Susie was palpable, and I really hope this gets renewed for more.

Highly recommend this as an escapist treat that can easily be watched in a weekend!

Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV (2024)

Good exploration of the ugly side of fame

[8/10 · 8 April 2024]

A must watch for anyone who aspires to be famous, and particularly a caution to anyone whose child wants fame. There's a reason so many child actors are so messed up, and this documentary does a good, but not perfect, job of exposing some of what goes on behind the scenes.

I was too old, so I didn't watch any of these shows when they originally aired, and it is unbelievable and disgusting how sexualized they let kid shows be. It really illuminates what a nightmare it is. Kids just chewed up and discarded, and those are the lucky ones.

I thought the episode with Drake Bell was especially moving, but I feel like they glossed over his own issues with minors, which is exactly what they're accusing others of doing to Drake, although to a much more extreme level.

I also felt the last episode was mostly redundant, and didn't really add much to the show, and instead highlighted some of the weaker points--getting fired is par for the course for actors of any age, although I did appreciate the inside perspective of how it affected interpersonal relationships.

Despite the flaws, it still packs quite a punch, and is well worth watching.

Happy Valley (2014–2023)

Superb

[10/10 · 6 April 2024]

Wow! This flew under my radar, maybe because I'm in the U. S., but what a fantastic show! The acting was phenomenal all around, and matched with high-caliber writing. The characters felt so real and complex. The setting was also lovely, and gave a real sense of place and community.

As an American, it is so refreshing to see real people with real flaws, both physical and in personality, especially with the women. This show is a master class of acting, writing, and location, as opposed to the plastic glitz, glamour and artifice all too present in U. S. series.

The characters felt so real, and the plot was gritty and dark at times, but was off-set by rich relationships and touches of warmth and humor. It never felt trope-y or formulaic, and didn't rely on cheap thrills or gotchas. Just solid all around. Well done.

Ripley (2024)

Beautiful, but poor casting

[6/10 · 6 April 2024]

The aesthetic of this series is absolutely gorgeous. I enjoyed the black and white, and the contrast with the sharp, modern resolution. The cinematography reminded me of the movie Roma, and they both share a leisurely quietude, but the similarities end there.

Roma managed to infuse itself with a quiet determination of character and moments of joy. This rendition of The Talented Mr Ripley spends too much time meandering through picturesque hallways and stairs, and not enough time establishing relationships and motive. Beautiful but empty.

The casting was also all wrong. All three leads should be in their 20s, but only one is. And of course it's the female character who is young, paired with men who are obviously in their 40s. I wanted to be able to move past it, but it was too distracting, particularly in light of the glacial pacing. Ended up being a beautiful waste of time.

Foundation (2021– )

Wanted to like this more

[6/10 · 3 February 2024]

I really wanted to like this more than I did. I've never read the books, so I went in with a completely open mind. Season 1 wasn't bad--the acting wasn't perfect and the pacing sometimes dragged, but the story seemed promising, and the world building and concepts were intriguing. First seasons are sometimes a little rough, so I thought it worth continuing.

Season 2 just didn't work for me. I watched 5 episodes, and couldn't bring myself to continue. Instead of building more on the worlds introduced in Season 1, they start zipping around theme park-like planets.

The acting seems even more stilted with odd shifts in charactization, and overuse of f-bombs. Plus, it gets increasingly stereotypical and tropey. I'd like to think that, in thousands of years, either everyone or no one would wear dresses and eyeshadow. Plump plucky girl was just a trope too far for me, and don't even get me started on the corny music swelling at every turn.

Percy Jackson and the Olympians (2023– )

Very promising start!

[8/10 · 21 December 2023]

I'm writing this after watching the debut episodes, so it's an initial impression that I will update if anything changes, but I was very impressed with the series so far!

I'm not the target audience, but wanted to screen it for my nieces and nephews. I thought it was well done for a kids show, with an engaging plot, lovely scenery, and age-appropriate action. So far, it's tame enough for elementary age kids, but I think interesting enough for older kids, too.

The cast seems to show a good amount of chemistry, although the acting itself is a little uneven, as was the pacing. Minor quibbles that are noticeable, but not distracting, and likely to iron themselves out as the show goes on. Very much looking forward to the rest of the season!

The Morning Show (I) (2019– )

Excellent cast can't save this show from itself

[6/10 · 19 December 2023]

Great cast and the makings of a good story slowly descend into a mawkish, preachy mess.

The writers need to get out of their own way and trust that the audience is smart enough to understand the messages through the story and acting. Instead, they use clunky exposition and tired tropes to explicitly state every moralistic stance. It feels like an Ayn Rand novel--wooden characters acting out a morality play to batter an audience into submission. There is so much potential here, but it's drowning in Hummel figurines and Geraldine Ferraro pins.

I honestly agree with most of the points the show makes, but it's just so overdone. Hopefully the writers can back off and let the story breathe in season 4.

Orphan Black (2013–2017)

Good show, Amazing performance

[9/10 · 4 December 2023]

I'm a decade late to the party, but what an absolutely amazing performance by Tatiana Maslany! I'd seen the raves about it, but figured it was exaggerated by fanboys...I'm here to tell ya, the hype was real! She was just incredible, as were the clothing and makeup teams, in bringing so many characters convincingly to life.

The story itself was also good, but not always great. Some of the storylines were hit and miss (I could have done without Gracie & Mark, and the rest of the CASTOR storyline, as an example), but the pacing was good and the characters were all well written, with the exception of the over-used magical child trope. The best part of the series was most definitely the clones, and the relationships with each other, and with Siobhan and Felix. They more than made up for any weaknesses in the plot!

Dark Winds (2022– )

Thoughtful Western mystery/drama

[9/10 · 20 September 2023]

I really enjoyed this mystery drama set in the Navajo Nation. Much like Reservation Dogs (and with several familiar faces!), it shines a light on an under-respresented community to great effect.

The cinematography and scenery are beautiful, and the music and costumes do a great job of nailing the feel of the 70s without leaning into camp. The murder mysteries are fine enough, but the show most excels when it focuses on the characters and interpersonal stories. The relationships feel complex and genuine. I also enjoyed learning a bit about the culture of the Diné people.

I highly recommend this show, and I'm so glad it has been renewed for season 3!

Barry (2018–2023)

Creative and entertaining, but imperfect

[7/10 · 4 June 2023]

Barry is a fantastic show if you appreciate offbeat, dark humor, and don't mind if the originality of the story has occasional missteps. I enjoyed the risks that Bill Hader and the rest of the team took to make the show unique. In particular, the use of audio (or lack of) was notably interesting and well-done.

The show seems like a mash-up of two genres, with Barry serving as the fulcrum between the two. The juxtaposition of the underworld of assassins and organized criminals with actors and Hollywood players was surprisingly thought-provoking; however, the PTSD storylines were beyond the scope of the show. I also think that season 4 was the weakest, although by no means bad, and was a bit of a letdown from the marvelous season 3.

Overall, very well acted, and worth a watch if you value innovation over perfection.

Bad Sisters (2022– )

Perfectly imperfect characters

[9/10 · 20 May 2023]

Great show with some of the best-written characters I've seen. I really appreciated how rich and nuanced the sisters (and Claffin brothers) were. The acting and characterizations were excellent: subtle, humorous, and heart-breaking. Nobody was a saint, but everyone was worthy of dignity and love.

Everyone except John Paul. He was just a master of petty cruelty. If the story had a flaw, it was that he occasionally veered a little bit too comic book in his villainy. I also think that it might have been better if it were reduced to 8 episodes, but just minor quibbles. The fine performances and gorgeous Irish landscapes more than made up for it. Highly recommend!

The Last Thing He Told Me (2023– )

Left me wanting something more

[6/10 · 19 May 2023]

This wasn't terrible, but kind of dull and mediocre. It started off with an interesting premise, but then became increasingly boring and illogical. Most of the series could have been avoided with some skilled use of Google. Instead, the "mystery" is drawn out with awkward avoidance of technology and inexplicable character choices. It somehow managed to feel too long, but also too shallow. I think there was a good story there, but it was buried in an attempt to be a plot-driven thriller, rather than a character-centered drama. Also, Jennifer Garner is a beautiful woman, but her lack of ability to move her forehead and obviously fake eyelashes were really distracting. It's unfortunate that Hollywood puts such enormous pressure on actresses to look forever young, at the cost of looking natural and interesting.

Not the worst thing to watch, by any means, but not especially memorable.

The English Game (2020)

Enjoyable weekend watch

[9/10 · 14 May 2023]

Very enjoyable historical miniseries that can be easily watched in a weekend. Apparently, this is loosely based on the beginning of football in Great Britain, with historical characters, but condensed and fictionalized games and plot points. I think it serves best to capture the mood and sentiments of the time, while taking a good amount of dramatic license. The end product is quite well done, even if not strictly accurate.

The cast is quite good, with lots of familiar faces, and the scenery and costuming are marvelous. It manages to integrate sympathetic portraits of poverty and class struggles without becoming preachy, and creates a feel-good story without becoming saccharine. I would highly recommend this to fans of historical dramas, or anyone looking for wholesome, intelligent fare.

Perry Mason (2020–2023)

Well done crime noir

[9/10 · 25 April 2023]

I very much enjoyed this dark, gritty iteration of Perry Mason, although it seems to share very little with any previous versions beyond names. Personally, I had no attachment to the older Perry Mason, but I think you would be best served to just consider it a completely new show. It didn't bother me, but I can see how it might bother fans.

The show itself is a slow burn, with great acting and diverse, complex characters. I appreciate how well they integrated stories of a variety of people organically. That said, sometimes it seemed like the number of characters became unwieldy and a bit distracting, but not a major issue. The sets and cinematography were also high quality and immersive, which very much enhanced the story telling.

Overall, a well-written, character-driven exploration of the underbelly of Depression Era California.

The Last of Us (2023– )

Great episodes, but less cohesive story

[7/10 · 13 March 2023]

The first 2 episodes of The Last of Us were fantastic. They set up an interesting world and premise, interesting characters, particularly Ellie and Joel, and did a marvelous job of melding drama and game play. I felt like I was watching something new and groundbreaking. Unfortunately, the season didn't quite live up to the potential of those first episodes.

While each episode on its own was high quality, the transitions were often abrupt. Relationships were often under- or over-emphasized. For instance, episode three focuses on characters tangentially related to the story, but are never seen again. Episode 7 shows a tragic backstory that has already been told and spoiled throughout. Whole other episodes are dedicated to characters and situations that are temporary and incidental, but then characters that are meaningful and have important relationships to Ellie and Joel are glossed over.

The journey across the country was fast and abrupt. I think that the story and relationships, especially Joel and Ellie, needed more time and space to breathe and grow. I think it would also have been helpful to weave in more backstory, especially Joel. They mention his relationships with Tess and Bill, and Marlene and the Fireflies, but the scenes are fleeting and not very illuminating. Everything felt kind of like the last episode-it was excellent, but then just suddenly and unexpectedly ends.

I mention mostly negatives, but still found this entertaining. I just feel like this could have been so much more.

Poker Face (2023– )

Natasha Lyonne is a treasure

[9/10 · 8 February 2023]

Poker Face is a delightful homage to the 70s with a wonderful performance by Natasha Lyonne as Charlie, a down-on-her-luck character on the run. She's a human lie detector who rolls into a town where someone is promptly murdered, and she then pieces together who and how done it. The styling is just fantastic. She just chews the scenery with her wild, fun hair and equally wild and fun, 70s-inspired wardrobe. The guest stars are top notch, and everyone seems to be have a rollicking good time.

The show has great scenery and pacing-it keeps my attention and never feels like it's dragging. Good music, too. My only nitpick is that it might lean a little bit too insouciant. I don't want a soap opera, but I think it would benefit from a touch more emotional depth. Certainly not a dealbreaker, though. Highly recommend!

The White Lotus (2021–2025)

Passable

[6/10 · 15 January 2023]

Review is for Season 1. I'm not sure if I will attempt season 2 since this did little to enthrall me. Nothing about is was particularly bad, but nothing was outstanding, either. The acting and production were very good, and the characters were realistic, but no storyline or character stood out as especially interesting. The theme seemed to boil down to rich people are carelessly cruel and miserable, and customer service sucks. These are not earth-shattering revelations. It all felt very middling. It wasn't funny enough to be a true comedy, nor serious enough to be a drama. It wasn't thrilling enough to really be a mystery and didn't leave me with any unique perspectives on life that haven't been done many times before. Fine enough to pass the time, but easy enough to skip.

Fleishman Is in Trouble (2022–2023)

6 mediocre episodes and 2 magnificent

[8/10 · 31 December 2022]

I started watching this because I love Claire Danes. After a couple episodes, I was ready to give it up: the episodes were meandering and mediocre, at best, and Danes was barely even in it. Then, I saw someone mention episode 7 and how amazing Danes' performance was. I decided to persevere.

The first six episodes were quite a slog of upper middle class navel gazing. I kept wondering what purpose the story really served. Did we really need to know about these people and their boring, privileged lives? I think that it was well acted, but the focus on Toby seemed a poor choice: he was the least interesting character in the series, to me. Episode 6 picked up a little, so I was hopeful about episodes 7 & 8.

Episode 7 was one of, if not the, best hours of television I've watched this year. Claire Danes was riveting. I related so much to her character. Just phenomenal. Episode 8, which focused on Libby was also very, very good. Both episodes together were a profoundly moving look at middle age for us younger Gen Xers.

I really wish the first 6 episodes had been condensed into 3. I also think Claire Danes and Adam Brody were criminally underutilized. If you can slog through the start, the payoff of episodes 7 & 8 is worth it.

Andor (2022– )

Genre-busting story of the sacrifices of war

[9/10 · 13 December 2022]

I admit, the last Star Wars movie I watched was as a little girl in 1983! I loved it so much, I got a Millennium Falcon for Christmas that year, but remember little else about it. I hadn't planned on watching Andor, but after seeing the rave reviews and seeing it land on so many Best of lists, I decided to give it a watch.

I'm so glad I did! If you're hesitant to watch it because you're out of the Star Wars loop, know that it works as a great standalone series of the seeds of war and rebellion in a dystopian sci-fi universe. I suspect there might be Easter eggs and references to Star Wars lore that I didn't catch, but I never felt lost or over my head.

The plot, performances, music and world-building were excellent throughout. I thought the first five episodes dragged a bit and struggled to be fully cohesive, not terribly so, but enough to knock off a star, but episodes 6 and onward were phenomenal. The show very effectively portrayed the enormous courage, sacrifice, and luck that it takes to take on an Evil Empire, whether in a galaxy far, far away or somewhere closer to home. Well worth a watch!

Poldark (2015–2019)

Enjoyable, but loses its way

[7/10 · 6 December 2022]

I loved the first and second season, liked the third and fourth, but lost interest in the fifth. The strength of this show is the core of complex, adult relationships. The interactions between Ross and Demelza, Elizabeth and Francis, and Dwight and Caroline are delightful and surprisingly complex. The setting and scenery are gorgeous, and the hardships of staying afloat on the edges of the noble class in late 18th century Cornwall is fascinating. If the show had kept that focus, I think it would rate a 9 or 10. It felt like a throwback, comforting pbs show of yore.

Where the shows weakens is in its portrayals of the villain and secondary characters. George is so silly in his one-dimensional villainy, and Demelza's brothers were an unwelcome waste of screen time. Then there's Geoffrey Charles, an annoying child character who seems to live in an alternate universe with a faster rate of time. As the storylines moved focus, I felt the quality diminished, but I would definitely recommend the first 2-3 seasons for an enjoyable, nostalgic watch.

Wednesday (2022– )

An altogether ooky good time!

[8/10 · 4 December 2022]

I thoroughly enjoyed this series, even if I'm probably 3 decades past the target audience. Jenna Ortega does a fantastic turn as an angsty teenage Wednesday Addams. Like all good Tim Burton heroines, she manages to perfectly encapsulate a zealous thirst for the macabre and doe-eyed vulnerability in equal measure. The female cast members were all particularly strong, although the overly expansive cast left most characters woefully underdeveloped outside of a couple core relationships.

The story is a whodunit mystery that most will likely figure out, but I thought the quirky journey and characters made up for the predictability of the plot. Overall, it felt similar to Stranger Things as a homage to past shows, rather than being purely derivative. To me, it seemed like some strange love child of Teen Wolf and Daria... but not in a bad way! An enjoyable weekend watch.

The English (2022)

Slow, beautiful misery

[6/10 · 16 November 2022]

The first thing I noticed is how good this show looks. The scenery in this series is absolutely breathtaking. I rarely notice much of a difference with 4k vs 1080 on my television, but this is the rare exception. The colors and details and lighting are gorgeous and would make great backgrounds to showcase a television's quality.

As far as the actual show, it is very laconic and slow. I would find myself becoming lulled by the slow speech paired with the landscapes and have to rewind. The series is well-acted, but it drags. I think it would have been better as a long movie. As with many other westerns, there is a motley assortment of characters, but at some point, the characters devolve into caricatures.

As the story progresses, it becomes increasingly anguished and tortuous. The scenery stays beautiful, but the people become uglier and more disfigured inside and out. For me, it just got to be too relentless in its misery.

The Handmaid's Tale (2017–2025)

From magnificent to unwatchable

[7/10 · 15 November 2022]

Margaret Atwood has long been my favorite author, so when this first came out, I approached it with a lot of trepidation. Instead, I was very pleasantly surprised at how well they captured the essence of the story, and how seamlessly it was updated to take place in the 2010s rather than the 80s. The first season is a dark, difficult watch, but so good.

I figured it would be a miniseries, but then they announced another season. And another and another. It kind of takes away a major gut punch from the book, but I was invested in the characters, so I continued watching. Over time, the storylines became thinner and thinner, while the plot armor grew thicker and thicker. But I kept on watching. Until this season. Maybe something interesting happened after 10 minutes of watching bloody, mean-mugging June eat her breakfast, but that was it for me.

In short, watch season 1 as a miniseries and then STOP. That's where the book concludes, and where I wish the TV creators had stopped. Then it would be a 10/10 masterpiece.