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Reviews
Hello Dankness (2022)
Seamless clip montage creating a biting and moving satire
Kudos to Soda Jerk, they obviously know their motion pictures and television. Watching the credits after a breathless final act, well over 100 movies and TV programs are referenced to give the original makers their due. They also have an unmatched discipline to their art, as the compilation of intertwined clips would suggest.
This is an entertaining and thought-provoking montage of nostalgia-driven material that is one of the cleverest satires to come out of Australia for at least the last couple of years. Although some of the scenes don't quite work (Corona Lager anyone?), almost all scenes are right on point. Especially the Garfield sequence used to encapsulate the Trump presidential era. The best 90 seconds of animation you'll ever see.
Oz: 4giveness (2003)
Not Beecher again!?
What have the writers got against Tobias Beecher?? The constant horrible things that keep happening to him are becoming very difficult to watch, almost painfully so, and not in a well-written "it's meant to make you feel that way" kind of way. Give the guy a break! First of all there was the sexual assault, then finding out his lover wanted to break his arms and legs, then there was the descent into alcoholism and madness, then the kidnapping and murder of his child, then the suicide of his ex-wife, then the murder of his Dad, and now he is finally paroled and his ex-lover tricks him into being arrested again. Merciless sadism at its worst.
Otherwise great episode.
Animal Kingdom: Gethsemane (2022)
Frustrating
I think what stops Animal Kingdom from being one of the top crime dramas was fully on display in this episode. There are sometimes some great character moments, such as the conversation between Deran and Pope by the pool, but then some implausible exposition moments, such as Deran sacking Tommy for no reason. I know Deran was supposed to be upset, but this scene made absolutely no sense, and seems to be just an excuse to set up what I imagine will be an attempted robbery of the safe in Deran's bar. Really lazy script work here.
Also there's too much style over substance in this season. What was the point of that scene with Craig in the gym, other than to show us how strong he is whilst listening to a new rock track? We get it, he's got great abs.
It is really frustrating because there are some strong underlying themes here which could/should be explored more. Particularly the incestuous nature of Smurf's parenting and the link between this, Julia's downfall and J's sociopathy and plans for revenge. J's relationship with the paralegal lady just feels like unnecessary filler that deviates from these key themes. Without having watched the remaining episodes, this feels like it's going to be a missed opportunity.
This Is Us: Clooney (2018)
Far-fetched episode saved by a clever ending
Overall this episode was a pretty average one, with some contrived plot devices serving to wrap-up some previous loose ends. Like, would Randall really travel to William's old building to pick up some belongings? And where did these belongings come from again? And what was the point of the cat in this story? However I love how this show builds on some minor elements from previous episodes, such as a big reveal for why Madison (a joke character previously) was really at Kate's meetings. And the episode was saved by a clever ending, whereby I can only assume that the missing batteries in the smoke alarm will not be helpful when Jack inevitably burns to death in the home that he built.
This Life: Coming Together (1996)
"Only the old can afford to be young"
Just catching-up on This Life 25 years after it first aired, and I'm suitably impressed with the first episode. The dialogue crackles with wit and it still feels original all these years later. Looking forward to the rest of the series, despite the fact it wasn't filmed in widescreen ;)
Better Call Saul: Bagman (2020)
Now we know what Mike was thinking
I always wondered what Mike was thinking about the moment he was killed by Walt in Breaking Bad. The look on his face demonstrated acceptance and contentment. That speech from Mike in this episode just answered all of that.
A symbolism heavy episode. The car, the coffee mug, the Davis Main urine bottle, the tin foil blanket. Like an Ian McEwan novel but in television form. A true masterpiece.
Mare of Easttown: Illusions (2021)
Great but two gaping plot holes...
This was a brilliantly built episode with a thrillingly unexpected ending. Two elements which I can't get my head round though:
- why didn't the girls just scream as well as bang the pipes? It was made explicitly clear earlier in the episode that their kidnapper would bound and gag them whenever he had visitors round, so they would have known that the cops would hear them no?
- secondly, Mare has known about the prostitute link for ages (particularly with regards to Katie Bailey), but has only just now asked her insider to do some digging for her? Why didn't she do this earlier??