boraborasean Reviews

The Peripheral (2022)

I dont get it

[22 October 2022]

I won't rate this one, because i see no reason to drag the decent performance of the cast and technical team down because of the horrendous writing, and vice versa.

It's written like a rushed high school paper. Read the internet to pick 2 keywords about a random topic shake and spill.

The pilot has a bunch of standard pilot flaws. The whole premise is just articulated without really being integrated in what would be the normal flow of life for these characters. It's like they start existing only for this story. Well they do, but they are not supposed to, as they are already adults and all. OK i'm being harsh, they try a bit to make the information flow naturally, it's just not a real succes.

My real beef is the outrageous non sense.

This girl is a super talented player right, she gets to level 107 by just being an achiever and an explorer while her professional brother who is a "killer" (hear : "surgically enhanced power creep grinder who depends on it to live") couldn't pass level 83. But I get it, she really is very talented is the point told. OK lets suspend the disbelief.

Why doesn't she have her own account? Oh right she needs a male avatar. Apparently 10 years from now, girls can't create male avatars in MMOS. It's progress or something.

Also they are really not welcome in gaming, even less than today. So that's why she has to use her professional brother's account. Account sharing is OK with multiplayer Terms of Service in 10 years. I have no idea why and how it couldn't create more problems than it would solve but here, it's science fiction! Like magic. Fiction at least.

So lets suspend the disbelief here too.

Then why exactly would the misogynistic IT developers of a game, a war game nothing less, add an "empathy bonus" to solve a situation? It would be way more fun to get a hidden title to do something stupid like shooting all the lambs oneself. Especially for achievers and explorers. Take my word for it.

And "empathy it's like pity then"? No guys, no it's not.

Let me get an example : it's like if I started imagining that I was writing this script, and asking myself why I would choose such lines and situations... Picture it, eyes closed, focus, focus, imagine... eeerf No i cant.

You're right, it's a lot like pity.

The School for Good and Evil (2022)

Excellent familial entertainement

[7/10 · 21 October 2022]

Funny and well paced, this movie doesn't takes itself seriously yet is a very interesting watch.

I haven't read the book, but the main thema, a mise en abyme of the role of fairy tales in teaching values to children was probably picked with the intent to introduce young teenagers to story analysis in a fun way, by showing that nothing should be taken at face value. The film very well manages that at least. Accessible but not dumbed down.

There is also a lot to grind for older watchers (readers?) the universal thema chosen here can be debated for eons on several levels, and the film does a great job at giving more angles than answers.

Loled at Matrix' Morpheus casting pick. Not sure if i was overthinking it, but that wasn't an isolated giggle either.

The Most Hated Man on the Internet (2022)

Very informative

[8/10 · 17 August 2022]

There are people today pretending on youtube to be helping women and young autistes recover from these scumbags when they are the ones hacking their webcam, spying on all their files and pictures and f**cking with their live internet browsing.

They can watch your screen, record what you type, no way you can hide a password or anything. If you've ever clicked on a link under their video you're potentially screwed.

They do that in groups with their friends, are linked with alt right muscle marys fanclubs and have built alibis for years so they can pretend these women are the ones obssessed if they strike back.

They are often interviewed as specialists of the narcissism topic, and humiliate their targets through little jests in their "help" videos. It's a lot of word salad, but if you find yourself thinking "oh what an insight!" or "great minds" , please tape your webcam, use a new computer for your browsing, change your ISP, use a VPN and work on an offline computer. Your phone is vulnerable too.

These are sick f**cks, and they have the tools to push you to suicide.

Ep3 16'57.

Severance (2022– )

I know this show doesn't need another pat on the back but hey why not, who cares.

[10/10 · 17 August 2022]

There are shows, good or bad where, when you pause and zoom on a newspaper, a book, anything, all you read is some relevant big title followed by some Lorem Ipsum paragraph.

Then there are shows like Severance (or the Nevers if you are looking for something to scratch your sleuthy claws on while waiting for the next season) where, if you pause and zoom or go frame by frame, you're in for the easter eggs, the whole bunny and the chocolate chicken.

You can watch it 10 times, 10 times you'll find some new hints at what it will be the following week.

It is delightful.

The characters feel insanely real, if there is such a thing. You root for them even when they act like dorks and grow with them. You get to know them for their core inner child and in parallel chiseled by the life accidents they went through. Add a world of mystery and a reddit fan community and you get yourself this masterpiece of a giant mind game.

Also for the very fans, just in case you missed it, there are some cut scenes in the Stephen Colbert Late Show of a few days ago. It's on youtube.

The Sandman (2022– )

directed like a movie

[2/10 · 17 August 2022]

I didn't make it through the first episode. Still I have 2 things to say.

1st thing : Don't direct TV shows like Movies. It's not the same thing, and one is not superior to the other, it's just not the same exercise.

This is way too slow and pretentious. I've even tried to play it in x2 speed and it's still hairpullingly slow.

Loud music replaces emotion, why? Because nothing in the story will generate one. This is OK with Hollywood movies because in 1h30 minutes you have to fit lots of information to tell a story.

It's not OK stretched over several hours. We need character development and things actually happening.

Impressive visual can't hurt. But the CGI are cheap looking at it closer, and it's unimaginative. Copy of Palawa's Joko land for who gets the reference.

Another thing, that can sometimes add to the narration, but so many often just doesn't: If I wanted someone reading me a story while on the screen nothing is happening, no character are interacting as if i was watching a wallpaper, i'd listen to an audio book. And who knows, i could solve a sudoku or plenty while at it, instead of wondering what the hell am I doing watching this...

2nd thing : Why bother making a review if it just bored me, will you ask? Well. For this:

This kid, the Critch Kid? Benjamin Evan Ainsworth : he is amazing. Such a natural.

You know how Tobi Stephens can trigger you by moving just one hair of his stache? Well, the kid can do the same without even a moustache. Call me a fan.

Lucifer (2016–2021)

Please watch with the original english voices

[8/10 · 17 August 2022]

Love the show. But it went on TV without the possibility to have the original English soundtrack in my country and the voice over was atrocious.

I dont even wanna start explaining how badly they rendered the british accent, that might be very offensive for the actor who was guilty of it at best, for all british people at worst.

On the other hand, that highlighted Tom Ellis' performance. So i'll just try not to think about what i heard again, ever.

The Magicians (2015–2020)

Young Adults in Wonderland

[8/10 · 17 August 2022]

Had a friend in College who looked exactly like the lead actor, it's bluffing.

And we really smoked too much.

Now i'm a sober old fart, but I just go back there instantly, no weed needed, when I watch this show.

Watchmen (2019)

Something else

[10/10 · 16 August 2022]

First time i watched it, i did not know the previous movie, and if you don't, it's not really a problem, the TV shows works very well as a standalone. Everything you need to know from the film is naturally explained throughout the show. And you can still enjoy the film after that, despite knowing the story. Very complementary.

A few minutes into the show i have to google Tulsa 1921 to gauge what i am fed, and i get a violent lesson in history thrown at my face. Even though i'm not American, it should have been common knowledge, and it is not.

So I sit fast in my couch, i know it's gonna be something. And it doesn't disappoint. This show poses a lot of unsettling questions, and leaves it to you to experience the unease and make up your mind.

Until the last episode, i was literally telling myself "what the hell am I looking at" every 5 seconds, but not in a confusing way, just in an intriguing way, and i loved it.

Supernatural (2005–2020)

A little bit of bold, a huge chunk of mad, touching, hilarious, creepy and still always refined and tasteful

[9/10 · 16 August 2022]

I was here from the start, at first it was entertaining, then the characters grow on you and it becomes something else.

The show is with you when you leave your parent's home, then the show is with you through your studies and after that. You know these boys. Ok they are invented characters, but so well written and coherent you find yourself one day horrified you know them better than your own siblings.

At some point i realized i was incapable of giving an objective critic about this show. I just liked it, whatever they threw at us.

For the record, after the episode "changing channel" i had bursts of uncontrollable laughter everywhere for 2 weeks. That was pretty incapacitating. Even thinking about it 10 years later, can't stop giggling.

Some episodes drew the tears as well, and not just a little. I'm looking at you, Bobby.

Best shark dodging ever too. I hope there is a prize with a statuette for this somewhere.

Peacemaker (2022– )

Just a thanks ...

[8/10 · 16 August 2022]

... to the hairdresser on the set for all the hilarious subtext.

I'm not one to embrace tropes and clichés, but you have to acknowledge the evil when someone looks like something left a huge dump on their scalp and did that to themselves willingly.

The Handmaid's Tale (2017–2025)

Did not need to sew my mouth to leave me speechless

[10/10 · 16 August 2022]

For starters, i watch promising TV alone, so i can let myself be caught by a good story with no reserve and no distraction. This is important here because the story has enough intensity to distort the perception of time. And it's a real dive. The pacing that may seem slow if you're on the surface is actually impeccable when you are under the spell.

Every second of it, i spent bracing myself with both dread and hope for the next second, the next pronounced word the next piece of this world disclosed, wondering how little it would take nowadays for even a western society to fall into this nightmare, for decent people to become blind to their own cruelty, how hard it would be to reinvent one's own values to be able to endure.

Every episode left me exhausted, I couldn't even binge it as I needed to digest a bit between episodes.

Since then Moss has featured in many other shows, and aesthetic shots from above have been used by other productions too, Roe v. Wade has been overturned, so it might hinder a bit the novelty aspects for newer viewers, but damn, this was quite a journey.

The Nevers (2021–2023)

I was watching it wrong

[10/10 · 15 August 2022]

At first i found some of the acting off and some scenes over the top even for a mildly action oriented storytelling, but entertaining and fun enough for a 7.

Then at some point, the show gave me reasons to assume it might be a feature, so I did watch again carefully, pausing, tracking every little bit of information that hinted at the bigger picture. And I found myself watching a very well thought out masterpiece.

The acting is actually mind blowing, i'm so glad i had doubts in the beginning, it makes it all better.

I was lucky enough to watch it while it was airing and to have a whole week to try and foresee what we were gonna learn the following week, and that is the most fun I've had following a show until this other TV show : Severance.

The Rehearsal (2022– )

A whole new level of nasty

[1/10 · 18 July 2022]

I don't know this Nathan Fielder nor do I intend to do any research to try and guess then tell myself stories about what his real point is.

Bad narration. No disclaimer to know what is scripted and what is not. But Nathan tells us, everything is repeated over and over, you can't say you weren't told.

The point of it all is so blurry that anyone can fit an explanation to their bill. So it's one of 2 things: incompetence or gaslighting.

There is though an idea that is really clear during the whole show : you can spy, trespass, stalk, lie and disrespect ; nobody will have anything to say to you as long as you look awkward and pretend to be helping.

By the way, that is the secret to a free pass with decent people so you can mock them at will right under their nose and manipulate them. Now we all know. Thank you Nathan.

New rule - as would say the also-proteiform elder, also on HBO - : Respect of Privacy is not a thing anymore!

It's so well known and integrated in that show, that none of the characters comments or gets angry with it being broken, not even the supposed over-the-top-erratic friend. "Wow" is the expected response, and "Wow" is the answer. Moving on. That's your reality now.

As an educated spectator you'd sure would want a clue to estimate whether it denounces or it enforces? You'll get none. Worse you get Nathan's excuse of a confession where he's the first one questioning (very timidly) the ethic of it and a freaking weird reaction from the other guy who manages to over dramatize in an undertone. Oh yes please! More blur and some more insult with the injury. That's what gaslight is.

If there are critics, the creators can argue any side or the other, though in reality they wont have to, because their fans will do it with rage and passion in their stead. Brilliant some would say agitating their 10s. But no it's not. Manipulative is the word.

Back on topic. Isn't respect of privacy a thing anymore or is it just what the show is trying to dilute at low noise to normalize the lack of?

Where are all the red pilled angry boys complaining about TV shows agendas on core societal issues? I dont see them in these comments. How come? Isn't it a real concerning issue or do they believe they'll be the ones doing all the stalking in their wet dream of a perfect world?

Are the characters real (or based on real) suffering people or are they supposed to be a caricature of oversensitive people? Why the over the top setting for such a mondaine issue : is that the hint that it is supposed to be funny? Some comments call that enthusiastically "the next level of humor"... which, in any of these hypothesis, would be situated somewhere along a line going from "desperately pathetic" to "downright condescending". I like the old levels of humor much better. I'm not being conservative, I'm just running faster to the next cycle as this one is giving me the puke.

The tone reminded me of that failure of a show with the long title and sadly, Kristen Bell. The authors think themselves so smart that they can point out and mock the flaws of others productions with no narration skill.

They had no clue how to hint when to suspend (or not) disbelief for a comical effect and the only thing they achieved was doing way worse than the original in a condescending fashion. But at least there, it was clear that it was 100% fiction.

And no, condescending is not funny. It's boring, fringing on abhorrent. This Nathan guy should really put in the work to clarify what the heck he is doing especially if he's not doing any of what I ended up seeing.