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The Synanon Fix: A War on Convention (2024)
Two parts in and still...what?
Two parts into this and I am still not sure what Synanon is. Oh yes it started out as basically rehab, but soon that comes to an end and now they have schools, their own transportation and other things, but what's their purpose at this point? To play the Synanon "Game", which is just a reason to yell at others and get away with it.
I will say you do see the cult like behaviors starting now in Part 2. The mass weddings, the haircuts, everyone dressed in white, etc. Once again the people attracted to this kind of thing are people that feel something is missing in their life. I get why former addicts would stick around as they feel it has helped them. But the others, the "lifestylers" what is their attraction? Some sort of guilt perhaps over making so much money so they have to give it away? I am always interested in that "turn" that people make, just giving everything they have to someone or some "cause."
But now we see the beginning of the end, the Leader getting greedy, making strange decisions, becoming God like, etc. That is right out of the cult handbook.
But again, what is Synanon? The Leader tries to explain this in part 2, only to then say..we need to start a church...hence the cult, but between when they first started treating addicts, to when it became a cult...what was happening, what was it?
The 100: The Last War (2020)
Don't worry, if you are a murderer even you too can transcend...
So most series finales rarely live up to their potential, especially those that have been on for a number of years. The 100 is no exception, however it was better then some others.
I came to this show late. I only discovered it a few weeks ago and I have watched all 7 seasons. While I do not have an issue with the overall ending being one of transcendence, I have to say I agree with Clarke a bit when she is yelling at that version of Lexa..."Who are you to judge..." etc,. Which leads to question, who exactly gets to transcend and why? There seem to be only two rules. If you are dead, you don't transcend. The other rule is apparently you can't kill someone during the test for transcendence. Otherwise you are good to go. That part doesn't sit well with me.
Lets take the case of Bellamy, who was clearly a fan favorite given that his death episode was the lowest rated of all the episodes on IMDB. For lack of a better phrase, he has a "come to Jesus" moment or maybe "saw the light" is better. He changes his life, becomes part of the shepherd's flock, but he doesn't get to go. All the Disciples that died for the cause that they were actually CORRECT about, don't get to go. All of the "good" people we liked along the way like Kane and Abby, they don't get to go. Also the judges, for all their self-importance really don't care how you get to them so long as you make it to the test. They really didn't care that Clarke murdered hundreds of people, it was just the one person she murdered during the test. Had there been any Primes left, they would get go too. Even "evil Russell" as I like to call him, he would have gotten to go had he just survived a few more minutes. That's my biggest issue. I wouldn't mind running a body count on those last humans to see how many they have killed in total.
So they get to live with each other all happy ever after. Raven gets to stay in pain for the rest of her life, notice she still had her leg brace on. Emori, who actually did die, but because she was in a mindspace gets to hang around too it seems, with her bad hand. Levitt, who believed until he didn't, he gets to stick around too.
But it's not so much the physical issues some have, it's more the mental challenges they have dealt with. We spent 7 seasons watching them all agonize over decisions they had to make. Life and death decisions. Take Raven, still agonizing over her decision about fixing the reactor which lead to the death of others like she knew it would. I guess she's good with that now.
I can go on, but I won't.
That's how these things go with TV sometimes, wrapping up isn't easy.
The 100: The Flock (2020)
Taking Vacation Time?
Did all the main characters decide to take their vacation time in the last season?
It was bad enough that when we finally see Clarke again she's trapped in a some sort monster's stomach, only to get out and then not be seen for the entire next episode, same can be said for Raven. Of course still no Bellamy to be found, do we really think he is dead? He is mostly likely on another planet, at least that's my theory.
Also as mentioned by someone before, the mistake by Indra for not taking the life of "Evil Russell." She left him alone with basically a bunch of peace loving hippies that we expect are going to suddenly turn violent and kill this guy that they worshipped not 5 minutes earlier.
The 100: From the Ashes (2020)
I'm getting worried.
I see why the ratings for this last season are a bit lower then the other seasons. So Clarke is finally mourning her mom by taking out her revenge on Russell.
The season is off to a bad start, new "clans", not sure who stands for what and they are all living under one roof so to speak. Although our regular cast of characters seem to be living one big house, as if they were on the Jersey Shore.
Also, how exactly is it possible for the bad Commander to enter Russell's body? Is it because Russell still has chip or something in his neck?
Watching Indra walk around a regular house though while still talking like a warrior is kind of funny. The "picnic" scene was also a bit out of place, but I guess the show is trying to convey a sense of normalcy. Do none of the care where Bellamy, Echo and Octavia went? This whole series always has someone looking for someone else, not this time though.
The 100: Nevermind (2019)
Why do you think this is so good?
Why does everyone think this episode is so good? You want something about dreams or mind control, try Inception or the Rick and Morty episode about Inception.
This was more about bringing back some past characters, but I guess they needed some way to bring Clarke back from the dead. Now Bellamy has to try and convince everyone she's not dead after telling them that she is, especially Madi who already has enough going on in trying figure out who she is and what her purpose is.
Plus the way they did it, once Josephine wakes all of that activity in her mind should be stopping, shouldn't it? I understand she is slowly losing control, even so the time to ?bust out" needs to be during sleep.
The 100: The Gospel of Josephine (2019)
Uh oh
I have been going along with everything so far, but please, this may be the "jump the shark" episode. I just discovered this series about 2 weeks ago and I am here, up to season 6. I did look ahead at the ratings and see that they take a down turn in season 7 pretty dramatically. I don't understand why this episode seems to be rated so high.
I know this is based on a book so I assume this transformation of Clarke is part of the story, but it comes across terrible on screen in terms of the story telling. I am glad they didn't drag it out though, as she was discovered within the same episode. I believe that was the point though, Josephine is so bad as being Clarke we are probably thinking the same thing..."Come guys, wake up, can't you see something is off with her!"
She does some up Murphy pretty well though, within the same 10 seconds he is terrorized but then comes around. But that's Murphy, going to wherever the wind takes him.
Once again we have a repeating story line. Is this not Mount Weather again? People that seem so nice, living in a great place, all the food and water and shelter you can ask for. But of course there is a catch and that catch involves being nice to Clarke and company because they need them to survive, sound familiar?
I still find it hard to believe that Clarke is indeed dead, as flawed as she is, she is the story of The 100.
Kane is the lucky one, gets to sleep through this mess, so far at least.
The 100: Damocles: Part Two (2018)
I will say this...
This show does pack a lot into it's season finale's, but they take us down this road of back-stabbing, alliances gone bad and of course bloody violence.
In order to get to more of the fighting they keep moving. First The 100 were moved to the ground, then they move them 6 years into the future, more fighting, now moving to a new planet.
This will ultimately result in more fighting. I see two scenarios. People are already on this new planet and the our friends will have fight for land. Two - No one is on the planet and our friends will fight over it because you know, it's just not big enough for 400 people.
The 100: Shifting Sands (2018)
What's the point?
So now we are down to 814, how many of them are the original Arkadia people? Does it really matter? Who are Kane and Abby really trying to save at this point? Does anyone have a "my people" or an "our people" to care about? Things weren't messed up enough they had to give Abby a drug problem? Quite unoriginal if you ask me.
Season 5 is clearly departure and a way to reboot the show by introducing a new set of characters only to resort back to it's original tribalism ways filled with fighting and blood and more fighting and more blood. Same story, different names. I will say there is nice growth with the Octavia and Emori characters. Murphy is still Murphy and everyone else is still the same, not really any growth. More of the same backstabbing, deal making along with someone reminding Kane...."but you floated my"... husband, or wife, or father, etc. Which by the way would be how many years now?
But as I have said before, I am sticking with it..LOL...this is the worst season so far though.
The 100: Red Queen (2018)
So now it's Rome...
So about 46 days into bunker living and guess what? No one gets along! Gee what I surprise. Now we have the direct comparisons to Rome which only means one thing, there will be a coup attempt at some point on Octavia. True, it's been six years under one leader which must be some sort of record, but ultimately all kingdoms fall and the reign of Octavia will come to an end.
Speaking of her, not sure why all of you think she's so great as a leader, as she has said she is a warrior not a leader. Her performance at the door was bad ass and a great scene, but lets face it her solution is to get everyone to fight because she can't settle things any other way.
Finally, the series just needs excuses to show fighting and blood. Did we really think locking people, especially Grounders, in a bunker was going to solve anything? These people can't live with each other when they are miles apart.
Having said all of that, I am sticking with it.
The 100: Heavy Lies the Crown (2017)
Should have ended with Season 3.
I just started season 4, but honestly I don't have much hope. The "kids" are running things and are being the adults, the tough decisions their parents had to make, they are beginning to understand more of that now.
Clarke is already repeating to others what Thelonious told her in this episode about what to wish for when making tough decisions.
I'm sorry, maybe because I am older, but I am just not buying that these "kids" will figure out a way to stop a nuclear meltdown. I bought into the whole AI thing, etc., don't know if I can go much further.
I'm also getting tired of everyone wrestling with their conscience about their decisions. The list for Clarke and Bellamy alone can fill a book or two. Things are tough, move on.
At least the show found a way to tell us how many people were left. Down to 500 now plus the few they rescued in this episode. So that means they have lost of 1500 I think? Things just don't seem to go their way.
The 100: Terms and Conditions (2016)
Where's Abby?
I came to this show late, but it's been ok despite it's flaws. However in this episode how can you leave out Abby? Her and Kane have been at each other's side for a while and now that there is a coup attempt she is now where to be seen? Maybe Paige Turco needed a personal day or something. Either way it's a big flaw not to even mention her which such pivotal things happening at the camp.
Bellamy continues to confuse us, where does he stand?
I am glad the space angle is coming back finally, up until now the space angle was just an excuse to create this warlike atmosphere on earth. But now they are tying the people of the Ark with the Grounders, how they share a common history.
American Hustle (2013)
Took me 11 years, but I don't think I like it...
I enjoy a good con movie, The Sting and House of Games are just two of them. With any good con movie though you have to overlook certain things and ask yourself, would I really fall for something like this or it's not believable in the first place. That's true even with the movies I mentioned earlier, but we as viewers love to be taken along for the ride and I mean in both metaphorically and in the con artist way.
American Hustle does provide that ride, albeit it takes some time to get there. However when watching it again recently there are a couple things I just can't get past. One being, I don't think I cared much for Amy Adams, is her English accent supposed to that bad? Right off the bat in her first scene with Bradley Cooper you can tell something is amiss. Then later on the bathroom scene with Jennifer Lawrence, something just doesn't seem right there either.
Then there are some character issues. I read in the IMDB notes that Russell doesn't care about story he cares about character, ok that's fine, a lot of movies have well developed characters and a weak story. The Jennifer Lawrence character states early on that she hates meeting new people, that she gets anxiety if she has to. Yet when she's around anyone she has no trouble being the life of the party. When meeting the Mayor and his wife, she is so comfortable she falls of her seat and onto the floor. When meeting the mobsters, everyone is scared to over to them, not only is Lawrence's character not scared, but she announces it loudly to everyone, then does a nice walk/wiggle over to all them, in slo-mo.
Then we have Bradley Cooper the coke sniffing FBI agent, who honestly should better, he's not corrupt, but not that bright either. He should know better to actually make the deal at the end of the movie, but maybe that's more of a writing issue then character I guess.
Then we have a story flaw, when trying to bribe the mayor we see the character of Carl Elway in scene and says he "will handle this for the mayor" meaning what exactly? He is in on bribing the mayor? He must know at that point is in a sting operation, right? But lets remember he is also being set up goes to jail. He just seemed out of place in that scene.
I don't know, but for me looking back the movie just seems slow and character flawed to the point where the whole thing just doesn't work for me anymore.
The Gilded Age: In Terms of Winning and Losing (2023)
She made him an offer he couldn't refuse...
I would have given this a 9.5 if I could, after all nothing is perfect and I was worried during this season. I didn't think the opera war was very compelling and a bit too high brow even for this show about being high brow. I mean, who really cares? I was more interested in the Russell railroad business and the social lives/interactions of the characters. Having said that, the opera war came to a wonderful conclusion and Bertha is more cunning then Al Pacino in The Godfather. Lets also remember what Agnes said back in season one about Gladys coming out to society. Something like "don't they just give their daughter's to the highest bidder" so in a sense Agnes hit the nail on the head.
Speaking of Agnes, she gets to keep her house and her life but being that Ada is now the new "mum" of the house. Can she get used to it?
I was a little disappointed that Marion was going to let Dashell down, but we knew she had to. We all know they are building to a Marion/Larry relationship. I mean Dashell is a nice guy but the show does a great job of giving Marion a good reason for breaking it off. So much to discuss, so much to like, but good going on the second season, which can be tricky. I had my issues with some of it but it came together nicely in the end. Looking forward to season three in late 2024? Geez.
Love Has Won (2023)
Three episodes were enough
We can all be grateful that it's over. I have to admit, for me it's those moments to see when people make that turn. Meaning, when was the moment they uprooted their lives and why? We find that out fairly early, given that it's only three episodes, then begins the blind following. Trying to capitalize on other cult series like The Vow, also on HBO, and it's "companion" series on Starz about the same NXIVM cult. Love Has Won isn't so much a cult as it is just a group of people that found each other via the internet. They don't do the classic recruiting or the loring of people to join them. They just hock their junk in order to feed moms ego. Did you know that God (mom) needs a go-cart? Who knew?
Part 3 is basically us watching mom slowly die as the rest of the "cult" help her along by poisoning her with Colloidal Silver. In fact one of the members tries to claim that all the experts are wrong about Colloidal Silver, that it doesn't turn you blue. Guess what happens to "mom", yup she turns blue.
Whether you believe Love Has Won is a cult or just a group of people that have common interests, the end result is the same. When they find themselves leaderless they suddenly have no direction, so they split up. Some can still be found online trying to sell their art, etc. I would wish them luck, but I don't like any of them, they were all complicit in her death if you ask me.
The Gilded Age: Head to Head (2023)
Still Worried
As I mentioned in my review of the last episode I was worried that the show was starting to head down. I still feel this way.
Starting with Turner, maybe I am just not understanding, but as I said in my last review, why is Turner worried about Mrs. Russell exposing her because as soon as she walks into the Russell House she will be. Guess what happened? As soon as she walked in she was recognized by Weber and the gossip started amongst the servants. Now I know servants don't really interact with their employers, but obviously word is going to spread to the upper-class without Mrs. Russell saying a word or at least it should.
Marian and Dashell - we know things are going to escalate, but now it's starting to seem forced. By the way did anyone notice that in the last episode after Marian goes out of her way to say her and Dashell are not related, she has since called him "Cousin Dashell" when in the company of others.
Peggy and the South - Gee, did we really need coming attractions to know that Peggy's visit to the South is going to suck?
Mr. Russell and the Union - I like this storyline, some good historical fiction right here. Also the production does a great job in showing how Henderson is working class compared to the Russell's, not just in how he is dressed, but his mannerisms, how he eats, holds a fork, etc, fine acting on his part, which as a result, just highlights the acting of Carrie Soon and Morgan Spector.
The Gilded Age: Some Sort of Trick (2023)
I'm getting worried....
While I still love this show I am starting to get a little worried for a couple of reasons. Obviously we all knew that Oscar's bid for Gladys was going to fail. However Mr. Russell's promise to Gladys that he would back her once she falls in love seems a little shallow. Wasn't she in love with her first suitor? Mrs. Russell put her foot down and was the end of it, so suddenly Mr. Russell is going to grow a spine? My next worry is this return of Turner, not so much that she has returned as a fake, but because in the coming attractions she seems worried that Mrs. Russell will "expose" her. She will be exposed the minute she comes anywhere near the Russell house, are we forgetting that all the servants know her? Are we also thinking that Oscar will not find out, lets remember her and Oscar were working in secret for a while. Mrs. Russell is the least of her problems. The gossip around her will be immense. Lets face it though the reaction of Mrs Russell was priceless and a great way to end the episode.
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (2023)
It's Pretty Good...
Have to admit I am comparing this a lot to the movie with Bogart. First off Kiefer Sutherland is great, he basically opens and closes the movie in his two tour de force scenes on the stand. I like that Maryk is more confident in this version about his decision. I never had the impression in the 1954 movie that Van Johnson (Maryk) was confident about removing Queeg from command. Monica Raymund as prosecutor Challee is great, she never loses steam and is relentless on the witnesses when she has to be. Two issues I have which brings the rating down for me. Again, this is comparing to the movie which may not be fair. First being, in the 1954 movie Keefer is always in the ear of Maryk about Queeg's behavior, thus basically talking Maryk into removing Queeq from command and again in the 1954 movie we know that Keefer is lying on the stand. Which leads me to the second issue. At the end of this movie, like in 1954, Greenwald (Maryk's lawyer) blames Keefer for the mutiny. However in this movie you never get that impression, so I can see how it might come as complete surprise if you are watching that without context. Also, in this version, we know that Queeg is coming back to the stand at some point, so we always have that looming over the whole movie and know it will be a showdown, making everything else that came before, academic. They are giving away the finale.
Midsommar (2019)
It just lumbers along...
I know this is the new direction of horror movies, so maybe it's just me who grew up with 80's horror films. Movies like this are what I call "thinking horror", all of these long meandering scenes that take forever to get to some sort of conclusion, then you wonder.....what does that mean?...after seeing it. Then when the movie finally ends you have to also wonder...what was that?
I think we all know what's going to happen to these characters, meaning that none of them stand a chance of making it to the end of movie. It just takes way too long to get to the end and by the time it does, with that horrifying ending, you don't really care anymore.
Yellowjackets: Storytelling (2023)
Good suspense, but nope didn't like it...
Not sure if it was intentional or not, but the teen girls are clearly just like the adult women and we should not be surprised I guess. What I mean by that is, the teens are backstabbing, double-crossing and can't be trusted. Now we see how the adults are that way too. (Hence the psych-team not showing up), having they been doing that to each other all season long? We had to sit through a Godfather, kissing of the ring moment, for Natalie to become Leader, but as we all know that role will eventually go to Misty. We also know that the "Core 6" now down to 5, will make it out of the wilderness, so I guess the only thing is to wait and watch how the "second-season teens" get picked off one by one from the hunt or through some other way.....and eventually get eaten. Was not necessary to kill cop Kevin, but we all knew he was gonna buy the farm when he took that drink from Walter. I guess Callie gets away with shooting Lottie? Protecting her mom? I was all for adult Vann, minding her business and getting dragged into this mess, but now she too is corrupted, none of the adults have redeeming qualities now. Is Misty officially a serial killer now? Not because of what she did as a teen, but she now has killed two people as an adult. The Coach has also turned to dark side with trying to torch them all in the cabin. Speaking of the cabin, does it really matter that it's gone now, again, we know who will come out of the wilderness as adults. Also, I now find myself rooting for the "goose" I hope he finds way to bust all of them. So not much as I didn't like it maybe as I just didn't agree with the direction it's taking. Big questions still remain, like who is taking care of Misty's Bird and who is taking of Tai's son this whole time while his other mom is the hospital? Oh yeah and some other stuff too...
Yellowjackets: It Chooses (2023)
Vann should have left
So as of right now Vann is the only ok adult, the others are either murderers or accessories to murder. I guess Vann is too now since she knows, along with Lottie. But we all know Lottie has a screw loose. Speaking of Lottie, yeah I am bit tired of her new age stuff and don't buy that's it's what is keeping them all alive, her understanding of whatever "it" is. So now adult Lottie wants one of them off themselves, right on the heels of getting Natalie to open up and not wanting to kill herself now. Yeah, that makes sense, pfft, and why should Vann kill herself, cause Lottie says she's not happy? Hello, she has cancer. Puh-lease, there are two murderers in Shauna and Misty, let them spin the wheel and drink the Kool-Aid. However, I was not good with the Lottie beat down last episode, given her condition in this episode, why don't they finish the job instead of playing Cannibalism Cards, oh right, Lottie is protecting them. Speaking of her condition, adult Lottie seems to have no scars or lasting effects, including the scar on her forehead that she got last season, gone as an adult. By the way, I hope no one bought into the fake tension they tried to build with Natalie getting sacrificed, we knew it couldn't happen.
I am glad Ben got off the bed and is doing stuff now and found Javi's hiding spot. I think his role is just getting started here, he is the only one with a foot in both worlds with his visions pulling him back and forth, is there a possible parallel story line that can occur or has occurred?
Also, not mentioned in this episode, but we have been getting a lot of "this is not where we are supposed to be" types of statements. We hear it from Sleep Walking Tai and in one of Ben's visions and I think there have been others. You all know that means right? The adults will be going back to the wilderness at some point.