zomgzomg Reviews

Family Guy: Death Has a Shadow (1999) Season 1, Episode 1

Good Introduction

[7/10 · 28 April 2024]

Good story, good introduction to the characters, mostly good jokes. Some odd joke choices particularly the antisemitic stuff which would only really be funny to antisemitic people.

Some of the references won't be understood by modern audiences but these references don't happen so often that it would take enjoyment away from the rest of the episode.

The story is jam packed, there's around 5 different sections and they're all paced well.

The way Stewie's B plot intertwines with the A plot at the end is hilarious.

Overall pretty good. Wasn't made any stronger by the "edgy" humour. It was just off-putting.

The Traitors UK: Episode #2.9 (2024) Season 2, Episode 9

Unnecessary Tack

[3/10 · 21 January 2024]

The missions in this show have always been a slog but this episode's is just plain tacky. This is not 'I'm A Celebrity'. Throwing sludge at the contestants is boring and overdone.

The "horror" approach is odd as well. This is more of a murder mystery show than a horror.

Seeing animals (the toads) being used to create contestant discomfort also does not bode well. I'm hoping this show will not go down a pipeline that leads to gratuitous animal cruelty.

The funeral challenge and the crossbow challenge have been the best so far as they affect the rest of the game and provide real tension and drama.

Hopefully this episode's challenge remains one of a kind.

Sex Education: Episode 3 (2020) Season 2, Episode 3

I have something important to say... ...I don't like Goldfish

[7/10 · 4 April 2020]

This season has been pretty good so far but the script writers keep throwing in this lazy trope where one character has something difficult to say to another character, and when they are about to say it, say something else to hide their true feelings. It's not something that happens in real life, it's a lazy writing technique to create fake tension without any immediate pay off. I would let one instance of this slide every now and then, but it has happened 3 or 4 times over the last two episodes....

Friday Night Dinner: The Girlfriend (2014) Season 3, Episode 1

Awful

[1/10 · 15 September 2019]

Incredibly frustrating to watch. Terrible dialogue and none of the characters were acting like real human beings.

Doctor Who: World Enough and Time (2017) Season 10, Episode 11

Entertaining Yet Contrived

[7/10 · 7 March 2019]

This episode of DW definitely had the potential to be great, but unfortunately a lot of it comes off as melodramatic and contrived.

NEGATIVES:

1. Why did the Blue Man shoot Bill if they only took humans? He surely had nothing to worry about.

2. Overlooking that plot hole, the moment itself was successful dramatic and directed well. However, the sudden cut to flashbacks ruined the overall punch that scene could've had. The flashbacks themselves added nothing to the story.

3. The doctor didn't seem to care very much about Bill's seeming demise. This spoiled the fact to the viewers that she would inevitably be revived.

4. The cross-cut scenes with the Master's reveal and Cyber-Bill we're so awkwardly stretched out. Viewing it was absolutely tedious as I had figured out both twists before the show itself actually revealed them.

5. (Referring back to point 4) if the BBC hadn't SPOILED the Master's return, it would've actually been a surprise.

6. The final couple of shots were so over-dramatic I almost laughed.

7. The whole arc with Missy trying to be good was contrived in the first place but then it was completely squandered when she senselessly went bad again.

8. Why does Nardole exist in some of these episodes? I really hope he is given a purpose soon.

POSITIVES:

1. The overall atmosphere of this episode was pretty fantastic. The classic Cybermen are successful creepy.

2. It was (mostly) well directed and shot.

3. The idea of time moving slower the further down the ship you are was interesting.

4. Mostly well edited.

(OTHER):

I hope the in the next episode it is explained how the Master is there. (And why he was wearing a disguise. How he knew the doctor was coming)

I'm hoping Missy is only pretending to be bad as it just felt so forced.

Luke Cage: The Creator (2018) Season 2, Episode 11

Eventful but Uninspired

[5/10 · 27 February 2019]

The lack of creativity in this show is saddening. As I was watching I came up with more interesting ways conflicts could arise and conclude.

But anyway, there were a couple of redeeming factors in this episode:

The character interactions were far more interesting. The climax between Shades and Mariah was a pretty good scene but could've been better. (Also the way it was built up wasn't very well done. I could've been much more satisfying if this season was condensed to fewer episodes).

I hope we see more of tilda as I didn't find the conclusion to her and Mariah's arc at all satisfying. Her character basically served no purpose.

Luke's story was okay.

Misty's story was okay.

The editing and directing was a bit sloppy.

Overall better than the past couple of episodes but I find I'm not excited for the last couple at all.

Luke Cage: For Pete's Sake (2018) Season 2, Episode 9

Good and (mostly) Bad

[4/10 · 26 February 2019]

This episode was pretty slow all except two scenes which I actually enjoyed.

The first was a nice interaction between Mariah and Luke's father. It was good to see her humanised a little, even if it did end up with her being manipulative.

The other was a very dramatic monologue from Mariah. It was written pretty well and it was well acted by both Alfre and Gabrielle.

The other scenes, even the action ones, weren't very interesting.

Luke Cage: The Main Ingredient (2018) Season 2, Episode 10

Expected More

[4/10 · 26 February 2019]

I was honestly expecting Danny's presence to be a little more interesting. It wasn't bad but the potential the crossover had wasn't met. Even Coleen's feature with Misty was more entertaining.

The show's continuing to move at a slow and mostly boring pace since it ground to a halt a couple episodes back.

Misty's storyline was meh, Luke's story was meh, Mariah's story was meh...

There was a particularly dramatic and disturbing scene in this episode. Although it had ramifications for certain characters, I'm not sure it was entirely believable.

The fact this certain character would do such a thing isn't surprising but the lack of remorse was uncharacteristic. This character has been particularly despicable in the last but I wouldn't say completely evil as they were in this episode.

I feel it was more of a plot device rather than anything.

Character inconsistency has been a recurring issue this season anyway.

I'm not sure why this episode is rated so highly... perhaps because there was a bit of action. But the action itself wasn't great and the lack of actual threat was appalling. The enemies that Danny and Luke were fighting must have been total idiots.

I've reached a point where I'm not really enjoying this season anymore but am too far through to give up now. So fingers crossed it picks up.

Luke Cage: If It Ain't Rough, It Ain't Right (2018) Season 2, Episode 8

Come to a Grinding Halt

[3/10 · 22 February 2019]

It feels like the shows lost all momentum.

The only scene I enjoyed was Misty's interrogation with Shades. Everything else was quite boring.

Alfre Woodard's performance is yet again inconsistent. There were a couple scenes of laughable overreacting and some scenes where she was quite convincing, i.e the scene with Tilda.

I think one of the main problems with this season is the episode count. Such a story would've been better in eight episodes rather than thirteen. Everything feels very stretched out and tedious.

Luke Cage: On and On (2018) Season 2, Episode 7

Still Slowly Improving

[5/10 · 22 February 2019]

The opening scene was actually pretty good. The editing and cinematography was very clean.

The interactions between Luke and his father in this episode were nice to see.

The action sequences were surprisingly good. They flowed nicely and the punches and kicks felt like they had a lot of weight behind them.

The reveal of Piranha's current state was great. They couldn't've done better.

I'm still not sure what the point of Mariah's Daughter is. She hasn't done anything yet and I don't believe Mariah has changed at all with her presence.

The climactic scene between Shades and Comanche was kind of predictable but served okay as a scene.

The ending climax was a bit awkward and the timing didn't all make sense, but at least it means the story is moving in a new and perhaps more interesting direction.

Luke Cage: The Basement (2018) Season 2, Episode 6

Good and Bad Surprises

[5/10 · 22 February 2019]

I watched this episode a while ago so I won't be going into full detail. I'm just going to point out the highlights.

The opening sequence was okay but nothing special.

Although we get some more insight to Bushmaster in this episode, he still remains to be a mostly weak character and villain. I'm not sure what it is that makes him so. I think the way he doesn't seem very important or threatening maybe.

Luke and Piranha's interactions were fun.

We have a surprising revelation and character moment between Shades and Comanche. I was pleasantly surprised by this.

Misty's character took a surprising turn also.

The fight scene at the end was very awkward and anticlimactic. I'm not sure how they thought that it would be a good direction for that storyline to go in. The music choice during the scene was also very strange.

Overall the character interactions and dialogues are still far superior to how they were previously, but the writing and directing are still occasionally falling flat.

I'm not sure why the show runners decided to hire a different writer and director for each episode but it is sometimes very noticeable and the show loses consistency.

Sherlock: The Lying Detective (2017) Season 4, Episode 2

Whatever Happened to Subtlety?

[18 February 2019]

This episode is a little bit all over the place. There are major pacing issues and it becomes slightly frustrating to watch after the halfway mark.

The first half was pretty superb but the second half was messy and over-dramatic.

Although some of the reveals and plot twists were clever, the writers don't half spell it out to the viewer. Whatever happened to subtlety?

Also bonus points for the editing as it was consistently superb.

Luke Cage: All Souled Out (2018) Season 2, Episode 5

Massive Improvement

[6/10 · 22 January 2019]

I'm genuinely surprised how solid this episode was. The writing, directing, editing and acting were all improved.

Luke Cage actually felt like the main character for the first time this season.

The other characters, especially Misty were having some moral dilemmas which made the show way more interesting.

Foggy was a welcome addition as he and Luke bounced off of each other quite well.

Mariah's storyline still remains to be mostly uninteresting but at least with that ending it might be better going forward.

The entire plot felt more collected and the pacing was far better.

Overall, this is the first episode of Season Two I found consistently enjoyable.

Luke Cage: I Get Physical (2018) Season 2, Episode 4

A little more entertaining but overall uneventful

[4/10 · 21 January 2019]

The opening scene was terribly flat and awkward. The music was badly chosen and for what should have been a dramatic moment, had little impact.

It would have done better as a surprise ending for episode 3.

But with that out of the way I must say I preferred the writing and directing in this episode. Everything felt a little more charamatic and dynamic. However it wasn't enough to carry the plot.

I finish this episode thinking how nothing much happened and again Luke seems to be sidelined at the moment. I don't have a problem with side characters and plot lines, but there are so many that it barely feels like a show about Luke Cage.

Misty and Luke are quite fun to watch together so I hope we see more of that, (although I'm beginning to think that Simone Missick/Misty is just very capable of carrying a scene).

There was an extremely long and tedious on-screen performance yet again. The first season got praised for its music but they're just overdoing it now.

There are quite a few long scenes where nothing seems to happen. Even if the scene itself is fine, I can't help but wonder afterward how it affected the plot in anyway.

Overall, even though the plot was a bit flat, the writer and director managed to make it watchable, but not all that entertaining

Luke Cage: Wig Out (2018) Season 2, Episode 3

Underwhelming

[4/10 · 20 January 2019]

If there was a little more focus on how the characters react to the situations, the whole show would feel more real and dramatic.

I don't think the fault lies in the acting (which is mostly average), but instead the writing and directing.

The directing isn't bad but most of the time it's pretty uninteresting. I noticed some of the shots and filming choices in this episode were a little awkward. But it's not the end of the world.

The writing this season is where most of the problems lie. There seems to be a major lack of focus. There is potential in some of the concepts here, but the lack of creativity and interesting characters spoils that potential.

I did however enjoy the scenes between Misty and Coleen as there were some fun interactions. Overall the two actors/characters have a good chemistry.

The villain hasn't yet made an impression on me. He doesn't seem like much of a threat and so far fails to be interesting.

Mariah is supposed to be a villain right? It just feels like she's not really done much yet to effect the show. It's a shame her daughter is such a plain character. If they made her unconventional or mysterious, the entirety of that plot would improve.

Luke Cage: Straighten It Out (2018) Season 2, Episode 2

Lacking Substance

[4/10 · 27 December 2018]

The amount of onscreen performances in this episode is tedious as is some of the editing.

Characters are lacking motivation and drive. I don't know what Luke's doing or thinking half the time and he's beginning to feel like a side character.

The directing is pretty boring. I was watching this episode imagining how I would make each character interaction more visually interesting.

Alfre Woodard who plays Mariah has an extraordinarily inconsistent acting ability. In some scenes she's pretty good, in others she's pretty awful like she's not even trying.

This episode felt a little more grounded than the previous and the plot is a little more entertaining.

Missy Knight is by far the best thing about this episode but that's not saying much. It's pretty tiresome the way she seems to break the rules constantly and never get any repurcusions. It's like she's not even thinking half the time.

Claire is okay but a bit one tone. The writers need to give her something to actually DO.

Mariahs storyline is fine but could be way more interesting.

The new villain has a good on-screen presence but they're not doing very much with it.

Luke Cage: Soul Brother #1 (2018) Season 2, Episode 1

Weak

[3/10 · 22 December 2018]

This episode lacks direction and a coherent plot, the directing is a bit awkward as is the writing, and the dialogue is often overly dramatic and cringeworthy.

With so much going on in the plot it's surprising how "nothing" this episode is. There are too many characters who are doing too little.

The introduction to the new antagonist was odd, brief and pointless. The scene towards the end of the episode would have been a better introduction.

Overall, this was not an awful episode, but it was below average.

Let's see where this goes...

Sons of Anarchy: Capybara (2008) Season 1, Episode 11

Good but Ending Makes No Sense

[23 October 2018]

Good episode except the last 10mins. After doubts on Opie being a rat, Clay has Tig inspect Opie's car and phone. He finds a tracker in both. So the logical explanation for this is 'the police have planted trackers on him' (which is the truth), but somehow Clay and Tig come to the conclusion that Opie is spying on them... ???? That makes no sense. Why would Opie wire his OWN car and his OWN phone? If he was paid to spy on the crew, he would surely put trackers in THEIR cars and in THEIR phones, maybe under the meeting room table. Either Clay and Tig are completely stupid or very eager to kill Opie for no reason, or the writers just didn't think. This is disappointing as this storyline has been building throughout the series and obviously is quite important for the next maybe two episodes. And it doesn't make sense...