laurenthorsteinson Reviews

Fringe (2008–2013)

Love it!!

[10/10 · 30 April 2024]

First off, I will be honest and say at first I couldn't really get into this show. I had just finished watching Grimm for the first time, and was looking for a new show that I would love as much as that. However, my brother kept telling me to stick with Fringe, that it will get better. I'm so glad I did!!! I LOVE this show now!! I wasn't sure about the lead actress at first, but I think it took her a bit of time to nail an American accent, and it took me a bit of time to warm up to her character. I'll be honest, it would be very difficult to try and do an American accent since there are so many kinds of accents in The States!! Also, Walter kind of bugged me at first, but now I just love him!! Every actor is really just phenomenal in this series, and they each bring something unique to their characters. I'm always impressed with how good Joshua Jackson is with his facial expressions. He can just stand there and portray an emotion without saying a word. I love his character (Peter) and Walter's dynamic. My favourite dynamic is Walter and Astrid though. So sweet!!

If you are reading this to try and decide whether or not to watch it, then take my advice and just push through the first season. You will start to love it after that, if not before!!

The Vampire Diaries: I Was Feeling Epic (2017) Season 8, Episode 16

So... I'm in tears right now

[10/10 · 27 November 2023]

What an AMAZING finale!!! Endings are so hard. You'll always have people who aren't happy with a specific ending, regardless of which way they take the story, but I personally think the writers did an amazing job with this one. Without giving much away, they kept it realistic while also showing that we all eventually get a happy ending, it just depends on whether we're alive when we have that happiness or whether we get it in death. I loved seeing characters we've grown to love. For some people it might've been over an 8 year period, but for others like myself, we binge watched the whole series in an embarrassingly short amount of time😳 This is actually the second time I've watched the series, but the first time around I stopped watching for some reason. I'm so glad I finished it!!! Awesome finish to an amazing series.

The Witcher: Out of the Fire, Into the Frying Pan (2023) Season 3, Episode 7

I Liked It

[10/10 · 9 October 2023]

I agree that the episode was a bit slow, but I actually liked it. I love that Ciri had to find strength to push on and try and survive while finding her way back. While I haven't read the books so I don't know what happens next, I personally think this episode will add to the storyline and her strength to survive will be showcased in the next season. I love the unicorn and love how they had her family members be the ones she imagined. I'm still not sure if that was that "space and time" woman making her see them, or if it was Ciri's own insecurities coming out. We all have negative thoughts about our past, the things we've done and now regret, and the things we hate about ourselves. And we all have to come to terms with each of those things. It will be interesting to see where the storyline goes from here.

Sound of Freedom (2023)

There's a reason the large majority say it's a 10/10!!!

[10/10 · 23 July 2023]

I'll be honest, I did not want to see this movie when I first heard what it was about. However, I am so grateful my sister pushed our whole family to go see it because it's amazing!! First and foremost, it's the message that matters in regards to this movie. I don't care about the "flaws" some people have mentioned, because it's the message that matters. I personally didn't notice any flaws because I was so invested in the story and the reality the filmmakers are trying to wake us up to.

The most amazing part of this movie happened at the end. As the last scene faded away, every single person in our sold-out theatre remained in their seats, completely silent. We all sat there, no one moving, quietly watching the two minute countdown before the special message would start. After the special message, the entire theatre erupted into applause. That doesn't happen very often where I live. While all of that was really cool to witness, the best part was how all of us in the audience regarded one another as we all made our way through the aisles, down the stairs, and out the doors to the theatre lobby. There was this immense feeling of camaraderie between each other, and I heard person after person telling others to "go ahead."

As I was making my way down the stairs, I saw a woman searching her pockets for some Kleenex. Without hesitation, I handed her my little packet while another woman standing one row up from her asked if she could have one as well. That kind of friendliness has slowly been lost in our society, and it was amazing to both see and feel it again. To be honest, I didn't even realize how much that sense of community and camaraderie had been lost until I felt it that night in the theatre. It was as if Canada had become "Friendly and Overly Polite Canada" again.

Anyone who rates this movie less than 10/10 is missing the whole point of the movie. There's a reason why they tell you at the end, "We don't care about making money. We want to end child trafficking and the best way to do this is through educating people. That's why we created this movie." So ignore the negative reviews and the few people giving it a poor rating, because this is definitely a must-see!! It's definitely eye opening, and will make you want to go home and hug your kids tight, then immediately thank whatever higher power you believe in that they're safe.

Burn Notice: Army of One (2011) Season 5, Episode 10

How is this episode not rated higher?!?

[10/10 · 9 July 2023]

I loved this episode!! It was classic Michael Westen doing what he does best; being a kick ass spy. I also loved the second storyline they had going on, and how it went back and forth between the two. It makes shows more interesting when you have more than one storyline going on, but sometimes writers put too many storylines in shows which becomes overwhelming. What I love about Burn Notice is how they always have the main plot of that season going on throughout that year's episodes, but then they have other storylines and smaller plots that are resolved by the end of the episode. It makes the episodes satisfying, but also keeps you watching so you can see where the main storyline goes.

Shazam! Fury of the Gods (2023)

I loved it!!

[10/10 · 17 March 2023]

I don't get why this movie has so many negative reviews, I loved it!! While I don't think it's a 10-star movie, I rated it a 10 to counteract all of the bad reviews. I'd say it's an 8/10. I thought it was entertaining and the storyline was interesting. The movie kept the tone of the first movie with all of the lighthearted jokes and funny product placements. I think the writers and director know the Shazam franchise isn't your typical DC movie so they make it their own. If you liked the first movie, you'll definitely like this one!! I think the biggest piece of advice is to go see it with absolutely zero expectations. I think we hype stuff up so much nowadays that it has nowhere to go but down. Just go see it and laugh, because life is too short to analyze every flaw in a movie that's lighthearted and funny.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: The Set Up (2021) Season 8, Episode 6

No. Just... NO!!!

[1/10 · 14 March 2023]

What the crap is wrong with this season?!? Rosa is so mad over George Floyd so she quit the force since cops suck?? Uhh... You think police officers suck so you quit? Why? Wouldn't you want to stay on the force and be the best cop you can be? Her whole character was just off. Then Captain Holt and Kevin breakup?!? Why? And while I literally laughed out loud at the "phallic digital photograph" it was just SO out of character for Captain Holt. They should've had him do something he thought was "sexy" like sign his name Raymond. It's more in character for him. Then Doug Judy went back to jail?!? A character we've been wanting to succeed for the past 8 years is just right back where he started? If I wanted that, I'd just go watch reality tv. This. Season. SUCKS!!!

This episode was no exception. First off, this storyline goes against the nature of Jake's character. Remember when he first got out of prison how he told Captain Holt he was worried that the guy he arrested MIGHT be innocent? Also, he's a great detective with great instincts and he wouldn't arrest someone with zero evidence. I understand wanting to touch on BLM and police brutality, but the way they handled racism in the Terry/Moo Moo episode was so much better than what they've been doing!! Let's just leave comedies alone and keep them as light and funny as possible because we all need an escape from reality every once in a while.

Grimm: Blind Love (2017) Season 6, Episode 7

Best. Episode. EVER!!!!

[10/10 · 16 February 2023]

I was seriously laughing so hard!!! How is this episode not rated 10/10 stars?!?!? Who the hell gave it less than a 10? I mean, at the very least it's a 9. I literally couldn't stop laughing at Hank, he was by far my favourite. The only thing I wish they would've changed is to have the actual plot of the episode go on for longer. I just think it would've been a lot funnier if they hadn't taken so long to get into the main plot. I also loved the Diana storyline!! At first I didn't understand why the captain was so nonchalant over his daughter, but then I understood what he was thinking and why he wasn't upset or worried 😂 Seriously one of my favourite (if not my favourite) episodes of the series!! Man I wish this show was still on!!

Grimm (2011– )

Ignore the negative reviews and just watch!!

[10/10 · 11 February 2023]

I was trying to find a new show to watch when I stumbled upon this one. I'm so glad I did!!! First off, just watch it with no expectations and you'll love it too. I read a few negative reviews and almost didn't watch the series because of them, and I'm so glad I chose to ignore them. The show is entertaining and fun!! It's the type of show that you just have to take it for what it is and not try to examine every flaw. I love shows like Supernatural, The Flash, Game of Thrones, etc. But there are a lot of plot holes and flaws in all of those when you start thinking about it. So just watch and enjoy, rather than nitpick. I also couldn't understand why everyone hated Juliette so much... but then I got to season 4. WHAT. A. BRAT!!! Seriously, grow up. So now I get it. The whole cast works so well together and I can't believe I didn't watch this series earlier. Very happy that I chose to watch it though, because Monroe is hilarious!!! And Sean Renard is so hot!!

Game of Thrones: The Iron Throne (2019) Season 8, Episode 6

Here's why this ending made no sense...

[1/10 · 19 January 2023]

I didn't watch the series until Covid happened and we had a nationwide lockdown for a few weeks up here in Canada. I decided to check it out and immediately got hooked. I binge watched it and was so enthralled with the storyline. I loved Daenerys and loved how compassionate she was to those who were less fortunate and couldn't stand up for themselves. She postponed her journey to reclaim the throne and took the time to free the slaves of three different cities, she saved the woman who later ended up killing her husband, she stood with Jon Snow and helped defend Winterfell from the Night King, etc. I didn't like when she did stuff like crucifying the slaves owners, burning the Dothraki Lords, etc. But for the most part she was kind. So throughout the show she mainly shows kindness and compassion... until she decides to burn everyone in King's Landing?!? Seriously?!? She went from being a fan favourite, the "Breaker of Chains" to a much hated character and the "Burner of Cities" in one episode. The Khaleesi I grew to love over seven seasons would not have burned hundreds of thousands of children alive. Especially when she caged her dragons after they killed ONE child. That's a huge plot hole!! SUCH a disappointing end to an otherwise awesome show.

The Mentalist (2008–2015)

Watch the show "Psych" instead

[7/10 · 12 January 2023]

This is a good show, but I prefer the way the show "Psych" uses the psychic detective storyline. I just like Psych's goofy/comedic route rather than the more serious route, but that's just me. I still think "The Mentalist" is worth the watch if you're bored of all the other tv shows and want something different. It's definitely entertaining and something I get interested in. Having said that, and mostly the fact that IMDB won't let me post this until I have the 600 required characters, if you're looking for something different and find the "Psychic detective" storyline appealing - Go watch the show "Psych" first!! I promise you will not be disappointed. It's hilarious!!!

Manifest (2018–2023)

I love it!!!

[10/10 · 4 October 2022]

What is with all the negative reviews?!? Seriously, I love the show!! If you're thinking of watching it but can't decide whether you should or not, here's some advice: WATCH IT!!! I'll be honest, when I first saw the preview of the show on Netflix I kind of laughed to myself because I thought, "What a stupid and outrageous plot." However, after watching the first episode I was hooked!! Where did the plane go? Was it a wormhole? Aliens? Divine Intervention where they died but somehow came back? Or is it just a super crazy dream someone's having where they'll wake up at the end of the series lol? I first binge watched every episode during the pandemic lockdowns, and now I'm re-watching all the episodes to get ready for season 4 to be released. I'm SOOO happy Netflix picked it up so we can at least get answers. I hate when shows get cancelled and you're left to make up your own ending.

Castle: Time Will Tell (2013) Season 6, Episode 5

Awesome episode!!!

[10/10 · 24 September 2022]

This episode was so well done in my opinion. The acting was perfect, the storyline was interesting and enjoyable, two ingredients you need for an awesome "Castle" episode. Joshua Gomez was the PERFECT person to play a time travelling archaeologist. He makes the character goofy but loveable, so you want to believe him even though you know he's most likely crazy. I choose to believe him though, because I love the possibility that he really was from the future. I love how they ended the episode to keep you guessing if he was telling the truth or if he was just crazy. I'm pretty sure this is one of my favourite episodes!!!

The Woman in the House (2022– )

Why the bad reviews?

[7/10 · 10 February 2022]

I'm loving it so far!! I watched the first 6 episodes in a day because I was so hooked!! Maybe I'll have a different opinion after the finale, but so far it's super entertaining and addicting.

The Middle (2009–2018)

"Why do we always 'Heck' things up?!?"

[10/10 · 8 January 2022]

I've watched this show half a dozen times and yet every episode I still laugh, sometimes to the point of tears because it's so funny!! We can all relate to the Heck family, because we've done at least one of the things they do. For me, it's how they "cook" dinner by bringing home fast food. I don't understand why some people gave this a bad review. All of us are a little bit dysfunctional in our own way, or at the very least have something we do that we'd like to change but never do. This show puts all of those bad habits into one family, and then shows it in a hilarious way, which makes you fall in love with The Heck's.

The first season is like any sitcom, the show isn't as funny as the later seasons, but it's still funny. The acting is amazing, the storylines are hilarious, and I absolutely love the final episode!! Very few shows have endings that tie everything together, but this show is the exception. I both loved it and hated it because I didn't want the show to end. My 11 year-old and I watched the entire series within a few weeks during the Covid lockdowns (we live in Canada), so between watching this show and playing Fortnite, our being forced to stay in our house was a lot more fun than it normally would've been.

Deadly Illusions (2021)

Can I please get the last 2 hours of my life back?!?

[1/10 · 18 April 2021]

Ok, first things first. Who on earth have this movie more than 1 star?!? Seriously!!! Have you people never seen a movie before? I think the worst part of the movie was the directing. The entire time I kept thinking, "I wonder if this movie would be better if they had a different director.... or script.... or acting!!!" Which is weird because I love Dermot Mulroney. I REALLY wish I would've read the reviews before watching this. I could've watched a better movie like Glitter... or The Emoji Movie... or anything really!!

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

Loved it!!

[10/10 · 30 November 2019]

I was skeptical at first when I heard there was yet another Santa movie coming out, but I am pleasantly surprised at how much I loved it!! I love Kurt Russell as Santa!! He puts such a fun spin on the "typical Santa personality". One of my favorite jokes was when he took a shot at the mainstream media and all the "news" they report. The two kids ask if he actually says "Ho ho ho" and he replies "Oh that's a myth... just fake news." It's funny, witty, entertaining, and most of all it's different than your other typical Christmas movies. I hope Netflix makes a sequel!!

Alvinnn!!! And the Chipmunks (2015–2024)

Love It!!!

[10/10 · 2 November 2019]

I'm usually not interested in most of the shows my son watches, but I'm so in love with this one!! It's full of nostalgia for me with even more humor, and it's fun to see my son love the same characters that I loved when I was his age. The storylines are typical "Chipmunks", but I feel like this version is a lot funnier than the last. The music is really well done, with original songs that go along with the episodes themes. It's a really cute show that makes you laugh, and allows you to share your childhood love of The Chipmunks with your kids. My son and I have quite a few inside jokes with each other from this show, which to me is special. I hope "Alvinnn!!! And the Chipmunks" is on for years!!