ericks-86892 Reviews

The Mandalorian (2019– )

Pretty good with lots of potential

[9/10 · 21 January 2020]

I enjoyed the show, but I'm not going to say it's perfect. The effects aren't always great, sometimes it's slow, but overall it's very good. Good action, interesting characters, and despite what people bailing on the show halfway through the season would have you believe, many of the episodes tie together nicely at the end.

What gets me really excited is that this is a show that opens the possibility of exploring my favorite part of the Star Wars lore: the New Republic. How excited will we be when Mando goes to Coruscant and meets Luke or Mara Jade? This show allows the possibility of putting the EU on screen for the first time.

Rick and Morty: Rattlestar Ricklactica (2019) Season 4, Episode 5

Ouroboros and Hilarity

[9/10 · 17 December 2019]

First, let me say that this episode was great. From the pure randomness of a snake in a space suit biting Morty on the ankle, to the Arrival and Terminator parodies full of snakes hissing at each other in ways that we completely understood I often couldn't stop laughing. The Jerry story was less good, but an interesting story about pride leading you to cause more harm to yourself and others.

This season has had a few fun episodes where the writers criticize a genre, and here they criticize time travel stories, among others. Dan Harmon has always said he hates time travel because it loops on itself and makes all stories meaningless because people can just go back in time later. I thought that would mean that Time Travel would not exist in the Rick and Morty universe, but I was wrong. In this episode we learn that Rick is fully capable of time travel, but that he chooses not to do it because of the damage it can cause. In this case, the chaos it causes leads to an entire species wiping itself from existence, symbolized by the ouroboros (famous symbol of a snake eating its own tail).

Also, we learn a bit more about the testicle monsters, and the role they seem to play in maintaining order across time as space. Between them and Evil Morty ruling the Citadel of Ricks, along with Tammy and the remains of the Intergalactic government, and the people in Ricks car battery, the one Vindicator still alive, and even Unity, Rick and Morty have a ton of interesting characters available to them, and I'm excited to see them interact with each other down the road.

Rick and Morty: Edge of Tomorty: Rick Die Rickpeat (2019) Season 4, Episode 1

Solid entry with faster turn around.

[9/10 · 14 November 2019]

Rick and Morty promises with some meta-commentary that they'll be putting out more episodes with less of the restrictions they put on themselves that resulted in longer episode turn-around. On the one hand, this might result in fewer masterpieces like Ricklantis, but if they are consistently putting out episodes like this one (solid premise, tight plotting, plenty of the sort of bizarre drama and humor that is oh so Rick and Morty) then I think we are going to be more than forgiving.

Welcome back Rick and Morty!

South Park: Band in China (2019) Season 23, Episode 2

Good ol South Park

[9/10 · 11 October 2019]

South Park is best when they take advantage of their episode's quick turn around to comment on important current events, and when they criticize corporate authorities or media. I'm referring to episodes like BFF, Crack Baby Athletic Association, Margaritaville. I feel like they got a bit off track the last few seasons, and I don't know if any more episodes will be like this, but I liked this one and am hopeful for more.

The Bachelorette: The Men Tell All (2019) Season 15, Episode 11

Fascinating Character Study

[8/10 · 25 July 2019]

First, let's not forget the first 20 minutes of this episode. The Luke saga has been fascinating to witness. As a Psychology major I continue to be blow away how Luke constantly follows the traits of a Narcissist and a toxic boyfriend. Some people have been defending Luke by saying that the scenarios have been played up for drama by Chris and the show, but pay close attention. Yes, they allowed him back on at the rose ceremony, but listen to Chris quietly explaining why he did it with Hannah: explaining that he had been adamant, insistent, he had a ring and was ready to propose. That is the sort of behavior you expect from someone who is so caught up with "winning" the relationship, who believes that no matter what he does there is always some combination of actions and words that allows him to get what he wants. Watch how many times Hannah tells him to leave, and how he continues to push. Notice how he writes off what she told him last night as "a few emotional minutes" and "not the real you."

On the one hand, there is a certain sense in which this makes for good drama, but but on the other hand consider what has been captured on screen. A authentic, toxic relationship shown all the way from the when they first wow you with attention and praise, them when they begin to isolate you by turning you against your other relationships (the "stay in your lane" mini saga) then the gaslighting ("I didn't say that, let me back up" even when it's exactly what he said and has been caught on tape) and finally when they use their relationship to start issuing Ultimatums ("if you had sex with anyone I'll go home," which obviously he only said because he thought it would make her behave the way he wants, since she told him she did and he kept coming back).

At the men tell all I thought Luke had center stage for far too long, however. Other than asking him if he had any regrets there was little value in taking away from everyone else's chance at center stage. With a person like that they perform all sorts of mental gymnastics to believe they are faultless (see South Park's "Fish Sticks" for another instance of this). "She didn't need to be saved from me: I needed to save her from everyone else." "You all just hated me because I was the front-runner, not because of the "stay in your lane" saga." At some point you don't give a person like that any more attention. I'm grateful that he was able to be captured on screen, so that the red flags can be identified in their natural environment for an entire generation to see, but I'm also very glad that it's over now.

The Bachelorette: Episode #15.10 (2019) Season 15, Episode 10

Finally!

[9/10 · 21 July 2019]

We've all been waiting for her to recognize Luke for the person he is: someone who refuses to own up to what he says, who when challenged brushes aside complaints as him being "misunderstood," and ultimately someone who tries to control and manipulate other people.

The myth of Icarus, who flew too close to the sun, also takes place on Crete, so when I first saw them flying in the helicopter that myth came to mind as the relationship between Luke and Hannah, which initially soared, finally would come crashing down. A couple at the beginning of the episode tells Hannah that love comes from what you first see, that she ought to believe in love at first sight. As this episode demonstrates, with Hannah maturely defending herself when Luke throws biblical verses at her like stones, true love is the relationship which grows over time.

That Luke believes Hannah owes her anything, after the internal conflict he has produced in her and the external conflict he has produced in others, dating all the way back to when the other Luke straight up walked off the show because of him, reveals that he thinks he is except from accountability and judgment.

To me this episode encapsulates all the best possible aspects of this show: capturing real relationships, even ones which seem to ere on the side of unhealthy, gaslighting relationships, and demonstrating how to do things like stand up for yourself and what to beware of in a guy, even if he seems to qualify for "love at first sight." Both of my sisters were cheering for Hannah, and if they ever find themselves in a relationship like this one I hope they can think back and ask themselves what Hannah would do; how would Hannah defend herself with grace and ferocity; how would Hannah be generous until finally drawing the line; and no matter what, how would Hannah make sure to never forget self-respect and self-worth?

The Bachelorette: Episode #15.9 (2019) Season 15, Episode 9

Finally!

[9/10 · 16 July 2019]

You know what I mean.

Hannah has finally seen Luke for the controlling, gaslighting person that he is, and when she saw that side of him she called him out. His whole arc has been a great story in how appearances can be deceiving and how seemingly great partners can try to control you by cutting you off from everyone else, making you feel special, and then beginning to put you down once they think they are in a position of power in the relationship.

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

Better ending than many shows

[8/10 · 20 May 2019]

This episode made me mad-I'll admit it. Several of the characters don't have the happy endings they deserved. But let's be honest: the sound design, visual effects, acting and direction were all excellent. Yes, even the writing, at least in terms of dialogue if not in terms of overall plot choices. Tyrion gives a number of very insightful speeches, and when Dany explains why she did what she did in the previous episode I thought she made sense, at least on her own terms. The episode is chock full of callbacks to previous episodes with real emotional weight. Even if the show doesn't make all the call backs I wanted, doesn't have the twists I was predicting, it is still a beautiful, albeit sometimes frustrating conclusion to one of the greatest shows ever.

Game of Thrones: The Bells (2019) Season 8, Episode 5

Pretty good battle

[9/10 · 13 May 2019]

I thought it was pretty good, some parts of the battle seemed a bit easy and others a bit overly long, but overall very high quality. Plenty of great callbacks, lots of interesting twists.

Game of Thrones: The Long Night (2019) Season 8, Episode 3

Perfect Episode

[10/10 · 29 April 2019]

The Long Night has come. Holy crap, it has come. Full of surprises, hope despair, callbacks, and the best battle on television ever.

Us (II) (2019)

Worth a second viewing: Scary and Interesting

[9/10 · 24 March 2019]

This movie had a lot of fun moments, but it's not a "horror comedy." Instead, those are moments designed to lower your defenses as the scares come. This movie had some truly terrific horror, as well as some more traditional, less innovative horror.

I say that there are spoilers in this review, but all I mean by that is that when I say "I totally called the twist at the end" you now know that there is a twist at the end. Still, after the twist I realized a lot of very strange things made much more sense or had much deeper meaning, sort of like how the second time you watch "Get Out" everything Rose does has a completely different meaning. As you watch it you just sort of need to accept that all this weird stuff will make sense at the end, even if it's in a twisted sort of way (again like the twist in Get Out).

I enjoyed the movie a lot, and now I find myself thinking about it quite a bit. My take on its meaning (which is likely small compared to what is going to appear on Reddit) is that Americans are living in a stolen land, and that we need to come to terms with it. It didn't need to be stolen, but it was. This is most difficult for the children of those who stole that land, because even though they were unaware of the theft and were not responsible, they still benefited from the actions of their ancestors and need to come to terms with their past.

Star Wars: Empire at War: Forces of Corruption (2006 Video Game)

Best Star Wars Strategy Game

[9/10 · 13 December 2018]

Major nostalgia: I've played this game since it came out, and for every time I think I've played it to my hearts comtent, a year or two later I'll rediscover it and fall in love again. Star Wars creates a rich, rich universe full of characters and technology that has always captured my imagination, but EAW and this DLC FoC Gabe that universe solidity, and introduced me to the expanded universe back when it was canon.

The controls are pretty standard for these kinds of strategy games, and games like Stellaris have significantly improved mechanics that don't have to do with waging war (diplomacy, trade, politics, ect), but if you're ok with controlling characters ranging from Admiral Ackbar to Grand Admiral Thrawn in epic Space battles and ground assaults, this is a pretty great game. It also has a massive moder community, with some mods like Imperial Civil War and Republic at War being so massive and rich that they practically constitute free sequels and prequels. If you can get it for like $5 during a steam sale I would highly recommend it, this game has hundreds of hours of content (on its own and with its mods) that a Star Wars fan can enjoy.

Middle-Earth: Shadow of War (2017 Video Game)

Ambitious and mostly successful

[9/10 · 12 January 2018]

I've enjoyed my play of the game tremendously. Some say the game is too big, but I was disappointed to learn their are only 4 maps. What is incredible about this game, however, is that a DLC that merely adds another map or two, like the Black Gate or Barad-Dur, with content specific to Shadow Wars, could have enormous impact on the story and develop it.

I've never used the loot boxes, and Shadow Wars have been fine. Just invest the hour or so in getting seven captains (legendary or not) to the highest level you can in the training grounds. If you lose a seige, the experience you get retaking the Fort (killing warlords plus victory) moves you up 2-3 levels, so you'll be able handle the next one. As a post-game mechanic, it's WAY more fun than Riddler trophies, and the time investment actually allows for many more opportunities to play with and see the procedural-genius of the Nemesis system.

The story is way better than the original: way better boss fights at the end of the story, the story itself was way more interesting (the plot twist and setup for Shadow Wars is kind of brilliant in my opinion, and is setup by all sorts of things in the supporting stories). The villains all make a lot of sense from a Narrative perspective: you're a wraith, so the lord of the wraiths tries to assimilate you (fighting them isn't just a bunch of quick time events, but like fighting a character with all your own powers--the fact that they move at lightning speed even when you try to slow down time, that they live on the same "plain" as you is fascinating) you're undead, so someone who protects life or tries to bring back the dead fights you; you control Orcs, so of course some of the, resent that and rebel. Shelob was a really interesting character in my opinion.

Ultimately, this game goes in an ambitious direction, and I hope other games try to use their approach to enemies and landscapes and try to expand on them.

I gave it a 9 because I'm holding out for the DLC, but this is a thoroughly enjoyable game.

Mr. Robot: eps3.5_kill-pr0cess.inc (2017) Season 3, Episode 6

Mr. Robot is Seriously Stepping Up

[10/10 · 15 November 2017]

Without spoiling anything, for everyone who thought last weeks episode was a one-off hit, they were wrong. While last weeks episode was thrilling because it had high pressure action in a single take, this episode is thrilling because it has high pressure action in several triple takes (three heart-pounding action scenes cutting back and forth between each other).

Additionally, after the events at the end of this episode, which more or less resolve a plot point the show has been building towards for the last season and a half, there are a lot of unanswered questions. I hope they answer at least some of them before the finale, rather than making us wait another season and a half before we reach them.

I'm very excited to see where they go from here.

South Park: Doubling Down (2017) Season 21, Episode 7

An Excellent, Psychologically Detailed Episode

[10/10 · 11 November 2017]

Finally, a popular show that approaches Trump and Trump supporters with empathy and psychological understanding. It's an abusive relationship and psychologically complex (gaslighting is at least one important factor), and while those that make fun of Trump aren't wrong, a serious and crass misunderstanding is keeping those that support him behind him through it all.

Rick and Morty: The Rickshank Rickdemption (2017) Season 3, Episode 1

A masterclass in world-building and dense plot.

[10/10 · 2 April 2017]

Without giving away any plot points, this episode has enough plot and plot twists for an entire season of a lesser TV show. That the show does this while developing it's existential themes down a darker route, and remains incredibly funny is representative of how long it took to get this episode made. Absolutely outstanding!

South Park: Douche and a Danish (2016) Season 20, Episode 5

South Park is at it again, and they're different, but still very, very good.

[9/10 · 20 October 2016]

The value of social commentary like South Park is that it puts big issues we're all trying to understand in a novel, creative form, that somehow distances us from the issues while also making them clear and, if done well, making us laugh. South Park has always had a great voice, and been able to make current events funny and bizarre in nuanced ways, from 'Warcraft' to 'Margaritaville.' This is the second season in which they've committed their entire season to a specific range of social issues, however, and they've upped the ante from PC culture and gentrification to the election, nostalgia, tribalism and a sadistic version of terrorism called trolling (and now, how governments respond to that trolling, i.e NSA).

To judge any particular episode is somewhat unfair, because each is a juggling act, moving each thread a bit at a time, maybe having them collide every once in a while. This episode in particular, however, has a lot of interactions. By the end of the episode it seems we've shifted from 4 stories to two, with the elections and nostalgia threads meeting to face off against the true enemies, "memberberries and J.J. Abrams" (isn't this hilarious!!) while tribalism and trolling, which have always been circling each other, finally looking like they're about meet (Eric and Heidi working with the Danish to find Kyle's Dad!! -- I suspect that, if Cartman has been dishonest in some way or another, it's been that he's known SkankHunt_42 and wants to take down Kyle like he took down Scott Tenorman).

There are lots of specifics here to love, like making the Trump stand-in look like Bill Hicks telling dirty jokes in a comedy club, the Danish singing a stupid but spooky sounding song as they prepare to create a publicly available NSA, showing Gerald unable to be sensitive to even other trolls' life-stories, and a Star Wars parody (as the trolls take down the Danish) followed immediately by Randy saying that wanting to relive Star Wars is what's fueling the Republican nominee (there have been lots of throw-away references to the old South Park episodes too, I hope this is a subtle commentary on the nuances of reliving the glory days and not hypocrisy). This episode was a blast, it hooked me and pulled me along, and it left me wondering how it's all going to end.

(P.S. -- Matt and Trey have said that "Reality" is going to have an appearance that will "blow everyone's mind." Keep an eye out for anything in the plot that Reality's resurrection might be able to defeat.)