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parrishka
Reviews
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: The Last Day (2018)
too many plots spoil the characters? spoilers! (in case I don't know how to do the spoilers thing)
First, I love all things Whedon, and Tanchaoren. So I'm a sad fan, not a troll.
I'm really trying to hang in here, but I feel like this series is trying to do too many things at once, and the characters are getting lost.
First, what's up with Agent May? She just got stabbed in the leg. How is it not a first priority to get her back up and kicking ass? It's not like she lost her hand, or her arms??
And making her the maternal figure who nurtures Robin? That is way off book. I like my May guarded and fierce.
Finally, when we last left our heroes at the end of S4, there was something brewing between May and Coulson. I know there are later explanations for that not developing. But it only explains HIS reluctance. And given May's history, if she'd opened up and was rejected, she would be so shut down.
Any narrative that tries to take on time travel has its work cut out for them. And if the whedon -tanchoern team can't get it done, I don't know who can.
But they also had all of these plot threads to continue, and they add more...?
I just went back to Season 3, just to see how it felt. And it felt right.
This season is in a tail-dive, and I hope they can pull it up.
I don't want to have to live through Buffy season 7 again.
:)
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: Rewind (2017)
yes!! yes!! but, and Boba Fett
So I agree with all that has been said here.
The Empire Strikes back reference, when Fitz was being Cryo'd was what brought me here, cause I needed to share that, and yes, I almost cried.
But can we also tie that in to the previous episode, where he was a Leia/Boba Fett bounty hunter in that mask?
Much love for all of that.
And here's the "but."
One of Joss Whedon's strengths is weaving exposition into a sci-fi narrative almost seamlessly. And, let's face it- in sci-fi, that's the greatest challenge. You have to establish a world. Buffy was more difficult because it was the first of the popular vampire tv narratives, so while he didn't have to establish being a high school student, he had to set his vampire perameters. Firefly was flawless. And now, Mutant Enemy is back in space again. But Joss isn't at the helm. It's Maurissa Tanchauroen and Jed Whedon's project. And they have a heck of a lot to deal with. And they cleverly use sympathetic characters like Tess (Yay, Maya from 100!) to tell us that- "you don't know what's happening here." " you don't realize."
So ease up on them. They're still developing characters. They're still making with the funny. And that opening scene in episode 1? I was worried that I'd "accessed" a bad copy. But now I know that I didn't? Talking Heads? How perfect! What a beautiful avant risk.
The 100 (2014)
the difference that makes a difference
It's the end of the world as we know it, and apocalypse stories are proliferating like an airborne disease. It's not surprising that many of them share similar themes and tropes. AIs realize that humans are the parasite of the earth and so the logical solution is to destroy them. Limited resources mean some people will have to die so others may live and it's the 1% who decides. Prisoners are used for human experiments in order to survive.
I can name at least 3 popular shows or movies that explore each of these ideas.
And so does the 100. They're logical narrative tropes given our fears about the condition of the human race.
Out of all of them, I think The 100 is the best.
At the beginning, I thought it was going to be a Lord of the Flies rip-off, but I was quickly proven wrong. And those who called it a "teen drama" ignored how much time was given to the critical situation of the adults still aboard the Arc.
The acting and directing and writing is excellent. Look at the credits. This is clearly a Vancouver production, but so was Battlestar Gallactica.
They employed Liz Phair as part of their music team. Who else does something like that?
For two exceptional scenes involving music, first, I direct your attention to the last episode of season 1. I will try to avoid spoilers. Someone makes it to the ground. And as she sees Earth for the first time, Radiohead's Exit Music For a Film plays. I didn't think that song could move me again; I've heard it too often. But in that context, it devastated me. And it seemed liked the song was written for just that scene.
Second, I will try my best to do this without spoilers. S3 ep1. A group goes out as a search party in a tank-like vehicle and one of the 100 is charging along side them on a horse. They start playing Violent Femmes' Add it up. And the song... it may not heal them but it... well it does what music does.
But the real difference that makes a difference in this show is gender, sexuality, race and class.
Clarke is the new Buffy. She's 17 and has to make all of the hard decisions as she grows into leadership. But on the ground, again, I'm trying to avoid spoilers, leaders may be men or women. There is no talk of women being weaker. And you soon see why.
The show features openly gay couples, and people who are exploring their sexuality. On the Arc, this would probably be more welcome because it wouldn't increase the population. But on the ground, sexuality seems to be based on desire, and there are no laws against anything sexual.
When the series begins, the leader is a black man, and no, he's not the first to die.
People of all races have major roles.
I will concede this, as I watch season 5, it's grown paler. And I hope they rectify this.
But season 5 has just started, and women are the ones in position of power.
And that is the difference that makes a difference.
R.I.P. Octavia Butler