After Season 1 and 2, I was ready to drop Picard...bad written characters, the main protagonist mainly a bystander in his own show. Strange and unlogical story development (even for Sci-Fi), just not a series I could enjoy as a Star Trek fan (same with Discovery, after Season 2 - I dropped it, because the overemotional, overexpressed characters and cringy dialogues drove me crazy). Strange New Worlds was a mixed bag, but many episodes were decent - a positive trend. Not even wanting to watch Picard Season 3, I gave myself a push - after watching the episode I can say I am positively surprised. Apparently, many of the producers of Season 1 and 2 are not involved anymore, which is in my opinion the best decision they could have made to save the series. Not to spoil anything, it feels like a TNG movie and not as rushed and confused as previous seasons of Picard. Overall more mature. Still quite dark (more like ST Nemesis, ST First Contact). The new writing and directing staff seem to actually like the Star Trek franchise and its characters. Some fan service in the episode as well, but that is to be expected. Based on this episode it gives me hope that Picard and the TNG crew finally get a decent and well-deserved send-off with this last season. This season could actually be the Star Trek Picard the fans have been waiting for since season 1. Let's see if the upcoming episodes can keep up. I will update the rating when the season has progressed.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Good as a comedy, very mediocre as an epic fantasy tale
14 October 2022
After watching 8 episodes, I can say the series gets worse with every episode. The first episodes, though with some weaknesses were at least watchable. But as the show progresses the story, especially the characters motivations get more illogical, confusing and contradictory.
You get the impression with the 1 billion dollar budget, the producers did anything but invest it into a decent quality show. Especially the over-the-top heroine who actually behaves more like a villain than Saurons most devoted minions. The heroine's actions range from leaving injured comrades behind in a snowstorm for no logical reason to bossing literally every other character around to torture up to threatening genocide of the enemy) The illogical decisions of the characters, the incongruity of the stroytelling lead to an underwhelming and mediocre fantasy series. The mediocre acting does not help the show as well, but given the quality of the script, it is probably not their fault.
In many of the episodes you get the feeling the producers had a few epic scenes and moments in mind but details of the story and and dialogue were written by an AI trained with random or funny buzzwords. The movies had showed much love for the detail (even the hobbit, which was a weak trilogy). In Rings of power, except for some decent CGI, the coreography of the fights is simple and badly exectued, the outfits, especially the plastic looking armor look cheap and could be bought out of a standard costume shop. The set pieces look like a fantasy series with 1/100 of the overall budget (copy pasting the crowd, siege of a small village), all very underwhelming.
If you watch the series from a comedic perspective (like Scary movie or other satires), it is much more enjoyable. As comedy I would rate 7/10. The many memes made of the most cringeworthy moments of the show are well deserved. Especially in the last episodes I start could not help myself laughing at the plain stupid ideas the writers came up with. This show is one of the best examples how not to use a several billion dollar-worth intellectual property. I hope in season 2 they embrace the full comedy, I think in this direction it has the most potential.
You get the impression with the 1 billion dollar budget, the producers did anything but invest it into a decent quality show. Especially the over-the-top heroine who actually behaves more like a villain than Saurons most devoted minions. The heroine's actions range from leaving injured comrades behind in a snowstorm for no logical reason to bossing literally every other character around to torture up to threatening genocide of the enemy) The illogical decisions of the characters, the incongruity of the stroytelling lead to an underwhelming and mediocre fantasy series. The mediocre acting does not help the show as well, but given the quality of the script, it is probably not their fault.
In many of the episodes you get the feeling the producers had a few epic scenes and moments in mind but details of the story and and dialogue were written by an AI trained with random or funny buzzwords. The movies had showed much love for the detail (even the hobbit, which was a weak trilogy). In Rings of power, except for some decent CGI, the coreography of the fights is simple and badly exectued, the outfits, especially the plastic looking armor look cheap and could be bought out of a standard costume shop. The set pieces look like a fantasy series with 1/100 of the overall budget (copy pasting the crowd, siege of a small village), all very underwhelming.
If you watch the series from a comedic perspective (like Scary movie or other satires), it is much more enjoyable. As comedy I would rate 7/10. The many memes made of the most cringeworthy moments of the show are well deserved. Especially in the last episodes I start could not help myself laughing at the plain stupid ideas the writers came up with. This show is one of the best examples how not to use a several billion dollar-worth intellectual property. I hope in season 2 they embrace the full comedy, I think in this direction it has the most potential.
Andor
(2022– )
Decent start, with some pacing issues
22 September 2022
After watching three episodes, I am looking forward to the next episode. Setting, costumes and cast are decent, not a master piece, but well executed. Except for the corporate uniform design...they just look cheap. The script seems okay, not many suprises story-wise, the character's actions seem plausible and no obvious idiotic plot developments like in ObiWan. Not too much action in the first episodes, introduction of the characters and the background of the main character mostly.
The music is atmospheric but not very Star Wars like, a little generic for my taste, nothing memorable that really sticks like the Themes in the Star wars movies or the spin-offs. The typical Star Wars feeling did not really hit me yet, as the story is located mostly on planets and describing the origin of Cassians (and the planet he lives on as an adult could also be located in another Sci-Fi universe, there was not a single Stormtrooper or empire employee to be seen anywhere. From the development of the story that will probably change in the next episodes, as Cassian beginns his spy training.
The part I would criticize the most is the pacing: In my opinion if the producers had just put out two episodes instead of three (maybe with the second episode a little longer), with less walking, still scenes or drumming scenes (they seemed really proud of the guy hammering the bell/anvil) the show would definitely profit from it and would much more enjoyable. You get the feeling the producers are stretching the content to fit the length of a TV series. Sometimes less run-time makes for a better show.
In episode three the story becomes faster-paced and more action driven. In general, a very solid SciFi show with some Star Wars elements, I think this one has potential and I will stick with it to see how it develops.
The music is atmospheric but not very Star Wars like, a little generic for my taste, nothing memorable that really sticks like the Themes in the Star wars movies or the spin-offs. The typical Star Wars feeling did not really hit me yet, as the story is located mostly on planets and describing the origin of Cassians (and the planet he lives on as an adult could also be located in another Sci-Fi universe, there was not a single Stormtrooper or empire employee to be seen anywhere. From the development of the story that will probably change in the next episodes, as Cassian beginns his spy training.
The part I would criticize the most is the pacing: In my opinion if the producers had just put out two episodes instead of three (maybe with the second episode a little longer), with less walking, still scenes or drumming scenes (they seemed really proud of the guy hammering the bell/anvil) the show would definitely profit from it and would much more enjoyable. You get the feeling the producers are stretching the content to fit the length of a TV series. Sometimes less run-time makes for a better show.
In episode three the story becomes faster-paced and more action driven. In general, a very solid SciFi show with some Star Wars elements, I think this one has potential and I will stick with it to see how it develops.
The Wheel of Time
(2021– )
Mediocrity at its best - How to kill a franchise
27 December 2021
First of all, I have read the books, but I am by no means a hardcore fan. Beginning with the cast: Generally, they did a good job with the cast, most of all Rosamund Pike who did a good performance with Moraine. Also, I have no issues with some characters not looking like the books described or other detail changes many fans complain about.
My main issue with this series and what will be its downfall are the awful changes to the main storyline. The books have so many interesting story strands, characters, dialogues which are plenty to write a formidable, epic story (even with diversity and female empowerment to fill Amazons corporate checkboxes). Instead of taking the best of these storylines - cut some content out and add own ideas where the books fall short - the producers basically write a new story and the ideas they have are less interesting and, in all aspects, subpar to the original. Very often plain stupid storytelling. If you watch Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones in comparison they are very far away to reach that level of production and storytelling.
After watching the season finale, I am quite worried that Robert Jordan will rise from his grave and haunt the producers... maybe that would be one of the few things that could save the series. The books have so much material and potential to surpass GOT. But in the direction Wheel of Time is heading, it will be a mediocre series. Bland and forgotten after the last episode aired or it is cancelled.
What hurts the most is that many things are there to make it work (the cast is okay with potential, the sets, some of the CGI) but the rest feels like the producers just read the summary of the story on Wiki and decided to write their own story because of convenience. For such a highly budgeted series some of the CGI was creepily bad (Trollocs!! I mean you).
My opinion: Stick to more closely to the books for the main story line. The keyword is ADAPT the material, not reinvent the whole thing. Because: Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson have what Amazons screenwriters and producers have not: Talent, creativity and the capability to write decent, complex and gripping story lines. Maybe then...I might give it another chance.
My main issue with this series and what will be its downfall are the awful changes to the main storyline. The books have so many interesting story strands, characters, dialogues which are plenty to write a formidable, epic story (even with diversity and female empowerment to fill Amazons corporate checkboxes). Instead of taking the best of these storylines - cut some content out and add own ideas where the books fall short - the producers basically write a new story and the ideas they have are less interesting and, in all aspects, subpar to the original. Very often plain stupid storytelling. If you watch Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones in comparison they are very far away to reach that level of production and storytelling.
After watching the season finale, I am quite worried that Robert Jordan will rise from his grave and haunt the producers... maybe that would be one of the few things that could save the series. The books have so much material and potential to surpass GOT. But in the direction Wheel of Time is heading, it will be a mediocre series. Bland and forgotten after the last episode aired or it is cancelled.
What hurts the most is that many things are there to make it work (the cast is okay with potential, the sets, some of the CGI) but the rest feels like the producers just read the summary of the story on Wiki and decided to write their own story because of convenience. For such a highly budgeted series some of the CGI was creepily bad (Trollocs!! I mean you).
My opinion: Stick to more closely to the books for the main story line. The keyword is ADAPT the material, not reinvent the whole thing. Because: Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson have what Amazons screenwriters and producers have not: Talent, creativity and the capability to write decent, complex and gripping story lines. Maybe then...I might give it another chance.
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