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One of a Kind (2019)
Hope there are more episodes coming out!
Love this show! If there's one thing you can say about it: it most definitely is NOT your average home reno show.
And I love that about it. I love the inspired design Grace does, and her relationship with the crew she works with is really fun and they seem to genuinely like each other, even when they think something she's done or wants to do, is crazy.
And some of her designs are a twee bit crazy. But always fun!
Some of her ideas I want to steal for myself, but for the most part, she's inspired me to design in my own home in a way that speaks to our family. It's silly I never thought of it before! But really, I think everyone watches these shows and tries to do a twist on, or even copy, what we see there. And what we see is usually beautiful, and that's okay to want to emulate that.
But to come up with something that is nothing like anyone else's and tells the story of your family, and do that solely thru design; I think that is just awesome.
Please bring Grace and The Crew back!
The Established Home (2021)
Season 3 Episode 2 sealed it for me, won't watch anymore
I like this show a little. There's a lot of self-congratulation that feels weird to me, where they walk around talking about how gorgeous and wonderful all the work they did is. I'd think you'd rather have the homeowners come in and comment on those things, but whatever.
Jean and Grace's style isn't to my taste. I'd much rather have Rustic/Industrial/Farmhouse, with Spanish influences. HOWEVER, I can see the beauty in the work they do. Albeit with some plain fireplaces that stand out to me for their plainness, not their beauty. I've noticed that in a few episodes, most especially in the one where they rip out a gorgeous wood fireplace feature spanning floor to ceiling that was just stunning IMO. Guess the homeowners didn't like it, but what they replaced it with was boring, white painted drywall.
But the thing that really bothered me about these two is S3, E2. They're working on a Spanish style home, and the family wants her more Classic-style design, which okay, to each their own.
But what I found so distasteful is the way they ripped out an absolutely beautiful, hand-carved, antique gateway to the courtyard, and replaced it with stucco and new wood.
The OG gate was SO beautiful! Yes, it was old and hard to open, as Jean made a point to remark on how she didn't like it, straight away. But those things can be fixed. Why on earth would you remove an original, crafted piece, only to put in something plain?
If there was something seriously wrong with the gate that it had to be replaced, they didn't mention it in the show. Just Jean saying at the beginning how she didn't like it, then next thing we see they've replaced it with stucco and new wood.
After that she and her daughter made a special trip to the nearby San Juan Mission to fawn over everything there. Seemed pretty disingenuous after ripping out the exact same type of thing at the house they were working on.
I don't know if I'll continue with this show. Right now I have no desire to finish season three.
Farscape: Promises (2002)
I don't get the love for Aeryn after 2nd half of Ssn Two
Aeryn Sun treats the one John Chrichton like a red-headed stepchild after screwing the other one's brains out when they were together on Talyn.
I always thought it was very wrong of them; to have that relationship without discussing it between the three of them beforehand; laying down some ground rules or whatnot. They don't know which one of them is the OG, so which one has put in the time building the relationship; which one put up with Aeryn's mood swings for two and a half years.
And the shows writers never address it; they simply gave one Chrichton the keys to the Porsche and the other a swift kick in the cajones and a tricycle.
But I digress. So Aeryn and one of the John's jump in the sack and go at it for however long they were on Talyn together, cementing her relationship with one and leaving the other to hang.
Then, when the JC she's been screwing dies (over totally idiotic actions, letting a greedy mechanic get the better of him,) she comes back to Moya and looks at that JC like he is dirt beneath her feet. Won't even speak to him, say hello, kiss my butt, nothing.
It's heartbreaking; he's so happy to see her and runs up with this big grin on his face...and she glares at him for a solid minute, then walks off to her quarters without saying a word. Just...wow.
And I don't believe excuses that she was raised a Peacekeeper and isn't able to sort emotions properly, blah blah, blah.
Treating someone with decency, even if you can't open yourself up to love them at that moment or even ever again, isn't what she did.
She didn't say "I'm so sorry. I can't be with you right now. Losing him hurt too much and I need time." No, she treated him with complete contempt, like dirt beneath her feet. Or worse, like he didn't exist at all.
And the shows writers failed that character completely by making him this love-sick puppy. Following her around, begging for the slightest bit of attention. They neutered him.
So at one point later she leaves Moya, for all intents and purposes never to see John Crichton again. But 'Lo and behold she shows back up with a disease however much later it was; like three episodes, I think. Oh, and she also has Heat something or other. Ha ha!
But for real, she shows up with Scorpius, because he's apparently saved her life, and when she comes on-board, she doesn't take John aside and explain what's happened to her, who saved her, and ask if John would be willing to make a temporary truce since Scorpy saved her life. Oh no!
He walks up behind her, she announces he's the one that saved her and demands everyone else put down their guns and not kill Scorpy, because she's promised him he wouldn't be harmed. Say wut?!
She knows what this monster did to the man she supposedly loves, but can't factor that into her thinking at all. She can't seem to think about anyone but herself.
I wish the writers would have given John more backbone in dealing with her. Love is nice. Being a doormat for someone is something else entirely.
Had they given him a bit of spine, Aeryn might have changed for the better, realizing that relationships are a two-way street.
Dr. Death: The Undoctored Story (2021)
Excellent documentary, but I want more information.
This documentary is so well-done and seeing the in-depth coverage of the damage he did to people and families, and the efforts to stop Duntsch and hold him accountable for what he had done, kept me interested from start to finish. We binge-watched all four episodes.
However, I kept hoping they would get to Duntsch's years in college and Fellowship. How was this guy sent out into the world from an acclaimed medical school and Fellowship program, as the newest rising star in Neurosurgery, some kind of prodigal son, if he didn't know the first thing about the most simple of neurosurgeries?
I would love to see another documentary covering his education to find out how this happened. Or at least some explanation. It seems like someone in the Fellowship program at the very least, would have cottoned on to this guy's complete inability to understand the most basic duties of his career choice.
And he must've done very well in class, scoring high in testing or whatever they call it in med school, in order to get into such a prestigious Fellowship. How the hell did he test so high? Was someone filling in for him? Selling him the answers? Did he have a doppelgänger who was a medical savant? What?!
I would really like to hear about that and I kept hoping they'd cover more of his education. They did confirm that he was there in Tennessee when the one doctor called to make sure he even was Duntsch, because this guy was so flabbergasted that he could've made it thru medical school after seeing just one of the surgeries this guy botched.
I'm not complaining about this documentary at all. It was very good. And they covered a lot of ground. I would also like to see more about the years before he actually came to Texas and began maiming and killing patients, who were just looking for some relief from their chronic pain. Get the whole story, so-to-speak.
Portals to Hell (2019)
Started out with an 8 star review for season one
And part of season two, but the second half of season two and season three just annoyed the hell out of me and my Mom, both.
I know they don't show the entire investigation, that they can't because they've got to fit everything nicely into a 45 minute slot.
However, when they started out their investigations were infinitely better than they turned into later on. They would spend more time asking questions, spend more time in each room or section, they'd run all sorts of different equipment.
But in the later episodes, they will be in one room, run the spirit box for a minute, ask one question then say, "okay let's go to the next room". Or even worse they'd get some great interaction in a room and then stop and not go any further, they'd just leave and go to another section.
They spend 35 mins on touring, history, psychic sweep (which I love Michelle Belanger) and then the final day where they reveal, but they only spend ten mins of the show on investigation.
It's especially frustrating to see them getting great interaction with whatever, then stop and leave and go somewhere else.
One episode they said they were gonna use the spirit box, then heard a noise, talked about that for five minutes, then left and never did the spirit box or anything else in that room.
I'd rather they get rid of the filler crap and concentrate on the history, psychic sweep and more time on investigations please!
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Valiant (1998)
Not a great episode, and the ending let's it down completely
This episode is ultimately disappointing because very few characters survive, and those that did learn no lessons from the actions they took, or the actions of those around them that caused so much death and destruction, all for the sake of ego.
The episode begin after the cold open, with Nog and Jake en route to Ferenginar, for Nog to deliver a special message from Starfleet to Grand Nagus Zek. Jake has weaseled his way into taking the trip with Nog, promising he wasn't coming along as a reporter, then immediately breaking that promise and showing zero remorse for using his so-called best friend, yet again.
So they're traveling along, and suddenly a squadron of Jem'Hadar ships are on top of them. They pass by, but then as Nog warps the shuttle away, one turns to follow. They're under heavy fire when another ship appears; it's the Defiant's sister ship, the Valiant. Nog and Jake are beamed aboard, and the Valiant destroys the Jem'Hadar.
Once aboard, Nog and Jake quickly realize there are no adults. The Valiant was originally crewed by a small group of adult officers, with a crew of cadets in training. Their mission was to locate a new type of Jem'Hadar warship and collect data on it for Starfleet.
Somehow during this mission, every adult officer was killed, leaving the cadets in charge. If I was a suspicious type, I'd wonder if Kiddie Captain Watters and First Officer Karen had conspired to murder the last adults left, so they could take charge of the ship. At any rate, there is no hint of anything like that here; just a ship of young fools, driven by their egos and the arrogance of youth, rather than common sense and training.
These young fools decide to ignore orders to return to headquarters, which you know must've been given to Kiddie Captain as the adult Captain was dying, and they instead continue the mission. When they come upon Nog and Jake, they have been in several battles, and are having problems with their warp drive, etc.
This is right up Nog's alley, and he begins making suggestions for repairs. When Kiddie Captain learns Nog has real-world knowledge of the Valiant's systems, he manipulates Nog with some heavy flattery and a field promotion to Chief Engineer, with a Lt. Commander's rank. Nog is beside himself with happiness, even tho you can see he is still somewhat conflicted.
Later when they do find the new Jem'Hadar war ship, and they've used a stealth probe to collect all kinds of data for Starfleet about it, the mission is complete and for the most part, a success. However, Kiddie Captain is high on pills and ego, and decides they should not just collect their data and go, but destroy the warship.
Jake gives a blah speech to try and convince them this is the wrong thing to do, to which Kiddie Captain responds with exactly what an untrained, unprofessional kid would; he bellows "We're Red Squad and we can do anything!" He then leads the entire kiddie crew in a chant of "Red Squad" which gives you the ickies all over. Nog who was clearly skeptical, slowly gives in and begins chanting as well.
Later, we see Nog making the needed changes to the torpedoes, and Jake is using the time alone with him, he thinks, to try and convince Nog that this is not right. These kids have no business going up against a huge Jem'Hadar warship. But by then Nog has drank all the Kool Aid and is fully on board.
And then we then see that Kiddie Captain is not only an egomaniacal, pill popping jerk, he's an eavesdropping weasel as well. He has been watching and listen to Nog and Jake's conversation. He sends two crew members to throw Jake in the brig, for having the temerity to question his orders.
Well, things go about exactly as you'd expect them to go when the Kiddie Crew of the Valiant goes up against a huge new Jem'Hadar warship; they are blown to bits, but luckily not before Nog has broken Jake outta the brig and they, along with crew member Collins, get away in an escape pod during the explosion of the Valiant.
We next see the Defiant picking up the escape pod's distress call, and Nog, Jake and Collins are rescued. Jake goes into the infirmary to visit with Nog and Collins, and Nog asks Jake if he's going to write about what happened, and what he's going to write. Jake asks what Nog thinks he should write, and Nog replies that he should write that it was "a good ship, with a good crew, that made a mistake. We let ourselves blindly follow Captain Watters, and he led us over a cliff."
To which the addled Collins replies "That's not true. Captain Watters was a great man. If he failed, it's because we failed him."
Nog tells Jake, "Put that in your story too. Let people read it and decide for themselves."
And I gotta say, what an utter load of bullsh!te. This is the problem with reporting today, you've got truth being reported alongside propaganda, and people must guess which is true and which is not. And they almost always choose that which aligns with what they believe already, because it confirms their bias.
People don't get to 'decide' what is true and what is not. There is truth: "Watters is a pill-popping, egomaniacal child, who was unfit and unprepared to hold an office, much less a command." And then there's propaganda: "Watters was a great man, and we failed him, and that is the only reason why all these people are dead and our mission failed."
Ultimately for me, this was a disappointing episode as much for that ending, as anything else.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Sword of Kahless (1995)
Makes you question the history the Klingon Warrior ethos
This could've been an interesting episode, but really, if Kor, Worf and Dax 'had' found the Sword of Khaless, and they hadn't put in the strange twist to the story, how would that have been followed up in later episodes once it got back to the Klingon home world?
I don't need to cover the whole plot, that's been done nicely by several others, but suffice it to say that because they did put in the "twist" of the Sword of Khaless causing the two Klingon men who held it to turn into aggro, chest-thumping, pontificating jerks, the Sword never made it back so no sense worrying about that.
However, because said "twist" had the three finding the Sword, which then made Kor and Worf turn on each other, both craving the power the sword could give them, and believing the other was not worthy, what does this mean for the history of the Klingon Warrior culture?
If I were completely unfamiliar with the Star Trek universe other than TV and film, I would probably wonder if this is how the whole Warrior ethos got started to begin with.
Maybe Klingons were actually gentle, kind and quiet people, working hard on their farms thru the day and crocheting their garments at night, just your average gentle folk. But one day Kahless went searching for blueberries in the forest and came upon the Sword. When he touched it, he began to transform into an aggro, chest-thumping, pontificating jerk who wanted to fight and conquer anyone who wasn't Klingon. And when he went back amongst his people with the Sword, they all began to turn into aggro, chest-thumping pontificating jerks who want to fight and conquer anyone who isn't Klingon.
And thus the Warrior ethos is begun. They leave behind their gentle ways and being aggro jerks now, are embarrassed by the gentle peace-niks they once were, so they bury every evidence of their previous way of life, and soon begin to forget they were ever anything but a Warrior culture, to be feared and honored by all.
Aaand then again...maybe I'm overthinking things.
It wasn't a bad episode, just not a great one, like "Little Green Men" just before it.
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Alternate (1994)
"Let's rip this historical monument outta the ground and take it with us."
This was the biggest miss for me in this entire episode. With all of the holo-technology they have available, all they needed to do was take a holo-image then they could've recreated the obelisk back at DS9.
Instead, Dax casually suggests they rip it out of the ground and take it along. Seriously? What if some random scientist came along Stonehenge and decided to just "take a couple of stones" to study?
It's so crass and.irreverent. Very un-Starfleet.
Not only that, but immediately after they beam the obelisk off the planet, some sort of eruption or earthquake starts, and not one of them thought to beam the obelisk back to the planet. I would think that'd be the first thing that crossed their minds, but of course it's never mentioned in the episode at all. Just that some gasses escaped and were more harmful to the Bajorans than anyone else. Except some really weird stuff starts happening with Odo.
And that's where the episode continues. We see some cool CGI of the day, and great acting, as always, by Rene Auberjonois, but nothing more of his origins, which it seemed like that was where the épisode was going when it began.
Instead we learn more about Odo's recent history, when he was discovered by the Bajorans and began being studied by Dr. Mora. And we learn a lot about their history, and Odo's love/hate relationship with Mora. It is quite like a father/son episode where they work thru their grievances.
It wasn't a bad episode, just not great. Some inconsistent writing, really great acting, but for me the biggest miss was the scene with the obelisk. I just can't see that being something they would do. It's one thing to bring Bajoran monuments or Orbs onto the Station, because Sisko is the Prophet and they're working with Bajor, in most épisodes. But that wasn't the case here, and it seems a big oversight by the writers.
Star Trek: Voyager: Rise (1997)
Insufferable Neelix at his "insufferablest"
I like Neelix, even tho some episodes he annoys the heck out of me, I still like him. This episode is no different in that respect, except by the end we're supposed to believe Neelix has properly chastened Tuvok.
Neelix knows Tuvok is Vulcan, and by now he knows why he is the way he is. However, that never stops Neelix from haranguing Tuvok to no end over various stupidities: his morning juice, Vulcan holidays Neelix tries to celebrate in all the wrong ways, attempting to engage Tuvok to sing Vulcan funeral dirges as tho they're cheery folk songs, etc. The ever-constant "Mr Vulcan" is enough to make one want to give Neelix the ol' nerve pinch.
It's not bad enough Neelix is forever partaking some new and totally different job that he does for one or two episodes then we never hear about it again. He goes from guide to cook to morale booster to ambassador to journalist/gossip vlogger to security/engineering student. With the exception of cook, all his other "duties" never seem to amount to steady work, but they never explain why.
In this episode Neelix has asked to be a part of an away team mission to help the Nezu, whose planet is being bombarded with asteroids that aren't quite regular asteroids. And Captain Janeway has placed Neelix on Lt. Tuvok's team, proving she does have a sadistic sense of humor.
When the shuttle they're in is damaged beyond repair en route to the Nezu planet, only Neelix can get this mission back on track and get them back aboard Voyager. Because Neelix has been studying Starfleet's Security and Engineering texts, and thanks to his eidetic memory we've henceforth never heard of, coupled with past experiences we just now learn of, make him "the expert" for this episode.
When Tuvok sends Neelix out to check the communications equipment, Neelix is sidetracked by an Orbital Tether, and rushes back in to tell Tuvok about it. This is where we learn the OT is damaged, but Neelix's new knowledge and past experience are just what's needed to get them up out of the ionosphere so Voyager can beam them all aboard.
Tuvok reluctantly agrees to this new plan and they all get to work. Except Neelix constantly stops working to tell a story or relay an anecdote to one person or another. At some point Tuvok pulls him aside and tells him to do his job. Which is quite right. I would think any supervisor who sees an employee consistently not doing their assigned work, would get a "talking to." After all, they're in a pretty dire situation. More asteroids are headed for the planet and they need to get gone.
Without giving away too much more of the plot, they get the OT moving, but it's not quite up to specs and the oxygen level is a problem. But they decide it's their only option and set off. Along the way things go wrong, Tuvok gets more annoyed with Neelix, Neelix pitches a hissy fit and everyone on the OT sides with Neelix and gives Tuvok the stink eye because he's been so mean to Neelix the whole mission. In so many words, anyway.
Someone is murdered, someone tries to murder someone else, the bad guy takes a flying leap and the rest make it to Voyager with the data needed to help the Nezu get rid of the asteroids forever.
Then we have the end scene, where Tuvok comes in to tell Neelix he has put him up for special commendation for his work on the away mission. Because Tuvok doesn't hold grudges, he doesn't get angry or resentful, or at least not to the point it affects his judgment or rational.
And yet, even tho Neelix thanks him for this, he still acts like a bit of a jerk. He accuses Tuvok of having to have the last word, etc etc, and doesn't accept Tuvok's explanations for why he does what he does. But then, that's been the whole issue all along. Neelix does not accept Tuvok for who he is and thinks he needs to "fix" him. Because Tuvok doesn't dance and sing and join in merry meal times, there's something wrong with him and he's missing out, so Neelix thinks.
That's bad judgment on Neelix's part. Just because someone doesn't live their life the way you expect, that does not mean they're unhappy or missing something. They may be quite content with the way they've chosen. And it's not anyone's place to tell them they need to change in order to be happy.
Which is what Neelix does to Tuvok, throughout the entire series.
Star Trek: Voyager: Cold Fire (1995)
I don't get the love for this episode.
This is one of those episodes I could skip completely on rewatches, if I weren't a completionist. I have to watch them all, or at least only skip parts I hate the most on episodes like these.
First off, anyone with half a brain on that ship should have seen through Tanis the second he set foot on Voyager. I was shocked Kes let herself be led by the bit so thoroughly thru the majority of the episode.
Tanis was arrogant and evil. And Kes, was weird and creepy when she was working with him. No matter what he did, or how far he pushed, she had this creepy smile or ceeepy intense look on her face as she was setting someone or something on fire.
In their first session, Tanis has her moving a cup, then heating the liquid inside. She's acting like a goofy schoolgirl with a crush on teacher, and when Neelix tries to ask a question, he holds his hand up and rudely tells him "We're not done." It's clear he doesn't want Neelix there. And Kes says nothing. If someone had spoken that way to my husband, which he basically is, I'd tell them where to go.
Then later she's showing off her new "skills" to Tuvok, and because she has no real control over her abilities yet, she boils Tuvok's blood, nearly killing him. If he'd been human, he probably would have died. And while she feels remorse, it's not nearly enough. This man has been like a father-figure and teacher/mentor to her, and she almost popped his head like a balloon.
Then even further on, Tanis finds Kes in her flower cargo bay, and in his argument to try and get her to leave Voyager and go with Susperia and him, tells her the people on Voyager, her family essentially, are no more than pets, because he, and by extension she, are so superior. Kes makes a lame attempt at defending them, then instantly forgets as Tanis has her set the entire cargo bay on fire, killing everything she'd spent so much time growing. And she expresses no real regret at all.
I guess my biggest problem with all of this is that it is all so out of character for Kes. She is a kind, considerate and very caring individual. She is the one who went to Captain Janeway and guilted her into realizing how badly everyone onboard was treating the Doctor. Granted he's a pain sometimes, but it sure won't get better with people treating him like he doesn't exist. And this all comes about because the Doctor is her friend and she was upset at seeing him disrespected repeatedly, because she could tell it hurt his feelings. Holographic feelings or not.
In this episode, Kes seems to abandon her core to play with fire and murder, and barely reacts to what she causes. None of that is what we've come to know of Kes.
And lastly, as Susperia arrives onboard Voyager, Kes senses her anger and realizes she intends to destroy everyone. Susperia thinks Voyager killed her mate, the Caretaker from episode one, and she's pissed. Tanis knew this all along and never told anyone, nor did he set the record straight with Susperia to alleviate her anger at Voyager. He wanted them destroyed so Kes wouldn't have any choice but to come along with him, which is super creepy and evil
For all these reasons, this is another of my least favorite episodes.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: Ethics (1992)
One of the episodes I would definitely skip if I wasn't a completionisr
I don't care for this episode for many reasons.
To begin with, this is a Crusher-heavy episode. Which means we'll be treated to her pushing personal beliefs onto others and using condescension and hectoring to get her way. And in this episode she's turned up to an eleven.
But Worf is a Klingon. He's more Klingony then all other Klingons we've met. He is rigid, tense and mostly humorless. And above all, he follows the tenets of Klingon life and honor with a rigidity that most humans don't understand.
For Worf, losing his ability to move about on his on means he has lost his honor. He is no longer a warrior, capable of defending the Federation or his Klingon homeland. It's as if he is already dead, or worse, like a warrior who has been captured but not allowed to die.
I can't understand that mentality, no one on the Enterprise can understand it either. For humans, it's a matter of changing your outlook and working with what you've got. One can still live a great life and give as much back as before.
I personally don't view this episode, or Worf's beliefs or decisions, based on real life, but within the confines of the Trek 'verse. And within those confines, Worf has a right to end his life, when and how he desires. It is not up to me, and it doesn't matter what I think.
Yes, he has a son to think about, but in Worf's eyes, he would only bring shame to Alexander in his current condition. It sounds crazy, but it's part of the show and part of this character. And Worf will never change.
As someone else stated in their review, Riker's anger when discussing Worf's suicide with Picard, makes him look more unhinged than he's accusing Worf of being. I don't understand what the writers were trying to portray with Riker here. All of the bridge officers know Worf as well as anyone can, but act like this request is coming out of left field. Riker is shocked and so angry he can barely control himself. What? First of all, why is he so shocked? He knows Worf and he knows Klingons. They take their deaths as seriously as they take their lives. So he doesn't want to assist Worf in his suicide. Rather than tell him that and explain why, they have him looking completely unstable and lashing out at Picard.
Then we have the visiting doctor, Dr Russell. Crusher has a problem with Russell right away when she learns how the doctor does her work. She experiments on people who are injured beyond response to regular, known medical treatment and will die if a new treatment is not found. And Beverly explicitly states that this is what she has a problem with: treating patients in emergency situations who have no alternatives. But how else will new treatments ever move beyond experimental, if they aren't done on someone who needs them? It isn't ethical to experiment on patients who don't need radical medical care, but that's not the issue here. Maybe I'm misunderstanding something, or missed some crucial dialogue, but I felt this was simply more of Crusher pounding someone else over the head with her own beliefs.
In Worf's case, he was going to commit suicide one way or the other. Despite Beverly's littler tantrum saying she'd put him under restraints if she had to, Worf would not be in her sick bay forever, and he would do what he wanted as soon as able. Therefore, why not let Dr Russell try her new treatment? Which, of course, does work. And yet, Crusher still acts petty and unprofessional when Russell comes to tell her goodbye.
This isn't a great episode, IMHO. It feels like the writers didn't know where they wanted to go, so went everywhere without giving any story line full meaning. They either needed a two-parter or less thrown in.
Star Trek: The Next Generation: The Masterpiece Society (1992)
Dead Colonists or Dead away of Life for the Colonists...
Dead Colonists or Dead Way of Life for the Colonists, that is the fundamental question.
It's also the reason I despise characters like Martin. For all his zealotry and fanatical ranting, each and every time he is faced with the fact that, had the Enterprise not contacted them, and had Aaron not accepted their offer of help, the colonists would all be dead anyway.
Every time Martin goes off on a rant at someone, the other character points out that they'd all be dead if they followed his way of thinking. And every time he ignores them and runs away or avoids answering and continues to make pointless argument. I get it, there are people like this IRL, so it's a legit character, with a legit flaw.
What makes it so funny, or perhaps frustrating, is that this is a supposed "perfect" society, bred for superiority, and they all sit around and do nothing with all that genius. What challenges do they face? What does their society need that isn't already provided? So what's the point? What are they fighting so hard to protect?
The most frustrating characters outside of Martin, are Troi and Aaron. They spend a few days together, becoming more attracted to each other, which culminates in them spending the night together. Nothing wrong with that, im real life. But in this series, Troi is supposed to be acting on behalf of the Enterprjse and Captain Picard.
Which begs the question, why? Why do Picard or Riker not beam down originally to discuss what the society is facing and what must be done to save them? The only answer I can come up with is, they wouldn't have been able to write in the love story conflict.
Then she and Picard have an inane conversation where Troi tells Picard she thinks they're making their society work just fine, as he's criticizing the whole venture of "perfect societies." Then he asks her if she'd like to live her life with her entire future already written, and she gives the idiotic answer that she "doesn't know." Which considering her entire career and way of life, you'd rightly expect a resounding "No!"
But Troi's almost falling in love, and so all looks rosy in the commune. And then after the threat is passed and all is well, several of the colonists have decided they don't want to live within the confines of their "perfect society" any longer.
When Picard gathers the officers together to discuss giving them asylum, Troi stupidly tells Picard they just cannot, because what will happen to their "perfect" society then? She doesn't give a fig leaf for the individuals who are desperate to get off the planet while they can, because Aaron will certainly never answer another outside call again now that this has happened so they either leave now or their stuck. But Troi's selfishly thinking only of Aaron and how it will affect him and his job. I found that repulsive, and completely out of character for her.
When Picard does finally meet with Aaron, after all the danger has passed and the "damage" is done, he tells Aaron he cannot refuse the colonists asylum. And even tho Aaron is feeling the pull of the outside world himself, he still begs Picard to not give in to them, because his duty and only purpose is to serve the society and repair the damage done by the Enterprise being there.
Then Aaron and Troi have a final goodbye where Aaron tells her he loves her and he always will, because for all the supposed perfect mates for him within their society, he's never and will never love any of them. It's really sad commentary for continuing this way of life at all. Actually for ever even beginning it.
So, Enterprise grants asylum, Riker comes in to tell Picard they're all onboard, twenty three of the colonists, and then Picard starts lamenting the situation and questioning if they've been true to the Prime Directive. Which I find a cop out the writers stuck in there right at the end.
Of course the Prime Directive doesn't apply, they're human. Doesn't matter if their ancestors ran away to start a so-called perfect society or not. They're still human and therefore not subject to the PD.
And bottom line, Picard waffling about it after it's all over and said and done, doesn't change the fundamental fact that if they'd not accepted outside help in order to protect their way of life, they'd all be dead anyway.
Grimm: Tree People (2017)
This episode was my least favorite of the entire series
Ok, so the final season jumped the shark anyway, but this episode really ticked me off.
You've got creeps dumping toxic sludge, poaching animals et al, and you have a Wesen working along with a tree to fight these a$$holes, to save the forest, essentially.
So Nick, Hank and Wu take Monroe out to the woods with some fake toxic sludge so they can kill the Wesen who's killing the creeps. And Monroe asks the logical question "Why are we stopping this thing when it's just protecting its environment?" Not exactly in those words, but basically.
And Nick's reply is "and killing a few people?" Which, I'd say they reaped what they sowed.
And then Hank makes the stupidest reply, "If it threatens 'this' species, it's goin' down." Which is so ignorant. These two were not threatening the human species in any way; they were protecting their species from bad humans.
This was just a really bad episode all the way around. Usually I support or at the very least, understand where Nick and Hank are coming from. But this episode? No way!
I say let them pay for the damage they've caused. Maybe humans would finally learn that we have to respect this planet if we expect it to keep providing for our children and their children, and so on.
Grimm: Bad Luck (2015)
The Juliette/Hexenbeist storyline makes o sense to me
Ok, so because Adalind had Nick's blood in her, and because of the spell Adalind did with her blood to trick Nick, then the spell they did to then him back into a Grimm; for all those reasons, Nick can't use his blood to kill the Hexenbeist inside of Juliette, like he did with Adalind.
But why can't they call Truble and ask her to come band so she can do it?
Am I missing something? Is that not the simplest solution?
This entire storyline is annoying, and mostly because from the moment Nick finds out what's happening to Juliette, he makes it all about himself. He stomps out of the house after she shows him what she is now, then goes off on a cam without letting her know. Then when he wants to go see Henrietta, the other Hexenbeist who told Juliette her situation is permanent, Juliette makes to go with him, but he tells her "I think I should go alone." Or some such nonsense.
Like it's not her life and her problem. He treats her like a child to be dealt with. I just think they have him handle it all completely wrong.
And I don't understand why Truble can't fix it right away, when Juliette still wants to get rid of it, before she starts to enjoy being mean and ruthless, and uber-aggressive.
Grimm: Blond Ambition (2014)
Don't get the high review for this episode
I really don't understand how this episode has such a high rating. Considering the writers must want us all to suspend any rational thought to accept the series of events.
First, Adalind is acting very suspicious. Sean is already checking into what she's up to. Then she shows up as Juliette, and Sean isn't the least bit suspicious when he calls Juliette later and she clearly has no idea what the heck he's talking about when he mentions her visit the previous night. It takes him going to the storage building and finding Adalind's potion to finally try and warn Nick.
One would think immediately after the phone call with Juliette, Sean would've called Nick and told him to be on guard because Adalind is up to something. Truly, when he first started to be suspicious of Adalind, you'd think he'd warn everyone who was involved in project "Baby Escape," but especially Nick and Juliette, who've been targeted by Adalind before.
Sean is a smart and conniving man. To expect us to believe he's so dumb; it's pretty hard to accept.
Then the biggest moron of all, Trubel, bursting into the wedding, right in the middle of the announcement of the couple, then dropping the extremely important bottle of liquid Nick is supposed to drink. The one Sean Renard expressed to her how very very important it is that Nick drink.
I mean, we know she's not very bright, and certainly has no social skills, but even a nincompoop knows weddings are sacred.
Lazy writing frustrates me so much. There's gotta be a way they could've written this smarter.
I did like parts of it tho: the FBI agent getting his head lopped off after shooting Renard was good work, and Rosalee's sister getting drunk and ruining the wedding dress was actually pretty funny. Especially when Monroe tells her the next morning that he and Rosalee hated the dress anyway. They were only going thru with it to make her mother happy.
Not all bad, just the sequence of events leading to Nick losing his Grimm, it's not believable to me. Not with all the characters being so savvy normally, and knowing what they all know about Adalind.
Grimm: Once We Were Gods (2014)
My least-liked episode, because of Nick et al's stupidity
Hank is the only one in this episode with any sense in the way to deal with what Wu saw. Nick is the worst. I absolutely despise him in this episode.
And I don't get the end of the previous episode either. Nick pretended he didn't see the Aswang, while Wu is standing there clearly scared out of his mind. If he'd just said "It's okay, we saw it too." I am only imagine how far that might've gone to help Wu.
Then visiting him in the hospital, Nick sits there with a stupid grin on his face saying inane crap, while Wu is clearly suffering. It makes you want to slap the dumb look right off Nick's face.
And I don't get the rest of their attitudes either. Monroe and Rosalee especially. Juliette is always arbitrary, but Monroe especially is sensitive. Rosalee can go either way.
I know the writers are trying to make extra story, but there's plenty with the main story lines. Why not make the extra or side-bit, Wu learning about everything a little bit earlier? Save him the visit to the psych unit.
The Founder (2016)
Jessica-Katz5 says it all. Couldn't say it better myself.
Sociopath. Ray Kroc summed up to a tee.
A man willing to do anything and screw anyone to get what he wants.
Excellent film about a real creep.
I read someone asked, "but if there was never any Ray Kroc, would we have McDonald's as it is today?"
Maybe no McDonald's would be a good thing? No supersize fries, no mountain of food for $5 to make you obese. And let's be clear, quality of food went down under Ray Kroc so he could make more money. The OG McDonald Bros had nothing but quality in mind.
It was especially heartbreaking to see near the end when Dick calls Ray and all of Ray's "team" are listening on speaker as he basically tells Dick to eff off, because he's gonna do what he wants to do.
Not a single one of those people saw anything wrong with what he was doing. They all got rich and didn't give one thought to how.
I've never loved money that much, I guess. Yes, I want to be comfortable and have things, but not at the expense of someone else. That is just, as said before, heartbreaking.
Farmhouse Fixer (2021)
Was an eight after first season, now a six after second
The first season I had my complaints, but overall enjoyed the show. The second season, though, seems like every episode is more than half-filled with fluff.
I'm glad he's happily married, I love his farm and his Mom, and that he tries new things. However....and that's a big HOWEVER...I want to see the construction, restoration, design and end result of the homes they renovate. I don't mind a little fluff, but now every show is chock-full of nothing but side excursions to his home, shopping, doing ridiculous crafts, phony meeting set ups in stores so the designer can then complain about "this is why I always shop alone." And other miscellaneous stuff I don't care to watch.
Please, please, please, drop most of the fluff. Just a little introduction at home before leaving to begin the reno part of the show works perfectly. Then show us the work being done, the progress and good, long shots of the end result.
Also, what is the deal with the costs this show projects. I cannot fathom the work they do costing this much. It must all go towards having "Jonathan Knight" renovate your home, so you can say he did. Otherwise, where the heck is this money going?!!
And lastly, please tell the designer to chill a bit. I'm not a fan of a lot of her designs, but most of the homeowners seem to love them, so they're getting what they wanted. But she is so loud and obnoxious; I get the feeling she's nervous to be on TV and is over-acting, trying to be extra funny to hide that fact. Maybe have her work with someone to calm her down before the director calls "Action!".
I really hope, if they stay on air, they'll seriously listen to viewers and fix some of these things. I see a lot of people have complained about the designs and the designer, as well as the fluff. I see some questions about cost as well, but I don't see that changing. Although I cannot imagine where that money is going except into Jonathan Knight's pocket.
Bottom line for me, if this show continues to be nothing but fluff, I see no reason to continue watching. Fast-forwarding thru most of a show to see a handful of quick, short images of results is not enjoyable viewing.
I Bought a Dump... Now What? (2021)
Some really unlikeable people here...
I've watched two episodes now and am just annoyed with several of the people.
Sean and Sam - Sam doesn't understand a lot and doesn't care about the budget or timeline, just wants what she wants. And it doesn't really matter if Sean has to break his back making it happen either. For example: she wants a cedar roof, which is an exorbitant cost and takes a lot more time. But she's decided Sean can install the cedar shingles himself and fix all her problems, 'cause she "believes in him." Give me a break! She has no idea how long it'll take one man (or even two) to install all of those, and doesn't seem to give a rats behind. Not to mention apparently she is constantly changing the blueprints, after work is done, and it's costing more money and time. And they are on a deadline for their loan and a budget for the whole reno. I'd be pissed if I was Sean. But of course he grins and bears it, and then "admits" she was "right all along." Gack!
Pancho and Kristyn: in this father and son duo, I truly feel for the father. He has advised her which house is best to buy, and if she goes for the bad one not to go over a certain amount, which she naturally exceeds by triple. But she doesn't have a care in the world because her daddy is working for free! The poor man has a fireplace fall on him and his back looks terrible, but he keeps working. And the only thing she's worried about is getting her apparently on again/off again boyfriend to move in after it's done. I guess she's moved to Chicago, bought this home, invested in the reno and it's all banking on her shallow boyfriend moving in afterwards. The whole of their interactions are pretentious and silly, especially his attitude about the bedroom. And she acts like a spoiled, selfish, b!tch almost all the time. I don't know if she's "acting" for the camera, or if this is how she is all the time. Whichever, it is deeply unappealing.
Brandon and Lesleigh: of all the homes, this one is in the best shape, but still needs a lot of work. So these two bought an old home, that needs a massive renovation, which requires a huge budget, and apparently they planned to do little to none of the work themselves. During their introduction, they talked as if they'd be doing a lot of the work, but yet every time they showed them, it was work crews doing all the work and they're standing or sitting around talking. I don't know why people who have no skills or desire to do this kind of work, and they don't have the budget to pay people to do the job properly, buy really old homes like this, that need basically complete and total overhauls.
Bottom line: people need to stop watching HGTV and Magnolia, and thinking that what they see is exactly what it took to make those reno's happen. There is a lot of behind the scenes, and the budgets they give on those shows are not always correct. But viewers watch a reno or flip show and think "gee, I could do that. That looks easy!" and off they go into massive debt and headache.
One other complaint about this show is that they show the same clips over and over, taking up time. They could have cut the episodes down in number or in time, if they'd have taken the constant repetition out. That gets old super fast.
You Live in What? (2012)
Interesting show but camera work is awful!
I love watching shows like this highlighting unusual places people have fixed up for homes. It's a very cool and interesting concept.
However, the camera work in this show leaves much to be desired. If you don't have time to slow down and show each room, rather than racing thru in a sped-up version of a "tour" then eliminate one or two homes from each episode and focus better on the ones you do show.
I end up with a headache after every episode because of the dizzying aspect of racing thru rooms, up and down stairs. It's annoying af.
For the Love of Kitchens (2021)
Please bring this show a season two and more!
Love this show! Highlighting beautiful kitchens of all shapes and sizes, they spend time showcasing how the work is done and great shots of the finished kitchen.
There's no phony filler here; it's all craftspeople plying a trade that's more passion than job. I love watching the individuals in the shop working on various parts and pieces of each kitchen they create.
And there wasn't a single kitchen that I didn't love. Even those that weren't my style at all, there was such a great cross of beauty and functionality in each one.
I really hope season two comes out soon, and I'm looking forward to many more seasons to come!
100 Day Dream Home (2019)
Lots of filler and not enough design/build
I've grown so tired of this show. There's so much phony filler, fake "problems" to be solved with calls to buyers, and other nonsense, there isn't near enough of the design and build.
Not that there is much in the way of design. I hate to say it but white on white on white on white on white ad infinitum, is not design. There's very little color added in to these homes.
The husband is especially annoying with his over-the-top cutesy, trying too hard to be funny phoniness, but her obvious faked excitement at steps the homeowners take to make the simplest decisions, isn't great either.
And some of the homeowners they work with, holy moly, are they rude. The one episode with the "farmers" who had ten cows that Brian was supposedly so obsessed with he couldn't pay attention to his build, anyway, the wife walks in to the very first design meeting she had a pissy look on her face. And you could just tell she wasn't gonna like ANYTHING Mika showed them, and she didn't. She had a dirty look on her face the entire time they met, every time. I am not near patient enough to put up with that, so more power to Mika and those that do this. You've got more endurance than I do, in that regard.
Overall, though, this show has just begun to irritate me to the point I'm fast-forwarding thru most of it to get to the "showing" at the end. When I get to that point, I usually just drop the show from my watchlist completely.
Uncharted (2022)
I've never played Uncharted, but this is so bad.
I didn't have high expectations for this movie; I'm not a fan of Mark Wahlberg, frankly, and that colors my impression of any movie he's in. But this movie is so bad I don't think anyone could've made it better.
I don't like Tom Holland's "Drake" at all. From the get-go he's a cocky jerk, but not in a fun kind of way. Even tho he is missing his brother and deserves sympathy for that, I found it hard to empathize with him at all. Mark Wahlberg as "Sully" is every character he plays in every movie.
The script is infantile, cliche and cringey. Some of the jokes made me smile a little, but none made me laugh. Most fall flat or are downright unfunny. And I can suspend my disbelief for most movies, accept that crazy things can happen that don't happen in real life. However, this entire film is an exercise in suspension; there are so many extended fight scenes and jumps, swings and falls, and they all walk away with nary a scratch or bruise.
We see in one small scene, Sully has a knock-down-drag out with one of the baddies, a tall slender babe named Braddock (his ex-lover, of course.) And after she kicks his ass, he kicks her ass and then he throws her thru a plate glass window, the next scene we see her, which is set only hours later, she is in pristine condition, no scratches, no bruises, nothing. Even her clothes are still in perfect shape.
Unless they have a standard regenerator from Star Trek, there's no way these people are healing this fast.
And another scene, Braddock slits the throat of the millionaire investor, played by the gorgeous Antonio Banderas, whose funded this whole search for his family's gold, but there's literally one little line of blood along this throat. They show him multiple times and there's no blood spurting, no blood anywhere except for one tiny line where she slit.
All the CGI they had in this movie and they couldn't do better than that? But I guess they were going for that PG-13 rating.
I did like that beautiful cat, though.
Why the Heck Did I Buy This House? (2022)
Give me a break, please.
The first episode, right out of the gate, I'm wondering why this show exists. It must be solely to showcase rich, white people who have nothing better to spend money on then adding MORE space to their house, to clutter it up.
We walk into the backyard, because this is why the couple bought their home. They hate the house, love the yard. But then we walk into the house and there's crap EVERYWHERE. Laundry, paperwork, toys, just crap everywhere.
They're problem is NOT that they don't have room; they just don't like to clean house. Because they have two HUGE living rooms. Side-by-side HUGE living rooms. But their big sofa and dining room table are in one, and what looks like a random overflow of junk has filled up the other.
Their kitchen is the only area that needs real help. In a huge house, they have this teeny, tiny kitchen. So I can get behind redesign there. But the rest is just silly.
Then the husband is whining because his "office" is in the laundry/pantry room and he's "so mad" because he's on a call and all people can see is their stacked washer and dryer. Well, buddy, I have a solution for ya, CLOSE THE DOOR THAT'S THERE TO HIDE THOSE THINGS!
Then they navigate to their primary bedroom where they just have "no privacy." Poor babies have no retreat just for them. And yet there's a king size bed, as well as a super size twin/full Murphy bed at the end of that, for their kids to "crash in the middle of the night." WTF?!
So rather than redesigning the space they already clearly have, this new show runner adds in a NEW primary suite with a huge bathroom, closet etc. PLUS an office for the poor hubby, so he's not so embarrassed by his laundry.
Give me a break! I will give this one more episode but if the next one is as ridiculous as this, I won't watch anymore. Rather than taking $100,000 to add on to this house, this couple needed a therapist and a home organizing team. People to teach them that if they want private time with mommy and daddy, then kiddies have to stay in their own rooms. Then a whole team to buy them cabinets and shelves and organize the hell out of all that crap, and teach them how to put things back where they find them, then their house will be nice and neat.
They're all jumping up and down over the nice design this lady did for them, but let's be realistic, in a week there's gonna be laundry everywhere, toys everywhere and whatever else crap they had piled up everywhere. They didn't learn a damn thing except to put a band aid on a missing limb that clearly needs ER treatment.
Fix My Flip (2022)
Some people should never try to flip a home
This is an interesting concept; different from many other HGTV shows where professionals come in and help flippers who are in over their heads, be it first timers or people who just made bad decisions on this particular deal.
Page evaluates the home, then offers her expertise for a cut of the profit, sometimes including her own money to invest in the reno. Most every time the flippers barter her initial offer down. In some cases, I can agree, but others, her expertise is direly needed and worth every penny of whatever profit portion she takes.
For example, the fourth episode is a married couple, first time flippers, who bought a home to flip based on their emotional response to the place (it reminded them both of his childhood home. Say wut?!), borrowed extensively from both of their parent's, plus loans to purchase and renovate, clearly had NO plan whatsoever for how they were going to proceed and did not do a speck of research on the area they purchased and planned to sell in. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
And the husband side of the team was a real know-it-all, while the wife seemed to be going along with whatever he said because she believed him to be knowledgeable. Because he has an MBA. Apparently from Walmart's online college. 'Cause he ain't knowing a lot by a LONG shot!
At the time Page is asked to come in, they've been sitting on this 977 sq foot of property for eight months, making $4,000 per month mortgage payments (not including taxes and insurance!), they've gutted the interior, removing ALL of the original 1920's charm and character, and threw it in a garbage pile in the back yard, and they had a 1,000 square foot addition planned, which brought their total Renovation Budget to $525,000.
The market they were in, houses of the same size were being sold for $1.2 million or more and it is a young and funky artist community, who WANT small homes with LOTS of character and charm. Everything that is the polar opposite of what these two are doing. Not only that, but they were spending $375,000 dollars on top of what they'd already spent, to add that addition that people wouldn't want and WOULD NOT PAY FOR, so the max they would likely sell for would be $1.3 million. Netting them $100,000 additional profit for spending $375,000.
As Page notes, this is just basic math. And she knows what she's talking about because she's a professional and she did her damn homework.
So these two agree to her revisions (him clearly reluctant because he thinks he's the man), getting rid of the addition and trying to infuse some of the character they cluelessly ripped out, while spending only $100,000 more, and selling within two months for a tidy profit. They agree at first, but then after she and her team have gone in and done prolly a week's work of work or more, she hears from them with urgent news: they've decided they want to do the addition anyway, and common sense be damned! I sure hope both their sets of parents are independently wealthy 'cause they ain't ever seeing THAT money again!
So she flat out tells them "I wish you luck, but I'm out. I cannot in good faith continue if this is the road you're going down." Basically, you're idiots and you're on your own.
So she gets a call from two brothers she's worked with before, and they've done a flip in the same funky artist neighborhood, and they want her advise on something. She arrives and the place is seemingly done, if very plain and builder-grade. The brothers reveal they want to keep this flip and make it their first rental investment property.
Page explains that, because of the neighborhood, rentals don't go for a lot, and they would actually lose money every single month. She advises them to sell, and take that hefty sum and THEN buy their first rental investment. They know she's talking sense and so agree and she and her team stage and bring in some character, and the place goes for the tidy sum of $1.1 million, but it's an all cash offer. Those are awesome!
At the end of the show Page goes back to the married couples sh!t-show to see how things are progressing. No one is on site, prolly because they ran and hid from shame when they saw her coming. Lol! But seriously, four months later and they've literally gotten NOTHING more done on this property. There are some pipes laid in the dirt where the addition is supposed to apparently, eventually maybe go...but that's it.
So these two nitwits have now paid $48,000 in mortgage payments (plus taxes and insurance) for a home they won't be living in and now won't be able to sell for enough to get back a substantial profit, if any at all. And there's no end in site.
As Page states right before the credits roll, this particular flip is a cautionary tale for ALL first time flippers. And man, is it ever.