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PhillConklin
Reviews
The Voyeurs (2021)
All My Lotion is Gone.
Yup I used it all. The movie is interesting titillation but reaches it's height on the climax I reached for my pen 15 times. I wish I had more to say but I just came for the show. It really took me for a ride, a bumpy ride. Never before have I ever been so quickly turned on by an optomologist, she had my glasses steaming and I don't even wear them. I would say a story holds this together but the story is flaccid at best and hard to grip just when it needs to. But Sydney Sweeney delivers a good time I stand erect to give her applause for a great performance. I like Justice Smith in a Pokemon movie but I don't know why we as the audience are supposed to believe he could land a girl like Sydney's character. Overall I was on the edge of my pants I mean seat. I was moist with anticipation as the ending approached but felt like a boob for not seeing the twist. I recommend you watch this when no one is home you will have a better time unless you want to immerse yourself in the theme of the movie, but it should be a good time. In fact yes it was a good time but I've had better.
The movie might be better on a second or third viewing but I would recommend a suitable refractory period.
Fear the Walking Dead: Channel 4 (2019)
Wholesome and Pure
What I like about this season and these last few episodes is it shows the characters in a really good place trying to make a meaningful change in the world. I never thought I would fit in a zombie apocalypse because it is cruel and cynical and overly pragmatic, but these people I vibe with and I'm happy to be on the journey with them and their newfound idealism and altruism. I know it won't stay happy for long but I'm really enjoying this side of the apocalypse where people are genuinely trying to be good people despite circumstances.
Morgan continues to be my favorite character but I also love John and June. Alicia also has a very nice arc. And a character I didn't like in Walking Dead Dwight is just becoming a wonderful presence with this new family he has. Everyone is just in a great spot. I wish nothing would change. I know that's asking too much because utopia can't exist for long in this world but its really warm and wholesome to see glimpses of it.
Doogie Kamealoha, M.D. (2021)
Cute and Wholesome
I took on this show a few weeks ago watching it with my mom and I find it really charming. Every cast member is adorable in their own way. The show is grounded in a structure I have not felt in awhile a good wholesome family TV show. I really like the main character Doogie, she lights up every scene she is with her infectious smile. My second favorite character is the dad whose laid back attitude and cheerful demeanor grounds the main characters personality. Basically I can see how this girl turns out how she was with parents like this. It's a lovely show that emits a bright light. The origin of the name is harmless, rather than erasing the history of Doogie Howser they opted to go with a character inspired by the TV character. I really liked that.
The show always leaves me with a smile and offers genuine heart and laughs. A near perfect within it's genre.
The Walking Dead: Find Me (2021)
Yay finally!
Since the show began I have never cared for Daryl, not because he isn't good but because he relies on the mysterious lone wolf trope. He relies on us knowing as little about him as possible to keep up a false mystique so his dialogue is always very short or nothing at all. This is frustrating for an audience that genuinely wants to know these people more. We have seen them struggle but we don't often get a glimpse beyond that. I think this season has done a great job at letting the audience finally see Daryl, he has lots of meaningful dialogue with Carol and little Judith. It's cool because I think the writers have realized what I have all along is at some point we need to see their characters as people. I like that we finally get a glimpse into that with this will they won't they situation and we get to see him in a happy vulnerable place. It was cool. I like the chemistry between them it was convincing, and how dog rounds out their little self contained family. Even if it's a one off I hope the writing continues to move at a wise pace into this kind of character development for Daryl, doesn't mean he has to lose what makes him Daryl but at least let us see characters beyond their outward facade.
The pacing wasn't great but other than that I don't have much to critique here.
The Walking Dead: One More (2021)
Oh Gabe...
For me narrative it starts slow but builds into really meaningful dialogue of ideas. Unfortunately for me the show completely unwinds by building Gabe in a way that undermines what he is saying. Two men just bonding is the first place where the show really shows it's strength. A bottle of fine whiskey, cards, and meaningful talk about human nature and faith. Very good. Enters new character that tests them in ways the really force them to examine how much they believe what they preach, this was very touching as the element of self sacrifice and authentic love for your brother in struggle showed here. And if they ended the episode there gaining a new ally and perspective along the way I would have been very satisfied, but almost immediately out of left field the show goes completely dark, cynical and nihilistic and is fueled by inauthenticity in Gabe and that is truly disappointing watching the character develop but also on a larger scale about where the writers are taking the story and how they feel about people that are religious. I would just edit it in a way that removes the last 5 minutes and I think we would have a truly inspiring episode. Overall it felt like a letdown and missed opportunity with the character.
The Walking Dead: Diverged (2021)
That's a Rough One.
My most generous compliment I can give about this episode is you see them trying to develop Carol and why she struggles with running. The drab and everyday frustrations of life are perhaps a bit much for her. Maybe they remind her of the struggles she had when she was a housewife. So I don't want to discount this episode as worthless like many of my peers in the review section but it really is a tough episode to get through especially as the 2nd to last episode of the season when things are usually ramping up to a big conflict. It really felt like you were watching something happen in slow motion the pacing was bad. But I do think sometimes stuff like this is needed for the audience to understand the tedium of everyday life in a world like this. Darryl's little motorcycle incident is a good example of the grind of getting through a day and how much effort is expended just to do tasks we take for granted in a first world non apocalyptic world we live in. So in some ways I'm grateful for boring episodes like this but you need to understand your audience sometimes. This was not enjoyable in anyway for most folks. On the plus side we got lots of time with Dog, he is such a good boy.
The Walking Dead: Splinter (2021)
My first review. Juanita is Cool.
I was curious what people thought of this one. So I browsed the reviews and there was so much negativity. I thought it was cool, we have this new high energy character very likable who clearly cares like all the best characters this show has portrayed over the year and we give her space to develop her backstory and issues she faces. I feel the show has needed someone like this for awhile where most characters are heavy burdened and drab and their lack of energy in dialogue is expressed. I've always liked Jerry and Ezekiel for this reason they bring energy and optimism, Princess is a nice little light in a dark world and I hope people come around to enjoying her as I do. I know there aren't any explosions in the episode but to me that doesn't make it less enjoyable, I watch for the characters I think are good, and the writing. And I felt like the episode did a good job at taking the journey with her and seeing her motives as a truly genuine person that wants to help the people that accepted her. It wasn't the best thing ever but I don't feel the rest of the reviews speak out of an objective measurement of good writing and entertainment. It had a nice twist in the episode (didn't see it coming) and really told a compelling narrative with this new character as the lead. And it gives a glimpse into a story that will be further explored likely in the next season. This new group is scary so there is alot to look forward to.