iamjustchaz Reviews

Normal People (2020)

Annoying story about a snowflake man child

[6/10 · 12 December 2020]

Cannot fault the writer for earning from this. It is made to evoke what it does. the acting is superb well shot and the entire serie is bingeable for those inclined to love such as this. I'd give it a 10 if it were not for the story of a tongue tied cranial imbecile who brings everyone vulnerable enough to be in his grasp, through hell because of his idiotic shortcomings. All I have to say. A waste of my time as there was nothing to learn here, with entertainment value only for emotionally underdeveloped teens.

Industry (2020– )

Well written, fast paced, nuanced and entraping. You'll love it.

[9/10 · 20 November 2020]

Before I review this title, the review placed before me struck me hard, with a score of 3. 3!, so I am glad I had watched episode 1 before coming here, that way I did not have to rely on how wrong headed it was.The first complaint in that review, was about how the reviewer was annoyed that shows now have "the complete spectrum of diversity with men, women, black, asian, white, gay, straight", "all represented equally in an industry where it's obviously not the case" and lamenting how this was "becoming commonplace in 2020" What utter bunk! I suppose art can never be aspirational and in a USA that has deprived so many for so long, for the benefit of White people, this fiend just wants his art to stay the same way, which constituted a reason to downgrade the show. Do with that what you will in deciding whether to view this show, and, know that the current 5.8 rating can only be due to the awful rating of such people.

Now for my review. I have never seen the protagonist before and was delighted to see she is a consummate actress. She holds her part very well and the compliment of actors, accents, personalities, abrasive and competitive as should be, adds the perfect amount of drama to a show about youngsters in a highly charged environment. Lena Dunham's directorship of the first episode was great. The writing is superb, the interactions are not far fetched and no one is insulting my intelligence. I love the flow for which my emotions rise and fall as it meanders, with a few stark surprises sprinkled in. Watch this show. It is a mashup of Billions, Succession and whatever your well acted twenties aged emotional community show. Enjoy. Do not hesitate.

Tehran (2020– )

High hopes then disappointment again.

[6/10 · 19 November 2020]

Great beginning, no insults to my intelligence till episode three when the writing falls sadly apart and becomes laughable, as the honed operative starts to make idiotic childlike decisions. You then wonder what the writers were thinking! Safe house refusal, endangering family, attending protest because a boy urges, did not know d-chat was theirs. It just spirals. Was hoping for Homeland brilliance and nuance but this transformation in ep 3 is infuriating after investing three hours. Do better!

Sharp Objects (2018)

Can't take it anymore.

[1/10 · 10 August 2018]

Watched the first episode with hope. I like a slow burner with a plot build up and twist but I had to take a week off at episode three. Came back and persevered, but now smack in the middle of episode 5, I am bailing, regretting my time lost. Current over 8 rating is a joke. All four and a half episodes could have fit into one hour with time to spare. The atmosphere is charged, Amy's depression is palpable, the names flying around are lamentable and the story will just not lift off. Why? A million words and moments trying to re-mire you in the angst, neurosis and fatality over and over so much so that you end up not caring who is doing the murdering or what triggers lay in her past.

Snowfall: Prometheus Rising (2018) Season 2, Episode 3

Hands down one of the best shows on TV ATM

[10/10 · 3 August 2018]

Coming a year late into this gem, I binged season one, saw some flaws but knew it had potential. Needless to say, this season I am at odds having to wait a week each week. Everything about the show has been elevated. Plot lines, acting, mood, depth. I feel like we could have another Breaking Bad level indulgence here. Well done to the creators.

Succession (2018–2023)

Slow burning, scorched earth, ride along

[10/10 · 30 July 2018]

This family and its descending layers of outliers are vicious. Needless to say, the acting is superb. Everyone unique and in well developed and honed character, delivering slicing episode after episode of mouth watering, back stabbing, joy. Very watchable drama that should also be a cringe-y comedy for the absurdist plots that are pulled off with aplomb. This should have an 8+ score here. Very well done again, HBO.

Snowfall (2017–2023)

Entertaining, packed and well thought out

[9/10 · 25 June 2018]

I know the stories and have seen the documentaries about the Iran Contra - US Cocaine epidemic so I did not come for another documentary, as some reviewers seem to think this should have been. I do not have a moral opposition to crime dramas, as the topic some are railing here about. This is a well scripted, shot and edited show, with enough story lines and complexity to keep the mind occupied, including a black perspective, which is not oft seen, while not assailing the intelligence of the thinking person viewer. That is what I signed up to watch, and what the show is providing so far, in an unvarnished manner. Good job.

Black Lightning (2018–2021)

Ignore any low votes here and watch the show. Trust me, it will make perfect sense why they did. Same as it ever was.

[9/10 · 26 January 2018]

First episode in and this is first rate, compared to recent oversaturated superhero show landscape. Not too campy, cartoonish or stereotypical but rather quite relatable, for members or non members of the depicted community. The acting is well done with no cringe worthy excess. This is This Is Us, with a different theme. Never having been one for superhero fare, either in novels or on screen, I heard the show runner interviewed on NPR and decided to check it out. For someone without a lot of time to watch TV, I lean into the usual top flight stuff, from Breaking Bad to GOT through Homeland, Good Wife, House of Lies and Westworlds, I will say that if the first episode is an apt indicator, do not be deterred from watching. They are compelling characters, a well balanced storyline and good actors to boot.

Those lamenting SJW, BLM etc, may have agendas, but if yours is good TV fare, watch it.