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Reviews
Atypical (2017)
About autistics but not for us
I have autism. I'm so tired of everything with autism in the title making me feel like all we are is a burden on everyone around us, or just a cautionary tale for anti-vaxxers.
This show just seems like autism is a gimmick to them so they can prove how brave and giving all the other characters are for having to deal with Sam.
Other than that, the storyline is pretty typical family drama. The cast is really good. The writing is pretty
I wish I'd never seen it. I don't have anything else to say
Why should we have to type so many extra letters? Some people can say things without writing Ulysses.
Mass Effect 3 (2012)
Way overrated
The Mass Effect trilogy, culminating in ME3, is a huge undertaking and a spectacular feat of storytelling. It also has some of the most boring combat mechanics, tetchy physics, and obvious plot devices I've ever encountered.
The game is about 20% playable, and 80% movie you just sit by and watch, wishing you could play the game rather than sit there like you were binge-watching Netflix episodes.
The DLCs are gimmicky and The Citadel in particular has such an obvious ending it is apparent from the moment a particular character appears on-screen for the first time.
Other "neat" features of Mass Effect: A chance to beat the heck out of an unarmed woman (a reporter), tons of ableism, and all brought to you by 2012's "Worst Company in America" as reported by The Consumerist
It's stunning in design, but the playable portions (after all these years and the legendary release) are still tetchy and, frankly, tedious. A great story marred by poor design.
For my money, go right to Andromeda. By far the best game in the ME universe.
Trump Card (2020)
A felon proves he doesn't know what words mean
"Socialism" is a political system whereby the means of production are owned by the people. But it has become the latest buzzword in thee conservative excuse boom for waging rightwing terror. This is nothing more than a propaganda tool by a convicted felon to encourage people to shoot their neighbors. It's made with exactly the same kind of high dudgeon production values all absolutely insane end days agitprop is made, and will no doubt appeal to the sam sorts of people: conspiracy theorists, anti-government nutjobs, and yes, domestic terrorists. This is just the latest two-minute hate from the deplorables.
Wanda Sykes: Not Normal (2019)
Yuck
I used to love Wanda Sykes, but I despise anyone who humiliates her own children for a laugh. This special marked the last time I will ever listen to a thing Wanda Sykes is ever involved with.
Travel Man: 48 Hours in... (2015)
Not good
I love Richard Ayoade, so I really wanted to love this show. I don't feel I learned much about any of the places visited, and some of the guests might as well have been bumps on logs (looking at you, Cathy Burke).
If Moss and Magda can't make one of the most interesting cities on the planet seem even remotely appealing or a place one would want to visit, it sort of fails as a travel show.
Some of the bits were very amusing, but I would have rather just watched a comedy routine than celebrities touring museums and talking about how they don't like the art.
I found the entire series flat, and was much more about everyone paying attention to Richard Ayoade's wacky presence. Could have just stayed home for that.
Lady Dynamite (2016)
Awkward
Comedians who profess to love their family members, but go on to make a career out of mocking and humiliating them are always an embarrassment, and that embarrassment continues in this awkward .... Comedy?
The writing is just boring, and even the calmest viewer will be scrambling for benzodiazepines with the constant angst.
I have no idea why anyone enjoys feeling that way.
Some of the guest spots were enjoyable, but even most of them seemed to be participating reluctantly.
Bamford can be amusing, but I have no idea why her parents haven't disowned her.
Sanctuary (2008)
Awful
I like the premise, but Amanda Tapping just can't act and as I get into the show (as much as that is possible), the writing is horribly predictable, overly trendy, and just plan bad. At least the premise is interesting. That's more than can be said for most shows. Shame they put it together in such an artless way.
The Wheel of Time (2021)
Boring
A bland realization of Jordan's overhyped series with the fantasy-themed look du jour.
There is nothing new or interesting in the way of themes, cinematography, art direction or anything.
I have no idea why anyone bothered.
Wonder Woman 1984 (2020)
Awful
Every single minute of this film is a millionaire making a horrible decision.
Just awful from start to finish. Way to tank a promising franchise: something at which DC excels.
Katherine Ryan: Glitter Room (2019)
Meh
There are plenty of really funny female comedians working today
Go watch one of their specials instead.
This routine just smacks of lazy pandering by someone who spent way more time on her hair and makeup than her material.
Boring, pretentious, and just plain bad.
Daniel Sloss: Live Shows (2018)
Worst TED Talk Ever
One condescending lecture after another, with some clever jokes thrown in. Like every other comedian today, lectures include how the audience is allowed to engage with the comedian, which I've heard done better by Maria Bamford, Anthony Jeselnek, etc etc
Yes, we know. Just tell the jokes, already.
Tribes of Europa (2021)
Eh
I might like this show if they recast it with live actors, rather than cardboard cutouts
Riverdale (2017)
Embarrassing
I love watching this show because it's so over the top awful. Horribly unimaginative writing (shankshaw prison? Please), stilted acting, plot holes you could fit Texas through. It's the perfect show for the current generation: regurgitating 80s pop-culture while hating the generation the lived it.
The over the top drama is fun, but if these people weren't so darned pretty they'd all be working at McDonalds
The Umbrella Academy (2019)
Very so so
Lemony Snicket's "The Watchmen"
That's really all you need to know. I understand why people watch, but I mistrust the abilities of anyone who thinks this show is any better than extremely average.
The Good Place (2016)
Good entertainment
Ever since his black face episode, I find Ted Danson insufferable. If they recast his character, I'd give this a higher rating.
It's a testament to the writers and the rest of the cast that I'm willing to sit through anything with Danson it.
Cobra Kai (2018)
Yikes
This sad resurfacing of the Karate Kid is just embarrassing for everyone involved.
Fate: The Winx Saga (2021)
Meh
The cast does a great job, but the wring is fairly predictable and plodding. One special effects scene at a particularly crucial moment is so horribly done I actually burst out laughing at the badness of it. I think I could have done better in Blender. There are some decent fantasy elements, but I've pretty much met every character before in Harry Potter, The Magicians, etc etc etc.
I will watch a second season if Netflix makes one, but I probably won't notice if they don't
The Boys (2019)
Excellent
If superheroes were a real thing, this is most likely how it would go down.
A grim look at human nature as it exists, rather than how we like to pretend it is.
Island of Bryan (2019)
People screaming at each other
If you enjoy watching married couples scream and shout at each other, this is the show for you.
I can't imagine visiting this resort if they ever get it finished. I feel like It would be nothing but people trying to relax while the owners yell and scream on the other side of the wall.
Yiluck
Runaways (2017)
2 out of 3 seasons were excellent
But the third season was trite and stupid.
Suddenly, the kids are mostly fine with their serial killer, control freak parents, which was the whole point of becoming runaways in the first place. So I guess all these morally stalwart children with deep convictions about the evils of the older generation and its misuse of power are really OK with kids being murdered, as long as they get to hug mommy and daddy.
And they dragged in Morgan La Fey of all characters. So trite. Obviously, the writers ran out of ideas, and just pulled in a character that's already appeared in just about every fantasy/speculative fiction show in history. Might as well have pulled in Dracula and Jack the Ripper.
After two seasons - which were REALLY good - the third season is so awful, I now no longer wonder why it was the last. What a mess.
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (2016)
A hot mess
If you're a fan of Douglas Adams, no doubt you've read Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. The creator of the series says he didn't want to "slavishly" follow the books, but I can't see that he followed Adam's vision at all, other then the name of the main character and making him a quirky detective.
This show is a swing and a miss. It attempts to incorporate Adams's mastery of bizarre and often non-sequitur wit, but misses the wit altogether.
It's just weird for the sake of being weird, and the pilot failed to make me laugh even once.
There's just no Douglas Adams here, and that's very, very sad. I really wanted to like this show, but it's boring and largely unwatchable.