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laitkin
Reviews
Sex Education: Episode 2 (2023)
Getting Back on Track
Now season four is starting to feel like the real Sex Education. While I am still very much missing the old characters who weren't kept, I am warming to a couple of the new ones.
They seemed to jump straight into the old "jealous Otis" storyline early, which was frustrating. You'd think the character would be more self-aware if his own insecurities. There are a lot of unnecessary silly hurdles to Otis and Maeve just being happy together.
It's still strange that Jacob and Ola are just gone. Ola literally named Jean's baby and now there's no sign of them.
When Sex Education first started the actors all seemed very talented straight off the bat, however the actors playing the new students don't seem as polished. I hope that aspect improves over the season.
I'm not riveted by what's happening but I am happy to keep watching.
Sex Education: Episode 1 (2023)
Hope the season gets better from here
I hate to say it but this ep was boring. I know they need a chance to set new characters & plot points up, but it was seriously uneventful. I went from being keen to watch the whole season in one hit to feeling the urge to switch to something else.
I'm also so extremely disappointed to see a lot of great characters gone. I was looking forward to the newbies but this episode didn't highlight any particularly likeable ones.
Finally, I know that this is set in a world where the UK has pseudo-US style schools so Moordale was always a bit fanciful, BUT... this new school... come on. It's ridiculous. I know Gen z are wonderfully switched on & inclusive, but this was just pushed to the point of irritating.
I'm still going to keep watching. I have my fingers crossed that, even if it's not the best season, at the very least, the beloved characters that haven't been banished into the ether will get a satisfying finale.
Persuasion (2022)
It's Fine
I'd say that if you're a fan of the book, put it out of your mind and come to this film with fresh eyes. As long as you enjoy the average rom-com and you try to view this as its own story you'll probably have a pleasant experience.
I really love and appreciate the diverse casting, although there is something odd about the performances of the main cast. There is something very flat about them - even the comedic characters - that I have to think comes from the direction. The characters who most stand out due to natural and energetic performances are Louisa and the two little boys. I feel like these three performers ignored any notes given and went with their instincts. (Yes, obviously little children don't get a lot of direction, but that is my point here.) Everyone else is very monotone and expressionless during dramatic scenes, and even during most of the silly ones.
I don't mind the modernisation of the language and Anne's breaking of the fourth wall is cute. Someone decided a few years every period piece at the moment has to have a stylised gimmick, and those are the ones used here.
It was disappointing that there didn't seem to be any chemistry between Anne and either love interest. And again, I'm not seeing this as an actor issue, because I've all three perform well in other films. There's no depth behind the lines spoken and when the whole cast is in the same boat, it makes you look at where the director is steering them.
I also think if there'd been more of a prologue so that the audience could see Anne and Wentworth young and in love, the stakes would have felt higher when they ran the risk of losing each other again. It all went a bit too quickly without any efforts to pad out any characters.
Still, again, I say if you're looking for a pleasant enough rom-com break from the real world then this is a good option.