Tatiana Maslany is so underrated, what a brilliant actress.
If there are still people complaining about the second season not being here and the first one only having 13 episodes: The original Spanish series currently (June 2018) has 15 episodes (part 1: 9 episodes, part 2: 6 episodes), each episode being 70 minutes long! That‘s what you‘re seeing here. Netflix made 40-55 minute episodes out of them, resulting in 13 episodes for the first part and 9 episodes for the second part, so that’s 22 episodes overall. A little confusing, but everything is right in Trakt.tv. There are 15 episodes in the spanisch release and 22 episodes in the Netflix release. And it‘s two parts in Netflix, not two seasons (yet).
The first 9 episodes aired in spain are the first 13 episodes in Netflix and the last 6 episodes aired in spain as a second part, are also the second part in Netflix, but with 9 episodes. It’s that simple ;)
And for those of you being like „Fix it!“ ... Trakt.TV pulls data from other databases (TMDB, TVDB), so that‘s where data comes from. Those databases are community driven, so if there actually would be an error, you could fix it yourself. But there isn‘t, so everything‘s fine! :)
Midsommar is a complicated beast. Those going for something as linear as Hereditary will be immediately disappointed by Midsommars somewhat convoluted plot elements and meandering pace. I sat in the cinema as the credits rolled by, deep in thought about what I just watched, and if it was any good. Nothing really sat well with me, and the film didn't really connect upon immediate completion, but I gave it time to digest.
Ari Asters two movies are very much at odds with each other. Hereditary slaps you with it's excellent presentation, pace, sense of dread and quality of acting on display. Then, upon further inspection, it's woven plot elements and symbolism shine through on subsequent viewing.
Midsommar is very much the opposite. The film almost dawdles in it's presentation and doesn't fully attack you with it's acting chops or narrative (although Florence is simply stunning in her portrayal of Dani). Midsommar more presents it's parts in a very matter-of-fact fashion, and then leaves it up to you to connect the dots of both the plot and what's on display. While there is far too much to unpack in this small comment section, I'd just like to detail some of my favourite themes on display in Midsommar, and why it went from a 6/10 during my cinema viewing, to a solid 8 - 8.5/10 upon reflection.
--- LONG DISCUSSION OF SPOILERS BELOW THIS POINT ---
One of Midsommars central parallels is the individualism/selfishness of Western life and it's stark comparison to the commune we are introduced to. Examples of this are: During the intro, Dani is going through the trauma of a suicidal family member and her boyfriend, Christian, is encouraged by his friends to abandon her in her time of need telling her to see her therapist as it's not his problem. Christian echos these sentiments directly to Dani about her sister, telling her to leave her alone as she is just doing this for attention. Upon arriving at the commune in Sweden, Mark is unwilling to wait for Dani to be ready to take shrooms. Josh, knowing of Dani's recent trauma involving death, subjects her to the suicide of the elders for his own thesis and research. Christian uses the situation to further his own academic efforts, much to the annoyance of Josh. Everyone is acting in their own self interest regardless of the emotional toll this takes on their friendships. This is a stark contrast to how we see the commune deal with distress, emotion and personal issues. When Dani sees Christian cheating on her, the female members of the commune bawl, weep, scream and cry along with Dani, literally experiencing her burden with her to lessen the load. As described by Pelle, the commune "hold" you during your distress, helping you cope and living through those emotions with you. This is further cemented by the scene earlier in the movie, shortly after Dani's sister commits suicide. We see Dani hunched over Christian's lap overcome with emotion, screaming out the pain of the loss of her sister. Christian is anything but present however, his eyes vacant as if he weren't there with her at all. This is possibly my favourite theme of the movie, as it really paints how alone we are in modern society regardless of how many people we surround ourselves with. How many people are actually there for us in our time of need? Sure, they might be physically present, but are they actually there, sharing our pain? It's truly terrifying to think about.
My other favourite theme is who is and isn't a bad person. I've seen many people online say they think Christian is a horrible boyfriend for how he treats Dani. While I can understand their position, I struggle to see how Christian is the bad guy for his actions. Christian finds himself in a dying relationship which he is mentally checked out from but decides to stay to help her through the grief of losing her parents and sister. Christian even goes as far as to bring her on vacation with him to help her through her trauma, even though he wants to split up with her. Would the audience have prefered Christian leave Dani right after she lost her family? That would have been MUCH worse. Do these actions warrant what happens to Christian? I don't think so at all. Christian is so misunderstood in this movie, I can't wait to see it again to draw more conclusions on his character. Is Josh a bad person for wanting to fully envelope himself in a foreign culture? Although we know it is largely for academic gain, Josh does seem to love learning about the culture of these people, wanting to see how they operate and know every intricacy of their faith. Does this warrant his murder for trying to document their sacred texts? Should an outsider be murdered for enjoying and absorbing someone elses culture and customs, or should they be thanked for their interest and passion? (Sidenote, I see Josh's character as a direct reflection of the usual racial stereotypes we see in movies of this ilk. Usually we see the white academic researching the savage native/minority tribe, but Josh is the exactly flip of this, which is a nice touch). Were Connie and Simon wrong for coming into another culture and expressing disgust at their customs? Should they have been so outwardly disgusted and vocal about their disapproval while being welcomed in by the commune? Sure it didn't warrant their ultimate fate, but this small subplot asks an interesting question about outsiders attempting to shape and alter other cultures and customs as it doesn't sit with their ideals.
Other small details:
While it's directly conveyed to the viewer that the red haired girl is attempting to cast a love incantation on Christian via pubes in his pie and runes under his bed, very little attention is given to the fact that Christians drink is a slight shade darker than everyone elses. From the tapestry we see at the start of the festival, we know exactly what the red haired girl has slipped into his drink :face_vomiting: Fantastic subtle horror/grossness.
Pelle talks about how his parents died in a fire and the commune helped him through the trauma of that loss. After the ending, it's pretty clear the fire wasn't an accident, and they evidently died for some kind of ritual.
Artwork above Dani's bed at the beginning shows a girl with crown kissing a bear. While direct foreshadowing to latter events, it also asks the question if this was all fate. Dani's sister's final message reads "I see black now" (potentially a reference to The Black One) before killing herself and her parents. Were Dani's parents 72 and this was the end of their cycle? Was Dani's sister already a distant member of the commune?
Runes are scattered all throughout the film to foreshadow certain character arcs or add more meaning. My favourite hidden rune is the doors to the temple, which when open, make the rune for "Opening" or "Portal". Amazing attention to detail.
Yeah, this movie is much MUCH better on reflection and I absolutely cannot wait to see it again. I really hope Ari's 3 hour 40 minute directors cut is released so there is more to dissect. While not as immediately impressive has Hereditary, Midsommar definitely has the layers and complexity to be a slowburn horror classic.
EDIT: I am now 4 days out from my first viewing and I've not stopped thinking about this movie. I've become a frequent visitor of the films subreddit and have even purchased/listened to the films dread-inducing yet somehow joyous soundtrack a number of times throughout the days. I've been reading up on runes and their meanings, reading up set analysis for hidden meanings and any other small details others can find. A movie hasn't vibed with me like this for a long long time so to reflect this, I think it's only right I bump my score from an 8/10 to a 9/10. When I can get my hands on the digital download/Blu-Ray, I'm sure this might even go higher.
It wasn't awful, but, I think I must be the only person in the world who didn't think it was great. There were times when breaking out into song mid-conversation without some sort of elaborate set-change didn't make sense, The 2 leads weren't exactly talented singers or dancers -- no wow numbers. The sets improved by the time the final number rolled around, but the singing and dancing remained an afterthought.
I see many people here complaining that the message of this episode was blatantly obvious and simple, but I don't really think that is the point of the episode.
In my interpretation, this episode was mainly here to tell a story of a tragic character that does immoral things out of desperation whilst also showing glimpses of humanity in his actions, which in no way justify his actions. Similarly, they try to humanise each and every side of this story. Even the big CEO of the company that arguably does a lot of social evil has his big humanising moment, where he admits that it all spun out of control, and I think we can all relate to that.
There is no evil character. It is all a complex web that creates evil, and the point, as I see it, was not to bash into the heads of people to not text and drive, or to stop using social media, but simply to tell a story. A story that utilises the all-consuming technology in our society, and I think it does that job fantastically. It is suspenseful, layered, and incredibly moving.
"How does it feel to be in a womans body?" Idk dude, just pick her yourself next round
Trakt doesn't allow emojis in comments, but If it were, my comment would be somerhing like: The soundtrack in this show is fire emoji fire emoji fire emoji.
"STEVE, YOUR CHILDREN ARE HERE!" The most accurate line that's been said on the show.
Huh. Y'all can skip this one
Twilight becomes both much more funny and much more bearable when you are familiar with the genre and take it as the film equivalent of a shōjo manga or otome game, including all the same tropes. Under these criteria, it's actually a pretty fun movie.
Hot Take: If you can tolerate James Bond movies but this one somehow makes you feel weird, perhaps it's because you're more used to or more comfortable with male fantasies of sexual desirability. Either way, I used to hate Twilight because I felt superior to all the stupid girls who liked it. Now I just accept it for what it is: wish-fulfilment. Sure, Edward would be a creepy stalker and borderline abusive if not for story mechanics that tell us he can be trusted because he's a good guy, but that's the beauty of fiction: in real life there's no such thing as "good guys" and "bad guys," but in stories, there is. Similarly, James Bond would be a serial sexual harasser if not for the fact that all the women he encounters are super into him, but again, that's the beauty of fiction: they always are, and we know it's okay for him to be a dick sometimes because he is, you guessed it, a good guy. And yes, there's some weird puritan ideology here about the dangers of male sexuality, but that's still a hundred times better than for instance the subtext of Bram Stoker's Dracula (which, funnily enough, is about the dangers of female sexuality).
So, once more for the people in the back: Twilight is silly, implausible, and often ridiculous. And that's absolutely okay.
That being said, things I like about this film: the great way in which it captures teenage awkwardness (which I find hilarious and at this point have to believe is intentional); the fact that Bella just accepts he's a vampire because it's the most logical conclusion, and there's no drawn out "I can't believe this guy stopped a car with his bare hands, I'm going to tell everyone about it - oh no, no one believes me!"; the quotability of so much of the dialogue (coming close to the SW prequel trilogy in that department); the absolute dead-pan way in which everyone delivers their lines ("It's like diamonds. You're beautiful." - "Beautiful. This is the skin of a killer, Bella."); The way literally no one looks like they want to be there; the fact that Bella does not seem to be able to fully close her mouth; the implication that vegetarians are "never fully satisfied"; Seemingly endless scenes of piggyback rides (now I finally know why they never actually show how The Flash carries people - it just looks so fucking weird); the shot of Bella's father rolling his friend in the wheelchair right in front of the stairs leading up to his house, followed by a cut so that it's never explained how he actually got inside; the fact that Bella just seems absolutely chill with everything ("I don't sleep." - "Never?" - "No, never." - "Okay.").
Things I don't like about this film: how everyone takes it so goddamned seriously. Oh, and that there is absolutely no instance of "What are you?" - "A waitress."
“Just to know ! Does this season has woke stuff?? So i can skip like the other season”
Last season was about the AIDS epidemic. Gay people do not equal woke. I highly suggest you figure out the correct use of the term or stay far away from everyone.
From the comments here I think people are missing out the idea I think is behind the movie and it's actually a good one.
The level below doesn't exist. I think Goreng died at the bottom and threw the Panna Cotta because the rules of not keeping the food should still apply but didn't, as part of his illusion. The little girl couldn't survive the last level and was too clean for the place, also an illusion.
I think she's the Panna Cotta, which found it's way up and we see it in one of the earlier scenes, where the head chef tried to find whose hair is on the dish.
Goreng thought that his message doesn't need a messenger, that it will be clear - but it was missed. The administration, which I think is a analogy to God which is mentioned a few times in the movie and at every level the question of belief is asked, misses the whole point of it and is clueless to the pain and the suffering of the people below (Imoguiri worked for them, didn't know what the people really go through and thought there are only 250 levels).
They make everyone their favorite food of the highest quality and they probably think it's enough for everyone because each one should get his. The people being people, take more than they should or have to and as a result there's only enough food for the first 50 levels and the familiar hierarchy (the rich take most of the food that can be enough for everyone).
matt: im gonna put on some pants
foggy: no
same
Fun movie. A lot more entertaining than what you would think a figure skating movie to be. Margot Robbie was great and Allison Janney was fantastic. I really enjoyed the music. I thought every time they break the fourth wall was a smart way to deal with conflicting point of views from the real life people and they were funny.
It was such a nice refreshing story, i especially liked the cinematography! How everything is filmed true to life, the spaces, the people, u can see the pimples on the teens faces! Small detail but it made the series so much better and more distinguishable than something like elite where everyone looks as if they were genetically designed to be perfect! Also, it didn't feel like a bait season to make u crave a netflix subscription which is super plus for a netflix original! And i am really excited to see what the next chapter holds
Olivia plays a passive aggressive, narcissistic arsehole SO WELL
What the fuck, Michaela. I'm so annoyed that she cheated on Asher with a guy from Scandal we literally just met and who won't even be relevant anymore in the next episode. It completely came out of nowhere. She and Asher have been through so much and she just cheats with some random guy from another show. Jesus Christ. I'm honestly angry at this.
If Annalise and Wes are gonna be lovers I'm gonna start some serious shit
Krystal is fitness goals, my god.
I feel like it's time to let Krystal into Clone Club, she can handle it. Okay, maybe she'll kick someones ass and flip a table out of a window but she'll handle it surprisingly well, I think.
EDIT: I feel like there's something up with Adele. Those worm things are for targeted gene therapy, right? So what if someone gave Adele one and used it to make her DNA a close enough match to Felix's that they'd look like siblings on a DNA test? I know it's convoluted but when is anyone ever happy in this show? Maybe it's just because Sarah's so suspicious of her, and that's transferring to me too but I'm really not sure about her. Especially when there are DNA changing face worms in the mix.
That was rather disturbing. "Open your eyes, mother. No? Okay, so I'm gonna glue them open" lol
no, i don’t carry my vagina with me all the time. that would be too inappropriate. :drum:
Anyone else kinda wants Adam and Eric to get together? Adam is super mean but I can't help it
BO-KATAN!
This was the episode I was waiting for from this season. Finally, we progress a little bit of the season's overarching goal, and we get everyone's suspicions confirmed. Bo-Katan and Ahsoka Tano are coming to the Mandalorian!
Not only this, but we finally get an explanation as to why Mando acts so different compared to those in other Star Wars media (e.g. Star Wars: The Clone Wars). He's apart of a Mandalorian clan (cult) who wants to restore the original way of the Mandalore. It all makes sense now.
Seeing him interact with Bo-Katan and think they're fake Mandalorians at first was pretty amusing. It's quite a "fish out of water" moment.
I love this show.
IT'S SO MUCH FUN.
TECHNICAL SCORE: 7/10
ENJOYMENT SCORE: 8/10
''I'm gonna write a better album than Reputation''
screen changes to her composing ME!
I'm so sorry sweetie but that's not the way
wow that monologue was an amazing performance from Gina Rodriguez, and a great tv moment!
Still not sure why the feral vampires are all wearing the same coats
will this show ever stop being sad and gay? i hope not
Wowsers - this guy was a dick! It's not the festival goers I necessarily feel sorry for - they had money to burn by all accounts - but its the people who worked on this event, especially the Bahamians, who didn't get paid, that were hit the worst. Billy McFarland needs to take stock of his life and BACK OFF from doing anything like this again.
A great doc, certainly eye opening, and a valuable lesson for those people in Billy's shoes right now.
[8.2/10] I don’t know why this triggered it for me, but the second we saw Boo’s crying face, I knew that it was Fleabag who Boo’s boyfriend cheated on her with. I can’t explain it, but it triggered it for me, which just makes everything that leads up to the show explicitly acknowledging that feel like a slow, despondent slide.
It’s a slide where the show systematically removes every bit of support and connection from Fleabag. It starts at the “sexposition” where her stepmom’s passive aggressive power move leaves Fleabag serving drinks and humiliated. It continues with her weird, pseudo-philosophical lover guy effectively dumping her, while revealing that she was his mistress the whole time. It continues with an appearance from Harry, who has a new girlfriend that seems to know the stepmom, and who rejects Fleabag’s advances. (By the way, holy hell it seems like the stepmom really upped her revenge efforts here -- she’s not a fighter, she’s a plotter and she’s frighteningly good at it.)
But then the hits really come. Claire is still with Martin, who lied and said that Fleabag tried to kiss him not the other way around, something that Claire believes given what happened between Fleabag and Boo.
Holy hell is that a bomb. It hurts because not only does it sever what is arguably the most important connection in Fleabag’s life, but it’s a reminder that Fleabag herself ruined the other most important connection in her life and that it led to her friend’s death. That’s a harrowing thing to deal with.
Before the show fully and finally pulls the rug out from under her though, it gives one little moment of solace with her dad. I love their little conversation, one that reveals despite the emotional distance between the two, they’re actually very much alike. (And I like the little synchronous nose-wipe as a key to that.) Both of them are smarting from the loss of a woman in their lives who meant the world to them, and both grasped at some kind of happiness and intimacy and ability to move on. As big as the Boo cheating reveal here is, the dad reveal is in some way more significant, showing that they’re both making bad or unhelpful or at least impacted decisions given how much the person they lost is still on their mind.
But even that bit of solace is temporary, as the stepmom rears her ugly (smiling) head and to preserve that happiness, dad tells Fleabag she should go. Her family has taken sides against her and in favor of their significant others, leaving her with nothing and no one.
Or so she thinks. It would be bold for a show like this to end with Fleabag trying to end her life the same way Boo inadvertently ended her, trying to give herself the karmic punishment for the harm she caused to someone who was nothing but a force for good in her life. There’s the suggestion of that with her speech about why she’s so promiscuous -- she feels like her body is the only thing she has, and so she seeks out the contact to get validation for the one thing that she thinks gives her any value or any chance at connection.
Instead, the guy who denied her a loan in the pilot shows up again randomly to prevent her walk into the bike lane. He doesn't have any grand speeches, but he gives her the same kind of message that Boo once did -- that everyone makes mistakes, that people who act out in this way aren’t happy, and that it’s why pencils have erasers. Fleabag did wrong, but she is allowed to be happy, just as her father is. The bank officer redoing her interview is a wonderful dose of sweetness to end things on, with the right bit of humor and an incredible performance from Phoebe Waller-Bridge.
Overall, it’s a great finale that pays off so much so well, and an excellent season of television which brings laughs, drama, and well-observed struggles to life in engaging and occasionally heartbreaking ways.
