Don't get everyone's issue, people seem to think this is season 2 of Squid Game or something aha, it's a reality show, of course it's not gonna have an in depth plot and 'characters', I think people genuinely believe this is meant to be the second season. I actually had fun with this, went in with the lowest expectations are don't care for reality shows and actually managed to have some fun with it!
This one reminded me of why I started watching kdramas in the first place. Tons of fun, a very engaging storyline and an amazing cast, Chief Kim had a unique brand of humour that was super addictive, and managed to keep things light even when the story dealt with very serious issues like corrupt companies, embezzling and slush funds. Highly recommended!
Dreams. Teamwork.. The greatest underdog story in a while.
This is a typical Nam Goong Min drama "Stove League " is the Chief Kim and Doctor Prisoner of sports. I have seen many baseball anime , tv shows and movies but this is the first drama that focuses on off-season and less on the games.
Plot twists and cliffhangers are front and center of Hot Stove League (Stove League). Sherlock-esque, the Main Lead (Baek Seung Soo) solves each turn, mostly on his own, with the big reveal happening after the resolution. Just through pure storytelling, the drama delivers quite an emotional punch, which is surprising given its subdued character development. Do not let Stove League go under your radar with its compelling and heartwarming message.
This drama hits all the right notes. Folks who trivialize saying 'this is Moneyball version of K-drama' are grossly downplaying the depth of this show. There is so much happening in each episode. The first episode instantly sets-up an intriguing plot and every episode unravels something interesting or tackles a deep rooted issue.
The realism and relatability of the niche topic of off-season baseball highlights the main strength of Stove League. No challenge seems ridiculous, though some resolutions are a tiny bit far fetched. There is a real feeling of distress with each downturn and a huge sigh of relief with each problem solved. It makes the drama easy to look forward to on a weekly basis.
Although its set against a Sports (Baseball) backdrop it isn't simply a Sports story. Please don't turn away thinking its a Sports drama. Infact there is hardly any on-field action through its 16 episodes length. It focuses more on the management side of the team and the problems that pop-up after years of under-performance. Along the way you may even pick up few useful tips on topics such as negotiation, presentation skills and general management.
The only drawback is that so much time is spent on presenting and solving each issue, which leaves little time for other types of character development. There is little comedy or romance; like most of Nam Goong shows ;but it is satisfying and the ending is like nothing another drama has ever done before. The lack of character growth is worse for the female lead, Lee Se Young, who mostly gets dragged through BSS’s antics. Luckily, the “main” side character of each plot arc gets significant development in comparison. This is doubly true for the antagonist, Kwon Kyung Min.
Tight storytelling makes it easier for the actors to play their role while weak character developments hurts their ability to shine. Baek Seung Soo’s past frequently appears on screen, and the actor Nam Goong-Min admirably plays his past-self well in contrast to his present character. Unfortunately, Park Eun-Bin’s character does not get enough opportunities to perform. Even supporting characters get more character development as their arcs are completed over the course of 1-3 episodes. In that sense, the supporting cast did a great job of acting given their window to shine. Oh Jung-Se especially left a good impression by the conclusion of the drama.
Stove League, as mentioned, is a solid watch, especially as it aired, but it does lose much of its shine when the outcomes are known. On the other hand, the feel good nature of the overall message cannot be overstated. So, I will recommend another hardworking drama, Chief Kim, which shares the same male lead and a similar character vibe (i.e. talented and misunderstood) as I fondly remember Hot Stove League. For those that prefer comedy to distress this may not be great but whenever the dreams achieve a goal you feel like you have achieved one too.
Stoveleague is a sports drama but not in the usual sense, it entirely focused on the the business, commercial and political aspects of running a team. And yet, it is so interesting! I know nothing about baseball but it's not about the game anyway.
Both Namkoong Min and Park Eun-bin did a great job, i was fully invested. I can see why this drama won the Baeksang!
Glad to see tradTrek (traditional Trek) is back! I miss this format and style of Star Trek.
Nothing wrong with the other nuTrek, they're all great on their own, but as someone who grew up watching Star Trek, the style of TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, and ENT, have grown on me. It's more about the issues we are facing today, in real life, as well as meaningful life realizations. Picard is like that but it is more about Jean-Luc. Discovery is like that but it is more about the conflict and the characters.
But tradTrek is different. The approach is to let the audience relate and think of the world around them.
Best of all, finally, we have a Captain Pike canon series! We seriously lack canon materials around Pike and his time with the Enterprise and it has been requested since the 90s. Finally! Let me say that again, FINALLY!
I've just finished the series and I don't have words to describe how amazing this show is. The soundtrack, the action, the violence, the jokes, the characters, the CGI, the chemistry are all 10/10. Besides the amazing acting from John Cena, I really loved Freddie Stroma's character Vigilante, which can see having a spin-off in the future.
Warner and DC really found their "gold mine" with James Gunn and I'm glad they are giving him the freedom to create anything he wants.
Peacemaker now is anti-hero and I can't wait to see more of him and the 11th Street Kids!
PS: I still cannot belive that part of the Justice League appeared in the last scene basically to confirm Aquaman f**** fish...
There's something just not connecting for me here. It's a tonal shift from the original that I haven't been able to get past that I'm not sure I'd like even if I wasn't comparing it to its predecessor. It's corny, tongue in cheek presentation rather than stylized cool and fluid. I'm not sure that was intentional. It doesn't feel like it. It feels more like a lot of independently well made parts just not coming together to make a cohesive whole. That's unfortunate, as there are a lot of good design decisions made.
Edit after finishing season 1:
Normally, I try to separate the source material as much as possible from an adaptation or remake. But in a case like Cowboy Bebop, that's a lot easier said that done. The original isn't just a story or characters in a particular setting. It's a collective ensemble of music, tone, style, and writing that set it apart as something unique and inseparable from its parts. That's why people love it. All of those individual pieces are often chaotic, but riff off of one another like a jazz ensemble to make one of kind experience.
It's a tall order for anyone to try and replicate that into something new. If they pulled it off, it would have been amazing, but sadly, this series never hits that stride. The greatest strengths of this adaptation are the pieces of the original. The changes are questionable. The original content is mediocre at best.
I wouldn't have wanted a straight copy. So, I applaud them for making some bold decisions, but, at the end of the day, they just aren't good decisions. The injection of campy humor makes it feel like the best dialog is written by Michael Bay instead of something Tarantino-esque. Vicious feels more Viserys Targaryen than Deacon Frost. The best casting of all in Jet goes from being a disgruntled cop to an absentee father at the butt of jokes. The mystique of the characters' background is filled out with underwhelming and frankly boring rambling that takes away far more than it adds. Less is more would have gone so far here.
It's not completely awful. There are redeeming factors, but at the end of it. I'm questioned wondering do I like what's left because it's good or simply because of the echos of the original. That's a rough position for any content to sit in. Hopefully, they can find a different tempo that better matches their choices in season 2. That is if I can get over the new ending.
Here we go again - another mystery type show that will get cancelled before any answers or conclusions to the story.
I Grew up on Stargate with its witty humour and epic action. It is the best sci-fi franchise in all of my TV viewings. I only wish they completed the Stargate Atlantis and Stargate Universe franchise'. Definitely one to watch from beginning to end!
Some people are making a fuss that the timeline is confusing. Since this is the internet it gets blown out of proportion. You get a clear hint in one episode this is happening and its easy to figure it out afterwards. That being said, just watch it! It´s really good!
It's a good Job that I don't watch these old Sci-Fi just for the Storyline!
To be honest I love it for an escapism, Some people would think I need a psychological test or some rubbish, It'll not be the first time.
I even had people asking if I believe in Aliens on the moon, It's only a Username & I love Sci-Fi and Astronomy.
I don't care If " Andromeda " as had a few bad weeks and need to make a few cutbacks in a season or two.
It's still Science Fiction, Alien Worlds, Space related and the endless Possibilities that still await to be discovered by Man.
Just hope I live to see a Manned Mars Landing in my lifetime!
The Fact is, I just love Sci-Fi, And these help me feel I'm away from this backwater rock called Earth.
Peace!
Filoni and Favreau have done it folks in my world. Let me have the shows and the kids can have the new movies. Good compromise.
There is no noise. You get thrown in a world with a simple explanation on how it came to be and how it works. You know who the enemy is and what he is after. Its that movie night show people want but rarely get. Beyond that the cinematography is top notch the actors are good and the idea is unique.
If you're a fan of sports anime, and especially Haikyuu!, you should most definitly watch this.
I was disappointed at first. Then it blew me away!
Possibly the worst marketing for a tv show ever. In the first season we won't follow a crew's journey to Mars like everyone thought, but we will instead see people preparing to go there. Their struggles, problems and everything in-between. We won't see what we thought we'd see. Because of that, I was disappointed, but one episode later, I saw the real beauty of this show and what makes it (in my eyes) worth watching.
Having binged it in two sittings, I won't deny that this is a slow show or that - at times - not much happens. But what I won't say is, that it's boring. At the core, the story is about the characters and how they're dealing with the fact that they are actually going to Mars. How it affects not only their lives, but also the lifes of and the relationships to their loved ones.. It surely is more drama than sci-fi, but not in a bad way.
Along the way you'll start to care about the characters and you'll realize how well-acted this show is. With a great cast, the show tells a compelling story. You'll see incredible cinematography not many shows have. You'll appreciate the variety of music throughout; epical, magical, partly eery and mysteriosly beautiful music.
To me, this show was a real surprise and I give it a 9/10. I'm really hoping for a second season!
Finally a new Gundam series without a whiny little emo protagonist!
yet another generic awful comedy series on this season lineup. dropped in the middle of the pilot, 2/10. absolutely cliché in the worst way possible.
