Black Swan. Everything about this movie is fantastic: the score by Clint Mansell, the choreography, Natalie Portman's performance. Darren Aronofsky put a lot of effort into directing this one: the way the camera works around the mirrors without being seen, the artistically place shots, just being an absolute genius with mirrors in general.
The constant shift between diegetic and Non-diegetic music also helps to subconsciously blur the line between reality and fiction. A conflict that occurs between Natalie Portman's character but on a significantly stronger psychological scale. Darren Aronofsky has proved in this movie that he's able to excel in shot after shot consistency as well as effective use of lighting in certain scenes to cause drama.
All of the casting was great in this movie, especially for Mila Kunis's character. She was perfect to play the carefree naughty girl in this movie. This movie does a great job showing the pressure and drama in these dance groups, once you hit a certain age. Other than that, I just love trippy movies, where the character descends into madness. One flaw I had with it though is that the ending did seem a little rushed but it's Darren Aronofsky wanted to tell the story he did for a reason and I can't argue with that.
I'm sure you guys have already seen it, but if you haven't I'd strongly recommend it.
I liked it better when the four DC shows aired on four different nights, but whatever. I guess the people at the CW wanted to boost the ratings by airing Legends after The Flash.
I can't believe that they made an episode about the Legends trying to convince George Lucas to become a movie director. That is so wild. I love it. And there were so many awesome references to Star Wars, like "You're our only hope" and the trash compactor.
Rip forgot who he is and to be honest, I hope he won't remember anytime soon. I like the team as it is.
Every now and again I randomly remember that Arthur Darvill played Rory Williams on Doctor Who. Apparently, he was destined to play characters travelling through time and space on a ship.
It was such a small moment, but I love the trope of a super intense scene with people running or fighting cutting to a shot of someone riding in an elevator with soft music in the background. It always makes me laugh, no matter how many times I've seen it.
"- I have an idea.
- So this would be a new milestone for you then."
Professor Stein went in and took no prisoners, huh? How did Mick manage to recover from such a savage burn?
That was fucking absurd. I loved it. Incredible episode. Damn I love this show and this episode was really funny. I'm still laughing so I have no idea what might come out. But may the Plotforce be with you. I loved the cast today. Everyone did a great job. And I got so hyped when I listened to those angry helicopter noises. Thawne certainly looks extra menacing in that lightning. Amaya, Ray and Nate's speech was superb: STAY IN SCHOOL! And that menacing pointed finger was quite convincing. I laughed louder that I should. George Lucas a the plot was just fantastic and the trash compactor scene was just so over the top. Where have I seen that before? lol And I'm glad Rip is back (thought I'd never say that outloud). He shouting at Vandal Savage because he wasn't threatening enough was hilarious. And I almost died of laughing when he didn't know how to use a gun. I actually though he was gonna hurt himself or one of the legends. And when he got arrested, that high pitched scream. I'll never recover. And Nate being a yoga instructor, yeah man, that sucks. And when Jax said he went to Sunday school, I pictured him singing Gospel. And Snart us definitely real. I refuse to believe he's dead.
The entire cast was amazing. I guess now it's RIP to Rip and Welcome Phil. Stein was on point: "I'm doing brain surgery, what's it look like?" And Sara and Jax accepting it like, OK, we don't have time, for your shit. And Merlyn's expression when he punched Nate, lol. I was a bit off when Dahrk and Merlyn were continuously missing shots like they were stupid or something. Then I realized they were Stormtroopers, lol. And the elevator scene. Seriously, I couldn't stop laughing. The music was just so damn perfect.
"Hi, my name is Phil. I'm a full time film student and a part time recreational drug user", oh man that was just brilliant. I loved how Nate kept on calling Lucas by his full name. I just loved everything on this crazy episode.
Loved the episode. One of the best this season. Kara and her feelings about what it means to be a superhero. That's it! I really loved John scenes today. All the Martian episodes are great and this one was no different. M'gaan and John are amazing together and that bond was fantastic. Made me remember of the psychics who isolate themselves to find peace.
"Bad science man", "I am the other Superman", is it me or Mon-El is becoming one of the best characters on the show? I can't tell you how much arrogance there is in that sentence, and how much it fits his personality. And his awkwardness makes me laugh every time. And the villain was British (again). This is a rule. Never trust a British accent in an American show. I love Livewire being Kara's archenemy (if it's possible) and making her the victim was such a nice twist.
And I'm getting really tired of James trying to prove he's a hero. All he has a a serious hero complex. You've been with both Superman and Supergirl and you want to prove you're useful, but you're not James. Please, stop it. Nothing you'll do will make me change my opinion about you. Besides, the way he treats Mon-El is pretty shifty. It's really impossible to like his character. I think we all like Mon-El, the problem is that we don't want him as a romantic partner for Kara.
And Kara was extremely arrogant this episode. This has to be the first episode in which she's not been that adorable alien puppy she always is. I think she's channelling her own Oliver. And did she forget about him? I mean, "you need powers to be a superhero", come on, Kara some weeks ago your were fighting aliens alongside the Green Arrow. Saying that is just being a hypocrite.
And when Kara took James mask off!! Oh come on, you're going against the rules Kara. A superhero never unmask another superhero-ish. That's not fair.
Anyways, I'm looking forward for the White Martians. And James, please, stop bitching about everything, Kara could hurt you without breaking a sweat
OK, let's face it. Quantico is the most confusing show on TV. I mean, last season was absolutely great. I enjoyed last season so much but now I can't enjoy it as much as I did. Everything is a reveal and you don't have time to really understand what is going onand to enjoy the episode. I spend more time trying to figure something out than really watching the episode.
I don't know who's on first, what's on second. I mean, the AIC, the CIA, the CLF, everything is so confusing. I mean, according to Lydia, the real CIA is the AIC, but it doesn't look like it. and Alex's phone. now I'm questioning everything they said before. I guess Alex's phone was hers all along but that she didn't answer it because I don't know, maybe she didn't want to. Not having time enough to process what's going on.
And although I loved Alex and Ryan relationship at the beginning, I can't stand them now. I'm tired of them bickering and betraying each other and they making out. They'd better do whatever they want to but please, don't interact. Alex stay with Harry and Ryan, go with Nimah.
And Miranda's speech in the car? I mean, I'm practically sure she said something along the lines of "when you listen to me, you'll become a terrorist too". Well, I must've missed that amazing speech that would make Alex change her mind bit I don't really see her changing sides.
So, what I "understand" (correct me if I'm wrong) that Miranda infiltrated the AIC because someone up high knew that Alex failed at her mission so she took her job. and Then Miranda made Nimah infiltrate them. this would mean both of them are on the same side. Unless of course, Miranda is not undercover but a real member. That would make so much sense.
Anyways, let's see how it all evolves and if you find out I'm wrong, please correct me, cause I feel like I don't know who's lying, who's telling the truth,and who's who. It's just that the episodes are more confusion than show. And I want to be socked.
7.5/10. I have to admit, I started out kind of hating this one. The idea that a shark like Barney would be fooled by the whole "the stripper really likes me!" routine strains credulity, and it was frankly kind of unpleasant to watch him being strung along like that. At the same time, Robin going all Robinson Crusoe with the dull goings on of the East Meadow, Long Island community that Lily and Marshall had immersed themselves in was the kind of broad comedy that lacked the zing that was present in the earlier seasons of the show. And Ted talking to an imaginary version of Robin while he figures out what to do with her old room (whilst making weak meat-smoking jokes to boot) left a lot to be desired.
And then, the episode completely turned things around, somewhat miraculously. Once Barney realized he was duped, it turned into a surprisingly sympathetic storyline. As Barney himself pointed out, for once he was really trying, and even if he deserved to be hoodwinked by all the times he'd done it to other women, here he was making an effort in the Ted-like belief that it was destiny that he and Quinn ran into one another again, and found himself whacked on the nose with a newspaper by the universe. That's understandably dispiriting, and the idea that Barney was going to give up on growth or putting in real effort to woo the women he actually liked because of this bad experience was a sad one.
But the universe threw him a bone, and he and Quinn running into one another at the coffee shop is just the bit of kismet he needed. The pair's conversation is frankly what was missing between both the Barney/Robin and Barney/Nora arcs. There's real chemistry between NPH and the actress who plays Quinn, and their playful if mildly pointed back and forth has the patter of two real people who have some affection for one another, if both some reservations. I have to admit, like Kevin, I don't think I really thought much of Quinn on my first watch of the series, but coming back I like her as a match for Barney, and the fact that their beginning was Barney experiencing a small taste of what he did to so many women, and that being a springboard for him to grow and become someone better.
The confluence of the other two stories, Ted giving up his apartment so that Marshall and Lily can move back into it, is one of those things that makes no sense if you really stop and think about it. (After all, Marshall and Lily like just moved into that house, and where is Ted going to live, if only for the next week or so when he's looking for an apartment, etc. etc. etc.) But you have to strap on your willing suspension of disbelief goggles and appreciate it for the symbolic gesture it's meant to be. I like the idea that, as in the prior episode, Ted is figuring out a way to move on with his life a bit as well, and that the "new life' needed in the apartment will be Marshall and Lily's child. Again, at a logistics level, it feels like a piece-moving ploy by the show to get Marshall and Lily back into the main apartment (which, as I recall, Lily didn't want to move into because it smelled like "dude"), and it's kind of strained on that front, but at a more thematic level, it works that Ted is starting a new chapter in his life and that Marshall and Lily want a place that feels more like home nearer to their friends to raise their family in.
Overall, a very rocky start, but a lot of good work on the back end (not to mention some great "Ted's bad at carpentry" jokes) to pull this one into above average territory.
This episode made me realize two things:
Who is going to be the Big Bad next season? The stakes don't really get any higher than the actual god of speed. How can they possibly top Savitar?
Barry is pretty slow for someone who calls himself "the fastest man alive", eh? He's not even in the top 10 if fucking Kid Flash has a better shot at saving Iris.
My stomach hurts from laughing. The Flash's had its ups and downs, but the one thing it consistently excels at is comedy. Cisco flirting with Gypsy, H.R.'s narration at the beginning of the episode, Joe and Iris' conversation at the precinct (poor Joe looked like he was about to have a stroke), Julian's complete lack of bedside manner, the list goes on. I love the humor on this show.
I'll never get over the way H.R. pronounces "Francisco". It's gold.
Cisco, my brave, selfless son. He kicked some serious ass in this eisode. I guess they're just beginning to really explore the extent of his powers.
Cisco and Gypsy were kind of cute. Once they got past the "I'm going to kill you" phase, that is.
I love that they jumped to Supergirl's Earth and fought in Cat's office at CatCo.
I want to see more of Iris the Badass Reporter. More often than not, she gets sidelined and doesn't do much except hang around S.T.A.R. Labs with no real purpose. Give her the storylines she deserves. Please. By the way, that scene where she faced the arms dealer at the warehouse got me thinking. She made a good point. If she's supposed to die 4 months from now, that means she's effectively immortal until then, right? I mean, what would happen if she went skydiving without a parachute? Or jumped into a pool full of hungry sharks? Or tried to learn to juggle chainsaws? Would she die, thus changing the future? I get dizzy trying to wrap my head around it.
The flashbacks in this episode were some of the best ones in years. We learned the origins of Oliver's costume, his weapon of choice and the opening monologue of the show. Talia is an awesome character. She's Nyssa half-sister or something, right?
I like how the metahumans' powers are connected to what they were doing when the particle accelerator exploded. It does raise some questions, though. What if someone was throwing up when the dark matter hit them? Would they be able to, I don't know, defeat their enemies with radioactive vomit?
I liked Felicity's storyline. It was kind of hilarious to see a hacktivist groupie geek out over meeting her hero. I wonder what Felicity's going to do with all the information she has now. I also enjoy her relationship with Rory. But I can't believe that a young kid like him doesn't know what "IRL" means.
Oliver and the recruits are becoming quite a good team. Rene is a lot more likeable now than he was at the beginning of the season.
Dinah? Freaking Dinah? I'm not crying, you're crying. No one can ever replace Laurel, but Dinah made a hell of a first impression. I already like her.
Pretty solid episode. I love the Black Canary character and Laurel was amazing. But I feel bad for Katie Kassidy, working that hard for four years, about to be the female hero and they threw her character to the trash. Dinah this episode was everything that the BC is, and this should've been the story Katie Kassidy got since the beginning. Dinah Drake totally felt like the BC from the comics. She did an amazing job, she can fight, she has the canary cry and above all, she's well written. I'm not a fan of what they did to Laurel, but Dinah's pretty awesome. They shouldn't have fucked Laurel.
The MVP was THE BURGER. The disgust on Ollie's face was hilarious. I love this non-addition to the plot devices. These are the ones that make us relate to the characters. And that 3 patty, oh boy, now I relate to Rene on a spiritual level. That's character development, lol. Plus, they should've had Wild Dog eating a Hot Dog instead.
And why miss the opportunity to open a Big Belly Burger franchise. The same with SPN's Biggerson's. I would fly over there just to have one.
I loved Curtis and Wild Dog chemistry together. He certainly surprised me with his nom-outburst when Curtis called him nutcase. They balance each other and I love it. Wild Dog is growing. I want an ep focused on him/his family.
Badass Ollie's back. He did some cool stuff. That chopper scene was badass as hell. Just standing there not giving a fuck while being dizzy. Man, you're cool.
And Talia Al Ghul. I like her character so far, even more if she's brings badass Oliver S1/2 back. That "something else" and his first suit gave me the goosies. She knows way too much. My gut tells me she trained Prometheus because Ollie lost his way.
My thoughts when I saw that other hacker: oh no, now there's two of them.
Great episode but I need more Adrian Chase: the most badass Vigilante/DA I've ever seen. And the Diggle subplot had a satisfying resolution. The fight scene in Russia was superb. God I miss good old Ollie!
7.7/10. Look, the idea of holding a gameshow to determine who the possible guardian of your child will be is a pretty out there concept, but damn if the show doesn't just have so much fun with it that it's too much to care. From Barney's objectively horrible, though truly in character answers to each question, to Robin basing all of her parenting ideas on the way her horrible Dad parented her, to Ted's dweeby lame response to everything, this one had a lot of goofy laughs to go around and some great lines. (I especially liked Robin's protest that she was "packing a vag'" and thus was naturally inclined to be "nurturing and all that crap." The silliness of bits like Ted's "Professor Infosaurus" and Marshall's outlandish recurring enthusiasm for games was great.
It's a little disjointed in places, and the emotional stakes at the end of the game show feel a bit tacked on. (Plus, come on, who in their right mind would make Barney the guardian of the child, even with Robin and Ted as counterweights?) But it works well enough in the moment and does a lot of the sort of structural, imaginative, character-based comedy that the show can excel at.
Today, on how to destroy Kara's heart. Why Alex being happy means Kara's lonely? This makes Alex been the bad gut and she's not. Anyways, very good episode. Those in which there's a shapeshifter and everyone's on edge doubting each other are always fun. Like the Flash shapeshifter or even in Supernatural with the Khan worm. It's cliche but I love it. Plus, I love episodes in which the actors have to play themselves and their evil twin.
To me it was too obvious that there were two White Martians. Alex would've never get distracted on a mission. And Winn being all gooed was just gross, lol. I've said before and I'll say it now, Jonn and M'Gann's relationship is lovely, but not as alien love, more a brotherly love.
The MVP of the episode was Winn. Go for the Winn! He's just the best and his one liners are just perfect "this did not use to happen at CatCo". Well, unless you're on The Flash, in which case two people from different earths will smash James' coffee table. I wanted to see his reaction when he found out someone broke his coffee table.
And that ending. What kind of message is that they're sending to young girls? Anyways, poor Kara be like "Karma's a bitch". I love that first scene at the bar with Alex and Kara. It was me speaking:
Kara: "Mon-El told me he likes me the other day"
Alex: "I'm so shocked!"
Kara: "was it really that obvious"
Alex: "duh"
But the ending felt forced. Kara's been Winned. There you go, now you know how it feels.
Did anyone notice that Jonn said M'gann, and I quote "you're willing to put yourself before others" instead of the other way around? Oh, I laughed so hard on that one.
I just want to fill some plotholes. If Kara's faster than Flash, why didn't she fly over the DEO to find Winn? Kara your have X-ray vision, don't look around the corner.
Badass episode. Hope M'Gann comes back. I love that she decided to wear the green Martian skin.
Jonn at the bar like: "Um, hi. M'Gann's gone because, um, her planet needs her. so, bye"
8.1/10. A surprisingly good episode. Having people we mentally would put in "the pit" is one of those classic HIMYM concepts that starts out with lots of great comedic potential, but then leads to, as Ted puts it, a moment of "emotional clarity." Marshall jinxing Barney is one of those goofy friend group bits that the show does so well. And the laughs were mostly there too.
Ted going after an architecture professor who decried his skills as an architect to brag about his building, and realizing that he needs to move on and that the best revenge is living well was a nice little story for him, that showed some nice growth for the character. Similarly, Marshall and Lily running into an old college acquaintance (in a nice mini-Buffy reunion with Seth Green!) is mostly for laughs, but Green plays it well and the whole twist on "The Pit" is nice. Heck, even though I still pretty well hate Robin's arc at this point, her harshness to Patrice is at least mediated by Robin not firing her and Patrice comforting her.
As typical at this stage, a lot of it is still pretty broad, but I like the theme of the episode -- letting yourself out of "the pit," and moving on, and the show explored it in a nicely comedic way for the most part. Good stuff!
We all know Quantico's a mess so here it goes my messy review-ish. Nothing's clear (and I feel like it'll never will be).
Let's see if I can wrap my head around. I decided to start writing these "reviews" because otherwise I would've exploded.
So the terrorists aren't the AIC but the hostages (good). then who the he'll are the terrorists? I guess they have to be either CIA or FBI agents. Nimah, Will and Ryan are either FBI or former agents so, as far as I'm concerned the terrorists could be FBI. At least a terrorist group would've known about AIC but if they're FBI or CIA,they decapitated the first Lady so, again, no freaking idea.
But let's get to the beginning of the episode. There were not very many shocking moments except from Shelby actually doing something useful instead of banging random guy #2. Seriously, I got the feeling that the o ly thing Shelby does is banging guys. I love her friendship with Alex. that's one of the things I've been missing this season and finally they worked together. Aleluya. But let's talk about the assignment and Owen's soap opera. So our recruits have to get an asset out of Germany and that asset turns out to be Owen who has a death wish because his daughter is running the AIC. He decides to put himself in harms way and let the recruits "save" him. Out of all of them, the only one who does something useful is Alex. Ryan's on the watchout. Sebastian and Harry are having beers. León and Diana go on a kill tour and the other nameless recruits, well, I bet they're still on the street going on circles. That whole Owen storyline felt over dramatic. Woman gets killed, leaves son, Owen's fault, kid appears, oh no, the drama. Can you hear the sound of my eyes rolling? Too dramatic.
Quick thought: if Alex knew Lydia was running the AIC, why did she true her in the current timeline?
Conclusion: the more you watch the show, the more confused you get. What happened to the days when Quantico was great? Now it's just confusion all over.
8.4/10. It's tough to pull out of the tailspin of the last episode, but damn if this one doesn't deliver an unexpected quality follow up.
The thing that really elevates the episode is Ted and Lily's scene on the roof. Lily admitting that there's days she wishes she weren't a mom, and Ted admitting he was hurt by Robin and Barney getting engaged is a nice match of the two good friends sharing their open wounds with one another. It was a particularly good performance from Alyson Hannigan, who rarely gets to go dramatic on the show, but absolutely nails it here. And Josh Radnor holds his own as well, with the montage of times Ted's gotten "hurt," helping to drive the point home. It's that bit of darkness and realness that gives the show weight beyond the sillier sitcom trappings.
But those trappings are fun! Referring to baby poo as "confetti" is the latest in the long line of HIMYM's visual euphemisms, and Marshall getting blasted with confetti was a fun way to pay off the storyline of Little Marvin being constipated. It's a trifle of a storyline, but it worked.
Barney persuading Robin's Dad to give his blessing, and Robin confronting and then accepting her dad to some degree was probably the weakest of the storylines in the episode, just because there was a whiplash in the tone going from goofy to serious pretty rapidly. Ray Wise trying to be "fun" while still being scary resulted in some awkward laughs, though again, the actual comedy went pretty broad.
On a mythos level, I'm still just not persuaded by Ted being hung up on Robin, but Mrs. Bloom pointed out that even if Ted wasn't still chasing after Robin, the fact that the woman who said she'd never be getting married is now getting married could certainly hurt him, especially when he's still looking for his own The One. And the reveal that the whole band vs. DJ thing works out despite Ted's protestations, because it leads to The Mother playing Barney and Robin's wedding is a nice one.
Overall, a nice little rebound from the doldrums of the prior ep.
7.3/10. Let's take this story-by-story. The bit with Barney and Robin's dad playing laser tag was pure fluff. Sure, there was a weak thread about Robin's dad appreciating and accepting Barney as his son, and it added a little texture to the exchange between Ted and Robin at the end of the episode, but for the most part this was an excuse to have Ray Wise and NPH clown around on the laser tag set for a while.
My favorite story was Marshal and Lily packing for Italy with Ted's assistance as an expert packer. There were a lot of laughs, from taking peeks at the stories behind various objects in the apartment, but also a bit of heft with Ted being unable to let go of a bean bag chair because it represents a portion of their friendship that's now ending. As I've often said, HIMYM often does best when it's exploring real things about growing up and growing older, and a fear that moving away means drifting apart is a relatable one. Here, the episode finds a nice mix between the show's trademark goofiness and heart.
I have mixed feelings about the bit with Robin digging up the locket. In and of itself, it feels like a mild retcon, since we've never heard about it before, but that's what the show does from time to time and I've come to accept. More than anything, I'm just not on board with the Ted-Robin-Barney love triangle. But if they're going to do it, I actually liked the way they realized it here. Despite the cheese, Ted and Robin's conversation feels very authentic, and there's something to be said for the idea that Barney is matching up so well with the father Robin could never connect with, while Ted knew something was up with her even after she begged off. I also liked the rain and the "signs from the universe" part of the discussion that works as a nice call back to the end of Season 1.
Ted's come a long way since that point. There's maturity in the idea of not beliving that everything is a fairytale and that the universe is going to magically deliver you to your truly love. But there's sadness on the endlessly optimistic dreamer, Ted, losing faith. I still don't buy this obsession with Robin on his part, but I buy him giving up on finding true love, and that has power independent of the other relationship drama.
7.5/10. I don't know what to tell you folks. The Ted storyline, where he tries to pick up the more than a little off-center Cassie, and as he's repeatedly reminded by the knight from The Last Crusade, chose poorly, is the kind of big dumb plot that I normally hate. But this one worked for me, and I'm not entirely sure why. Maybe it's just that it was so out there and insubstantial as a storyline that I could just go with the silliness of it. Maybe it's the Indiana Jones twist that is equally exaggerated, but a fun device. Maybe it's Josh Radnor, who sells Ted's defeated response to this whole thing like a champ. Long story short, this is a plotline that shouldn't work but does.
I feel the same way about Daphne rehearsing Marshall through his confrontation with Lily. There's a playacting quality that this show does well, and it allowed Marshall to dig a little deeper into his family's dilemma and gain a little perspective on it. I'm still not over the moon about Daphne, but I liked how she was used here (at the risk of conflating two characters for superficial reasons, her story about her husband respecting her career aspirations feels of a piece with Shirley's on Community).
The weakest story in the episode was Barney and Robin trying to mollify their uptight minister by having stolen Marshall and Lily's story. Again, it points at the cracks in the Robin and Barney relationship and their real life story, without doing enough to spackle over them (though I have to admit, having Lily angrily take down everything about Robin and Barney's romance was oddly cathartic). That said, seeing Robin and Barney-qua-Marshall and Lily and vice versa was an enjoyable lark, and made up for the weak premise.
Overall, this is an episode that shouldn't be as good or as fun as it is, but somehow manages to pull it off. Who am I to deny its charms?
7.8/10. This one had three separate stories that each started out pretty rough but pulled their way into being great by the end, which is worth something! The slightest of these was Marshall's story with Daphne and Ted's Stepdad. As a committed Buffy fan, I enjoy Harry Groener as a general rule, but he's just not a good character even as a giant pester to Marshall. That said, the germ at the center of the story is sound, with the ever-yielding Marshall needing to assert himself, and the results being kind of scary. It's a great individual performance from Jason Segel, and even Sherri Shepherd does well with the "what did I just unleash" reaction to it.
Similarly, Ted dragging Cassie through a spiritless trip to the Lighthouse is a drag, with the humor of his resignation at settling being brief but not much fun. And yet, the end of the episode, which shows his proposal to The Mother is a lovely counterpoint (weak green screen effects notwithstanding), that serves as another instance of the show upping its emotional content by giving us little tastes of the future juxtaposed with sorry ones in the present.
The peak of this is Robin's egg-making competition with Barney's mom. While I like that the show explored the idea that despite numerous complaints about and appearances from Robin's dad, we've heard next to nothing about her mom, the fact that it comes to a head with a scrambled egg showdown was too broad for my tastes, even if I liked the little ringing bell notation for the few facts the gang did know about her mom. That said, the episode included two great moments in this storyline.
The first is the flashback where Barney hugs Robin after learning that she can't have kids. It's those sorts of moments, where Barney acts like a caring human being rather than a sex-crazed psychopath, that are all too scant when the show is trying to sell the Barney-Robin romance. It's a nice little instance of him showing that he cares for Robin with a simple but powerful gesture rather than a zany, misguided scheme. The second is Loretta coming around on Robin after Barney explains all this, and telling Robin to call her mom. Sure, the show doesn't lay that much groundwork for the transition, but Cobie Smulders conveys the quiet pain of her character's mommy issues really well, and makes that moment meaningful.
Again, I have some major issues with where the show goes in its final few seasons, but it's nice to see it still able to make these big, emotional moments land, even if it's a bit of a rocky road within the episode to get there.
7.8/10. This is really what "The Robin" should have been. I know I've been harping on that episode, but this is the kind of thing that shows how Barney could use his scheming for something wonderful rather than twisted. Maybe it's just the abbreviated nature of Season 9--there's something much more palatable about Barney deceiving Robin for an evening rather than for two months--but the heart of the main storyline here, that Barney may continue to lie, but that it will be in service of giving Robin wonderful surprises even if the road to get there is a little frustrating, is a really sweet note that comes this close to revealing the awfulness of "The Final Page."
And hey, Barney trying to give Robin a little taste of Canada is a lovely gesture to Barney showing that he hears Robin and believes in compromise, in addition to making peace with his own heritage. On top of that, there's lots of nice little call backs, from the flashback where Lily and Marshall get annoyed at Ted's declaration that he's great at wedding gifts, to yet another appearance from Alan Thicke, to James being a showoff at wedding. The skating rink reveal is not only a nice romantic moment between Robin and Barney, but it gives lots of the cast, central and extended, a chance to really shine.
Beyond that, the story about Lily being unable to keep a secret was an enjoyable lark. Alyson Hannigan has both the exagerrated humor and the sincere emotional side of Lily down at this point, and it's a joy to watch her work. Plus Ted's adventure of trying to dress as Liberace and learn to play piano/ice skate paid great comedic dividends.
All-in-all, this was a fun episode that takes a significant step in showing why Barney and Robin could be together, in keeping with the more exaggerated tones of the Barney character, with enough fun comedy around that story to keep things light.
Supergirl: does a Valentine's Day episode a week after Valentine's Day
The Flash: does a Valentine's Day Friend's Day episode two weeks after Valentine's Day
Yeah, sure, that makes sense.
BARRY PROPOSED TO IRIS! WHAT A GOOD, PURE, HAPPY MOMENT!
I would love to have H.R. and Harry together in every episode. They're hilarious. But I think Harry took things a bit too far. I mean, it's not H.R.'s fault that he's not a genius. And he's doing his best. He's kind and charming and takes it upon himself to cheer up the team with an endless supply of freshly-brewed coffee, holiday decorations and gift cards. How can you not love him? He's the Mom Friend of Team Flash. Okay, no, Caitlin's the mom . H.R. is more like the fun, artsy aunt who lets you eat ice cream for dinner, stay up past your bedtime and watch horror films, and then feeds you a ton of chocolate and drops you off at home so your mom and dad have to deal with your sugar rush. I feel like I might be over-analyzing this a bit.
I knew Harry was lying. It's not like him to open up to another person about his problems.
Savitar is back to fuck things up. I'm excited.
After this break we get to see more of the group dynamic. The premise is good and there are certain new characters to talk about. And I thought one timeline would make things easier, yet it leads the way to unnecessary drama. I mean, we get to see our group working with each other and "collaborating" but hatred comes out of nowhere. Owen is out of jail and holds a grudge against Alex, Shelby is angry with Nimah, and León is totally bananas thinking that someone's following him, which was true.
Being back at the farm was weird,but I enjoyed it all the way. Don't ask me why but I loved the moment Shelby and Nimah were surprised the Farm had a spa. I found it funny. And Dayana, she just wants to have some friends. And Ryan and Alex, ew. We just landed in the ex relationship territory and I hate it. Why have we done to deserve all this drama? It's just awful and awkward. They should just just hello to each other and walk aways. Someone make it stop, please. I need more of Alex and Harry. Man, I really missed him. And I did love his surprise entrance. Why isn't he working at the Farm yet? He would be a nice addition to the team.
And what can I say about Clay (not Clanton) Haas. I already love the guy. I'm calling it, by the end of the season this guy and Shelby will be together, no doubt. I like the guy, he says what he has to and he's right. Pure Stream of Consciousness or Freedom of Speech, whatever you wanna call it. His interactions with Shelby are priceless. At first I thought we were having a Caleb on discount, but I like it. He calling the group a bunch of scholars and monitoring them in High School was funny as hell.
I like focusing on a case without having to remember what the characters remember and who to trust. It's a nice addition, actually. But they keep on being idiots. Ryan being catch in a lie by that "journalist" was pretty stupid. You're supposed to be a high functional and trained spy Ryan, wake the hell up.
I certainly can't write right now. I LOVE CALEB! Seriously, I missed his sarcasm a lot. He's killing it with those lines: "who's gonna make me waffles?" "Well, I've cut back on the herein" and my favourite one: "This white man, old fascist, he wants Muslims on a list, with a nick neck paddy whack send 'em all back, next he'll come for the Jews". I died laughing. Omg, Caleb.
Going back to the main plot, I have to confess I was too hyped for this episode if only because Fedric Lehne was going to be in. I love the guy and I just want to see more of him. I'm also excited to see Alex infiltrating the collaborators. As always, the mission went horribly wrong, which is not surprising at all. But seriously, do you really think that those guys, who are ten steps ahead of you will change sides that quickly? Well, duh. However, I loved that all the conversations were honest. Our team was all "I know you're a collaborator" and they were all "Yep, and you suck, I'm not scared". The only way to take them down is from the inside and that's what Alex and Owen are doing. I'm honestly impressed that the writers haven't had them romantically involved, but I'm sure that's coming. Shelby and Clay on the other hand...Seriously, what does Shelby have that she makes everyone addicted to her?
Claire and Roake's conversation was just perfect. I love seeing her actually doing something.
Aside from the relationship drama with Clay and Shelby, the episode was actually very good. I enjoyed it quite a lot. who would've thought this show be great not?
Time for an ad: Dayana Mampasi. Please, if found return to Quantico asap. One episode was ok, but three? I hope she doesn't turn up a baddie, I like her character.
This episode made me realize how much I've missed Caleb and how good Maxine is. She's actually quite funny and is not stupid, which is a nice touch.
Wonder Woman is... well... wonderful! This movie is a true representation of the characters I have grown up with and loved from DC comics and the justice league animated series. This movie is about how Diana the princess of Themyscira becomes Wonder Woman, a classic fish out of water tale of innocence and heroism.
The chemistry between the two leads feels so natural and it is because of this chemistry that Steve's sacrifice is so heartbreaking . While the movie may not be as layered or multifaceted as other DCEU offerings such as Man of Steel, making use of a more classic 'by the numbers' superhero formula, it is undoubtedly a more meaningful movie. It shows us the true nature of humanity through the eyes of an Amazon who has no preconceptions or history with our species. It shows us the ugliness of mankind, how cheaply we value human life with the wars we create, and how stereotypical gender roles have been/are to the detriment of women without bashing us over the head with a heavy-handed feminist agenda. On the other hand, through her eyes, we also see the things humanity is capable of through the power of love.
Despite the importance of this movie, Wonder Woman doesn't depress or bog the audience down. It conveys these important messages within the context of an uplifting film filled with fun, action and romance.
Critics have voiced their approval for this movie, but that shouldn't make fans of the DCEU fearful. Wonder Woman seamlessly fits in with the DCEU, making use of similar colour palates, action direction, and story telling. While this is a movie all little girls must watch, it is truly a movie for everyone... it is simply... WONDERFUL!
Very good series with good actors. Definately worth the shot
Best lines
I’m waiting for an old friend - Bran
You left me for dead - Hound
I also robbed you - Arya
I’ve always had blue eyes! - Tormund
Whatever they want - Dany
but
It had its moments - Sansa
They need wheelchair ramps in Winterfell. They left Bran in the courtyard overnight!
Parallelism between Season 1 Episode 1 and Season 8 Episode 1
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ S08E01 Jon: "Where's Arya?" Sansa: "Lurking somewhere."Foreshadowing (from different Seasons/Episodes.)
01. S03E05“ “Let’s not go back. Let’s stay here a while longer,” Ygritte tells Jon. “I don’t ever want to leave this cave, Jon Snow.” S08E01 “We could stay a thousand years. No one would find us,” Daenerys says to Jon.02. Sam is suggesting rebelling against the Targaryen because they burned his father and brother alive. Similar to when Robert's Rebellion, began when Rhaegar Targaryen, allegedly abducted Robert's betrothed, Lyanna Stark.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dul boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no plany Makes ack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dul boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play make Jack a Dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All workand no play maks Jack a dull boy
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
All work and no plany Makes ack a dull boy
All work and no play make Jack a Dull boy
Not as solid as I hoped. It's confusing for sure, but they could have done so so much more with this concept and world. But they didn't. It has left us with a story that is interesting, yet unrelatable. Things move way too fast and I would have preferred a longer runtime because it is that intriguing. And while the ending is great, the way that Nolan tries to merge the two viewpoints isn't done well. Leaving me feeling like my dad when he watches Transformers (2007) and asks who is who.
It needed to be simplified a little more because everything else is amazing. The effects, the overarching story, the acting. The music, however, is terrible and overblown to give a sense of action when there isn't enough happening. The only part where it worked well was in the final fight, but even then it needed to be quieter.
The cinematography is good as always, but I feel it is lacking compared to Nolan's previous work.
When it comes to action and the draw to this movie, the reversal shots. They deliver, but they are too and far between. It gives us great scenes of reversal action, then one drawn-out segment at the end that doesn't feel rewarding as like I said before, it isn't merged well.
This movie may grow on me more after a second viewing, but it left me in a state that I don't wish to see it again any time soon. It is not fun enough to see again, it is not engaging enough to associate and learn from. Something that Nolan has done well at in the past is his ability to leave questions with the audience after they finish his films. Here, it just provides answers and left me unsatisfied in that regard.
7/10
Trivias
In the final shot, the actor playing the sensei who judges Michael and Dwight's fight can be seen breaking character and struggling to hide laughter.
When everyone gets off the elevator after the fight, Rainn Wilson struggles not to smile after running into the door.
When Dwight calls his sensei, Ira, He gets cut off before saying "Arigato Goazai Mashta" which is an incorrect pronouncation. The correct form for what he is meaning to say is "Arigatou gozaimashita" which is a thanks to something that has been done to you. For instance you could say it to a teacher after a lesson. Along with "Sempai" which should be "Senpai" and Michael falsely identifying a Kanji as "California Roll" are just a few of the moments satirizing Dwight and Michaels "fighting knowledge".
Ryan has a different phone in this episode (a flip phone) than he did in the episode, "The Fire," in which he has a Palm Treo 650 smartphone.
Spoilers
When Michael gives his reasons for beating up Dwight, he says that Dwight lied about going to a dentist appointment. In the season 3 episode, the coup, Dwight uses the excuse of a dentist appointment to go meet Jan in order to take Michael's job. ¡
Okay, I couldn't hold these in any longer:
- Why didn't they put a knife in the "father"? I know, morality and all that jazz, but if they set their mind to kill him, wouldn't that be the most logical thought to try to actually kill him with a 100% sure method, not gamble with those crushed up pills?
- Why the hell didn't Margot just make a run for it when she opened the balcony's door? She stopped like 3 times just to make sure his "father" didn't hear anything instead of actually trying to escape.
- Lol, how TF could "father" dig a little hole into Seth's forehead just by pressing his finger into it?
- And what is Jules so depressed about since like episode 2? She's overreacting to everything, doesn't sleep, always has a dead look on her face... Oh, and...
- When Jules and Margot went through the House for the second time, why did it only contain Margot's fears in all of the rooms? I believe it would be time to know what Jules is so terrified of that she's on edge all the time.
As of the others who went in the House with them:
1) That bearded survivor guy knew too much about the system of the last "room". I'm sure he wasn't a first-timer, but then the question of his wife-or-not rises: who is she really? A girl who escaped from him and started a new life with a new husband in the House? But she didn't seem like she actually knew the bearded guy, so...
2) Remember those realistic face-statues of the participants in the first room? Only the JT replica's head wasn't torn apart. So how come he was killed by his House-self? Wouldn't that head signify that only he stayed sane or something like that? It's a shame they didn't think this through.
This was a huge step down from the previous film. I thought the first act was straight-up bad and not at all enjoyable. The COVID mentions felt dated and overly forced, and this film only just came out. That doesn't bode well for how this film will age. However, once the film gets going it gets better and is enjoyable, and they drop the COVID stuff, which in turn, actually makes the COVID mentions at the beginning feel even worse and more pointless than they had felt initially.
I thought that the plot felt far more simple and extremely predictable compared to the first film. I also thought that the characters (aside from Blanc), were largely much worse - both in writing, and performances given by the cast.
Daniel Craig and Benoit Blanc is just as good as he was in the first film, and he absolutely steals the show every time he's on screen. I also found Janelle Monáe as both Andi and Helen to be decent. Edward Norton's billionaire character, Miles Bron, was a mixed bag, and although he started out quite interesting with some potential, I found his character to inevitably be overly shallow and poorly written.
As far as the rest of the cast went? It wasn't so good. Most of them, such as Whiskey, were simply bland and forgettable. But others were downright awful characters that were overly shallow and just plain annoying. Kate Hudson's 'Birdie' was probably the worst offender here, and I found that her character lowered the quality of every scene she appeared in.
I realise that this review has been largely negative, but what I will say is that Glass Onion is still a mostly fun and entertaining experience for the majority of its runtime. I had a lot of fun watching it (aside from the first twenty minutes or so), and I don't regret it at all. I'd recommend watching it if you enjoyed the original film, but I just don't think it's anywhere close to being anything great like its predecessor was.
