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Picking up the thread of the conversation two years after the first season is not easy. The plot of this series is quite intricate, and the messes that all the characters have don't make it easy. This first episode of the second season is excessively and needlessly too existentialist. Let's see how it goes on.
Yes yes yes, men are the worst. They only want to fight and fight. No one wants a woman on the throne yes, please tell me one more time.
Don’t get me wrong there is a great setup to get powerful female characters here and I love them. But it is annoying to keep throwing it in like this. Shouldn’t be that hard to keep it in and just tell the story. Social politics everywhere nowadays.
Oh and why can’t a woman be evil?
In better words: https://time.com/6997908/ihouse-of-the-dragon-season-2-episode-5-recap-sexism/
Just getting better, and I cannot wait for the next episodes!
You got me at “futuristic dystopia” - as opposed to the current one in 2024. I’ll report more in a comment after I watch it.
Very much a teen movie with the usual dystopian tropes, you probably won’t get much out of it if you are a seasoned fan of dystopian sci-fi, but it will probably appeal to a younger audience.
@gazoo69: retracted my previous comment (and unfortunately deleted your answer in the process w/o knowing. Sorry.) Thanks for your explanations. Watched parts again. Maybe I was a bit too quick to criticize.
Still don't understand how Celebrimbor is that easily manipulated though. I wish the heroes in this show would be much more clever. Present them with dilemmas. Appeal to their vanity. Promise them fortunes. But this is too easy. I still don't understand what's in it for Celebrimbor (although I realize that Celebrimbor sees the opportunity to literally create his masterpiece). Isn't it too obvious who Halbrand was and that he now has reincarnated as Daði Freyr? I mean, Halbrand almost explicitly told him. Still don't like that Sauron seems to improvise until this point (he didn't plan to meet Galadriel, he didn't make the volcano go off, he didn't have the idea to forge the the first three rings, he was lucky that the elves lack an equivalent of the reliable Thurn and Taxis message system) Celebrimbor is awfully quickly persuaded that another set of 9 rings is needed. That is an awfully vague explanation how these rings would restore the balance. Dying tree: forge three rings! Collapsing mountain: forge more rings! Dwarf becomes (suddenly?) a greedy man? Solution: 9 more to restore balance and for redemption! And everybody seems to accept that this is the way to go.... I always thought Sauron is a master schemer. But he was just lucky and fortunate enough to find such a malleable elf like Celebrimbor who asks no questions and refuses to consult with his people.
Perhaps I shouldn't overanalyze logic or criticize the inexplicable decisions of some of the protagonists. I still can enjoy probs, stages, scenery and the few likable characters in this episode (the prince and his wife).
The production qaulity is still beyond a shimmer of doubt but storywise I didn't like this one too much.
Now I almost wish the Elves had died. They are not wise and clever but rather arrogant and stupid. I was never a fan of the High King and even less now where he basically makes the same mistakes he made in season one.
I think the writing is too convinient here, it was too easy for Sauron to get back on Celebrimbor's good side. I understand he plays on the wishes and weaknesses of it opponents but that went too smooth. Didn't felt earned. And the revelation of Annatar was a bit too thick for my liking.
I'm still not convinced one way or the other the Stranger is Gandalf. He could be someone else entirely although there are clear similarities. And with the introduction of the Dark Wizard (Saruman ?) it would make even more sense.
Very good so far, apart from the police acting like complete and utter morons as usual... I see they are wasting the great James Callis on a "bumbling middle aged white man who can't do anything right and needs a strong woman to do everything for him" role. Hopefully there'll be more to him than that.
I know I'm short on sleep right now but this episode felt longer than the previous ones? Again, pacing is the biggest issue this show has had from the beginning. I'm interested in the story, but it's so so slow to get through.
I do wish shows would start recasting roles again, instead of killing off characters when the actor doesn't return. I would've liked to see where Bronwyn's story went.
Also, can't stand Pharazon and Isildur's sister. I hoped the eagle would've snatched him and dropped him as it flew away LOL
My daughter listened to My Chemical Romance, liked Gerard Way.... So, I'm invested & dig it.
Like to think she'd've enjoyed this.
I didn't know, 'till now, Gerard Way authored, "Doom Patrol," comics!
I must say, this episode was markedly better than others in the second season.
Emma D'Arcy is really becoming The Queen I expected to see She should stick with being a woman in real life as she's a naturally Stunning, beautiful woman in reality.
I enjoyed this episode...
A Star Wars movie or show ends with an epic score, not this crap.
And speederbike scenes looked more realistic in Return Of The Jedi.
[7.7/10] Let’s start with the superficial and work our way to the substantive.
There is something inherently cool about a Jedi Master who has taken such a vow, showed such discipline, reached some level of enlightenment to where they can basically levitate in place,n protected by a seemingly impenetrable force bubble, that can withstand even the most fervent attacks. We’re only two episodes in but what I like about the Acolyte is that it’s already expanding what we think and know of the Jedi. Using the HIgh Republic era as a playground for new and unique uses of the Force, that pose different challenges for even a trained assassin like Mae, helps make the Jedi feel amazing again, rather than rote and known.
The same goes for Sol’s fight with Mae on Olega. Maybe I will get tired of the wire fu approach at some point, but for now, it remains a thrill. Watching Mae fight with all her might, while Master Sol displays an economy of movement akin to master Indara from the last episode, remains incredibly cool. The nigh-literal dust-up between them, with furious attacks and calm blocks, again displays the differences in disposition between studied master and hungry student.
What I appreciate, though, is that neither of these exist just for the sake of coolness or sheer thrills. (Which, if I’m being pointed, is a criticism that can be leveled at J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars films, even the parts I like.)
Master Torbin’s force bubble isn’t just a unique obstacle for Mae. It means she has to find a way to get to her target beyond the sheer force that is already her calling card. The fact that she doesn't kill Torbin, but rather provides him poison to kill himself and end his guilt over what happened on Brendok is a piercing, fascinating choice. The moment where she offers him an exit, and after so much stillness and silence, he descends to accept this offering, feels monumental. And his uttering one more apology before drinking the poison sells the magnitude of what must have happened in mae’s past tremendously.
Credit to the writers. I can get really tired of mystery boxes in genre fix. (Thanks again, J.J.!) But in moments like this one, where characters’ choices are informed by a past we’re not fully privy to yet, the magnitude of those choices makes us care about and anticipate the reveal of Mae and the Jedi’s history without needing to know it right now. As someone who came of age during the Prequel movies, it’s easy to see the Jedi as a flawed institution. But meeting four Jedi who were a party to whatever happened ito Mae and Osha, and who are all clearly haunted by it, to where someone like Torbin would go to these extremes, gives you a sense of how significant that event must be, and why Mae must be so desperate for revenge.
That ties into her fight with master Sol. He’s less interested in defeating her than disarming her, both mentally and physically. From a sheer plot standpoint, the fact that even Mae doesn't know the identity of her master is an interesting little twist. But more to the point, Sol trying to get through to Mae, to help her move past what happened, gives their fight more meaning than even the most thrilling of fisticuffs could.
I also appreciate how Master Sol is in the middle of two extremes here. On the one hand, he seems frustrated by the Jedi strictures and bureaucracy. He bristles at Master Vernestra telling him the Jedi must convene a committee before he can follow-up on Mae’s fugitive run. He rejects Yord’s warning that sending Osha in to deceive the apothecary would violate various precepts. He seems annoyed at best at how Jedi practice doesn't always align with real lif needs.
But at the same time, he tells Osha to let go of her grief, of her attachments in the past, in a way that seems as though he’s telling her not to be human. On the one hand, you can sympathize. He sees how these complicated feelings about what happened have harmed both Osha and Mae, and wants to offer a method to attain peace with them. On the other hand, he still seems haunted by them, as do his colleagues. So it’s rousing when Osha basically tells him, You're not my master anymore; you don’t get to tell me what to do .”
I’m surprisingly receptive to notions that, as cool as the Jedi are, they are a terribly flawed body. (see also: their morally questionable use of invasive mind control tricks, including on Mae.) The idea that they made a grand error on Brendok, covered it up or minimized it, and are facing the choes of it in Mae and Osha is a resonant throughline.
I also appreciate how we have some structure here. Mae has a Kill BIll-esque list of the Jedi she wants revenge on. She has a particular challenge -- to defeat one without using a weapon -- that puts her at an additional disadvantage but gives her a cause and an objective. And the way these aren't random targets, but rather people she feels have wronged her adds extra juice to the proceedings.
So do the side characters. I kind of enjoy how much of a dick Yord is, but I also appreciate that he’s not actively evil or anything, to where he stands up for Osh when she’s accused of murdering Torbin. I’m increasingly entertained by Jecki, her willingness to call Yord’s plan stupid, and her cleverness in coming up with a much better and more effective one. And as a Good Place fan, it’s nice to see Manny Jacinto as Qimir, a feckless apothecary aligned with Mae who feels appropriately rough around the edges.
This is also a good episode for Mae. It’s not easy for her to be around Sol again, or to have him judge the life she’s made for herself since leaving the order. The tender and fraught rekindling of their partnership is one of the best things about the show so far. It adds a certain charge and sadness to every scene where they’re together.
Likewise, it’s nice to see Osha and Mae confront one another, after each believed the other was dead. (And, not for nothing, it neutralizes my theory that maybe Mae is the dark side taking over Osha’s subconscious or something.) The fact that after everything each has been through, the connection shared and lost, Osha ultimately provides for Mae’s escape rather than bringing her in, portends more interesting things to come.
Overall, once again, The Acolyte blends compelling intrigue, exciting action, and meaningful character work to produce another pleasing episode of television.
The author of the book has the worst writing style I've ever read, but there was a mildly enjoyable story beneath the pretentious drivel and grammar errors. I was hoping the show would at least be decent.
So the show added a few new twists and somehow made it even more dumb than the book. Kind of funny knowing the author wrote the script for episodes 1-4 and somehow made his mediocre book even worse. Normally, you blame the adapter for messing up the source material. Make Blake Crouch 2 used a magic box to swap with Blake Crouch to write the show, and he came from a reality where he's somehow an even worse writer.
I also had to laugh when they exposition dumped the reason for Jason2 swapping with Jason. Like, it was implied in episode 1 and then confirmed in episode 2 and redundantly confirmed again in episode 3. In case you were comatose for the past few episodes or are reeeaaaaaallllllly bad at connect the dots, they spell it out explicitly and act like it's a big dramatic reveal.
I'll give this one more episode. Episodes 5-8 were adapted and written by a team of writers, not Blake Crouch. Hopefully they can salvage the back half of the series.
From a somewhat interesting start this show really turned into a shitshow with absolutely ludicrous story, total absence of actual science and populated with drama queens, selfish morons and pacifists.
And the probe? Humanity's survival is at stake and they create something that breaks apart from shoddy manufacturing?
Did they get some DEI hire from Boeing to put it together?
OMG! A major WOKE hit in this episode. Will they ever wise up?
This show goes from strength to strength. Great pacing, acting, sets, music, the works! If you're not watching it, and can handle subtitles, then i suggest you find it and make some time.
The fifa logo for the banner :skull::skull:
UPDATE 3/18 6:50 PM EST: they finally updated it :joy:
You know fourteen seasons in I wouldn’t have guessed Linda and Louise would be my favorite dynamic, but honestly they’re a strong contender. Louise and Bob are obviously excellent too and home to many a heartwarming moment, but Louise and Linda are catching up. And what make them so rewarding is that it’s changed over time. Bob was always Louise’s favorite, and she and Linda had trouble connecting. What they have now is hard won over the course of the entire show, and now it’s so clear that so much of Louise’s daring nature, unabashed attitude, and unwavering sense of confidence and self comes from Linda. And seeing them vibe is so much fun. Linda is Louise after adulthood has given her (what even Linda would often consider boring) sense and wisdom, but all that means is she’ll say things that’d come out of Louise’s mouth like ‘let’s just hit them over the head with a heavy object’ and the only difference is she’ll reluctantly take it back.
It makes for a funny episode, but also one with a nice emotional throughline of Linda wanting to build upon and maintain this bond. That anxiety is deeply sympathetic, and so is Louise’s sense of betrayal at finding out what she thought was a partnership being her mother indulging her. This matters to Louise too, and nothing riles or hurts her more than being treated like ‘just’ something- just a kid, just a girl- instead of as Louise. And again they meet each other halfway. Linda believes in Louise’s convictions and lets her go after the jellyfish, and Louise indulges in both her mother’s and her own hidden but well established deep sentimentality for her family by hanging up seventeen whole dollars as a beloved memorial of something cool she did with her mom. It just hits for me. It pays off of 14 years of investment in the two’s relationship.
Also rewarding is the continued acknowledgement of the movie, for devoted fans. The B plot is just plain fun and more of Bob’s Burgers loving passionate and quirky weirdos. The pipe sequence is a surprisingly affecting capper to it all, and the show is unashamedly gleeful about each performance. It’s infectious, especially from Bob and Teddy. And to top it all off, a bit of Fischoder with killer delivery and lines. What more could you want from a Bob’s Burgers episode?
The end theme....what in the actual F...!
I don't know if it's the actress, the character, or both, but "Auggy" is the most obnoxious and irritating character I've seen in quite a while. Tiresome af, tarnishes any scene she's in.
If last week's penultimate episode was the show's dramatic peak, this finale is an elegiac send-off, with Mariko's loss really felt by all (and which Jarvis beautifully conveys that throughout). Sanada and (especially) Asano are really in top form throughout, especially during that cliff's climatic conversation. Great series.
FUN FACT:
8 Episodes is NOT a season
“…the Conqueror?”
What a great scene, both the acting and writing were top notch. Alicent doesn't explicitly admit her mistake, but you could see it sink in, and she basically confirms it by saying it's too late now. I think the "slow episode" whiners will be happy next week, but I've enjoyed the tension boiling over. The last peace attempt just failed, leaving only one option.
Just one criticism. I really don't think we needed to see one eye's ding dong.
Couldn't even get through half of it. It's the same dumb recipe as Jurassic World and other blockbusters like it. Easy to follow and predictable story, boring/annoying characters and poor attempts at comedy.
Wish we could get a monster movie that doesn't feel like it's on the intellectual level of a 10 year old.
Weighing in as a book reader. I was disappointed with episode 6 being completely made up, not following the book. Well, they made up episode 7 too. The audacity of these show directors is mind boggling.
They actually did a pretty good job bringing the source material to the screen, but they absolutely butcherd it when they wrote original material. This is the same dumb and dumber director duo behind the last season of Game of Thrones, which they completely made up and ruined the series. BUT! They had good reason to do so, since Martin never finished the final book.
The Three Body Problem series is a complete trilogy. There was absolutely no reason to write an original plot...for two whole episodes out of an eight episode season. I can overlook the creative freedom they took with the characters. I just can't overlook them having the audacity to write their own plot.
Book 2 even goes into great detail about how nukes don't work in space (no atmosphere, no boom) and these two morons writing the show make nukes in space a major part of the plot. WHAT?! A complete slap in the face to Cixin Liu.
Terribly human, for good and bad, Civil War does not shy away from the message it’s trying to portray. The military action sequences are some of the best I’ve ever experienced, and in IMAX each gunshot rang in my ears.
The music was anxiety inducing, even during the calm moments, we feel the characters stress and emotions.
Fantastic film. I wish there was more explanation and world building so we knew why the country was in this state, but I understand the directors decision not to muddy the waters of what he wanted to say.
22nd century and Michael Rapaport is still an asshole
This episode really gets the story pushed along.
As a person who never actually got into Halo the video game, and didn't know anything about the story, this series is still just as captivating and epic and well made. Easily one of my favorite things to watch!
2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024-12-31T23:59:59Z