Scum's Wish
What a beautiful, messy bunch of fuckers. it's hard to like these people, but really hard to hate them. From beginning to end, as the tangled web of lies, jealousy, hate, deceit and perfidy they are all enmeshed in unravels, we get some of the most human characters of any anime i'v watched.
I rarely watch some of these stories more than once. Indeed my watchings of "Scum's Wish" are about two years apart and I am no less struck by this story's complexity on the second watching, as I was the first.
Seductive, Hana and Mugi's mutually destructive center holds court for the web of characters: All selfish, all cowards, all emotionally unreliable for each other.
While it is easy to fall into the trap of shipping who you want to ship, the story is true to life, in that happy endings for scum tend to be neither unlikely or overrated. For most folks, dissatisfaction and low self esteem ruin most good things.
Because everyone is scum... these are not nice people, but they love and are loved all the same.
The surprising emotional depths of this story, shock only as much as it was ever adapted. As anime goes, this is an adult story set in a high school, leaning on all Japan's narrative obsessions with school tropes you find in these stories. But it is unchildish, unrepentant in its portrayals and bittersweet (more bitter than sweet) start to finish.
Buckle up... this aintcha Mama's bishonen perfect romance heavy shojo. No friends, this is a voyeuristic & tragic look at how far cowardice can get you in relationships. Not for the faint of heart, cowards or anyone looking for shalala flavoured climaxes and saccharine perfect endings.
This is a study in anime angst like only the Japanese can produce with many, many, many thoughtful shades of grey, pink and yellow.
Where I come from we would say, "Pick sense from shit."
I started watching The Time Traveller's Wife last night. I loved the book and read it so many times i dogeared the copy I had.I hated the movie that came out some years back. Eric Bana and that Adams chick just didn't capture the characters for me.
Theo James though... oh gosh, he is Henry. He's absolutely Henry. Rose Leslie is a good actress, and she's doing a good job, I am not sure I like her as Claire. I'm not sure why, but she's just not fitting the picture I made in my head about this woman with guts and long love. I can't fault her acting though, she's doing a great job. But it's Theo doing it for me.
I honestly am yet to not like him in anything. I can't tell if I think he's pretty, or if he's a good actor or a bad actor. I just like watching him... he makes me believe every character I've seen him play. And say what, for me, he has definitely captured Henry's humor, his fear, his kindness, his ruthlessness, his wily cunningness, all of it... I particularly loved the scene with him and Rose Leslie in The Stacks where Henry introduces Claire to his mother.
Gosh... he totally sold me.
I read a half and half kind of review from a big outlet a couple of weeks ago, and was very surprised someone attempted this story again, and was totally prepared for another wan attempt, but no... I am really liking this.
This is definitely doing some justice to Niffenegger's beautiful love story.
This show is VERY entertaining. I am endlessly fascinated with anime’s ability to make a story out of anything. It makes for a more compelling contrast to typical Western fare, which rules out stories simply because they want to appeal to a mean audience.
Anime for me is like an anathema to this... The strangest and most outlandish stories are made into gripping drama, laughs, tears, emotional growth... and it could be a show about ANYTHING.
At any rate, this has been an entertaining six episodes. The writing is good to keep me very much keen to see what happens next. These little punk boys are one of the best stories I’ve seen this year.
I want to see Takemichi’s rage crumble in the next episode, and still manage to keep his immediate goal from falling apart. I also like how every episode manages to advance to overall plot just a little bit more. I’m also amazed how much damn story they manage to fit into 20 odd minutes.
On with the story!
So "His Dark Materials" is quite amazing.
It's not just the visuals, and aesthetic which are amazing, it's that as a staunch and stolid lover of the books, it is utterly glorious to see the story come to life and so faithfully.
The monstrosity that was the film version of this story, which although beautiful, was horribly truncated while being overpacked and veered so wildly from the source material in some crucial ways, I was glad they never made the remaining parts of the story as it would have been excruciating. Even with Daniel Craig and Nicole Kidman, it was just not the story I had hoped to see.
For me, it was that the actress who played Lyra, was far too pretty, far too pretty even in her 'scrappy' running around Jordan College as a hoyden of chaos and ruin.
In all the major ways that the film failed, this single first episode of the HBO series succeeds and with the most thrilling reaction in me as a fan.
I know the story. I've read the trilogy at least once a year since 2004.
But this still makes me want to sink deep into this visual retelling. And oh, oh my, the visuals... Lyra's world is exceptionally realised, and we still are yet to see much beyond Jordan College.
I love the added scene of Lord Asriel delivering baby Lyra and Pantalaimon to the Master of Jordan College, during the Great Flood. This was a beautifully added detail, that in the books was only retold to Lyra in a second-hand fashion by Ma Costa. Here we're given a snippet of this, at the beginning, where we're well into the first story before we get anything real about the amazing Lyra Belacqua aka Lyra Silvertongue.
This episode, whets the appetite of even the most ardent and devoted fan of His Dark Materials (like myself). I and eagerly awaiting the second episode, and thoroughly enjoyed watching it with my thirteen year old son last night.
I must say that James MacAvoy is looking RATHER distinguished! Plus he manages to convey the ferocity and intensity of Lord Asriel in a way I never got from Daniel Craig who was merely cold.
This and Carnival Row, both exceeded my expectations! Do watch!
As Superhero shows go, this was so unusual, subversive, corny, clever and entertaining, that I didn’t mind even the slowest of moments... I enjoyed this way more than any recent time traveling show (featuring either regular-ish humans and well, supers.)
I thoroughly enjoyed not just the premise, but the execution. Special effects were not the point of the story. The mix of characters soooo eclectic, that I throughly enjoyed the way the story played itself out.
That said, the acting across the board is ok, with the stand out performance being Aidan Ghallegher’s performance of Number 5. He really brings forward this wizened and hardened nearly sixty-year old consciousness to a child’s body. And sells it!
I also enjoyed Robert Sheehan as Klaus... he was not just comic relief, but the most human of all the main characters. I thought Sheehan captured both the trauma and the joy of Klaus’s reprobate ways, and his joie d’vivre beautifully.
The only other performance that stood out for me, and not in a good way, was Emmy Raver-Lampman as Allison Hargreeves. It’s not that she is a bad actress, I just didn’t buy her belief in her character’s story. It felt like she was forcing, and her face didn’t convey her emotions well.
Everybody else was good to fine... enough that this was an enjoyable romp. I’m looking forward to Season 2.
I discovered Chinese dramas in the wake of the news about ‘The Most Googled Show On Earth’, and I admit, Yanxi Palace was my gateway ‘drug’.
Since then I’ve watched two other 60 episode series, neither of which prepared me for the gloriousness of Ever Night.
Arthur Chen is undoubtedly the star of this piece, and despite is stunning youth (18 years old), he turns in an insouciant, endearing, impressive performance.
He captured his character’s braggadocio and swagger perfectly, and his fight sequences, from the first to the last, are incredibly well choreographed and edited incredibly well. Everyone admits he is a scamp, but he revels in it. (Doesn’t hurt that he’s adorable either.)
Irenie Song, who plays my darling Sang Sang, a tiny little girl with a BIG HEART and a sharp tongue also turns in an adorable and heart warming performance.
The chemistry between Chen and Song on screen goes from brother/sister to cameraderie to romantic, and they both do an incredible job with their characters.
The narrative, simple and uncomplicated, but with enough ups and downs and thrills, is a story well told. I thoroughly enjoyed the set up, and the long arc of development Ning Que (Chen) and Sang Sang that allowed me to invest in them...
Every time Ning Que gained in experience and advantage, I cheered a bit. When he and Sang Sang fought over The Bookworm Maniac, my heart hurt a bit too... because SANG SANG! And I knew pretty early on that Sang Sang was never going to be ‘the Little Maid’.
And mi dears... the lead up to the final battle, with its bit of a shocker (about who Ning Que really is), and the final, epic battle between Ning Que and Xia Hou, is like NOTHING I’ve seen on a TV screen.
Maybe I am old and corny now, and I don’t watch anywhere near the amount of anime I used to in my 20s, but the final battle sequence was one of, if not the best fights I’ve ever seen on film.
Beautifully acrobatic, with some moves I’ve had to watch on replay five or six times to fully catch just how badass Ning Que really is (he’s an original Badass, I said it, OG!), and its heart breaking, frightening end, it is worth watching this fight over and over... deeply rewarding it is.
After the relatively straight forward palace intrigue story lines of the last three dramas I watched, Ever Night’s story, fight sequences, special effects (industrial light and magic) and the unaffected performances of Chen and Song (and others like the actor playing Chen Pipi, and several others I just loved, like Yan Se, and Brother Chao) make this show just good, without qualification. This drama was thoroughly entertaining, from beginning to end. I liked the world created for it, and the magic in it, and I am FAN of Ning Que and Sang Sang. I ship ‘em!
I am pleased there will be another season, but heart broken Chen won’t be back as Ning Que. I’m looking forward to the continuation of the story, but I’m not sure I can buy anyone else as Ning Que. Chen possessed that role. His little side smirk and that thing he does with his mouth will forever be etched on the fabric of Ning Que for me.
A note here on the character Long Qing: Piss in his pocket! Arrogant, over praised, over pretty, twaddle head! Of course Ning Que will cut his ass eventually too, but his character arc in this season left me despising his ‘butter can’t melt in his mouth’ ass. And instead of learning, he just descended even deeper into the morass of his mediocrity. All that he did to make him myself powerful, in the end it will be his undoing. And let me also add: I think HE is the Child of Hades. Trying to malign my boy Ning Que? NO! It is Long Qing!! When S02 drops, bet me money that is what is revealed.
I watch on Viki, but for English speakers a warning: These subtitles are almost hilarious in how they interpret English. So if you watch, you will need to understand proper English yourself so you can extrapolate. It’s not terrible, but definitely not perfect.
*** rubs hands gleefully ***
Season 2 is just around the corner! I may rewatch all 60 episodes and do some short summaries for The Goddess Room, because this is definitely going HIGH on my list for Game of Thrones withdrawal fare.
Watch it. You won’t be sorry.
After a lifetime of love for the Star Trek universe, it's hard to be impressed by some of the iterations between the end of Voyager, and the start of the recent movie reboots. As much as I love Scott Bakula, I panned "Enterprise" sometime after the first season, unable to find a way into the story or caring about that crew.
However, as if the showrunners of Discovery knew what, my intersectional heart was longing for. A powerful new female lead of colour (wearing her natural hair), in a very different take on the Federation and enemies of old. When I realised which enemy of old it was being reimagined—indeed, the extent to which the Federation has been a little reimagined—I became deeply impressed, moment by moment.
I'm uncertain if I like the makeup and costume design for the new 'Others' in the story, and the very 'colourfulness' of their ship interiors, but you know, I might just let it grow on me and see how it goes.
A word here on Sonequa Martin-Green's performance: Yes muh girl! Yes! I like you... A nuanced and compelling performance.
That said, this was an impressive opener. Oh CBS.. you play too much. They banned reviews to pique interest, and I am in for it. Here for it. I'm glad I took the chance and watched, and I'm glad to be so pleasantly surprised. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
This episode is one of the best of the season, the writing and tension superb. There is not a single extraneous or wasted scene or moment, and the focus on the story unfolding remaining very sharp.
The salvage mission on the the Anubis by now feels familiar, but I'm glad it's the crew of the Rocinante doing the blowing up rather than running. What they uncover of course are more questions, and almost few answers.
The moment the crew of the Rocinante and Miller meet up in the Blue Falcon, in search of Lionel Polanski, is one of the high points of this season, and one that still thrills me although I think I've seen this episode three times at this writing.
Somehow, and there's a little voice that is telling me this, they will be together for a minute.
One has to feel some type of way for Miller. His heartbreak at finding his answers is heart wrenching. This is some major turning point for Miller. I'm not certain what is coming for him, but Julie Mao will be for him, what the Cant is for the crew of the Rocinante, and maybe for the whole solar system. Either way, this looks like kismet. Never mind the whole, "touch me again and there'll be another body on the floor," bit. It looks like kismet.
One of the things to appreciate with the season winding down, is how it has used detail and visual textures to build a convincing world and story. The little clues we've been getting are beginning to add up.
Listen, I am really digging Amos. He's the last of the Rocinante crew that I've gotten attached to, but I am really digging him.
This show from beginning to end, was not what it appeared. I continue to give Brit Marling mad props for the writing of this story, because while the episodes didn't follow an ordinary format, but a specific arc in the story, the eight episodes felt like long low budget independent film, that managed to beautifully mash several genres together.
Some of the critics have been unnecessarily harsh in its dismissal of many of it's themes as merely 'new-agish', but I found the storytelling to be consistent throughout the entire clutch (I really dislike calling it a 'season' when it streams on Netflix or is a whole season available for watching via another service) of episodes.
As I have previously noted, this is the kind of story that could only have been facilitated by a streaming service, because it mostly abandons traditional television storytelling, and it works.
As for the characters, I was proud like I did something in the last ten minutes of the episode, with a little eye water to boot. The disparate threads of this story came together beautifully, and the acting was consistent in the last few episodes.
It is well worth a binge watch, but I am glad I dragged it out a bit. Highly recommended.
Will there be a second season? It seems almost certain. God help us, we wait long periods between them on Netflix, which appears to have a much longer release cycle than regular network television. However, the quality of the recent productions proves they tend to be worth the wait. I only had an inkling about this one, but it turned out to be well worth the weirdness of the pre-release pump.
Ah, gotta love those Donkey Balls.
While I am not precisely liking the dubious new addition to the ship's complement, because he feels treacherous, he sure does come up with some good ideas.
This episode had some beautiful moments.
While I am still not enjoying Chrisjen's wooden delivery of dialogue, I very much liked that we got to meet at least one of Holden's parents. It would have been a bit more interesting if we had seen the whole unit of them, but who knows why production felt just his body-mother was required. Frances Fisher does a great job, making a meal of a small role, and we get a great look at Holden's backstory. This late in the season though, I suspect we won't get anyone else's backstory until Season 2. I don't know about you, but I am chomping at the bit to find out Naomi's story.
Miller's sad and wistful goodbye to Octavia, as he heads off into the black chasing Julie Mao; the tense but funny process of getting into the lockbox to find the black ops codes to evade the blockade, these both give us more character depth. Miller is turning into a different kind of man, and the Rocinante crew's democratic, yet effective teamwork makes them a lot of fun to watch as they're grinding through trying to get to the bottom of Lionel Polanski, the Scopuli and the Anubis.
I'm also enjoying the little things in the show: The Belter's patois, although largely incomprehensible, is a nice touch that adds a lot of dimension to the Belter's as an insular, underdog group. That they evolved their own language, says much for the alienation they must have to the rest of the solar system. Jared Harris as Dawes, has the most beautiful sing song thing going on, and it makes his character a much more seductive and enchanting force in the story's play...
Regardless of the next few episodes, which i suspect will be relentless, Sy Fy has done a marvellous job of fueling this production. Despite a few obvious TV gaffs here and there, for the most part the show is really well put together, and the concepts, sets, action sequences and character development almost make you pause, because Sy Fy has gutted us more than once since Battlestar Galactica went off air. I say again, this is the best show I've seen on TV since BSG ended... and that Sy Fy is coming through for us, is something to celebrate.
This show is pure science fiction and it's commitment to creating a believable story, is tremendous.
By far the most illuminated episode of the season thus far. Clearly they are now working hard to get the fifth movement, they're to the point where they want the experiment and are participating, but the dread of Hap finding out becomes now possibly the thing that's holding them back.
Jason Isaacs plays Hap with an almost palpable sense of his rationalisations for his psychosis. Yet, without him there would be no story, right?
The OA continues to show her grit and determination, Homer continues to be the other focal point. Yet, the other three... we get almost nothing about them other than Hap's machinations to enslave Renata in the last episode, and we're two episodes from the end of this season (or whatever the hell Netflix calls these binge watches) my point is, the other three are still sketches.
Still, it's hard to fault the story. The pacing is excellent and remains consistent through all the episodes I've seen so far, and I am really enjoying Brit Marling's performance. She wrote this character for herself and it shows just how deeply she is into the work that The OA is really all you see on screen. I'm very impressed with the way she's built this story, and the execution, although it's not flashy, it's really well done.
With two episodes to go to the close of this clutch of episodes (I like 'clutch' better than 'season' for Netflix stuff), I'm very much curious to see how this comes to a close, and if we will be tortured for another season, the way we're being tortured for more Sense8 episodes.
Still, what a treat this has been to watch.
Hap is monstrous for what he's doing to these people. Homer (Emory Cohen), is tragic, sad, indeed Homer being the lynchpin and Hap mercilessly using him to manipulate the others, break the trust between them... just ugh! Jason Isaacs is doing a magnificent job of making me loathe this character.
The OA is amazing. She's amazing. The 'movements' and the celestial portal... yeah, I'm down. I get it. I SCREAMED when I got it!!!! And regardless of what he's done, Homer remained a soldier and a believer in what they were doing.
Oh this show just slipped into a whole level of weirdness that I super appreciate. The OA, who as I previously noted, while appearing to everyone else to be 'unhinged', is proving to be a strong, tough, relentless pursuer and believer in love and freedom and truth. At the end of this episode, we see just how strong and truly powerful she is.
Oh my, what a good episode this was! Oh how I loathe Hap, but one has to ask this question: If we are working with the holographic universe model, and that which is observed changes to produce the effect that the observer requires, desires, or simply as a reaction to being observed, how much of what is happening with these five people is being made possible by the evil, twisted, horrible, disgusting, awful Hap Hunter?
Oh my... This is certainly one of the best written shows I've seen in awhile. As weird as the ride has been, it's remained consistent and engrossing throughout.
I get how this would never have worked on network television, but finds a perfect niche with the Netflix crowd. Long live the Internet!
The pace slows a bit in this episode, but again the highlight here is the characters in play.
Again I am struck by Chrisjen Avasarala (Shohreh Aghdashloo), and not in a good way. Although her accent is beautiful, I don’t believe Aghdashloo’s portrayal at all. She doesn’t seem to penetrate the character’s motivations and what I am perceiving is her delivering her lines, not so much acting. Consequently, her role seems off and aloof rather than a woman of passion that Chrisjen clearly is, at least on paper.
Which is a pity. Her role is such a juicy one for a woman, that it is a shame she feels like bad casting, and the role could have gone to an actress with more chops. I can see Tilda Swinton playing this role with gelid-eyed ferocity.Hers is the only real problematic portrayal, everyone else is doing a great job.
All of that said, this episode continues to build the story relentlessly from the previous episode.
We have an interesting additional ‘backstory’, that of Diogo (Andrew Rotilio), who we saw in earlier episodes in scenes with Miller where he was warned to 'Stay away from the aqua!’, and his uncle Mateo (Alex Karzis). This sequence gives us an emotional and tense story line, giving you some of the grit and determination of the Belters to make a sacrifice for what’s right, even though it’s clear they’re mistreated and taken advantage of. Although it doesn’t appear as though this character is important, the fact that this dramatic little side story appears, leads me to believe that Diogo, who we last see floating on his own, will become an important secondary character later on.
Regardless of the vicious machinations going on way above their heads, the Belters clearly deserve some justice.
We also get further evidence of the growing close knitting of the crew of the Rocinante. The handle Fred Johnson and his demands deftly, and head into God knows what by the end of the episode. Holden continues to display wit, and his team loyalty.
The byplay between Miller (Thomas Jane) and Octavia (Athena Karkanis) is also looking like something we will watch play out later on in the story. The chemistry between them is there, and I like all the scenes between them. Jane plays his character’s bitterness perfectly with her, and she hits her character’s notes perfectly. Tough but vulnerable, willing to stretch, but not quite bend the rules. Her rescuing of Miller in this episode definitely deserves a brownie point or two.
It is clear that this is a series that requires you to pay attention. It’s easy to miss some details on the first watch, so you cannot ignore anything or anyone at this point.
From last episode’s eye popping escapes, and amping up story wise, we come to this lovely little point in the tale.
Although it lacks the action of the previous episode, it provides this clever counterpoint theme around Miller’s lack of drinking and Holden’s hunt for a cup of coffee, which is perfectly expressed on Holden’s face during the final moments.
Our wider view grows of “The Butcher of Anderson Station” and what does and doesn’t lie in wait at Tycho Station grows, as does the newly minted crew of the Rocinante’s loyalties and clearly democratic structure. For now at any rate.
I do think Miller’s haircut is ridiculous, and his hat foolish, but there’s something dogged and admirable about his character regardless of his jaded anti-hero leanings. His now blatant adoration of Julie Mao is making him a better man already as is evident with his laying off the drink, and he’s on her trail still, getting closer and closer. Dangerously close, I’d say.
I continue to adore Holden’s stubbly jawbone, and crinkly laugh lines. Amos and Alex, I am also digging, and Naomi’s still so damn mysterious as any self-respecting woman should be, that it’s hard not to cheer and gasp at their twists and turns of fate. Despite last episode’s shocking kill off of Shed, I doubt we will lose any more of the survivors from the Cant, at least not this season. This is clearly the core group of antagonists.
All in all this episode tautly advances the story without ever slipping into exposition for it’s own sake. It maintains a tight focus on the next layer of the story, while the flashback elements are perfectly integrated, making it perfectly clear that our rag-tag band of survivors (get it!?) are nowhere near out of the woods yet.
This show gets better and better.
As we say in Barbados, this episode 'up de ting'. The last twenty minutes of this show was beautiful, organised chaos.
Again I am amazed by the production ethics of this show. The gritty 'movie-like' quality and pacing is wonderful, and this episodes twists were well executed.
I like that we get to see a little more of the Martians and the ethos, and the mysterious warship and it's blue masked invaders, all deepen the mystery of what's really going on. We see the hypocrisies and machinations of the Earthers as well as the set up for Belter culture.
We're introduced to OPA head man, Frederick Johnson who has just the right amount of passion and cool nerve, and I am very amused at how he handled the Mormon representative. I am also deeply intrigued by their generational ship.
This episode gives us even more backdrop for the politics at play in the solar system, and nicely sets up the enduring loyalty of the survivors of the Cant. Bless Holden and his matinee idol jawline and pretty, squinty eyes and lovely pouty mouth. Yes, I had to point all of that out. I positively begs to be pointed out.
This episode was well acted, the action sequences were exceptional, the special effects were fucking EYEPOPPING,
It's so nice to see the Sy Fy gave a show some budget and talent. I had given up hope after Battlestar Galactica left the air, but this show gets better, and this is my second time watching this first season.
While the first two episodes lay the ground for the characters, and sets the basic players and plot in motion, here the stakes are upped in a significant way.
The way in which the stories seem very separate, the play with the survivors of the Cant and the Martian Navy, the play on Mars and Miller's probing on Ceres, but also layer by layer appear to grow more intertwined is well paced throughout this episode.
Like no other show I've seen this year, the production aesthetic is richer and deeper, and the interiors while close, never seem claustrophobic, merely a form of texturing. All the space sequences so far have been exceptional, and the Earth-based spaces all strike the right notes of familiar and futuristic at the same time.
I do not like Shohreh Aghdashloo's Chrisjen Avasarala. I love her accent and her styling, but there is something about her delivery that doesn't quite make me believe that she believes what she is saying.
Steven Strait, Cas Anvar, Dominique Tipper and Wes Chatham and all great as Holden, and crew, beautifully playing out the tension, suspicion and steadfast loyalty, as the Mars Navy gets a hold of them and questions them about the destruction of the Canterbury.
All in all, this episode beautifully advances the plot, without ever appearing to play the characters or the story cheap.
I must agree with another reviewer/commenter who said the show has a 'film' feel to it. This is something to note, as the feel of the production is richer than anything I've seen on television since Battlestar Galactica. For me, that's a huge thing.
I am in the middle of a rewatch for the sole purpose of reviewing and in preparation for Season 2, due February 2016. I'm still shocked it took me a whole year to know about this show, but really thankful I have all ten episodes to binge on.
Although the premise of the show was wearing thin with so little to go on in terms of why, this episode is frustrating in you get more with no concrete answers.
I adore the Reilly Dolman's Phillip; his performance the most nuanced of the cast. He is so handsome in an off kilter manner, he is the only character I find engrossing.
Everyone else, and everything else on this show feels off. It's almost like it's trying too hard to be edgy, and without either the visual texturing or special effects to shore up some very obvious plot devices, I find myself wondering if I am going to make it through the rest of this season.
However, I am not a fan of procedural shows, and I know this is colouring my take on this. Either way, this show is lacking some kind of oomph.
Plus there's the obvious question, "If they're trying to save the world, and there are lots of teams running around surreptitiously working to do this, if they reach some critical mass event wouldn't they and the technology they're using all cease to exist? How would they 'get back to their own timeline, or are all these people expected to be stranded where they are'?"
Time travel paradoxes are already popping up with this, and it's episode five. I'm just not sure how much I can suspend my disbelief.
It's engaging enough for me to see what happens in the next episode, but skating on thin ice. I'd still watch a dozen episodes of Quantum Leap, because I like my time travel with some real human connections. I like all my sci fi this way. This is what I think is missing in this show. It's so busy with the premise, that there's almost no real human connection. Either to the team we're following, or with the mysterious 'Future', or with the people supposedly being saved.
Without that, I'm just not interested enough in anyone other than Phillip.
Ralph Angel's transformation over the course of this season has been beautiful. I was moved to tears in the final moments of the finale to see him come so far from where we found him in episode one. Kofi Siriboe's growth over these 13 episodes has just been beautiful and restorative to watch.
Miss Charlie though... I still don't know if I'm horrified or proud that she literally bet the farm, left Prince Charming hanging, manipulated a 'friend' to declare her own sovereign state. Dawn-Lyen Gardner's performance has in my opinion the most consistent of the three leads.
Nova... I am left wanting more. I'm not sure what it is, but of all of the performances on this show, her's is the only one that doesn't quite sit right with me. The last episode's nonsense invoking Oshun... after I had a massive belly laugh, I asked out loud why Ava Duvernay couldn't have asked someone a question instead of making up some shit to say.
However, my issues with Nova's character, narrative and in particular Rutina Wesley's performance, aren't limited to just this. There's just something that doesn't feel right about it. I may be able to articulate what that is eventually, but right now I'm noting that something is just off. That said, Wesley is stunningly beautiful, and despite the little quirks in her portrayal she's got an (over) expressive face that's often a pleasure to watch.
Quiet as it's kept, there's some quietly epic stuff going on with this show. It's been a season of some great writing and character development on this show. I'm very eager to know when the next season is due to air. I also think I am adding this to my rewatch list. I can see myself really going hard on all thirteen episodes some week when spring 2017 starts to warm up properly, and Being Mary Jane's next season wraps up.
