It took me three years and multiple attempts at the first few episodes of season one to finally get through this (the trick is just skipping through the awkward and cringy, second-hand embarrassment scenes) but I’m so glad I did because it’s such a beautiful coming-of-age story.
This show is definitely best watched as a whole as I don’t think I would have loved it as much if I hadn’t watched all 4 seasons together and got to see the amazing character growth. I can’t think of a single show that has done character development so well (outside of Schitt’s Creek) and in such a way that every choice is justified and makes sense.
I’m firmly in the Paxton x Desi is end game park but even then, I’m happy with the way everything ended, because while I didn’t get the ship I was hoping for, even that made sense.
Desi became obsessed with Paxton as a way to avoid dealing with her father’s death, which is why when she finally got to the goal post that seemed unreachable, she didn’t know what to do with herself, but being with each other changed them both for the better and made them into the best versions of themselves.
:movie_camera:
story = 8/10
acting/cast = 9/10 (minus fabiola's first girlfriend who is shockingly bad at acting)
music = 4/10
rewatch value = 3/10 (while the character growth makes the last seasons great, rewatching all the bad decisions desi makes would be physically painful.
overall = 7/10
I love the Daddario siblings and will watch anything they are in. I loved Alexandra in this and so i was immediately pulled in.
Unfortunately, I think, like many shows recently, this has fallen victim to a short episode order. This needed to be in the 22-episode tv format and not 8. They tried to cover too much in too little space and nothing had a chance to build out and be adequately explained.
This was a 22-episode script compacted down instead of being written as 8 episodes and so, everything was rushed and at times confusing. I'm hopeful that season 2 is better as I think it could end up being worthwhile.
This has been on my watchlist for years and I’ve finally got around to watching it. For the most part, it was fantastic but the sheer number of plotholes is outstanding.
The first season is excellent. Second, less so, but still okay.
Third and fourth? The writers were scrambling with no plans or clue as to where anything was going and it was clear a few episodes into season 3 that they hadn’t thought this far ahead. Anything they couldn't figure out they just washed away or created an alternative timeline for.
Season 3 basically made it so they didn’t have to answer any of the pressing questions from the first two seasons and could just wipe away anything they didn’t know or understand. No more flashbacks, no acknowledgement outside of Kiera saying that she wanted to go home. The last season is where they try to tie everything back in, but it feels rushed and desperate.
The ending was the perfect mix of bittersweet and made the poor planning and odd filler episodes worth it. It was great to see that both Alec and his brother had become a better version of themselves. Keira not understanding that her son wouldn't be born was frankly baffling though - everything they had done was so that future didn't exist so how was her son and marriage supposed to? Plus, why did they have him look exactly like her son with two totally different parents?!
Key unanswered plotholes:
The CIA/NSA investigation just magically went away, even after the lead was mysterious murdered.
Did the husband know what Alec was planning? Scenes would indicate that he did, but this was never answered.
What was the deal with Alec's father? Nothing there was explained including his reasonings for everything. Same as how Alec's son escaped from the freelancers.
The big cooperative overlords that told evil Alec to slow down and were halting production... Who were they and what was their purpose?
Liberat8? Oh, we don’t need them anymore, so let’s let them just fade away and have a few turn allies. Never mind the fact that they were a nationwide (global?) organization at that point.
The freelancers were only talked about for half a second and things were never adequately explained. Plus, who was the original freelancer and why was Curtis so obsessed? Nothing about the freelancers was even slightly explained well. It had the vibe of when a show is desperately trying to create a spin-off and using the current show for momentum.
:movie_camera: Overall:
Story = 7/10
Soundtrack = 0/10
Acting = 8/10
Total = 6.5/10
Overall not a bad show and it's a nice cop/time travel/saving the world mix of genres that mesh quite well together.
I know some people don't love the idea of monsters and lore but it fits really well and expands the universe in a way that works - why can witches, wolves and vampires exist but not other mythical creatures? Vampires and wolves come from magic, but other magical creatures are where things don't make sense?!?!?!
It's younger than VD and Originals because they are all in school in this series and are exploring topics about growing up and you guessed it... Learning (as one does in school). Yes, Hope is the all-powerful tribrid but she's also a teenage girl and I think the show balanced those two things well.
The last season was super messy but it's understandable and they did the best they could with what they knew. I'm guessing the Gods were supposed to expand over a season or two rather than essentially a few episodes.
I'll truly miss this show and hope the universe can expand into something else. I would love a spin-off with Jed and Ben exploring the Gods as we've only just touched on it and I think the entire thing was rushed due to the cancellation and we could have delved deeper into the lore.
Will really miss this show but it's definitely on my rewatch list!
Even if this wasn't from 'no renew' Netflix that cliffhanger still wouldn't be okay. Didn't even truly feel like a cliffhanger, more like they just didn't know how to continue the story or have the budget too.
The plot only really started 2-3 episodes ago so feels like a massive let down... Wasted a shocking amount of time on a love story that isn't going to lead anywhere (where is he, is he just not going to be mentioned again??) as it seems Sister Beatrice is the next love interest.
A lot of hours to get zero conclusions and a non-ending.
In short; subpar storyline, pointless love story, no ending and a let down for what was an interesting premise. First ten minutes and the last ten minutes are the only interesting parts of the whole of season 1.
Tip to the people over at Netflix:
If someone has watched the last episode and can't figure out why the 'next episode button' hasn't shown up, you've done something very wrong. When you get an interesting story idea, make sure you get the correct people to write the story.
The acting is pretty bad, the CGI is laughable, the story doesn't appear that original to other Netflix Originals where a hero with new powers has a parental figure/family friend that has to be defeated (The Protector, Iron Fist, The Order) but I'm going to continue to give it ago, in the doubtful hope that it improves.
The most rewatchable episodes:
2x02 Everybody Loves a Clown
While biding their time trying to come up with an idea, they investigate murders committed by a killer clown.
2x15 Tall Tales
The Winchester brothers seek the help of their family friend Bobby while investigating a series of unexplained happenings on a local college campus.
2x09 Croatoan
Sam has a vision of Dean shooting a defenseless man, and they go to the town of River Grove, where they find the townspeople have been possessed by a virus that makes them violent.
2x18 Hollywood Babylon
Sam and Dean discover that a group of ghosts are attempting to shut down production of a movie that they feel is mocking them.
3x03 Bad Day at Black Rock
The Winchesters are called regarding a robbery of their father's storage unit, and track down the robbers to find the item stolen is a cursed rabbit's foot, which provides great luck until lost, and once lost the previous owner dies within a week.
3x11 Mystery Spot
Dean is killed after looking into a case about the disappearance of a man with Sam. The next morning, Sam is shocked to find Dean alive and is hit with the realization that he is reliving the day before.
3x13 Ghostfacers!
Sam and Dean decide to star in a violent, profane reality show named Ghostfacers.
4x6 Yellow Fever
Hell beckons again when Dean is stricken with a mysterious illness that frightens its sufferers to death. Sam and Dean scramble to find the cause of the disease in time to save Dean from sure death.
4x08 Wishful Thinking
Want to score a hot girlfriend, win the lottery or have your favorite teddy bear come to life? Then plunk a coin in a small town's wishing well and stand back. One problem: The wishes come true with a twist.
4x13 After School Special
Fast times at Truman High. Murder brings Sam and Dean back to one of their old high schools, where they investigate possible demonic possession and take a few trips down memory lane.
4x18 The Monster at the End of this Book
Familiar plot. Familiar characters. Sam and Dean come across a series of graphic novels called "Supernatural" featuring two demon-hunting brothers named Sam and Dean.
5x06 I Believe the Children Are Our Future
Sam and Dean investigate a series of odd murders that strangely resemble fairytales and urban legends.
5x07 The Curious Case of Dean Winchester
Sam and Dean discover a witch is running a high-stakes poker game where the currency is life years vs. money.
5x08 Changing Channels
When Sam and Dean find themselves living their lives on what appear to be TV shows, it makes for a whole new style of reality television and they wonder if the Trickster is to blame.
5x09 The Real Ghostbusters
Super fan Becky uses Chuck’s phone to trick Sam and Dean into attending a Supernatural fan convention, complete with fans dressed up as Sam and Dean.
5x14 My Bloody Valentine
Castiel helps Sam and Dean hunt down Cupid on Valentine's Day after townspeople start to kill each other for love.
6x09 Clap Your Hands If You Believe
While Sam and Dean are investigating a UFO sighting, Dean is abducted from a crop circle. However, when he awakens, he discovers he isn't dealing with aliens, but fairies!
6x15 The French Mistake
Dean and Sam find themselves in an alternate reality where everyone believes they are two actors.
8x08 Hunteri Heroici
Sam and Dean aren’t sold on the idea but agree to investigate a case Cas found where a man’s heart literally burst through his chest. The guys discover there has been more than one odd murder in the small town and all of them resemble cartoon deaths.
8x11 LARP and the Real Girl
Sam and Dean investigate the mysterious deaths of two LARPers (Live Action Role Playing) who were playing a game entitled Moondoor.
8x14 Trial and Error
Sam and Dean that according to the tablet one person must face a series of three tests designed by God. The first one – kill a hellhound.
10x05 Fan Fiction
When Sam and Dean investigate the disappearance of a teacher, they are stunned to see the school is putting on a musical based on their lives.
11x07 Plush
Sheriff Donna calls Sam and Dean for help after a horrific murder with supernatural elements happens in her town.
11x08 Just My Imagination
Sam is shocked when his childhood imaginary friend Sully makes an unexpected appearance. Sam can’t understand why he’d see Sully now but what’s even more surprising is that Dean can see him, too.
11x11 Into the Mystic
Sam and Dean investigate a case where people are suffering violent deaths after hearing a mysterious song.
12x11 Regarding Dean
Sam enlists Rowena’s help to track down an old world, powerful family of witches after Dean gets hit by a spell that is rapidly erasing his memory.
12x15 Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell
An attack by an invisible hellhound at a campsite leads Sam and Dean to investigate the mysterious circumstances.
