Category: TV Reviews

REVIEW: The Leftovers – “The Book of Kevin”

The following is a review and recap of the first episode of the third season of The Leftovers (HBO). Expect Story Spoilers.

Damon Lindelof and Tom Perotta’s The Leftovers is back on HBO for its final eight episode long season. I managed to bingewatch the first two seasons of the show during my Easter break last week, and I am, honestly, hooked. Therefore I’ve decided that I will review each and every episode of this last season of The Leftovers. So, without further ado, let’s get to it. Continue reading “REVIEW: The Leftovers – “The Book of Kevin”” →

REVIEW: The Leftovers – Season Two (2015)

The following is a review of the second season of The Leftovers – Created by Damon Lindelof & Tom Perotta

After a terrific and underrated first season, the writers of The Leftovers decided to open their second season with a change of scenery. First, a supremely odd prologue that had me scratching my head and made me wonder if I was watching a different show. It’s a sequence that manages to foreshadow a lot of the events of the second season, but it was an odd way to open a season nonetheless.

Then, after the prologue ended, Axis Mundi – the first episode of the season – becomes a point of view-episode from the perspective of a family from Jarden, Texas — a town that lost zero people during the ‘Sudden Departure.’ We soon learn that these people are Kevin (played by Justin Theroux), Nora (played by Carrie Coon), and Jill’s (played by Margaret Qualley) new neighbors. Continue reading “REVIEW: The Leftovers – Season Two (2015)” →

REVIEW: The Leftovers – Season One (2014)

The following is a season review of the first season of The Leftovers – Created by Damon Lindelof & Tom Perotta

Back in 2014, HBO released the first season of Tom Perotta and Damon Lindelof’s show about the global loss of 140 million people. The show was called The Leftovers and it was based on co-creator Tom Perotta’s novel of the same name.

The first season of the show takes place three years after the global loss and it is largely focused on the trials and tribulations of the Garvey family, which has been torn apart following the ‘Sudden Departure.’ But while plenty key characters lost key members of their family, the show makes clear that not all loss is related directly to the ‘Sudden Departure.’ Continue reading “REVIEW: The Leftovers – Season One (2014)” →

REVIEW: Better Call Saul – “Mabel”

The following is a review and recap of the first episode of the third season of Better Call Saul, available on AMC in the U. S. and on Netflix internationally. Expect story spoilers. 

It’s finally that time of the year again. Better Call Saul, which is currently my favorite show on television, is back. You know, it’s funny. Before I had seen the show, I was extremely worried about Better Call Saul somehow retroactively hurting Breaking Bad. As we now know, my fears were unfounded as Better Call Saul has become not just a great spin-off show, but also my personal favorite spin-off show.

In the first episode of the third season – Mabel – ‘Gene’ briefly shows his true colors, Kim Wexler grows increasingly paranoid about her own work, Mike Ehrmantraut tries to figure out who’s been watching him, and Jimmy McGill has ten good minutes with his brother.
Continue reading “REVIEW: Better Call Saul – “Mabel”” →

REVIEW: Five Came Back (2017)

Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a recap and review of Five Came Back – A Netflix Documentary Series

Netflix’s Five Came Back is a three-part documentary (narrated by Meryl Streep) about five famous Hollywood directors and their impact on the documentation and presentation of the Second World War and, in turn, how it forever altered their careers as filmmakers. Continue reading “REVIEW: Five Came Back (2017)” →

REVIEW: Iron Fist – Season One (2017)

Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a full season review of Marvel’s Iron Fist – Created by Scott Buck

After the success of both Daredevil seasons, as well as Jessica Jones and Luke Cage’s debut seasons, the final Netflix-Marvel season to lead up to the big event series The Defenders has arrived. It is time to finally focus on Danny Rand (played by Finn Jones) – Marvel’s Iron Fist.

When Danny was a boy, he and his parents where involved in an accident. Danny was the only survivor, but he spent more than a decade away from the Western world. Now, Danny has returned to the United States to reclaim his family’s company, but, seeing as people thought he was dead, not everyone is willing to welcome him back with open arms immediately. Continue reading “REVIEW: Iron Fist – Season One (2017)” →

REVIEW: O. J.: Made in America (2016 – Documentary)

Release Poster - ESPN Films
Release Poster – ESPN Films

The following is a review of O. J.: Made in America – Directed by Ezra Edelman

Orenthal James Simpson – a USC Trojans legend, Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee, movie star, and a convicted felon. In 1985, 5-time Pro Bowl and 1-time NFL MVP O. J. Simpson, a former running back for the Buffalo Bills and the San Francisco 49ers, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

He had become an actor, and in a few years he would become a movie star with the popular The Naked Gun movie series. Ten years later, in 1995, Simpson was acquitted of the murders of his ex-wife and her friend. O. J.: Made in America tells the story of O. J. Simpson’s tumultuous life leading up to his imprisonment after an armed robbery in Las Vegas in 2008. Continue reading “REVIEW: O. J.: Made in America (2016 – Documentary)” →

REVIEW: Sherlock: The Final Problem

Sherlock - Reviewed

The following is a spoiler-filled episode review of Sherlock: Series 4, Episode 3 – The Final Problem

In The Final Problem – which may end up being the final episode of Sherlock, seeing as another season has yet to be announced at the time of writing – Sherlock Holmes (played by Benedict Cumbertbatch) and Dr. Watson (played by Martin Freeman) quiz Mycroft (played by Mark Gatiss) about Eurus (played by Sian Brooke), before traveling to the unknown island of Sherrinford to learn more about Sherlock’s secret sister. Continue reading “REVIEW: Sherlock: The Final Problem” →

REVIEW: A Series of Unfortunate Events – Season One (2017)

Release Poster - Netflix
Release Poster – Netflix

The following is a review of the first season of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.

First things first, I’ve never read the book series that the show is based on, and while I’ve definitely seen the Jim Carrey film, I cannot say that it was memorable for me. I only really remember how odd Carrey looked. And I’ll say this about the show. This must be the first time I’ve ever encountered a great bingeable show – which here means a show that is easily bingewatched – that tells you not to watch it – to look away – with every chance it gets. Continue reading “REVIEW: A Series of Unfortunate Events – Season One (2017)” →

REVIEW: Taboo – “Shovels and Keys”

FX Poster - Taboo
FX Poster – Taboo

The following is a quick review of the first episode of Taboo – Directed by Kristoffer Nyholm

In Taboo, we meet James Keziah Delaney (played by Tom Hardy) who has returned to London in 1814. Delaney is back because his father has passed away, but his return isn’t a welcomed sight.
Continue reading “REVIEW: Taboo – “Shovels and Keys”” →