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A Male’s Review of Modern Media

Editor’ Note: We decided to use this format for many reasons. By doing a Buzzfeed like format we felt like we were able to be freer with our writing. We felt like being a little more informal with our writing could be interesting, especially since all of the papers that we decided to review were about shows on Netflix or movies that were very popular. By using shows and movies that people have easy access to, it made it easier for us to write about it because we know that people could read our review and go check out the show or movie without any problems. Also, being a little more informal with our writing made it easy on us because we had less restrictions on what we couldn’t write compared to a different magazine like The New York Times. When we decided to target the teenage to mid-twenties audience, we did so for many reasons. First, we felt like with the reviews that we chose to do, those shows and movies were primarily watched by that age group. Also, most kids that age have Netflix and the shows that we reviewed are on Netflix. Lastly, this is the age group that we are in so we felt like we could relate more easily to that age group. “A Male’s Review of Modern Media”, which is our magazine, covers many different shows and movies and should be relatable for everyone

Mad Max Fury Road

The Overview

Mad Max Fury Road is certainly not for the faint of heart. The scenes are graphic and take a serious turn to action movie expectations. The world of savages hunting each other while racing to the capital is certainly different from your average pistol shooting, buildings being blown to pieces action movie. There are characters that bring the fight no matter what gender they are. From Max to the Brides, from inner personal struggles to physical fighting everyone will fight the biggest fight since the apocalypse that had hit Mankind.

The Review

After watching a post-apocalyptic world being taken over by a leader who kind of reminds this world of Kim Jong-un, I am absolutely amazed of how George Miller directed this masterpiece. The film was different from the action we as an audience is used to. Yes the usual blowing things up and blood and gore is what is aimed at when making such a film but Mad Max Fury Road has a different twist to it. Furiosa who is the main role in the film is a women. Now even though the film has the name of Mad Max the women are the ones who take the charge as the leaders of the group to take over the capital. It is not every day when there is a level of insanity in a world of chaos much less seeing a group of nobodies trying to save a world lead by a woman and her sidekicks who are also strong independent women.

The Final Decision

Even though the Film Mad Max Fury Road has a few graphic qualities that may make an audience feel uncomfortable such as scenes of women breast feeding or just the usual blood and gore, the fellowship of men, women, and radioactive mutants all race to maintain what they think is right. There were no parts in the film where it was boring but just right. The director slowed down the tempo just right when it needed to be slowed or speed it up when necessary. I as an audience member recommend this film to mature audiences as an action-packed film with a twist in character roles in a multi genre film to excite everyone until the last second.

Reviewed by Bryar Stemrich

The Ranch

The Overview

The Ranch has an origin or a small town in Colorado. Now when thinking of a small town they are mostly thought of as one or two gas stations, a few small stores, and maybe a singular grocery store, other than that there is nothing but farm fields and a small community. The Netflix original stars Colt Bennet played by Ashton Kutcher who was a prosperous football in that small town in Colorado. Colt has returned to Garrison Colorado because of a tryout from a local semi pro football team. Colts father who is Beau Bennet played by Sam Elliot is not Happy That Colt is home because of Colt abandoning his father ranch for something better. Colt turns down the offer to play for the semi pro team and continues to work on the ranch with his father and brother while experiencing romantic relationships with wild twists along the way.

The Review

The small town of Garrison Colorado has a western vibe that has a lot of grit with no back talk. The show The Ranch tends to break gender roles by showing that the woman grew up on the hard farm life just like the men have. The women drive pickup trucks and drink hard liquor. While doing these things the women all have the same attitude, that attitude is not caring one bit about what other people think of them. The men take a silly twist when referring to certain things like the continuation of the obsession with Ugg boots and how the men mostly Beau and Colt love these styles of boots. All in all, the show The Ranch exemplifies the true and maybe not so true nature of the wild west with a funny sitcom.

The Final Decision

Netflix has many shows that are cherished in the hearts of other but The Ranch makes for a great show that I as well as many other would recommend for mature audiences. There are a few moments in the series that would not make sense or take a very awkward turn in the plot but other than those minor instances the funny romantic journey of the Bennett’s continues to impress all around. Two thumbs up!

Reviewed by Bryar Stemrich

Family Guy

The Overview 

Family Guy is without a doubt one of the most popular adult cartoons on television. It is quite funny at times and will make you laugh at stupid humor. Peter Griffin and Lois Griffin have three kids and a dog. They have a daughter Meg, a son Chris, and another son Stewie, who is a baby, and a talking dog Brian. The show revolves around Peter getting himself into very odd and humorous situations that often cause his family a great amount of stress.

The Review

The show has its high points, but it also has its flaws. Family Guy is quite possibly one of the most sexist shows on television. Peter is constantly making sexist remarks and doing very sexist things. The show has multiple female characters who are all stay at home moms. Also, the show follows the blueprint of many other adult cartoons where there is a dumb, fat, drunk dad with an attractive wife and three kids. This blueprint has become the backbone for most of the shows that are similar to Family Guy. The amount of sexist things that happen in this show are astonishing. There is a sexist remark in basically every single episode. The show fails multiple times to break typical gender stereotypes but fails every time. It has the chance to leave gender stereotypes and sexism behind it but it continues to use it as a form of comedy. With that being said, Family Guy has failed to catch up and join us in the twenty-first century and leave those stereotypes in the past and give some of their female characters a role other than stay at home mom. The sooner that they catch up, the sooner they may gain even more of an audience than they already have now. With the removal of stereotypes Family Guy could gain more women who watch the show or gain more people who just do not agree with the things that they say on their show.

The Final Decision

While the show is funny, it can be highly offensive at times. I would not recommend it to viewers who do not want to watch animated sexism. If you want a quick laugh, the show does have some funny moments that are not sexist. If you can fight through the sexist jokes then you might actually enjoy the stupid humor in Family Guy.

Reviewed by Nick Marvin

Burn Notice

The Overview:

Michael Weston, a spy, got fired, or well as they say in the spy world, he got burned. The CIA dumped him in Miami, Florida, his hometown, with no cash, no credit, and no job history. He becomes a private eye with the skills he picked up as a CIA Operative. With the help of his old friend Sam Axe, and his “trigger-happy” ex-girlfriend Fiona, he makes people’s problems go away. But when he’s done, Michael’s biggest problem becomes finding out who burned him and trying to get back into the game.

The Review:

Fiona Glenanne, Michael’s ex-girlfriend turned girlfriend, portrays a character that defies the gender stereotypes shown on most television shows. According to her character bio on USA Networks website, she is called “a shoot first and ask questions later kind of gal with a fearless nature that’s both enticing and dangerous.” She worked for the IRA (Irish Republican Army) for many year and has great “explosives, lock picking, tracking, weapons, and hand-to-hand combat to make a living” skills.

Glenanne’s character is one who defies the stereotypes many female characters show on televisions. Most of the time you see her on screen, she is either handling weapons or talking about them. She is a very strong women character, who can live without a man, shown in the third and the fourth seasons. In the very first episode, she said, “Should we shoot them?” which became her catchphrase throughout the whole series. Contrary to gender stereotypes in television shows, Burn Notice’s Fiona Glenanne defies those by the words she uses, the actions she takes, and the utter fact that she knows how to use all types of weapons.

The Final Decision:

Burn Notice is a great show that shows women can be the powerful ones in society at certain points. For the seven seasons, 111 episodes, and one made-for-television movie, Burn Notice showed what is it like to have everything, then have nothing and try to find out who and why you no longer live the life you once lived. The show is one that had a great audience and got to go out on their own terms, meaning that after the seventh season they decided to end it themselves, not the network cancelling it. Overall, I would recommend Burn Notice as it is a great show to that shows the many sides of the life working for the government and then trying to build life back up.

Reviewed by Spencer DuPuis

Steven Universe

The Overview:

The show Steven Universe is about how the Crystal Gems protect the world from evil. They have powers that come from their gemstones, which are magical gems that are implanted into the character’s body. There are four in the Crystal Gem family: Amethyst, Garnet, pearl, and Steven, along the way Peridot joined them. Steven is interesting as he is half-Gem, half-human who got his gemstone from his mother, Rose Quartz, she gave up being able to be a gemstone to make Steven. The shows follows Steven trying to find out what his gem does while helping the other Crystal Gems.

The Review:

It is important for young boys to see male characters show emotion because it lets them know it is actually okay. Most shows only have women showing emotion and makes showing emotion seem as a “girly” thing to do. As well as show a different side to a male character that could actually make it relatable to society as it is today.

It is also important for young girls to see complex, strong female characters because some shows just portray them as the gender stereotype for women, but now a days, women are shown that they have more ability to things males would usually do.

The Final Decision:

This is a very interesting show, as it is animated show on Cartoon Network, it has some parts in it that are not necessarily for kids, as it seems as if the show is very obsessed with the LGBT+ community, which is a lot for a little kid to understand. But with that said, I would recommend this show as it portrays gender roles very well, especially since its target audience is children.

Reviewed by Spencer Dupuis

Supernatural

The Overview

Supernatural is a show about two brothers who hunt monsters, while tracking down their father, and trying to save innocent people caught in the crossfire.

The Review

While the plot of Supernatural is very entertaining and keeps the attention of the viewers, it does have flaws. The one major flaw of the show that almost all critics of the show will point out is the lack of female characters. While there are some female characters on the show, they almost always end up dead. Their deaths aren’t easy either. Most of the time they are killed in a very gruesome way. With the exception of a few recurring female characters, most of the cast is made up of males. The two stars of the show, Sam and Dean Winchester, are two very masculine characters. They are masculine in their own ways but they are both very rugged, tough, handsome men. Supernatural falls short in the category of gender, not having many female characters and having cookie cutter, typical male characters.

The Final Decision

Supernatural is a great show like I previously stated. The plot is good, the actors are great, and the show is good visually. It is just lacking some gender diversity. It would be nice to see more females and to see some not so masculine male characters. So, if you are looking for a good show to watch and don’t mind the gender issues then Supernatural is the show for you. But, if you do not want to watch a male dominated show filled with toxic masculinity, Supernatural may not be your cup of tea.  

Reviewed by Nick Marvin

Jessica Jones

The Overview

Jessica Jones is a dark and gritty superhero show that features a leading women of which the show is named for. Jessica is a private detective with superhuman strength among other abilities that has a very troubled past. These events that only get pieced together as you watch the show and give an insight to her behaviors.

The Review

This show is as much of a drama as it is an action show and this is something that allows it to appeal to a wide range of audiences. This past is a big motivator of her actions and a source of growth and development for her as she continues to take jobs as a private eye. The overarching story is good and everyone is interesting setting a common theme of complex and convincing characters.

The Final Decision

Jessica Jones is not only an entertaining show that anyone can enjoy, but one with a purpose and message. A strong female is center stage and she is not only showing that she is tough, but also capable of overcoming anything. So regardless of what you are looking for out of a television show, Jessica Jones is unlikely to disappoint.

Reviewed by Shawn Ross

New Girl

The Overview

New Girl is a comedic sitcom documenting the lives of Jess, Nick, Winston, and Schmidt roommates in an apartment that often find themselves in romantic situations. Jess is a school teacher that discovered her boyfriend cheating on her forcing the change in her living situation. The guys were reluctant to have a woman move in, however Schmidt, the lady’s man was quick to welcome Jess after hearing about her model friend Cece setting up all the events to come.

The Review

This show is based on a familiar premise that many sitcoms have used, however New Girl has a talent for creating multidimensional characters that break the normal molds so many are used to. It is also excellent at creating relationships between these characters that the audience can care about and be excited at the development of.

The Final Decision

You will find a refreshing look on the portrayal of male characters in sitcoms and be entertained the whole time by spectacular comedy making this a show I wholeheartedly recommend.

Reviewed by Shawn Ross