#tvreview

[simpletricksandnonsense]

Baby Yoda & Bounty Hunters:

Why The Mandalorian is the Best Show Ever.

It would be an understatement to say that "The Mandalorian" has revolutionized television, especially for "Star Wars" fans. Since its launch on Disney+, the show has garnered an enormous global following, becoming a beacon of hope for viewers who were yearning for a fresh perspective on the cherished "Star Wars" universe. But what exactly makes "The Mandalorian" the best show ever? Let's delve deeper into this.

The Embodiment of the Original Star Wars Spirit

The heart of "The Mandalorian" lies in its ability to encapsulate the original spirit of the "Star Wars" saga. It delivers a perfect blend of new-age storytelling while paying homage to the vintage spaghetti-western & Kurosawa feel of the original trilogy. This serves as a powerful nostalgia trigger for the original fans while simultaneously appealing to new generations. From cantina brawls to high-speed spaceship chases, "The Mandalorian" is a fitting tribute to George Lucas’s vision that started it all.

Storytelling and Character Development

At its core, "The Mandalorian" is a character-driven series. The protagonist, Din Djarin, more commonly known as the Mandalorian or Mando, evolves brilliantly through the episodes. His character development is complex and compelling, with the story masterfully intertwining his enigmatic past, his hardened bounty hunter persona, and his unexpected paternal bond with Grogu (popularly known as Baby Yoda). These narrative layers provide depth and emotion that resonate with audiences, leaving them hungry for more.

Revitalizing Star Wars Lore

"The Mandalorian" also rejuvenates "Star Wars" lore by exploring uncharted territories and delving deeper into the culture of the enigmatic Mandalorians. The series' narrative weaves into the crevices left untouched by the mainline "Star Wars" films, filling gaps in the universe's history and mythos. This expansion of the lore not only attracts avid fans but also enhances the richness of the "Star Wars" universe.

Innovative Filmmaking Techniques

One cannot deny the impact of the revolutionary filmmaking techniques used in "The Mandalorian." The use of a real-time rendering system, known as StageCraft technology, takes visual effects to a new level. This technology offers a 360-degree LED video wall that can simulate realistic backgrounds and environments, providing a more immersive viewing experience and showcasing Disney's commitment to pushing the boundaries of entertainment technology.

Compelling Performances and Guest Appearances

Pedro Pascal's performance as the Mandalorian is remarkable. He manages to express a wide range of emotions despite his face being hidden behind a helmet for most of the series. Additionally, the series benefits from an impressive roster of guest stars, including Hollywood Legends like Carl Weathers and Rosario Dawson, to name a few. Their performances, combined with the show's outstanding writing, make every episode a cinematic event.

Standout Music Score

The score of "The Mandalorian," crafted by Ludwig Göransson, is nothing short of spectacular. It perfectly blends the classic "Star Wars" style with a unique, fresh sound that echoes the show's premise. The soundtrack is an auditory delight that evokes the right emotions at the right moments, further enhancing the show's appeal.

To conclude, "The Mandalorian" is not just a television series; it is a testament to the evolution of storytelling, a blend of the old and the new, and a love letter to fans of "Star Wars." Through its exceptional storytelling, character development, expansion of lore, groundbreaking technology, stellar performances, and captivating score, it has established itself as the best show ever. Whether you are a die-hard "Star Wars" fan or a newcomer to this universe, "The Mandalorian" offers an unforgettable journey that you won't regret embarking on.

[piyusha30]

XO Kitty: A Heartwarming Spinoff That Steals Hearts! | ToAllTheBoys | XOKitty | TVReview | AnnaCathcart | YunjinKim | AnthonyKeyvan | PeterThurnwald |

In the captivating world of spinoffs, “XO Kitty” emerges as a delightful addition to the popular “To All the Boys” franchise. The series, reviewed in Variety, takes viewers on a heartfelt journey as it explores the life of Kitty Covey, the lovable younger sister from the original films. “XO Kitty” shines with its compelling storytelling, striking a balance between the familiar charm of its…

[smallcomic]

artwork for my podcast:

In today's petrifying episode, we unpack HBO's The Last Of Us in all it's cheesy glory.  Why does Why is this hit show not all it's cracked up to be?  We may never truly know.. but we can complain about it.  Listen now while you trip on some parasitic mushrooms. https://www.instagram.com/p/CoVUDsSvvtC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ben-solo98]

ANDOR is by far the best Star Wars show to date, exploring everything from space brothels to prison revolts, wasn’t expecting Disney to go so hard with this series, but I appreciate them for doing so. I get not every fan is happy with it because there’s no lightsabers and not enough laser blasts for people with short attention spans, but I think everyone with that opinion is as boring as they think this show is. The politics behind what starts a rebellion are interesting actually and arguably the most Star Warsy a story can be. It’s the best directed/written show by Tony Gilroy and all of the other geniuses involved. Features the best dialogue from any Star War ever. Looks the most cinematic, it’s amazing how much better this looks compared to the previous programs just by shooting on location with practical sets, I get wanting to push what you can do with VFX technology, but this should be the gold standard moving forward. I liked Cassian Andor fine in ROGUE ONE, but wasn’t asking for him to get his own show, would have taken a Chirrut Îmwe one, I could use more Donnie Yen Star Wars action in my life. Diego Luna made me care more about the character in the first 10 minutes of this show than that entire movie, I don’t think he’s getting enough credit because he travels around meeting many other interesting characters, he’s kind of like Mad Max in that way, but he’s so good. So are Genevieve O'Reilly and Stellan Stellan Skarsgård. All of the pasty British imperials are diabolically great. Andy Serkis deserves an Emmy! If I had to complain about something it would be that some kid wore a green hoodie in a few episodes that didn’t seem like it belonged in a galaxy far far away and there was also a lack of aliens. Star Wars is best when there’s a bunch of weird little guys just roaming around, loved the few we got, but they need more next season. Wouldn’t change anything else. Prestige television if you ask me. 10/10. #Andor #StarWars #TVReview https://www.instagram.com/p/ClVTHnFuT5V/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[beefin4beefinssake]

New review coming soon 

[drbobbi]

My review of Heartland

I keep hearing a lot of hype about Heartland, since apparently it's about to break a record for number of seasons for a CBC drama. I wondered if maybe I should give it another shot--my stepdaughter just loves it but every time I've tried to get through an episode I eventually have to stop to go watch paint dry instead.

I think there's three things that make a show viewable: it has to be funny, extraordinary in some way, or relatable. So I guess if you're like me and you spend all day listening to peoples both mundane and shocking life dramas, it's relatable but not extraordinary--but by the end of the day I'm good. Obviously this show isn't funny (or wait, is it supposed to be? I did laugh--sardonically--a few times). So unless they throw in some time or space travel it won't be that appealing to me personally. If you find typical life stressors combined with horses fascinating, well I guess they have the magic formula there.

OK let's get into it. Spoilers ahead, so be warned as I'm about to reveal the shocking plot twists. This is my first time watching the show so I don't have all the names yet. Not sure if I'm watching it again yet. The show starts off with Amy (young blonde mom) being asked to do various things and with a quiet resigned sigh, agreeing to them. She is apparently both working with troubled horses and running some sort of kids' horse camp. She is excellent at both and not replaceable. Some dead guy started the kids' camp and it 'has his name on it' so she must help it live on even though the other guy helping her run it is doing a fine job. The show then reminds us in various follow up scenes that this chick is too busy, and spread too thin. Every character including her arch nemesis points this out. Wise grandpa says she has to come to the realization herself. At one point he sagely says that 'our dreams have kept us apart'. I really like how the show makes sure we get the point by repeatedly having every character voice concern this lady is too busy. Several scenes in we've discovered they just refuse to have a subplot; this is it. Or wait--just be patient, once we get the idea that this lady is too busy rammed into our heads they gently introduce some subplots (while still slipping in that Amy is too busy).

Everyone is clearly a victim of their own success in this show; including the chick who is the mayor of the town and she has a prize-winning race horse. She has to keep going to Vancouver for weekends and she brings her teenage daughter who is annoyed that she is being kept away from her friends, even though Vanouver is a fun place that has the seawall and sushi. Surprisingly they didn't mention Gastown. She kept hinting at this awesome sushi restaurant but never revealed which one it was. I'm guessing Miku. At any rate one would hope a Canadian show would not have such a cliche version of Vancouver but I guess not.

Daughter of mayor lady is upset she still needs to share a room with some other girl, which sucks because she has to study, being a 'Grade A student' (who says that?). This is Grandpa's fault (see below).

Cranky gay mayor's assistant (I think his name is Rick) is upset that the mayor (Lou) is going to Vancouver every weekend to eat sushi and watch her horse win races. Maybe he's jealous because let's face it Vancouver is more fun than being around all these rednecks. He 'hints' that he will not always be around to bail her out. Lou frets about this all weekend because he is also indispensable. No people on this show are replaceable at their jobs (except young blonde horse whisperer Amy who we find out later conveniently is replaceable at the job that isn't her 'true passion') and if they leave then everything will fall apart. Like the plumbing for the loft which can only be fixed by Grandpa. Everyone looks and Grandpa meaningfully when mentioning that the plumbing isn't fixed yet and that's why everyone is overcrowding the main house. Maybe they could pay for a plumber; they don't seem to be paying Grandpa any rent.

I'll cut to the chase and tell you that Rick isn't quitting his job; he just needs some 'time off' which after some dramatic pauses and 'suspense' we discover that he and his partner are planning to adopt a baby so he needs a paternity leave. I think this is something meant to show us how 'woke' Heartland now is which is why they tried to create some suspense and mystery around it, which they wouldn't have done if it was just a male and a female procreating. The good news is he seems less cranky when sharing these plans; let's see how he does with sleep deprivation.

This show sure is white. I think the producers are aware of this, so they put in some background actors at the preschool who are not white. There! All fixed. There's more to say about this but I already have a lot to process here. Finally I have an angry raging feminist comment to make. I asked my partner 'what happened to Grandma?' he tells me she was killed off in the first episode. How convenient. So we don't have to look at any women over the age of 35. Come on, even Dallas had Miss Ellie for a while.

I will watch another episode because I want to know if they're going to continue with the 'I'm too busy' theme or move on to a new theme.

Ultimately I can't help but feel this show is aimed at people who don't want to think too hard, or can't. Funny then that it's so successful. Hey if you want a 'country' feel like this which includes some horses maybe watch Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman which assumes a little higher IQ of their average viewer. Maybe the Lone Ranger? Mr. Ed? Mr. Ed doesn't require the horse whisperer though because he just tells you how he's feeling. Can you tell I'm not really a horse person.

If any of this comes across as insensitive, I'm not sorry. If you disagree with me you're wrong. I made the effort to write this so I win.

[appliancestrends]

Haier Smart TV 32 Inch Review

Discover the ultimate entertainment experience with the Haier Smart TV 32 Inch. Unmatched quality, design, and performance.

[extremeconsumption]

What We Do In the Shadows - "The Collaboration" - Season 2 Episode 8

I made a go at watching What We Do in the Shadows a few years ago but fell off during the first season. I don't know why, I remember enjoying the series overall, but threw myself into another TV show, I guess.

This time through however, has been incredible. "Colins Promotion" is my favorite episode of the series. Colin Robinson makes the show for me, he is hilarious. I do think that plots involving Laszlo tend to be lacking. The episode where he saves a volleyball team I didn't like too much. He is just way too zany of a character and his beats don't hit as high as the others-the vulva garden is an example of a recurring joke that never hits its target.

This episode, The Collboration was another good entry. First off, it expanded the mythos of the show by involving other familiars including one from Nandor's past in Benji, but it was also heavy on the Nandor and Gizmo relationship, which is always a delight to see.

Not much of a follow up to the previous episode, where Nandor became suspicious of Gizmo after he killed Carol.... but I'm sure it will be re-visited in the future.

[ejtheg]

Spoiler-Free Barbie Review!

Come on Barbie, let’s go party!🕺🏾Swipe to check out the spoiler-free mini review of this year’s highly anticipated blockbuster, Barbie! A lot of hype and a vigorous marketing campaign for this film, but does it measure up to the standards? 👀

Comment what you think about this review format & your thoughts on Barbie 💫 Follow @ejgwrites and click the link to catch up on some posts you might’ve missed.

[simpletricksandnonsense]

Mando Withdrawals? From Bounty Hunting to Space Rebels: TV Shows Every Mandalorian Fan Needs to Binge

Since its debut in 2019, "The Mandalorian" has captured the hearts of "Star Wars" fans and newcomers alike. The series combines a fascinating blend of "Star Wars" lore with the spirit of the Wild West, all centered around the enigmatic and endearing characters of the Mandalorian and the Child, affectionately known as Baby Yoda. If you've completed the journey through the galaxy far, far away and are eager for more similar entertainment, you're in luck. Here are some of the best TV shows and streaming series that fans of "The Mandalorian" will love:

1. Firefly (Hulu)

For those who enjoyed the space-Western elements of "The Mandalorian," "Firefly" is a must-watch. This cult-favorite series created by Joss Whedon combines space travel, thrilling action, and a ragtag crew that captures the spirit of the frontier in a future universe.

2. Battlestar Galactica (Peacock)

 While "Battlestar Galactica" is more science fiction and political drama than space western, it shares "The Mandalorian"'s penchant for deep storytelling and character development. The series takes viewers on a rollercoaster ride of survival, politics, and humanity's struggle against the Cylons. Best of all, it stars Katee Sackoff.

3. The Expanse (Amazon Prime Video)

Known for its realistic portrayal of space travel and political intrigue, "The Expanse" is a top-notch space opera that fans of "The Mandalorian" may find engaging. It boasts a diverse ensemble cast, deep plotlines, and visually stunning depictions of a future where humanity has colonized the solar system.

4. Cowboy Bebop (Netflix)

This classic anime series shares many themes with "The Mandalorian," including bounty hunting and deep character exploration. Its noir-inspired aesthetic, space-setting, and episodic storytelling make it a fascinating viewing experience for fans of the space cowboy genre.

While "The Mandalorian" offers a unique blend of elements that make it a standout in the "Star Wars" universe, these series provide alternative routes to venture into similar themes and atmospheres. Each is packed with compelling characters, engaging storylines, and fascinating universes that will keep fans of "The Mandalorian" entertained and engaged.

[piyusha30]

Farewell to 'Barry': A Masterful Finale that Redefines TV Excellence | BarrySeries | TVReview | BarryFinale | TVSeries | MustWatch | BittersweetGoodbye | BillHader | DarkComedy | Identity | Redemption | TVDrama |

In the gripping finale of the acclaimed series “Barry,” fans bid a bittersweet farewell to one of television’s most exceptional shows. The conclusive episode wrapped up the narrative threads with a masterful blend of intensity, emotion, and dark humor. The Guardian takes a closer look at the series finale, highlighting its remarkable impact and underscoring its status as the true best series on…

[ben-solo98]

The new series from the a couple of the guys behind of TED LASSO has the same amount of humor, charm, and sentimentality per episode as LASSO does, and is, dare I say, even better! Harrison Ford is my favorite actor and not that he’s done anything bad lately, but this is the best he’s been in at least a decade. He deserves an Emmy, a nomination at least. Also, the best thing Jason Segel has been a part of since HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER ended. Jessica Williams, Christa Miller, Lukita Maxwell, Michael Urie, and Ted McGinley are all actors I wasn’t too familiar with, but am definitely a fan of now. I thought some of their characters were going to annoy me at first, but I ended up loving them. The arcs on this show are extremely well written. There’s been a number of shows and movies that have tackled therapy and all the themes that go along with it in recent memory, but not quite as unique as SHRINKING does. Definitely ends on an odd note, not good or bad, just in a way that will have large an unexpected implications on the next season. Apple TV+ is killing it, this isn’t a paid ad, I’m just a big fan of what they’ve been putting out. 10/10. #Shrinking #HarrisonFord #JasonSegel #TVReview https://www.instagram.com/p/CqOZ16BJ3pL/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[theimaginationrealm]

YOU: Since season 1, harsh reality.

I really enjoyed season 1 of Netflix’s You. It was a unique and exciting show at the time. When season 2 began it felt redundant after a few episodes. Some of the zest was gone so I abandoned it after 2 or 3 episodes. This year I decided to revisit some shows I’ve abandoned and You was on that list. I binged watched season 2 and 3 before catching up to season 4 part 1. I’m afraid the reason I…

[nivalvixen]

Somebody feed Phil for #moviemonday Phil Rosenthal is best known for creating the show Everybody loves Raymond. This show stars Phil (if you didn't guess that from the title), and he goes around the world meeting people, making friends, and - most importantly - eating food. Phil is such a joy to watch. The foods range from home cooked, comfort food, to the pretentious type serving on a spoon, to the weird and not exactly everyday foods you'd expect or be used to in western civilisation. Phil is always up for eating and he makes everything look like an experience - even those single mouthfuls on a spoon 😂 Meeting the chefs takes you through the work involved in creating these masterpieces, the thought, and artistry. Phil's genuine and open personality is the true star, and it's fun to see more of his family as the series progresses. 9/10 #somebodyfeedphil #tvshow #tvseries #netflix #philrosenthal #tvreview https://www.instagram.com/p/ClMtk6Myrsw/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=