A quick, spoiler-free review about “The Good Place” series finale: it was nearly perfect. After a somewhat sluggish start to this season (probably too many episodes were devoted to the experiment), the last handful of episodes have been excellent, soulful, thought provoking, character-rich, heartbreaking, romantic, funny, moving, and true. Although the finale tricked us somewhat…
Category: TV Reviews
Mr. Robot’s Series Finale…WTF?
“Mr. Robot” is one of the most unusual (and I would say best) shows on television, so it only makes sense that the series finale would have most people either sobbing profusely while proclaiming “this is perfect” or scratching their heads saying “What the fuck was that?” Creator Sam Esmail has always been more than…
Ranking (and Grading) the Seasons of “Silicon Valley”
I almost didn’t want to do this for “Silicon Valley” since all the seasons are pretty close together in quality (even the “worst” one is only a B- grade). Most likely, if you enjoyed any of the seasons, you’ll want to watch all the way through–as the real reason to stop will be repetition more…
“Silicon Valley” Series Finale is Exactly as Depressing as You’d Think–Defying HBO’s “Aspiratonal” Bro-Comedies
“Silicon Valley” has always occupied a weird space in HBO’s roster of shows. HBO has had a high number of “aspirational” bro-comedies about guys trying to “make it big” in increasingly obscure job fields. Of course, I’m talking about the much-heckled “Entourage,” but also the fashion start-up “comedy” “How to Make it in America,” and…
TV Review AND Predictions: “Game of Thrones” (and “Veep”) Are Back
Our long-national nightmare is over. Two of HBO’s longest running shows are back for their final seasons, although only one may have needed to return… “Game of Thrones”…Yes, it’s been two long years, but let’s be honest–we would’ve waited a decade to see the resolution of the best fantasy series of all time. [Certainly, the…
TV Reviews: “Kidding,” “You,” “The Purge,” “Mayans MC,” “Deutschland 86”
Some brief reviews of great shows you might’ve missed, and a few crappy ones I hope you did overlook… Kidding…When you’ve seen as many movies and TV shows as I have, all you really want is something original every once and a while, and “Kidding” more than delivers. Jim Carrey gives the performance you didn’t…
Walking Dead Review: Rick Grimes’s “Final” Episode
Just when it felt like “The Walking Dead” was about to successfully pull off its best episode in years, the show ended with two “twists” that can’t help but feel like a letdown. After all the buzz, Rick Grimes “died” as he lived: drenched in sentimentality while putting a lot of other people in danger, before…
Reviewing AND Ranking All “The Americans” Seasons
It was a long, torturous journey for me as “The Americans” went from one of my favorite shows in season one to my most unlikely hate watch by season 5. Luckily, the sixth and final season was the best since season one, but I wasn’t entirely sold on the series finale. Ultimately, if you missed…
By Shunning the Excellent “Roseanne” Reboot, Liberals Fall Into Another Trap
Dan and Roseanne Conner are fat. They are old. They are not genetically-blessed. They have never made more than lower-middle class wages. They are still working in their 60’s. They have severe health problems. And they live in an uncool city in a less-cool state that doesn’t touch an ocean. In other words, they are…
TV Review: The 5 Saddest Moments on “The Terror” Finale
The easiest way to make sense of all the (emotional) carnage on last night’s finale of “The Terror” is just to list it… 5. “Close”…Last night’s arc of Lt. Little was one of the more devastating. Almost all of Crozier’s loyal officers are either dead (Tobias Menzies’s excellent Fitzjames, the senselessly murdered Lt. Irving who…
Movie/TV Review: “Fahrenheit 451” (the Book) is More Relevant Today than Ever
Coming out only 4 years after George Orwell’s more famous “1984” was published, Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” isn’t given nearly as much credit as it deserves for predicting the future. Although a debate has raged about whether Huxley’s “Brave New World” or Orwell’s “1984” is the more prescient work, I actually think “Farenheit” deserves to be (at…
TV Reviews: Why It’s So Troubling “Barry” Killed Off Two Interracial Couples
I mostly loved “Barry”‘s first season. The great Bill Hader delivered a career-best performance (no small feat for the genius behind the excellent “Documentary Now” parodies). Stephen Root displayed a crackling newfound ruthlessness that felt electric. And Henry Winkler was a delightful, easy “Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy” series contender as Gene Cousineau the…
The 5 Best TV Shows You’re Not Watching
What are the 5 best TV shows you may not be watching? Watch this and find out…