Deadwood, Episode 1: “What Kind of Hand is Your Friend With a Gun?”
What, you’ve never asked that question before? Welcome to the 1870s. Deadwood Revisited: No Law at All: Season 1, Episode 1 The opening sequence of the first episode of Deadwood depicts a mercy killing. We open on a building in a pretty well-put-together Western settlement (the title card tells us we’re in “Montana Territory, May […]
“Swedgin Doesn’t Give a F***”: Why I Would Rather Re-Watch Deadwood for the Three Hundredth Time than Watch Succession
“If you liked Deadwood so much, you’ll LOVE Succession. The language is, like, the same, but they’re way meaner to each other. It’s hilarious.” That is not a direct quote. It’s an amalgamation of every argument I’ve heard in favor of watching a show that, clearly, has had a pretty impressive run. Bunch of Emmys. […]
The Mandalorian and the Fetch Quest Dilemma (Chapter 17 Review)
When we last left our beloved lone wolf bounty hunter and his adopted cub foundling’s show, Mando had set off to resurrect the world of Mandalore (or something) and Baby Yoda had begun his training under Luke Skywalker. And now as we rejoin them, Mando and Grogu have reunited on another TV show and are […]
The Calculated Crescendo That Had Me Eating My Words (Stranger Things 4.4 Recap)
I was wrong. While I still feel the Duffers are far too hesitant when it comes to swinging the hammer of death upon any character shielded with four seasons worth of plot armor, I admit that I was wrong. Watching the fourth episode of season four, titled ‘Dear Billy’, directed by Shawn Levy (The Adam […]
Obi-Wan Kenobi Concludes the Series with Confidence (Part VI Recap)
The finale of Obi-Wan Kenobi, worryingly labeled as the conclusion of the season instead of the series, has arrived on Disney+. Boiling the quality of a miniseries down to how well its finale operates is not always fair, but in the case of Obi-Wan, its inconsistency of caliber — ranging from groan-worthy to downright epic […]
Obi-Wan Kenobi Part V Draws the Series Closer to an Unsatisfying Conclusion with the Best Episode Yet (Part V Recap)
My positivity about Obi-Wan Kenobi is running out. The series’ penultimate episode, while being the strongest so far, failed to completely quell my worries about the overall series. There’s the chance that the finale is able to completely redeem everything we’ve seen so far, but the general track record of the Star Wars TV series, […]
Superheroes, Monsters, and The Hopper Problem in Stranger Things (Episode 4.3 Recap)
Episode three of season four, titled ‘The Monster and The Superhero, directed by Shawn Levy (Free Guy) and written by Caitlin Schneiderhan starts off with a harrowing revelation: the government believe Eleven to be the one responsible for the brutal Hawkins murders. What makes matters even worse is not only that El has no access […]
Obi-Wan Kenobi Part IV Retreads the Franchise in a Bid for Nostalgia (Part IV Recap)
With only six episodes, Obi-Wan Kenobi will be coming to an end in two weeks’ time. If the story were to drastically change course from how it began, I believe it would have happened already. It seems that the series’ primary storyline, kept fiercely under wraps before its premiere, is indeed Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor)’s custody […]
Ms. Marvel soars thanks to good humor and Iman Vellani (Review)
As we approach the premiere of Ms. Marvel, let’s take a moment to assess the television side of the MCU. Ms. Marvel marks the sixth live action MCU series (seventh overall if What If… “counts”). These shows seem primarily to be servicing two sorts of characters: filmic supporting players who would might struggle to carry […]
Vecna Curses Hawkins in Second Stranger Things (Episode 4.2 Recap)
In episode two of season four, titled ‘Vecna’s Curse’, written and directed once again by The Duffer Brothers, we see Mike reunite with Eleven, Will Byers once again pushed to the sideline, and Hawkins’ reaction to Chrissy’s brutal murder from the end of last episode. At this point, everyone’s back in the thick of it. […]
All Hellfire Breaks Loose in the “Stranger Things” Season 4 Premiere (Episode 4.1 Recap)
After a long, pandemic-laden three year wait, Stranger Things has finally returned to Netflix with its fourth, and penultimate, season. Ever since the release of season three in 2019, which left some asking why the show’s structural formula had not matured in any meaningful way creatively, the show has had to step up its game […]
“The Boys” remains a gory delight even as real life closes in on the satire (Season 3 Spoiler-Free Review)
When I think about The Boys I’m invariably drawn back to a conversation with a friend of a friend. He’s a conservative, supposedly a “never Trump” sort, but is also vaccine hesitant, deeply concerned about the government encroaching on his rights, and the type of person who makes a “well you wanted to defund the […]