TV You Have Watched

[Finsbury Girl]

Been binging Rurouni Kenshin on Netflix. This is awesome in every way. Some really poignant moments, childish slapstick, exciting martial arts and above all charming as hell. The main 4 characters fit so well together. Really, really enjoying this.

[Neon Ignition]

The White Lotus: Season 03
Slow, more thinly plotted than before but reasonable even if there's a lot of reheated ideas. The ending is also the expected let down, there's a path to a reasonable if pretty mid-level ending but it manages to blow that predictably because the show has to end things in a certain way everytime because the show thinks it has something to say

In a nutshell the show is weakened because:

[Atticus]

Just finished a couple of shows. Rewatched Bates Motel in its entirity. Enjoyed it all over again but it must be said the earlier seasons are the best (though many rate the final one the highest).

Finished Ozark too. Enjoyable show on the whole but I was slightly underwhelmed by the ending ... but not many shows manage to do it great.

Now I've just started watching Neon Genesis Evangelion. I saw half a dozen eps on video back in the 90s but never saw the whole thing. Just picked up the complete box set with the original dub (for nostalgia) ... but no Fly me to the Moon on the end creds sadly. Two eps in and it's great.

[randombs]

Midnight Mass (Netflix)
Finished the last episode of this yesterday. Crikey, it’s one heck of a (limited) series. The many long monologues seem to have put some people off, but I lapped them up. In this attention economy of fast cuts and TRAILER STARTS NOW, having the camera just linger on someone while they perfectly hit their lines for 5+ minutes in a single take is powerful.

Speaking of powerful, single takes…

Adolescence (Netflix)
What a phenomenal first episode. The entire thing waa a single shot. I kept trying to spot where the cuts were until I caught myself and chose to just be in the moment.

Heavy stuff. I needed to lighten up after that, so…

The Rehearsal Season 2 (HBO)
Nathan Fielder doing what he does best. Better.

Watched both of the available episodes. Nathan researches plane crashes and discovers a running theme in the black box cockpit audio recordings: co-pilots spotting the pilot doing something wrong but being unable to speak up due to the power imbalance.

He uses his huge budget on a method to help these co-pilots learn how to voice their concerns, including building an accurate replica section of an airport filled with extras to use as a training centre.

Of course there’s a comedic thread woven throughout, but I’m eager to see how this goes.

[Yakumo]

Cobra Kai

Yes, I know I'm years late but better late than never. Over the past month I binge watched all 6 seasons, finishing it last night.
I've got to say as someone who never really cared that much for the Karate Kid, this was a fantastic show. I was glued throughout the entire series. Yeah, there a few dud episodes and some characters who I can't stand (mostly the LaRusos, that Chinese bully and Robbie Keen for the most part) however there were so many great characters with the winner having to be Johnny Lawrence played by William Zabka. Loved his character throughout.
Also, is it just me or did Tory Nicole's face look like she'd gone under plastic surgery in season 5?

If you've not seen Cobra Kai, I seriously recommend it. Be warned though, the last two episode can be tear jerkers.