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Reviews
Star Wars: The Bad Batch: The Cavalry Has Arrived (2024)
A beautiful ending
The Bad Batch struggled enormously to live up to the expectations of its predecessors "The Clone Wars" and "Rebels".
A lot of time was invested in the much criticized filler, a long-lasting story was interrupted again and again and the characters also took up a lot of time for themselves.
A development that more than pays off in the highlight of every Star Wars animated series, the finale, and so it is here.
Over the seasons, a connection was created that grew from episode to episode, developed steadily and allowed the writers to play with it in this final episode of the series.
It may not have the greatest emotional impact, especially compared to the other two series finales, to be constantly aware of its greatest strengths and weaknesses, but it is this perfect imperfection that defines the show, as well as its main characters.
I myself had an incredible time watching this finale, seeing the Bad Batch give their all for their family and the final scene feels incredible even to me, how the target audience must feel watching this is hard to guess.
Let's hope that good things continue to be done with it in the future, the space for that has certainly been left open.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow (2023)
La'Kirks Adventures
I'm not sure what to make of this episode.
I love the idea of sending Kirk and Noonien Singh to a place where only the two of them are and have to eliminate a threat, including all the potential of a love story between them.
However, it has to be said that this potential of an absolute top episode is repeatedly prevented from really unfolding by the way the story is staged here.
Only rarely do I really feel for La'an, let alone Kirk, in this way, to be really emotionally involved.
There are so many scenes that should be interesting, but are not transmitted in such a way that they are really touching, and I am especially dissatisfied with the two death scenes in the episode.
It was clear from the beginning that they HAVE to happen, and that's good, but it's just too clumsily written and staged for me.
On the other hand, I really like the chemistry between Paul Wesley and Christina Chong, I like the scenery and how the 21st century is portrayed, of course also the humour and as I said at the beginning the story actually has the potential to be really outstandingly good.
But what remains is the impression of having squandered these possibilities and that really hurts.
You: The Death of Jonathan Moore (2023)
It should have ended here
This is where it could have ended and it would have been really good.
If one is honest, there can only be two possible and satisfying endings to Joe's story.
One, the much darker ending, is the final death and posthumous consequences of his murders.
The other ending, my personal favorite, would be to end with a decision that finally lets the character go out with a "happy ending" for the viewer, either turning himself in and answering for his actions, or finally acting with a general morality and repentance.
Both possibilities would have been there after the season worked so hard towards it.
Instead, it's being dragged out even more with a 5th season and I'm not sure how they're going to accomplish that anymore somehow.
Star Trek: Picard: The Last Generation (2023)
One Last Time
To be honest, I'll probably have to watch the episode a dozen more times to take it all in and not have tears in my eyes for once about halfway through the episode.
I thought after Võx it couldn't get much better, this episode proved me wrong.
How well the episode is staged, how often you fear for the beloved characters and how great every single one plays their part is just extraordinary.
A great conclusion to the adventures of the TNG crew, I'm dying to hear more of these stories, be it through Star Trek Legacy (post credit scene?), a potential Voyager spin off or whatever else Terry Matalas has in store for us.
Make it so 🖖
Ted Lasso: Sunflowers (2023)
This feeling of nostalgia
This episode just carried you through, experiencing a night with each of the guys and it felt like you were in the middle of it.
It had that old and good feeling of a class trip, when you were up to so much shenanigans and settling into such cities as Amsterdam, exploring the area and just having a good time with your friends.
Capturing that feeling, adding in important story plots, good and important deeptalk, and the most beautiful bromance moments is really something only Ted Lasso can do.
Perhaps my favorite episode so far and I just found it incredibly unfortunate that this night had to end at some point.
I will definitely watch it again so many times to just feel good.
Star Trek: Picard: Võx (2023)
The Order 66 of Star Trek
This episode ripped my heart out, tossed it in the air and kicked it and crushed it.
So much pain in this one episode, built up over decades of Star Trek, DS9, Voyager and especially TNG, built up over these NINE episodes of Picard's third season.
And it left me in tears of joy from the return of the Enterprise D, anger at how the writers told us the emotional drama so grandly, sadness at Captain Shaw's heroic death and fear for each and every one of my beloved characters who are out there fighting for their lives.
What Terry Matalas and his crew, including every single actor, show in this final season of Picard puts the crown on Star Trek.
Bones (2005)
The Humanity of Bones
Bones is by far my favorite series
It's not a complicated world, there's certainly not the best dialogue, or the most epic action to watch, but it doesn't need to be, because the show thrives on its characters and their socially dynamic relationships
No series manages to build up characters like Dr. Temperance Brennan, Special Agent Seeley Booth or Dr. Lance Sweets and to involve the viewer in their daily lives.
This relationship between Bones and Booth, formed over years, the support of friends and family, and the moments of a lifetime, for better or worse, are what make this series what it is
With each rewatch, I just realize how beautiful this time is and how much you want to be a part of it
I hope Disney brings it back one day, because that's what this world needs.
A bit more humanity.
Me Before You (2016)
It's a shame I didn't know about this movie until recently
It is a shame that I have only now seen this film.
Love stories are usually not for me at all, they are dripping with emotional moments from start to finish, amateurishly trying to push the right buttons and deliberately putting you in an emotional slump that is too obvious and poorly done.
This film on the other hand is great, a film that takes on important philosophical themes, builds up characters extensively and takes its time to let them play, creating a world with them that completely captivates you, and it absolutely pays off in the end.
One of the best films I have seen in a long time.
National Treasure: Edge of History: A Meeting with Salazar (2023)
Really well told in the last few steps
The series had its problems at first, but this episode in particular is an incredible payoff, not only for the series itself, but also for the National Treasure franchise
A plot twist that no one saw coming, but which makes sense and is strongly presented
The build up to the episode, the completed character development of some of the characters and the farewell to a much loved, very strongly told episode
I hope the quality remains and we get an epic finale, which the series has earned itself with its development
I am really looking forward to the it and hopefully the return of Nic Cage, Diane Kruger and Justin Bartha.
How I Met Your Father: Cool and Chill (2023)
A good start for a good season?
I had my problems with season 1, too many characters, hardly any good humour, only Charlie was on the same level as the old characters and the narrative structure was weak.
Some things have remained the same, seven or in this episode even nine characters, who all have to play their part, are too many for a 25 minute episode, not everyone can be considered accordingly in the character development.
There are still some jokes that appeal to a very young audience at boomer level and thus take you out of the scene.
Now that I've said that, it's important to mention all the positive things.
The characters harmonise really well, they are written in such a way that they can develop and still contribute to the story, which is classically constructed while incorporating a lot of the flair of the original series.
The cuts are similarly well placed as in HIMYM and thus support the mostly really good jokes of the episode.
The showpiece of the episode though is definitely the finale, while you expect a good episode to fade out, there is a frequently used stylistic device from the original series that breaks the mood and creates a moment of pure ecstasy with a legendary (wink) character.
It is truly a good start to a long and hopefully similarly good season as this episode.
National Treasure: Edge of History (2022)
History is written
It's been 15 years of waiting for the sequel to the two National Treasure films, and while it's not the hoped-for third Cage film, it sets the mood pretty well.
First of all, I love history, I love American history, I love this treasure hunting theme and especially the first two films were among my favourites, which is why I looked forward to the series with joy but also with a critical eye.
I hope they do it well, I hope the story is in the same vein as the first two films and I hope it has that unique feel that I loved about the original.
And for the most part my expectations were met, especially the opening is typical for the series.
A family member of the protagonist tells the story about a treasure of immeasurable importance that needs to be found.
However, this also breaks expectations, because contrary to what is suggested, Jess Valenzuela is not the great protagonist, but the grandson of a certain, extremely likeable FBI agent, a legend in his field.
Liam is no Franklin Gates, he is not the great treasure hunter, but he becomes the heart of the series.
He is supported by his partner Jess, who has to meet him at the beginning to get the story rolling.
Her character is written very sympathetically and will definitely work great as the main female protagonist, she even reminds me at certain points of Abigail Chase, my personal favourite character from the original, which is why you know what to do with her and how to make her interesting.
The negative point is definitely her group, a cliché YouTuber, a sneaker fetishist and an (apparently) aspiring lawyer.
The first two can still be relatively exhausting and tiring at the beginning, but it is also already foreseeable what development they will take.
Here you have to wait and hope for the character development.
As for the puzzles, the series doesn't take much time and often comes up with unconventional ideas quickly without keeping the viewer guessing.
Here, the pacing is often still too fast, but it will probably become more and more difficult the longer the story unfolds.
The historical accuracy, on the other hand, is actually very accurate and invites you to investigate without spoiling, but it still becomes incredibly exciting and visually powerful.
The series will find its way, it has a clear goal and is well thought out, but anyone who is only here for Nicolas Cage will probably be disappointed.
Fans of the original, who found the other characters exciting and also liked the vibe that the production creates, will definitely get their money's worth.
In this form, a unique series with upward potential and a good foretaste of what is to come with National Treasure 3.
Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (2022)
Chaotic
I had to endure this today and found it awful.
I actually enjoyed the first film, except for the ending, but this film gets more terrible by the minute, with very wooden and strange dialogue, including action that is chaotic and layered with bad effects, robbing any fun even in that respect.
In addition, the character introduction doesn't work at all, the sympathetic character of the last film is sent on the most degrading side quest ever and continuity doesn't even exist in this world (wonder where the three are going to live soon, if you know, you know).
Only the post-credit scene was a highlight, but after this wreck of a film, it might even destroy my "childhood hero" of the Sonic games, and I'm afraid of that.
The Orville: Domino (2022)
When all stones ignite their domino effect
It's impressive what Seth McFarlane has done with The Orville.
The series was intended as a satire on Star Trek and years later you have this episode, which is the climax of the series and perhaps the best episode of a science fiction series.
This episode takes so much from existing works and makes it its own, playing with its characters and enemy images developed over episodes and seasons, using its great actors to do so, and bringing it all to a conclusion that I would not have expected.
You feel the excitement from the first to the last second, you have a feeling that the characters can achieve anything, that they will succeed in everything and in the end this base explodes and the probably most intelligent biological life form of this universe sacrifices itself.
She sacrifices herself because only she can save an entire species that she has incredibly hated since the beginning of her character arc.
Charly Burke is a prime example of the morality of an "advanced human," according to the pioneers of science fiction, this character who completes her character arc in this episode shows what The Orville has grown beyond.