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An error has ocurred. Please try againAlso includes some movies to avoid. I am in the process of keeping the list current after not updating it since last year.
Reviews
Person of Interest: The Day the World Went Away (2016)
Endgame Set in Motion
If this episode does not show that Person of Interest is likely to fire on all cylinders until the finish, then I do not know what would. The biggest episodes change a show forever and this episode was huge in changing how the show will look in its final hours.
If you have watched shows like Lost, Game of Thrones, Buffy, and Angel, then you are probably used to losing some of your favorite characters along the way. The loss is just part of watching some of these great shows. Person of Interest has largely not killed many major players apart from the one massive loss in Season 3 when Carter met her end. The name of this episode should of probably been an omen in itself as more of our favorite characters are now gone.
The introduction of Elias is arguably when the series really started to take off. The character was marvelously acted by Colantoni for one thing, but also amazingly complex. Elias could be a friend and also an enemy to Team Machine. Elias was the devil you know and a criminal with a moral conscience. He represented the necessary evil that is sometimes required. In many ways, Elias is a darker version of Finch, an idea that has been presented quite a bit in recent episodes. Elias went down fighting and protecting a friend he grew to very much respect. Rest in peace you bald-headed fiend.
Then we have Root. Poor Root's writing was on the wall early on and throughout this episode, but the impact of her demise was massive regardless. Ever since her introduction as a potent foe in Season 1 to crucial ally, she has remained an ever interesting character. I thought she may have made it to at least the finale, but it was not to be. Root went out in a blaze of glory and like Elias sacrificed herself for a dear friend and mentor. In a way she lives on, since the Machine has chosen her voice. Goodbye Cocoa Puffs and hello to Illyria 2.0, I mean Mecha-Root.
The fallout of Finch losing two more friends is already looking to be huge. Finch may very well unleash the darkness that he has kept locked away in himself all these years. His speech regarding the subject may have been the best moment in an episode packed with so much content. Michael Emerson channeled his inner Ben Linus one more time and Samaritan better be afraid of a Harold Finch no longer shackled to rules.
I feel they went all in on this season and did not expect to be picked up for any future seasons, thus leading to the demise of two series favorites. Similar decisions were made in Angel's final season. If Season 6 had been a guarantee, we would probably be looking at a very changed Season 5. Alas, I feel this particular "simulation" did not end well for Team Machine or us as the fans. Mind you this was amazing television, but it still hurts. I am sure there will be people who hated some of the choices here, especially regarding Root's fate. That is understandable any time a popular character is killed. It will be interesting to see Amy Acker's role in the final episodes.
It has to be mentioned that Root was steering the car with her high heels, while shooting a sniper rifle out of the sunroof. If that does not earn extra marks, then nothing will.
10/10
Supernatural: The Devil in the Details (2016)
Superb episodes like this have kept me watching.
Supernatural came back swinging in its midseason premiere in a season which has potentially been its strongest since Season 5, at least thus far. Plenty to talk about here.
The main focus of this episode was Sam and his always interesting interactions with Lucifer. Lucifer brought up a lot of points and plots that fans and critics alike have been complaining about for a while. A good way for the writers to wink at the audience that not every plot has been a gem in recent years. That abomination of a storyline from Season 8 involving Amelia is brought up. Lucifer summed it up best by telling Sam, "this is the worst thing you have ever done." In a long list of poor decisions, that one's up there for sure.
Lucifer's other big point to Sam is that the brothers' actions involving the mark were not heroic. Lucifer tells Sam that he knew bad things would happen and innocent people would suffer, but that Sam chose to do it regardless. This is a point that should really be mentioned more and at least this season seems to be tackling the issue. In earlier seasons, Sam and Dean were pretty obvious heroes. In more recent years, certain actions have been questionable. Their utter devotion to one another and their inability to let either go has led to the deaths of many. Releasing the Darkness on the world is their fault and props for the show for stating that multiple times more or less this season.
The other happenings in this episode involve Dean obviously attempting to save Dean. It is obligatory at this point because it goes back to the brothers not being the best at letting go. Dean also needs Crowley and Rowena's help. Castiel also had his work cut out for him in his attempt to locate Amara along with the help of a fellow angel who just so happens to have the largest and most interesting pair of glasses I have ever seen. Luckily for us the audience, nothing went as expected. More on that later.
Not that the other things are not interesting, but this episode is truly a showcase for Pellegrino's Lucifer. Pellegrino's ability to blend menace along with humor has always been magic on the screen whenever he has showed up over the years. He truly is a talented actor and his take on Lucifer is one of my favorite TV villains period. He had a number of great lines this episode that involved making fun of Sam, breaking necks, mocking Michael, and poking fun at the new Lucifer series that is starting on FOX. This may have been the most screen time he ever got in a single episode ever and that is a great thing.
This babbling has persisted long enough, but that ending needs to be addressed. Many people seemed worried this Lucifer debacle would be wrapped up very quickly like Demon Dean and God Cas were. Luckily that seems to not be the case and the actual result was potentially predictable to some, especially if one watched the promos leading into this episode. Never the less, this is the best material Misha Collins has had to work with in a while. Many fans have complained about his lack of screen time lately and he has really not had much to do for some time. Castiel watching Netflix was only amusing for so long. Well Misha now gets to give his take on Lucifer, or as he is already being coined...Casifer. That creative name was surely created in some preexisting piece of fanfiction.
How Misha will compare to Mark remains to be seen, but so far so good. Despite what he did to Rowena in a very gruesome death scene for this show, I'm not sure Misha will possess the same level of menace that Mark has. Time will tell. Seeing an actor tackle a dual role can be endlessly entertaining and really highlight the depth of their acting. Look no further than some of the dual roles found within Whedon's Buffyverse. That is also my poor attempt to subtlety recommend Buffy/Angel to Supernatural lovers.
Overall Supernatural came back quite strong and shows great promise for the episodes to come. For those of us who have been watching for 10.5 seasons, we are witnessing a show that is very much alive once more.
9/10
The Last of Us (2013)
A Chilling Masterpiece that Sticks with You
I rate a ton of things on this site all the time, but I've never done an actual review. The Last of Us more than warrants one. I've never had a gaming experience quite like it. It transcends an average game.
The story is the meat and potatoes of this game. It will grab you in the opening scene and hold you throughout. You will come to care a lot about the characters and their struggles in this post-apocalyptic world. This game also contains some of the darkest topics ever touched by gaming. I won't go into any of them but know that it was a bold move and it paid off. Note that this game truly earns its M rating and is not for everyone.
The major reason that the story works so well is because it contains some of the greatest characters ever crafted in gaming. The characters feel so real and they face problems that are all too real. The voice work is as good as any I have ever seen. Hats off to Troy Baker as Joel and Ashley Johnson as Ellie for their exceptional performances. This game has made me a fan of both and I can't wait to see more work from them.
The gameplay is just as smooth as the Uncharted series, but it offers more of a chance for some variety and stealth. There is so much choice in the route and strategy you choose to take while going through this game. There are times when going guns a blazing will work, but those times are quite few. Stealth and scavenging are heavily encouraged.
The graphics are possibly the best that have ever graced the PS3. The amount of detail in the characters and the environment is incredible. The lighting, colors, and textures are very strong. There is no way to see everything in one playthrough...all the more reason to return.
This game is receiving near universal praise from both critics and gamers alike. A ton of perfect scores have been given out and they are certainly well earned. This game is a gritty experience the likes of which I have never played. I'm not a person who cries, but I am a thinker. This game has invoked a lot of deep thought since I finished it last night. It brings up a lot of issues and you won't be able to stop thinking, hmmm...would I have done that or been able to do that? There were times where I said yes and some where I had to say no. That is the true power of The Last of Us. It brings out feelings that gaming rarely succeeds in doing and it will get inside your mind. All in all, The Last of Us is a chilling masterpiece that sticks with you.
10/10