zacharyygreenberg Reviews

Riverdale: Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Seven: American Graffiti (2023) Season 7, Episode 10

Shooze fest

[4/10 · 8 December 2023]

In this latest installment, the series kicked off with a vibrant carnival setting that brought a delightful and visually stimulating atmosphere. The renewed dynamic between Reggie and Archie showcased a refreshing camaraderie, injecting a newfound sense of energy into their interactions, which kept viewers intrigued.

However, the narrative involving Jughead and Tabatha struggled to find its footing, lacking the gripping storyline expected from this beloved duo. Their plotline meandered without a clear direction, resulting in a rather lackluster and forgettable portrayal that failed to engage audiences.

Adding to the disappointment, Cheryl and Toni's chemistry, once the cornerstone of the show, seemed inexplicably distant and out of sync. The palpable connection they previously shared was sorely absent, leaving fans puzzled and longing for the authenticity that once defined their on-screen relationship.

Despite the promising carnival backdrop and the revitalized Reggie-Archie dynamic, the show faltered due to the lack of depth in Jughead and Tabatha's storyline and the unexpected disconnect between Cheryl and Toni. These missteps might hinder the overall enjoyment for viewers, leaving them questioning the direction of their favorite characters' journeys.

Secret Invasion: Home (2023) Season 1, Episode 6

Solid Finale - Concluded the Gravik arc well but the story is far from over

[8/10 · 26 July 2023]

The season finale of Secret Invasion basically had what you would expect from a Marvel show. Big final CGI battle, rushed ending, and not so much closure. However, the dialogue, acting, and characters explored in this episode are top-notch. Gravik's speech is gut-wrenching and you truly understand the pain and suffering he's felt over the years. Fury and Varra have some emotional romantic scenes together that were done very well.

Could it have been better? Yes. Probably should have had longer run time.

I also did not like the president being a total ding-dong and then deciding to declare World War on the Skrulls out of nowhere and without much thought.

Anyways, was a solid finale.

Secret Invasion (2023)

6.7 star average for the series, yet every episode above a 7...

[9/10 · 20 July 2023]

Secret Invasion is easily the best Marvel show yet. The stakes feel real. There's deception at every turn and no one can be trusted.

Nick Fury is trying to save not just Earth, but the Skrulls too from extinction. He does so using his wits and instincts, without any superpowers against a madman leader who will stop at nothing until he's all-powerful.

It really is a great show and the acting, dialogue, and action are top notch.

This show is being review bombed by Marvel cynics for some reason and they have brought its rating down. Make no mistake, this is top tier Marvel content and I'm excited for its conclusion next week.

Star Wars: Resistance: No Escape: Part 1 (2019) Season 1, Episode 19

Solid Episode with Emotional (Sort of) Ending

[7/10 · 20 April 2023]

The Star Wars Resistance episode "No Escape Part 1" is an intense and action-packed installment in the series. It follows the story of Kaz and his friends as they attempt to rescue their captured allies from the clutches of the First Order, who are preparing to showcase their terrifying superweapon.

One of the most notable aspects of this episode is the lack of emotional reaction from Kaz to the destruction of his entire family on Hasonian Prime. While some viewers may find this a little jarring, it is consistent with Kaz's character, who has always been portrayed as a somewhat stoic and unemotional figure. Additionally, the urgency of the situation means that there is little time for the characters to dwell on their losses, and they must instead focus on the task at hand.

The action in "No Escape Part 1" is well-choreographed and exciting, with plenty of tense moments as Kaz and his friends attempt to evade the First Order's forces and rescue their comrades. The stakes feel high, and there is a real sense of danger throughout the episode.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Retrieval (2023) Season 2, Episode 10

Why Would You Trust a Thief Who Robbed You?

[5/10 · 23 February 2023]

Despite the stunning visuals, The Bad Batch continues to disappoint in terms of plot development and achievement. The latest episode follows a formulaic plot, borrowing heavily from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and offers little in the way of originality or excitement. The fact that the group has consistently failed in their missions this season is concerning and makes it difficult to root for them as protagonists. However, the impressive visual effects and attention to detail in the animation are undeniable strengths of the show.

Still, looking forward to the next episode and hopefully more episodes with Cross Hair.

She-Hulk: Attorney at Law: A Normal Amount of Rage (2022) Season 1, Episode 1

Pretty Standard Superhero Origin Episode

[6/10 · 19 August 2022]

After a mysterious Sakaarian UFO causes Bruce Banner (Mark Ruffalo) and his cousin Jennifer Walters (Tatiana Maslany) to get into a car crash, Bruce's gamma-infected blood accidentally seeps into Jen's wound. This causes Jen to become She-Hulk, a giant green being with immense strength and durability.

Bruce tried to teach Jen the way of the Hulk, but Jen is not so patient and wants to go back to her regular lawyer life.

Overall, the episode was a pretty standard superhero origin episode. While it was great to see Bruce Banner as Smart Hulk finally get more screen time, the episode did feel a bit dragged out.

I like how in Spiderman: Homecoming the movie just says casually that Peter was bit by a radioactive spider. There was no need for further explanation. We've seen Tobey and Andrew's Spidermen origin stories, no need for a third take on the matter. Similarly here, I would have preferred just a quick explanation over a dragged-out episode. We've seen Hulk get his powers before. It felt like a bit of a waste of time to rehash that.

There were many great aspects to the episode. Bruce and Jen had some amazing banter that was both funny and philosophically serious. Jen's struggle of accepting her newfound responsibility as She-Hulk and instead opting to focus on her career as a lawyer was portrayed well and it felt real.

Overall, the episode was nothing too special and a bit unnecessary. Yet, it was enjoyable and still a solid episode. The time watching flew by for me. Definitely worth a watch and I am excited about the next episode!

Soon by You: The Squirrel (2021) Season 2, Episode 3

An Unseen Squirrel Wrecks Havoc

[5/10 · 14 August 2022]

After months of production hiatus due to COVID, Soon By You returns for episode 3 of season 2.

The plot of the episode in theory was interesting. David brings an engagement ring he got from his grandmother intended for Sarah Feldman on a hike with Z, Kayla, and Joey. While washing his hands, the rings fall out of his backpack and Sarah realizes what David is about to do. Ultimately, Sarah decides that she needs to make Aliyah, even if that means no longer being with David.

I thought the discussion between David and Sarah was pretty immature on Sarah's part. Sarah did not say one nice thing to David about how he's a great guy or any positive character traits. She's just like "I need to go. See you never." On the other hand, David kept on complimenting her and saying how much he cared for her despite the verbal abuse he was taking. David could certainly do better than Sarah and I did not like how this climatic scene played out.

I also did not laugh once during this episode. The other episodes usually had numerous great one-liners or absurdly funny situations. Even my favorite character Z didn't deliver such humorous jokes in this episode.

The side plot of Sarah Jacobs with Lev was pretty good. I smiled a few times at some of the cringe-humor scenes.

My favorite part of the episode was seeing a cameo of TikTok superstar Orly Baras as one of the two frum girls the gang came across during the hike.

Overall, it was definitely my least favorite episode. Still, it was not a terrible episode and the time flew by watching. I am looking forward to the next episode by the stellar cast!

Soon by You: The Double Date (2020) Season 2, Episode 2

A Bit Too Many Awkward Date Moments

[6/10 · 12 August 2022]

I have enjoyed every episode of Soon By You So Far. Until this one.

While the episode did have a lot of nice moments and highlighted some very important topics within Orthodox Judaism, it suffered from a lot of cringy scenes.

Noa and Jacob's date at the art museum was a bust as Jacob's over-the-top feminist mindset ended up just being rude and obnoxious. Z was staring at Noah the whole time on her date with Kayla. David and Sarah Feldman's date did not go well since the conversations felt forced due to Sarah's uncomfortableness in introducing her gay brother Joey. Sarah Jacobs and Ben also are now not dating but they video call each other. A lot.

There were some good scenes. Like David confronting Sarah Feldman about her not introducing Joey. Sarah Jacobs was an incredible dating coach and had some amazing lines like when she set up a dating profile for Talia.

Overall the episode was a bit slow so I would say that it's just okay.

Soon by You: The Do Over (2019) Season 2, Episode 1

Strong Opening Episode for Season 2

[8/10 · 12 August 2022]

The episode sort of picks up right where it left off. It jumps a month into the future where David and Sarah Feldman are now steady.

Personally, I did not like the flashback scenes between Sarah Jacobs and Ben. It felt pretty cheesy and not as emotionally impactful that it could have been. Maybe they should have just had them talking privately alone recounting what had happened and what went wrong.

Z's restaurant in the apartment was a hilarious bit. I laughed so hard when he kicked out a couple eating to let David and Sarah Feldman sit.

Noa's new boyfriend Jacob gives an incredible pitch on why Orthodox Jews should sign up for organ donations. That scene should be cut out and shared everywhere.

There was a lot of good content to unpack in this episode. Strong first episode for the new season.

Soon by You: The Dates (2017) Season 1, Episode 4

Dates Gone Wrong - Hysterical Curveball Episode!

[9/10 · 11 August 2022]

We finally get to see Sarah Feldman and David going out for their first date. It wouldn't be a drama show if things went perfectly and what starts out as a nice date, quickly unravels.

Meanwhile, Sarah Jacobs is tired of waiting for the right boy and decides to try Skype dating with an Israeli soldier. However, the soldier does not speak much English and she does not speak much Hebrew. Their miscommunicated conversation was absurdly awkward and funny that brought me to tears laughing so hard!

I also loved the scenes at the J-Screen event and the banter between Z, Ben, and Noa were great.

This was probably my favorite episode of the season. It is hysterical and sets up for a great finale!

Soon by You: The Wedding (2017) Season 1, Episode 5

Strong Season Finale - Craziest Jewish Wedding I've Ever Seen

[7/10 · 11 August 2022]

The season finale of Soon By You was probably the wackiest episode yet. David ended up being the Mesader Kiddushin (notary) at Sarah Feldman's cousin Abby's wedding.

Somehow, Sarah Jacobs was a bridesmaid at the wedding which makes me question how the two Sarahs didn't know each other beforehand.

The episode itself was a lot of fun with many good moments. Z was his usual funny self and I loved how he randomly had cereal in his pockets that he handed out to hungry people. The boy at the bar was also hysterical as he complained about missing out on marrying his former babysitter, the bride Abby.

It was not my favorite episode and I did not find it as well-paced as the other episodes. Some scenes were a bit too dragged out, especially those at the Chuppah (wedding canopy).

Overall, though a strong finale with many funny moments that left us on massive cliffhangers for next season.

I Am Groot: Groot's First Steps (2022) Season 1, Episode 1

Outstanding animation and cute short!

[9/10 · 10 August 2022]

Sometime between the end of Guardians of the Galaxy and the start of its sequel, Baby Groot grew up from a flora colossus living in a pot into a toddler running around being mischievous.

The new Disney+ series I Am Groot pilot episode shows us how Baby Groot got out of this pot and began walking. The animation of the episode was some of the best I have ever seen. It did not even look like a cartoon and it felt like watching a regular Marvel show. The Guardian's ship The Benatar looked exactly as it had in in the movies, the tree and robots looked lifelike, and Groot appeared just as he had in the movie. Groot's emotions were shown well on his face including whether he was happy, playful, sad, or frustrated.

This episode was a great start to the show. Baby Groot was adorable to watch and it was cool seeing him use his stretching powers. The plot was simple, yet effective for the short.

I can not wait to continue watching this series!

Soon by You: The Shabbat Meal (2016) Season 1, Episode 3

Sidetracked episode with good humor and practical moral dilemmas

[6/10 · 10 August 2022]

The third installment of Soon By You gets a bit sidetracked, but still offers a fun episode.

David decides to ask out Sarah Feldman for a formal date, after the last episode where they only hung out on a triple date. However, their calendars don't align and he ends up inviting her for a Friday night meal along with other guests.

I did not like this plot so soon in the series. It seems to be David repeated a pretty obvious mistake of not scheduling alone time with Sarah F. Why would he invite her for Friday night Shabbos dinner and not just ask if she was free Saturday night or Sunday first?

Still, it was fun seeing each of the characters prepare for a Shabbos meal and wanting to impress their love interests. I also found Ben's plot line of having to choose between Observing the Sabbath or going to a business meeting on a Friday night to get a job to be a fascinating practical moral dilemma of religion vs. Career. As a young professional, I very much related to the struggle.

Overall, this episode had a lot of good moments, but I did not like the storyline's placement in the series compared to the other episodes. I think if we had seen David and Sarah go on a date or two first, it would have fit much better.

All in all, the jokes were great as well always and the cast shines in their roles. It is definitely well worth a viewing!

Soon by You: The Follow-Up (2016) Season 1, Episode 2

Soon By You Squad Unites! Awesome Second Episode.

[9/10 · 10 August 2022]

Episode 2 is the first longer episode of the series at nearly a 30-minute runtime.

The show picks up right where the pilot episode left off. David is ready to ask out Sarah Feldman. However, he realizes he accidentally lost her phone number.

David teams up with his former date Sarah Jacobs, who wants to go out with Sarah Feldman's date Ben, to find Sarah Feldman. (It's confusing with all of the Sarah's - which is how David met Sarah Feldman in the first place by sitting at the wrong table with the wrong Sarah!) Z, David's roommate, agrees to come along to help too.

While the first episode felt like the show completely revolved around David, we now see the show becoming more like "Friends" for Orthodox Jews. Z is reminiscent of Joey Tribbiani from Friends, with his incredibly funny dumb one-liners. Sarah Jacobs shines in this episode is not just someone who is a spoiler single girl, but as a creative and helpful person. She was such a bro to be admit that she knew that David was checking out the other Sarah, yet she still wants to help him. Sarah's friend Noa is also funny with her blunt comments.

I loved the ending how everyone ended up crashing Sarah Jacobs and Ben's second date. This was the beginning of the formation of the Soon By You squad and it was done seamlessly.

I highly recommend giving it a watch on Youtube!

Soon by You: The Setup (2016) Season 1, Episode 1

Unexpected Plot Twist - Great Pilot Episode!

[8/10 · 10 August 2022]

Soon By You starts with a strong pilot episode. Danny Hoffman shines in his lead role as a mainstream New York Jewish single guy looking for his soulmate.

Most of the jokes were well-timed and landed well. The pacing was good too and the episode flowed smoothly. Despite the episode only having a 15-minute runtime, it felt a lot longer in a positive way.

I loved the scenes of David running late to his date from the subway. My favorite part was watching the cast's reactions unfold to the plot twist of the date mixup. Hilarious!

My main negatives with the episode were when David and Sarah Feldman were talking by the bathroom. The audio was not so good and the scenes were a bit too awkward. Maybe doing a quick shot once would have been fine, but I did not like two drawn-out scenes.

Also, the outfits were a bit interesting. David wore a classic Modern Orthodox-stringent outfit with a colored button-down shirt, but Ben's suit and the girls Yeshivish-looking dresses seemed out of place.

Overall, amazing start, and I am excited to see where this show goes! To many more seasons of the Jewish "Friends"!

The Vindicators: First Love (2022) Season 1, Episode 5

Noob-Noob finds love in a hopeless place

[10/10 · 31 July 2022]

We learn a lot about Rick Sanchez's favorite (and only one he likes) Vindicator, Noob-Noob. It turns out, it isn't just because Noob-Noob laughs at Rick's jokes.

Noob-Noob is secretly genius and claims he could have defeated Doom-Nomitron all by himself using biochemistry.

In this episode, we see Noob-Noob find love with one of the local girls. I won't spoil it, but the twist at the end of the episode I found to be hysterical.

These short episodes are fantastic and develop the Vindicators extremely well. The show reminds me of Prime Video's "The Boys." This is easily the funniest episode and well worth the watch!

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Part III (2022) Season 1, Episode 3

The Confrontation Between Obi Wan and his Monster

[9/10 · 2 June 2022]

At the end of Revenge of the Sith, Obi Wan left Anakin scarred and deformed. So much so that Anakin needed a suit of armor to keep him alive. After turning to the Dark Side, Anakin has fully embraced his Vader ego and mercilessly kills civilians as he rules the Galaxy with an Iron Fist. Anakin is a powerful force and can do anything he wants.

Obi Wan, on the other hand, is a broken old man who is caught up in his feelings of guilt and heartbreak over losing his apprentice - his best friend - to the Dark Side. He feels he failed as a teacher and it is his fault that the Jedi and Galaxy are in shambles.

This episode shows how low Obi Wan has fallen that he even surrenders to three Storm Troopers. His battle with Vader does not go well to say the least.

After Obi Wan's humiliating defeat to Vader, I think the whole show from here on out is gonna be about him getting back into shape with the force. Yoda at the end of episode 3 tells Obi Wan that is what he should focus on training to speak with the living force to connect with his former master Qui Gon Jinn.

We know he accomplishes this because in episode 5 he becomes a Force Ghost. But this Obi Wan can barely lift a little girl.

I am sure the rest of the series will show Obi Wan redeeming himself and there will be a rematch for the ages between him and Vader.

The episode overall was amazing and a well worthwhile watch.

Shut In (I) (2022)

50,000 Live Viewers

[10/10 · 11 February 2022]

Rivatting film with an outstanding plot and score. The Daily Wire team was bold for putting their content on YouTube livestream, but it ended up enhancing the experience. Being able to watch such a suspenful film while simultaneously reading the reactions of thousands of people was truly remarkable. I would give the film about a 7, but for a studios first film - definitely a 10 out of 10. Can't wait for more content!

Codename: Kids Next Door - Operation Z.E.R.O. (2006 TV Movie)

We Are Kids Next Door!!!

[10/10 · 28 November 2021]

Hands down one of the best animated films om Cartoon Network. With tons of twists and turns, it is an action packed fun movie.

The movie is actually pretty scary seeing the entire world turn into old people zombies. However, it is well paced, amazing character reveals, and ties together beautifully. The ending left me crying.

We are Kids Next Door!!!

Eternals (2021)

Eternally Long and Boring

[2/10 · 5 November 2021]

While "Eternals" was a visually stunning film, it lacked any real storyline and character development. The plot kept jumping all over the timeline of human history and it made the movie hard to follow. Additionally, there were way too many characters with too complicated names.

Some of the fight scenes were a lot of fun, but there was way too much dialogue for one film. Great movies knows how "show" just as much as tell.

I think if this movie would have been off-Earth it could have been a lot better. The celestials were cool entities to bring in, but to have them on Earth just felt like a disservice.

I can't think if anything good to say about the movie other than the effects. I would not see this twice. 2 out of 10.