Change Your Image
jesstheauthor
Reviews
House of the Dragon (2022)
The aging process in Westeros
You gotta love the way aging works in this series. If you were an adult in episode one, you never age a day in over 20 years. UNLESS you're the king, who looks more and more like an extra pulled from a Walking Dead set every episode. Dude was on death's door for years! (Leeching has yet to fix holes in the head) If you were a teen, you become a totally different person arbitrarily between episodes and your chemistry with others is now altered completely.
In a vacuum, this show is not bad, it's even fairly good. Unfortunately, it's using the GOT name, and fair or not, comparisons will be made. This is just a smaller show. In every way. The world, the acting and actors, the brilliant dialogue, the plans within plans within plans, the memorable quotes (that become a part of pop culture) and even the twists are just smaller. Less than the original. It lacks the magical feeling of excitement each episode inspired, waiting in anticipation for a week to find out what happens next.
I would say this has more of a Shakespeare Hamlet vibe than the first GOT. That's not a bad thing. It's just not great. And when you catch lighting in a bottle the way the original did, rarely (if ever) is it caught again.
Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022)
Honest review after part III
As a preface, I will mention that I was a fan of the original Star Wars trilogy as a kid. Return of the Jedi came out when I was five. I was disappointed by the next trilogy and found the finally trilogy decent but not great. IMO season one of the Mandalorian was the first Star Wars vehicle that managed to capture some of the magic and nostalgia of the original.
Now, after three episodes of Obi-wan Kenobi I feel that the show does have many issues. The first is that the plot so far has no stakes and lacks tension since we all know nothing will happen to Obi-wan or Leia. I also agree with many that Leia's scenes can be a bit cringe worthy, nonsensical and silly. The chase scenes were hard for me to watch. I also feel that the Reva character doesn't work. I know Moses Ingram can act, I thought she was great in Queen's Gambit and root for her success. I sincerely don't think this character would work, regardless of the gender, race etc. Of the actor involved. Another issue I'll mention is that the plot contradicts much of what is said and implied in the original Star Wars film. I'm not really a follower of Star Wars canon, but this show creates big discrepancies between what was said in A New Hope and what apparently (now) happened beforehand.
I no longer expect that much from the Star Wars franchise, though I continue to watch and try to get some entertainment from each effort. Being as objective as possible I can't see this being rated higher than about a 7 or lower than a 3. It does take a lot of work to create a show and IMO a 1 is a show that is so bad that it doesn't get picked up or distributed at all. Movies that bad are out there, the real 1's! And a 10 is a masterpiece, and by no objective standards (other then emotional) could this be called a masterpiece. I rate it a 5 because it is relatively watchable, but simply lacks the plot, character development and tension I look for in quality film/tv.
Jenny Slate: Stage Fright (2019)
Not Jenny's Platform, Unfortunately
I'll preface this by saying I think Jenny Slate is a talented actor and and incredible voice-over actor. I have followed her career and enjoy just about all she does.
That being said, I found this difficult to watch. I wanted to like it, but it felt amateurish and awkward. And not particularly funny at all. I know this wasn't billed as pure stand up per se, but for me (as all reviews are just opinions) this isn't her realm. Stand up takes years to master, and putting together a "set" takes lots of work and re-work, trying out material on audiences and making adjustments and timing is key. This felt more like stream of consciousness with a few pre-planned anecdotes. It felt clear these were unchartered waters.
I see that some people vibed with it. She is intriguing (i'd love to have a beer and conversation with her) and and her quirkiness, along with some home footage and interviews were enough to be entertained.
I did note at least one person thinking the negative feedback thus far is based on taking a jab at the patriarchy and government. Yeah, someone is always offended by something, but I'm a white dude and thought they were cool sentiments. Just didn't work for me overall.
I'll keep watching and rooting for Jenny, but my guess is, the consensus will be that this experiment won't be considered one of her successes; in a career filled with them.