Television Reviews...
Jan. 1st, 2020 08:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkatBinge Watched a lot of shows over the holidays, here's the reviews below.
1. Boys Over Flowers - a Korean adaptation of a Japanese shogu magna about a young commoner girl who enrolls in an elite high school and takes on a bunch of spoiled rich boys, who rule the school. The Boys Over Flowers title is a play on words - the boys who rule the school are called the Flowered 4 or F4 -- the favored. Heirs to their father's kingdoms. All privileged. Jan-di, the heroine, gets into the school by saving a student from the bullies or at least trying to. Then subsequently becomes their target, until she gains their respect and love by fighting back and standing up to their bullying no matter what. It's an interesting commentary on gender and class roles in Korean society and society at large. Also provides an in-depth look at Korean language, culture, scenery, and food. The characters are well-developed, the acting better than average, and it was a popular series that won awards in Korea at the time. This aired in Korea in 2005. Currently streaming on Netflix. In Korean with subtitles. Has about 25 episodes in total.
2. Lost in Space S2 -- if you gave up after S1, you should give S2 a go. It's a lot better plotted and paced than S1, and there's more focus on survival and the family dynamic. Also on the robot aliens and how the Resolute Team was inappropriately using them. In addition, Judy, the Father, and Penny are better developed with far less time on Will and Maureen -- who took up almost all the screen time in the previous season. We also get a bit more development of both Dr. Smith and Don, the smuggler, along with clear redemptive arcs for both.
It's by far the best rendition of the series I've seen to date and held my attention throughout. Currently streaming on Netflix, about 10 episodes in the second season.
3. Kominsky Method S2 finished streaming this one as well. It's about an aging actor running an actor's studio, along with his family and friends. A Chuck Lorre comedy, it's a bit lighter and more on target than most, also funnier. It also makes the statement -- a strong one that comedy comes from drama, and there really isn't a dividing line between the too. The best comedy is real and not just a joke at the character's expense. Less preachy than most -- it has some touching moments intertwined. Stars Michael Douglas, Alan Arkin, Nancy Travis, Rob Reiser (Mad About You fame), Jane Seymour, among others -- and stellar performances throughout. About 8 episodes and currently streaming on Netflix.
4. Marvelous Mrs. Maizel by Amy Palladino Sherman and Donald Sherman. It's not as good as last year. And has some of the same pitfalls that Gilmore Girls and Bunheads had -- the comedy and satire are a bit too on the nose, and it gets a bit preachy. Also Midge Maizel isn't always that likable, and somewhat narcissistic. In some respects this season is more about the education of Susie Myerson who is attempting to be an agent and failing mightily, because she thinks she can have a life outside of the person she is managing and doesn't have to be involved constantly, reviewing the fine print of every contract, and careful with the finances. She also gets in deep with gamboling. Meanwhile both her charges, Midge Maizel and Sophie Lennon are high maintenance self-involved women who don't seem to care that much about anyone around them. Empathetic, they aren't. Breezy and charming instead. As a result both screw themselves spectacularly on the verge of a big break -- they do get the audience's applause but they piss off the people they are working with in such a manner that they are cut completely.
It's uneven in places, but at times a good take on the pitfalls of the entertainment biz, and in particular standup comedy, and the dicey gender and sexual politics of the times.
There's eight episodes, and it is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
1. Boys Over Flowers - a Korean adaptation of a Japanese shogu magna about a young commoner girl who enrolls in an elite high school and takes on a bunch of spoiled rich boys, who rule the school. The Boys Over Flowers title is a play on words - the boys who rule the school are called the Flowered 4 or F4 -- the favored. Heirs to their father's kingdoms. All privileged. Jan-di, the heroine, gets into the school by saving a student from the bullies or at least trying to. Then subsequently becomes their target, until she gains their respect and love by fighting back and standing up to their bullying no matter what. It's an interesting commentary on gender and class roles in Korean society and society at large. Also provides an in-depth look at Korean language, culture, scenery, and food. The characters are well-developed, the acting better than average, and it was a popular series that won awards in Korea at the time. This aired in Korea in 2005. Currently streaming on Netflix. In Korean with subtitles. Has about 25 episodes in total.
2. Lost in Space S2 -- if you gave up after S1, you should give S2 a go. It's a lot better plotted and paced than S1, and there's more focus on survival and the family dynamic. Also on the robot aliens and how the Resolute Team was inappropriately using them. In addition, Judy, the Father, and Penny are better developed with far less time on Will and Maureen -- who took up almost all the screen time in the previous season. We also get a bit more development of both Dr. Smith and Don, the smuggler, along with clear redemptive arcs for both.
It's by far the best rendition of the series I've seen to date and held my attention throughout. Currently streaming on Netflix, about 10 episodes in the second season.
3. Kominsky Method S2 finished streaming this one as well. It's about an aging actor running an actor's studio, along with his family and friends. A Chuck Lorre comedy, it's a bit lighter and more on target than most, also funnier. It also makes the statement -- a strong one that comedy comes from drama, and there really isn't a dividing line between the too. The best comedy is real and not just a joke at the character's expense. Less preachy than most -- it has some touching moments intertwined. Stars Michael Douglas, Alan Arkin, Nancy Travis, Rob Reiser (Mad About You fame), Jane Seymour, among others -- and stellar performances throughout. About 8 episodes and currently streaming on Netflix.
4. Marvelous Mrs. Maizel by Amy Palladino Sherman and Donald Sherman. It's not as good as last year. And has some of the same pitfalls that Gilmore Girls and Bunheads had -- the comedy and satire are a bit too on the nose, and it gets a bit preachy. Also Midge Maizel isn't always that likable, and somewhat narcissistic. In some respects this season is more about the education of Susie Myerson who is attempting to be an agent and failing mightily, because she thinks she can have a life outside of the person she is managing and doesn't have to be involved constantly, reviewing the fine print of every contract, and careful with the finances. She also gets in deep with gamboling. Meanwhile both her charges, Midge Maizel and Sophie Lennon are high maintenance self-involved women who don't seem to care that much about anyone around them. Empathetic, they aren't. Breezy and charming instead. As a result both screw themselves spectacularly on the verge of a big break -- they do get the audience's applause but they piss off the people they are working with in such a manner that they are cut completely.
It's uneven in places, but at times a good take on the pitfalls of the entertainment biz, and in particular standup comedy, and the dicey gender and sexual politics of the times.
There's eight episodes, and it is currently streaming on Amazon Prime.
no subject
Date: 2020-01-03 11:29 pm (UTC)