How I Met Your Mother Season 1 Episode 2 Review: ‘Purple Giraffe’

How do you make an impression on the girl you’re in love with? This is the question Ted finds himself dealing with as we open this episode. Upon learning that Robin wants him to be more casual, Ted anxiously tries to figure out how to spend time with Robin without her reading too much into it. This leads him to the episode’s core premise, throwing a series of impromptu parties in hopes that Robin will show up to one and “run into” Ted.

Meanwhile, Ted’s parties cause issues for his roommate Marshall who’s trying to work on a paper for Law School. We watch the limits of Marshall’s patience get tested not only by the distraction of the party, but also his new fiancé Lily who excitedly wants to have sex with Marshall in the afterglow of their engagement. Lily’s character development remains the weakest here, simply being another present force in Ted and Marshall’s life. However, seeing Marshall’s tension about getting his paper completed effectively shows how Ted’s spontaneous choices effect Marshall.

Barney’s storyline propels a majority of the jokes. Barney’s declaration that “Every New York party contains a girl no one has heard of, and will never hear from again” immediately blows up in his face after the girl he meets at the first party begins to show up party after party after party. This represents one of my favorite uses of Barney: letting him seem clever and cool, before immediately showing how that blows up in his face. Further, the boomerang girl who keeps coming back allows us to feel the progression of each night more distinctly, where they otherwise may have blended together.

As Ted realizes the need to simply be upfront and honest with Robin, we begin to see that Robin and Ted’s relationship is far more complicated than setting up the right party or event to fall for each other at. The problem is that Ted, who throws constant parties in hopes of meeting one girl, isn’t the casual person Robin’s looking for. She wants something effortless, and everything about Ted desperately shows his effort. In the episodes final moments, where Ted attempts to embody the casual vibe Robin’s looking for, we feel the fundamental difference between these two. And as we see them believe they can turn that into a friendship for now, we also understand how difficult that will be. While Robin might be able to casually introduce Ted to different girls at the bar, will Ted be able to shift his gaze off of Robin?

This episode develops the core relationship in the show thus far, while adding additional layers to some of our supporting characters. Lily remains a little underdeveloped, but we can see the show moving in the right direction. A handful of good laughs, and some development in our main story, this show does more to propel our main narrative than establish a norm. Rare in a sitcom, but sets us up well for the next series of episodes that will spend more time establishing what those norms are going to look like.

Best Quotes:

“That’s great Ted. You’ll be the most casual stalker ever!” – Lily Aldrin

“I was thinking, what’s the quickest way to get rid of a girl you just met? Oh! I think I’m in love with you.” – Barney Stinson

Rating: 7.5/10

How I Met Your Mother Season 1 Episode 1 Review: ‘Pilot’

In my opinion, the most difficult part of a show is starting it. Figuring out who your main characters are, how they interact with each other, and what plot our characters will engage with throughout the entirety of the show is difficult to set up. It’s often for many shows such as Seinfeld, Park and Recreation, The Office, and more to need beyond even its first season to establish what viewers should expect to enjoy week to week. How I Met Your Mother’s pilot is a rare entry, in which the characters and main plot of the show are expertly set up by the time its first episode ends.

Now, in retrospect, does this pilot set up a premise the show will stick to absolutely, even when it naturally grows in different directions? Yes. But that speaks to the creative choices made latter down the line, not here.

How I Met Your Mother’s pilot episode introduces us to our five main characters quickly and succinctly. Within twenty-two minutes, we learn crucial pieces of information about each of these characters and their relationships, while still having ample room to introduce us to our first main plot hook. Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor), our narrator and lead, is shown to be stuck between two worlds, each embodied by his two best friends. Marshall Erickson (Jason Segal), Ted’s college roommate and best friend, is quickly engaged to his college sweetheart Lily Aldrin (Alyson Hannigan) and represents Ted’s desire to settle down and find the love of his life. His other friend Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris), quickly shown to be a womanizing playboy, represents the whimsical part of life that could pull you in any direction at any moment.

These two different perspectives in his closest friends will come to define Ted’s journey in many ways. A journey that is kicked off by his introduction to Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders), who Ted falls for upon first sight at his favorite Irish bar, MacLaren’s Pub. Ted and Robin’s relationship will be central to a majority of this show, and it’s complicated relevance begins here.

Ted and Robin’s initial attraction is undoubtable, and palpable as soon as they begin flirting with each other. But it’s these two’s differences that will quickly come to define their relationship. Ted quickly makes himself known as a romantic, prepared to make a desperately romantic gesture or jump the gun at the worst of times. Robin on the other hand shows herself to be dedicated to her work as a newscaster. While their chemistry remains tangible through each and every scene they share together, the natural differences between these two makes themselves more and more apparent.

Ted’s journey in this episode ends in the open ended way a pilot should. Him and Robin aren’t together, but we see Ted’s longing for her being what will propel this show forward. Yet, we can see that this longing isn’t entirely about Robin. It’s about Ted’s desire to mature into the person who’s ready to settle down. And Robin represents the first opportunity for that to happen, which excites Ted to his core. The episode effectively sets up not only Ted’s interest in pursing Robin, but Ted’s journey for love in general. In the final moments, as we’re told that Robin is not the titular mother we’re waiting for Ted to meet, we begin to see how complicated Ted’s journey will be.

In the meantime, our supporting cast shows how they’ll shine as the show continues. Barney is well set up not only as a womanizer, but also as the lame eccentric wannabe looking for approval and friendship. We quickly see how Marshall makes exceptions in his life for Lily, willing to conform and change for her. And we see how Lily will challenge Marshall, even in ways he isn’t thrilled about. Hell, the episode even sets up Ranjit, one of the best recurring characters throughout the show.

How I Met Your Mother’s pilot isn’t the most thoughtful episode of the show. It also isn’t the funniest, most interesting, or most compelling. But it does what a good pilot should do, hook our interest in compelling characters. Moving forward, these characters will change and grow in drastic ways. Yet, the ways they will grow are all rooted in who they are here and now as we begin our journey. That’s not just how you make a good pilot, that’s how you tell a good story. One that future Ted will continue to rattle on about for seasons and seasons to come.

Best Quotes:

“Then as your best friend I suggest we play… Haaaaaave you met Ted?” ‘ – Barney Stinson

“Son, a piece of advice. When you go on a first date, you don’t want to say ‘Smurf Penis’. Ordinary girls don’t like that. But this wasn’t an ordinary girl.” – Future Ted

“You know what? I’m done being single. I’m not good at it. Obviously you can’t tell a woman you just met that you love her, but it sucks that you can’t. I’ll tell you something though. If a woman. Not you, just a hypothetical woman, were to bear with me through all this, I think I’d make a damn good husband. Because that’s the stuff I’d be good at.” – Ted Mosby

“That’s the funny thing about destiny.  It happens whether you plan it or not. I mean, I never though I’d see that girl again, but it turns out I was too close to the puzzle to see the picture that was forming. Because, that kids, is the true story of how I met your Aunt Robin.” – Future Ted.

New Theories:

Olive Theory: The perfect couple is about perfect balance. Thus the perfect couple would contain a person who loves olives and a person who hates them.

Rating: 9/10

The Duality of It’s Always Sunny

 

Few shows have consistently evolved as much as It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. From the early, Danny Devito-less days, to the heightened intentional chaos that is the later seasons, Sunny has learned how to grow into something new while never losing the special quality that makes the show what it is. And within the first two episodes of Season 13, Sunny was able to present two episodes that are drastically different, yet impressive in the way they both compare and contrast.

The Season 13 premiere, ‘The Gang Makes Paddy’s Great Again’, was a controversial episode for long time fans of the show. Many fans argued that the show wasn’t as funny as it’d been in the past. It had lost it’s timing and it’s wit when Dennis (Glenn Howerton), made his exit. Without the gang’s leader to center around, the show felt off.

However, what I think has been lost in this conversation, is the intentionality of that choice. The Sunny Season 13 premiere wasn’t created to get a laugh out of you every second. It was created to make you feel Dennis’ absence. Through seeing how the gang reacts to Dennis’ absence, we’re able to see a new side of them.

The premiere has it’s hilarious moments. It just chooses not to lean into those at every turn. And as a result of those choices, we have a better understanding of how the gang functions. And by the end, the show teases a bright future. While the final moments of the episode didn’t change everyone’s minds about the episode, it showed me that this show knows EXACTLY what it is.

Following the controversial premiere was, ‘The Gang Escapes’. It was hard to know what to expect going into this episode. Has the show evolved? Will it be funny? Can Sunny go back to feeling like normal? And the answer to all of those questions was a resounding, YES.

‘The Gang Escapes’ is not only a funnier episode of television than ‘The Gang Makes Paddy’s Great Again’, it’s one of the funniest episodes of Sunny I’ve seen in a while. It doesn’t waste a line, using every moment to sneak in a joke, set up a future joke, or remind you of a joke you nearly forgot about. It crams jokes into every second, often not giving you time to stop laughing from one before it spits out three more.

This episode is full of quotable moments, great physical comedy, and a surprising ending. I’ve caught myself laughing out loud thinking about it while alone in public. It showcases the comedic talents of cast, director, and writers (Megan Ganz is the head writer for this episode, she nails it) in such an organic way.

However, this episode isn’t as thoughtful as the previous episode. There’s a lot less opportunity to learn about the gang, see them grow, or even learn something new about one of them. Small plot points setting up the situation are ignored, knowing that taking time to explain them would detract from the rhythm of the show. But that’s more than fine. This episode isn’t about being thoughtful or revealing. It’s about being funny, and it pulls it off effortlessly.

‘The Gang Makes Paddy’s Great Again’ and ‘The Gang Escapes’ are two very different episodes of television. While many want to sweet the premiere under the rug, that’s not quite fair. Each of them are impressive examples of storytelling. But the stories they want to tell are different.

Instead of choosing which was better, or shaming the show for taking creative risks, I think we should see these episodes as what they are. Individual entries into a show that’s evolved past being one note. Sunny was truly able to showcase their duality within these first two episodes. They’re a show that can simultaneously write both thoughtful character driven stories, and highly entertaining laughter packed rides.

As fans, let’s not preemptively decide what we want from Sunny, and judge it on that basis. Instead, let’s let these talented actors, writers, and directors do what they do best. Because so far, we have no reason not to trust them.

Love, Simon: AKA The Next Movie That’ll Make You Cry In The Theater (Non-Spoiler Review)

Writing the outline to this review made me tear up again. Wow. Okay. Here we go.

Love, Simon is a rare treat. It’s rare enough to have a high school comedy that truly works. It’s also rare to have a movie that truly understands the anxiety that exists in a high school environment. But more than anything, it’s rare for a movie to allow their gay protagonist to have his sexuality be something that informs the story in such a rich way.

The movie follows Simon, a high schooler in Atlanta, Georgia. When another student at the school posts on an anonymous forum that he’s gay, Simon replies anonymously saying that he’s gay as well. The two begin communicating frequently, leading to Simon trying to figure out who the person he’s falling for is. Simon’s pursuit of this relationship while struggling with being in the closet becomes the main catalyst of the movie.

In this movie, Simon’s sexuality isn’t who he is. It’s simply a large part of who he is, and the movie never loses sight of it. We’re introduced to Simon by an opening monologue saying that he’s just like every other teenager, except that he’s gay. And he’s keeping that a secret. And what I love, is that the movie plays into that. Whether it’s falling in love, sneaking home from a party, or interacting with his friends Simon is Simon first and foremost. Yet, this secret that he has about his identity informs the rest of the movie in a natural yet intentional way.

Nick Robinson, who plays Simon, knocks it out of the park. The movie really showcases his range, allowing him to be hopeful, helpful, deceitful, caring, manipulative, and more. There are parts of this movie that could’ve made Simon less likable. Yet through Robinson’s performance, we can cheer him on because we see the nervous and caring person that Simon is. Because we feel what Simon feels, we understand why he does the things he does, even when we recognize his flaws.

More than Robinson’s performance helps us feel Simon’s journey though. The movie takes advantage of its form to ensure that we as viewers are along for Simon’s journey with him. Every time he gets a new text or e-mail, we get a quick peak of the screen before it becomes blurry. It’s not until Simon is looking at the screen himself that we’re able to read along with him. Small technical things like this, which allow our curiosity and anxiety to build with Simon’s, make this movie engaging in a very personal way. Simultaneously, the score that surrounds this movie is well used. During many of the harder scenes of the movie, harsh deep tones keep building, giving us the feeling of hopelessness and chaos our character feels.

The supporting cast of this movie also shines. Josh Duhamel and Jennifer Garner play Simon’s parents. Both of them fit effortlessly into their roles, naturally feeling like funny, warm, supportive parents from their first moments on screen. As the movie progresses, each of them have opportunities to give beautiful and genuine performances. While Simon was incredible protagonist, it was these two who gave performances that made me cry multiple times. These roles are as simple as they are powerful, allowing most of us to read into them what we need.

One part of this movie that deserves to be highlighted is how it depicts high school. One issue I commonly have with coming of age story is how incapable writers seem when trying to show what high school is like today. The introduction of technology along with culture shifts means that high school is much different than it was even ten years ago. Where most movies would turn the use of technology into a joke, the movie uses it in a smart way. Nothing depicted in the movie felt out of date, impossible, or even unlikely. While the older teachers kept nagging students about their phone use, all of the students were shown having full lives outside of their devices.

Simultaneously, this movie understands high school anxiety well. It understands that something as simple as sending an e-mail to a person you’re interested in can be anxiety inducing and comforting simultaneously. It understands that what isn’t said is often just as important as what is said. It understands that for a high schooler, most days are a roller coaster of weird and unaddressed feelings they’d prefer not to have. And it’s the ability of this movie to portray those nuanced young feelings that makes this movie as extraordinary as it is.

Love, Simon is a special kind of movie. It brings a new take to an old genre, and truly makes it its own. The movie has a way of bringing you into it, and making you feel Simon’s experience. It’s near impossible to not feel engaged by this movie, and as a result, it’s hard not to fall in love with it. As of now (Mid-March), Love, Simon is my favorite movie of the year. I can’t wait to see more movies like this, which capitalize on untold stories from minority groups, continue to push the medium of filmmaking forward.

Rating: 9.5/10

 

Iron Fist Season 1 Review

Iron Fist comes to us at a time where superhero media is more prevalent than its ever been before. Between the four CW superhero shows, four other Marvel shows, and a plethora of movies coming out every single year, there’s no doubt that for those who want it, superheroes are ever present. As a result, new superhero projects don’t have the ability to be bad and still succeed. The market is already to cluttered with similar things that are able to tell an engaging narrative. And so when a show like Iron Fist comes out, not atrocious, but far from good, it’s hard to cut it much slack.

Iron Fist fails not a result of being bad, but by being so mediocre it brings its audience to boredom. Danny Rand, our protagonist, is not an interesting or compelling character. His backstory, a rich kid getting lost overseas and getting powers before coming back to save his city, isn’t only unoriginal, but unexplored. Meaning that of the cliche backstory that we’re given isn’t even presented in a way that’s compelling enough to help us root for our main character. And as the season goes on, Danny doesn’t seem to grow or evolve. Instead, he seems to be the same narrow minded and immature character we meet at the beginning of the series.

Unfortunately Finn Jones, who portrays Danny Rand, doesn’t help the case. Jones portrays Danny in a very determined way. As someone who will listen to no one and stop at nothing to achieve his mission. However, the youth that Jones brings to the role is ignored. He isn’t the cocky kid with powers who has to learn to humble himself. He’s the determined glowing fist guy who has to save the world from a never ending amount of ninja mumbo jumbo. Not nearly as compelling.

Many of the side characters do make the show better. Jessica Henwick, who portrays Colleen Wing, brings a lot to the show by often anchoring it. When Danny Rand tries to angrily rant about how The Hand is an imminent threat, it feels like someones ranting about sub par exposition. Yet, when Colleen discusses the situation, she makes you feel the stakes and importance in a way that helps bring you around to the show. Rosario Dawson, who makes her return as Claire Temple also adds a lot to the show. And her rapport with the entire cast helps bring charm to an otherwise dull show.

Taking a page from Daredevil, much of this season revolves around The Hand, a group of ninjas working to destroy and harm both New York and eventually the sacred city of K’un-Lun, which the Iron Fist is sworn to protect. The organization is fleshed out a little bit in this show. Not enough to help us understand their motivations, what they’re trying to do in the first place, or anything helpful. But we are introduced to more members of the organization who are able to bring some charisma to the organization.

Wai Ching Ho’s return as Madame Gao is a highlight for the season. One episode that showcases her sending Danny through a series of trials allows her to shine, and produces what might be the shows best episode. David Wenham plays Harold Meachum, a character who takes center stage for some of the final episodes. Of all the characters in the show, he has one of the best arcs, and is one of the most fun to watch. The choice to center much of the final act of the season around him was a smart one, ensuring the season had some redeeming moments right at the end.

What Iron Fist truly struggles with though, is its fights. While shows like Daredevil have made us used to hyper violent scenes with wild flips and moments, Iron Fist’s action scenes always feel relatively tame. It was later explained that on set Finn Jones would be given less than an hour to practice his choreography before filming. Beyond a disappointing story, it’s upsetting the show wasn’t even able to give us innovative or exciting action scenes.

Overall, Iron Fist is a show that doesn’t make a great case for itself. Our lead isn’t very charismatic or original. Our main villains are unexplained and confusing. The show has just enough going for it that I never felt like I was wasting my time, but I could easily feel every minute. If you’re a superhero completionist, this is far from the worst superhero show ever made. I recommend checking it out just to ensure you’re caught up before The Defenders. But if you’re hesitant about watching this show, I can’t recommend it. There are too many better shows offering better content.

Iron Fist is a successful show, even if its not a very good one, so more seasons are likely to come. Hopefully Marvel and Netflix work to change the show runner and show concept, else we’re likely to be watching a show floating in mediocrity far longer than we’d hope.

Rating: 5/10

Best Episode: ‘Immortal Emerges from the Cave’ (Season 1, Episode 6)

Luke Cage Season 1 Review

When Luke Cage first appeared in Jessica Jones, I was immediately excited to see his solo series. The way that his character was so quickly realized, and expertly embodied by Mike Colter, made me believe this series was a hit in the making. And overall, the show Yet, due to a lack of purpose, this show never fully clicks into place.

This season has a few main things going for it. First of all, Mike Colter as Luke Cage fits like a glove. Colter understands that Luke isn’t only a tough and indestructible bad ass, but also a compassionate and warm friend. He’s someone who does everything for others, and Colter shows us that through his performance time and time again. While Luke’s only real powers are indestructible skin and super strength, Colter brings a presence to the character that makes you believe in his power. That dichotomy between simultaneously being compassionate and powerful is a very difficult pairing to pull off. And it ensures that no matter what happens, we like and root for Luke as a character, which is important.

The supporting cast also brings a lot of life to the show. Simone Missick plays Misty Knight, a cop who works to clean up the neighborhood of Harlem, who becomes more and more intertwined with Luke’s story. The way Misty is used is really compelling, as she’s frequently able to stand her own against Luke Cage.

Rosario Dawson also comes back, playing ‘Night Nurse’ Claire Temple. Claire Temple is better utilized here than any of the other shows, because her presence feels needed to the show. Instead of being the character who’s around for a few episodes, she sticks around here. And as a result, she’s able to create a report with Luke and the rest of the cast that simply wasn’t possible in her brief appearance on the other shows.

The final thing this show really has going for it, is it’s sense of style and community. While those two words may not seem to pair up, but in Luke Cage, the two are intertwined. The neighborhood of Harlem, which the entire series takes place in, is full of life. Unlike the grimmer parts of New York shown in Daredevil and Jessica Jones, Harlem has its own life and energy. And as we become acquainted with the city, the music used really helps you feel the energy and life of where you are. And as a result, we care more about what’s happening in it. It also allows African American culture to be showcased in a way other shows don’t often do. With most of the cast being black, the show is able to immerse you in the culture of this area, bringing more life to the community.

Unfortunately, like many Marvel properties, Luke Cage has a villain problem. The final villain that Luke has to go up against isn’t incredibly compelling. His motivations feel similar to things we’ve seen before, but simultaneously feels forced. The show works to try and give us enough background information to make us feel the threat, but its never there.

This is largely due to the fact that Mahershala Ali plays a villain in the front half of the season who is immediately compelling and frightening. Even without being a large part of the plot, Ali creates a villain named Cottonmouth who you can see the power complex within. You see the greediness, but you also feel the underlying power. As his presence fades and our main villain’s grows, the series becomes less compelling. Giving us a villain to set up another isn’t a bad idea. But if the original villain is more interesting than the one being set up, we have a problem.

Partially because of the villain problem and partially because of the normal pacing problem Marvel Netflix shows have, the show really begins to falter in its second half. While the first half is full of genuinely compelling narratives and character building, the second half feels like we’re milking every second we can to ensure we meet our full 13 episodes. A sense of purpose is gone, taking the energy and life of the show with it. The show becomes lazier, which is especially disappointing considering how uniquely presented the first half is.

Overall, Luke Cage is a better than average show. It started great, and as complacency and a new villain emerged, it began to forget what made this show so special to start with. Luckily, our core cast is extremely talented and has sunk their teeth into their roles. Whatever comes next, at least we have such a great cast.

Rating: 7/10

Best Episodes:  ‘Moment of Truth’ (Season 1, Episode 1), ‘Step in the Arena’ (Season 1, Episode 4), ‘Manifest’ (Season 1, Episode 7)

Daredevil Season 2 Review

Nothing is better than a show that learns from its previous mistakes. While Daredevil Season 1 set up a new and grittier superhero television show, it didn’t take advantage of it’s story telling opportunity as much as it could. Season 2 mixes things up by adding in new characters, and reframing what the show is about. In Season 1 the show is about our hero needing to stop the bad guy from doing bad things. In Season 2, Daredevil’s antagonists are often people who cause him to question his own morality and worldview.

Two main character additions fuel this season and give it its momentum. The first is the introduction of Frank Castle aka The Punisher, played by Jon Bernthal. The Punisher kicks off our season, as we see him killing various gangs around town. The Punisher represents what Daredevil does in many ways. He seeks to find criminals who are harming innocents, and serve justice. Yet, the fact that The Punisher murders his victims brutally puts him into moral conflict with Daredevil. The time this season spends dissecting the relationship between these two characters, the better the show is.

Bernthal’s performance as The Punisher is incredible. In past movies, The Punisher gets branded as a homicidal maniac who only kills those who are evil. And those performances, while fun, often feel one note. There’s only so many times we can see a character kill everyone he sees before the impact wears off. Yet, because of Bernthal’s performance, his iteration of The Punisher never feels stale. The emotion and rage Bernthal portrays helps us feel the visceral pain he feels every day. And as his character is explained from a story and emotional level, it becomes very clear why Marvel and Netflix fast tracked a Punisher series.

Also introduced in Season 2 is Elodie Yung’s Elektra. Elektra comes in as a current and previous romantic interest for Daredevil, and the series spends a lot of time showcasing how their college relationship led to Matt Murdock becoming Daredevil as we know him. Yet again, the show had the opportunity to simply make a one-note attractive ex-girlfriend assassin, but instead, the show uses that template to create an intricate character who informs our protagonist.

This season shines in its ability to create intellectually interesting obstacles for our protagonist. Characters like Punisher and Elektra, who could (and in the past have been) incredibly one note characters are used intelligently to better serve our main character and his story. Similarly, his relationship with these new characters informs his relationship with our existing characters. Karen and Matt’s relationship is able to be further explored through Matt and Elektra’s. It may seem like a subtle and difficult trick, but the writers and directors pull it off with ease throughout the season.

It’s also worth mentioning that Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin makes a quick return. While I didn’t believe he posed a large threat in Season 1, he steals every scene he’s in this season. One direct confrontation between him and Matt Murdock is one of the most tense moments of the series yet, truly making you feel the power he claimed to have in Season 1. It seems he’s being set up for a Season 3 stay, and I can only hope they continue this version of the character, who’s revenge filled rage is not only understandable, but also utterly terrifying.

Throughout Season 2 the show introduces us to a new antagonist, The Hand. The Hand, a group of ninjas, begin to wreck havoc throughout the city. This is where Season 2 of Daredevil shows some issues. The Hand is never a compelling villain. While it’s clear their capable of doing damage, they don’t have any central identity outside of being a group of ninjas. And while other shows have introduced weirder things, this show has made a point of introducing a more grounded world.

Without more explanation of who they are and where they come from, not only does it feel like The Hand is a fantasy idea in a more grounded show, but it’s also hard to feel like their threatening. By the end of the season, we still have no idea what their original plan was, or what their plan is moving forward. It’s too bad the season ended with The Hand as our antagonists, because they were easily the least interesting or compelling part of the season.

It seems that The Hand will be sticking around for The Defenders, which is a little worrying. It’s lucky that this season doesn’t focus on them too much. But, Hopefully Marvel and Netflix figure out why The Hand exist, and what they want to do with them quickly, else our giant team up event may be lacking a compelling enemy.

Overall, Season 2 of Daredevil soars above the first. It introduces a lot of new and compelling characters that are both interesting in their own right, and as character to inform the rest of our cast. The action is visceral, the story is fast paced, and the characterizations are deep. While we won’t see a full season of Daredevil until after The Defenders, this season gives us more than enough great material to re watch until next time.

Rating: 9/10

Best Episodes: ‘Penny and Dime’ (Season 2, Episode 4), ‘Kinbaku’ (Season 2, Episode 5), ‘Semper Fidelis’ (Season 2, Episode 7), ‘Seven Minutes in Heaven’ (Season 2, Episode 9)

Jessica Jones Season 1 Review

Coming off the heels of Daredevil Season 1, Jessica Jones works to take the grittier tone of the Marvel Netflix shows and apply it to a lesser known Marvel character who’s only super power is super strength. Seems like an uphill battle. But show runner Melissa Rosenberg expertly pulls from the little source material that exists to create a compelling, deep, and exhilarating season of television.

Jessica Jones follows our titular character, a private investigator with super strength who’s haunted by her past. Krysten Ritter, who plays Jessica, excels in this role. Jessica is a very defensive, sarcastic, and often vicious person. Yet, through Ritter’s performance, you never shake the feeling that Jessica is scared and vulnerable. Being able to feel the nuance in Ritter’s performance informs the rest of the series, and draws you in to caring deeply about Jessica.

But, any superhero show is only as good as its villain. And here, David Tennant’s Kilgrave makes his mark as one of the most terrifying and charismatic villains we’ve ever had on screen. Kilgrave’s power isn’t anything new, he has the ability to control minds. But unlike other shows, which play with the concept, Jessica Jones shows how terrifying of a power that can be. While Daredevil may have shown you violence you didn’t know you were prepared for, Kilgrave will make people do things to themselves that cause anxiety just to imagine.

It also becomes clear from episode one that Kilgrave caused the post-traumatic stress Jessica’s been experiencing. Quickly we learn that for a long period of time before the show starts, Jessica was under the control of Kilgrave. Kilgrave saw Jessica not just as another person to be controlled, but also as his romantic partner. The ability of this show to discuss important issues like consent and sexual assault makes it ever more important. Not only is the importance of consent explored, but the impact of sexual assault on another person is highlighted in the entirety of who Jessica is.

And similarly, Kilgrave’s motivations are compelling. Without spoiling anything, there’s an episode about halfway through the series that allows Jessica and Kilgrave to be isolated together for the full episode. Throughout the episode, the show gives you the opportunity to understand life through Kilgrave’s point of view. The intentionality this show gives to creating complex characters who’s motivations are always understandable allows me to buy into this show and feel for everyone on the screen. The fact that this includes our incredibly demented antagonist, makes that statement even more impressive.

While the two leads of this show are what truly sells it, most of the supporting characters in the show are similarly compelling. Rachael Taylor plays Trish Walker, Jessica’s adopted sister. Trish, who in the comics eventually becomes the hero Wildcat, works as a natural support system for Jessica. Often, Jessica’s relationship with Trish allows us to further understand how Jessica’s feeling. This allows for some of the most moving parts of the entire series, as we finally see Jessica learn the importance of not being alone.

Mike Colter plays Luke Cage, a fellow superhero who Jessica has a romantic interest in. While I didn’t know I needed it, Luke’s introduction in this series felt natural, and allowed me to really understand who he is before seeing him in his own show. Their relationship, while complex and far from straightforward, allows us to see Jessica in a new light. One that makes her far more endearing to us and everyone she interacts with.

While Jessica Jones is a great show, it’s not without its faults. Like almost every other Marvel Netflix show, Jessica Jones is a little too long. Especially in the final three episodes, the story begins to spin its own wheels, and the audience can really feel the run time. Even a 10 episode season instead of 13 might allow for better pacing, ensuring the audience is excited and invested in every minute.

Further, a few characters don’t mesh as well into the show as others. An upstairs neighbor named Robyn is a little too crazy for the show, bringing an erratic energy to a show that’s generally more grounded. Will Simpson, a cop who dates Trish, gets an arc involving him getting powers that didn’t gel with the rest of the show. His character seemed more aimed at setting up the second season’s plot, but the mysterious company he was working for never felt compelling, and I was happy that it didn’t bleed into the rest of the season too much.

Overall, Jessica Jones Season 1 is a wild success. Both our protagonist and antagonist are wildly compelling and fascinating. More importantly, the reasons and motivations that bring them together are understandable, tense, and engaging. With a strong supporting cast, and a smart use of Daredevil’s tone and visual aesthetic, Jessica Jones will be a show superhero fans talk about for many years to come.

Rating: 9.5/10

Best Episodes: ‘AKA WWJD?’ (Season 1, Episode 8), ‘AKA Sin Bin’ (Season 1, Episode 9), ‘AKA Smile’ (Season 1 Episode 13)

Annihilation: A Beautiful Mis-Advertised Ride (Non-Spoiler Review)

In so many ways, Annihilation is an interesting case study. Not only is the movie itself a thoughtful, innovative, and challenging movie, but the story behind the film, and its implications on the future of movie making is fascinating.

Paramount Pictures, who produced the film, determined the film was likely not going to be a commercial success. And so, with the exception of North America and China, the movie was pulled from all theaters, and the distribution rights were sold to Netflix where the movie will available 17 days after its release in North America and China. Director Alex Garland protested this move, saying it was unethical to allow him to create a film, and then changing the medium it would be viewed on long after production without consulting him.

Moves like this also put into question how long it will be until new movie releases are consistently found on streaming services. Between Annihilation and The Cloverfield Paradox, Paramount has made it clear they’ll find anyway to make a profit on films they’re concerned with. But beyond this film’s impact on distribution models, is the film any good?

Very. Annihilation is the kind of movies that true science-fiction fans will eat up. However, it must be made clear that this is a SCIENCE-fiction film. Whereas other films like Star Wars, Guardians of the Galaxy, etc. put focus on the fiction, it’s science that this film is specifically interested in exploring.

This is what director Alex Garland does best. Like his previous film Ex Machina, Annihilation works to showcase a scientific phenomenon, and how it impacts the humanity that interacts with it. However where Ex Machina plays with artificial intelligence, this film plays with genetics.

In the film, Natalie Portman plays the leader of an expedition group going into a phenomenon called The Shimmer. The Shimmer was created by an asteroid that struck a lighthouse, and has created a rapidly expanding environment that no one has come out of the same. Oscar Isaac plays Portman’s husband, the only person to ever come back out of The Shimmer, who’s clearly been changed from the experience.

Portman and Isaac’s chemistry in this movie is electric, informing the central motivations of the film without every explicitly having to say it. And as the movie shows rapid changes in their relationship, their performances allow an underlying intimacy to exist no matter how the expedition changes their relationship.

Beyond our central protagonists, Portman’s expedition crew is made up of talented actresses including Jennifer Jason Leigh, Gina Rodriguez, and Tessa Thompson. Not only do each of these actresses get their time to give impressive performances, but each of them are also portrayed in fully realized ways. This movie is well written enough to tell us a lot about each of these characters and their motivations without spending too much time on them. And the way each character’s original motivation matches with the story line their character has is thoughtful and well executed.

The third act of this movie is where things become increasingly complex. The scientific philosophy takes over, and the movie works to throw more questions than answers at its audience. It’s not frequent to see a film that truly allows each member of an audience to interpret an ending differently. Smart writing is giving your audience two plus two, so that they can make four. This movie takes it a step further by presenting parts of the equation, and allowing you as an audience member to figure out how it fits together to create an answer. Very few movies pull this off so effortlessly, and this movie expertly executes it.

Overall, this movie shows another strong entry for Alex Garland. The movie is smartly written with strong performances and brilliant visuals. It’s interesting, it’s complex, and it truly allows each audience member to have a unique experience. If you’re in the United States, take advantage of the fact that you can see this movie in theaters. It deserves that kind of treatment.

Rating: 9/10

 

Daredevil Season 1 Review

Daredevil marks Marvel’s attempt to popularize a new kind of superhero show. Unlike shows like Arrow, The Flash, or Agents of SHIELD, which were campier lighthearted shows, Daredevil was originally conceived as tonally similar to The Wire. Original show runner, Drew Goddard, has said he wanted to use Marvel heroes in a grittier world, showcasing violent and every day crime. But was the execution handled properly?

By Goddard, yes. But unfortunately for the show, Goddard didn’t stick around. Goddard served as director for the first two episodes of the show, “Into the Ring” and “Cut Man”. These two episodes, likely the season’s best, introduce us to Daredevil’s Hell’s Kitchen. It’s a crime ridden and drug infested neighborhood, where Daredevil is barely staying alive as he works to save as many people as he can.

Here Goddard introduces us to what this show does best. It sets a serious and somber tone, in which every hit in every action sequence can be viscerally felt by the audience. Where we as an audience know that failure means violent ends for innocent people. It’s hard not to tense up when you hear a knife slice Daredevil’s skin. Every bullet feels dangerous, and the implications of violence are always felt.

Beyond the tone, Daredevil himself serves as an endearing lead. Charlie Cox plays Matthew Murdock, Daredevil’s true identity. Cox’s range is impressive, allowing us to fully understand his guilt, his anger, but also his compassion. The courtroom monologue’s given by Cox in the early episodes are not only thoughtfully well written dialogue, but emotionally charged scenes showcasing the best aspects of who our hero truly is.

The supporting cast is strong, with Deborah Ann Woll’s Karen Page being a noticeable stand out. Unlike countless other romantic interests, Karen doesn’t simply exist to be in love with our protagonist. Instead, while chemistry is clearly there, Karen is given her own motivations and story lines showcasing her impressive investigative abilities.

One of the most discussed members of Daredevil’s cast though, is Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin. Our villain for the season, Kingpin is a rich business mongol named Wilson Fisk. Having hid in the shadows for years, Fisk runs most of the criminal networks throughout New York. But using connections he’s made in government and business, wants to use the sum of his resources to make the city a better place.

While D’Onofrio gives a strong performance, showcasing a dynamic villain with a complex emotional backstory, Wilson Fisk never feels like a fully realized villain. He claims to be using his criminal resources to make the city a better place, but the show never gives us a good idea of what that looks like. Why does he believe selling drugs and human trafficking is the answer to the cities problems? How does blowing up buildings throughout the city lead to its salvation? I don’t know, and the show never really tells us.

Further than that, the story doesn’t resolve in a fully satisfying way. The best part of the medium of television, is being able to use a large number of episodes to create a complex plot that pulls on the story lines from the episodes before it. Yet Daredevil doesn’t take advantage of that. Instead of creating an intricately intertwined story, it plays out more similarly to a video games story. Daredevil beats his way through the mini-bosses, before the took on the main boss. And then the solution to beating Fisk presents its self within our final episode. It’s not something we build towards or spend the season trying to figure out, it’s something we conveniently stumble upon in our final half hour.

It’s not that Daredevil Season 1 is bad, because it’s not. It sets up a new kind of superhero show, more thoughtful in tone than what had came before it. It gives us complex and interesting characters. And watching the characters interact alone is plenty entertaining. But the story that ties together our interesting characters and dynamic tone is lacking. It doesn’t fully know what it wants to do, and doesn’t give you an idea of what would’ve happened if our heroes hadn’t stopped the villain.

As with most shows, direction is important. It’s very likely that after Goddard’s departure, no one had a clear vision of the story they wanted to tell. What we got was perfectly adequate, and complimented a show that was outstanding in many other areas. Moving forward, the show needs to gain an understanding of the story its trying to tell, and then let the pieces fall into place.

Rating: 6.5/10

Best Episodes: ‘Into the Ring’ (Season 1, Episode 1), ‘Cut Man’ (Season 1, Episode 2), ‘Condemned’ (Season 1, Episode 6)