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Walker (2021)
Possible Potential
Like many, I am huge Supernatural fan and Sam/Jared was my favorite. I loved the chemistry Jared and Gen had on screen in Supernatural, and of course Jared and Jensen played well off of each other all 15 seasons of their show. I never liked the original Walker: Texas Ranger as I don't particularly like Chuck Norris. So I went into this pilot episode hopeful and excite for Jared's newest tv venture.
The bad: I get there is some history to get through in order to get to and understand the current story. However, it felt rushed and because of that the emotions came across as shallow and fake. I know Jared has more emotional depth in his acting than what the first episode portrayed, so this hollowness was somewhat disappointing to see. IMHO the pilot would have done better to showcase their relationship, the kids, his place as a Ranger, and the working relationships as the bulk of the episode. The climax being her death abd his emotional turmoil as the episode wraps up. THEN get into the rest of the story, new working relationships, home life, etc starting in episode 2 and beyond. It felt like too much was shoved into the pilot sacrificing the much needed believable emotional element. The original Walker with Norris was an action show. By removing the martial arts action badassery all that is left really is the emotional draw from the dramatic story line. Sadly, the pilot failed to make that connection with its viewers.
Secondly, while I understand the need for social awareness, it should not be the dominent element at the sacrifice of good acting and that much needed emotional connection. "Wokeness" often takes away from the story, rather than adding to it if not approached appropriately. The idea is to get people to think, not alienate them. What ever side of the issue is in question, start in the middle and let the story, the emotional connection with the characters slowly pull the audience where you want to take them. Don't bludgeon them right off the bat. It is a juggling act to be able to highlight social issues enough to get people thinking and not push it so hard that you alienate viewers. Even the most socially aware and progressive viewers still want a good story, angst, drama. You want evil that you love to hate so you can rejoice when it is finally overcome. This is why characters like Crowley for instance are so loved. Sunshine and roses and life through rainbow glasses is boring and unrealistic. If you want social awareness, you need to build on social injustices slowly, not ramrod them through.
The Good: It is great to see Jared and Gen on screen together again. It's great to have an emotional cop drama instead of relying on all action and badassery. The cast is top notch. Some of the personalities being developed are fantastic. I love mom and dad. True southern parents! Walker's partner and her boyfriend are hysterical together and definitely relationship goals! She is a spitfire and I can't wait to see what the show has in store for her. And I think if the show and actors can settle into a decent comfortable pace without rushing everything, Walker in its entirety has great potential.
The takeaway: Lack of believable emotional connection aside, I still feel this show has potential. Issues such as women and minorities in law enforcement, our broken immigration system, broken homes, teenage troubles, family values, the good and bad of law enforcement, etc.. are all issues that need to be addressed. But not all at once. Take them one episode at a time, or even space each out over multiple episodes or the entire season. Each 1 hour slot does not need to be wrapped up neatly with a bow at the end.
Jared does have the emotional chops to pull this off. He has the physical skill. He has the looks. Those saying this is better suited to Jensen I have to disagree. Jensen is talented yes. I like him in the role of action and comedy. Jared pulls off the thoughtful, emotional aspects far better, always has. While this show has action, it is not an action show. It is a family and cop drama.
Pilot episodes are often iffy. Most shows improve dramatically after the pilot and throughout the first season. This is my hope, because I really want to like this new Walker. So, with all this in mind, I will continue to watch the first season and hope for improvements and things to settle into place. As big of a Supernatural fan as I am, and as many others are, even their pilot episode was less than stellar.
Hide (2008)
Low Budget Film with Excellent Writing (Plot twist explained)
As much as I love Christian Kane I was skeptical about watching "Hide" after reading some of the reviews. I'm glad I threw off my doubts and watched anyway. I will admit the beginning is a little slow. But make the effort to pay attention to some of the details, it'll pay off in the end. And if you stick it out past the first 5-10 minutes, like me, you should find yourself engrossed in the unfolding story and wondering how it is all going to end. Will they go out in a blaze of glory? Will they make to freedom? Or is there something else in store. The scenery in some parts is truly breathtaking. And a lot of the dialog makes one stop to contemplate the realities of life - good and evil. That is not to say the film isn't without faults, but the overall takeaway was this is a low-budget film with excellent acting and plot to make you stop and think.
Hide is a dark psychological thriller with obvious throwbacks to Bonnie and Clyde, Natural Born Killers, and earlier Tarantino, as has been pointed out by many other reviews. The main character, Billy, is played by actor/country music artist Christian Kane. Honestly, I feel it showcases his acting quite well. Throughout the film, we get to see different sides of Billy. At one point I wondered was he suffering from D.I.D. or perhaps Bi-polar, in addition to the obvious sociopathic and psychopathic traits of a serial killer. CK is able to manifest these traits subtly enough to make them feel believable. Far too often low budget and even high budget Hollywood films portray these traits as over the top and exaggerated. The only thing exaggerated in Hide is perhaps the accents, particularly Rachel Miner's (Betty). If I had one complaint about the whole film it would be her accent and the incessant use of "Baby".
Between the hidden tips to the plot/twist, and the time jumps between present day, recent past, and distant past of Billy's life, this is a film you must pay attention to. As a psychological thriller, it is written to make the viewer stop and think.
( MAJOR SPOILER ALERT STARTING NOW )
You may think you know, but it really isn't what it appears. Those that have watched the TV show "Lucifer" will most likely understand the plot twist right away. Hide was produced before Lucifer, however, Lucifer was based on an old DC comic, which was based on a graphic novel by Neil Gaiman. Point being, the concept for the twist has been around.
If you still don't understand the ending here's a summary: Seven years earlier, the opening scene in the diner, Betty died in the shootout. Billy was sent to prison. Seven years later he was being transferred when the prison van was struck by another vehicle. This is when Billy dies. Everything past this point, the entire rest of the movie, is Billy's time in "Hell" living his life and death over and over. His torture is doing horrible things to those he loves unable to stop himself. Throughout the movie, Billy says things that will give you hints to understanding the plot twist. He even has a conversation with a dog, hound of hell, about the need for chains in order to keep the evil inside under control. You have to understand that he is dead and in hell to understand the ending. The ending is not another flashback, but a reset on his life to live over again, and again, and again. The Hell is of his own design, his own guilt and psychological torture based on the way he lived his life.
Another Life (2019)
Much better than expected
I actually enjoy Another Life far more than Stranger Things. Both are good, but AL just seems to flow better for me. Both the actors and their characters are far more developed and well played.
There have been several Netflix original shows that I couldn't even make it through one single episode. Another Life is NOT one of them. It is one of Netflix better written series. A modern take on a cross between Star Trek and Close Encounters.
In the past scifi fans have gotten attached to short-lived shows. Perhaps because of low budgets making the special effects needed for space type shows less realistic? Andromeda. Farscape. And others all great shows, if a bit campy or b-rated due to budget constraints. But that limitation doesn't take away from the overall enjoyability of the show. Please Netflix, you have a fan base here hoping for a season 2!