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RubyRed33
I'd rather be riding my motorcycle, but if I can't then let's watch sci-fi.
I want my own TARDIS. Yes, I'm serious.
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Painkiller (2023)
Just Watch It: A tragic reality that needs to be told over and over
Painkiller takes on a tragic reality, while still managing to show a lot of respect for the ultimate victims: the Addicts and their loved ones.
No, I did NOT watched Dopesick first. And I honestly don't think that matters! We need to see this TRUE story told and re-told, again and again and again, from as many perspectives as possible. Because our Healthcare System & the way we treat Addiction in the USA is still SO deeply flawed. The lack of real oversight for Big Pharma is also still a major issue.
Back to THIS specific series:
There is no reason to compare it to Dopesick. It's not trying to be anything other than what it is. I hope everyone goes out of their way to watch BOTH series! And I hope some Hollywood exec decides to take on this heartbreaking TRUE story, and turn it into a film, too.
Every production is going to have its issues, especially when dealing with such a sensitive topic. But Painkiller nailed it with the Moral Cringe factor. They also managed to get the look and feel of the time period. Watching the Sackler family name get dragged through the mud, by yet another major series (with a star studded cast) is a BIG bonus!
High praise for Uzo Aduba, West Duchovny and Matthew Broderick as just a few of the real standouts in this well-cast docudrama.
Whether you've watched Dopesick or not, you should watch Painkiller, too. Why? Because it's well-written and the Opioid Crisis is STILL happening. Painkiller shines yet another bright light on a subject that needs to be lit up.
Alex Borstein: Corsets & Clown Suits (2023)
Perception and other P words!
I did not expect to love this show immediately, but I did. I did not expect to LOL in the first 5 minutes, but I did. I did not expect to relate to so much of what she said, but I did.
Some of us only know Alex Borstein as Susie Myerson, from Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Some of us have seen her other works on shows ranging from Mad TV to Family Guy and so much more. This wasn't any of that.
Her ability to keep it funny, but still be vulnerable & real with her audience, and still make us laugh SO hard was an absolute breath of fresh air. She was not recycling characters I've ever seen her play before, either. She was unapologetically herself. Right down to reminding women of the Inalienable Rights we are losing, listing the various ways to take care of our bodies ("no forced air, don't douche, keep the jewelry", etc.) while covering a range of topics. Some are serious (like divorce) and some are seriously funny (coming out of a 20 yr marriage is akin to waking up from a coma). Gotta love this woman. She's got more raw honesty, humor, and cojones than most of the male comics I've seen on the touring circuit!
It was refreshing to watch her inhabit her own skin. No characters. To hear her address her parents, who were both in the audience. And to see an ASL Interpreter on stage for the entire performance. Thanks for that inclusivity from this HoH human. Cheers to this new chapter of your life, Alex. You are fabulous! We'll keep watching you!
Mom (2013)
Better Than Expected Without Christy!!
I honestly doubted the possibility of keeping this series alive and well without Christy (Anna Farris) and her relationship to her mom, Bonnie. Afterall, they were the centerpiece of this show. Boy was I wrong! In fact, I had not realized just how much the Christy character had become a whiny Trope that was souring the episodes of her last few seasons.
Without her "sad lil me" faces (that were starting to gear towards pathetic) the other characters have finally gotten the additional screen time they deserve. Don't get me wrong, I love Anna Farris. However, she let her character become a big cliche.
Watching the storylines broaden and the other character identities deepen has been so much more satisfying! I especially like the way the writers' have taken on more "Dramedy" styling than ever before. The realism in some scenes makes this Recovering Addict (20+ years clean) a bit misty at times. Worth it Now!
Now, if the writers would just stop depicting Adam & Bonnie's Marriage in janky stereotypes, this show could be truly amazing. Tropes like "Fear Thy Wife" and such just reinforce the bad crap. Real marriage doesn't really look like that. Start bringing more realness into all aspects, not just the addiction side, and they just might be able to keep the show on the air for another 4-5 seasons! Congrats to the producers for losing the dead weight (sorry, Anna). I truly look forward to watching Mom again.
Star Trek: Discovery (2017)
Get Over It and Step Into the Characters' Reality.
I've seen SO many negative reviews posted lately, mainly on specific episodes, but also on this summary page. Most of them complain about all the "Whisper Talking" or "stop the crying!!" that we've seen in the most recent season of Discovery. The complaints run from "It isn't Star Trek anymore!" to "the writers have dishonored everything that Trek ever stood for!!" to... I could go on, ad nauseum. But here's my two cents instead:
How can any of us KNOW they've "ruined it" when this 3rd season takes the show (and the entirety of the franchise) into totally new territory? The characters we've become so invested in from past series are long since dead and gone in this time-line. Their eras are over and their stories were told. The Discovery crew are now in a future that NONE have ever seen before now. So how is that ruining Star Trek? Because it doesn't look like what you imagined? Isn't that antithetical to exploring "the final frontier"?
It seems like the most vocal critics are simply hanging on to an old Star Trek aesthetic, based on what they think it should look & behave like, which really is a betrayal of Trek in itself. It's misguided, especially when Discovery just literally jumped into a shaky, post-apocalyptic future. One where the United Federation of Planets is now a small-ish band of allies, reduced to hiding in cloaked corners of the galaxy, while trying to rebuild what was lost. How is that NOT a cause for displays of emotion, including
frustration and some tears? How could that not be a PTSD-inducing experience for the crew of USS Discovery? So take a beat and try to imagine what that might feel like for these characters. Especially for Michael, given the fact that she arrived at least one year before the ship did and she had no idea if she'd ever see any of those people again. She's now lived over a year without her crew mate family, steeped in the dangers, corruption & violence that filled the vacuum left after the destruction of almost every Federation ship. The cataclysmic event occurred approximately two centuries before Michael Burnham arrived on Hima. "The Burn", which does sound just a little too synonymous (with her name) or maybe just too alliterative, was a BIG deal. Showing up alone in a future all by yourself is a BIG deal. Wouldn't you be emotional upon learning the Universe wasn't the barren wasteland as feared?
Personally, I found Season One to be a little too strident and Trek-ish at times. I wondered if it might go the way of ST: Enterprise, a show that really got the short end of the stick, imho. Enterprise was canceled before it could truly finish evolving into what it was meant to be: the tale of the birth of the Federation itself or a Creation Myth that wasn't a myth. But let's move forward and back to THIS series...
Season One of Discovery also had some good, old-fashioned Trekkie Romps into the Mirror Universe and its share of duplicitous characters & plot twists. The freshness of it was in the set design (fresh!) and the telling, which had just a little more grit. Season Two started to shift things into a new (yet old) direction, with the introduction of a younger Spock as Burnham's adoptive brother (a role that was excellently cast) and the subsequent unraveling of the Mystery of the Red Angel and the Signals. That eventually culminated in the crew figuring out how to save EVERYONE from the Extinction Event that would become Control... IF it gained access to the Sphere Data on board Discovery. I will note that I started to see more interesting growth, especially in the latter half of Season Two, which came in the form of acknowledging REAL and even more raw emotions like LOVE. LOSS. ALL the Feels. Some of those crisp, polished edges of the prototypical Trek characters began to burnish off in a very good way. The writers even found creative ways to touch on topics like familial & marital strife, Mental Health and the trauma of grief and death. We've never really seen the Star Trek 'Verse go quite this deep into the messiness of life. I am finding it to be refreshing.
Yes, Star Trek has always been known as this most Utopian universe, where humanity is its very best selves living its very best lives. A universe where things are the way Gene Roddenberry said they are. Where no one talks about bodily functions outside of a med Bay. Do they even pee? Where no one swears (much). And everyone is always pretty, perfectly groomed, trained and brilliant. Yes, the Discovery series itself is, and has unapologetically been from the start, a very Michael Burnham-centric show. Just like TNG often was, and exactly how Star Trek: Picard is a very Jean Luc-centric series. What did you expect from Discovery? Have you heard the saying that "expectations can kill" just about anything? I chose to have none when the series was announced and I've been quite satisfied with most (not all) of the results. Including the path of Season Three, thus far.
So Discovery brought us almost 1000 years into their future. Burnham and her crew mates left everything they knew behind. They all made tough sacrifices and we are seeing the results of that up close & dirty, as they are living it. Despite what most say, it's not ALL about Burnham. One example that jumps out at me is from episode 305, when Commander Nhan reconnects to her Barzan heritage and chooses a new path away from Discovery in a touching, mostly unceremonious exit. She was there to honor Airiam and now it's time for her to ramble on with the Tikhov. We're also seeing it in the latest storyline of the Terran Philippa Georgiou, and as we watch Saru grow into his role as Captain. We are seeing all of the wonderment from the bridge crew as they try out the tech advances in this new millennium, which lets us into those characters just a little more each time. I adore Linus who was such a silent background character before now. And I truly love the sometimes unsure, imperfect perfect genius of Ensign Tilly AND the lack of body shaming since she's not a Size 0 human. I also really enjoy the snarky, new not-a-friendship between Stamets and Jett Reno. It's refreshing to see some guts, mess and to find a little comedic relief in unexpected places. Especially since this is an actively growing and evolving tale going places that Star Trek has never been before.
Much like a baby learning to explore new skills, this series is finding its footing as it goes. Sometimes it might stumble, but from here on out it's ALL fresh territory that can only expand and enrich the Star Trek universe as a whole. The fans don't get to dictate exactly what that looks like. We can put our opinions out here to share, but let's just hope that doesn't get Discovery canceled for kvetching too loudly! Shouldn't we all show some gratitude for new content during a global pandemic and remember that there are going to be growing pains? Every Star Trek series and film has had to deal with growing pains, to some extent.
Personally, I'm intrigued with the way its being scripted and portrayed. Maybe they don't need to shout "Dammit, Jim!" in this future? Maybe things are whispered while there are secrets to protect. Or maybe the writers and directors just watched too much Schitt's Creek and got hooked on the way David Rose whisper speaks almost everything he says? (snark)
Yes, some of the Third Season material may be a tad too Michael Burnham specific. Everyday can't be Michael Saves The Universe. Considering that she was raised on Vulcan, where supressing emotions in favor of logic was the standard... Or recalling how she struggled with her failings (the death of Prime Philippa Georgiou) at the Battle of the Binary Stars, her struggle to find her place in Starfleet after losing her rank, and the pain of losing her biological mother (again), maybe she has a right to let it all hang out. She has a self-admitted Messianic complex which just needs time to unravel and that might come with some snot and tissues. Emotions are messy. They aren't bad. Repressing them made her too uptight for my tastes. I'm actually starting to like her character more now. Tell me I'm wrong and I honestly won't deny I might be. It is what it is and we get to watch. Period.
The time jump has had an intense impact on the crew characters. Period. We are going to have to watch that play out. Period. And it is not something that an hour with a Betazoid Counselor or a meal with a Talaxian Chef can resolve in a neat package. This isn't TNG or Voyager.
This isn't your parents' Enterprise, either.
This is unchartered territory, too but I'm loving the ride. Live long and prosper, Discovery.
I'm a fan.
Period.
Psych (2006)
Started out as a truly fun, campy nod but it lost Its way...hard.
After recently re-watching this entire series from beginning to end, I now understand (quite clearly) why I went from loving Psych to darn-near loathing it by the middle of Season 7...probably sooner. It's always an honest shame when show runners and producers don't choose to go out on a high note. This show could've (should've) wrapped itself up in a nice little bow around season 5 or 6-ish.
Yes, I get that the creators were making sure they'd played out their own take on every murder, mystery & mayhem storyline, every character cliche, and riff on as many legal procedurals as possible, all while doing it as obviously as possible just for the fun of it. That was, after all, part of the show's initial charm, was it not? Including all the pineapple-y, tangy, sweet goodness. But every schtick can and will get old, especially when it's been recycled a few dozen times over before being recycled yet again, on purpose. Still, the first few seasons replayed well enough that Psych easily hooked me back in for some primo binge-watching fun.
With its cheesy, cute Airplane! meets-every-cop-show-ever-written vibe, the childhood Besties angle that allowed for all the well-placed references to so much awesome 80's music, TV and movies... and the many quality guest stars, who were actually in all that awesome 80's stuff? Well, you'd think the show could've gone on even longer. But alas, everything has an expiration date. Except maybe Twinkies. And Psych blew right through its own expire date and started getting really stinky, especially the second time around. This happened for two major reasons: James Roday and Dulé Hill.
I have to give James Roday most of the credit, for playing his character past the point of "annoying man-child" and veering right off into "entitled, over-indulged, truly obnoxious white male" territory. He became really difficult to watch, without wanting to punch something, like his smug Zoolander duck face (at times). Plus, the way Shawn says "sweetheart" to Juliet became downright nauseating. Dulé Hill was less-annoying in the end. But he should really step back and take a hard look at how he contributed to some Black actor stereotypes that still exist to this day. Enough said.
Shawn's and Gus' characters went from being lovably entertaining, albeit a bit too man-childish at times, to becoming... well, really freaking annoying at others. You can only listen to their squealy, girly screams (apologies to all the girls out there) and watch their outlandish gesticulating so many times before the cute buzz totally wears off. Midway into season 7, that urge to punch Shawn Spencer's smug face reached a real crescendo. Luckily, it faded a bit going into season 8.
I'd really love to say that Psych holds up well and has earned a rightful place as a cult classic, but I just can't quite give it that nod. It borrows too much from the real cult classics to get a firm vote from me. Maybe someday, I'll try watching it again. Third time's the charm? Maybe not.
I'm just glad to know that I can go back and binge-watch the first few seasons of Psych and I'll know exactly where to stop. Then I can binge-watch every 80s movie, like "Ferris Bueller's Day Off", to rinse the image of Roday's Zoolander duck face out of my brain! No offense, folks. It just evokes that strong a response. Psych? Not.
Doctor Who (2005)
The Little Big TARDIS That Could...
Every series has its up's and downs, and this reboot of the original Doctor Who series is no exception. Every time we get a new Doctor (and showrunner) I think: Nope, I can't do it...not again! Because we all have that one Doctor that becomes "My Doctor". I grew up watching the original series and there are a few standouts, but the reboot brought us things like better sets, cooler tech & bonus features, like the CGI that really brings The Doctor's stories to life in ways it could only dream of back in the 60's and 70's, or even the 80's. The reboot also gave us some new faces which is a large part of what keeps the show fresh after 50 years.
When Doctor Who was revamped in 2005, I gave Christopher Eccleston a pass for jumpstarting something that had been dormant awhile. Also for giving the role a proper go, for letting some of the character's sadness show, and for realizing he wasn't really meant for a long haul on the show. Props, man. He gave it a good restart and introduced us all to Rose. That season stands alone well even now.
When Russell T. Davies chose to cast David Tennant next, it was absolutely fabulous! The man was just born to play The Doctor. He was almost always brilliant - even in "filler" episodes and he had a snarky wit mixed with a bit of mystery, deflection, loads of intelligence and just a touch of too much arrogance. It worked. Almost too well, because I honestly thought there wasn't ANYONE who could ever carry his Sonic Screwdriver again... but I was thrilled to find out I was wrong.
Matt Smith rushed in like a fresh breeze through an open door and whoosh! Off we went, along on his adventures feeling like we really were part of his journey. There was something very intimate, almost naive and boyish about the way Smith embodied the character. Steven Moffat and crew did some of the most amazing writing during this era. Moffat brought in quite a few incredibly talented directors along the way, as well. Smith's Doctor really grew on me fast. The fact that his Doctor had more interactions with River Song just made me love him all the more and when it was time for the "Raggedy Man" to go, he went. In style and flair, taking a lot of our hearts with him.
Yet... when Peter Capaldi's Doctor arrived, with his confused darker humour, his brooding moods, the long black coats that made him look like a Ring Master at a Cirque show, and that shiny ring on his hand? I was won over almost instantly. It really didn't take that long. He brought a kind of melancholy, curiosity, occasional animosity, and a darkness that still let in some light. He managed to combine the drama with just enough humor, while adding an extra layer of depth to The Doctor's origin story, too. Capaldi managed to fill the very big shoes left behind and I will say I was sad to see him exit the TARDIS, too. Can you have more than one My Doctor? I think I do.
So! I was ever so excited when I heard Chris Chibnall would be the new showrunner. I was also very, very happy to finally get a female Time Lord - or is it Time Lady? Does it even matter? No. It really was time to either make The Doctor a proper Ginger, a Person of Color, or a Woman, or some combination of all three. We all knew it was coming. So, when Jodie Whitaker was announced, I was chuffed! Her version of The Doctor has so many marvelous qualities and layers that include her weird meta-retro outfits, her colorful scarf, her Sonic Spoons, and her motley crew of Companions. I really do love her "Fam", as she calls them, although I think those 3 actors/characters still have some bonding to do. Can't say I love them as much as I did Rory, Amy and River together- the episodes with that Fam were some of the very best. I have needed a little extra time to bond with this Time Lord, and now I think I know why. Her rapid-fire, animated delivery of facts really does remind me so much of the 10th Doctor. Her pensive moments and wide-eyed expressions summon up shades of the 12th and 11th Doctors, respectively. Some of her expressions and pauses bring up the 9th Doctor. So, it makes a lot of sense that she portrays the character in that way, because The Doctor IS an amalgam of all the memories of each and every incarnation that came before. Even The War Doctor, which is where I think some of the more politically-minded story lines stem from. Art does, after all imitate life. My only complaint with Jodie Whittaker's performance thus far? Her choice of accent. Seriously.
I know when asked, Tennant admitted he purposely chose to use his "Casanova" accent because he felt it just fit, and now I can understand why. Some of the dialogue might've been next to impossible to follow, let alone speak out loud, without some of that proper Brit enunciation. Although the other actors went with their native brogues, they typically had a calmer vibe or a different demeanor or, at least, a slightly slower delivery. Except for Matt Smith in some of the episodes where he seemed like he'd had 10 cups of coffee while the universe was blowing up around him. Ms. Whitaker's depiction of The Doctor really does manage to bring out hints of the very best of every Doctor that came before her. The only failing, imho, was choosing to forego an actual character accent. I think a lot of the people who are having trouble relating to her version of The Doctor are really just having trouble connecting with the way she sounds. I look at some of her other work as an actress, then imagine the lines in THAT voice. Bam! Problem solved. The Doctor would sound far less "preachy" and far more evolved. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe she's setting a messy tone because this is, after all, the first time the Time Lord has been a lady. Maybe The Doctor is just getting a feel for the feminine side of things? There are moments where I forget she is a "she" and she just becomes The Doctor, but those often come in her slower instances, when her speech is less rushed, or the scene is more serious. I hope the writers continue to give Ms. Whitaker better and better material to work with and I hope the next season expands her range as the character grows. I do hope the show continues for many more seasons, because some things just shouldn't die. They just continue to evolve with each new incarnation. I don't know if the 50th Anniversary special can ever be topped? But I hope someone tries. Hint: bring Neil Gaiman back to write a few more episodes or, better yet? Make Gaiman the next showrunner! I do hope we see another female commanding the TARDIS again some day. In the meantime, I will keep watching every episode and every special because I am a dedicated fan. And I'll keep on holding out just a little bit of hope that The Doctor finally gets to be... a Ginger.
(8.5 out of 10)
Travelers (2016)
Superb New Series You'll Want To Keep Watching
This is a unique show, different from other time travel scenarios, in the way it is written, acted, and how well it's produced. I'd actually call it THE new break-out series to watch for 2016. It's nice to know there are still true Creatives working in the industry who can produce a gripping, interesting program without the benefit of a huge budget or glossing every other scene over in tons of fancy CGI.
I wouldn't mind just a bit more in the special effects arena, but there is a Realness to the plot/episodes that manages to transcend the lack of technical effects, which let's the viewer's imagination do some of the best work. That may be the singular quality that makes it so phenomenal to watch! I also think that as this sci-fi series grows its following, Travelers could be a lot like other Cult Favorites that were lower budget but grew up --just enough-- to start incorporating a few more well-placed, topically-consistent special effects (think Lost Girl, Fringe, DW, Orphan Black, etc).
The plot is well-premised, based on a peek at a frightening future that is almost too easy for viewers to conjure up on their own. Travelers may be firmly anchored in Here and Now, but the Future and Past are folded into the Present with excellent story lines and smooth, logical character development. This yields amazingly restrained but thoughtful performances from the actors, including the ever-talented Eric McCormack (in, what may very well be, the best role of his career). The episodes are so subtle yet intense that each one will grab you by the brain and you won't want to stop watching. I've re-watched the pilot episode a few times now, and it still hasn't gotten old. Like a very good book, each new pass yields a little more for the imagination to chew on.
I highly recommend this gem of a show and truly hope Travelers gets picked up for a long, healthy run. Fingers crossed!