Category Archives: Television Reviews

Space Force (2020) Season One Review

Space Force, the new comedy series from Steve Carrell and Greg Daniels, is the second television show with inaugural seasons in 2020 to feature a fictionalized space program run by professionals whose expertise range from semi-competent to entirely incompetent. The Armando Iannucci-created Avenue 5 deals in, with a farcical flavor, the struggle to maintain civil stability when people are essentially stripped of civil society and placed in an insulated environment.

Space Force, on the other hand, is about a fictionalized version of America’s Space Force (the President wants “boots on the moon”). Newly promoted four-star General Mark Naird (Carrell) is appointed to head Space Force, and he soon learns Continue reading Space Force (2020) Season One Review

Black Mirror – Season Five (2019) TV Review

Note: Spoilers for Black Mirror ahead.

With Black Mirror season five dropping on Netflix, the internet is adequately abuzz. Following the hit-or-miss experience of Bandersnatch, the new slate of Black Mirror episodes is understandably thin. With only three episodes to feast on, the binge-worthiness of season five is questionable.

But the real question is: how do these three episodes compare to the pantheon of Black Mirror episodes? Do they hold up as engaging, compelling mini-movies, or are they a disappointing lot?

 

Striking Vipers

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In college, Danny (Anthony Mackie) and Karl (Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) bonded over video games. After a night of drinking, they Continue reading Black Mirror – Season Five (2019) TV Review

The Twilight Zone – “The Comedian” (2019) TV Review

The first episode of the much anticipated reboot of The Twilight Zone, executive produced and narrated by Jordan Peele, is freely available to watch online. Future episodes are solely available on CBS All Access.

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Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone was undoubtedly influential. Unfortunately, that Continue reading The Twilight Zone – “The Comedian” (2019) TV Review

Russian Doll Season One (2019) TV Review

Nadia Vulvokov (Natasha Lyonne)—it’s like “Volvo,” but “with more letters and dyslexic”—wants little to do with her own birthday party. With a sigh, she exits her friend Maxine’s (Greta Lee) bathroom and enters the party. She does not mingle with her guests or accept any attention. She just smokes a joint with Maxine and picks up some schlubby academic type named Mike (Jeremy Bobb) for a one-night stand.

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Later that night, she gets struck by a car and promptly dies. But the show’s not over there, for Nadia finds herself Continue reading Russian Doll Season One (2019) TV Review

Black Mirror Season 4 (2017) TV Review

Season four of Netflix’s Black Mirror takes on fanboys, helicopter parents, vehicular manslaughter, and the like. Does it hold up to the high standard set by previous seasons?

 

USS Callister

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The jam-packed 75-minute season opener, “USS Callister,” immediately immerses us into the world of the episode. Infinity is an online multiplayer game designed by Robert Daly (Jesse Plemons), but he kept his initial prototype offline: a modded, Star Trek-style world in which Daly is Continue reading Black Mirror Season 4 (2017) TV Review

Black Mirror: The National Anthem (2011) Television Review

The Princess (Lydia Wilson) has been kidnapped. Held for ransom. For Prime Minister Michael Callow (Rory Kinnear), the only way to save her: have “full unsimulated sexual intercourse with a pig” on live television.

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Thus is our introduction to the callous, cruel universe of Black Mirror, the anthology drama series that takes aim at

Continue reading Black Mirror: The National Anthem (2011) Television Review

House of Cards Season Five Finale Recap & Review

So…Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) planned it all. From the beginning. Orchestrating his own downfall so that he can control it. A controlled burn.

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If it seems ludicrous and farfetched, that’s because it is. It doesn’t hold up to scrutiny and makes the show look like Continue reading House of Cards Season Five Finale Recap & Review

House of Cards Season Five Episode Twelve Recap & Review

Secretary of State Catherine Durant (Jayne Atkinson), against President Frank Underwood’s (Kevin Spacey) wishes, has decided to testify to the house judiciary committee. That is, if she wakes up after being pushed down the stairs by Frank.

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In the public eye, Frank is business as usual, working to broker peace in the Middle East in spite of his impeachment scandal. Behind the scenes, though, he is Continue reading House of Cards Season Five Episode Twelve Recap & Review

House of Cards Season Five Episode Eleven Recap & Review

Ah, impeachment. It has been a long time coming, but the word is finally starting to be tossed around the House of Cards universe following testimony from former President Garrett Walker (Michel Gill).

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The talk of impeachment causes division in the Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) administration. Claire Underwood (Robin Wright) and Mark Usher (Campbell Scott) would like Frank to Continue reading House of Cards Season Five Episode Eleven Recap & Review

House of Cards Season Five Episode Ten Recap & Review

The Underwood administration is in the middle of handling the congressional investigation on them. At the center of this investigation is Alex Romero (James Martinez), who has been working behind the scenes to leverage his political position over the course of the season. Now, he might have his shot.

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Meanwhile, Aidan Macallan (Damian Young) remains a problem for the administration and Leann Harvey (Neve Campbell). Namely, it is a situation that is almost certain to culminate in Continue reading House of Cards Season Five Episode Ten Recap & Review