Any thoughts on the Mythic Quest ending/alternate cut (which just gets rid of the kiss and then has another 30 seconds of banter, before ending on Nothing's Going to Stop Us Now rather than Burning Down the House)?
I didn't like much of this season (or of the spin-off), but I'm glad it doesn't end on that awful choice.
I saw the news about the alternate cut, was surprised by it — if only because it's such a rare thing(*) — and then never got around to watching the other version. Anything that pulls us away from the idea of the two of them as a couple is good, at least.
And agreed that this was the weakest season. I've only seen the first Side Quest episode, which was definitely not at the level of some of the departure episodes from earlier seasons.
(*) Winning Time did something similar with s2, when they knew they were on the bubble to return for a third year — and even that was only for critics, who initially got a version of the finale that ended on a sad note, with Magic Johnson sitting in the shower after losing to the Celtics. The audience only ever got the final version, which adds a happier Jerry/Jeannie Buss scene, and then goes into a montage of how the rest of the Showtime Lakers era turned out.
The S2 premiere of The Last of Us killed it! Character building, humor and tension. That’s how you do a sophomore season premiere. Some other shows should take notes (cough, Severance, cough).
I was reading an AVClub article about Noah Wyle saying he has a peer group of actors he gets feedback from, the "Characters Actors Dining Society." I want this group's monthly dinners to become a TV show like Jon Favreau's amazing "Party for Five," it would be so much fun to be a fly on the wall for these.
Yes, very disappointed by this season of Daredevil. The original series had its dark wallows, of course, but I feel like this new incarnation is embracing darkness for its own sake, not for any good story reason.
I had high hopes at the beginning. The fake oner that kicked things off, that whole Bullseye set piece, was fun … until Foggy died and the big middle finger all the new showrunners were flipping us became visible. On top of that, I never understood whether or not we were supposed to buy that Kingpin was buying his own bullshit about running for mayor to protect and save NYC.
I could go on, but Alan already pointed out all the other annoying stuff in the finale. (Though I think Kingpin also ripped Gallo’s forehead open when he tore the poor idiot’s jaw off. I’m sure I saw brain in that scene.) Just a muddled mess that limped to a sad conclusion, despite the fun of seeing Matt and Frank fight dirty cops together again. Can S2 possibly redeem this? I doubt it.
Enjoyed Friends & Neighbors, and the season premiere for Last of Us. I tried Dying for Sex, and it was fine. I don’t think I’m the target audience for that show. The Studio was interesting, but I don’t have a strong urge to keep watching after the first episode, but I may try another because I enjoy all of the actors.
We got to the Last of Us premiere late this week because I couldn’t stand not watching Dark Winds ASAP. This was a particularly good episode of its kind of thing with, of course, Zahn McClarnon being excellent and the parallel narrative of the play so much more effective for its simplicity than if it had been some kind of dark, CGI would-be epic fantasy intercut with the main drama. I did find the 65-year-old Robert Knepper’s brown hair awfully distracting on a priest in, what, the 1920s-1930s.
One note, Alan: I believe the other boy in Leaphorn’s dream/flashback was his cousin and not his brother.
Been catching up on Deli Boys. Very silly at times but funny and well-made. Also started Dying for Sex, which is great (Jenny Slate is the secret sauce) but kind of alot. I need to check out this latest season of Black Mirror before Andor's release schedule takes over my life.
The “army” reveal on Daredevil was so disappointing - I’d have preferred even a silent cameo from Jessica & Luke than seeing a bunch of characters no one cares about.
The Dark Winds episode was good but this season has been a lot of wheel spinning to get there. Also I thought they were going to have enough trouble unwinding one extrajudicial killing and now they've got two.
On Daredevil, I wonder if Tony Dalton appeared at all in the original season. His earlier appearances could easily have been pickups. Tonally, I think I would have preferred the original version but with Karen and Foggy.
Any thoughts on the new Apple releases? I tried watching Your Friends and Neighbors and couldn't get through the first episode. It just felt so obvious, and not a particularly inspired use of Jon Hamm from what I saw.
On the other hand, Government Cheese feels really fun and fresh. I'm excited to keep watching.
I have not yet, but one of my editors has brought it up several times, always with similar framing: "Um, I'm not sure this is very good, but I like it?"
Any thoughts on the Mythic Quest ending/alternate cut (which just gets rid of the kiss and then has another 30 seconds of banter, before ending on Nothing's Going to Stop Us Now rather than Burning Down the House)?
I didn't like much of this season (or of the spin-off), but I'm glad it doesn't end on that awful choice.
I saw the news about the alternate cut, was surprised by it — if only because it's such a rare thing(*) — and then never got around to watching the other version. Anything that pulls us away from the idea of the two of them as a couple is good, at least.
And agreed that this was the weakest season. I've only seen the first Side Quest episode, which was definitely not at the level of some of the departure episodes from earlier seasons.
(*) Winning Time did something similar with s2, when they knew they were on the bubble to return for a third year — and even that was only for critics, who initially got a version of the finale that ended on a sad note, with Magic Johnson sitting in the shower after losing to the Celtics. The audience only ever got the final version, which adds a happier Jerry/Jeannie Buss scene, and then goes into a montage of how the rest of the Showtime Lakers era turned out.
The S2 premiere of The Last of Us killed it! Character building, humor and tension. That’s how you do a sophomore season premiere. Some other shows should take notes (cough, Severance, cough).
I was reading an AVClub article about Noah Wyle saying he has a peer group of actors he gets feedback from, the "Characters Actors Dining Society." I want this group's monthly dinners to become a TV show like Jon Favreau's amazing "Party for Five," it would be so much fun to be a fly on the wall for these.
Read this: https://slate.com/culture/2022/12/character-actor-dining-society-that-guy-kevin-pollak.html
Oh my god that would be amazing to watch!
Has anyone watched Dying For Sex? It’s remarkable!
I have! It is! https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/dying-for-sex-1235306762/
I need it to win so many awards.
Yes, very disappointed by this season of Daredevil. The original series had its dark wallows, of course, but I feel like this new incarnation is embracing darkness for its own sake, not for any good story reason.
I had high hopes at the beginning. The fake oner that kicked things off, that whole Bullseye set piece, was fun … until Foggy died and the big middle finger all the new showrunners were flipping us became visible. On top of that, I never understood whether or not we were supposed to buy that Kingpin was buying his own bullshit about running for mayor to protect and save NYC.
I could go on, but Alan already pointed out all the other annoying stuff in the finale. (Though I think Kingpin also ripped Gallo’s forehead open when he tore the poor idiot’s jaw off. I’m sure I saw brain in that scene.) Just a muddled mess that limped to a sad conclusion, despite the fun of seeing Matt and Frank fight dirty cops together again. Can S2 possibly redeem this? I doubt it.
Enjoyed Friends & Neighbors, and the season premiere for Last of Us. I tried Dying for Sex, and it was fine. I don’t think I’m the target audience for that show. The Studio was interesting, but I don’t have a strong urge to keep watching after the first episode, but I may try another because I enjoy all of the actors.
Alan, thanks for another enjoyable column.
We got to the Last of Us premiere late this week because I couldn’t stand not watching Dark Winds ASAP. This was a particularly good episode of its kind of thing with, of course, Zahn McClarnon being excellent and the parallel narrative of the play so much more effective for its simplicity than if it had been some kind of dark, CGI would-be epic fantasy intercut with the main drama. I did find the 65-year-old Robert Knepper’s brown hair awfully distracting on a priest in, what, the 1920s-1930s.
One note, Alan: I believe the other boy in Leaphorn’s dream/flashback was his cousin and not his brother.
Been catching up on Deli Boys. Very silly at times but funny and well-made. Also started Dying for Sex, which is great (Jenny Slate is the secret sauce) but kind of alot. I need to check out this latest season of Black Mirror before Andor's release schedule takes over my life.
The “army” reveal on Daredevil was so disappointing - I’d have preferred even a silent cameo from Jessica & Luke than seeing a bunch of characters no one cares about.
The Dark Winds episode was good but this season has been a lot of wheel spinning to get there. Also I thought they were going to have enough trouble unwinding one extrajudicial killing and now they've got two.
On Daredevil, I wonder if Tony Dalton appeared at all in the original season. His earlier appearances could easily have been pickups. Tonally, I think I would have preferred the original version but with Karen and Foggy.
Any thoughts on the new Apple releases? I tried watching Your Friends and Neighbors and couldn't get through the first episode. It just felt so obvious, and not a particularly inspired use of Jon Hamm from what I saw.
On the other hand, Government Cheese feels really fun and fresh. I'm excited to keep watching.
I only watched a couple of episodes of each. Neither really clicked for me, despite Hamm being his usual very good self in the former.
Have you watched Mobland? It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s fun and Tom Hardy is great.
I have not yet, but one of my editors has brought it up several times, always with similar framing: "Um, I'm not sure this is very good, but I like it?"
Haha! Yep. It’s perfect if you love a British crime-y, complex-enough show with good acting and a lot of “tea would be great, love.”