jsbachglory Reviews

The Punisher (2017–2019)

From mediocre to worse

[4/10 · 6 March 2023]

Season One of The Punisher does reasonably well, presently a mildly interesting scenario featuring a somewhat dark but compelling main character. It gets into trouble by straying too often into the realm of gore, to the point where it seems the writers just wanted to gross the audience out rather than satisfy The Punisher's rather straightforward sense of justice.

Season Two starts to sputter rather quickly before taking the series into a nose dive. It consists of a paper thin plot, which may be fine if it wasn't also surprisingly light on action. Doesn't help that the main actress of the show who plays the DHS agent delivers most of her lines like she was a ventriloquist, or that the main villain not only looks like Jim Carrey's stunt double but acts about as well as him too.

Perhaps it's better that they didn't green light the series for a Season Three, as it helped spare further ruination of a potentially great character.

Better Call Saul (2015–2022)

Doesn't really work

[4/10 · 22 December 2022]

Better Call Saul is an encore for fans of Breaking Bad. They did a fairly decent job of grafting it into that series, peppering it with subtle connections and maintaining the same feel, while still carving out its own place. Problem is they took a supporting role whose strength was in being a caricature, and tried to turn him into more of a dramatic lead, throwing him into scenarios that simply aren't all that interesting. Doesn't help that the actor playing him has about as much acting range as an old fruit salad made of just apples. Much of the cast that also appeared in Breaking Bad are also noticeably older, which doesn't work out for a series that is supposed to predate that former show. Fans of Breaking Bad will probably like this show, in truth it's just a reminder that encores aren't always very good.

1883 (2021–2022)

Awful

[2/10 · 9 October 2022]

1883 unravels pretty quickly due to its inconsistency of character and awkward dialogue. It tries hard, I'll give it that, but its attempts at authenticity are undermined by the writers' obvious lack of understanding of human nature and motivation. Doesn't help that said writers were also fairly lazy in their aim at a period piece. What we get in the end are all the flaws of its predecessor, Yellowstone, only made worse by being thrown back into the 19th century with little more than some nice costumes and some dirt on the faces to show for it. Also like Yellowstone, it feels like an opportunity missed.

True Detective (2014– )

I tried I really did

[3/10 · 18 September 2022]

Season One of True Detective has all the makings of an intense detective show, filled with impactful and memorable moments, only to shoot itself in the foot and veer off into sappy soap opera territory. And of course being HBO you get the obligatory soft pornography thrown in there to boot, because what better way to advance a story than to add a healthy dose of soft pornography. Doesn't help either that the actors can't really act, and that there are glaring inconsistencies in character. The glimpses of powerful elements you do get to see just end up being neglected, and in the end it all feels like a fairly big opportunity wasted.

Ted Lasso (2020–2023)

Really really awful

[1/10 · 18 September 2022]

If you would happen to mistake Ted Lasso for a commercial for chewing gum, then I would forgive you, because the resemblance between the two is striking. The jokes in the show aren't funny. The writing is even worse. That this show received honors at the Emmy Awards is really only a testament to just how bad television has become: Tech companies throwing money into production in the race to try to win over streamers who cut their cable television and can't quite kick the habit. This particular media format is dying an ugly death, and shows like this are just the nails in the coffin. Maybe something will come along and revive it, but at the rate we're going I wouldn't count on it.

Severance (2022– )

Garbage

[1/10 · 18 September 2022]

Severance feels like a long and boring rip off of a bad and never aired episode of the Twilight Zone. It spends way too much time going nowhere fast, and does so with annoying and condescending attempts at humor in places that mainly feel like filler, as in how can we stretch this out to fulfill the number of episodes we agreed to in the contract. The end result is about as enthralling as having a root canal done. It makes me sad that people consume fodder like this, and it almost makes me weep that there are people out there that are so shallow and empty as to actually heap praise on it. Once again, Apple pours money into an absolute dud.

The Rehearsal (2022– )

Exceedingly dumb show that adds nothing of value to society

[1/10 · 8 September 2022]

The Rehearsal epitomizes just how lost and empty the Western world has become. The creator tries to be funny, he isn't. He pretends to be profound, but is instead just an arrogant jerk. That there are people out there lapping up this garbage while society accelerates into decay is just pathetic.

It is said that weak men create hard times, and the people behind this show are so weak that I just feel sorry for them. In their arrogance I doubt they would care, but some day they will have to face up what they have done, and only then will it be clear to them just how useless their fodder filled life was or has been. When that inevitable revelation comes remains to be seen, but for their sake I hope it's sooner rather than later.

Barry (2018–2023)

A review through Season 3

[6/10 · 5 September 2022]

Season 3 of Barry sees the show lose most of the momentum it built up in the first two seasons. Gone is the dramatic struggle of the main character, gone are the wild and tightly written scenarios, and gone is the dark humor that accompanied those two compelling aspects.

Season 3 isn't a complete dud, but it just feels like a shell of its former self, to the point where any subsequent seasons will have trouble saving it as a whole.

At the time of this writing it looks like there will be a Season 4 to perhaps wrap things up, but at this point the main draw to watch it is merely for completion's sake.

Joker (I) (2019)

Origins

[8/10 · 24 July 2022]

The way Joker unfolds is very well done, and worth watching for that reason alone. It's also very dark and gruesome, to the point where it almost feels out of place when compared to the rest of the Batman story, because as you tread along side by side with the main character during his transformation into Joker the mood that comes across is one of sheer psychopathy not villainy. It still works for the most part, in spite of it missing that tangible link to what Joker becomes later on. At the time of this writing, looks like a sequel is on the way to bridge that gap. This first chapter provides a rather chilling beginning.

The Terminal List (2022– )

If Rambo, Jacob's Ladder, and John Wick had a baby

[6/10 · 6 July 2022]

The Terminal List manages to avoid clichés, but at the same time it all feels rather familiar. The scenes don't feel particularly engaging, at times when they probably should, yet the overarching story manages to drag you through to the end. If you're not expecting the world, this show will likely suffice, and maybe even entertain at times. There is some decent action, and it never really lands in any pitfalls, it just doesn't really stand out either.

Outer Range (2022– )

Not Good

[1/10 · 24 June 2022]

Outer Range is a poorly written show with an unusual and unconvincing premise. The actors try to hold it above water, they really do, but it starts sinking from the get go and the weight of it proves too much. Not sure how it was given the green light to begin with.

Dune (2021)

Good First Entry

[8/10 · 13 June 2022]

Dune is carried by its very high production value, solid script and storyline, and quality performances. It doesn't quite stand very well on its own however, as the end is somewhat unsatisfying and lacking in any sort of resolution, something I'm guessing is due to the limitations of staying true to the source material which I have not read. If subsequent parts manage to carry the mantle to a proper conclusion, the saga has a chance to be a real gem overall.

To Mom (And Dad), with Love (2022 TV Special)

Good Grief

[1/10 · 8 May 2022]

Apple wants us to ignore the devastation broken homes cause, and just pretend that when kids don't have a mother and father they don't miss anything. It's one thing to offer up yet another dud with "To Mom (and Dad), With Love" but to do so while staining the work of Charles Schulz is an abomination.

Paranoia Agent (2004–2005)

Really weak story

[4/10 · 22 January 2022]

Paranoia Agent starts out okay, but then spends the rest of its time spinning its wheels in the mud, arriving nowhere. It has an interesting style to it, and the way it's presented almost makes you feel like there's going to be a crescendo especially considering some of the heavy subject matter it deals with, but that triumphant moment never arrives. So it ends up sort of like a nice little drawing, done on a cocktail napkin.

Michiko to Hatchin (2008–2009)

Bleh

[1/10 · 15 January 2022]

Poor writing, poor animation, uninteresting premise with a lot of head scratching moments. Michiko and Hatchin takes subpar elements and manages to build something less than the sum of its parts. Save yourself the time and skip this one.

Space Battleship Yamato 2199 (2012–2013)

Solid reboot

[7/10 · 15 January 2022]

Space Battleship Yamato 2199 has some nice moments, including well done battle scenes and instances of drama here and there. The overarching story doesn't quite do it though, never really maintaining the sense of purpose to any compelling degree. So it ends up kind of fizzling out at the end, in what should be a far more dramatic moment, instead opting to let a side drama take center stage. It's pretty good overall, but feels more like an opportunity missed.

The Shrink Next Door (2021)

A peculiar show

[5/10 · 6 January 2022]

The Shrink Next Door is a show based on a true story that ends up straddling the line between comedy and drama, never really committing to one or the other, with the comedy seeming to serve as points of interest to make up for the lack of any real impactful and dramatic moment. The strength of the show comes from the craft of character, with stand out performances from Ferrell, and especially Rudd and Kathryn Hahn. They all three together carry the burden of this rather slow and somewhat sad story of exploitation that covers decades, but it's a burden which ultimately proves to be too much, making me wonder why someone even decided to make a show about this in the first place.

Foundation (2021– )

I have not read the books this is based on

[2/10 · 2 January 2022]

Not having read the source material for Foundation, I was able to view the series without the burden of expectation. What I got was a mundane experience which, a few clever moments aside, never comes close to feeling as grand as the story or dialogue implies. This includes a battle scene so laughably bad that it made me cringe. This is a shame because there are elements, themes, and conflicts in it that have perhaps the making of a good series. This one fails to deliver though, never fleshing any of that out into a cohesive and compelling story. Avoid this one and you won't be missing much.

Metalocalypse (2006–2013)

Fizzles Out Like Washed Up Rockers

[6/10 · 27 December 2021]

Metalocalypse has some hysterical laugh out loud moments, set against a stark contrast of death and gore, in a series that touches on things like the power of fame and the indifference of those holding such power. Starting with season 3 though it starts to go south pretty fast, as it feels mostly like filler content, before the somewhat sloppy season 4 and tacked on opera episode that tries to conclude it all. With a little more consideration it could have been a real gem, and as such it sort of feels like the series could have been written by the band members in Deathklok themselves. Worth watching though for those laughs.

Jesus of Nazareth (1977)

Don't Be Fooled

[1/10 · 28 November 2021]

Jesus of Nazareth botches it from the outset, showing Jesus very early on suggesting that God's law changes, in spite of this going against what the records show Jesus actually said: That he did not come to replace the law. So if you're looking for a good misrepresentation of Jesus Christ and the Gospel message, this will do just fine.

Alias (2001–2006)

Really corny show

[2/10 · 13 October 2021]

It almost seems like the target audience for Alias is 10-12 year olds, and maybe it actually was, I don't know. Whatever the case, the show grows tired rather quickly in season 1, with the redundant use of the same writing devices that make each episode feel like it was crafted with a cookie cutter. This in turn leaves the series about as shallow as a two line synopsis. Nothing in this show saves it from being a real dud.

Yellowstone (2018– )

Feels like it should be a lot better

[5/10 · 6 October 2021]

The characters in Yellowstone are generally cold, coming from adverse backgrounds and having various motivations and desires. This makes the series ripe for drama, but it's a drama that only ever arrives in short bursts. These bursts are not set up or sustained to any satisfying degree, and also contain a level of violence that feels out of place. As such there are far too many moments that feel contrived, and just end up undermining the structure of the series. A little more thought and a little more dedication to the central conflicts would have gone a long ways, but instead it mostly comes up short.

The Seventh Seal (1957)

Death in The Middle Ages

[8/10 · 5 October 2021]

In spite of its title, The Seventh Seal doesn't really pretend to be theological in any way, instead portraying a knight returning home from The Crusades only to face the chaos and uncertainty of The Plague that was ravaging Europe at the time. It's filled with a number of memorable and impactful scenes, as the indifferent character of Death overhangs the knight's return, and yet it's all colored with a sort of tongue in cheek humor that saves the experience from being cold and bleak. An interesting and engaging movie from start to finish.

Young Frankenstein (1974)

Very funny movie

[9/10 · 7 September 2021]

Some of the gags in Young Frankenstein tilt a little towards the corny side, but the rest is built on solid hilarity. A comedy classic.

Trading Places (1983)

Such a great movie

[10/10 · 5 September 2021]

Aside from being one of the funnier movies ever made, Trading Places also delivers a compelling story, wonderful performances from the cast, and some nice work from the director. It's just great all around, a classic.