coles_notes

Created by Kelsey Espensen for CBC, we have a fairly standard reality competition series bringing 10 contestants across 8 episodes, with one eliminated in each, to eventually crown a winner as Best in Miniature and taking home a $10,000 grand prize. As a miniature competition, the artists must first build their own mini house, and then each subsequent episode we see them flesh out a room within, and often telling a story along with their diorama. Hosted by Aba Amuquandoh and judged by Micheal Lambie and Emma Waddell, the hosting was suitable enough, and the judging was pretty good, although I found myself more increasingly disagreeing with their takes as the series went on, and they got more and more critical each season. High emphasis in the later season on "telling a story"; we shift less from who is the best at making realistic miniatures and more into who can craft a narrative around their house, which is neat but a different concept than what I had originally grown to love across the first season. That said, watching all these talented people create was always so inspiring, its honestly amazing some of the things they can do. If you like crafting or these types of series generally, would recommend, was a pretty good one.

Produced by Tokyo Broadcasting System, we have a skateboarding competition series bringing skaters from all over the globe to take on a set of very unique challenges, generally consisting of speed challenges mixed with rails, jumps, and pipes. The skaters all compete for a prize of 1,000,000 yen, but most of the competition stays very friendly and supportive in great ways. A fan of skateboarding, I loved the crazy sets built for these challenges, only the Japanese can combine a show like Wipeout or Takeshi's Castle with skateboarding, and do it in all the best ways. Only 6 episodes, all of which are now available on YouTube, if you like skateboarding I would highly recommend, was very fun.

Created by Joseph Bennett (Scavengers Reign) and Steve Hely (30 Rock, Veep), we have an adult animated comedy following Marshall Cuso, a fungus loving genius who has discovered a new mystery mushroom which appears to heal any illness, including death. Joined by a fun cast of characters, Marshall must come up against old friends turned foes, an old crush, and the looming tyranny of the government and big pharma. The animation is fantastic, more exaggerated but iconic in its styling, much like Scavengers Reign before it, but again just like that series its the people and their interactions that build such a unique and grounded universe in which the story takes place. On the edge of my seat every episode, the pace is great, and I'm so hyped for season two, I really hope we see it. Also joining is a strong list of voice actors, including Mike Judge and Martha Kelly, which was very fun. Honestly was probably the one of the best animated series I've seen in the past few years, I might even like it more than Scavengers Reign. If you like these styles of adult series would highly recommend.