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mhafen
Reviews
Strip Mall (2000)
Crazy funny
I know a lot of people thought the show wasn't that good, but it made me laugh soooo much. The different story lines that ran parallel and sometimes intersected were pretty clever. Dark humour? Sure. Cringey at times? Most definitely. But watching some of the characters try to extricate themselves from their disappointing lives at the strip mall led to some hilarious situations. Chris Wylde's character seemed to be the only one having a good time ("Another day of booty duty at Port Porn!"). I hated the way it ended though. It was not only abrupt, but hastily conceived. It was like "Ok, yesterday we got canceled, so today we need to wrap this up in the worst way possible." Made me sad!
Final Space (2018)
Season 3 dropped the ball
I enjoyed the first two seasons immensely. But season 3 became a slog. Did they already know the show wasn't being brought back? Or did everyone just run out of energy? Because the fast pace and quick wit of the first two seasons gave way to the speed of a melodrama and maudlin musings for dialog. I committed to finishing the series, but honestly, it wasn't easy. The final 4-5 episodes could have been condensed into 1-2, and maybe ended the series on a higher note. Instead, each episode is paced like a slow-motion car wreck, with only incremental advancements in the story. The voice actors were top-notch. They did a great job with the lackluster writing. But I cannot imagine bringing this show back for a fourth season without some major tweaks to scripts and directing. I gave it six stars based on the actors and the first two seasons. Watch season 3 at your own peril.
The Last of Us (2023)
The Walking Dead with Evil Mushrooms
Honestly, I don't get what people see in this series. Most of the positive reviews I've read all compare it to the video game. Fair enough. If it holds true to the game, and you liked the game, then I guess this is for you. Not me. I've never played the game. In this case, a zombie is a zombie, and a post-apocalyptic landscape is a post-apocalyptic landscape. I've seen nothing new or original in this story. It's a combination of The Stand and The Walking Dead. Now, I have to admit, the actors are good (the only reason I rated it four stars), and they do an admirable job with what is a predictable script. But unless you're a fan of the video game, I don't see how this show can stand on its own.