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Reviews
Room 104: Fur (2020)
Season 4 saves the best for last
This season began kind of disappointing and it reached new heights of overall badness in the "Last Man" episode. However, episodes 11 and 12 both provide the greatness Room 104 is known for.
"Fur" is an animated episode, and that alone delivers on it pushing the boundaries. The twists, reminiscent of cult classic "Ginger Snaps", and the unexpected ending make it all even more interesting.
Certainly not one of the best episodes of the show, but still a pretty entertaining half-hour of television and a refreshment from the lackluster beginning of the season. With only one episode left on the series, it seems that this year of Room 104 has been saving the best for last.
Room 104: The Night Babby Died (2020)
"That was... Easier than I thought it would be."
This season of Room 104 is undoubtedly the one with the most clear "theme" accross all of the episodes. The 90's nostalgia motif really works well in this episode, thanks to its amazing script.
"The Night Babby Died" has one of the best writing on this entire show, maybe second only to season one's "Red Tent" episode. Even though it lacks on the "surprise" factor that most episodes have given us, this one is still amazing since in only 25 minutes we get so much insight into the past and present lives of these both characters. Every single line of dialogue and every fact presented adds so much layer to them as individuals and to their relationship, both as kids and as stranged adults.
Here's hoping the season can end on a high note, with an episode as strong as this. Even with its misshaps, Room 104 has always been a very interesting TV show, and it will be missed from the television landscape.
Room 104: The Last Man (2020)
Not only the worst episode of the show, a disrespect to itself and to fans
This season has been a letdown, especially after how amazing the third one was, but this episode surely takes the cake when it comes to being completely awful, uninteresting and just failing to grasp the concept of the show or respect its fans.
The first half is silly to the point of being cringy, and unimaginative enough to not just be boring, but also annoying. The second half feels awfully tacked in and dragged on for far too long.
Every attempt to make a commentary on previous pieces of pop culture (such as He-Man, Highlander and musical movies) is completely bland, obvious and uninteresting, but don't worry: the last 15 seconds of the episode will try to convince you there's a "reason" for that, other than the laziness of the writer and the director.
The tackiness and bad taste of the art direction of this episode would be fine if it was in service of a narrative that was even remotely interesting, new, or had anything relevant to say: instead, it is just a backdrop to recycle silly, worthless ideas that add up to nothing at all.
The major disrespect comes at the end, when not only does the episode do an 180 to try and makes us "go along" with the fantasy by revealling it is a couple of children's imagination (or the mom's imagination?), but also begging you to forget just how ridiculous it all was, trying to tackle in some sort of "reflection" or retroactive spin to make it all seem more digestible.
It doesn't work. The previous 25 minutes were still there, and they're so badly done, so completely over-the-top, you wish they were at least forgetful so that you could pretend this whole experience never existed - which is what the episode wants you to do by the end. Too bad you can't. I certainly wish I could.
Servant: Jericho (2020)
Going down in history as one of the greatest episodes of TV ever.
Servant has been a great show ever since its very first episode, but this episode surely makes it stand out from the rest of the ever-growing "great TV shows in streaming service" pool out there. The first 13 minutes offer one of the most well-crafted, perfectly-constructed tension sequences ever put to screen. Knowing what will happen, but not *how* it will happen, always makes for great entertainment, but here, the director and the screenwriters have taken that concept to the next level. This is an episode that is sure to make you feel tense, on the edge of your seat, and waiting for the other shoe to drop, even if you already know where it is dropping on. I highly recommend this show to anyone who loves good horror/suspense stories, and I can't wait to see what they come up with on the next season.
Case 39 (2009)
Same movie, better done
You've seen that movie before. But that one's still worth it. It's the same old story about a little kid who seems so damaged but makes damage. We've seen it (way better) in "The Orphan", we've seen it (firstly and delightfully) in "The Omen" and in a thousand other productions. Yet, is a good, not "damn scary", fun movie. But it has something else, and it's all there: delicious acting by Renée Zelwegger, nice direction, ordinary soundtrack, and the remarkable Jodelle Fernand doing the best child-acting I've ever seen since the already mentioned "The Omen" and "The Exorcist". The one thing that doesn't fit is how easily Zelwegger's character accepts the "girl is a demon" thing. But still, I recommend it. Not original, but a lot fun.