Reviews

The cast is stellar, but...

Foley stifles speech.

Semi-illiterate verbiage; not colloquial style, but grammatical uneducated unwitting errors.

Mixed Romanian-English stilted language; the gen. Z lot don't talk like that.

Some dialogues look as if they are re-translated from American-English life experience patterns.

Unintelligible diction sometimes, subtitles frequently needed.

Woke themes raised here and there, sometimes everywhere, unwarranted.

A lot of action happens through smart phones screens' (sic!) social media.

The plot is passable mediocre, no humdinger (though they touted it as terrific), or far-fetched incomprehensible story, or gross mistakes. The story simply starts out of nowhere, then expands erratically elsewhere. It should taste bad for either the cultured or the spoon fed.

As for swearing, now that is one genuine characteristic! Points gained.

HBO raised a high bar with series "Umbre", then dropped it low down now.

On the long-expected second season.

There are people who have read the books.

The film writers concluded then that the readers needed another story, an original one for the win!

I don't mind a different story, but let it be a good one.

Thus, they wrote it, dragged out and bland, overplayed, eliminating logic and rationale. If you don't like it, you're a snob.

The books' world (based on medieval northern Europe times) had already diverse characters.

Then, for the sake of political correctness, why not add more colourful ones (elves, witches, mages)? If you don't like it, you're racist.

The whole second season is a stale display of fight scenes, some sex scenes and meaningless, tenuous dialogues, heroic fantasy tropes. It prematurely reveals characters, spoiling the story line.

It is no match for the first one. If you don't like it, it's your fault for having such high expectations.

5/10 for this season, only Cavill gets points.

Some films, though not rife with excitingly elaborated plot, are worth an agreeable two-hours lapse. Indiana Jones, The Mummy, Pirates of the Caribbean, were slightly decent, had enjoyable characters and funny scenes.

On the other hand, this one is predictable, tenuous and has non imaginative action.

It bags non creative tropes from different good or tasteless so-called adventure films, stale lines and gags, stereotyped characters, doubtful visual effects and image.

It is a tiresome and unsavoury waste of time.

Disney, you dud(sic!) it again!

This is a brilliant grafting between "Ray Donovan" and "Fleabag". Definitely, some people dislike it, but this is British humour. The acting is awesome. The story, enjoyable, don't try to take a hard look at it, you won't find a lesson or a cunning plot. It is witty and punny and it doesn't include political correctness.

I started watching this show open-minded and not being biassed about the spin-off. It was a surprise, but not a good one. Sadly, this one spun-off too wildly. It has nothing of the brilliance, the dark and mystical atmosphere of the original show. The pace is awry, too. Without spoiling the story, it consists in a jumble of the following (some of them, tropes): Off-beat first-time partners police detectives Jew and Chicano and a multiple horrendous killing. Mexican-American community, oppressed, lowbrow, small-time gangsters, dancing (too much), building up wrath. Some can summon supernatural beings. Nazi community with a political agenda, guzzling beer and singing drinking songs at the garden party. Looming Jewish concern about the German industrial espionage. Also, Zionists dreaming of Judea. And Jewish mob (not dreaming of it). No sign of black, Asian or native american people in the plot, though, so far (and no, I'm not joking about the affirmative action!). Dormer's plethora of personae looking as if the producers tried to assemble the "Spice Girls" of old. Bishé's tedious and wordy performance singing or rambling at the religious gatherings. Her character, Sister Molly, unfortunately, too Holy Moley. Also appearance of Santa Muerte, then a corrupt and gay (bisexual) politician, discreditable, that is, or police misfeasance overwhelming the Sweeney, and some. That sums up to the fourth episode. Pity, as I said, I had expectations. I'm afraid a moral, a lesson about social justice, righteousness will follow. It doesn't seem catchy further on.

At least that is what someone says here when decided they "didn't want to have to READ every (subtitled) episode and so moved on to the Americanized version". If it weren't for the original show, this one might have been awesome, Mireille Enos likewise. The show is passably good; it is neither worth nine stars, nor two. To all the former voters, please try (make the effort) to watch the original, to all the latter ones, refrain, it's useless. Still, this copy, though not quite comprehensive about genuine European gestures, motives or culture, is far better than the "Bron/Broen" or the "Män som hatar" adaptations. The originals remain, in those cases, far superior. What would "Firefly" made in Europe look like?

Pacing is an euphemism for this show, it is more likely par with the tar pitch drop experiment. However, the plot and play would still(sic!) be passable, if it weren't for the terrible Isao Tomita wannabe soundtrack. This makes a symphony out of the "Noble House" 1988 awful and awkward soundtrack, when compared to it. Now, Nicolas Winding Refn, David Lynch is out of your reach. I rate it 7/10 for now, at episode 5, only because I hope it will improve, but I'll consider it later. Pity, disappointment is the word for now.

The first season. The idea is rich (how could it not be?), Alexandre Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo is a theme one can elaborate upon considerably. Sadly, they stretched it by length and by breadth and produced a porous fabric. It started well, then, sadly, slid into a telenovela. The plot here dashes, then trails. The acting is bad, almost all the (fairly) young actors act unnatural or stilted (excepting Diana Sar and Anghel Damian). Camera angles and shots are frequently toneless or drab. Points for effort, but needs more professionals and, definitely, another director.

After the second season. It is still a telenovela, but with more action, some humorous dialogues, less overacting, less maudlin scenes, less eye-piercing (*expletive) camera (rife in the first season), new characters, extended plot, and more of Anghel Damian's scripting, that take the second season to a higher (better) level. Still, the scenography is wanting from time to time. Episode 3 part II, the fight between Vlad and Leo looks simulated. Episode 4 part I, medical aid outfit just hanging there, anyone could use it. And more...

Points for episode 13 part I, great drama, great acting (see Tibi at Leo's bed). The show looks promising.

I'll come back with the third season assessment.