One of the best first episodes I've ever seen. Visuals, music, writing, direction, acting, all of it. Multi-layered, exquisitely produced, superior quality television.
Reviews
7 Reviews
Awesome
10 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Perfect writing yet again. Anyone thinking this was boring is missing the point and doesn't understand the sometimes necessary art of exponential storytelling. This whole episode was about the meeting. The meeting that, regardless of the knowledge that it was going to end up as a disaster, was an essential, story-progressing, character-changing event.
Look what we're left with: a split room full of non-believers or those who are beginning to suspect something beyond our reality is happening, just as Holly described.
Now we've got tension between the main protagonists. Now we've got a big fat supernatural wedge splitting them in two. Now we've got the suspense in waiting to see those disbelievers slowly begin to see the truth, to see everything they thought they knew about their respective worlds begin to fall apart. That's what I've come here to see. Above all I want Ralph to see it, to finally witness the reality of it, to be slowly pushed into the darkness of an unforgiving, terrifying world he still has no idea exists, even if it comes in the final episode. And I'm going to be right there when he does.
Look what we're left with: a split room full of non-believers or those who are beginning to suspect something beyond our reality is happening, just as Holly described.
Now we've got tension between the main protagonists. Now we've got a big fat supernatural wedge splitting them in two. Now we've got the suspense in waiting to see those disbelievers slowly begin to see the truth, to see everything they thought they knew about their respective worlds begin to fall apart. That's what I've come here to see. Above all I want Ralph to see it, to finally witness the reality of it, to be slowly pushed into the darkness of an unforgiving, terrifying world he still has no idea exists, even if it comes in the final episode. And I'm going to be right there when he does.
Sublime.
14 December 2019
Watchmen
(2019)
Simply fantastic.
10 December 2019
I'm a huge fan of the original graphic novel and an even bigger fan of Zack Snyder's film, and this new series is a fabulous continuation of the Watchmen universe. The quality of the writing is exemplary, as is to be expected from the creator of The Leftovers. I'm six episodes in and already it's in my top five best series ever. Truly brilliant.
Awesome finale to an awesome fourth season.
27 July 2019
Kudos to all involved on one of the best seasons I've ever seen. The acting, the writing, the directing, the cinematography, the locations, the music; all of it was simply sublime. Gennaro is one of the best characters in any series or film. Seeing him develop over the past few years into what he has become has been something beyond characterisation. Truly brilliant. Bring on season five. It needs another season at least, in order for us to see what becomes of them all, let alone Gennaro. Whether they end up as kings in their own worlds, or pay the ultimate price for all that they've done, needs to be told. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in creating what has become one of my favourite series ever.
Gomorrah
(2014–2021)
Simply awesome.
18 July 2019
I'm halfway through season four and I feel compelled to review it, something I should have done a long time ago. Every episode feels like a mini movie all of it's own. It's true of every season, but for this latest one it's even more so. So much about it is spot on: writing, directing, acting, locations; everything, in fact. This is not about cheery people in beautiful locations doing their thing, illegal or otherwise. These are serious people who are committed to their own lives in their own worlds; dour, flawed, desperate, treacherous, loving, tough people in a myriad of seedy, ugly places. When it does move into more luxurious environments it's brief and necessary, but it's the underside of things where this series predominantly resides and excels; without compromise, without pulling punches, with no fear of what it wants to say. Pure class.
A certain twelve letter word should become the eighth deadly sin...
13 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Reading some of the negative reviews on here is heartbreaking. So much scathing hate and venom. But I know exactly why, and it's all because of a certain twelve letter word: expectations.
I've waited several seasons to see Jamie strangle the life-force out of Cersei, because it would have been some kind of brutal, twisted justice. Did it happen? No. Am I suddenly going to rate this a one-star show? No, I'm not.
For what seemed like a millennia I was keen to see Jon Snow do battle with the Night King, like some epic duel between a medieval Vader and Obi Wan. Did it happen in episode three? Nope. Did I spit out vitriolic negativity at how this show has destroyed everything that's come before it? Nope, not that, either.
Instead I've sat back and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Enjoyed having my expectations met, countered and obliterated, all for the sake of good storytelling, which is meant to thrill, to satisfy, to surprise and take you to places you never thought of. Seeing Cersei in fear of her life, terrified and reduced to tears, after I've wished her character a horrible death for years, after wanting to see her and Dany fight to the death, was one of the best things in the episode. Making me PITY her at the same time is testament to great acting and writing. Killed by bricks? Fine with me, because her character is dead, and she had to die. By whatever means.
These things that happen, these things you see that defy your hopes, your expectations....Deal with it.
I've waited several seasons to see Jamie strangle the life-force out of Cersei, because it would have been some kind of brutal, twisted justice. Did it happen? No. Am I suddenly going to rate this a one-star show? No, I'm not.
For what seemed like a millennia I was keen to see Jon Snow do battle with the Night King, like some epic duel between a medieval Vader and Obi Wan. Did it happen in episode three? Nope. Did I spit out vitriolic negativity at how this show has destroyed everything that's come before it? Nope, not that, either.
Instead I've sat back and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Enjoyed having my expectations met, countered and obliterated, all for the sake of good storytelling, which is meant to thrill, to satisfy, to surprise and take you to places you never thought of. Seeing Cersei in fear of her life, terrified and reduced to tears, after I've wished her character a horrible death for years, after wanting to see her and Dany fight to the death, was one of the best things in the episode. Making me PITY her at the same time is testament to great acting and writing. Killed by bricks? Fine with me, because her character is dead, and she had to die. By whatever means.
These things that happen, these things you see that defy your hopes, your expectations....Deal with it.
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