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sandygallop
Reviews
San shi er yi (2020)
Contemporary life in Shanghai
A very enjoyable and absorbing drama of current life in China. Not only was the struggle of each of the main characters drawn with detail but the numerous story lines were explored with depth. The relationship between the main protagonists held all minor themes together elegantly. I was most impressed with the visual production and particularly the numerous dinner scenes shot from countless camera angles without losing the narrative. The subtitles were cringe worthy linguistics at times yet the meaning was understood over 90% of the time. The family story at the end of each episode would make a decent movie in it's own right. I definitely recommend this series.
Succession: Church and State (2023)
woof woof
An exquisite examination of individual and collective grieving by the family and extended corporate fraternity at a time when the political knives are glinting. Every player has a spotlight piece and whilst there are standout performances from the main stars, perhaps the hidden cost of the Logan Roy empire will be borne by the youngest son. Rome is burning.
And so it's hard to ignore the cynical positioning of sharks for whom the pageantry of Logan's funeral is simply a backdrop against which the final succession rites are about to be realized. From Kendal's person management to Greg's greasy ascension we have it all in this episode. Even some tactical plays by the junior cast members.
Overall, I found the power of this episode was in the intricate weaving of smaller story lines juxtaposed against the main theme i.e. Like a matryoskha doll. I fear we are no closer to a reveal of the next 'successor' to Logan Roy and will have to respond to the final episode in the same way as Hugo's brilliant response to Kendal.