Reviews

This was something between a documentary and GOT-esque TV show. I appreciate their attempt to sex. the documentary up and make it more appealing to audiences. I thought the cinematography and acting was great but if you are a stickler for historical accuracy and are looking tons of information this might not be the best show for you. That being said it was quite enjoyable and they wove a compelling story.

Celeste Ng's book-turned television show was an enjoyable, though dark series that dealt with topics of race and classism. The series did a good job of investigating these topics from multiple character's perspectives and justifying their respective stances through in depth character development. The series follows about 80 percent of the book and the changes that were made, most notably casting Mia and her daughter Pearl as African-American felt appropriate and raised the stakes of the story, pitting the wealthy white Richardson Family led by Reese Witherspoon against the poor vagabond African-American duo of Mia and Pearl.

The highlight of the show was the storyline and character development which the show did a great job of exploring. The entire sixth episode was a flashback, looking at Elena and Mia's past, and as an audience we got to understand why and how they ended up the way they are. Momentary flashbacks occurred throughout the series, establishing and justifying character's motives and behavior, helping us accept them and some of the outlandish circumstances that unfold. Even though most of the cast of characters aren't likable (in fact many are abhorrent), they were at least relatable and humanized.

The acting in the show was well executed. Reese Witherspoon plays a superb uptight, has-it-alltogether entitled suburban woman. Even though this role isn't a huge stretch for her as Elena was similar to her role in Big Little Lies, Reese taps into her villainous side more here with stares and one-liners that could cut you with a knife. Kerry Washington who plays Mia matches Reese in her power and ownership of the character as a conflicted, tough and vulnerable woman. The oscillation between aggressive and soft are beautiful to watch and she captures the strength and fragility of the character impeccably.

I felt there were no bad episodes and the the progression leading up to the climax was steady and well streamlined. The finale seemed a little rushed and with the ending not following the book seemed a little contrived but was a satisfying ending with a good message. Buckle your seats for a bumpy ride, because there will be little fires everywhere that are hard to extinguish.

As a diehard fan of Phantom of the Opera I was pleasantly surprised by the much anticipated sequel. Although my take is overwhelmingly positive, I will preface my assessment by saying that there are certain elements of the show that may be offensive and off-putting for particular viewers. The narrative of the musical largely depends on the understanding of the original; the history between the phantom and Christine, as well as the other characters and therefore out of context is confusing and seems too overly dramatic. Some may even purport that "Love Never Dies" is unnecessary, but then again what sequel isn't? The direction of the narrative is rather controversial with many of the characters devolving and undergoing major changes. I think in order to enjoy the show, one must suspend their disbelief or at least accept the direction the plot has taken.

Overall I felt that the costumes and set were unparalleled and the strongest part of the show. The voices and performances were equally great. The music I'd give a B because although there were some catchy numbers some of them were too laborious and drawn out. The plot also has some question marks as does the character development but I appreciated the surprises and the risk to go big. The first act was much stronger than the second in number quality and plot.

Animation shows have come a long way since 1999. Watching "Avengers: United We Stand" felt like going back in time and observing a relic of the past. Certainly 1999 was almost twenty years ago, more than half my lifetime and I think if I was a child when the show came out I would have given it a much higher score. I recognize that rating the show's quality on today's standards will be skewed and partisan. Keeping this in mind I will review the show as a modern viewer intended for a modern audience. If you are a die hard fan of the Avengers and/or have nostalgic feelings towards the turn of the 21st century era than this show will appeal to you. The thirteen episodes in season one (and the only season for this series) focus on the Avengers team comprised of Ant Man, Wasp, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch, Vison, Falcon, Tigris, and Wonderman. They battle to save the planet (it wasn't enough to save just Earth) against the likes of Ultron (who was created by Ant Man) and the Zodiac squad. The line of up Avenger characters was surprisingly refreshing. Although stalwart characters like Captain America, Thor, Iron Man, Black Widow and Black Panther were missing, I found this cast of characters enjoyable to watch with their varied personalities and gender balancing ratio.

The biggest criticism I have of the show is that the story line was too one-dimensional. Almost like the show "Scooby Doo," each episode had a very formulaic structure where the Avengers needed to save the day and by the end mission was completed. I understand with a superhero show there's only so much variety you can have but I think what could have improved the plot would. have been delving into the backstory of the characters. Each of the Avengers seemed to have a lot of interesting history but virtually none of it was explored. The animation though simple and a little pixelated was colorful and the characters were attractive. Overall "Avengers: United We Stand" is a fun throwback show from yesteryears but unless you are looking for a nostalgic respite from the modern fast paced and intricate Avengers series I wouldn't waste my time.