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6/10
Jen has the same look on her face the whole time
26 April 2024
I do NOT like Jennifer Garner in this. Is she trying to act like Renee Zellweger with the squinty eyes and constantly scrunched-up lips? In this series, Jennifer always has this serious, concerned look - it is annoying because it is constant. I don't remember seeing her like this in anything else, so I can only blame it on bad direction. I don't mind Jennifer Garner, and I really do think it was bad direction that ruined this for her. It was just very distracting to see this same weird, hyper-worried face constantly. Her facial expression never changed! It really made her cheekbones appear extra-sharp and made her look cartoonish. Very distracting. What else don't I like about this series... hmmm... the step-daughter is annoying, yes, but I get why shows have to have over-the-top characters for entertainment value. I guess. And she does improve over time. I don't like the ending, and I disagree with the choice that Jennifer Garner's character made.

I do like the settings and atmosphere, and I don't think the storyline is horrible. So, all in all, some good things and some bad things about this programme. Not entirely a waste of time to watch, in my opinion.
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7/10
Better than I thought it would be
22 March 2024
This is a sweet gem of a movie. I laughed out loud many times, which is rare for me. It's fun and actually not cheesy, and it kept me entertained. It was fresh and funny. How many movies can you say that about these days? All the actors were great. The storyline was different. This is a feel-good movie with a lot of heart. It's unusual to see such a movie that is lacking in cheese. It's quite refreshing.

At the end of a hard week, I just wanted to shut my brain off for a bit and enjoy myself. This movie fills the bill. Oh, and Jennifer Lawrence doing comedy? More, please! Is there anything that woman can't do? I don't think so.
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8/10
Better than I thought it would be
19 March 2024
I love Liane Moriarty's books, and I had low hopes for this adaption after the disappointments of Big Little Lies and Nine Perfect Strangers. This series exceeded my expectations. It is engaging and stayed true enough to the book not to tick me off too much. Even hubby enjoyed it.

I always believe all the books I like should be made into movies/series and stay completely true to the books, but I must say that this one does not suck. I don't know why they feel the need to Americanise them.

They are making me type 600 words to meet some stupid and pointless requirement. Sometimes less is more!
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6/10
Not as bad as I thought it was going to be
9 March 2024
15 minutes in I was still skeptical, but it grew on me as I probably should have known it would, given the fact that a Farrelly is involved. It's no Me, Myself & Irene (after all, Jim Carrey isn't in this one), but it has a certain charm of its own. You really have to have a rather immature sense of humour (and be gutter-minded) to enjoy this movie. Thankfully, I do and am, and it also helps to have copious quantities of certain substances on hand while watching this movie. I laughed out loud several times. As others have noted, it really is John Cena who steals the show. Bill Macy is good, too. Overall, I think anyone who enjoys Farrelly movies won't regret watching this one. I sure didn't.
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1/10
You will be disappointed if you watch it for nudity
3 March 2024
There is a sort of lengthy sex scene in the beginning, the boobs are not very big (in case you were wondering) and there is no more nudity for the rest of the film. What you get instead is a disjointed story, bad acting, plot holes, and incredibly cheesy and sappy dialogue; particularly in the end. Wow. I can suffer through a dumb movie as long as I get to see juicy bits, if you know what I mean, but this movie does not deliver in that regard. I felt the need to warn others away. Don't waste your time watching this movie if you've come for titillation, so to speak. This is not the film you're looking for. Move along.
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The Morning Show (I) (2019– )
5/10
Stopped watching at S3:5 (in the middle of the episode)!
2 March 2024
This is why I wait to rate shows. I, like many others, enjoyed season 1. I never took this show very seriously, as it so soapy it seems like it's that way on purpose- almost like a parody. The overly dramatic bits made me laugh. It's popcorn drama, a bit of fluff, I can turn off my brain and enjoy the train wreck while being entertained by some good actors. It was never going to be Shakespeare, and it didn't need to be. Unfortunately, this show starts to take itself too seriously by season 3. I'll get back to that in a mo.

I thought season 1 handled the #MeToo issue sensitively and offered a more balanced view than we are normally privy to. Things started to go downhill in season 2 and the writers became more and more heavy-handed with their agenda, and it's very obnoxious. Which brings me back to season 3. I am as progressive as the next gal, but being punched in the face with "wokeness" (not a term I normally use) is cringeworthy and insulting. And it's endless. It's not a sprinkling, it's a downpour. It's such a turnoff; hence, the turning off of the show entirely in the middle of S3:5. They have become the opposite of subtle. It's embarrassing. It makes me embarrassed to be a progressive (but not enough to join the dark side). It IS possible to present your ideas in an intelligent, subtle and thought-provoking manner; I like shows that make me think, not shows that tell me what to think.

It is unfortunate that more and more shows are like this. Preachy. It reminds me of 80s shows and how they all had to have a moral to their stories. *eyeroll*
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1/10
LOSE THE HOST ALREADY!!!
17 February 2024
The UK version of this show is MILES better because Lee Mack is the host and he's pretty cool. Jim Jeffries is the opposite of Lee Mack. He always sounds inebriated and most of his jokes are incredibly stupid. He acts like he is in character and supposed to be playing someone's drunk uncle in a bad Judd Apatow movie. I cringe whenever he talks to any of the contestants because I know he is going to say something obnoxious and/or embarrassing. I put him on mute all the time. Who green-lighted this guy? Someone must have owed someone a favour.

I feel really bad railing on him like this, I am sure he is a perfectly nice guy in real life, but he is not a good fit for this show.
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8/10
Hilarious
26 January 2024
I don't understand the low rating and bad reviews. This show made me laugh so hard I had to force myself to stop laughing or else I would faint. Not only were the comedians funny, but watching the others trying not to laugh is hilarious. I will say, however, that the last few episodes were not as funny. You just knew they were exhausted and ready to give up. The jokes were half-hearted by then.

I love the premise of this show and hope they do a UK version. The Canadian one is quite good. I am watching the Irish one now and enjoying it. They are lasting a lot longer than the people in the Aussie and Canadian ones. I think the Aussie version is the funniest one, though. I don't understand the hate, but I guess you have to appreciate Aussie humour, crudeness and potty jokes in order to enjoy this show.
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4/10
No spoilers until the last paragraph
17 December 2023
I watched this movie with low expectations, having seen the first one and let down by it. But stupid me, I see four actors I love and I just had to see it. This one is even worse. Another reviewer aptly observed that it seems like the script was written by AI. The dialogue was just so simple, vapid and inane. There was no sparkle, no punchiness, nothing remotely deep or imaginative. It did not help that the musical score was (probably appropriately) incredibly cheesy.

I felt my IQ drop whilst watching this film. It seems like it was made for idiots. I love a good "chick flick" or romantic comedy, but this movie sorely lacks ANY snappy dialogue or believable romance WHATSOEVER. The fact that all the main characters were rich and stylish made them very unrelatable to the average viewer. It's like they were playing their real life selves in a movie. You have to wonder, are their conversations that boring in real life?

I am also wondering why in the world those four very talented actors decided to be in this movie. Did they owe someone a favour? That's what it seems like, coz we have all seen them in MUCH better stuff than this utter drivel. It boggles my mind to see them in this crap. It's so beneath them.

The ending is a bit crap and completely illogical, given the fact that Jane Fonda is 85 years old, for crying out loud. Why would she not want to get married? She hasn't much time left! What's the big deal!

This movie also has very little to do with books.
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Spin Me Round (2022)
5/10
Great cast, but...
24 September 2023
...not a great storyline. Like many others who have posted here, by the end I was left scratching my head going "What the (bleep) did I just watch?" The first two thirds were interesting enough, but then it just got bizarre. I'd say it happened when the boars came along. It was all a bit downhill from there. The ending was just... really weird. I don't necessarily regret watching this movie. It was certainly remotely entertaining. The acting was fine. You can't go wrong with Aubrey Plaza.

Since I am forced to write at least 600 characters, I will go on to add more unnecessary information to this review. Never mind, 600 characters now achieved, booyah!!!
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9/10
Extremely polished
18 September 2023
10 stars for style: the sets, the costumes (the fashion! Sigh), the cars, the records, the dining establishments, just everything, everything beautiful and vintage and stunning. The routines that were put on in the strip club. So creative. So beautiful.

I have all the good things to say about the look and style of the show.

The acting. Fabulous. Especially the two sets of parents, easily the most interesting and entertaining characters on the show. Amazing acting all around. Special nod to Shalhoub and his character: utter brilliance.

I have to say that I found the show funny, but I did not find Midge's stand up routine funny at all.

I gave this show 9 stars, and I think it's well deserved, but there were moments in seasons 2 and 3 where I was kinda wondering where things were going. Season 4 improved. But season 5. That one is the winner. Just brilliant from beginning to end. The way the whole thing was put together with the flashbacks and the flash forwards and putting together all the pieces. The writing was also at its peak, I reckon. I feel like season 5 was the magnum opus of the show.

I will miss this show a lot. I can't wait to see what Amy and Danny come up with next.
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Aftertaste (2021–2022)
5/10
Animal lovers beware
16 August 2023
Just a warning to those sensitive, animal-loving souls. This show is full of dead animals, mainly because one of the characters loves hunting. Even if you can get past that, you may not find the show worth watching. The characters are unlikeable and without even a glimmer of redemption.

The show's premise is the same, tired old trope where the black sheep of the family returns to his hometown from being overseas for many years, their family is cranky with them, lots of friction, etc etc snore yawn sigh boo. The humour is a bit subpar. There are some great Aussie shows out there, but this one is a miss for me.
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1/10
Star Trek: The Musical
8 August 2023
It's a dark day when Star Trek becomes a musical. I cannot get on board with that. "Cringeworthy at best" is how I would describe this episode. This show is cheesy enough as it is without this added layer of corn. To add insult to injury, some of the songs were reminiscent of 1980s music, EXTRA CHEESY. I had to mute many times.

The musical scenes just got cheesier and cheesier as the episode went on. I think that if you are fond of cheesy musicals then you will like this episode.

This episode is also riddled with phantasmagorical circumstances and implausible science. Which, yes, pretty well sums up Star Trek, but I found it particularly "extra" in this episode.
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Succession (2018–2023)
10/10
Almost utter perfection
23 June 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Oh, man. This show right here. This is The One. I am not a big tv watcher and find most shows uninteresting. This one sucked me right in and kept me there. I don't remember ever being so into a tv programme. I find myself thinking about it when I'm not watching it. It's rather pathetic, actually. As others have mentioned, none of the characters are likeable but they are captivating. It doesn't matter what your politics are, this show has it all and shows the ugliness from all sides. It is gripping television. The characters, the actors, the writing. This is what great tv is all about. It's not even remotely my favourite subject matter, but it's just great teev! I'm hooked!!

Random thoughts about the show: The soundtrack is amazing.

Sometimes I feel like this show is all about people who enjoy being treated like rubbish. It's fascinating.

Roman is easily one of the most interesting characters, and I must say Kieran Culkin does an EPIC job portraying him. Colour me impressed.

I feel like the show went downhill after Logan died, and I think this is why the final season was not as good as the previous ones. He was easily the best character on the show.

I rated this show a 9 and not a 10 because of the following:

Sometimes the business stuff was over my head. I feel like the writing was deliberately obtuse at times. I didn't need to fully understand it in order to enjoy the programme, but still.

I felt like Shiv's character was not developed enough. We got one little glimpse of something interesting there when she told Tom she wanted an open marriage, but after that... nothing. Apparently, she was celibate even after breaking up with Tom. I feel like there should have been more to that side of her. To that end, I have no idea why she wanted to get back with Tom, even with being pregnant (allegedly) by him. I don't think she was ever really in love with him. She and Mattson would have made a much more interesting couple, but there was never any real flirtation there. Which brings me to... I felt like the show wasn't sexy enough. They certainly didn't shy away from swearing, so why no sex? And I mean...there was absolutely zero. I don't understand. You have a gorgeous redhead right there and we get no sexy times? *sad face* There were lots of instances in the show where we didn't have closure or enough details about certain storylines. What happened with Ken's drug use? Did he stop using drugs or is he a high-functioning drug addict? We never find out. And what happened with him and Naomi? They were together and then they were not. No explanation.

What about Comfrey and Roman? Did they ever finally have sex? She was there one day and gone the next. No explanation. I suppose I could have missed something. Sometimes they said things too fast or spoke too low. I also think the writers purposely left the viewers to try and figure things out for themselves, but I reckon they did that a little too much. I think I need to watch the series again. I think it is totally worth a rewatch.

Overall, an utterly fabulous show and easily one of the BEST I have ever seen. Kudos to all involved.
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La La Land (2016)
5/10
All style and no substance
12 May 2023
This movie is very polished, very lush, very bright and colourful. The vibe is a very flawless (aka unrealistic and stereotypical) LA with an old school undertone. I will excuse this completely unrealistic version of LA - since I gather they purposely made it this way to suit the old school undertone - and I can appreciate the creativity. It's also campy, but I don't mind a bit of that sometimes, especially if it's backed up by strong dialogue. Unfortunately, this film does not hit the mark in that regard.

I finally had a chance to see this movie today, and I had very high hopes, given all the awards and rave reviews. Ha! Talk about a let down! Sure, it's cute, but the storyline is "meh" and the dialogue isn't good enough to save it. It just lacks. I tuned out a bit about halfway through, but I stuck it out until the end. As others have mentioned, the ending is depressing. I guess I could see how someone would like this movie, since it is very stylish, but I prefer my movies with better writing. There's more interesting dialogue in superhero movies, for heaven's sake, and I hate superhero movies (again, all style and no substance). I am truly amazed by the high rating.

What kept going around in my head while watching this movie is how much better musicals were (back in their hey day) and how they were so good and wonderful, and how much this one sucked. They just don't make 'em like they used to.
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Friday Night Dinner (2011–2020)
8/10
I feel like this show doesn't deserve 8 stars...
8 May 2023
...because it is so bloody stupid. BUT... I had to give it that many because I absolutely adore it. I know it's a stupid show, they crack the same jokes over and over, and I cannot imagine finding this show funny or liking it at all if it were American, even with the exact same script. I don't know why, but these exact actors are just right for all of their roles and for the show's writing. This show never ceases to make me laugh. The recycled jokes, the farcical situations, everything is funny... all the dad has to do is get this look on his face and I am already chuckling. Even the boys' immature pranks (that I would see as entirely obnoxious in just about any other programme) make me laugh. I have a constant grin on my face when I watch this show. I just can't bloody help it.

Martin is definitely my favourite character, he is absolutely bloody brilliant and always makes me laugh. I love the insults and curse words he uses, they are the BEST. (I'm trying to popularise "Shtting sht on it.") I haven't had the opportunity to call anyone a pillock as yet. I don't know why, but there is something about that man that cracks me up. He's so offbeat but also has his normal moments. Jim is just so odd it's beyond overboard for me. Not even a second of normality. It makes me cringe sometimes. How does this man own a home? How does he have money? How does he take care of himself? How does he take care of his dog? These are the questions keeping me up at night.

Not really.
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6/10
A very generous six stars, if only for the nostalgia
10 April 2023
No, it is not as good as the original. Samantha isn't in it. The writing isn't as good as the original, either. So many cheesy, cringeworthy moments. But it is nostalgic and comfy, and has nuggets of real humour and heart. And I like the way they handled death and grief and the whole process. I think they handled it very gracefully.

As for the "woke" stuff, anyone who has seen the original series knows that the writing can be a bit cheeky and ironic and makes fun of society and themselves. In some ways, I think they are poking fun at the woke movement and the "oversensitivity" of some people (mainly millennials). On the other hand, maybe I am misinterpreting. They show other signs of obnoxious behaviour like the three main characters "just happened" to make a new friend at the same time, and the new friend of each "just happened" to be non-white. To me, this is a bit unrealistic and makes the newbies seem like token non-white characters. I do like all of the new characters, however, especially LTW. Nicole Ari Parker is so beautiful and charismatic, she steals every scene she's in.

I also did not feel it was necessary to have more than one non-binary character on the show. Non-binary individuals do not make up a large percent of the population, so it just seems very unrealistic and preachy. I actually don't mind Che, I think they're an interesting and funny character. But to make Charlotte's daughter non-binary as well? Why??? It's just over the top. There is a way to be inclusive without being obnoxious and preachy. Too bad a lot of shows these days don't know how to do it. I have no problem with diversity on screen but it has to be natural or else it feels insincere and sometimes cringeworthy. That is just my humble opinion, which I realise means nothing.

And Steve. Poor Steve. Never had any really good lines or a chance to show any personality whatsoever. He's kind of the oddball out. The last episode was the best of him and it was too little, too late. And a little bit heartbreaking.

Re: the final episode and the kiss. They should have put that guy in more scenes in previous episodes, coz I was like "Who the hell is this guy?" Seemed a bit rushed and "out of the blue." Like they just wanted to wrap things up quickly.
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The Estate (II) (2022)
7/10
I actually liked it
6 February 2023
I actually liked this movie. Look, so many movies these days end up disappointing me, so it's surprising when a good one comes along, especially one with an IMDb rating hovering around 5. However, I am used to being disappointed by 8+ star movies, so obviously the rating doesn't mean much. Even so, rarely does one rated so low end up being better than my expectations. Do you know the best thing about this movie? (Besides the stellar cast.) It made me laugh! Several times! I didn't laugh so hard I almost passed out (extremely rare) but it did make me laugh quite a bit, and that hardly ever happens when I watch a movie or show, even one that is supposed to be funny. Especially one that is supposed to be funny. The movie isn't deep by any stretch of the imagination, so don't take it seriously, just relax and have a good time.

After reading some of the bad reviews here, I am thinking this movie may be more to the taste of Aussies, Brits, people who are a bit more open-minded about certain naughty words and prefer their humour on the raunchy side.
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Somebody Somewhere (2022– )
8/10
This is the "real" America
24 January 2023
So refreshing to watch a programme that is more realistic than the usual fare. Set in the heartland of America, it does not shy away from the realities of life or paint a perfect picture. This is a real "slice of life"-type show, and it's done right with complex personalities and great dialogue to keep one watching and wanting more. Bridget Everett IS Sam: flawed, yet full of heart, and you just want her to succeed in life. Jeff Hiller is utterly resplendent in his role and steals every scene he is in. Also enjoy seeing Mike Hagerty here, and I wonder how they will handle his real life death.

If I had one complaint it would be that I don't know enough about the Holly story. How am I supposed to care if they don't explain exactly who she was (besides just the sister), how she died, etc. Unfortunately, season one ends without shedding any light on this subject.
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Night Sky (2022)
8/10
Ugh the ending
18 January 2023
This is a very well-made show, very slow burn, interesting storyline, great acting by the two leads (love Sissy and how could you not??), but I wish I had never watched it because I just found out they aren't making any more episodes. What. The. Hell. The last episode left me with TOO MANY QUESTIONS. They should at least make a movie to wrap things up for us!! I hope Mr Bezos is reading this. HA.

Blast this minimum character requirement IMDB is doing now. Sometimes a few words is better than a lot! Ok. Can I just mention Sissy Spacek is fantastic? It was really good to see her in something again. Now. Did this add any useful information to my review? No, it did not. But I met the minimum requirement, yay!!
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The Windsors (2016– )
2/10
A review based on the first episode
30 December 2022
I very rarely rate any show based on the first episode, coz that's not really fair, is it? There are plenty of subpar pilot episodes of great shows, and so it really isn't a fair way to judge a programme. I usually watch at least the first three episodes of a show before deciding whether or not to continue. But this one... It's just painful. I love a good Britcom, but this is just not funny. I didn't laugh once. The part with the fat dude might have been funny in 1985, but is not a modern joke and fell very flat. I am no royalist or monarchist by any stretch of the imagination, but these are real people and I think it's inappropriate to makes jokes of their lives. It is mean-spirited. They have been through enough already. I don't find the humour in poking fun at people, especially if they are not around to defend themselves.

In short, I find the whole thing inappropriate, mean-spirited, and just plain UNFUNNY.
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Snack vs. Chef (2022– )
5/10
The hosts are killing the show, hence only 5 stars
13 December 2022
The premise of the show is good; I was expecting something like Snack Masters (Australia & New Zealand, respectively) but on this show they absolutely do not give the contestants enough time to recreate these very tricky snacks. That is the only real problem I have with the competition itself. The judges are fine, I have nothing against them. They are knowledgable and likeable enough. The hosts, however... firstly, they do not need two of them, or even either of them. Secondly, they are extremely unfunny. Thirdly, Megan is the worse of the two, clearly. I wonder if she is "special" if you know what I mean. That's what she acts like. She needs to go. The other host is boring af. Netflix, please get rid of these two hosts. I have a hard time believing anyone thought it would be a good idea to hire these two. They might be ok in other applications, but they are not good on this show at all. It feels like they're related to the producers and that's the only reason they got this gig. Even though what's-her-name from Nailed It! Is annoying, I would definitely prefer her as a host compared to these two snoozers.
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6/10
Actually not horrible
8 December 2022
I will try to ignore the fact that the original movie now has fewer star ratings than this show. How did that happen??!! Anyway. As a huge fan of the original movie, I was very much looking forward to this series. Unfortunately, this series bears little resemblance (if any at all) to its predecessor. They really should have named it something else. Fortunately, it is not a horrible show at all, it just has nothing to do with the original. I was interested in it enough to watch the entire thing. Although some of the scenarios were a bit... outlandish and completely unrealistic, the timeline was a bit skewed and much of the story was predictable, I still found it worth watching. Some of the dialogue was actually witty and intelligent. Don't go into this thinking it's anything like the original, and you'll be fine.
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The Orville: Future Unknown (2022)
Season 3, Episode 10
7/10
Gets cheesier and cheesier
20 August 2022
This last episode felt a little indulgent and not short on cheese. Had some really laugh out loud moments, though. Don't get me wrong, I still NEED a season four to happen, STAT. I would just love for this to be a perfect show, but it never will be with the amount of cheese present; you know, those "meaningful learning" moments when you hear an annoyingly earnest oboe playing in the background, usually when someone (usually wise ol' Kelly) is giving someone a pep talk. I am not sure if those moments are accidental or modelled after the old Star Trek days (pre-2000s) when all those shows were filled with cheesy moments. But you still love the shows, coz their awesome. Just not deserving of 10s. Cheese will never get you 10 in my book.
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8/10
The music is AWFUL
29 July 2022
And most of the people are really annoying; hence, 8/10 stars. Other than that, I am loving this show, loving the concept. Melanie is so cute and funny and fabulous, and her carpenter sidekick is hilarious.

But the music is exceptionally hideous and far too frequent and loud.
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