Reviews

I think the tone is setting in now. I thought Lucy was too comfortable handling a severed human head. It's like trauma and shock doesn't exist in these comic-booky realms of imagination, there she is casually having a conversation with decomposing head, sitting in a barren wilderness in the most vulnerable state. I get that she's plucky and niaeve but I think they show us in moments like this that the show intends to embrace goofiness as it unfolds.

I think the Thaddeus character also embodies this goofiness. He's essentially a lackey to Maximus and the tone of his character is very much on the side of parody.

I'm making it sound like I dislike the show. The contrary, so far it has entertained me with its mutant monsters, its world-building and cartoon violence. I'm also liking how things are shaping up in the vault. That could get very close to the bone.

The women are great. All four of them. Comic timing is right on point, like a tight, well-rehearsed band that can riff off each other in a way that seems like magic to anyone who doesn't understand the craft.

This episode merged into soap opera with its central narrative, but they keep the undercurrent of comedy with Blanche and the failed audition. I think you have to ration watching sit-coms. I've been watching The Golden Girls each night with my evening meal. I think it works best as a one or two-a-week show but there is no doubt that it's one hell of comfort food package to take you back to a different age of TV. I like that I occasionally have to look up the references.

I've recently been watching Just Good Friends with my partner after discovering it's a show she treasures from the 80's. I also note that it's written by John Sullivan, scriber of classic British sit-com, Only Fools and Horses.

There is an absolutely classic 'Only Fools' moment when Penny goes through Vince's wallet in his car. If you've seen the episode, you'll know what I mean. I laughed out loud (belly laughed infact). This show has a lot to offer still. Yes, aspects are dated and Penny is somewhat teased and toyed with, although Penny blows hot and cold and there is room to say they are as bad as each other.

Solid start to this mid-life crisis comedy. It feels like low key, minor league stuff (even though it is produced by mega-buck Apple TV). As a fan of Rose Bryne ever since Bridesmaids, I'm glad to settle into a series starring her. Of course, she and Seth Rogen share an easy chemistry, which should at least make this show a relative breeze. I laughed at that end sex scene where she punches him in the kidney. Genuinely funny moment.

Overall decent. I don't expect to be raving about this one, but sometimes it's nice to have a cosy little show you can tuck away into a late night slot when I'm too tired for a movie.

South Park is often taking aim at the absurdity of life and attempts to prick the bubble of seriousness regarding topics the world gets very wound up about.

Some great Chef stuff in this episode. His simple take on everything is always a perfect place for some cut-though humour. The words 'making love' attributed to animals is hilarious. It reminds me of the Madonna film, Body Of Evidence when she asks "have you ever watched animals make love...it's intense". It's such a stupid film and such a stupid delivery, desperately trying to steal some of that Sharon Stone pulp from Basic Instinct.

It's hard to talk seriously about this. The genetic engineer ends up like Dr Frankenstein, shooting his own creation in the head (which happened to be a lobotomised Stan) while the boys get all angsty about the unthinkable prospect of losing a fight to a girl. It's classic South Park.

The boys go hunting. Cartman has flashbacks of being in 'nam. Ned Gerblanski 'sings' kumbaya by the campfire. Meanwhile, South Park is threatened by the catastrophe of a volcanic eruption. Chef sings 'Hot Lava'. The boys find out that hunting is stupid because they can only shoot certain animals. And they prefer cartoons. "Cartoons kick ass", says Eric Cartman. Well South Park certainly does.

It's an early episode but the tone and style of this show was strong from the very beginning. It's also wacky, with details like a giant Scuttlebutt monster that has Patrick Duffy as one of its legs. Bravo, Matt and Trey.

Shatterday is '7' from me. This episode is all about Bruce Willis. It's a notably intimate episode with lots of close ups of his face, which is essentially the main tool of the storytelling here. Willis is good, perhaps in his most natural state all chilled out and 'together'. Like many episodes of The Twilight Zone, there is a mirror to reflect back at ourselves, especially those of us (like me) with misanthropic tendencies. I'm a complete shut in, these days. I was bad before but I'm much worse post pandemic. This episode was a reminder to me to do better and I appreciate it for that, even if the way it plays out is a little lacking, especially considering it's the very first episode of the 80's revival of Rod Serling's show.

This show has built itself a really great scope of paranoia and intrigue. I think what is particularly satisfying is how so few of us saw this coming. It makes it such a treat. We've got back to the Empire as this terrifying force in the universe. It's a really great reminder to fans of what was so deftly constructed in the original trilogy and it's great to discover how Tony Gilroy truly understands the background landscape of those movies that we all love so dearly.

It's refreshing to be afraid of the Empire once again. The final shot is quite contemplative and has some symmetry with Rogue One.

This show continues to grip me. The dynamic between Phillip and Elizabeth could not be more fascinating. The direction and pacing of the episodes. Of course, much of it is familiar to anyone who had watched 24 or any other thriller-drama. Keri Russell blows my mind. I'm addicted to her face. The scene where she goes all Fight Club on Claudia had me exhale a 'wow'.

The creepy driver guy plotline added to the sense of vulnerability of the children, even if it feels like it's pushing the boundaries of needing to having 'eventful' occurrences.

What a wonderful TV Dad Steven Keaton is. I love him counselling Alex on matter of sex, before it gets awkward and he resorts to - "how about those Cleveland Indians..." So funny. I like that show tackles subject matter like this in such a light way. These things are often overblown in families.

Michael J. Fox has energy and charisma to spare. I can see why this show became a household favourite.

The gob-smackingly phenomenal Kerri Russell wins the MVP in Comint. I delayed watching The Americans for years, as I felt like the 'undercover operatives' thing had been overbaked, but I'm glad I finally made the effort. It keeps pushing the boundaries of the dynamic between Phillip and Elizabeth. They must sleep their way to information, despite growing feelings for each other. The danger they're both in and how emotionally compromised they are because of how ingrained they are in US life, in each other's lives. I love how we as viewers aren't privy to the depths of their capabilities until a cold-blooded Elizabeth pops a bullet in someone's head at point blank range. We know she's an assassin but it's still a shock, because the writing is magnificent and the delivery is pinpoint from Russell who is deeply alluring and devastating in one go.

Coach gets overprotective over his daughter Kelly when she announces she's dating an older man. Craig T Nelson is great fun once again. There's a b-plot about him haranguing one of his college football players into losing weight. He's a massive control freak, but gets taught an embarrassing lesson in overstepping his mark.

Clare Carey is delightful as Kelly Fox.

A sweet-natured Japanese animated series. It takes a beat to adjust to the style but if you watch enough of this stuff you know what to expect. I love how exuberant Takeo Gouda is about macaroons. Everything about the girl means absolutely everything to him. Even in the face of being overlooked or rejected, he still wants the best for the one he loves. It doesn't get much more pure than that.

The MCU is benefitting from having its own live action history now. I particularly like the jumping off point here, namely a new point of view of the 2012 battle of New York. It makes sense that this cataclysmic, world-changing event would shape the life of Kate Bishop. I watched this with little sense of expectation but liked it. Felt like an origins tale and a Christmas hug in one swoop. Well done.

I used to enjoy this on Yorkshire Televisions 'Night Shift' programming schedule in the early 90's. It's still funny. Craig T Nelson is having trouble with the women in his life, namely his daughter and secret(ish) girlfriend. There are good comedic beats and the show has an easy breezy feel. I want to live in his log cabin.

Mr C gets tonsillitis and Richie has to step up and run the hardware store. This one is a cute little lesson in taking responsilibility. I adore Mrs Cunningham. Like a great mother going about her business without the thanks, she's the unsung hero of the family. Her old methods of treating a sore throat are adorable. I'd meet her down the aisle in a heartbeat.

It's a solid first episode, even if the overall tone somewhat escapes me. We don't see many comedy-thrillers, but this has that slant to it. Kaley Cuoco plays a hot mess well. I was reminded of The Hangover movies, albeit with a more sinister edge. I liked the 70's paranoia thriller type score and the glossy photography. I'll watch another.

Married With Children meets King of the Hill. Anger management issues with huge star and production credentials...Bill Burr, Laura Dern, Sam Rockwell. I like the 70's setting and all the references. I recently watched an episode of Happy Days where Richie Cunningham is sold a dodgy car - the term 'lemon' was used to denote a faulty product, in the case of F is for Family, it's a TV. Did the magnet thing work back in the day? I can tell I'm going to like this show.

I have no clue what Trey Parker and Matt Stone have against Kathie Lee Gifford (TV presenter) but they go so far as to appear in a sarcastic introductory video before the episode. The plot is typical of South Park but I find myself laughing more at incidental character moments, like Eric Cartman ordering his mother around while shouting "beefcake" as he slobs on the couch. There's some of Scorsese'sTaxi Driver filtered in with Mr Garrison's plot.

This show is pure gold. The performances are so perfectly tuned, while the atmosphere and tone make it such an inviting watch. 22-minutes fly by. Orgy keeps the standard high with some great gags around virgins, exaggerated sexual prowess, Laszlo's boring porno reels and much more.

You can't unsee Colin Robinson in bondage attire.

The Texan Simpsons gets underway. Social services mistake Hank to be guilty of domestic abuse. Bobby takes advantage of the opportunity to get away with more...but there is an underlying reason.

It turns out to be an episode of painful truths. Fathers unable to tell their children they love them unconditionally, because of the how they themselves were raised. So sad but all-too true (I've been there). Alpha males often think admitting their feelings makes them less of a man.

The car manufacturer FIAT stands for "fix it again Tony". Love that! 😆

Physical - Olivia Newton John (sucks) I Wanna Be Sedated The Ramones (cool) All of Me - Big Daddy Kane (cool) Judas Priest - Painkiller (cool) Bloodletting - Concrete Blonde (cool) Symphony of Destruction - Megadeth (cool) Nothing Compares To You - Sinead O Connor - (sucks) Don't Call Me Dude - Scatterbrain (cool) The Lumberjack - Jackyl (cool)

The animation is ropey (or sucks...huh-huh) in this first episode. The boys decide to give blood in the naive assumption they'll get rich. It gets a lot better than this, thankfully.

Great dynamic thrown into Phillip and Eluzabeth's relationship history and present tense. Both actors play it superbly. I particularly loved the end of episode morning scene between them both in the kitchen. Phillip's tears at Elizabeth's admission. We wonder who the real 'they' are...this gives us a glimpse.

Is this show the sexy version of Homeland? I'm here for Keri Russell but I'm getting so much more. The poison plan with the clock is gripping. The scene where Phillip bribes the mother was spellbinding in its calculated cruelty, and the ensuing way that story plays creates great suspense along with enticing viewer conflict of interest.