jhuebel Reviews

Tracker (2024– )

Wanted to Like It, I LIke Justin Hartley, But This is Bad

[3/10 · 5 March 2024]

I really like Justin Hartley. And his acting was fine in this show, despite the poor quality of the script and the weak supporting actors.

Regarding the script: The general premise of the show could be good-- a man with exceptional tracking skills finds people who are hard to find or don't want to be found. But Reacher this is not. It's a pale imitation, at best.

Honestly, the show is just boring. Painfully so. The plot plods along (I almost fell asleep). Serious situations lack gravity. Even the opening scene of the pilot lacks any sense of weight.

Then there are the supporting actors. Of the few I can remember after watching three episodes, their acting is poor. The writing is partly to blame, but the show also seems too focused on checking politically correct checkboxes. It strains credulity in the process.

I've given this 3/10 only for Justin Hartley. But that's being very generous.

Beacon 23 (2023– )

Hoped for something good. Got... this.

[2/10 · 19 November 2023]

Just to start... I haven't read the book (books?). So, I come into this series with no preconceived notions about what the show should be. I only knew that it was based on a book by the same author who wrote Silo, which was made into a series I enjoy very much.

Anyway, the first 30 seconds of episode 1 had me hopeful. The Crest flying through space looked interesting. The idea of a beacon steering ships clear of dark matter storms could have been good.

Then the dialog and plot started. That's when it all came crashing down. There are so many things in this series that are just completely off.

Halan is a painfully bad character, as is Aster. For starters, the trust that Aster puts in Halan seems very misplaced.

None of the secondary characters have been any better. I particularly dislike the two AI characters.

The apparent story arc for the season doesn't make much sense. I won't spoil it here. But it's dumb.

Anyway, I tried. I've watched the three current episodes and the show isn't improving. I'll give this a couple of stars for the visuals of space and the ideas of space beacons and dark matter storms. But that's a generous 2 stars.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Those Old Scientists (2023) Season 2, Episode 7

Great Episode!

[10/10 · 27 July 2023]

I was initially not a fan of Lower Decks-- then it grew on me. I was initially skeptical that Strange New Worlds would capture the heart of older ST series (forget Picard or Discovery)-- then it grew on me.

I loved this crossover episode. If you haven't watched Lower Decks, you must watch it before you watch this. Otherwise, you won't understand just how hilarious and well-performed Boimler and Mariner are in this episode. This episode requires that context.

Putting aside the excellent idea of a LD/SNW crossover, this was a bit of a throwaway episode. But if they reference the crossover back on Lower Decks, that will cement it as an important episode.

That said, this episode did establish Lower Decks and horonium as ST canon. So, I guess it's an important episode regardless.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

I dunno, I enjoyed it

[8/10 · 16 July 2023]

Yes, Helena is super annoying, but overall the movie was a lot of fun. It felt like an Indiana Jones movie to me. It was an appropriate sendoff to Harrison Ford's character.

I really liked the de-aging in the first 25 - 20 minutes. It was fairly convincing. There were a couple of spots where they didn't make it across the uncanny valley. But generally speaking, it was really good. That helped the movie feel very much like the early movies and set up the overall story arc well.

Regarding the dial of destiny... I liked how that went. They took a time travel trope and did it a little differently.

Anyway, I'm giving this an honest 8/10. It's worth the price of admission.

True Lies (2023)

Silly, But Fun

[6/10 · 6 March 2023]

I agree with some of the other reviewers that this show could use a smidge more seriousness-- but not too much. I enjoyed the show for what it is, though. It's a silly spy show. If you think of it as anything more than that, you're missing the point.

This is escapism. Turn off your brain and just enjoy it.

The acting is so-so. But again... silly. So, they say silly things to forward the spy-couple goofiness.

The situations are barely believable. But again... silly. The point (at least in the pilot) is to put them in ridiculous situations.

The bad guys aren't particularly scary. They're about as good a shot as a storm trooper. But again... silly. They aren't supposed to be good at what they do.

We'll see how this goes. Scorpion-- which had a similar vibe-- lasted a few seasons.

Animal Control (2023– )

Needs Some Tuning

[6/10 · 26 February 2023]

I like the premise of Animal Control. And there have been a few genuinely funny moments (albeit very silly ones).

I'm finding the interaction between Joel McHale and Michael Rowland to be really fun. Michael Rowland is a break-out star in this series, in my opinion. He plays his character with such a sincerity that you can't help but like him. And it makes Joel McHale tormenting him all the more funny.

The reason I'm giving this a 6 instead of something higher is because of some of the weak points:

1) The show lacks some energy. It's almost there, but not quite. I think as the characters become more three-dimensional that will improve, though.

2) Grace Palmer's character needs to be dialed back a couple of notches on the sex talk. It's just not funny. Her character is just sex and drugs with an interesting Kiwi accent. However, Grace Palmer's character isn't very likeable, even though I can see that her comedic timing could be good.

3) Ravi Patel's character is B-O-R-I-N-G.

I'll continue to watch for now. I'm hoping most of my complaints above will be resolved as the show gets its legs under it. Time will tell.

Shrinking (2023– )

Woah. Really Solid.

[8/10 · 6 February 2023]

So, I gave it an 8/10. That's a really good review in its own right. It lost a couple of points only because of the number of F-words in it.

But woah, this is a really good show otherwise. The characters are great-- the story is compelling and emotional. I was invested within the first 10 minutes of the show.

I've always liked Jason Segal as an actor. He's real. And that's especially true in this series (so far). He's a shrink who lost his wife. So, he's dealing with some stuff. And you really connect with that in the pilot episode. Then, he goes rogue...

And that's what makes this show great. When you think of therapists, you think of someone who you just sit there and give to... But Segal's character makes that a two-way street. It's really good. And it's a great example of what many people are missing today. Pouring out your problems on someone that isn't invested in your success doesn't help you. Shrinking turns that on its head and shows that connection is what matters.

Do I think a therapist should befriend their patients? Probably not. There are a lot of real-world instances where that's a bad idea.

But this series (at least in the pilot) touches on the fact that we need to findi real connections to be whole.

Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)

Love This Movie

[8/10 · 5 November 2022]

I'm not sure you could make a more perfect movie about Weird Al.

This was really, really funny. If you're a fan and you grew up in the 80s/90s, there are so many great references in this movie.

The retelling of his life was brilliant-- how real life milestones were woven into the fictional story. Every bit of it screamed "Weird Al". I do wish there were some more references to UHF, though. I think I caught a few, though.

Daniel Radcliffe was fantastic as Weird Al, too. I often forgot that was him, which is a testament to his dedication to the character. Evan Rachel Wood also did a great job portraying the diabolical Madonna.

This is a great addition to Weird Al's legend.

The Orville: Lasting Impressions (2019) Season 2, Episode 11

Orville's "The Inner Light"

[10/10 · 30 October 2022]

I can't give a higher compliment than to say this is The Orville's "The Inner Light" combined with "Memory Alpha" from Star Trek: The Next Generation. The writers of The Orville writers should be proud. It was just fantastic. In addition to the hilarious storyline with Bortus that provided a little levity to the episode, the main plot with Laura was so good.

This was the episode that really put The Orville over the top for me. It showed that it could be funny and serious. And I love that it was revisited later in the series.

Solid 10 out of 10. And it made Gordon a serious character that mattered in the show.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power (2022– )

Not Sure What The Fuss is About

[8/10 · 4 September 2022]

I've watched the first two episodes and thoroughly enjoyed them. I'm not sure why so many people are complaining. Granted, I'm not a Tolkien purist. So I don't have that baggage weighing me down.

But the production value is fantastic, the casting is interesting, the acting is good, the characters are likeable and the overall plot (so far) is coherent and paced well. There are several subplots that add variety to the story and none of them seem to be fluff.

There are a couple of characters I'm particularly enjoying. Nori Brandyfoot is fun to watch. She curious and fearless. Clearly her interactions with The Stranger are going to play an important part in the series. I also think Elrond is played in a interesting way. He's naive and easily flattered. Little does he know he's playing a pivotal role in the return of Sauron and the creation of the One Ring.

I will definitely continue to watch. 8/10.

Moonhaven (2022)

Strange

[6/10 · 9 August 2022]

Very strange. I'm watching the first episode and it's just... Weird. But it's interesting enough that I'm going to keep watching for now. There are some really unlikeable characters. But I'm not sure if that's intentional or not. This show does suffer from the "everyone has to be deeply flawed" tropes, though.

The Endgame (2022)

Really Enjoyed The Pilot

[8/10 · 23 February 2022]

Really enjoyed the pilot episode. I know others are calling it a Blacklist knockoff, but I've never seen Blacklist. So don't really care about those comparisons.

For someone unfamiliar with Blacklist, I was impressed with the first episode. I also think the casting is pretty good. Morena Baccarin is always excellent. The female FBI agent is mostly convincing in an action/thriller sort of way. And the other minor characters seem well cast.

I'm interested to see where this goes for sure.

The Cleaning Lady (2022– )

Interesting Premise Squandered

[5/10 · 14 February 2022]

The idea was interesting. And I like the main actress. But generally speaking, the show doesn't live up to the potential. The writing isn't great, everyone has to have some major personality flaw (for example, the FBI agent) and it's just a lot of the same drama episode after episode.

Reacher (2022– )

Reacher is Boring Until It Isn't

[6/10 · 14 February 2022]

There's a lot of "knowing" looks (or something) from Jack Reacher. They just don't work. The show really drags between the actions scenes. When there is action, it's pretty good. But otherwise, the plot is really thin. And there are several unnecessarily graphic scenes. That said, I really like the casting for the show. Willa Fitzgerald is particularly wonderful.

Overall though, I was disappointed. I'm giving it a generous 6 out of 10.

The Great Pottery Throw Down (2015– )

Love this show

[9/10 · 14 February 2022]

A wholesome show with beautiful art, interesting contestants and great hosts. I love pottery and this really puts it on display in a great way. Also, please keep Ellie! She adds the right amount and style of humor the show needs.

B Positive (2020–2022)

Took Me A Few Episodes, But I Find It Endearing Now

[7/10 · 27 January 2022]

It took me a bit, but I find the show really endearing now. It's a regular watch for me.

The main characters are pretty good. I initially found Annaleigh Ashford really annoying. But after a while, you can't help but start to like her.

As the second season has progressed, it's lagged a little. But there are new, interesting characters and situations, so it's never boring.

Give it a chance. It's just nice. And nice is good this these days.

Wolf Like Me (2022– )

Really Got Caught Up In The Characters

[9/10 · 16 January 2022]

I really enjoyed this. I took a star off because it was a little slow in a couple of places. And they liked to use "knowing glances" in a few spots. But other than that, this was really well done.

I wasn't sure about Josh Gad in a dramatic role, to be honest. Any time I hear his voice, I hear Olaf. But he does really well in this series.

The actress who plays his daughter is also very endearing. You really, truly feel for her and the emotional pain she's enduring.

Then there is the central premise, which I'm trying not to give away but is really kind of obvious. Isla Fisher's character is wonderful. Even though you know she's dangerous to everyone around her, you feel drawn to her and want to comfort her tortured soul.

I started watching this series last night and ended up staying awake until almost 4am to finish it. It was really that compelling. I hope there's a season 2.

Nash Bridges (2021 TV Movie)

Hot Garbage

[2/10 · 20 December 2021]

This is like the TV series in name only. The story is garbage, the acting is even worse. Avoid this is you want to maintain nostalgic feelings for the old series.

Love Hard (2021)

Wanted to like it, but it was a mess

[4/10 · 15 November 2021]

I wanted to like it, but the movie was a mess overall. Good cast. I really like Nina Dobrev. But to be honest, the moment her character decided to go out with Tag, she became much less attractive.

Arcane (2021– )

Not A League of Legends Player, This is FANTASTIC

[10/10 · 7 November 2021]

I'm not a League of Legends player. In fact, I know almost nothing about it. But this show is fantastic. To say that the opening scenes of the first episode were "gripping" is an understatement. I don't often start on the edge of my seat with a TV show-- animated or live action.

(UPDATE 1/14/2022: Rewatching the show for the second time and the opening scene still puts me at the edge of my seat, holding my breath. Wow.)

The animation is well above average for a TV series. It's atmospheric in ways that most animated series don't even try. This isn't just another Star Wars-style animated series. It feels distinctly unique.

The characters are also really interesting. Again, I know nothing about League of Legends. But based on the series description, I'm assuming at least a couple of these characters become a league champion? Ultimately, I have no idea what that really means. But I'm interested in finding out.

And that's why I think this series is really successful. I don't know anything about the source material, but after just the opening scenes of the first episode, I'm invested in finding out more.

10/10 easily. I would give it that score just for the first few minutes of the series alone.

Family Law (2021– )

So Many Unlikeable Characters

[5/10 · 31 October 2021]

Bleh. So many unlikeable characters. Jewel Staite's character is particularly unlikeable. I'm a fan of hers, but everything about this character is gawd awful. Victor Garber isn't much better.

Star Trek: Prodigy (2021–2024)

Not Really Star Trek, But Enjoyable Nonetheless

[7/10 · 31 October 2021]

I did enjoy this. But putting "Star Trek" in the name is really misleading. It doesn't feel like Star Trek at all.

To be fair, the main characters do end up on a Federation ship. And there is a training hologram in the form of Captain Janeway. But other than that, this has no resemblance to the Star Trek universe.

This is just another Star Wars series. As long as you're cool with that, this could be fun.

Invasion (2021–2024)

Slow, Winding and Boring

[4/10 · 25 October 2021]

I watched the first three episodes. So I think I have a general feel for the show. I found it slow and kinda boring. All the characters are flawed and depressing. I'm just not interested.

The Next Thing You Eat (2021)

Might Have Been Good

[1/10 · 25 October 2021]

This might have been interesting. But 60 seconds into the first episode we've got an F-bomb along with several other swear words. Why?

This review is based on that 60 seconds only. So if you're OK with unnecessary profanity, you might enjoy this. I'm not OK with unnecessary profanity, so I'm out.

Doogie Kamealoha, M.D.: Aloha - The Hello One (2021) Season 1, Episode 1

I Liked It

[8/10 · 15 October 2021]

It was very much like the first episode of the original Doogie Howser series. And I'm completely cool with that.

I actually found the actress who plays Doogie in this series REALLY irritating in shows I've seen her in before. But I have to say, she gave a great performance in this first episode. I teared up during the beach scene toward the end of the episode (don't want to spoil it).

I'm going to give this a chance.