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talhacarrim
Reviews
This Is Us: Don't Let Me Keep You (2022)
Resonated like crazy
I lost my mother just under 6 months ago. (Even just saying that doesn't even seem real). These last few months have been immensely challenging. Fortunately, I was really close to her and spent A LOT of time with her, and when she fell ill, we got even closer. After she left, I didn't feel the way I thought I'd feel after losing a mother. There wasn't immediate grief or constant sadness. I was in disbelief and felt like she's just gone temporarily somewhere, she'll be home soon. But as the days go the reality slowly seeps in.
I've made peace with the fact that I will grieve in my own way and my process will take time. I will eventually cry my heart out and feel my feelings. But occasionally the guilt & doubt rises up, and I feel "why am I not more emotional? Why am I not grieving like everyone else?" I miss her like crazy but where's the pain? But then I realize that deep down I'm content that we had a phenomenal relationship and we left things on good terms. Not everyone is that lucky.
But I do know the massive tears will come. And it started a bit with this episode. I would've cried anyway when watching this coz it was so tear jerking, but I noticeably cried a lot more than normal, and all my feeling about my own mother came through. Tears of pain and longing, but also tears of being grateful that we had a good time together.
This is Us once again is pulling me through the darkest period of my life. Amazingly tragic and healing episode.
Killing Eve (2018)
Started off excellently...went out with a whimper
This series's success didn't hinge on the final episode for me, I knew already after S3 that it was in free fall.
I'm not sure how faithful this series was to the book, so maybe the steady decline of the show was expected by the viewers who read the books, I don't know. But what I can say is that this series started off very well, and gripped me, even though it wasn't a type of show I'd usually watch, they pulled me in which was a good sign. But then the final 2 seasons were shoddy, rushed and filled with random filler content.
The first 2 seasons were very good, and the storyline played out well. Eve and Villanelle were on opposite spectrums but they were close to colliding together. Their dynamics were excellent and the actors did a fantastic job. So did the supporting cast.
Despite the good start, I felt like every season had same template. The same basic bare bones premise : All season Eve & Villanelle would seek out each other, finally go head to head at the end of the season, and then go their separate ways. So monotonous! The novelty of the unique music also wore off fast.
I hoped after the 2nd season that the cat & mouse would be over, and they'd come to a decision to use there individual skills to work together in S3 and then in the final season take down the Twelve together. The classic story of 2 foes joining forces to defeat a common enemy.
But it wasn't that...the suspense of them finally facing off wore off quickly and I just wanted progression. The last season was all over the place and the finale was just horrid.
1st 2 seasons were an 8/10 but they declined from there. They're just scraped past a 6/10.
This Is Going to Hurt: Episode #1.6 (2022)
THIS HURT
I had this series on my watchlist for ages and only watched it when it was about to leave my streaming service. But I'm so glad I did because WOW! It's actually really good. The snappy and punchy humour is excellent and the acting is superb. The direction and writing makes this so realistic but watchable.
But this episode took it to a whole new dimension. The parallels showing NHS vs Private was so masterfully done. I started the episode telling Adam, you need to do a good job here coz you can get something permanent here and ended begging him to stay public.
They way they depicted the system flaws is poignant and sad that in 2024 it's arguably even worse.
And Shruti! I always liked her character coz she depicted exactly how you would feel in those situations. She was always a side character but this episode she whole and then brought me to tears. The system failed her. The actress was phenomenal and I'll happily watch something else she's in coz she's talented af.
The Leftovers: I Live Here Now (2015)
Tension filled and emotionally draining in the best possible way
WOW! JUST WOW!
One of the most tension filled episodes of television I've ever watched. I kept pausing it after every curveball as I needed to catch my breath. I couldn't watch at times coz it was SCARILY GOOD! Such an emotional rollercoaster. Excellent writing, the back and forth cuts to each individual storyline bringing them all together to a climax was perfect. And that coupled with the excellent excellent music of Max Richter.
Regina King on the bridge with Evie with 0 dialogue heard was a masterpiece of a scene. Nora chasing the baby snatcher made my insides drop. Kevin looking for his dad on the TV with that BLOODY PANIC INDUCING MUSIC lol.
Just as you're processing one curveball scene they throw you something else.
I was totally wired all episode and had a massive adrenaline rush. Very few episodes of tv have done that to me, Succession/Better Call Saul/Breaking Bad/Ozark come to mind of episodes that gripped me like this.
I was tentatively apprehensive after the 1st 3 episodes of S2 as they moved away from the story slightly and it wasn't a direct continuation of S1. They needed to build the story again for a few episodes. And the 1st 3 were all isolated episodes, centric on a group of characters each time. And I was confused a little. But 204 was vital as they made sense of the story thus far.
And the 2nd half of season 2 was sublime. They had many consecutive episodes of perfection. I can't tell you how good some of those episodes were.
By the way, Christopher Eccelstone centric episodes are phenomenal.
S3 HERE I COME...DONT WANT THIS TO END.
Servant (2019)
Relied too heavily on its phenomenal direction/production/cinematography
The first 2 seasons were a great watch. Yes, it has its flaws, like the slow pacing and the plot not being driven forward. But I could forgive that because almost everything else was excellent. The cast acting was great, and the unique direction/production/cinematography/soundtrack masked any flaws and made those seasons a great watch.
I really hopes S3 would be the peak, where all the suspense and inevitability reached its climax. Instead the season was filled with filler content, and the inevitable was delayed further. And the great aspects that initially made me ignore the slow pacing wasn't masking anything any longer. I was annoyed at S3, but the cliffhanger in the season finale wet my appetite again and gave me hope that S4 would be intense and fast paced from the get go...
...instead that was anti-climactic and they started slowly and delayed things yet again. Dorothy needed to find out sooner and the AFTERMATH of her finding out needed to be explored too. I hoped that they'd at least tell her by 405...that obviously didn't happen. I get that the shows nature is to leave the viewer in limbo and constantly guessing, and I was fine with that for 2 seasons but they dilly-dallied around for 1 season too many.
The handful of penultimate episodes were excellent though, particularly 409. Lauren Ambrose stole the episode as Dorothy and displayed her acting chops to the fullest. The last few minutes with the camera on her, and the dialogue in the back was epic. (M. Night masterclass) Of course this was what we were waiting for, the climax, and it didn't disappoint, I just wish it came 1 season earlier.
The finale though is where I air my greatest grievance. HOW IS THAT YOUR SWANSONG EPISODE? It answers ZERO questions and is nowhere near satisfying. It felt like the purpose of the show was pointless. 20 hrs give or take of watching time led to not much satisfaction. After tiptoeing around Dorothy for 4 seasons, her initial reaction was excellent, but then that wasn't maintained as she forgave Leanne so hastily. Because the show left it so late, they didn't give her enough time to actually have an understandably proper reaction.
I must maintain that I love all of the 4-piece cast, they were all excellent. I know Ron Weasley/Juju of course, but I was new to the other 3. And my word are they terrific actors.
M. Night Shyamalan is a genius in his unique style, I was engrossed by it in the early seasons, and loved his direction in 409.
I loved the writers and directors, coz they all stamped their style on episodes. I watched so many episodes in awe of the production value.
The cinematography is some of the best you could wish to see.
A good series that has flaws but is overall a top watch. A solid ±7.7 from me, I just wish they made the climax in S3.
The Handmaid's Tale (2017)
Consistently Quality Cinematography
Finally finished S5 today after +- 18 months of watching. First off the bat I've gotta say that what always stood out for me in 5 seasons of the show, was the phenomenal cinematography. So many shows have top cinematics, but The Handmaid's Tale delivered EVERY episode with the photography. Genius
The pacing of the show was very slow at times and the pacing of scenes were also very tedious. Had to watch episodes at 1.25 speed just to avoid the laborious nature.
Other than that it was a top show regardless. Always played on my emotions. It didn't always pull me in after every episode and the BIG moments were almost always reserved for the beginning & end of each season. I was still invested with the show and thought about it often. Never thought of ever ditching it. Always wanted to finish it as it was quality.
Something that kinda got monotonous was Elizebeth Moss's acting. She's a phenomenal actress don't get me wrong, but sometimes they overdid it with the EXTREME CLOSE UP shots and the repetitive "face twitching". It almost felt like they knew she was good at acting in that particular style and milked it for all it's worth.
Season 5 was good but kinda went nowhere slowly. They got me with the final scene with Sarena Joy & June reuniting. I always had hope for Sarena and thought that there was always a semblance of good in her.
I don't wanna have any expectations for S6 and would rather just let it play out.
I really like the cast and the style of story telling. However I'm genuinely relieved that S6 is the final season. They've dragged on for maybe 2 seasons too many but I'm not complaining. Hopefully they end well and give us a satisfying/realistic ending.
Servant: Pigeon (2023)
STOP DELAYING THE INEVITABLE FFS
It's the 4th season and I'm still waiting for something BIG to happen...after an average S3, they ended with a great cliffhanger, only for it to be anticlimactic af. Nothing in this episode furthers the plot.
I really liked the first 2 seasons, and even though I did notice that the pacing was very slow & nothing substantial happens, I kinda forgave them because the production, directing and camera work was sublime.
I just hoped that in the latter seasons they'd drive the plot forward and actually make the jeopardy a reality. But they're still tiptoeing around the what needs to happen. They're delaying the inevitable
The series was an 8/10 after 2 seasons but dropped to a 7/10 after S3...if S4E1 is anything to go by, it might just drop further down smh.
Oppenheimer (2023)
PURE CINEMA!
I'm a massive movie fan. I'm a massive Christopher Nolan fan. Almost all of his movies are in my top rankings.
As big of a movie fan I am, I've not been to the theatre since I was a kid. But when it was announced that Nolan was coming back with Oppenheimer, I made a decision to definitely try and go. Because I loved all of his movies that I watched (except for Tenet, it was too mind bending for me!)
I did however have the reservation that it might not be as good as his other movies, given that this was a biopic, and maybe he'd be limited in telling the story in his famous style that made me fall in love with his other fiction movies that defied reality. He had parameters in this movie, which I thought may restrict him. How wrong I was!
I watched it in IMAX today, and was completely blown away. Obviously, the cinematic experience was phenomenal, and I was astounded by the audio & visual quality. It was so immersive, and the soundtrack was spine chilling. Every speck of dust, every pore on their faces, every musical note came through so clearly.
The pace of the movie was unnerving, every scene was so short and sharp, and it was punch after punch after punch. It was so purposeful.
You hardly had time to process things. It took me a while to get used to the absence of subtitles which is a staple in my daily viewing, but once I got used to that, I found I was focussing so much harder.
And focus I needed, because, for the first 2 hours, I was just about hanging on. I was confused at certain things, and didn't have time to process/figure out other things. I had a basic understanding, but needed it to fit together.
And in true Nolan fashion, there came a moment in the movie, where EVERYTHING CLICKED. It was like a millisecond of time pausing, and then sudden clarity. This is master storytelling and genius craftsmanship. And he told it in vintage Christopher Nolan style...how dare I doubt him?
The last hour was epic, I can't praise his construction of the story enough. It was masterful.
Oh and the cast performances...PHENOMENAL. SENSATIONAL. GENERATIONAL.
I can't recall seeing someone totally immerse themselves into a character like Cillian Murphy did. He was devastatingly brilliant. Emily Blunt brought so much emotion & feel to her character. Another amazing performance.
Robert Downey Jr. Totally blew me away, just so much depth in his character. He's the one I can't stop thinking about.
Many aren't talking about Matt Damon, he was beyond excellent for me. Absolutely loved him.
Another standout was David Krumholtz. So impressive.
Lovely cameos from Kenneth Branagh and Gary Oldman (obviously!). So much elegance and quality from them.
I did think of reading American Prometheus, or doing research beforehand, but i instead relied on Nolan's storytelling to explain things to me. And that he did with aplomb. Glad I didn't research things too much and spoil it.
All in all, I really enjoyed this movie, would love to watch it again soon to understand it even more.
So glad I experienced this cinematic masterpiece in the theatres.
Barry: wow (2023)
Decent end to a crimanally underrated series
I set the bar so high for this show, coz when I heard that Bill Hader is directing every episode of the final season, I fully expected 8 "10/10" episodes. I expected 8 "Ronny/Lily...710N" episodes. Unfortunately, there weren't any 10/10 episodes for me in the final season, but it was a joy to watch nonetheless.
When I rewatched the 1st 3 seasons of Barry in prep for S4...I was mesmerised at how underrated this show is. It's got everything. Comedy, drama, suspense, curveballs, cliffhangers, amazing cast, epic production and a phenomenal storyline.
However, I was slightly disappointed at where this final season went. Initially, the prison episodes were good, it was simmering and just waiting for an explosion. And then the time-jump came, and that is what I was surprised by. That and also the actual storylines/settings of the time jump. I didn't anticipate that and wasn't excited by that. The actual execution of the time jump was great, just the details of it were surprising to me.
And then the last few episodes when Barry comes to kill Gene, that's when I hoped it would explode. But it sadly fell short. Still good, but short. I was VERY DISAPPOINTED at the lack of interaction between Barry and Gene/Hank/Fuches in the final 2 episodes. He came back but didn't interact with any of them. That disappointed me. The whole series was based on their relationships but we didn't see any of it at the end.
This season almost feels like a spin off...it maybe lacked the main ingredients of what gave the first 3 seasons it's identity.
Excellent series though...highly recommend.
Succession: All the Bells Say (2021)
Phenomenal Rewatch
Better Call Saul is arguably my favourite show of all time, and it annoys me so much that they don't win the Emmy's they deserve...but when they lose to Succession, all I can do is hold my hands up and say FAIR PLAY...THIS SHOW IS PHENOMENAL!!
Right now I just finished rewatching the first 3 seasons of Succession in prep for the 4th & final season! And just finished rewatching S3E9...and even on a rewatch I am nervous af, even though I know what's gonna happen. I still feel a sense on trepidation and dread. I couldn't watch at times coz I was scared of how good it was gonna be (if that makes sense!) and wanted to cherish the moment.
The whole episode was a masterpiece, but the last 20-25 minutes were some of the best content you could ever wish to watch. The heights that ALL the cast reached in those moments were a joy to behold. The script and direction was perfection. The music was epic & set the tone for a phenomenal twist. I can't speak highly enough about this episode & series.
I'm so scared for S4 and can't wait to get started. The first episode has been out for a few days but I've been delaying it to get in the right frame of mind for both the S3 finale and the S4 premier. SO EXCITED.
Grey's Anatomy: I'll Follow the Sun (2023)
HOW WAS THIS NOT MEREDITH GREY CENTRIC???!
How can you say goodbye to YOUR TITLE CHARACTER OF 18.5 SEASONS like that?? I'm so annoyed at this. I waited over a week to watch Meredith Grey's finale coz I wanted to be in the right frame of mind to say goodbye...only to be completely disappointed. Your main character of almost 20 seasons hardly features in her final episode!? She barely got 50% screen time to say goodbye. Also, the story of her departure was drab af. They made her go out on a whimper after so many strong seasons. It was so hard to even get emotional coz they didn't do anything remotely sad.
They have over a dozen episodes left in the season to feature the other characters and the interns, why force it down our throats in an episode that's supposed to have been MEREDITH GREY CENTRIC
So many other characters who have left over the years have had terrific goodbye episodes, but YOUR TITLE CHARACTER GETS THIS TRASH!?
Shame on the show runners, they've prioritized a revenue stream instead of doing things properly.
The Walking Dead: A New Deal (2022)
This isn't The Walking Dead anymore...
I'm so disappointed in these last few seasons of TWD...it goes against everything that made the show famous initially. I have zero interest in the current storyline. The whole Sebastian & Milton crap is boring and just not TWD.
What made this show what it was was the WALKERS, and the threat they pose to humanity. They've now become occasional 'guest characters' who pose zero threat anymore. When I first watched this show, I imagined it ending with the walkers being eradicated from earth in some way that the 'gang' figure out. Rather, it's become a 'political "thriller"'...if I wanted that I would watch House of Cards or the West Wing etc. I came here for the zombies and the terror that it brings and the togetherness it forces from the cast...not who's president of a community. Whoever was in charge of the storytelling direction for the past few seasons has ruined this show. A great show initially, going out on a complete WHIMPER if they don't change things QUICKLY...I still have hope Rick might come back but I don't have hope in these lot.
Station Eleven: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Aren't Dead (2021)
It's SO BAD
The construction of episodes 2 and 4 have been awful. If every alternate episode follows this particular time line then I might just skip them. I don't understand how we are supposed to remotely feel anything for the characters and their stories, when they didn't lay the groundwork to create depth for their characters. We cannot understand the gravity of what's happening when we don't know what the norm for each character is. They play this tense and tender music every scene as if there's so much jeopardy occurring but we as an audience do not identify is as out of the ordinary because what's happening is the normal, and not UNIQUE OR DIFFERENT TO THE NORM. The travelling theatre storyline is drab af, but what makes it worst is the construction of the storyline.
Station Eleven: A Hawk from a Handsaw (2021)
Pilot episode is misleading
I'm trying out this series coz it got some limelight at the 2022 Emmy's. Watched the pilot and enjoyed it immensely. Loved the tone & the tension. Loved the characters and their introductory storylines. But now, watching episode 2, I'm shocked & irritated. The difference between the 1st 2 episode is chalk and cheese. It's almost like episode 2 is a pilot for a completely different show. The sparse scenes in this episode that continue from episode 1 is dragged out in tiny segments and the effect of the actual tension is lost. The newer, future storyline is uninteresting & bereft of any detail to make it make sense. Reluctant to continue.
Barry: starting now (2022)
Season 4 WHERE ARE YOU?!
I need more Barry already! This season really exploded. The in depth character analysis was sublime. Bill Hader surprised me more & more every episode...as a brilliant actor yes, but massively as a director. The episodes he directed had so many unique qualities to it, which made them exquisite. The camera work this season also levelled up, some of the shots were a joy to behold. What a cast, they all shine so brightly, and all stepped into the limelight this season and explored their vast character spectrum. Genuinely CANNOT wait for season 4.
Ozark: A Hard Way to Go (2022)
With 15mins to go, it could have been GREAT or DISAPPOINTING, and they chose the latter...
I AM FUMING!! How on earth did a Byrde not die, I can't explain! WENDY HAD TO DIE! Never has a character infuriated me more. I haven't seen such a soulless & inherently evil character not get a much deserved death. I understand that they wanted to go against the grain, and not be like every other show where the 'good guys' live & the 'bad guys' die. They wanted to show that the evil guys sometimes win, and leave a trail of good bodies in their wake. Killing a Byrde would have been expected as it was SO deserved. The curveball was to kill off Ruth. And that's the way they went. But offing the 1 decent person who has hope for change makes a crave for justice even more intense. They had to balance the scales by killing off Wendy, at least give us some satisfaction. Thinking that Marty & co. Got away with it leaves a VERY disgusting taste in the mouth, and when Mel Sattem could possibly give us a little justice, they snatch that away too by killing off a decent man.
And by Jonah no less, someone who rebelled (with reason) against the inherent evilness of his parents, particularly his mother. He was a signal of hope that there was a conscience in that family, but even he buckled VERY easily to Wendy's OBVIOUS mental facility gambit. He showed VERY LITTLE resistance when it mattered, bark stronger than his bite. The look on the parents faces when he pulls the shotgun on Mel is disturbing. Marty, who exposed his children to such a evil & manipulative life, smiles at his son, almost like the life he gave them is now of benefit to him and almost justified coz it saves his life. Wendy also smiles, but because she finally cracked his resolve. When he rebelled, she tried everything to get him back, everything but genuine love. But she got him in the end, with a bit of reverse psychology & pure evil manipulation. And this act of his confirmed that he too, like Charlotte, became submissive to them.
The production, cinematics, direction, camera shots, suspense, tension all were amazing...but ending was awful. They could have become a great show in the last 15 mins, or become a disappointing one, and they unfortunately became the latter. Sometimes the direction of a storyline can be determined by how popular, lucrative, impactful you want your show to become. Ozark is already all those things, so this finalé was almost a free run for them. They could do anything they want with it and give it the ending they thought was deserved, knowing that they've achieved everything they wanted already and this episode won't really affect its overall image. It just feels wrong that they didn't give us an inkling of a positive ending for the few good people left. I'm still FUMING by the way.
Roar (2022)
You can't do an anthology episode in 30 minutes!
A few decent episodes but in general not very good. Episodes too short to build a substantial storyline. Often ends with the viewer left in limbo (purposely or otherwise), still the effect doesn't materialise. 45 minutes should have been the absolute minimum, & from what I've read, the adaptation from the books didn't land too well. Watch at your own peril.
Severance: The We We Are (2022)
That is how you get a slow-burner to EXPLODE!!
When you have a series that takes its time to build a twisted storyline & develop the complexity of the characters & their intertwined narratives; all you can do is trust and hope & pray that when they explode, they REALLY EXPLODE. Severance has absolutely nailed the balance, and then some. It's wasn't a rushed ending, it was absolute perfection. The way each isolated storyline met each other in the middle of the chaos was sublime. The cunning reveals & curveballs had me gasping out aloud at 2 in the AM. And Dylan holding on for dear life in the security room has me so tense it was unbelievable. Masterpiece of an episode. The ensemble cast peaked at the right time. What a cast. And Ben Stiller has done something career-defining here. I already wanna rewatch that episode.
About Time (2013)
Simply impeccable
One of the better movies I've watched in a while. The acting in this was flawless. The lessons of the movie may be derivative and overdone but the storyline portrayed it in a imaginatively genius way. Domhnall Gleeson was a joy to behold. His physical acting was on point. Rachel McAdams suits this genre with aplomb. Bill Nighy giving a performance that Gary Oldman would be proud of. 'Kit-Kat' was the dark horse here, a character with so much depth and influence in her disposition. The script and cinematography aided this phenomenal cast. Thoroughly enjoyed it...already craving a rewatch.