alexboyteh Reviews

The Gentlemen (2024)

The Gentlemen -"When The Lion's Hungry"

[10/10 · 28 March 2024]

The Gentlemen is a British TV series that tracks the lives of a group of upper-class individuals as they confront some very unusual challenges of modern society in England. The show is filled with drama, intrigue, action, and humor, making it a must-watch for fans of the genre.

The cast features some of Britain's finest actors, who bring a sense of authenticity and depth to their characters. Each member of the ensemble cast delivers a standout performance, capturing the complexities and nuances of their respective roles.

Sharp and witty writing combined with clever dialogue, in proper English language, keeps viewers engaged and entertained through each episode. The story line is humorous, full of twists and turns, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats as the plot is revealed and alliances are tested.

The production values are top-notch, with stunning cinematography and beautiful scenery and decor, that transport viewers in the midlle of the story. The sound and music is impressive, capturing the admosphere and completing the narrative perfectly.

Overall, "The Gentlemen" is a captivating and compelling television series that will appeal to drama audiences but also to the more action oriented ones. With its stellar cast, strong writing, and gorgeous production values, this show is definitely worth a watch.

I hope that the series will be renewed due to the season finale ending, with multiple narrative threads unresolved, which offer the possibility of an additional 2-3 seasons.

La Brea (2021–2024)

"Oops! Your mom fell into a sinkhole."

[4/10 · 4 March 2024]

I tried watching La Brea and let me tell you, the only thing that got sucked into a mysterious sinkhole was my precious time.

I have never seen a show that so accurately portrays the ability of humans to make stupid decisions in a time of crisis, (except maybe in the "Alien" movie series). It's like watching a group of lemmings navigate a minefield.

La Brea should just be called "Oops! Your mom fell into a sinkhole." because that's pretty much the plot in a nutshell.

Being riddled with nonsensical plot holes, in despair, the writers appealed to "The plot hole fixer" also known as --> The Flashback Narrative. Which made the plot to lose momentum and the story and characters annoying.

Overall, La Brea is a hot mess of a show that is so bad, it's almost good. Almost. But hey, at least it's entertaining for a while, in a train-wreck kind of way.

From (2022– )

From dull to cringe.

[4/10 · 20 February 2024]

"FROM" is a predictable supernatural thriller that fails to deliver any truly original scares or plot twists. The characters are one-dimensional and the storyline lacks depth, making it difficult to become emotionally invested in the show.

The characters were extremely stereotypical and annoying, and I couldn't feel empathy or concern for any of them, including the children.

The pacing is slow and uninspired, making it a chore to sit through each episode. Overall, "FROM" fall into the spectrum of mediocrity of the supernatural genre.

If you are looking for hidden meanings or philosophical revelations, you will find better ones in a pigeon's poop that landed on your shoulder.

Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2024)

"Star Trek: Discovery" the whispered melodrama.

[4/10 · 21 January 2024]

Visually is beautiful with excellent special effects but the show falls short in the writing department.

It is a show that has almost nothing from the Star Trek vibe. The characters are very emotional, crying a lot and talking about their feelings. The show is largely whispered, particularly by the main character Michael Burnham, who unfortunately does not measure up to iconic predecessors such as Picard, Janeway, or Archer.

Star Trek used to be a science-fiction show that frequently dealt with moral and ethical dilemmas related to science, exploration and the human condition. Star Trek: Discovery has become a melodrama that doesn't have anything of these.

The LGBT community will love some characters, but it seems to me that the producers are obsessively pushing their narrative.

There are some interesting moments here, but not enough, and there is too much drama. This show fall into the spectrum of mediocrity.

Citadel (2023– )

When the episodes end with a teaser...

[5/10 · 23 June 2023]

I am e huge fan of the action-spy movies and TV series. "Citadel" is right there in my alley.

I think the story is good, it is well acted and has a great cast. The music reminds me of James Bond, which is great. The action scenes and the cinematography are good enough to be considered satisfactory.

My critique is the following:The flashback narrative technique, may work in literature or in soap opera, but in this genre of movies or TV series not so much. They achieve the opposite, making the story annoying, and to lose momentum.

The sound track and suspense music is hit and miss: sometimes exaggerated at the wrong times, out of context, completely disrupting the flow of the story. It's something that if you notice, it's always a bad thing, and it may change your perception of the whole series.

There are some interesting moments here, but not enough, and there is too much drama. This show fall into the spectrum of mediocrity.

Archer (2009–2023)

"Milk comes from Mexicans? Oh my God, what's cereal made from?!" - Cheryl

[10/10 · 12 April 2023]

Archer (2009-) it´s a funny animated comedy about a private spy agency. The show is created by a team of highly talented artists, with love and care as a therapy tool for people who lack the sense of humor. :))

The humor is layered with multiple levels. It´s smart, witty, with multiple cultural references. The sarcasm and self irony is at home here.

"-Cyril: How do you not know the different kinds of porn?

-Archer: Because I have sex with actual women, Cyril! My girlfriend's not equal parts the Internet, a tube of Kentucky jelly, self-loathing, and a sock."

If you are new to this show, start with low expectations, there is too much hype around it and this can affect your experience. Don't watch it at night, otherwise your laughter may spook the neighborhood cats.

I really hope this show is continued.

History of the World: Part II (2023)

Weak even for '80s sense of humor...

[4/10 · 18 March 2023]

I felt that my IQ It was lowering by 5-10 points with each episode i watched. Each episode has 2-3 sketches, from randomly chosen periods, divided into several parts and mounted almost randomly.

The humor is coarse, the cultural or historical references are weak. I didn't laugh at all, maybe a few nostalgic smiles.

This show needs a better format and editing and definitely some updated humor, funnier more suitable for our times.

I am sure that there is a category of spectators who will appreciate this kind of humor, but for me it is disappointing.

Unfortunately, I believe that this series is not one of the best works of the great actor and writer Mel Brooks.

Veronica Mars (2004–2019)

Funny and full of spirit

[8/10 · 14 March 2023]

Although I don't think I was the "targeted customer" of this show, I was pleasantly surprised by the premise, the format and the story.

It seems like a detective drama for teenagers but it is sometimes deeper than that, it is a funny show, well acted and exceptionally well written. Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell) is the star of this series, but the other actors are also great. The characters are well written, well interpreted and it is easy to get attached to them.(even the less positive ones).

Veronica's inner monologue with Film Noir vibes and the witty conversations between the protagonists are especially hilarious and ware my favorite part of this show.

The Sandman (2022– )

Pretentious, slow and boring.

[4/10 · 22 October 2022]

I managed to watch 6-7 episodes. I liked somewhat the first episode, the dark atmosphere, the premise and a few cinematography elements, In the following episodes everything went downhill.

The show descends in the uncanny valley of "woke". The philosophical commentary presented becomes meaningless because of the way it is presented: pretentious, slow and boring. If you're not a fan of the comic book, you're hardly going to understand anything: who's who, why or what's going on.

I'm wondering, who is the target audience? Probably teens or maybe young adults. The "Goth" people might have a field day.

House of the Dragon (2022– )

Warning! Season 1, may test your patience.

[5/10 · 22 October 2022]

I watched Game of Thrones twice and loved it.

"House of the Dragon" is a prequel to Game of Thrones and is mainly the story of the Targaryens., told in a slow and mind-boggling way.

The overall atmosphere and the music are good, and the special effects are good enough. I think the show it is very well played, although the casting is problematic. Some characters are interesting enough, but the story focuses mostly on the female characters ergo the show is flat and dull. There is no room for suspense here, at the larger scale of the story.

It's a slow burn and It is interesting about 10 ~20%, the rest is mostly a soap opera with some sex-related stuff.

In my opinion, the "PC" culture has affected this series on every level, from casting to storytelling.

For now, House of the Dragon (2022-) falls in the spectrum of mediocrity and it made me wonder which category of viewers it is intended for...

Vikings: Valhalla (2022– )

The wrong premise and its implications.

[5/10 · 30 August 2022]

The African black Queen of Kattegat... That's the main reason why "Vikings: Valhalla" was such a disappointment to a lot of spectators. Many of those who watched the show "Vikings" 2013, and who had a glimpse of the Viking world, were outraged. This explains the very large number of punishment ratings of 1.

There were given a few implausible explanations about her story, so that those who could not accept the "black Queen" premise, would appear like some ignorant and racist fools. Unfortunately, the creators of this show did not understand who the main audience was. They tried to explain the black Queen , based on the argument of "diversity".

So, the audience thought it was a sequel to the 2013 series "Vikings", but the creators managed to make a kind of a woke-ish fantasy drama. Even though you may ignore the "Black Queen of Kattegat" issue, the show is mediocre at best.

So... Here we are, in this moronic era of "woke" and PC culture, which begins to affect creativity at all levels. Truths and simple reality are no longer accepted, and once passed through the filter of this culture, they become controlled aberrations.

The Orville (2017–2022)

The level of fun was dangerously high...

[10/10 · 27 August 2022]

...So they decided that the series will be only three seasons.

"We Are, Without A Doubt, The Weirdest Ship In The Fleet." It began as a tribute to Star Trek which led to a brilliant and funny sci-fi.

The stories are interesting, funny, the writing and the cast are Stellar. Very enjoyable characters. All of them. The special effects and music are amazing and the space battles are epic.

This show has "healing" powers like the Star Trek used to have. The last season "New Horizons", although it has a more serious note, manages to remain fun. The Orville It manages to do right, what the new Trek series does wrong, like: ... well... everything.

The Silent Sea (2021)

This show needs another season.

[6/10 · 12 August 2022]

The good : The story, it's pretty good, and it creates tension in a masterful way. The special effects are great.

The bad: It's a slow burn and a bit of a cliché. Conversations seem to be somewhat forced for character creation and at times seem out of context and significance.. The story sometimes loses momentum.

This show needs another season, because it leaves many unanswered questions and the story does not have a meaningful conclusion.

So... Despite these facts I still recommend this show, to SCI-Fi fans, it is better than many recent productions.

Raised by Wolves (2020–2022)

Myths and legends...

[6/10 · 12 August 2022]

... of Olympus, this time on another planet.

It started as a promising sci-fi, with a very interesting premise, but unfortunately, the show becomes more like an ancient Greek tragedy than a sci-fi show. If that was the goal, well done, but i am disappointed, I was expecting something else.

The philosophical questions are well posed, but the show leaves all of them without answers.

It was somewhat interesting, but it made me feel like it was a big waste of time.

Reacher (2022– )

Apple pie.

[8/10 · 10 August 2022]

Simple, unpretentious, honest and delicious. These are the qualities of this show. I liked it and I would like another portion please... I haven't read the book, but I think the show is well written,the casting is excellent and Alan Ritchson for the Jack Reacher character is perfect.

I'm looking forward to season 2.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022– )

Are We There Yet?...

[4/10 · 27 July 2022]

The show is trying to return to a successful format, but it lacks the impact and power that previous series had.

The relation between the characters is childlike and rather "woke" and they behave like children on a school trip and not like the crew of a starship.

The episodes are mediocre in the best case and they are forgettable.

If you don't think so, do the following exercise: watch a STSNW episode and try after a few hours to remember what the story was about. The characters are annoying, especially Uhura, and so generic as if there were some NPCs from a video game.

The special effects are good.

It is not better than Discovery. At this point, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds defines the lower spectrum of mediocrity.

Star Trek has been suffering from a bad mojo for some time, I blame the studio and the untalented writers.

The Terminal List (2022– )

Oh, no ... another flashback.

[5/10 · 18 July 2022]

It is interesting about 10-20% of each episode, the rest is filled with unnecessary dialogue and melodrama.

Flashbacks are almost useless and due to them the story often loses momentum, leaving the impression that they are made only to lengthen the episode.

I found myself in the situation where I began to use the fast forward, often jumping over flash-back scenes.

The lighting is poor, it is too dark, even if the character is within 30 cm of a lamp, his face it is barely visible.

The music is generic but acceptable.

I understand the high marks he received here because he is well played and Chris Pratt is great here, but I am disappointed because it could have been an exceptional television show but it manages to be only mediocre.