coasteraddict-16796 Reviews

Attack on Titan: The Final Chapters: Special 2 (2023) Season 4, Episode 30

It was fantastic... until it wasn't

[7/10 · 6 November 2023]

Wow, I can't believe so many people are rating this highly. This ending was truly ridiculous.

The first hour or so of this episode made me believe it was a perfect, fitting finale for the show. The action sequences were brilliantly done, the music choices were great, there were so many great character moments, I could go on. Armin and Zeke's conversation is one of the most moving scenes of the entire show. Everything feels so well executed, but that changes when...

Eren dies. Now hold on, I know you're thinking I'm one of those crazy AOT fans who's been rooting for Eren - but rest assured I am not. I thought his dying was the best choice for the story. It's the way they went about it that bothered me. Here's where I begin to have problems with the story.

In a vision from the past, Eren and Armin have a conversation where everything is sorta revealed, and it's this scene that tanks the whole episode for me. In short, Eren is redeemed.

HUH?

Yeah, you heard me right, the genocidal POS who has single-handedly murdered 80% of the population, small children included! And he's just... forgiven?! The explanation they give for this is mind-numbingly stupid. Basically he's supposed to be noble because he wanted all his friends to "be together with him in hell." That's just such a ridiculous plot point. This show previously didnt adhere to any religion and to shoehorn in the hell thing is just crazy and out of nowhere. Eren also has an incel breakdown about Mikasa not forgetting him and staying single just to pine after him for "at least ten years." Gross. And after everything, the brutal killing of hundreds of millions of innocents... Armin forgives him.

This is just disgusting, the way the story ends with everyone having a respect for Eren. Not only that - Reiner and Annie are integrated back into the main group and essentially forgiven. What's the message of this show? You can murder as many people as you want as long as you do it for your friends?

The rest of the story is still insane. Mikasa sits at Eren's grave and a bird flies up to her and pulls at the scarf. What is this supposed to mean? That Eren was reincarnated as a bird? When has this ever been a mechanic or rule of the story? Just ridiculous.

The ending with the flash forwards into the future is just depressing and trying wayyyy too hard to be "deep." In reality, showing Paradis get built up, only to be destroyed again, is just depressing and makes all the sacrifices feel unneeded.

This episode takes an amazing, well-done show and screws it all up, getting very close to making the right creature choices before pulling the rug out from under the viewers. I'm very disappointed.

7/10, and that's me being generous.

Six Feet Under: Everyone's Waiting (2005) Season 5, Episode 12

What Words Can Describe the Experience of Watching this Episode?

[10/10 · 24 August 2023]

"Everyone's Waiting" is everything I love about Six Feet Under. Beautifully acted and delivered, this episode forces viewers to deal with the most integral themes of the show.

We all die.

This is hit home in the breathtaking final sequence, and once it begins, you realize what's happening. With the backdrop of a beautiful Sia song, we watch as characters move down their different paths, reaching what we logically know to be inevitable, and yet what is so painful all at once.

This episode makes you look at life in a new way. You finish it and sit there in awe of what you just witnessed. Almost as if I was grieving the show, I lost motivation to do much else. This is the episode that makes Six Feet Under a 10/10.

Death Note: Shin sekai (2007) Season 1, Episode 37

Perfection. "Nothing more, and nothing less."

[10/10 · 22 July 2023]

Death Note's final episode, titled "New World," is in my eyes, more or less perfect. Many fans will complain about this episode, but in my eyes, it could not have possibly been better.

This episode was, to me, pure catharsis. Seeing Light's empire crumble in the span of minutes, watching him lose his mind and turn into a shouting, blubbering mess, it's all so... beautiful. The entire show he's taken victory after victory, and by the time I got to this moment, when he has no way out, the elation I felt was indescribable. Justice was finally, truly delivered.

This episode ties up every possible loose end and is boundlessly satisfying. Everything makes sense and yet is very surprising. The episode is Light's desperate last stand against not only the SPK, but his former colleagues themselves.

Light is stripped down to his barest self - and that's why this episode is so perfect. The liar, the manipulator, the killer - finally brought down from his god complex in a blaze of glory. I love this episode because it is ugly and beautiful at the same time. Ugly in the sense that Light has devolved into a sniveling, sobbing child, yet beautiful in its depiction of desperate humanity.

It all comes full circle. Matsuda, who admires Light, is the one to shoot him nearly to death. Ryuk, the one who gave him such absolute power, is now the one who will take it away. "New World" tells a truly poetic tale that makes the show mean something, from beginning to end.

The final sequence of this episode is just pure beauty and perfection. As Light runs away from the wharf in tears, the biting January cold eating him away, he is backed by a sunset more beautiful than anything seen before on this show. He sees his former self, and runs past it, leaving it behind for good. The final montage, set to a somber piano, shows us Misa in her final tragic moments. Ryuk gives the cold, metallic city a final look as the sun finally sets out of view. The moon is the only thing that shines down on him as the first notes ever heard on the show also become the last.

Death Note's finale is everything I love about the show as a whole. I will never understand the hate. Every writing decision that was made was exactly how I wanted it. I watched the entire thing in complete awe, mind blown at what I was witnessing. This show is truly something else.

10/10.

Death Note: 1.28 (2007) Season 1, Episode 36

Oh My God... WHAT?!

[10/10 · 22 July 2023]

All the waiting and buildup proves worth it... this episode blew my mind. A dark, brooding atmosphere. A true sense of finality. Feeling like two fierce opponents were finally coming to a climactic face off in what is the epitome of Death Note's style.

This episode may start slow but will have you covering your mouth, freaking out. My heart was audibly racing and I was glued to the screen. Just when you think one character has gotten over the other, everything is suddenly flipped and you are left completely in the dark. The intelligence of Light and Near as they face off is so well written. The tension, the hatred is all very much there.

So many moments that make you double take, and go, did that REALLY just happen?? "1.28" is suspense incarnate. An amazing penultimate that ends with a mind blowing cliffhanger.

10/10, easy.

Death Note: Chinmoku (2007) Season 1, Episode 25

"It'll be lonely, won't it?"

[10/10 · 22 July 2023]

"You and I will be parting ways soon."

It's not easy to break down in condensed terms the perfection and beauty that is Death Note's "Silence." This is the episode where everything converges and the show reaches a climax that I never could have expected from the start.

From episode 2 onward, the Light vs L conflict has a white knuckle hold over the show, even in the Yotsuba arc. We've spent so much time watching the two plan against one another - this one is when the dominoes begin to fall, and most of the characters can do nothing but bear witness.

This episode uses foreshadowing and symbolism exceptionally well - the bell noises being a key example. The glimpse into L's childhood is simple but very revealing. With just a few wordless moments we begin to understand his close bond with Watari, making the episode's events hit even harder.

The sound design in this episode is outstanding. The creepy sound of the choir over Light's warped and distorted face definitely sets the mood. The use of silence itself is a recurring theme in this episode, best seen when L asks Light if he's ever truly been honest.

Speaking of, the rooftop conversation is a scene that is more or less perfect. The direction, the sound, the atmosphere, the subtext, all make for a scene that does an amazing job of showing us L give his last stand against the unstoppable force that is Light Yagami.

Finally, the end, and the 3 character deaths are all fantastically done. L's panic when Watari cries out is subtle but adds a lot. Even with L's death spoiled for me, my mouth hung slack in awe as he dropped to the floor and Light watched in amazement. Their final moments, hearing the bells, watching the devilish grin form on Light's face, is silent, and yet so much is spoken between them.

"You sounded like Ryuzaki," Matsuda tells Light at the end, a grim warning of what's to come. When Light finally proclaims his victory, the episode leaves viewers in utter awe at what they've witnessed. This episode is something else completely. Its dialogue, imagery, twists, all of it, are outstanding. Arguably the show's magnum opus.

10/10.

Death Note: Fukkatsu (2007) Season 1, Episode 24

"I've Won." INSANE Episode

[10/10 · 22 July 2023]

Death Note is magical in the sense that you can spend an entire arc wondering where the plot is going, and even feel bored, and yet somehow, some way, the payoff is more worth it than anyone could imagine. In a mere few minutes the entire arc leading up to this makes perfect sense. The episode quickly gets moving and introduces a twist that completely upends the viewer's perception of what's going on.

Through an amazing flashback sequence, the truth about everything finally becomes clear. This is an episode full of revelations, twists, and moments that make you want to yell at the screen. And for the first time in a bit, you feel in your gut, deep within, who you are truly scared for.

10/10.

Death Note: Donten (2006) Season 1, Episode 7

The One That Hooked Me

[10/10 · 22 July 2023]

From the beginning, Death Note was a show that had my full attention. By the second episode I was engrossed in the conflict and confident in its smart writing. However, I was yet to understand what made it one of the best anime, ever. This episode is what changed everything.

You will spend most of "Overcast" drawn in and captured by its back and forth dynamic and sense of urgency. It takes a simple situation and uses it to give viewers a look into what makes the different characters tick. This episode is full of character moments, and the ending is what solidifies who Light truly is. Beautiful, suspenseful, and tragic, this episode hooked me.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Dennis Takes a Mental Health Day (2023) Season 16, Episode 8

A Surprisingly Weak Finale

[5/10 · 20 July 2023]

This episode is another example of the fact that the show is better when we're watching the full gang's dynamic. This episode, while being a fun opportunity to see into Dennis' mind, is ultimately boring and unfunny. Even if it's relatable in some ways, it feels like an idea that was never fully thought through, like Howerton just thought it'd be funny to do an episode where he gets mad at technology.

Seasons 11-15 set a precedent of having finales that were emotional and gave our main characters genuine moments. S11 had the gang accepting mortality, S12 had Dennis realizing his fatherhood, S13 had Mac accepting his sexuality, S14 was a metaphor about the attitudes surrounding keeping the show going, and S15 had Charlie coming to terms with his grief and his father's negligence. With all of that in mind, this finale is boring, shallow, and delivers almost no laughs. The funniest scenes are when the gang is talking about the pressure cooker.

5/10, a disappointing end to a legitimately decent season.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Celebrity Booze: The Ultimate Cash Grab (2023) Season 16, Episode 5

Not bad but a bit gimmicky

[7/10 · 29 June 2023]

I just want to start by saying this episode was not bad by any means, although it's my least favorite of the season so far. However, the guest appearances didn't bring much to the table. For an episode written by Rob, Charlie, and Glenn, it fell a bit short of what they usually produce. There weren't many scenes that got a legitimate laugh out of me, and it felt like Cranston and Paul were just there for the sake of being there. A few scenes also felt a bit awkward/forced, like the scene where the limo driver yells at Charlie.

With that said, the episode certainly has its moments. Charlie's "nickelschlager" made for some very funny moments, and it was also very funny when Dennis threatened to sew Dee's lips shut.

Not bad, but could have been better. 7/10.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: Frank vs. Russia (2023) Season 16, Episode 4

Couldn't Stop Laughing

[9/10 · 22 June 2023]

Oh my god, this episode was so damn funny. Easily the best of Season 16 so far. Once I saw Megan Ganz was credited as a writer I knew this one was gonna be great.

This is one of Dennis' best episodes in a WHILE. Glenn Howerton's delivery was side-splitting in so many scenes!! His plot with Mac and Dee was so well done, from the SINNED system to the dates to his manipulation of Mac. It felt like the main plot of the episode and was absolutely brilliant. This one overall just had so many funny scenes. It utilized Uncle Jack so well and when his "ice cream truck" pulled up I doubled over in laughter. This episode is well written and ties its plots together in a way that's impossible NOT to love. Easy 9/10, almost a 10.

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Gang Gets Cursed (2023) Season 16, Episode 3

Could pass as a classic episode

[9/10 · 15 June 2023]

This is yet another banger from season 16. Not too gimmicky or anything, just an episode full of funny jokes, scenes, recurring characters, running jokes, and the like. Happy to see cricket again. Speaking of, David Hornsby's writing definitely makes for better episodes. All of the characters have moments to shine, and I can't think of anything to complain about.

My only disappointment was that the "Bar Rescue" thing didn't become an actual episode, because that would've been a great opportunity. All 3 main plots in this one are good. One of those episodes when the gang comes together as a diabolical group of friends and works their magic. Keep 'em coming!

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

I Cried Four Times

[10/10 · 10 May 2023]

I'm not one to cry at movies often, but this one broke me. Four is merely an estimate. I spent the entire last hour of the film in and out of tears. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 is an unexpected masterpiece, and a work of art that absolutely broke me.

From the soundtrack, to the writing, to the characters, to the use of flashbacks, this movie is about as close to perfection as it gets. Having already established all of the characters, it managed to be heart-wrenching all the way through. This movie leaves a bittersweet taste in your mouth, and with so much to think about. It manages to make 2 and 1/2 hours feel ten times as short. I never expected to fall in love with this movie, but it got to me in such a visceral way that I'll never forget the experience of seeing it.

The best marvel film, ever. 10/10.

The Shield: Parricide (2008) Season 7, Episode 8

Absolutely Nuts!!

[10/10 · 28 March 2023]

Wow, wow, wow!!!

"Parricide" is an absolutely tense, heart-pounding, and masterfully crafted episode of The Shield. It feels like every moment of the series has been building to this one, and this is where it comes to an explosive and mind-boggling climax.

This episode grips you tight from start to finish. It keeps its focus well-rounded across many plotlines, although the main one is what warrants such high praise. The performances are terrific, and the writing is something else. This one was just twist after twist after twist, and just when you think it's about to end it keeps going on and on.

This is what a 10/10 looks like. Amazing show.

The Shield: The New Guy (2007) Season 6, Episode 4

Michael Chiklis!!!

[9/10 · 19 March 2023]

Season 6 just keeps getting better!! This episode's rating of 8 is too low, in my opinion. "The New Guy" is perhaps one of the most well-written episodes thus far.

So many parallels between the strike team and the gang of one-niners Vic is searching for. Corrine's dream was an interesting tidbit as well. There's a mounting stress for the whole episode, and when it finally explodes at the end, it's a sight to see.

Chiklis gives perhaps his best performance yet. I watched his breakdown at the end in complete awe. We at last get to see what Lem's death has done to him. This is an awesome episode.

The Shield: Postpartum (2006) Season 5, Episode 11

Caesar

[10/10 · 7 March 2023]

I don't even know where to begin. I can't believe Shane killed Lem. I had it spoiled for me and I still gasped out loud when it happened. I can't believe he used a grenade to pin it on the El Salvadorians.

This is one of those times when a TV episode has left me in a funk. Experiences like these are few and far between, but spectacular when you find them. The acting and writing have come together to create a masterpiece.

This doesn't even feel real. Seeing Lem's burned and battered body in the car literally felt like a nightmare. My heart raced through the last half hour. Seeing Shane's breakdown after he set off the bomb was just so screwed up. I was choking up a little myself.

Billings' Caesar reference near the start of the episode may have been foreshadowing. When you examine every layer, who is truly at fault for Lem's death? Shane is an obvious answer, but beyond that - Aceveda planted the seed of doubt in the strike team, Kavanaugh launched the investigation to begin with, and Emolia was the one who gave Lem up. Shane is the show's "Brutus." While he was the one to deal the killing blow, perhaps the true killer was everyone behind it.

No more words for this one. Bravo. 10/10.

The Shield: Back in the Hole (2005) Season 4, Episode 10

1 Hour and 5 Minutes of Pure Greatness!

[10/10 · 22 February 2023]

Season 4 is strangely low rated by IMDB standards. This entire season has been thick with plot and character developments like we've never seen before from the show. It only gets crazier with this episode.

This is more or less the climax of the season thus far. Every character gets a great chance to shine. Loyalties are tested time and time again, important discoveries are made, and electrifying performances are given left and right. There's a particular interrogation scene in this one that had me reeling. This episode was over an hour long and yet it went by very fast. I spent the whole latter half of it hoping and praying that it wouldn't end. When it did, I was both incredibly impressed with what I had witnessed and simultaneously desperate to find out what would happen next.

Easily the best episode of The Shield so far. I'm not sure if a 10 is too generous, but right now it feels deserving considering the current 8.2 rating. Can't wait to find out what happens next. Great episode.

BoJack Horseman: Time's Arrow (2017) Season 4, Episode 11

Wow, blew me away

[10/10 · 22 January 2023]

I've started watching BoJack Horseman around a month ago, and to be honest I've had a good amount of the show spoiled for me. I was aware of the hype for this one and couldn't help but have high expectations.

Even so, this episode left me in shambles, to say the least. It was a beautiful, twisted, nonlinear story that contained twists and turns that I wasn't even aware of. So many story elements fall into place, and "Time's Arrow" is a marvel in terms of writing alone.

The animation and voice acting were top notch, and there were so many little details that just made this one for me. It ends on a silently heartbreaking note, and perfectly fills the gap for the shows trademark shocking penultimate episode.

10/10.

The Handmaid's Tale: Dear Offred (2022) Season 5, Episode 4

Season 5 Finally Picks Up!

[9/10 · 29 September 2022]

I was never one to trash this show for being "slow," but I'll admit season 5 had a slow start. This episode finally gives us what we've been waiting for! So many tense scenes with June surrounding her confrontation with Serena.

This episode also has a lot of character development. Aunt Lydia begins to see the error of her ways thanks to Janine. Luke finally falls victim to Serena's ways and begins to enable June.

Overall this episode was so gripping and makes me wonder where the show is going next. There's no doubt it has some steam in it, and I can't help but wonder how long Serena can last given the circumstances. Hopefully this one's rating goes up from where it is now!

Better Call Saul: Saul Gone (2022) Season 6, Episode 13

It Was Never Going to be Like Breaking Bad

[10/10 · 16 August 2022]

This was an amazing, satisfying conclusion. It wrapped every storyline up in a perfect bow. Sure, it doesn't have the heart-pounding suspense of Breaking Bad's final stretch -- and for good reason! BCS is its own show. This is the only way it could have ended, and the execution was nothing short of beautiful.

I wouldn't change a thing.

Ozark: Fire Pink (2020) Season 3, Episode 9

Almost Cried

[10/10 · 12 August 2022]

It's been a minute since I've cried at a show or movie... but here I am, getting choked up over this masterpiece of an episode. No spoilers here, but if you haven't yet, WATCH THIS SHOW. This episode makes all the slow buildup 100% worth it. Linney and Pelphrey's performances are just riveting. What more can be said?

Better Call Saul: Waterworks (2022) Season 6, Episode 12

Just Wow!

[10/10 · 9 August 2022]

What an episode! I'll try to keep this review short, but damn, this was a roller coaster of emotions.

We get to see all three of Jimmy's identities in action, in a lot of ways. The flashbacks are powerful and provide fantastic insight and context to the universe. It was a treat to see Kim talk with Jesse.

Speaking of, Rhea Seehorn's performance was just breathtaking. You can really fell her guilt among everything and the scene on the bus is one of her best yet.

The Nebraska scenes were riddled with pure suspense. Seeing Gene trying to escape the cancer man's house reminded me of a similar sequence in S4E3. The ending where Marion confronts him had my heart racing. So many questions remain. I'm incredibly excited for next week!

Sorry for being cliché, but I feel inclined to say, "bravo, Vince!"

Better Call Saul: Breaking Bad (2022) Season 6, Episode 11

History Repeats Itself

[9/10 · 2 August 2022]

This is another episode that will likely have below a 9, just like "Nippy," because people struggle with being patient and trusting Gilligan and his writers to give the payoff we want. This is the "Granite State " of BCS. Gene tries to contact Kim, and when faced with failure simply relapses into his old ways.

The cameos were very well done, but I see them as more than fanservice. The scenes we see of Saul in the BB timeline show him acting on impulse, leading to what we know is his downfall. I believe what we see in the Nebraska timeline is showing us the same thing. Marion likely called the cops on Gene, and breaking into the man with cancer's house will lead to his ultimate downfall. The shot of the grave fading into Gene on his bed is a grim piece of foreshadowing above everything else.

An interesting theory proposed to me by a family member is that Kim committed suicide, and that's why Gene begins pulling scams again. I'm sure people could poke holes in this, but it's still an interesting idea.

I don't care if this episode was technically slow. In my eyes, we're building to an emotionally devastating finale where Jimmy/Saul/Gene may be forced to pay for all he's done.

Better Call Saul: Nippy (2022) Season 6, Episode 10

Not What You'd Expect, But Still Great!

[9/10 · 26 July 2022]

I, like many other BCS fans, likely expected an episode taking place during the BB timeline, but instead we were thrusted right back into the post-BB world, thus disproving the rumors that Cranston and Paul would return.

The episode, while not as fast paced or emotionally devastating as the previous three, does a great job giving closure to the viewers on how Jimmy/Saul/Gene dealt with the Jeff situation. After a different style opening, the story follows the concept of Jimmy doing "one last con" in a number of ways, but mainly in a way that will ensure Jeff doesn't create any more problems.

Suspense is present in this episode, especially in the scene of the robbery, where Gene's fate hangs in the balance, and he has to muster up his old acting abilities in a heart-pounding and memorable sequence. I also found Jeff's fall a bit reminiscent of Jimmy's in S3E8.

The ending takes a more nuanced approach, giving us sort of a metaphor with the suit and all. Now I can say with 100% certainty that I have 0 idea what comes next in the story. Bring on episode 61!

Better Call Saul: Fun and Games (2022) Season 6, Episode 9

The Death of James McGill

[10/10 · 19 July 2022]

I predict that with the way people are, this episode may garner a lower rating than the previous two. Those seeking an hour of pure heart-pounding action may be disappointed. However, in terms of the characters themselves, this is easily one of the show's most devastating episodes.

The first half mostly shows us what Gus and Mike are up to. In Gus' scenes, we get a unique glimpse into who he really is, and the fact that he can't seem to form real relationships with anyone. Mike's guilt surfaces again and he has a conversation with Manuel Varga that ends exactly how we all expected, once again whittling down Mike's moral system. Great performances here!

On the other end of the episode, the Jimmy/Kim story reaches its resolution (for now, at least). Despite a lack of real, physical danger, the scenes the two shared carried an overwhelming sense of tension. Kim can only keep up the lie for so long, and Jimmy's compartmentalization of his regret finally gets her to snap.

Jimmy and Kim's final argument is easily one of the show's most heartbreaking scenes. Each word spoken made me wince. Kim is finally forced to face her actions and her true motivations come to light. Bob Odenkirk's acting is absolutely phenomenal here. No matter how genuine he is, Kim can no longer live with what she's done. This feels sort of reminiscent to Jimmy's last words with Chuck. However, the loss of Kim is the final nail in the coffin for James McGill.

The episode ends with a jarring, heart wrenching cut to the BB timeline, proving that Jimmy, as we know him, is finally gone. And taking over is none other than the identity he's been building for years: Saul Goodman.

Better Call Saul: Point and Shoot (2022) Season 6, Episode 8

A Tense, Riveting, and Overall Outstanding Hour of TV

[10/10 · 12 July 2022]

Better Call Saul has returned, and with a (literal) bang! My expectations for this one were fully met, exceeded even. The whole thing speaks to the shows fantastic quality of writing.

After a cryptic, then depressing teaser, we're once again thrust right back into Jimmy and Kim's crisis situation, leading to some of the show's most intense moments. Lalo proposes an incredibly twisted plan, and Jimmy for once does something selfless to help Kim.

When Mike stops Kim from entering the safe house, the tension does not stop by any means. Lalo infiltrates the laundromat, and Gus puts two and two together. Even though I expected Lalo to die, that did not make the confrontation between him and Gus any less tense. My heart raced through every second of it, and suffice to say Lalo's demise was incredibly satisfying and well done.

The rest of the episode allows viewers to witness the harrowing aftermath of Lalo's attack. Jimmy and Kim will never be the same people again, and Mike's guilt takes hold of him for a brief moment.

Seeing Lalo's corpse next to Howard's, I could think only one thing: "Blood for Blood"