annmarin123 Reviews

House of Cards (2013–2018)

Excellent drama

[8/10 · 21 July 2017]

I haven't seen any of S. 5 yet, but I have to say, this series is one of the best right now. Yes, later seasons couldn't hold a candle to Season 1- that was astonishingly good- but its still great.

Clare, played by the incredibly talented and gorgeous Robin Wright, is amazing, what a character, her wardrobe alone is worth 10 stars!

Kevin Spacey is certainly one of the best actors on the planet. Watching him as Frank Underwood- I actually forget and think he really is the President! He is that good.

The whole production, from the moody, kinda scary music in the beginning, to the climactic endings, its a top quality class act all the way through.

Catastrophe (2015–2019)

Catastrophe is amazingly Not a Catastrophe!

[21 July 2017]

I wasn't supposed to love this show.. but I did.

I binged on Season 1 and 2, happily and enthusiastically!

The actors are just incredible, it is so freaking funny and refreshing. I fell in love with both Sharon and Rob pretty quickly. It smart, hilarious and on-point for my general age group (ok, they are quite a bit younger, but still I can relate) regarding relationships and entanglements unique to modern times. They don't sugar coat anything, its like what a Rom-Com would be if it were Real.

I watched Season 3, and I have to say, I still loved it but it wasn't my favorite. They are starting to throw some political PC stuff in and I really Don't Like It. Just please, please, please leave it alone. Its a great show- don't ruin it! You don't need to pander to the SJW crowd- they are probably not watching anyway! There are so few shows anymore that just leave it alone, this one and Portlandia come to mind. Let's all just get along and play nice, we don't need to be reassured you're in the popular crowd, OK?

My favorite character is the guy who plays Chris. He is a gem. Oh and Sharon's brother- just hilarious! They are all hysterically funny.

Can't wait to see what S. 4 has in store.

That is all.

Westworld (2016–2022)

Mostly non-sensical but well-acted series about robotic humanoids

[4/10 · 21 July 2017]

I'm torn between 4 and 5, so I rounded down.

I do think the acting is for the most part, very well done. Ed Harris is always a delight to watch and he does not disappoint. Evan Rachel Wood is also excellent. My main problem is the plot holes, and the repetition. I like to think I'm fairly intelligent, so I bristle when writers and directors feel they have the bang concepts over my head over and over again. I get it. They should get the fact that most people want to watch something entertaining- deep is fine, but we want to be entertained first. Otherwise, what's the point? I can go watch the sunset live and get real deep.

This show also comes across as a serious version of Groundhog Day. Maybe that's not such a bad thing, but truth be told, it was getting a little old by Ep. 4. I need something to happen. Soon.

I'm still intrigues, however, and that's something. It could go either way at this point, and I admit I'm very fickle. I've been known to give up on a series midway through. I gave up on OITNB 2/3 through season 3 and haven't really been back since. Seems like there is a point where it gets stale, or it feels like its going nowhere, and ain't nobody got time fo' that. I guess its my PTSD from watching every episode of LOST. I need to have some sort of guarantee of a good ROI, ya know?

That is all.

The Collection (2016)

Boring a.f.

[1/10 · 21 July 2017]

Am I losing my mind... Or are most of the "original series" being put out lately just boring as heck?

Should I be blamed for holding these series to the "Breaking Bad Season 1" benchmark? Maybe so... I guess I got spoiled.

I tried, again, tried hard to get into this. I mean, its all up my alley: Period piece. Intrigue. Clothes. Haute Couture Clothing (Imbd just scolded me for shouting, sorry). The ad alone with the gorgeous red dress photo had me at Hello. But halfway into the first episode, I had to give up the ghost. Honestly I fell asleep and I can't even tell you what was going on. A man, he's reviled by the media for some reason, he's apparently rich a.f., cobblestones, and he's a fashion designer icon. He's the designer of a gorgeous emerald green satin dress.. that much I can tell you. The rest is a fog.

I hope you have better luck with this one than I did.

That is all.

Bloodline (2015–2017)

Excellent, worthy, amazingly acted, original masterpiece.

[10/10 · 21 July 2017]

This atmospheric series noir set in the Florida Keys is so original, so nuanced, and so addictive. I just finished all 3 seasons, and it was amazing. I hardly ever, maybe never, give 10 stars (check my other reviews, I hate most everything lately because they suck).

The acting is amazing. The actor who plays black sheep Danny won a very well-deserved Emmy. He is so good. Kyle Chandler (yeah, I am a fan already) is perfect. Add in Chloe Sevigny and Sissy Spacek and you're hitting a home run.

The setting itself is a star- the dreamy Keys with the undercurrent of deep, dark danger- I LOVE it. One of the best things about this series is its originality. I've not seen anything quite like it before. That is as rare as a three dollar bill. And, most refreshingly, there is not an ounce of PC, preachy b.s. in the entire series! That in itself is astonishing and noteworthy. Lately all the series are being infected by PC Virus.

Watch it- it is a binge-worthy, trust me.

That is all.

The Dressmaker (I) (2015)

Boring as Heck. Tried it. Failed to Finish.

[3/10 · 21 July 2017]

I'm saying "3" because Kate Winslet is always excellent. I like to watch her on the screen just to watch HER. For the first 30-40 minutes, I WAS intrigued and wanted to see what was going to happen. Well, I found out what happens: NOTHING.

This is one of the worst directed things I have ever seen. And that is saying a LOT. I'm the one who doesn't give up, stealthily soldiering on when the faint-hearted give up! Hey, I made it to the end of Birdman!!

I might... MIGHT... watch the last 10 minutes at some juncture so I can see if anything really does happen. Then again, I might stick a red hot poker up my nose.

That is all.

Suits (2011–2019)

Suits is Great if you are too young to recall L.A. Law, Ally McBeal

[6/10 · 19 July 2017]

I am desperately looking for a new series to sink my teeth into having completed bingeing Bloodline, Mad Men, Catastrophe, Insecure. I tried the Wardrobe (boring), Call the Midwife (liked it, but I'm too cheap to pay for episodes), OITNB (halfway into season 3,honestly I lost interest).

Suit is just OKAY... I do like the main characters and enjoyed episodes 1 and 2 (only on S.1, I know - very late to the party) but I can't help but remember the good lawyer shows of yore, including the early Ally McBeal and L.A. Law. Is it me, or are these new shows just weaker incantations of their predecessors created by youngins who don't even remember those old shows? Or at very least, viewers giving a 9.0 rating for Suits can't possibly have ever seen them, right? How could this compare with Season 1 of BB, or Homeland? Or Bloodline for f's sake? I don't get it.

Back to Suits. The good is the NYC location (always a plus), acting- I DO like Harvey and Mike, and the law firm set-up, love law shows and their don't seem too common now.

I guess I'm getting old. I am starting to lose interest, gonna try one more.