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pyrognome
Reviews
His Dark Materials: Æsahættr (2020)
Barely mediocre
Excellent production quality and acting is hamstrung by a truly terrible screenplay. The sheer number of inexplicably moronic character choices in this episode alone is staggering. No amount of supposed character growth matters when they jump at the first opportunity to do the worst possible thing, seemingly eager to ruin their own lives. These forced plot complications and arbitrary diversions are so blatantly stupid that it's impossible to not have one's immersion ruined again and again.
Unfortunately, this episode is a stark indication of how the final season plays out as well, with more bad character writing and inexplicable nonsense around every corner. It's a shame that a show which started out so strong should devolve to this. The show should have been 2 seasons, not 3, and it might have stood strongly enough to merit a spinoff.
Willow: Beyond the Shattered Sea (2023)
The first great episode of the series
Beyond the Shattered Sea stands head and shoulders above every previous episode, finally evoking more than a "meh" from me. The acting, pacing, and imagery finally all came together to make a really enjoyable adventure.
Previously, there always seemed to be something missing - despite there being some pretty good young actors in the cast I've rarely felt the performances were very believable - perhaps poor writing and/or directing are to blame. In any case, "Shattered Sea" was a pleasant deviation from the established mediocrity.
This is what fantasy adventures are all about! Here's hoping the show holds this momentum to its conclusion.