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masezace · 8 months

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little off topic for my blog, but i started watching a new show since a friend mentioned it was good and i'd heard positive things about it, so i just wanted to talk about it a little bit (probably never again after this since this isn't a fandom blog, but it's the only one i have rn so idc it's going here)

the show is Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous, and just going on looks alone, despite my love for dinosaurs and the Jurassic Park franchise i never would have considered it. it appears to be very much for kids, and as i'm in my late twenties now i'm not particularly interested in especially kiddy media. however a friend my age enjoyed it and mentioned it has a canon lgbtq+ couple in it among the main characters, so of course i just had to watch it. i had already been hearing that despite its initial appearance and premise, it was surprisingly good for a kids' show, so i had already been curious, but i was even more keen after knowing there were queer characters, and not even the adults, the kids themselves (in a kid's show?!! what a time to be alive), so i finally sat down and watched it.

[spoiler warning, both minor and major, for the rest of this post btw, so continue reading at your own risk if you haven't seen it yet/are still watching]

the show overall

okay so firstly, i am coming at all of this from the perspective of a writer, so my observations are from a technical standpoint more so than just as a fan of the show. and honestly, it really is a well-written show as a whole. is it geared towards kids? definitely. there are plenty of jokes/gags in it that just don't appeal to me as an adult, but beyond that, there was plenty to appreciate as an adult.

the writing is actually phenomenal? there were several points in the series where i just sat back and mulled over the way a scene went, what the thought process behind writing it was like, how well it was executed, and how important it was to the characters and overall plot.

the suspense is spot on, nothing gets dragged out too long, and i will admit there have been a few scenes throughout that actually got me; i jumped! it's actually scarier than i expected a kid show to be, but i'm so glad they went where they did because it really elevated the experience.

the pacing overall is very good, adequately engaging for kids' short attention spans (and us adhd adults 🥲) but not too short either to a point where things felt abrupt or unfinished. plot arcs are well developed and tied up nicely. also, as a bit of a dinosaur nerd, the array of dinosaurs in the show is super broad and satisfying! very fun stuff.

character element

imo the real gem of this show is the character development. honestly it's just *chefs kiss*

the characters grow and change so much and so realistically over the course of the show, it's honestly so much better and more satisfying than the character growth in most adult fiction/media recently.

the growth in ben (who btw was def my favorite character by the end of s1) and kenji in particular were my favorites and, in my personal opinion, the most interesting. the way ben started out anxious, cowardly, and rule abiding to a fault, then grew into a brave, confident, adventurous little pyromaniac gremlin, then had that stint later in the series where he regressed a bit-questioning himself-until eventually ultimately striking a great balance and really coming into himself was just... peak character writing.

kenji started out overconfident, lazy, and overly concerned with money/status. but that arrogant overconfidence and laziness slowly turned into responsibility, and a desire to protect his found family, and the realization that it's the people in your life that really matter most.

honestly what i mentioned only scratches the surface in terms of those two characters, there's certainly more that can be said about them (as well as all the others) but i'm not really in the mood for a deep dive character analysis atm. just trust me tho when i say these characters are so well done and each one of them have arcs that are super satisfying to watch play out.

queer representation

and as for the queer couple? yasmina and sammy are PERFECT. it was so beautiful watching their relationship grow from one-sided to mutual friendship, to loyal devotion, then to love. they were set up incredibly well and incredibly naturally. i have like, no complaints when it comes to them. i don't even know if there's anything i can say that would add to things, they were just a really awesome couple to watch become canon, they're the beautiful and painfully needed representation we all beg for in tv and movies.

shipping, chemistry, and intent

but oh goodness... probably my only real complaint about the entire show would be how benji (ben x kenji) and kenji x brooklyn (kenlyn? brookji? idk and idrc) were handled. because for all that this show did SO much beautifully right, they really screwed the pooch here, sadly.

i'm gonna start by saying that the writing in this show, as with most, is deliberate. what i mean by this is that despite having no clue who it would be because my friend thankfully did not even spoil me as far as the genders of the queer couple, i clocked yas and sammy as the would-be queer couple as early as season one (actually it was between them and benji, but more on that later). i could already see the chemistry, because it was deliberately written in.

shipping is subjective. anyone can ship any character, and in most cases it's pretty easy to see how there could be (romantic) chemistry between fan pairings based on their personalities, their arcs, etc. and that's okay! ships don't even have to have any canon support to be valid, because shipping is for the fandom, and it's for fun (i have a few rarepairs and crack ships across different media that i just love).

but onscreen/written romantic chemistry is a lot less subjective (to clarify, it is subjective whether or not the chemistry is good, but it's not subjective about whether or not it exists). there are literally scenes written with the sole purpose of building the romantic tension and/or chemistry between planned couples (some of which even have absolutely zero plot relevance, which usually is not advised tbh, and most of which are the cliches/tropes you see in literally any romance ever written, some are just disguised a little better than others. but make no mistake, it's all the same set of cliches. there is nothing new under the sun), as well as intentional, key moments within scenes that have other purposes. they are essential to establish romantic pairings.

and typically, the foundations for these couples are laid VERY early on. always within the first or second season (well, at least they are when the writer actually knows what they're doing and has at least a rough plan/outline for the entire series & characters. this is usually a large part of what separates the good chemistry from the poor chemistry. an author who knows who the couples are going to be and has a plan from the beginning to build them up is going to be more successful in creating a believable relationship with good chemistry. one who does not plan, or makes last minute plans will almost certainly fail, and the couple is just going to suck). when the set of characters you're working with are going to stay the same for most or all of the story, you start immediately.

i don't mean to toot my own horn, because i think it's because i'm a writer so i just pick up on narrative patterns very easily, and pretty much always clock the planned couples within the first few episodes of any series, and by the end i am right like 9 times out of 10.

that being said, do you know whose deliberately written chemistry i also clocked in jwcc? ben and kenji's.

kenji and... brooklyn?

no offense to people who like/enjoy kenji and brooklyn, you are free to love them, but the way their romance was written is... quite possibly the weakest point of the show. it felt like they were just trying to appease the upsetto heteros in charge, because there was definitely another het pairing that had a lot more potential than kenji and brooklyn (hello darius x brooklyn aka darilyn, you would have actually made sense because your relationship had amazing buildup and multiple standout scenes from s1 on. dgmw, i love that we got a m/f strong, supportive, purely platonic friendship out of them, i live for those and we really need more of them. but we could have had that with kenji and brooklyn, or darius and sammy, or ben and yas, literally any other pair instead).

kenji and brooklyn as a couple came out of absolutely nowhere. i honestly think they decided to shove them together last minute, and had no actual plan for them until they were working on s4. because their development barely started at the VERY end of s3 (the abruptness of him caring about her being held hostage so much more than literally anyone else in their group despite them having like zero buildup to that point gave me whiplash), but honestly didn't really even become "meaningful" development until s4, over halfway through the series. the two spend the first 3 seasons basically not particularly gaf about each other individually, only as part of the whole group and on an equal level with everyone else. they otherwise have no deliberate narrative foundation. it just starts in s4 with no prior hinting. which makes their development rocky and difficult to believe. the funny thing is their characters literally have dialogue (in s4) trying to draw comparisons/parallels between them to say that they especially have a lot in common and like??? no? they really don't? not any more so than any other two kids in the group. their relationship just, really falls flat.

it was disappointing to see it take such a massive spotlight in the series for almost all of seasons 4 and 5, overshadowing the friendships that have been the focus of the show and should have remained so, to the point where at times it just felt like i was watching some stereotypical het highschool romance. genuinely, it made s4 & 5 more of a drag to get through. yasammy and ben and yas' growing bond (which by the way was so sweet, it had the strongest queer solidarity vibes good lord, i sure wonder why yas chose ben out of everyone to come out to first, hmmm) were some of the few things that kept me invested, otherwise i would have dropped it if it had leaned much farther into becoming the kenlyn show than it already was. especially when it was that pair so much of the focus was given to, even though we had so readily and perfectly available, the pair that could have, should have been: benji. which finally brings me to:

ben and kenji

benji's foundation was laid in s1. their interactions, the situations they found themselves in, were deliberate (on the writers' part). i'm even gonna go out on a limb here and say the pairings were fully established in s1e3, even with parallels between yasammy and benji (sammy clinging to yas and ben clinging to kenji throughout the episode), and darilyn gets the beginning of their development too.

even though they bicker a lot in the beginning, they clearly care about each other? kenji protects/helps ben multiple times, and there are definitely some looks ben gives kenji at times. at the end of s1, the one who seems the most deeply effected over ben's "death," other than darius (understandably since he's the one who failed to save him), was kenji! immediately after it happens, we get two close up shots, darius and brooklyn then yasmina and sammy. after which, we go back to the whole group with kenji in center frame, the focus is intentionally on him. it is only kenji who drops to his knees at the loss, and then we get a close up of just kenji. he was saved for last, and he was alone in frame (tbf bumpy was in frame too, but i'm talking humans here), which implies his feelings are especially important in this moment. that is the reason for solo close ups.

after ben's "death," kenji takes to always wearing ben's fanny pack, and up until bumpy--who ben cares VERY much about--got separated from them, kenji was the one who (however briefly) took over her care, ensuring she got off the monorail with them, and he's extremely distraught, more than pretty much all of them, when they can't find her, and he's last to leave when they decide to accept that ben's gone. even when they do leave, he's distant and distracted and his mind is clearly still on ben.

other than darius, kenji is the only one (if i'm remembering correctly) to mention ben/say his name after they lost him, upset because he was actually trying not to think about him. he has clearly thought about ben, probably a lot, because it's hard not to be reminded constantly when you wear something that belonged to a deceased loved one. and frankly, he appears to be the only one who dwells on him that much.

when ben reappears alive (which btw he found the group again because of kenji's butter knife, hello), the frames literally purposely focus on kenji's reaction. he's the one in the foreground every time they show him and brooklyn in that scene. he is the first one to say ben's name, the first one to go to him and hug him, and the scene takes special care to highlight kenji's strong emotions at ben's reappearance, lingering on his teary face as the focus for a bit even after brooklyn enters the frame to hug ben (because she is not at all an important element in the scene at that moment). just like when ben "died," the way this scene is written and shot HEAVILY suggests that ben holds significant importance to kenji, specifically. because again, the focus here is on kenji and ben almost exclusively, with brooklyn as only an afterthought lol. and quite frankly literally everyone else's reaction to him being alive was pretty lackluster compared to the special attention they gave to kenji on this.

and then in s3 we have the infamous hat scene, where darius and ben are in the limo and ben sees and mentions kenji's sailor hat, looking sad and sounding like... longing?? then directly after we switch to kenji realizing he forgot his hat?? the scene has no real significance tbh other than to draw a connection between ben and kenji. like, it acts as a transition to switch to the pov of the group on the boat, but it was entirely unnecessary? why not just have darius say something about the others and then show them on the boat? if there were no special relationship between ben and kenji, it would have made far more sense if they really wanted it to be ben to say something, that he sees the hat, and sadly says something along the lines of "i hope the others are okay/doing better than we are right now/etc" which implies that the hat made him think of everyone, their whole group. rather than what we got... which very much implies that he was mostly just thinking about kenji 💀 and then kenji thinking about the hat at the same time ben's looking at it and thinking of kenji. like, this is.... a very blatant connection being made by the writing/directing here.

all of that. so many deliberate connections made between ben and kenji, they had a very solid foundation laid for a romance to develop, and by all intents and purposes one already WAS developing according to the show's own subtext. which was why up until s4 obliterated the idea, i was positive the queer couple in the show was either going to be yasammy or benji. it was extremely obvious imo. but as soon we started getting the typical, loud, cliche "we are going to pair off these characters" scenes for kenji and brooklyn, i knew we were getting yasammy and not benji (to be clear, i'm not at all upset about yasammy, they're beautiful and i love how their relationship was done, i wouldn't have had it end any other way for them. but i do personally prefer benji, i just like their personalities and dynamic more. and i feel they had so much potential that got wasted to make way for a far less interesting pairing between kenji and brooklyn. why can't we have 2 queer couples, huh? and if we really needed a minimum of one hetero pairing to appease whoever needed appeasing, darilyn was right there).

but then??? their like entire bond just gets dropped (honestly ben himself gets pretty heavily sidelined for almost all of the last two seasons, which is criminal imo). mostly so that a rushed kenji x brooklyn can be established. like there are still a few small moments here and there in early s4, and one episode in s5 (ep 10), but from early s4 till pretty much the end of the series we hardly see them have any meaningful conversations or interactions, meanwhile literally every other combo in the group does.

it's so weird? why build up benji so deliberately over the course of multiple seasons just to like, fully discard it for a pairing with far less chemistry, even after the chemistry-building scenes they shared, some of which literally had no other purpose than to affirm their connection? even though they were very sparse, the moments benji had were just so blatant (kenji leaps into the rock crevice right onto the back of a saber tooth to save ben?!!?? like he literally was just willing to exchange his life for him like that?? he basically says that he wasn't really thinking, he just did it. so he moved out of what, emotional instinct, that's what we're meant to intuit from that series of events? implying that he specifically has strong emotion and doesn't think things through when it comes to ben? because he doesn't do that kinda stuff for any of the others in the group! even better, this parallels when sammy jumped on the nothosaurus to save yasmina. and then the way benji look at each other after it's over??? hello??? and then how kenji pulls both brooklyn and ben in for that hug a couple minutes later... side eyeing the writers for that choice. they knew what they were doing there and they were evil for it). i just can't see any reason to have dropped them like they were, after all the development they shared for 3 seasons. confounding. biggest disappointment of the series.

i know this probably reads to some as just "wahh, my ship didn't become canon" nonsense. but that's not why i'm bugged. this wasn't just a ship i liked and wanted canon despite no actual narrative support, as most ships tend to be. this ship did have narrative support. there was intent behind many of their scenes together, lingering looks and little things that matter narratively and are always used to signify a stronger/special connection. and it led nowhere, for no good reason. that bothers me. writing that implies and promises something, but never delivers on it. like a person who never finishes their sentences (think Dr McPhee from Night at the Museum). ultimately it's not a HUGE deal or anything, at the end of the day it's just a ship and just a kids' show. but as a writer, it's just irritating to see something like that be done. what can i say 🤷

conclusion

even despite the wasted potential between certain pairings, and even though i do think the first three seasons were superior to the last two, overall i really enjoyed the show, and for what it was, it was really well-made. the overarching focus was of course on found family and friendship before anything else, which i absolutely love, and it was masterfully done. out of 6 kids, all of them had at least one or two meaningful bonding moments one-on-one with another in the group, so every possible combination had their moment to build strong, believable friendships with each other. i'm just so surprised by how good it was as a whole honestly, good enough to binge over the course of a week. i will happily recommend jwcc to anyone willing to give it a watch regardless of age, because i definitely think there's no age limit for a good story, no matter the medium it's told in. :)

#jwcc #jurassic world camp cretaceous #benji jwcc #benji #yasammy #yasammy jwcc #i would say that there's prob an age minimum tho... it's a bit scary so depending on the kid i wouldn't rec it to under 10 years #this is a long post #omg so long i'm sorry #i just have a lot to say #gotta shout into the void #it just be like that sometimes #fair warning this post is literally just me praising the show in the first half n then going absolutely off about benji in the second half #review #tv show review #as always with stuff like this that has any mention of ships it is bound to ruffle some feathers #so let me postface this with the reminder that this is all just MY OPINION #you are free to disagree but i'd rather you don't share your disagreements on my post via reblog/notes #feel free to write up your own show/ship review if you feel so strongly #otherwise if you dislike anything i've said you can just scroll past or block me <3

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poppletonink · 7 months

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Review: NANA

★★★★★ - 5 stars

"Love, it's a story between two human beings so if you can't think of the other, it's possible it won't work."

NANA: two girls with the same name, on the same train, meet and fall into each other's lives. The drama, love and pain that blossom from their meeting ensues in a timely manner, unfolding in bouts of emotion before the viewer's very eyes. The beauty of the anime starts with it's characters who are woven so intricately - each of them individuals with intriguing backstories, trauma and completely different lives. Alongside the beautifully created characters, throughout the anime there are many references to Vivienne Westwood fashion, which makes NANA stand out as a punk love story for the ages. That's what NANA is about, whether you interpret the love between Nana Osaki and Nana Komatsu as romantic or platonic, the anime discusses the importance of love and friendship within our lives. The true matter that intertwines these characters however isn't fashion or love, it isn't even friendship - it's music. The husky, unique vocals of Anna Tsuchiya as Nana Osaki create a wonderful listening experience, and the songs 'rose' and 'zero' are undoubtedly the stand out tracks of the anime. The story that unfolds between two battling bands shows the complexity of relationships, as complications and heartbreak unfold between our very eyes, between performances and recordings. Full of funny moments and dramatic plotlines, a tale of music, found family and a masterclass in character creation, NANA is truly one of the greatest animes to ever bless the screen.

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scorbleeo · 3 months

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TV Series Discussion: Fellow Travelers

Source: Google Images

Follows the lives and volatile romance of two different men, through purges, wars, protests, and plagues, overcoming obstacles in the world.

Source: IMDb (2023)

My Heart Aches

And it will probably ache forever, whenever I think back to this TV show. It aches even more when I think that despite Fellow Travelers being fiction, many of the events shown weren't fiction.

The storytelling through the decades in the second half of the 20th century was so well done. It's time jump at its best. However, it's really how the actors portrayed their characters that made this show as amazing as it is.

For Lucy, I simply cannot hate her. Whether it be the past or in current times, do you know how hard is it to find a female like Lucy? She gave her everything for a love that will never be reciprocated and yet she's not full of malice. Sure, she burnt that letter. Sure, she was not loyal to her marriage but can she be blamed? The fact that she finally left Hawk at the end for herself was the time I was most proud of her. And I was already proud of her when she was never actually homophobic, and when she visited Tim at the hospital. Yes, she asked an ignorant question during that visit but during that time and what's being said about AIDs, I don't blame her for her ignorance. At least this woman was just ignorant and not evil or even mean.

For Marcus and Frankie, I just feel so much for them and have rooted for them since the beginning. Honestly, nobody in Fellow Travelers is more brave than Frankie. Marcus goes on and off throughout the show but he really popped off at the end. I just hate that this TV show had to give Jerome AIDs too? My already breaking heart cracked loudly watching Marcus's reaction when Jerome told him he was positive.

For my baby Skippy, he is one of the main reasons my heart will always ache for this show. How much does a good man have to suffer?

And for Hawk, it's weird because even when he was being toxic or an asshole, I never hated him. Hawkins Fuller is literally "he fears more than he loves". Back in the first episode, I've said that Hawk loves Tim, he loved Tim the second his eyes fell on his Skippy and he just fell deeper in love every other time they were together. Unfortunately, this man was afraid way more than he loves. Which I completely understand because of what the hell the States was doing back then, and that is why I never hated Hawk. I've seen how people hated that Hawk never told Tim "I love you" but I beg to differ. For someone who feared more than he loved, that last kiss they shared, much less in public – that specific time period, that event? Hawk did not need to say those words to Tim, this frightened man showed Tim he loves him, and Tim knows that which was why he sent Hawk home knowing damn well if Tim asked him to stay through his last days, Hawk would.

Fellow Travelers is such a hauntingly beautiful but heartbreaking love story. I just keep thinking that if these two men were born later in their time, they would have such a wondrous relationship without the shenanigans and no wasted time.

Rating: ★★★★★

#tv show review #fellow travelers #hawkins fuller #tim laughlin #marcus hooks #frankie hines #lucy smith #matt bomer #jonathan bailey #jelani alladin #noah j. ricketts #allison williams #book to tv adaptation

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urmomswifesworld · 4 months

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Fleabag, a Feminist Icon

I love the show fleabag with all my heart, it is an amazing piece of television which makes me feel so many emotions. I spent a lot of time pondering how this piece of art is involved/impacts/advocates for feminism and want to share my thoughts.

⁍ The use of breaking the fourth wall was a very poignant technique. It served as a commentary on the agency and autonomy of the female voice. Fleabag's direct engagement with the audience, while offering a deeper insight on the characters feelings thought and emotions, challenges the typical passive role female characters are given within story telling as she is an obviously active participant in HER narrative. ⁍ The show tackles often taboo subjects such as sex, a topic women have been shamed for talking about or indulging in for decades. Fleabag's unapologetic approach of her own desires and refusal to succumb to societal norms go against the stereotypical representation of women in television. Her sexual autonomy is a crucial aspect of her character and is never demoralised or shamed for her choices and instead encouraged to navigate her journey through validation and empowerment. ⁍ Fleabag also delves into the intricacies of female relationships. It views them of less of "gossipy" and more of a strong powerful sisterhood which is unlike what is usually presented in television. The shows central focus is on Fleabags relationship with her sister, not a man. It beautifully acknowledges the ups and downs of woman and sisterhood and shows that women are deeper than what is at face value. ⁍ It offers a critical examination of societal expectations placed upon women by showing the brutality of the guilt, grief, and self-worth issues Fleabag has to deal with which many other women can relate to. The show dismantles the typical perfect, put-together woman ,whom we are far to familiar with through all sorts of media, and instead presents a protagonist who is flawed, messy and REAL. It is a refreshing departure of the one dimensional female characters we are typically forced to indulge in. ⁍ The character of Fleabag challenges traditional gender roles and expectations by rejecting the idea that her worth is defined by her relationships with men or how well she adheres to social norms. The show is about HER journey of SELF-discovery and SELF-empowerment. This enforces the fact that a woman's narrative does need to revolve around conforming to societal expectations.

The show is a ground-breaking representation of feminism in contemporary media. Through its innovative narrative, unapologetic exploration of female sexuality, and nuanced portrayal of female relationships, the show defies stereotypes and provides a platform for authentic, multifaceted female characters. I highly recommend anyone to watch the show as it was a breath of fresh air.

#fleabag #phoebe waller bridge #god i miss this show #feminism #feminist #feminist review #review #tv shows #tv show review #thoughts #relatable #feminist media #modern media #media #televison #women #sisterhood

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filmmakerdreamst · 9 months

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“Life with Derek” is Back Again!

Life with Luca is a hour and a half spin-off movie based on the 2000’s Canadian Sitcom Life with Derek, set eighteen years after its predecessor. The story follows two step-siblings, Casey McDonald (Ashley Leggat), now a court lawyer and mother of three. And Derek Venturi (Michael Seater), now a successful musician in Paris and a single dad. As history repeats itself, they both have rebellious fourteen year old teenagers, pushing their buttons. So in order to get a break, they both have the idea of dropping them off with their grandparents for their anniversary, and to their surprise, they end up meeting each other instead. With help, they figure out how to co-parent their kids together for a weekend, and hijinks naturally ensue.

The original show Life with Derek was all about a blended family. In which two teenage step-siblings, Casey and Derek (the eldest children in the household and equally self absorbed), clash; fighting each other to take control of the house, their younger siblings, their school and their world.

The episodes consisted of simple, domestic family antics, containing smart jokes that would make adults and children alike laugh. The storylines were mature enough for teenagers to be interested but not so mature that it would put children off from watching.

Life with Derek was a show that prided itself in being character driven and more realistic than some of the family shows that was airing around that time, especially on networks such as Disney Channel.

However, it became well known and successful to this day for the slow burning subtextual “love affair” between the two step-siblings, Casey and Derek which undoubtedly acted as the backbone of the series. And the reason why it got picked up for a reboot fifteen years after the final episode aired.

When I first read the premise of Life with Luca (when the announcement came out that they were going to make a Life with Derek reboot in 2020), I was immediately judgemental as often reboots can erase character growth. It just seemed like another manufactured money making remake (a copy for the next generation) rather than an actual continuation of the original show.

And while the movie does have alot of tropes repeated from the original i.e. Casey and Derek’s kids Skyler and Luca clash from the beginning, two families not really knowing each other previously merging for the first time etc. The writers had the ability to make these tropes most importantly character driven and natural so the audience didn’t notice the similarities so much. And when they did, it’s treated as a familiar nod rather than a direct copy.

Luca and Skyler

Part of the fun of the original was the ongoing romantic tension between Casey and Derek, and I was worried we were going to have a repeat of that with their kids, Luca and Skyler but thankfully the casting and writing department was alot more thorough. And while they do clash at the beginning, its presented more of a culture clash because of how they were raised, and it evolved into a familial relationship quite quickly. I loved watching their bonding moments.

They managed to keep the core message from the original ‘of family and building a family even when you hate your situation at the beginning’. I felt they did a good job of mirroring that message with Luca and Skyler.

Out of the two, I felt like Skyler was the more fleshed out. The casting for her was amazing, she looks just like Derek’s daughter. I loved how, even though she was clearly meant to be the ‘Casey character’ — organised and dramatic — she still had her own vibe. She had the carefree attitude and style from Derek’s parenting, but still was able to be responsible as she essentially raised herself.

Luca, (the ‘Derek’ character) the more rebellious counterpart, is suggested to be acting out due to his chaotic home life, rather than that’s just “how he is” unlike Derek who was labelled as the bad guy from the start. He’s still very much Casey’s son as he doesn’t have some of the toxic masculinity that Derek possessed in the original show. And he has a few neurotic tendencies from her style of parenting as well. But I almost feel we didn’t get enough of him.

If and when Life with Luca does get picked up as a TV Series later on, it would be nice to flesh out his character alot more (and hers), because there was clearly alot of conflict that the two of them both had, his dad working overseas and her mum having a bran new family, that can’t really be fleshed out thoroughly in a hour and a half film.

George and Nora

George and Nora’s plot was by far the most ridiculous (hint, jewel thief car chase), but I loved seeing them on screen again. It was nice to see how their relationship was still going strong after all this time. Along with their cameo, there were some other great ones such as Sam and Mr Lassiter. It was a shame we didn’t get to see the rest of the blended family such as Edwin and Lizzie and Marti, even for a second at the anniversary party at the end. But I understand the screenwriters wanted to save that for a TV Series later on, so they could be fully explored more.

Simon

Simon, the youngest of the McDonald-Venturi’s (that was a storyline for the last two episodes of the original) was by far my favourite addition to the film. This was surprising, since that storyline in Life with Derek wasn’t exactly my favourite around the time of watching because I don’t necessarily agree that the step-family gaining a shared child made them “a proper family”. Thankfully, Life with Luca proved me wrong as he was so lovable. I loved how he was a perfect mix of both of the McDonalds and the Venturi’s, but mostly the Venturi’s as he was so clumsy.

Casey and Derek

As always, the strongest parts of the movie, were when they were focusing on Casey and Derek, individually and together. I loved how they went with careers that naturally meshed with their personalities. Casey being a married lawyer in Toronto and Derek being a travelling musician in Paris with his daughter as a best friend. Watching Derek be a parent was amazing, especially since he was shown to be really good with kids in the original.

When the two finally meet up again, the audience can see that their friendship has definitely progressed; they have finally learnt to respect one another even though they haven’t spoken one on one for a long time. But they still maintained their comedic banter. It was refreshing to see that character growth. It was nice that it hadn’t backtracked in typical reboot fashion for the sake of drama/entertainment since that relationship was the core of why the original worked.

Now in the original show, Life with Derek, it was never confirmed that Casey and Derek had romantic feelings for each other, but there was alot of speculation by the fans, because of all the subtext going on throughout the series.

The actors, Michael Seater and Ashley Leggat, put a rest to some of the speculation in 2016 and confirmed in a article by MTV that because ‘the fans were so into Casey and Derek being a couple, [they] would find subtext in their lines to give the fans what they desire’

Life with Derek was primarily about the first four years that they [Casey and Derek] lived together. Their relationship mostly consisted of an antagonistic push and pull/tug of war even though at the end of the day, they were always there for each other when it really counted. Even though Casey and Derek claimed to dislike each other, it was very clear that the two had developed a deep bond over the course of the series.

However, Casey and Derek’s relationship in Life with Luca is interesting in a way that they’re no longer in a “sibling dynamic” in which they were previously forced into. Mostly because they’re no longer teenagers and the fact that they’ve barely interacted or lived together in eighteen years since life both took them in very different directions. Which creates a paradox in itself.

It’s this incredibly grey area throughout the movie where they’re adjusting to each other again, slipping into their old bickering, confiding in each other about parenthood, all while transitioning into a mum and dad dynamic while they’re co-parenting the children they had with other people.

Before the movie came out, I was positive, because of the criticisms and hype surrounding the show and the pairing, that the writers were going to diminish the potential of a romance between the characters in fear of backlash. For example, have Casey in a happy marriage, Derek dating around and eventually gain a love interest at the end of the film. Also, trying to make their relationship as “Sibling- Esque” as possible.

Even though I knew from the premise of the reboot, that they were going to move in together, and there would be a few romantic undertones scattered in for the fans, I’d thought they’d play it off more as an “aunt and uncle babysitting the kids”.

But the opposite ended up happening. Casey has an absent husband who continuously leaves her and her kids alone while he plays hockey over seas — breaking his promises that he was going to retire before their kids were teenagers. Derek supposedly hasn’t dated anyone in fourteen years nor mentions flirting with other women. He even has a distant relationship with his daughters mum.

The moment Derek comes, he almost takes ‘the role of her husband’ as he sees Casey isn’t doing so well. He does the cooking for their kids — Casey even mentions that her husband does all the cooking while Derek is preparing dinner — babysits her little ones, attempts to calm Casey down when she’s getting too stressed, helps arrange an anniversary party for their parents so she’s able to get on with her work. And even though, they are referred as “Aunt” and “Uncle” in the movie, it’s also made apparent that they’re essentially “Mum and Dad” to their children as well.

One of Casey’s little ones, Molly even makes a “catch it or you’ll miss it” comment to Derek’s kid in one scene “I wish we were cousins AND sisters.”

Their last scene together at the end of the movie, Casey comes up to Derek saying ‘You’re gonna come home again soon, before the kids go to university?’ in which Derek heavily implies that he wants to move into her guest house to potentially raise their kids together, making a direct parallel to her husband not retiring from hockey and coming home from Europe, even after their kids grew up.

That moment is possibly why I came out from watching the movie thinking ‘If Casey and Derek don’t get together after this; then it’s bad writing’ because their scenes in the reboot didn’t feel like random “fanservice moments” like in the original; it felt like a genuine setup for a romance. Even if it can’t be written explicitly, due to the network, it is the most logical ending for their characters and the movie just made that ending seem even more inevitable.

Despite my enjoyment of Life with Luca, and overall it being a Great Comeback of a 2000’s Classic — it’s not a movie that can really work on its own. Finishing it left me feeling unsatisfied and wanting more. It felt very much like an introduction than a complete product. Its very apparent they made this movie so it could be picked up as a TV series later on, since there is alot of plot threads that are unexplored, unfinished or left open.

Life with Luca is not a reunion movie. It’s only page one.

“Life with Derek” is Back Again! by Ellie Hersey

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the-world-ive-forgotten · 3 months

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Review #1.1: Blue Eye Samurai Season 1

A continuation of my initial review. I just cannot stop thinking about this show and the symbolism within it. The parallel between Akemi and Taigen - the show beginning with Akemi searching for happiness and Taigen searching for greatness, and the show ending with Akemi searching for greatness and Taigen searching for happiness. I really enjoy Akemi's relationship with her husband. I think they are a good match. I do hope that Akemi and Taigen do not get together, I am not sure it would be beneficial for either of them, and in fact, I think it would hold them both back.

Another point I have been pondering is Mizu and her refusal to let go of anything. Her clothes are the same she's been wearing since childhood. She collects and keeps items from her past lives, from people left behind. She has never cut her hair - and this is a detail I really like, signifying how much she is holding on to.

#blue eye samurai #review #blue eye samurai review #tv show review #recommendation #tv show recommendations #mizu blue eye samurai #taigen blue eye samurai #akemi blue eye samurai #analysis #character analysis #blue eye samurai analysis

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smugraccoon137 · 1 year

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Also i genuinely enjoyed Wednesday?

Like yeah that first episode was a little rough script wise, but only here and there.

Enid had the most cringe lines poor kid. Thank God they got better and more fleshed out as her character got more screen time. I'm glad she wasn't just a cookie cutter over saturated Feminine character whose only purpose was to contrast Wednesday and oppose her views. Their relationship was one of the highlights of watching the show. That and Wednesdays friendship with Eugene.

By far the worst parts are the influx of romantic interest in Wednesday for absolutely NO REASON. I felt like I was reading someone's first romance novel at the forced, annoying, and confusing scenes involving her and Tyler as well as Xavier.

Like guys worst part of the show. New goth girl shows up and for some reason everyone is infatuated with her. Why? Genuinely?

If i had to argue with myself I'd say in the original movies no matter how little the Addams family went out into public they always seemed to draw the eye. People did seem to always target them or obsess over them in some way or manner.

So that's accurate to an extent. But that's where the accuracy stops. Interest, obsession, curiosity. Enid, Rowan, Bianca. But why the seemingly random romantics? It's out of nowhere and not at all welcomed by our main protagonist. She rejects it at every stage. Xavier is a dick most of the season, because she's rightly logically suspicious of him...

HE HAS A SHED FILLED WITH MONSTER DRAWINGS. OF COURSE THAT'S THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION. AND HE NEVER ONCE DENIES HE'S THE FUCKING MONSTER. HE JUST GETS MAD. THAT'S FUCKING SUSPICIOUSSSSS

And Tyler who actually starts out nice enough, but then becomes more and more entitled to Wednesdays time and space.

Like dude ever heard of no? It's honestly frightening how both of these guys pin her into a situation where she feels like she can't say no. That's the scariest part of this series. The few times Wednesday finds herself trapped is with two annoying young men put her in a position where she has to spend time with them romantically.

Besides that the characters held there own outside of the plot. And I cared about people outside of Wednesday. Eugenes ma boy

The music direction was really good. Everyone loves a cello

They showed me a really interesting perspective on the Addams family. And it was really interesting, because it felt very real in its own way. I think they did a good job interpretting such classic characters in modern lighting.

And most of all I loved the mystery aspects. It wasn't boring and see through like most shows geared towards teen demographics. They gave me plenty of red herrings to play with. And some strings left untied for next season, which I hope they actually play wuth instead of abandoning.

Honestly I'd watch it again and I'm excited for season 2

#wednesday #wednesday addams #wednesday review #tv show review #tv thoughts #the addams family #text #textpost #Thinking about how Enid is the only character that would play an appropriate romantic role for Wednesday #Amd how they literally shared romantic moments #She has a lesbian colored sweater and trans colors in her hair #Her mirror stain is a bunch of pride flags put together #Her character is saturated in queer themes #Werewolf conversion camp? Cmon #I'm not like the other wolves Enid sinclair #Yeah maybe I'll write my thoughts on their relationship cus that was really interesting as well #wenclair

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tvshowpilot · 5 months

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The final episode of Heartland season 17 was full of uncertainty and angst but also happiness and love. From Shane and Chloe’s wedding to Amy and Nathan’s budding relationship and more, here's our recap of Heartland season 17 episode 10 -> https://tvshowpilot.com/tv-reviews/heartland/s17e10-review/

#heartland #cbc heartland #amy fleming #heartland cbc #heartland on cbc #iloveheartland #amber marshall #jack bartlett #tim fleming #heartland recap #lou fleming #Heartland season 17 episode 10 #Heartland 17x10 #Heartland 17.10 #17x10 #Heartland episode 1710 #tv show review #jisa

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eggwhiteswithspinach · 5 months

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This is my filter, but I truly believe that when people frame friendships with other genders as a "waiting spot" for developing further romantic relationships, it really takes away from the quality of the actual friendship. After all, the best friendships are ones without ulterior motives, and when you genuinely care for each other.

#HospitalPlaylist

#hospital playlist #kdrama #korean drama #tv shows #tv show review #lucy dot txt

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onceuponaweirdo · 7 months

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I just started watching A Filha da Lei, the crime TV show Alba was in.

And I'm gonna start by saying that's pretty cathartic watching a crime series in Portuguese, my whole childhood I used to watch Portuguese TV and I had no clue how fucking much I missed it lol.

Those were one of my faves screenshots of Alba I took while watching the show, there are a few more but they're on the tablet.

Only just watched the first ep and half of the second (I fell asleep when watching it lol), it has the same vibes as Astrid et Raphaëlle with the ambience and how they carry themselves which I love.

Alba's character, Sara, is a "rebellious" punk and I live for it 🤣.

#alba baptista #a filha da lei #daughter of the law #tv shows #tv show review #warrior nun #ava silva #i watch too many series at the same time #i will not be coherent sometimes #to the anon #who asked for this #don't blame me

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theromaboo · 6 months

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Opinion on Domina season 2?

Wow thank you SO much for the ask.

I watched Domina season 2 during August so forgive me if my memory isn't perfect. Spoilers!

I feel like this season is much more funny but also much more heartbreaking than the first season. However, I feel like the first season was much more tense than this season. So basically when I was watching the first season I was constantly gritting my teeth and pulling at my hair and when I was watching the second season I was constantly alternating between laughing and crying. Which isn't a bad thing, but I think the majority of the tension in this season was me wondering how they would break my heart again, not from the plot.

Well I guess I should just jump right in.

Some Random Thoughts I Had:

In this season, two of the three characters I was watching this show for died. Luckily the third character isn't due to die for another fifty years or so! I don't have to worry about him dying. I only have to worry about him as a person.

Wouldn't it be crazy rad if Domina just kept continuing, past Livia's life, into the later Julio-Claudian dynasty? And we get to see Agrippina and Nero and Britannicus and Claudius? Ah, that would just be amazing! But it would kind of go against Domina, which is supposed to be a show about Livia's life. At least Livia still has a lot of life to live! I don't know if there's a third season coming. I hope so.

Tiberius got a new actor! But Drusus didn't. Livia actually mentioned this and it was so funny but so weird. She was like "Oh, Tiberius, you changed a lot! But Drusus hardly changed at all!" which feels so uncomfortable to me because Tiberius got a new actor but Drusus didn't and all the viewers know that but we're supposed to pretend like we don't to suspend our disbelief but when the characters themselves mention it ahhh!

On that note, Drusus, his age, and how that's all depicted in Domina is a super weird topic that I just don't have the time to talk about here.

I love Tiberius' new actor so so so much and he feels like Tiberius, but I also miss the old actor! Ah, that's what rewatching the first season is for!

Antigone is gone. It's implied she died in between the first season and the second but we don't get much information about that so it feels like she just vanished into thin air. I miss her ;(

There is so much Tiberius Pillow symbology in this season. They are rubbing it in your face.

Okay now that I'm done with that brain dump, let's review it with more structured topics!

Acting:

Amazing as always. I actually think the acting here was better than in the last season. Honestly the way these people play with their facial expressions like that... oh my gosh it's so good. Domina has phenomenal acting.

However, there are two little moments when I cringed, but they are 100% not the actors' faults. One of them I already mentioned, when Livia mentioned that Tiberius changed a lot and Drusus didn't. That was really funny but just so weird.

And then when a character mentioned that wearing trousers was weird and not fashionable. It's just that all the actors are so British, a line like that is impossible to pull off and sound right. They're all just too British!

But honestly the acting was so so good in this season!

Overall Beauty:

Domina is continuing to be absolutely beautiful. Every screenshot is a work of art. Domina is easily one of the prettiest shows out there.

Plot:

I think it was good. There were some parts that just felt very very random but overall I think the plot was very entertaining and heartbreaking and not historically inaccurate in the way that I'd dislike it, but historically inaccurate in the way good historical fiction is.

Humor:

Amazing as always. This show is so funny. Quickly alternating between two different things is quite a common theme in this season, so they use a lot of heartbreak but also a lot of humor.

Characters:

My favourite character always is and always was Tiberius, even though I don't really think he was created as a character for people to like. Tiberius... he's very very complicated in this show and I don't think I have the brain power to talk about it. But I've liked him ever since we first met him as a teenager in the first season because he's autistic-coded and I was like "Omg he's just like me fr." And then of course I had to like him for the rest of the show. But just because I like him as a character does not mean I like him as a person or condone anything he does.

Dang I wanted to say something more solid in this section but I just can't think of anything.

Anyway, when it comes to the characters as a whole, I think that generally they were all done very well. Vipsania was kind of done dirty, but other than that, I'd say everyone has a strong personality and I never found an issue with the characterization.

Things I Liked:

Honestly, everything I mentioned up there. Acting, humor, prettiness, sadness. I like 99% of this show.

That part when Augustus was getting kinky with Gemina while Agrippa was telling the senate about being more loyal and moral and that sort of stuff. Ohhh that was so clever.

When Tiberius was remembering the dream he had about his father and repeating all the words his father said and it was like Tiberius was becoming him. Ahhhhhh.

This hilarious part after Tiberius and Julia's wedding:

Antonina: Drusus. Did you give Vistilius permission to fornicate in our bedroom?

Drusus: Yes!

Antonina: 🤨

Drusus: No?

Antonina: 😬

Drusus: Possibly. Who can remember?

Antonina: 😟

Oh my god the way Drusus was just cycling through every response!

Antonina and Drusus stole the show they were amazing.

Things I Did Not Like:

They're trying to show Tiberius' mental health issues but I am not 100% agreeing with how they do it. But I don't really know how it could be better. And I'm just not very knowledgeable in this subject so maybe their depiction is actually really good. I don't know. It's just that I think it could be better in some way.

I wanted more Vipsania. And they were so mean in their portrayal of her.

When Agrippa died 😭😭😭😭😭 and Octavian was all sad about it 😭😭😭😭😭 but then Octavian and Livia were suddenly having sex and Livia was saying "Oh, it's okay, you don't need him anymore." 😟😟😟😟😟😟😟 Oh my god, what? I was literally crying but then that scene made my tears go back up to where they came from.

During Tiberius and Julia's wedding, what was simultaneously happening to Livia just felt so random and disconnected to everything else that was happening. Which is a shame because Tiberius and Julia's wedding was honestly my favourite part of the whole show. I remember that it kept jumping back and forth between the wedding and Livia. Watching it kind of felt like "Omg omg I feel so bad for Tiberius and Julia—who are those people in the masks chasing Livia?? Oh dang Drusus you're going to gamble everything away—why is Livia jumping off a cliff??" I know that part with Livia probably had a purpose in the show, but I actually forgot what it was.

In Conclusion:

The second season of Domina was funny, heartbreaking, pretty, and I loved it. It made some decisions I did not like, but it also made a whole lot of decisions I loved. Overall, I absolutely love this show. This is actually my favourite TV show of all time.

But the big question is, which season is better?

I don't know! They both have their strengths and weaknesses.

The first season has Antigone and Marcellus and just a lot of the "children" of the imperial family when they were teenagers, you know, Julia, Tiberius, Drusus, Marcellus, Iullus. And I like that a lot. In the second season, they're older, which is perfectly fine but I like teenager drama, you know?

The first season had two awkward episodes in the beginning where they had to pretty much explain all the context and characters, but they honestly weren't bad episodes. They were just really different compared to most of the show. However, because a lot of actors got changed in between the second episode and the third, it was quite confusing for a while. The very second I'm finally able to recognize most of the characters, bam, they all look different. Which is bad because I'm quite face blind!

Anyway, the first season really had me on the edge of my seat, especially for the last four episodes. But I think I felt even more suspense watching the second season wondering how they were going to break my heart again.

I think the second season was funnier but humor does not necessarily make or break a show, unless it's a comedy. And just because the second season was funnier doesn't mean the first season doesn't have its own fair share of hilarious moments, and it does!

Both seasons are very very beautiful and have great acting. The choice of actors is honestly phenomenal for both seasons.

Honestly, I don't know which season is better! In my opinion, Domina managed to do the rare thing in which the second season manages to live up to the first. But not everyone might agree with me. If you have anything to add, please do!

#domina sky #domina mgm+#asks #ancient rome #historical fiction #historical show #tv shows #tv show review #show review

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poppletonink · 6 months

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Review: Heartbreak High

★★★★☆ - 4 stars

"Just remember, high school, it mostly sucks. But it's one time in your life. You're gonna be okay."

If the SOUR album by Olivia Rodrigo was a TV Show it would be Heartbreak High. A modern version of the original 90s show, Heartbreak High tells the tale of the students of Hartley High after the so-called 'Incest Map' gets revealed, and the drama that entails as a result of their newly formed sexual health class ('SLTs' - subsequently named 'Sluts' by the students). The cast is extremely diverse, with representation of different racial groups, genders, sexualities, and disabilities. The most wonderful form of representation is undoubtedly the authentic autistic representation through the outstanding Chloe Hayden as Quinni Gallagher-Jones. Autistic representation is extremely rare in the media and Heartbreak High manages it perfectly, with one of the most accurate depictions of overstimulation ever seen on screen. This is a TV show made for Gen-Z that actually portrays the generation extremely well, in all its wacky wonder. A tale of love, sex, and drama, Heartbreak High perfectly encapsulates teenage rage in a montage of hysterically funny and thrilling moments.

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legion1227 · 6 months

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What We Do In The Shadows: Season 5 A Review.

I would put this season on par with season 3.

As the last season had fun escapades highlighted by a child version of Colin Robinson, who steadily grows up and eventually becomes his old self by the season four finale, its ending point seemed to leave our characters barely different from when the season started or any previous season, for that matter. However, a crucial scene towards the end of the season four finale shows Guillermo, tired of waiting for his master Nandor to turn him into a vampire, going to his vampire friend Derek to do so instead. Most of season five deals with the ramifications of that decision made, alongside all the other vampires eventually finding out one by one before Nandor. Other season-long storylines include Nadja connecting with another family from her old country, The Guide trying to figure out where she fits in with her fellow vampires, and Colin Robinson's shenanigans.

What We Do In The Shadows is consistently hilarious, yet this season is up there with its third season as some of the best comedic and heartfelt storytelling put to television.

Within ten episodes, the cast and creative team were able to achieve multiple gut-busters and craft memorable, iconic moments in the show's history. Episode one's "The Mall" gave the great, big reveal that Guillermo's vampification process wasn't taking on as it should've and multiple hilarious line deliveries from the sublime Matt Berry as Laszlo. Kayvan Novak's Nandor is just as much a comedic genius as the rest of the cast, but his terrible treatment of Guillermo and utter obliviousness in scenarios elevate the character's work to another level. Most of the other episodes operate on another level of excellence. "Pride Parade" has a wild ending to the episode that left me dying, "The Campaign" touches the heart as Nadja tries reconnecting with her old roots, "Local News" has the vampires at their dumbest to provide hilarious results, "Hybrid Creatures" has one of my favorite quotables, ("The only hairy frog I'm interested in is in-between your legs, my darling), and "Exit Interview" pays off the Guillermo as a vampire story, something years in the making, in a satisfying manner.

If there's any downside, I'd say it's a shame that Laslzlo didn't do much in "The Roast" episode as he was stuck in a trance, but even the delivery of "yes, yes very good. Thank you." has been ingrained into my brain for months. He has to be my favorite character on the show, but everyone brought their A-game this season. Especially Kristen Schaal as The Guide, who I'm glad has been promoted to being a core member of the cast with Guillermo and the others.

In conclusion, this season was one of the funniest seasons of television this year and will rank high on my list of shows for this year.

#review #tv show review #tv review #tv #tv shows #what we do in the shadows #wwdits #laszlo cravensworth #nandor the relentless #nadja wwdits #nadja of antipaxos #colin robinson #guillermo de la cruz

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episodicnostalgia · 7 months

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Star Trek: The Next Generation, 111 (Jan. 9, 1988) - “The Big Goodbye”

Written by: Tracy Torme Directed by: Joseph L. Scanlan

The Breakdown

Picard is prepping for an especially stressful diplomatic mission wherein he is required to recite a specific speech in a complex alien language with a species that is deadly serious about grammar; Empasis on the word ‘deadly’. Noting his mounting anxiety, Beverly Crusher writes Picard a prescription for… a play date on the holodeck, and amazingly Picard takes the doctor’s orders to heart. In fact, Jean Luc has such a good time playing a noir private-eye thriller that he invites Beverly, Data, and the ship’s 20th century literary buff along with him (his name isn’t important, because we’ll never see him again). Unfortunately, this transpires at the same time that our Grammar-specific aliens arrive, pre-emptively scanning the ship, which accidentally locks the holodeck and takes the safety protocols offline in one fell swoop (which seems like a pretty substantial design flaw).

While Picard misses every single advance that Crusher makes towards Picard (and folks I gotta tell you, she’s REALLY not being subtle about it), the holo-adventure begins to take a turn for the worse as the program’s mobster-villains show up with fully lethal weapons, which they happily use on Picard’s history-nerd friend (who remarkably survives, but barely). Meanwhile the literal-grammar-nazi-aliens are getting impatient with Riker’s inability to produce Picard for their scheduled meeting (apparently explaining that a ship malfunction has Picard temporarily incapacitated isn’t a viable option). Thankfully the holodeck door eventually opens, and Picard is able to convince the mobsters to walk through first, causing them to disappear (since there are no holo-emitters in the corridor). And so Picard is free to deliver his nonsense speech to the grammar enthusiasts, and the day is saved.

The Verdict

Finally! A holodeck Episode!

‘The Big Goodbye’ gives us our first “just-for-fun” episode and it’s about goddamn time. Oh don’t misunderstand, the episode is exactly as ridiculous as what I’ve described above, but for the most part it’s intentional, and in this case it makes all the difference. I’ve always had a soft spot for holodeck stories, because it gives us a look into what the crew get up to when they aren’t spouting techno-babble, debating the prime directive, or dealing with transporter disasters.

Picard also gets to have some fun here, meaning this might be the first time he doesn’t come across as a total buzzkill. Aside from some clunky pacing and a slightly anticlimactic ending, this is a pretty fun episode. Superior holodeck adventures would follow, but this one had to walk so the others could run.

3 stars (out of 5)

Additional Observations

Based on what we've seen this season, it would seem that the holodeck is still a fairly new technology, especially considering how Picard marvels at what it can do.

Right off the bat, this episode clearly establishes that holodeck characters are/can become self aware, and are capable experiencing fear (and likely pain). This is just the first of many times that Star Trek will play at this across multiple shows. As fun as these episodes are, it’s always struck me that there should be a greater ethical consideration for Holo-people and their rights.

I have always wondered why the ability to remove safety protocols was ever an option, especially on a holodeck that’s accessible to both crew and civilians alike.

Picard has no business being so clueless about women. In fact when it comes to relationships and courtship the entire crew seems to possess the emotional intelligence of an average 14-year-old.

I gotta hand it to Patrick Stewart, even when he’s spewing absolute nonsense alien gibberish, he commits 100%.

I never mentioned the set design, but this episode also looks great. Really fun to see the noir aesthetic on Star Trek.

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