TV REVIEW: Perry Mason - season 1

87/100 “sweet”

By: Keaton Marcus

Streaming giant HBO has made a darker, more serious remake of the classic TV series Perry Mason. And it’s a success alright, packed with solid performances, dripping in style and having a good sense of fun. It’s about a detective of sorts named Perry (Matthew Rhys) who is called upon to solve a tragic and mysterious murder of a small child. The cinematography is frequently gorgeous, and it is all around visually special. The performances are superb as well, led by a surprisingly charismatic Matthew Rhys, who’s known for last year’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. Tatiana Maslany and John Lithgow also headline the cast. While the series is entertaining, it’s much darker than the original, featuring some pretty gory violence, but it doesn’t lose the sense of fun. Sure, it is extremely serious, and so is the story...but you cannot help but get invested in the whole thing. Maybe it won’t make the easiest binge, though if you have patience, I’m sure it will be worth it.

Should you Binge, Browse or Skip?

HBO’s less-playful take on Perry Mason is a stylish, well-acted remake that’s full with entertainment. I would say…BINGE IT

TV Review: Looney Tunes Cartoons - Season 1

By: Keaton Marcus

82/100 “sweet”

Review of HBO Max’s Looney Tunes Cartoons:

HBO Max has not only made a talk-show hosted by Elmo, but has also rebooted Bugs Bunny and Co. with Looney Tunes Cartoons, a fast-paced, enjoyable and faithful remake of the classic, timely series. Each episode is a split into two parts, with every one being a new, fun story focusing on several of the iconic characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Sylvester the Cat and more. Each episode runs about 10-12 minutes long, and not a single one of them drags in any way. It gives a new generation of children more animated characters to cheer for, and it will be nostalgic enough for the parents to enjoy. The manic, colorful gags and the in-your-face characters may not be for everyone, but for the most part, this is a superb way to spend your day if you just want to relax, and enjoy some chaotic fun. Remember, do not go watching this show looking for some smart animated entertainment…View the show knowing what you’re about to see. Like I noted in my review for The Not-Too Late Show with Elmo, these are two shows made for younger viewers, but the power with this one is the fact that parents are well-introduced with these characters, so it should be fun for a lot of age groups.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

Looney Tunes Cartoons is perfect for all-ages; a fun, enjoyable and colorful set of gags and plenty of faithfulness to the classic original. I would say…BINGE IT

TV Review: The Not-Too Late Show with Elmo - Season 1

By: Keaton Marcus

75/100 “sweet”

Review of HBO Max’s The Not-Too Late Show with Elmo:

What we have all been waiting for has arrived upon us! A talk-show with Elmo is here from the newly-launched platform HBO Max, dubbed The Not-Too Late Show with Elmo. And surprisingly, despite Elmo’s annoyingly high-pitched voice, the show provides us with some fun games, terrific guests and humor that all-ages (hopefully) can enjoy. On the show, Elmo invites celebrities like Jimmy Fallon, Lil Nas X, the Jonas Brothers and more to compete in fun games on his new talk-show. What’s just right about this series is that each episode is just about 15 minutes long, flawless for little kids wanting a bit of entertainment before bed. Since all the late-night talk shows are never really for younger viewers, this is a great opportunity for them to get introduced to this side of entertainment, especially since it’s hosted by their favorite 3 year-old monster! I’m not exactly in the targeted age group for the series, and I still enjoyed it. There is one major flaw I have with it, however, which I mentioned before. The voices of virtually every iconic character from Sesame Street are so damn irritating. Kids will be watching the episodes on repeat, of course, but anybody older may want to tune out a little bit, cause it can get a bit exhausting. Nonetheless, most of the time, you will be entertained.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

The Not-Too Late Show with Elmo may not be worth binging for the older ones, though it is still plenty of fun, benefitting from talented guests, and loads of energy. I would say…BINGE IT

TV Review: Love Life - Season 1

“LOVE LIFE” IS A ROM-COM ANTHOLOGY SERIES THAT SQUANDERS INTERESTING IDEAS, MAKING ANOTHER GENERIC GENRE INSTALLMENT

44/100 “sour”

Review of HBO Max’s Love Life:

HBO Max has finally launched with over 10,000 hours of free streaming, including many big movies, HBO shows and even new originals…And this is what we get! The Anna Kendrick-starring romantic comedy show dubbed Love Life physically made me mad while watching. I could barely make it through the pilot while only relying on Kendrick’s charms. There are some redeemable factors including a couple worthy jokes, and, of course, Kendrick’s always fun performance—but rom-coms are really beginning to drag. This one is about Darby (Kendrick) who meets a charming man named Augie Jeong (Jin Ha) as they begin to form their first relationship together. As the series progresses, we see Darby in several different relationships going from first to lasting love. The idea is fairly interesting, to create an anthology series of sorts with the genre of romantic comedy. It works sporadically, but for a show made by a streaming service I was anticipating for a while, it did not work for me. For reasons unknown, the series is almost desiring to be another generic rom-com, settling for the mediocre, run-of-the-mill installment to the genre that lacks creativity. A lot of folks will likely watch this show, and because people are so into these really average streaming picks, it could even get a season two. Well, as you hopefully now know, I will be skipping any future seasons of this series!

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

Love Life has a few interesting ideas, and a charming Anna Kendrick, but it too often squanders the potential creativity, settling for a very meh, generic series. I would say…SKIP IT

TV Review: Space Force - Season 1

“space force” provides some laughs, but its uneven blend of satire and earnestness do not go well together

55/100 “sour”

Review of Netflix’s Space Force:

Greg Daniels and Steve Carell are finally reunited after the many years since the Office conclusion! This time it’s with Netflix, and the project is called Space Force. The cast shines, especially Carell, and all-in-all, there is plenty of laughs to go around, but sadly, it is a bit of a tonal mess. It is about General Mark Baird (Carell), who after being appointed to four-star level, is asked to head a new task force dubbed Space Force, in charge of getting U.S. boots back on the moon. This second round of buffoonish fun for Daniels and Carell succeeds in many places, and at times, it can be absolutely hilarious, but generally, it is an uneven blend of satire and earnestness. The satirical bite occasionally works, with Daniels poking fun at the leaders of the United States today, but the show doesn’t quite know what it wants to be, which is disappointing. John Malkovich also takes a starring role, and is most likely one of the best parts in the entire series. Besides Malkovich, Ben Schwartz chimes in, who voiced Sonic earlier in the year, and so does superb comedian Jimmy O. Yang. Believe me, I was pumped out of my mind for this star-studded collaboration, and I am sad to say that it wasn’t nearly as good as expected. However, despite all its flaws, the blockbuster-worthy special effects should earn a mention, with some truly dazzling CGI. If you are looking for some truly dumb laughs, or you don’t have enough Steve Carell in your life, this is the series for you. However, if you want something that knows what it is, turn the other way.

Should you Binge, Browse or Skip?

Space Force’s cast and special effects shine, along with some terrific laughs along the way, but it’s dragged down by abrupt tonal shifts and the occasional joke that really doesn’t land. I would say…SKIP IT

TV Review: Snowpiercer - Season 1

"Snowpiercer" Has Some Great Action, but it's an Overall Disappointing Adaptation

59/100 “sour”

Review of Netflix and TNT’s Snowpiercer:

We have now gotten a TV adaptation of Bong Joon-ho’s masterpiece Snowpiercer, and as good-looking as it may be, it’s an overall disappointing, dull and painfully meh series. Daveed Diggs and Jennifer Connelly try their hardest, but the flaws commonly outweigh them. As you know if you saw the movie, the story is that after a failed global warming experiment, the Earth froze, forcing the remaining survivors to board a train called Snowpiercer, built by the mysterious Mr. Wilford. Diggs plays Layton, a former homicide detective called up by Connelly’s character, Maleanie, to solve a terrible murder. After reading this short explanation, you know that this show is a massive departure from Joon-ho’s cult hit, for better or for worse. The show, which turns into an absurd murder-mystery, get’s dull and silly fast, which distracts from the clearly committed performances and beautiful production design. That leads me to a major pro: Joon-ho’s film had scope and style, and the series does capture that. Exploring the different train cars is once again enthralling and visually pleasing, and the entire aesthetic of the original film is showcased excellently here. Diggs, while strong at times, seems a little miscast, and his jokes are well out of place. Who shines the most is Jennifer Connelly, who does justice to a complex, interesting character. Diggs can’t replace Chris Evans and Connelly is no substitute for Tilda Swinton, but overall I was a fan of the performances. This take on Snowpiercer is oddly optimistic as well, with characters trying to make audiences laugh constantly, and while the lighter tone could please some viewers, it didn’t remotely work considering the devilishly dark themes of the movie. We don’t get a whole lot of action in the first two episodes (the only ones released so far), but what we do get to see is bloody and glorious. Overall, however, besides the acting, a phenomenal action sequence and some pleasing eye-candy, this show is a bit of a dud, and it will sadly disappoint fans looking for a faithful adaptation.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

This adaptation of Snowpiercer does get points for visually breathtaking production design and a duo of fine lead performances, but this oddly happy series suffers from a dull murder-mystery and slow pacing…SKIP IT

TV Review: Dead to Me - Season 2

“dead to me” season 2 is a twisty, fun ride

90/100 “sweet”

Review of Netflix’s Dead to Me: Season 2:

If you’ve seen the first season of Netflix’s recent hit Dead to Me, you know this is one of the most incredible blends of dark drama and comedy in a long time, but this second season has just gotten better, doubling down on the twists, turns and making the superb chemistry between Christina Applegate and Laura Cardellini even more developed. This sequel series obviously takes place right after Judy (Cardellini) finds that Jen, “in self-defense”, has killed her boyfriend Steve (James Marsden), and his body is in Jen’s pool. Of course, to create more tension, Steve’s twin brother arrives, Ben (also played by Marsden) and there’s a suspicious detective hot on their trails named Ana Perez (Diana Maria Riva). Sure, the first season was a very solid start, the gallows humor and the drama went excellent together, doing what many films or shows fail to achieve—however, it didn’t feel like it could hold on long enough to create more seasons just as good. Boy, was I wrong. Applegate and Cardellini are, of course, incredible, but Marsden is also terrific in his second role in the series, and Riva (mentioned before) plays a great supporting character as well. To move the story along, audiences now have another intriguing mystery, more dark humor and loads more fun. Also, I’m one to say that this show has such a sweet, developed emotional core inside it all along, fueling every episode, that gives a certain heart and soul to all the crazy things happening so damn fast. Each episode is around half an hour, perfect for this sort of show. Not as short as something like The Office, and not gratingly long like so many shows today. Why that running time feels right is that it backs up the genre a lot. The series is a mix of comedy and family drama, and this type of “in the middle” run-time for each chapter is extraordinarily flawless. To be very honest, I don’t have any major issues with this second season, and I am almost dying to see a third season in the next year or two.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

The second season of Dead to Me is a devilishly funny, heartfelt and dramatic sophomore series that improves upon its predecessor by doubling down on all of its strengths. I would say…BINGE IT

TV Review: The Clone Wars - Season 7

By: Keaton Marcus

"The Clone Wars" Final Season is a Strong, Action-Packed Chapter in the "Star Wars" Franchise

93/100 “sweet”

Review of Disney Plus’ The Clone Wars: Season 7

Here we have it, the seventh and final season of The Clone Wars. Disney may have made it instead of Cartoon Network, which created the first six seasons, but that doesn’t slow the conclusion down, not one bit. This one further focuses on beloved characters, with the first few episodes featuring a team of clone troopers, led by Captain Rex (Dee Bradley Baker) who team up with a rogue team of “different” troopers collectively dubbed “The Bad Batch”. The second half mainly features Ahsoka Tano (Ashley Eckstein) running away from the Jedi after being wrongfully accused of treason, meeting two streetsmart young women and going on some iffy missions as a trio. The show concludes similar to Revenge of the Sith, with Order 66 and Anakin Skywalker (Matt Lanter), turning to the dark side while bringing some new factors into it (no spoilers!) Despite the whole show feeling a little too massive in scope, it never loses sight of what brought fans to like the first six seasons, delivering a good amount of humor, dazzling action sequences and surprisingly detailed, developed characters even with the fast-paced plotting. Some could even argue it may be a better Star Wars installment than even The Mandalorian, another Disney Plus original. Sure, nothing will ever match up to the first two originals, but it hops over a lot of installments in the franchise, including some of the finer ones such as The Force Awakens and Rogue One. Though seriously, the action sequences are most likely some of the best I’ve seen in awhile, brought to life by impeccable animation style. Even if animated Star Wars isn’t for you, this final season will be.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

The final season of The Clone Wars proves that conclusions can improve upon their predecessors, with this one featuring some of the best sci-fi action in entertainment, signature franchise humor, fast-paced arcs and fully realized, developed characters. I would say…BINGE IT

TV Review: Upload - Season 1

By: Keaton Marcus

"Upload" is a Well-Written, Ambitious Futuristic Tale

80/100 “sweet”

Review of Prime Video’s Upload:

Finally, Prime Video let’s go of their longer, heavier shows and creates Upload, an ambitious, yet still concise futuristic tale that benefits from rock-solid performances, creative plotting and terrific humor. The show takes place years in the future, where when you die, you have the choice to well, die, or be uploaded into an artificial paradise for the rest of eternity. A man named Nathan Brown (Robbie Amell) suddenly crashes his car and is forced to make that choice. When he chooses Upload, we follow his adventures in the virtual world. You gotta admit it does sound slightly like The Good Place, NBC’s huge success, and it does on several occasions, but that does NOT leave the show without its own merits. Amell’s surprisingly nuanced, exceptional lead performance as well as a powerhouse supporting outing from Andy Allo are enough to make this thing worth watching. It’s got plenty of wit and overall it’s just extremely well-written, clever television. The abrupt tonal shifts from comic relief to drama don’t always stick the landing, though its pros outweigh its few cons. Upload isn’t just narratively fun to think about, it’s also a visual tour-de-force which gives viewers some consistent eye-candy to go with the thought-provoking premise.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

Upload borrows from others occasionally, though it’s a well-written, exceptionally acted and ambitious futuristic show. I would say…BINGE IT

TV Review: Never Have I Ever - Season 1

By: Keaton Marcus

"Never Have I Ever" is Some of the Best TV Netflix has Ever Made, I Mean It

97/100 “sweet”

Review of Netflix’s Never Have I Ever:

Netflix’s new coming-of-age comedy Never Have I Ever is practically perfect in every way, and most likely some of the best television the streaming giant has made, or of all time. Period. It’s bawdy, heartfelt, hilarious and benefits from a relatable story and superb lead performances. The show takes a unique angle on the generic coming-of-age story, focusing on a teenage American-Indian girl named Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), an overachieving high school girl trying to win over a boy, get better grades than her arch-nemesis and attempt to get over the chronic grief she has because of the sudden death of her dad. Newcomer Ramakrishnan gives one of the best TV performances I have ever seen, topping the best from this genre including Molly Ringwald and Saoirse Ronan, which is something to say. The supporting performances are also top notch, led by extraordinarily natural outings from Darren Barnet, Lee Rodriguez and Ramona Young who all have terrific chemistry. The story also constantly focuses on Devi’s older sister, Kamala (Richa Moorjani), who is struggling with her own religion and how she’s quite literally being forced into marrying someone she doesn’t know when she already loves someone. Don’t worry people, she watched Riverdale, it’s all good now. The arcs that center around one of Devi’s best friends, Fabiola are also fantastic, with her debating on whether to tell her judgmental parents about her sexuality. It’s quirky, likeable, adorable and such an easy binge-watch…also, it’s narrated by Borg McEnroe, so that’s all you need to know before watching the hell out of this thing. Trust me when I say you will not be disappointed. And Mindy Kaling created this show. So, yeah.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

Never Have I Ever is some of the best television you will ever watch, featuring relatable storylines, super performances, and some of the most heartfelt, enjoyable entertainment of the crowded genre. I would say…BINGE IT

TV Review: Defending Jacob - Season 1

By: Keaton Marcus

"Defending Jacob" is an Intermittently Intriguing, Yet Melodramatic Mystery

60/100 “sweet/sour”

Review of Apple TV+’s Defending Jacob:

Apple TV+ has nabbed yet another all-star, this time it’s MCU celebrity Chris Evans getting back into the murder-mystery genre after last year’s stellar Knives Out. This time, however, it’s no comedy, it’s a little more melodramatic. The show kicks off like any other mystery film or show, with a dead body being found (yes, it’s in the woods). The body is of a fourteen year-old boy named Ben who was mysteriously murdered. Without finding any suspects yet, shocking evidence is found that says that Detective Barber’s (Evans) son, Jacob (Jaeden Martell) murdered him. It’s a pretty intriguing, if familiar plot, though creator Mark Bomback squanders the interesting premise far too much to make it a good show. That doesn’t leave Defending Jacob without it’s qualities though. Jaeden Martell and Chris Evans’ performances are exceptionally fine, the two of them having solid chemistry and they do get a few things right. It all just feels a little contrived and melodramatic, a tad cheesy at times. However, the performances and terrific build-up may make it worth watching for die-hard Chris Evans or mystery fans, but others may not want to spend a single second on it. It isn’t a bad show, but it’s an objectively average one that could have been some of the finest television of the year. Though who doesn’t want to see Evans solve a mystery?!

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

Defending Jacob is too melodramatic to be good but Chris Evans and Jaeden Martell’s committed performances and intriguing premise make it a decent, if slightly disappointing murder mystery. I would say…BROWSE IT

TV Review: The Midnight Gospel - Season 1

By: Keaton Marcus

"The Midnight Gospel" is a Strange, but Vibrant and Funny Animated Show

78/100 “sweet”

Review of Netflix’s The Midnight Gospel:

From the creators of the magnificently made Rick and Morty comes another adult animation show dubbed The Midnight Gospel which brings another strange brew of dry humor, vibrant visuals and a whole lot of iffy content. It’s not quite as good as Rick and Morty, or even Big Mouth, but it’s still an often funny, fast-paced show. The show is about a spacecaster named Clancy (Duncan Trussell) who goes into his malfunctioning simulator to interview beings of other worlds. The whole affair plays as an animated, visually vibrant adventure with some otherworldly stuff going on. It’s an acid trip made by Netflix, yes. The creative, if simple plot blends well with Trussell’s exceptional lead performance and the visually appealing animation, making another piece of television perfect for fans of adult animation. It’s not for everyone’s tastes, that’s for certain, the blood and gore may come by as a little disturbing for some folks, but the majority should be satisfied with this crude new TV show. It’s not only fascinatingly strange, there’s also some good insight there on human life that will teach us all something, even if that insight takes place in a world of zombies, for example. Just don’t let the kids watch it! It’s no My Little Pony, that’s for sure.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

The Midnight Gospel isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s vibrant visuals, solid performances and creative plot make it worth watching for fans of adult animation. I would say…BINGE IT

TV Review: Chrissy's Court - Season 1

By: Keaton Marcus

"Chrissy's Court" is Adorable Entertainment, Though It's Not Funny Enough

61/100 “sweet/sour”

Review of Quibi’s Chrissy’s Court:

Looks like even when Quibi is outside the action/mystery genres, they still get their popular celebrity, and in this case, the celeb is Chrissy Teigen, who has nearly 30 million followers on Instagram. In this piece of television, Teigen heads what’s sort of a reality show where she is a judge taking cases on little cute bickerings between people. Whether it’s a couple, or two complete strangers, Teigen makes the verdict, no matter how unqualified she is. To be honest, it’s a lot of fun, and it’s made solidly easy to watch with the short running time of the episodes, though a prominent issue is, I didn’t laugh out loud as much as I should have, which isn’t good. Still, for Teigen die-hards and maybe even some non fanboys, it should be enjoyable enough. These “bickerings” are appropriately adorable, with a fight over a knocked-over speaker or even a sweatshirt. So while it’s not nearly as hilarious as it should be, viewers will still find suitable entertainment that will last over the show’s short running time. I think it could have been much better, perhaps one of the most notable comedies of 2020, though for a reality show with a few solid quips, Chrissy’s Court is impressive.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

Chrissy’s Court may be short on laughs, but it’s adorable cases and entertainment value should make the verdict slightly more positive.

I would say…BROWSE IT

TV Review: Most Dangerous Game - Season 1

By: Keaton Marcus

"Most Dangerous Game" is Fairly Strong Television With an Absurd, Fun Plot

70/100 “sweet/sour”

Review of Quibi’s Most Dangerous Game:

Another notable show that Quibi launched yesterday was Most Dangerous Game which has another big celebrity (Liam Hemsworth) put in yet another absurd plot. But this one is fairly strong, turning up the enjoyment for audiences. The show is about Dodge Maynard who is diagnosed with a terminal illness shortly before his pregnant wife is supposed to give birth to a son. Maynard, however, get a strange offer from the wealthy Miles Sellers (an appropriately silly Christoph Waltz) where he will participate in a 24-hour hunt where he’s the prey. If he survives the night, 24.5 million dollars is transferred into his bank account, saving his family from debt. Hemsworth is at his brawny best in this very enjoyable show despite the absurd plot giving a few unintentional laughs to viewers. Yes, it takes too long to get into the action (four episodes), but it does build up some suitable tension. Christoph Waltz is also successful as this rich, eccentric man that you don’t quite trust. I’m still waiting for the real excitement to begin, but they build up really well, despite lacking some truly excellent scenes. It’s definitely worth a good watch and perhaps even till the end, although it falls short of excellence.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

Most Dangerous Game is some fun television, with the absurd plot dragging it down a bit, but Liam Hemsworth’s strong performance and intriguing set-up make it worth it.

I would say…BROWSE IT

TV Review: Survive - Season 1

By: Keaton Marcus

"Survive" Pits Sophie Turner Against Winter Again in This So-So Adventure

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 14, YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

54/100 “sour”

Review of Quibi’s Survive:

The brand-new streaming service Quibi launched yesterday with several shows, with three episodes available each. The point of this streaming platform was to give episodes in little bites, with each “chapter” being around six to ten minutes long, easy to watch on the go. The first show I will be reviewing of theirs is the Sophie Turner-starring survival story Survive which tells the story of a woman named Jane who is having suicidal thoughts and is planning to kill herself on a plane. However, when the plane crashes, her and a kind man named Paul (Corey Hawkins) are left to survive in the wilderness. Turner, as expected, gives a strong performance as the depressed Jane, who is having a tough dilemma whether to end it all or not. After Game of Thrones finally ended, Turner was looking for new roles, playing Jean Grey in Dark Phoenix, but that didn’t get her far. So she’s now with Survive, and the talented actress gives it everything she’s got, but the show gets lost too often in its own cliches. Also, the quick-bite episodes clocking at around seven minutes don’t help either, with the actual excitement not starting until the fourth episode. Hawkins gives a strong performance as well, but that still can’t help this middling survival drama. It still may be enough to fulfill Turner fans’ desires to see her in more TV however.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

Survive has a game Sophie Turner, but her talents are overwhelmed by disappointing cliches and a lack of thrills in the first few episodes.

I would say…SKIP IT

TV Review: When the Streetlights Go On - Season 1

By: Keaton Marcus

"When the Streetlights Go On" is a Good Old Fashioned Mystery by Quibi

72/100 “sweet/sour”

Review of Quibi’s When the Streetlights Go On:

What Quibi was obviously missing was a good old fashioned mystery to create somewhat of a substitute to Netflix’s Stranger Things. Well good thing they’ve made their own with When the Streetlights Go On, which tells the story of a teenage boy named Charlie Chambers (a stellar Chosen Jacobs) who finds a girl and her teacher murdered in the woods, clothes off, with a bullet wound in each of their heads. Charlie and a detective (Queen Latifah) must solve the mystery. The mystery, while familiar, is still fairly intriguing, with a strong lead performance by Jacobs and stylish direction. The show also does take itself way to seriously, which is occasionally an issue, though the flaws are overwhelmed by how fun it is. Quibi has mastered the art of becoming a tease with the short length of each episode, which can get annoying, but if you’re a fan of cliffhangers, this is your show. There’s some creepy stuff in there too, but it hasn’t quite found the same amount of tension as CW’s Riverdale, or aforementioned Stranger Things, which does keep it slightly off the quality of a bingeable show. Still, for people looking for another cool mystery, get the app and watch it right now. Another positive that the streaming services other shows don’t quite master is getting right into the thick of the plot in the first episode, I mean Most Dangerous Game and Survive both take about four episodes in to get to the exciting bits. So again, this is suitably tense from the start, though it’s still not one of the greats.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

When the Streetlights Go On may be a little too serious, but strong performances and solid direction make it a good diversion for mystery fans.

I would say…BROWSE IT

TV Review: Tales from the Loop - Season 1

By: Keaton Marcus

"Tales from the Loop" is Slow, Yet Beautifully Made and Creative Sci-Fi Television

A Prime Original, Watch for Free With a Subscription

86/100 “sweet”

Review of Prime Video’s Tales from the Loop:

I recently watched the pilot of Prime Video’s recent sci-fi show Tales from the Loop which may be a little too slow to really get viewers hooked, but look past that, this is some dazzling, innovative television. The TV show is based on a series of futuristic paintings by Simon Stålenhag. It may only be loosely based on the Swedish painter’s artwork, since it does so much more than show viewers eye-candy. Each episode is a different story with different characters, but the first episode stars Abby Ryder Fortson and Rebecca Hall in a slow, but expertly crafted 58 minutes. The landscapes are absolutely gorgeous and the performances are top-notch and though it may take a little long to get to the unexpected twist near the end, it is certainly worth a good watch. The pilot also packs some excellent emotional punch which does make it tough for audiences to watch, especially with the twist at the end, although with a good dose of humanity jammed into it, they’ll likely have enough to work with. Viewers will likely be crying, laughing or just downright intrigued at the creativeness behind this show, in awe at the visuals while the performances keep them interested. Perhaps it could be a tough binge, though if you’re the type of person who falls over for slow science fiction (me), then you’ll have zilch issues.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

Though it takes a bit to get viewers intrigued, Tales from the Loop is visually incredible sci-fi television with a thought-provoking story, innovative direction, solid performances and a dose of humanity. I would say…BINGE IT

"Unorthodox" is a Compelling, Captivating Story That's Extremely Well-Acted

By: Keaton Marcus

91/100 “sweet”

Review of Netflix’s Unorthodox:

Shira Haas. Don’t forget that name, the name of the incredibly talented actress that heads Netflix’s excellent new show Unorthodox. Haas might have given one of the most captivating performances I’ve seen in a while and the show she’s in is the best I’ve watched in 2020 so far. This piece of television is four parts, each lasting about 50 minutes, about a young woman named Esther who narrowly escapes her Hasidic community in New York and attempts to start a new life in Berlin with her husband on her trail. The show rarely bores, and isn’t just interesting, but also solidly entertaining to watch. The strong performances, most notably Haas’ outing and the unexpected, deft blend of humor and emotion keep it from ever getting too slow. Also, Maria Schrader’s direction is fine and the beautiful cinematography make it a treat for the eyes as well as the mind. Each episode brings some new obstacle for Esther to go against tying together with many memories of her past. Her lifestyle was a bit like prison, as one character describes that a woman’s job in a Hasidic community was to be a “baby machine”. But Esther is different from the other women, she’s “unorthodox”. She won’t stand by and watch her freedom get taken away from her just because of religious beliefs. That’s what takes the deeply-layered character to Europe. It may not be easy to watch, but it’s still beautifully made, substantially worthy television. So for the right people, this is going to be a great binge.

Should you Binge, Browse or Skip?

Unorthodox is as visually stunning as it is deeply emotional, largely benefitting from Shira Haas’ excellent performance and fine direction.

I would say…BINGE IT

"Tiger King" is a Nuts Netflix Doc With a Compelling, Often Funny Look at Joe Exotic

By: Keaton Marcus

DISCLAIMER: IF YOU ARE UNDER THE AGE OF 15, YOU SHOULD ASK YOUR PARENTS IF YOU ARE ALLOWED, IF THEY SAY NO…IT MEANS NO!

89/100 “sweet”

Review of Netflix’s Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness:

Netflix goes full throttle in this hilariously enjoyable documentary series that may be a bit overlong, but Tiger King provides a captivating portrait on a true crime story that almost ended up in murder. The seven episode doc tells the story of Joe Exotic, the eccentric man who is referred to as the “Tiger King” cause of his vast amount of exotic, big cats kept up in cages for some cash. The doc often focuses on his nemesis Carole Baskin as well, but she isn’t a person to root for either, principally doing the same sort of thing as Mr. Exotic, keeping big cats in cages and well, profiting off of them. Ya, I’m telling you guys there’s nobody in this doc that’s necessarily “good”. But it’s enjoyable alright. The people interviewed such as Exotic, Baskin and others aren’t attempting to be hilarious, but audiences get that unintentional hilarity that keeps them interested enough. One issue might be the length of each episode, which vary from about 40-50 minutes long in what could have been told in seven 20 minute episodes. Still, you’ll be intrigued enough to watch the whole season. Hopefully. The whole premise is too unbelievable when heard, so you have to see it to actually believe it happened. Maybe something to lessen the unbelievability of it is it all takes place in Oklahoma and Florida.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

Tiger King is a stellar Netflix doc that could use a lessening of the running time, but still benefits from terrific interviews and a captivating portrait of obsession that almost ended in murder.

I would say…BINGE IT

"I Am Not Okay With This" is a Charming, Funny Tale of Adolescence

76/100 “sweet”

Review of Netflix’s I Am Not Okay With This:

Netflix is really starting to get creative with their plots. This time with I Am Not Okay With This, it’s the typical, charming story of adolescence plugged into the superhero genre with bits and pieces of comedy. The show is about a teenage girl named Sydney, who one day, finds out she has some kind of superpowers and that her lifelong friend, Dina (Sofia Bryant) is dating someone yet Sydney is secretly in love with her. When a quirky classmate named Stanley Barber finds out about her powers, they two must attempt to keep it secret from the public. It’s first season is extremely entertaining and often hilarious, benefitting from the strong chemistry from Sophia Lillis and Wyatt Olaf, who starred together in the 2017 IT movie. Sure, it veers into shallow territory then and again, though to keep it afloat are the performances and the hefty amount of comic relief. The whole thing’s pretty damn clever as well. I mean not a lot of people have tried to mash up girl rage and superpowers, much less succeed. It’s extremely creative and unusual, despite the coming-of-age side of the story being familiar, as usual. The story asks the question if “what if Professor X never shows up at your house?” And it answers it really, really well. The episodes are as short as they should be, with the pilot clocking at just 19 minutes long, with the rest only being a little over the 20 minute mark which makes bineging it easy enough. I’m in for a second season.

Should you Binge, Browse, or Skip?

I Am Not Okay With This can’t help but be a bit shallow, though Sophia Lillis’ superb lead performance, clever direction and plenty of laughs make it an awkward, charming mash of adolescence and a Marvel movie.

I would say…BINGE IT

By: Keaton Marcus