dsten32 Reviews

One Piece: The Pirates Are Coming (2023) Season 1, Episode 4

An excellent episode..

[7/10 · 6 November 2023]

.. Of a different series. I would watch that series it's pretty good, but it didn't feel like the first few episodes.

It wasn't fun, and that's what I liked about the previous episodes. Maybe they were ridiculous as another reviewer says, but they were fun.

Hopefully we return to fun after this.

The bright spot of the episode was getting Zoro's origin story, showing how he took up the goal of becoming the greatest swordsman and how he came to wield three swords.

The brighter pallet of the last scenes suggests the will be a return to the previous tone of the show, and I will be looking forward to it.

Black Mirror: The National Anthem (2011) Season 1, Episode 1

Don't watch this

[1/10 · 30 September 2021]

Unfortunately I watched this episode and found it so without redemption that I refuse to see any more episodes. Honestly I don't care how good the rest of them are, that the producers chose this to be the entrance to their vision leaves me without regret.

Masters of the Universe: Revelation (2021)

Excellent

[10/10 · 24 July 2021]

An updated but also faithful adaptation of the original story. Teela, after finding out prince Adam's secret, renounces her position and strikes out on her own. As a mercenary for hire she inadvertently gets pulled back into saving Eternia from destruction, and with it the entire universe.

The story arc is engaging and full of nuance, surprise and adult humor. Those who remember the old show as well as new fans should enjoy this outing.

Misogynists need not watch, but your tears bring me joy.

Raised by Wolves (2020–2022)

A parody of atheistic views

[4/10 · 6 October 2020]

I have only watched episode one at this point. I had high hopes, the aesthetic is both striking and effective and while the premise isn't original it was well implemented.

I'm not sure what the philosophy underpinning this show is, but it works best when not focusing on the religious angle.

My sons mother is nominally Mormon and they don't have the urge to pray over vegetables. That children raised exclusively but atheist programmed androids not only know what prayer is but feel compelled to do it completely breaks my suspension of disbelief.

At this early stage I suspect a religious person might find the content very slightly uncomfortable, but overall affirming. Mr Scott apparently identifies as atheist but I'm not sure he actually understands what that means.

I will continue watching and hope my opinion improves, other reviews do not give me high hopes.

Give it a try, it's certainly worth a look.

Intelligence (2020–2023)

Awful

[1/10 · 22 July 2020]

Admittedly I did not get past the first episode. But, no one should watch this. Every copy should be buried like the E.T. video game. The performances were perfectly fine, unfortunately the material was incomprehensibly unfunny. I nearly thought about smiling once.. maybe. Schwimmer is a very convincing obliviously conceited American a-hole (thanks IMDb censorship), but when the real country has an over the top, unbelievably stupid, person as their actual president the portrayal feels tone deaf. The rest of the cast is adequate. Maybe in missing something, but the show is not a fun escape it's an exercise in masochism.

Brave New World (2020)

An engaging look at the future

[10/10 · 19 July 2020]

I don't really think the series deserves a 10, but it deserves more than it's been given so far. I've only watched the first episode but it's a solid entry into genre television. As an introduction to a new world it does what it should, give a taste of how the world works, show rather than tell, let you draw your own conclusions about the world. I'm enjoying it very much so far and hope that the rest of the season holds up as well. Give it a try, I suspect most will like it.

Harley Quinn (2019– )

A blast to watch

[10/10 · 21 March 2020]

So many fragile men in these reviews, this show is about a woman striking out on her own and doing things her way. Making mistakes and struggling to find her own path but working through it. The surrounding characters are great, the tone is perfect and the humor is refreshing. If you think SJW is a put down, if you feel that men aren't accorded enough deference in today's society, this show isn't for you. For the rest of us, it's fantastic.

Harley Quinn: So, You Need A Crew? (2019) Season 1, Episode 3

Best animated show I've seen this year

[10/10 · 21 March 2020]

Ok so that other piece of sh_t reviewer happened. But he got a few things right, this show is unapologetically foul mouthed. And it's also the very funny. The voice acting is pretty good and while I think kaley cuoco could have affected the classic Harley Quinn accent a little better, the quality of the show does not suffer for it.

I'm only three episodes in but the story and approach really works. Harley is on a mission to define herself apart from Joker, with Poison Ivy there to provide a foil for her madness and help her on her way to self fulfillment.

I'm very interested to see where the series goes and think the show can provide a template for other DC properties. Go out on a limb and explore the landscape available for comic derived characters. Not everything has to be grimdark.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020)

Bucking the trend

[10/10 · 7 August 2019]

This show is one that defies expectations. Somehow it's gets better with every season rather than becoming stale. Perhaps the embrace of science fiction allows it to go places that in other shows would feel desperate, but in this context are a logical fulfillment. If you haven't watched, or gave up on the first season, give it a chance. This show will reward you for watching.

Lucifer: Who's da New King of Hell? (2019) Season 4, Episode 10

Very strong end to the season

[10/10 · 14 June 2019]

The defining characteristic of the character of Lucifer is his ability to make any situation about himself. Over the course of this season he has managed to retain that core feature while also growing as a person.

A curious dichotomy that nevertheless works very well.

I found this season to be both fulfilling and irritating. The commitment of Chloe to banishing Lucifer I found to be out of character, seeing the full arc it is obvious why that tack was taken but it was a choice for narrative reasons that didn't feel natural. Additionally Eve was another narrative misdirection embodied in an annoying way. Only at the end of the season does she even begin the process of becoming a decent character.

All that said, the story and acting of this episode was exceptional. Even if I got the feeling that Lucifer mashing his lips against Chloe's was about the last this he wanted to do.

Dinotrux Supercharged (2017–2018)

Where is the supercharge?

[7/10 · 4 January 2019]

A decent continuation of the franchise, but am up to the third episode and my 4 year old is getting deeply disappointed by the lack of supercharge. Not sure why it was so important it was worth renaming the series but not actually capitalise in the episodes. I suspect marketers who saw one promo image and wrote everything based on that.