meucogumeloepeludo Reviews

In Treatment (2008–2021)

2021 jumps the therapy reality shark but is very engaging for it.

[8/10 · 15 June 2021]

I really liked the first two seasons but felt 3 got bogged down into Byrnes' therapist over his patients far too much.

This run, with Uzo Aduba, has fallen into the trap of absurdity far too soon. She's far too stylised and comes off as a stereotype of the supposed powerful black woman that uses it like a stick when she feels like it and denies it when she feels like it.

She's projects, is judgemental, lies and sets up traps when irked but in also, projects feelings of empathy or understanding weighted to her own loss, anger or expectations in feelings.

But the real crazy comes when you learn that she's not only an alcohol addict but is drinking herself into a stupor at night but thinks she can still practice just fine. The conceit that an addict can condition themselves to only drink at set times is beyond ignorant and stupid to what an addict is and does. Yet, there she is, having blackout drunk sessions but then fanning her hair and wearing 'classy' clothes everyday with patients, just fine.

The patients are clearly set here; s the rich white guy to hate, the young black woke student to feel empathy with whenever she cries victim to race hate in her privileged upbringing and a Hispanic bipolar carer that Brooke constantly fawns over projecting her own loss of a son.

To say this run necessitates viewers park their skullcap is an understatement.

However, the surprise here is that conceit aside, it is still very engaging due to it's lead in large part but also to the actors portraying the patients that deliver so well. If you can, as absurd as it sounds, get past the huge flaws, it's still well worth a view and sits above most content out there.

Delilah (2021)

Equal representation?

[4/10 · 21 April 2021]

Why is it that shows (e.g. Opra's) that shout aloud about equal representation produce shows that are far from it? The cast is 95% black and what white people there are, are obviously in need of being told how to be and/or privileged in power and wealth to be taken down.

It is filled with confused tropes which supposedly show how it is and what strong black people look and feel like in a realistic manner - whilst breezing over black people being constrained by other black people living to the stereotypes. Yeah. OK. There I was thinking that stereotyping is bad but apparently if it's aimed at the privileged and all of those with presumed power (white people) to spotlight past your own community's it's fine.

A definite do as I assume and not like I do.

The Hustler (2021)

It's a grower!

[8/10 · 28 January 2021]

When this started, although liking Ferguson, I found it initially slow going but as each episode proceeds, I was finding myself more and more invested in working out who the hustler was. In fact, it was confirming or, frustrating and infuriating all in a good way, as each question offered snippets into who the hustler was but also led to doubts, at times, if my choice was still correct - would a person looking or aged like that do or think that? Ahh! Each episode definitely follows the growing pattern of hold and investment with you, as you get to know and hear more about the contestants and see how much money and how many questions and answers they'll either push or let go. The format including the clause, that two of the last three need to be in consensus of who the hustler is at the end is really clever too. The final back n' forth between the contestants is great fun and tension building to have you shouting at the screen - it's them,!! Ferguson is ideal for this, as he uses his quick witted smarts to keep it fun and doesn't sit on the fence like many gameshow hosts but offers up his theories of who he thinks could be misleading the others.

The Good Cop (2018)

Rated 15? This is clearly aimed at the older, sedate demographic

[7/10 · 13 September 2020]

Slow moving, gentle humour with that procedural feel that nothing upsetting or unsettling is on the way but a few wise cracks are. Why it got a 15 rating is anyone's guess; beyond maybe one episode venturing that way in one scene, so Netflix doing the usual grading for every episode to get viewers interested in content. Groban does his usual likeable self-effacing routine and Danza his old school Italian-American bit that keeps giving. Throw in typical eye candy 'spitfire' Monica Barbaro, a few character actors that perform as written on the tin and you've got the usual Andy Breckman dramedy. It deserves a 7, as it surprises with the odd line to actually raise a smile. The cases are peppered with plot holes, as you'd expect, but remain harmless fun. Something to watch with a hangover IQ or to pass time in the background. That is, if you're not retired, then it's TV dinner and jell-o time fodder.

Valor (2017–2018)

More make-up on view than being made up for choosing to watch

[2/10 · 19 October 2017]

Truly awful. The lead is caked in make-up, struts about as if she's on a cat walk in front of her fellow soldiers and officers. She argues at her senior officers instead of respectfully debating an issue. All around spend time apologizing to and for her when she mucks up or has hurt feelings. And the cliché of her just being a strong woman in a man's world is laudable. When you cock things up it's on you and you alone. Stop whinging. Feminists must be cringing at this. The scripts are trite and full on tropes. Realism. Er. Where? People in the armed forces should probably watch this before a battle/maneuver to give them a laugh at it all, if that's the outer perception.

Disjointed (2017–2018)

Disjointed will make you feel just that.

[3/10 · 26 August 2017]

Although headed by something of a movie and TV icon (who is actually funnier in real life), this show is weak on humor but strong on lame tropes. It's filled with audience laughter that, even if you don't mind it, is sure to alienate in the mystery of why they are laughing so (falsely) hard at every conceivable opportunity. In that any 'plot development' line or even movement by a character all too often results in explosive laughter. And, the odd (pun intended) audience member clearly trying to score themselves recognizable amongst the laughter. The stereotypical characters are set up as if to point at themselves in an ever self-aware manner that proffers from intelligent writing but more resembles a cheap and desperate attempt at a needy 'friend' to be liked. Yes, I'm crap and I appreciate it so please appreciate me? No, Disjointed. No.

The Sinner (2017–2021)

Not good when...

[6/10 · 13 August 2017]

The first episode had some air of mystery and decent actors to drive it along. However, we're only at the second episode and it felt like it slowed to a near halt. In fact, it was more like the sort of thing you've come to expect mid way in a run to pad it out. They're going to need more than a cop into sadomasochism to shock things along. Though most seem to be expecting some black ops thing to drop out of the sky now...

Brockmire (2017–2020)

Baseball, sex and a tragic life - but is it sustainable, yes, irony.

[7/10 · 9 April 2017]

OK, so the leads are very good and the story is entertaining but as a drawn out series, I can't see it lasting. Why? Well, we're hammered over the head with the cheating 'liberal' wife, the drug and alcoholism-fueled recoil with Brockmire's public goings-off-the-rails and the sex-induced/loser superstitious relationship with his bar owning/tending boss. So, what's left? Getting to see the ex - that's an episode. Pushing the limits of censorship for the channel - ticked box over and over. Shagging the boss in drunken relationship and showing as much nudity as the channel will allow - done and done. Near swearing with censored cut - done and done. Have quirky moments with loser (but winner) team - done and done. It's simply all but blew its comic load in two episodes. And that 7 rating I gave is undoubtedly going to diminish week-by-week.

Solace (II) (2015)

Wasted actors and of time.

[3/10 · 15 March 2017]

This movie is like something produced by LivingTV. It's character development is very sketchy and poor. The editing flits about like a music disjointed video with poor music for effect. The video editing similarly is bad and panders to shots of the female lead's boobs and bum. She, by the way, is poor and very two dimensional - as is the script. And it under employs actors actually acting in favour of poorly written, directed and filmed throwaway mono/dialogue set pieces that stretch out instead of knitting the story together. Very poor. Avoid this unless you feel like taking an uncalled for beating.