theboywholivedx Reviews

The Sopranos (1999–2007)

A groundbreaking show

[10/10 · 31 March 2021]

The Sopranos did it first; for that alone it deserves to be counted amongst the greatest works of long form fiction of all time. But not only did it do it first, it did it definitively. No TV series I've ever watched has been able to sketch out a story as thematically profound, full of richly crafter characters, violent, tense, and darkly funny as The Sopranos.

Be warned: this is NOT the TV version of GoodFellas. This is not the story of the glamorous and dangerous lives that these gangsters live; on the contrary, it goes out of its way to de-glamorize, strip down, and ground these larger-than-life characters, and then explore their mental labyrinths to determine what makes them the way they are - and most importantly, can they change?

If all of this sounds slow-paced, dialogue-heavy, artsy-fartsy to you, then that's because it very much is. The Sopranos is a show that places heavy emphasis on recurring lines of dialogues, on animal symbolism, on long, extended dream sequences that plumb the darkest depths of these characters' psyches. It practically invented the format that most TV dramas follow, and it actively sought to destroy it. So many times tense situations would simply fizzle out or end anticlimactically that even casual viewers would begin to realize that this show is not about the mob drama at all. Well, in a way it IS about the mob drama, but the mob drama simply forms the stage on which the human drama plays out.

If you've never seen The Sopranos, please do. Apart from one or two scenes (out of a whopping 86 episodes) have aged poorly; the rest of this series is polished to a shine, and if it was made today, it would still outshine all the popular dramas. In other words, it's the GOAT.

Watchmen (2019)

A singularly well-written and well-executed season of television

[9/10 · 11 February 2020]

Prior to the show, I had only seen the Zack Snyder movie and had seen videos about the graphic novel, which was enough to spark a curiosity in me when Damon Lindelof decided to write a spinoff/sequel to Alan Moore's classic comic. If there's one thing Watchmen the show gets right, it's the atmosphere. Walking the fine line between cynical, satirical and critical, the world of Watchmen draws you into an alternate reality where the racial tension in America is tighter and "Superman exists - and he is American," though not anymore. The show doesn't immediately provide fan service by needlessly shoehorning in the heroes of the original comic. Instead, it takes its time and introduces new, equally complex characters whose motivations remains as much a mystery until towards the end as everything else in this AU. Which is another commendable feat of Watchmen: it doesn't always pander to the audience or give easy explanations to anything, really. It lets the mystery sit and germinate before exposing its roots. Really, the only problem I have with this show is its mistrust in the audiences' intelligence. Often times, when a twist is revealed or a revelation takes place, instead of letting the audience connect the dots for themselves, Lindelof often goes the extra mile of spelling it out, which more often than not comes of as spoon-feeding. Other than this minor and easily overlook-able complain, I have been thoroughly entertained and engaged by this puzzle box of a show. Similar to the first season of Westworld, it makes for a delightful viewing that you can't binge-watch your way through. Oh, and also, please read the comics first.

Stranger Things (2016–2025)

Alright everyone, climb off the hype train.

[7/10 · 23 December 2019]

Season 1: Excellent writing and direction; the characters are easy to root for, the story is clever enough to work, and the pop culture references are... Well, I wasn't always a huge fan of them, but they're pleasant enough. Overall, an amazing season of television. 10/10 Season 2: Umm... The acting, direction and the characters are as great as ever. The story, not so much. It felt like the writers were just milking the nostalgia cow a little. 8/10 Season 3: Wtf? The tone of this show is drastically changed, the 80s references are practically fighting to get into your eyeballs, the writing is lazy and self-seeking, and the ending does all the emotional heavy lifting which in any other season would have been evenly spread out throughout the season. 6/10 Please, Stranger Things, you're better than this.

The Boys (2019– )

Boy oh boy

[7/10 · 23 December 2019]

Furiously paced, unapologetically vulgar, outrageously violent, delightfully quick-witted, and surprisingly clever. I started The Boys expecting another tongue-in-cheek satire about Marvel/DC; and though The Boys is without a doubt exactly that, it's also a mature exploration of celebrity culture, Eisenhower's military industrial complex, and many other complex themes. It's genuinely surprising in places, and deeply empathic in others. The story is unpredictable when it needs to be, the acting is on-point, and the dialogue is quotable as bad. Don't look this over as just another satire; this show is so, so much more.

Death Note (2006–2007)

Clever concept, excellent execution, botched ending.

[9/10 · 23 December 2019]

Death Note was my first anime ever, so it holds a special place in my heart. It is, without a doubt, one of the best animes I have ever seen. There may be no epic mecha-kaiju battles, but the cerebral war waged by Light and L is just gold. Those were some of the most gripping and binge-worthy scenes I have ever watched. The ending though... Why'd they have to include Near and Mello? They couldn't hold a candle to the fire that was L. Still, I recommend watching it purely for the great writing. Also for the potato chip scene.

Better Call Saul (2015–2022)

An entirely different beast from Breaking Bad

[9/10 · 23 December 2019]

Better Call Saul is slow, melancholic and at times, even poetic in its storytelling. There are no explosions or bursts of sudden, unexpected violence; but that's because this isn't that kind of a show. Bob Odenkirk plays a down-on-his-luck lawyer to perfection, brilliantly capturing his tragedy with just the right amount of humour. The cinematography and direction is commendable as well. Some shots have permanently seared themselves into my memory. Don't go in expecting Breaking Bad. In fact, don't expect anything; BCS will undoubtedly surprise you in delightfully unexpected ways.

Chernobyl (2019)

A masterpiece.

[10/10 · 31 July 2019]

Chernobyl is slow, deliberate, meticulous and haunting. The writing is spectacular, and the conversations between characters are as captivating as the scope and consequences of the disaster itself. The characters are likeable (with, of course, the exception of Dyatlov and Co.) and I found myself quickly rooting for them since they were trying their utter best to save as many lives as was possible, and in doing so, put their own lives at great risk. The performances by Jared Harries, Stellan Skarsgard and everyone else are superb. The production design is amazing and so is the eerily chilling score. Hats off to the director, writer and the rest of the crew for creating such a wonderful piece of television with a message that is relevant to our times.

Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

It's not just a good show; it's a work of art.

[10/10 · 16 May 2019]

You don't need a big budget, more protagonists than you can count on your fingers and mind boggling visual effects to tell a good story, and no other show I've watched better embodies this truth than Breaking Bad. It relies solely on its characters, its story, and the deeply grounded reality it takes place in. Nothing in this show is extravagant, or over-the-top, and it never relies on visual razzmatazz to attract audiences. Having said that, I have to give credit where credit is due, because this show has some of the best cinematography I've ever witnessed. Michael Slovis, Vince Gilligan, and all the directors attached to the show have labored to give us some truly jaw dropping shots, from the vast endless New Mexican deserts to time lapse shots of Albuquerque to POV shots of a fly. Then there's the acting, which is simply phenomenonal. A couple of episodes in, you'll completely forget that these are actors pretending to be fictional characters. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul in particular deliver some groundbreaking performances. The story is also amazing. The writers always find new and unexpected ways to both subvert our expectations and reward them. Some of the best episodes in the series are "One Minute," "Ozymandias," and, "Crazy Handful of Nothin'". Not to say the others are bad; far from it. The lowest rated BB episode "Fly" is considered by those who support it as a work of art. If that doesn't convince you, I don't know what will. Ultimately, the reason this show is so popular is because it always strived to outdo itself, without ever trying to jump the shark. It kept on getting better and better, and before the possibility of becoming mediocre had even reared its ugly head the showrunners ended the show, at its very peak. It never outstayed its welcome, it never disappointed, and it never made a narrative misstep. BB is the GOAT.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021)

Great writing, talented cast and a detailed backdrop!

[9/10 · 1 November 2018]

Brooklyn 99 is a surprisingly well-written and expertly performed sitcom. The jokes are delightfully original, the physical comedy is refreshingly new, and the nuanced characters are simply the cherry on top. The best part about the show is how none of the characters' sexualities (which differ widely) ever overshadow their personalities, which is usually the case in most of modern media. The show also addresses some socio-political issues, though only very lightly so. The dialogue is sometimes extremely verbose, and so are the jokes, which may not agree with some viewers, but is completely fine with me. The characters, as already mentioned, are very well-written, seeming to be simple caricatures of the clichés we have become used to seeing at first, but time and again breathing new air into their roles. The set design is also great, and so are all the rest of the locations, though that has sort of become a given for most modern shows. My only issue with the show is that, despite being very inventive and clever, it doesn't take any huge risks, choosing to settle back in the comfort of the police procedural format. There are hints of some humongous developments in certain episodes, but the show ultimately rejects to take a giant leap. If that were to improve, I'd gladly give it a full rating. But don't miss it out at any costs.

The Nice Guys (2016)

Where are the Snowdens of yesteryear?

[10/10 · 24 August 2018]

Filled to the brim with genuinely funny and inventive wit, The Nice Guys completely defenestrated my expectations and instead gave me a delightfully funny and tonally perfect movie that knows exactly what it's doing, which is saying a lot. Shane Black does a tremendous job of setting up a non-dumb plot with some really memorable lines in between, all of which you will attempt to retain and put to use as soon as you can. Ryan Gosling is, well, flawless, and so is Russell Crowe. If you like comedies, or movies in general, then watch this gem.

Nightcrawler (2014)

Flawless Script, Fantastic Performance

[8/10 · 24 August 2018]

Nightcrawler, in the hands of a less able director, would have been a terrible mistake of a film with no clear understanding of its ambitions or motives. Thankfully, Dan Gilroy leads us effortlessly through this slick flick about a not-so-good guy doing the best he can to survive, played excellently by Jake Gyllenhaal in an Oscar worthy performance. The script never lets up; everytime we find Lou doing something amoral, he steps up the game by doing something worse still. And it's all mesmerizing.

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Better than the original

[10/10 · 15 August 2018]

I've committed the eighth sin: calling a sequel better than its predecessor. But Blade Runner 2049 deserves the praise. It's a masterpiece; a fantastic experience of eye-wateringly beautiful visuals, hypnotic sounds, and a fantastic narrative. The pacing of this film is also commendable; despite being intentionally slow placed, and doing a good job at it too, I felt I could watch hours more of it. The story was a complete one; not the sort that left you waiting for a sequel to explain things away, or for a spin off novel (*cough* Star Wars *cough*). Denis Villeneuve outdoes himself, and so do the writers. Obviously, Ryan Gosling is flawless, Harrison Ford is grumpy, Jared Leto is weird, Dave Bautista is actually good (?) and so is everyone else. I implore you to watch it; it's a unique experience, and a richly satisfying one. It's also more approachable, I felt, than the original, without pandering too much. Loved it!

Ben 10: Alien Force (2008–2010)

Excellent Show!

[10/10 · 30 July 2018]

I fell in love with the original one for it's sheer inventiveness and goofy characters. But Alien Force switches that up with even more inventiveness, but with mature characters now. It was a welcome change and did the series much good; it made room for new, somewhat darker ideas. Some episodes were, I felt, particularly ground breaking, such as Professor Paradox and The Vengeance of Vilgax, Part 2. Also, how could I not mention this, Alien X was amazing.