After five episodes – all stellar, smart, and well-constructed – I think it’s become clear just what makes The Last of Us work as well as it does. Sure, there’s a pre-ordained narrative for the writers to follow (even if they take some liberties from the source material at times, it, thus far, only serves […]
Tag: HBO
His Dark Materials – The Botanic Garden Review
His Dark Materials has come to a close, ending on a bittersweet note with “The Botanic Garden.” Lyra and Will have fled into the World of the Mulefas, searching for their dæmons. In this paradise, Lyra and Will come across an old friend, Mary. Lyra and Will finally get to act on their feelings for each […]
The Last of Us – Please Hold My Hand Review
After last week’s emotional tour de force, The Last of Us made the right move in taking a beat before fully diving into the next confrontation for Joel and Ellie. Now, I’m sure there will be some people who want the series to be more of a go, go, go narrative arc, but this is […]
His Dark Materials – The Clouded Mountain Review
It is finally here, His Dark Materials is showing the final battle between the forces of good and evil with the episode “The Clouded Mountain.” Metatron has arrived with all his forces at the Republic of Heaven. Asriel and his numbers are outnumbered and the odds for victory seem remote. Asriel’s forces also need to find Lyra […]
The Last of Us – Long Long Time Review
This show, man. I’m absolutely stunned that, in only its third episode, The Last of Us could manage to craft such a gorgeous, haunting, human, and heartbreaking story over the course of an hour – one that never felt cloying, silly, or overdone – and present us with two characters who we had only just […]
His Dark Materials – The Abyss Review
“No Way Out” concluded on a dramatic note with Metatron activating The Magisterium’s bomb and promising to eradicate Dust. “The Abyss” had a lot to live up to. The bomb has exploded, creating a massive chasm in the Land of the Dead and outside of Asriel’s Republic. Lyra and Will continue to lead the dead […]
The Last of Us – Infected Review
Well shit. I didn’t expect that. Perhaps it’s years of conditioning from The Walking Dead and/or Game of Thrones, to expect that a named actor (in this case, the great Anna Torv) wouldn’t be dispatched with this quickly in a show. Sure, I knew that ultimately, The Last of Us was a buddy story about […]
His Dark Materials – No Way Out Review
“No Way Out” puts its own spin on Lyra and Will’s journey to the Land of the Dead as the pair continue their darkest mission. Lyra and Will arrive in the Land of the Dead and discover it is a barren wasteland made up of rust and decay. The inhabitants are listless spirits, with some […]
The Last of Us – When You’re Lost in the Darkness
Before I get into the review of the premiere of The Last of Us, some housekeeping notes. If you listened to our recent Pop Culture Maniacs podcast on video game adaptations, you might know that I am not a gamer. I don’t play video games (outside of the occasional Mario Kart race) and I don’t […]
His Dark Materials – Lyra and Her Death Review
The final season of His Dark Materials has reached its halfway point with Lyra and Will going on their most treacherous mission. Will and Lyra have arrived in the Land of the Dead but find themselves trapped in Purgatory. They attempt to navigate Purgatory to find a way to the next stage of the afterlife, but […]