As someone who, in my previous life, was an attorney, I have a hard time watching shows about the legal process and taking them seriously. After all, it can become distracting when you know a character should have objected to a line of questioning – or shouldn’t have been allowed to object to a line […]
Tag: HBO
The Last of Us – Look For the Light Review
The first season finale of The Last of Us was excellent for a number of reasons. Strong performances, once again, from our two leads – along with some great work from Merle Dandridge in her return as Marlene and Ashley Johnson (the video game’s Ellie) as Ellie’s mother, Anna.* A story that was unafraid to […]
The Last of Us – When We Are In Need Review
My god, is Bella Ramsey a great actor. That’s what I found myself saying over and over to myself following the close of this week’s The Last of Us. After starting the series off as the closed-off counterpart to Joel – a character we knew far more about than we did Ellie, Ramsey has gotten […]
The Last of Us – Left Behind Review
We all knew this was going to end in tragedy, right? I mean, it’s not like we weren’t prepped by the preceding six episodes – along with Ellie’s vague mentions of the mall from early in the season. But, as has been the case with each tragic ending we’ve experienced, it certainly doesn’t get easier […]
The Last of Us – Kin Review
Unresolved trauma has a way of sneaking up on people when they least expect it – sometimes decades after that first blush of pain was inflicted upon a person. When it comes to Joel, hit after hit have built up a massive wall around the man – no surprise there for anyone who has been […]
The Last of Us – Endure and Survive Review
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 […]
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 […]