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 […]
Tag: HBO
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 […]
His Dark Materials – The Intention Craft Review
Following on from the dramatic events of “The Break,” “The Intention Craft” slows things down as all factions decide what to do next. Will has saved Lyra from Mrs. Coulter but it came at a cost because the knife has broken. The youngsters must figure out a way to fix the knife and clash over their next […]
His Dark Materials – The Break Review
“The Enchanted Sleeper” was a strong start to His Dark Materials’ Season Three. It set up a potentially exciting follow-up episode. Lyra is still being held captive by Mrs. Coulter but the various factions are approaching her location. Will, Balthamos and Iorek Byrnison are on a boat going to the island Mrs. Coulter is hiding […]
His Dark Materials – The Enchanted Sleeper Review
His Dark Materials has returned for its final season and starts with the episode “The Enchanted Sleeper.” Lyra has gone missing and Will travels across universes to try and find his friend. He gets two unlikely allies as he is followed by two angels. Lyra has been abducted by her mother and kept unconscious, leaving the […]
Top Ten TV Shows of 2022
It’s that time of year again. The days are short, the temps are falling (at least here in Chicagoland), and it’s nearly the end of 2022. Which means that it’s time for my annual Top Ten TV Shows list! It was a heck of a year for television. Network comedies roared back into prominence with […]
House of the Dragon – The Black Queen Review
RIP Lucerys Valeryon, Heir of Driftmark. We hardly knew ye (seriously, we hardly knew you – as in I had to look up how to spell Lucerys). It’s all fun and games until your uncle, who looks as old as his mother – seriously, for all the excellent casting work the show has accomplished, and […]
House of the Dragon – The Lord of the Tides
And with the death of King Viserys at the close of the eighth episode of House of the Dragon, the Dance of the Dragons has begun. But before we get to that moment within “The Lord of the Tides” – an episode that handles a good deal of expositional work to lay the final bit […]










