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matt_zimmerAlso reviews for the latest episodes of Batwoman, and Muppet Babies, a DuckTales Random Rings short, and the first three terrible episodes of the disastrous new season of The Blacklist. Seriously. That was a trainwreck.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “A Little Adventure”
If you ask me Shiro is entirely too understanding of Keith’s horrible behavior in the flashback. I think Keith less needs a friend, than a swift kick in the pants.
Shiro has an unknown disease? Has he been cured of it already or is this simply the first time it’s come up? If it’s the latter than it's super lazy writing.
Shiro is gay. Not a surprise, but this is the first episode to confirm it.
For the record the fact that Shiro has known Keith since he was a prepubescent kid is why I don’t ship them. I really hope the show understands how bad that looks.
I didn’t love it. **1/2.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Road Home”
Definition of a filler episode. It literally exists to get the characters from Point A to Point B.
But seeing the team so depowered and out of supplies made me realize something: Pidge is the only member of the team who isn't fully grown, correct? How will she get a new spacesuit when she outgrows this one? When the Castle of Lions was around I never assumed it would be a problem, but now that it's gone, I'm pondering minutia like that.
So-so. ***.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Way Forward”
It's sort of cunning that the bad guys went to torture Pidge first. Because they rightly assumed the rest of the team had a soft spot for her.
Speaking of which, I like the theory that Ocksha was helping Keith and Voltron because she had a crush on the "flippity haired one".
Those mice continue to annoy me. And I've been complaining about them since season 1.
Just because those two former followers of Lotor wound up against him, it doesn't mean they are good. The red girl immediately suggesting torture brought that home quick.
Interesting episode. ****.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Feud!”
It was all right. In the end I don't think Bob had very credible motivations for creating the game show, but there were some funny moments.
I like that Lance is considered the dumb one. Because he is.
I like the bidet being billed as a deluxe chair with a water fountain.
It was a fun diversion, but I don't think the logic of it entirely held up. ***1/2.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Ruins”
Exciting, action-packed, tightly boarded and animated, with a lot of unexpected twists. It feels very much like a horror movie in places. And it's nice to be on a TV-Y7 show where we are allowed to use the words, "kill", "bloodshed", and "death". I guess I only have one question left:
Why does Pidge sleep in her glasses?
Just askin'. ****.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Journey Within”
Pretty dire scenario.
This episode shows the value of Hunk. He's the team's diplomat / peacemaker. Which is something you'd figure Allura should be better at.
Been a few episodes since Voltron was formed. I like that this show doesn't always live or die by the giant mecha.
Another solid one. ***1/2.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Last Stand, Part 1”
Very cool idea to use a flashback episode of Sam returning to Earth to get a fuller picture of what is going on. It's not a wholly original storytelling idea, but it occurred at the right point, which is very unusual. I did not mind pausing the stuff in the present when we did, which is very much unheard of flashback episodes, which are things I tend to merely tolerate. It was very well done, and positioned to answer important questions we couldn't get from the present day characters. I very much approve of this type of storytelling.
I have to say the world politics feel a lot sunnier and less credible on this show than the real world has taught me they would be in Our Universe. I don't actually object to fiction that does not conform to the harsh reality of Our Universe. Universes and their people being portrayed in a more positive light than Ours is is fine with me. But I am pointing out that the difference very much does exist.
Very cool episode. *****.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Last Stand, Part 2”
The Garrison Admiral strikes me as especially useless.
Sendak saying that someone hearing a wounded animal cry out makes them cautious, but silence makes them act quickly was cunning.
Veronica turning out to be Lance's sister was a nice touch.
Good stuff. ****1/2.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “Know Your Enemy”
This is all great. The drama, the interpersonal relationships, everything is landing.
I especially like Keith telling Hunk he's the member of their team he most admires. I'm not sure that actually tracks, but it was a nice moment.
Really digging this season. ****1/2.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “Heart Of The Lion”
War is hell. And that was very much a war episode. Pretty nice for a kiddie show.
Did I say the Admiral was useless? I meant despicable.
Things are getting serious. ****.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “Trial By Fire”
Hmm. I was very unhappy that the show seemed to be asking me to sympathize and pity Sanda because she shows remorse after her betrayal backfired on her. But I am personally very unforgiving of treason and I just wasn't having it.
All that being said, and all things being equal, the show actually made the character EARN her redemption and penitence which is just fine with me. Again, the politics of this show do not conform to reality. But I do not object to fiction being BETTER than reality. I can live with this ending, even if it makes me otherwise uncomfortable.
I like that one of the female cadets is clearly autistic. That's a nice touch.
I liked it even through my reservations. The ending sort of addressed my misgivings, and made me a little more comfortable with how things turned out. ****.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “Lion’s Pride, Part 1”
To be honest, as far as action toons go, when it comes to the action set-pieces, that's sort of where I check out. I'm all about character drama. But for people who are all into asplosions, that was probably mighty satisfying for them.
No lie. Shiro's last floaty-arm battle with Sendak WAS pretty cool. It felt right it was Keith who took him out to save Shiro's life.
I imagine action fans were thrilled with this. It was very well-handled in that respect, and the explosions were tailor-made to gawk at. ****.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “Lion’s Pride, Part 2”
I really loved the moving scope of the hopeful ending and the twist cliffhanger wasn't bad. All the same, I felt like the fight with the unknown robot was extraneous and not having anything to do with this season's arc. It felt like the producers had ordered too many episodes, and had to add an evil alien robot fight in the last one simply to pad things out. Don't get me wrong, it was a good fight. And the last scene suggests it will tie into something next season. But they could have ended the season last episode without it crashing to Earth and nothing really would have changed. That is an actual storytelling failing.
So I won't be giving that a perfect grade, as enjoyable as it was, and as satisfying as the ending felt. It felt unnecessary. Which is not great. ***1/2.
Batwoman "Bat Girl Magic!"
Very memorable version of Victor Zsasz.
I question the wisdom of the show doing an arc with the characters looking for an alive Kate while the show and Ruby Rose are on the outs. Unless they are going to pull the trigger and finally recast which is something I am 100% supportive of.
Luke may see Ryan like a stand-in for Kate. I get that. But he doesn't need to talk to her and treat her as so. That's not something I can sympathize with in the least.
Zsasz mentions he's fought Batman before which is no surprise. But that probably means Luke should have heard of him.
False Face (a society, not a person) and a man in a Black Mask are mentioned. Ryan gets a new wig. It actually looks better on her, but I'll miss the red one simply because it was so iconic.
You can run out of Batarangs? That wasn't a thing I was aware could happen.
Solid week. ***1/2.
Muppet Babies "Gonzo's Bubble Trouble / Fozzie Can't Bear It"
Gonzo's Bubble Trouble:
This cartoon and the next reveal a very sad truth about the show: When it comes to the preschool moral and the writing in general, the show is entirely basic and pedestrian. They don't teach kids anything every other preschool show has never taught them before, or ask them to look at things in a new way. Sesame Street is always finding ways to keep up and modernize their morals to how society grows and changes. And Muppet Babies 2018 could have been written in the 1980's by the writers of The Smurfs and nothing would change. There are some funny jokes in the show, which were absent on The Smurfs, but this show is nothing but well-worn cliches. And from the House that Henson Built, that's not great.
Also for the record, I don't think the science of the graham crackers absorbing the bubbles checks out. **1/2.
Fozzie Can't Bear It:
Even more overstuffed with cliches and hoary homilies than the first cartoon, but I have to confess I liked some of the jokes.
I like when Fozzie and Gonzo say "Hi ho, Fozzie!" they briefly get Kermit eyes. I also like Fozzie naming his robot dinosaur Chad, and after a beat of confusion Kermit's all, "I can see that." Yeah, minimal effort is put into the writing of this show. But it's totally not hard to make you laugh at a dumb observational joke. I'll give the show that. **1/2.
Episode Overall: **1/2.
Disney Random Rings "Launchpad Calls Cricket"
Mildly diverting. ***1/2.
The Blacklist "Roanoke"
This is season 8 of The Blacklist. And I find myself in a very similar position of where I was very late into the runs of House M.D. and Blindspot. I realize I wish I had never started watching the show but it's too late for me to simply duck out. I've invested too much time. I feel very fortunate Riverdale imploded as early as it did. I hate everything about this show and everything about every subtext to this show.
Liz is spoiled, and basically committed treason, and her friends are still using the kid gloves. I don't know why the producers thought that after the summer of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and Donald Trump, we'd be rooting for law enforcement to look the other way for a cute white girl while she commits heinous crimes far more worthy of a death sentence than selling loose cigarettes. This is the wrong show for this moment in time.
I don't review Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but I do watch it, and that show is exploring the controversies of police misconduct, instead of trying to make me sympathize with the people who engage in it.
Let me be blunt. Elizabeth Keene is the worst fictional character on television. You could argue Cheryl Blossom from Riverdale is worse, and I'd see the argument. But I don't think anyone takes Riverdale seriously. There's been Emmy talk for James Spader for so long, and this show actually attracts a fair amount of prestige guest stars. But Keene is so bad, not because her mission is misguided or stupid (although it's both things), but because the show doesn't believe it is.
Here is a truth that this show, and frankly a LOT of TV needs to learn: Just because you love somebody, that doesn't make you entitled to their secrets. I am adopted. I know nothing about my birth mother or father, their deal, if they are still alive. And if I searched them out someday and found out neither wanted anything to do with me? That's their decision. I am not automatically entitled to answers about my past. Nobody is. Television has put it into society's heads that people who care about each other tell each other everything. But Liz is in intelligence, for God's sake. She cannot understand the notion that some things are too dangerous for her to learn? That the people who have died for every tree she's rattled don't care about her whiny daddy issues? That she is not entitled to every bit of information she wants for the sole reason of wanting it?
She kisses Ressler for the first time just to steal his gun. That's how much she sucks.
And I will admit Katerina's story sounds plausible. Except, Liz has been through major ordeals with Red, has seen him sacrifice for her, has seen how much he truly cares about her. Even if Katerina were right that doesn't change any of that.
To be blunt, I was PO-ed at Harold too for blaming Red for Liz's behavior. Frankly, Liz has been like this for seasons, and it has nothing to do with Red. People are responsible for their own actions. Red does not own any of Liz's decisions. Liz is a grown-@$$ woman with her own agency who made her own bad choices. And I have to say Red didn't earn much of my sympathy when he proclaimed it was her destiny. Which is another way for someone to excuse Liz's behavior on anybody but Liz. It's revolting.
I should probably say something nice about the episode before moving on. I am thrilled they recast Dom after Brian Dennehy died and didn't kill off the character off-screen as a "tribute" to him. I don't like when television does that. I think TV really needs to look into and accept recasting characters for actors who either die, or just don't plain work out. I don't like that the strength of any given TV show's arc is largely dependent on how fickle the actors the show have hired are. The bad news is that The Blacklist's arc already sucks. I would very much have preferred this mindset to hit a show I actually liked like Batwoman.
I very much regret starting this show. This show is everything I hate about television. 0.
The Blacklist "Katerina Rostova: Conclusion"
Liz is even more despicable than I ever could have previously imagined.
Red sucks too, but let's be clear: Liz forced his hand. If Liz hadn't abducted Dom, Katerina never would have learned the information she did, and Red probably wouldn't have killed her. Everyone is blaming Red for Liz's behavior. I suspect everyone will be largely silent when it is time to blame Liz for Red's behavior.
This show is turning my stomach. 0.
The Blacklist "16 Ounces"
God, I've had enough. This better be the last season. I can't take this anymore.
Red was never ever going to kill Essie. Until Liz manipulated her into trying to kill him. Now he actually will. Essie's death is another Liz will have on her head.
The only thing I liked was Aram finally telling Liz off and having enough. It's time the rest of the characters did that too.
This show sucks harder than anything else I currently watch. (Okay, maybe Titans is worse. Maybe.) 0.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “A Little Adventure”
If you ask me Shiro is entirely too understanding of Keith’s horrible behavior in the flashback. I think Keith less needs a friend, than a swift kick in the pants.
Shiro has an unknown disease? Has he been cured of it already or is this simply the first time it’s come up? If it’s the latter than it's super lazy writing.
Shiro is gay. Not a surprise, but this is the first episode to confirm it.
For the record the fact that Shiro has known Keith since he was a prepubescent kid is why I don’t ship them. I really hope the show understands how bad that looks.
I didn’t love it. **1/2.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Road Home”
Definition of a filler episode. It literally exists to get the characters from Point A to Point B.
But seeing the team so depowered and out of supplies made me realize something: Pidge is the only member of the team who isn't fully grown, correct? How will she get a new spacesuit when she outgrows this one? When the Castle of Lions was around I never assumed it would be a problem, but now that it's gone, I'm pondering minutia like that.
So-so. ***.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Way Forward”
It's sort of cunning that the bad guys went to torture Pidge first. Because they rightly assumed the rest of the team had a soft spot for her.
Speaking of which, I like the theory that Ocksha was helping Keith and Voltron because she had a crush on the "flippity haired one".
Those mice continue to annoy me. And I've been complaining about them since season 1.
Just because those two former followers of Lotor wound up against him, it doesn't mean they are good. The red girl immediately suggesting torture brought that home quick.
Interesting episode. ****.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Feud!”
It was all right. In the end I don't think Bob had very credible motivations for creating the game show, but there were some funny moments.
I like that Lance is considered the dumb one. Because he is.
I like the bidet being billed as a deluxe chair with a water fountain.
It was a fun diversion, but I don't think the logic of it entirely held up. ***1/2.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Ruins”
Exciting, action-packed, tightly boarded and animated, with a lot of unexpected twists. It feels very much like a horror movie in places. And it's nice to be on a TV-Y7 show where we are allowed to use the words, "kill", "bloodshed", and "death". I guess I only have one question left:
Why does Pidge sleep in her glasses?
Just askin'. ****.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Journey Within”
Pretty dire scenario.
This episode shows the value of Hunk. He's the team's diplomat / peacemaker. Which is something you'd figure Allura should be better at.
Been a few episodes since Voltron was formed. I like that this show doesn't always live or die by the giant mecha.
Another solid one. ***1/2.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Last Stand, Part 1”
Very cool idea to use a flashback episode of Sam returning to Earth to get a fuller picture of what is going on. It's not a wholly original storytelling idea, but it occurred at the right point, which is very unusual. I did not mind pausing the stuff in the present when we did, which is very much unheard of flashback episodes, which are things I tend to merely tolerate. It was very well done, and positioned to answer important questions we couldn't get from the present day characters. I very much approve of this type of storytelling.
I have to say the world politics feel a lot sunnier and less credible on this show than the real world has taught me they would be in Our Universe. I don't actually object to fiction that does not conform to the harsh reality of Our Universe. Universes and their people being portrayed in a more positive light than Ours is is fine with me. But I am pointing out that the difference very much does exist.
Very cool episode. *****.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “The Last Stand, Part 2”
The Garrison Admiral strikes me as especially useless.
Sendak saying that someone hearing a wounded animal cry out makes them cautious, but silence makes them act quickly was cunning.
Veronica turning out to be Lance's sister was a nice touch.
Good stuff. ****1/2.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “Know Your Enemy”
This is all great. The drama, the interpersonal relationships, everything is landing.
I especially like Keith telling Hunk he's the member of their team he most admires. I'm not sure that actually tracks, but it was a nice moment.
Really digging this season. ****1/2.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “Heart Of The Lion”
War is hell. And that was very much a war episode. Pretty nice for a kiddie show.
Did I say the Admiral was useless? I meant despicable.
Things are getting serious. ****.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “Trial By Fire”
Hmm. I was very unhappy that the show seemed to be asking me to sympathize and pity Sanda because she shows remorse after her betrayal backfired on her. But I am personally very unforgiving of treason and I just wasn't having it.
All that being said, and all things being equal, the show actually made the character EARN her redemption and penitence which is just fine with me. Again, the politics of this show do not conform to reality. But I do not object to fiction being BETTER than reality. I can live with this ending, even if it makes me otherwise uncomfortable.
I like that one of the female cadets is clearly autistic. That's a nice touch.
I liked it even through my reservations. The ending sort of addressed my misgivings, and made me a little more comfortable with how things turned out. ****.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “Lion’s Pride, Part 1”
To be honest, as far as action toons go, when it comes to the action set-pieces, that's sort of where I check out. I'm all about character drama. But for people who are all into asplosions, that was probably mighty satisfying for them.
No lie. Shiro's last floaty-arm battle with Sendak WAS pretty cool. It felt right it was Keith who took him out to save Shiro's life.
I imagine action fans were thrilled with this. It was very well-handled in that respect, and the explosions were tailor-made to gawk at. ****.
Voltron: Legendary Defender “Lion’s Pride, Part 2”
I really loved the moving scope of the hopeful ending and the twist cliffhanger wasn't bad. All the same, I felt like the fight with the unknown robot was extraneous and not having anything to do with this season's arc. It felt like the producers had ordered too many episodes, and had to add an evil alien robot fight in the last one simply to pad things out. Don't get me wrong, it was a good fight. And the last scene suggests it will tie into something next season. But they could have ended the season last episode without it crashing to Earth and nothing really would have changed. That is an actual storytelling failing.
So I won't be giving that a perfect grade, as enjoyable as it was, and as satisfying as the ending felt. It felt unnecessary. Which is not great. ***1/2.
Batwoman "Bat Girl Magic!"
Very memorable version of Victor Zsasz.
I question the wisdom of the show doing an arc with the characters looking for an alive Kate while the show and Ruby Rose are on the outs. Unless they are going to pull the trigger and finally recast which is something I am 100% supportive of.
Luke may see Ryan like a stand-in for Kate. I get that. But he doesn't need to talk to her and treat her as so. That's not something I can sympathize with in the least.
Zsasz mentions he's fought Batman before which is no surprise. But that probably means Luke should have heard of him.
False Face (a society, not a person) and a man in a Black Mask are mentioned. Ryan gets a new wig. It actually looks better on her, but I'll miss the red one simply because it was so iconic.
You can run out of Batarangs? That wasn't a thing I was aware could happen.
Solid week. ***1/2.
Muppet Babies "Gonzo's Bubble Trouble / Fozzie Can't Bear It"
Gonzo's Bubble Trouble:
This cartoon and the next reveal a very sad truth about the show: When it comes to the preschool moral and the writing in general, the show is entirely basic and pedestrian. They don't teach kids anything every other preschool show has never taught them before, or ask them to look at things in a new way. Sesame Street is always finding ways to keep up and modernize their morals to how society grows and changes. And Muppet Babies 2018 could have been written in the 1980's by the writers of The Smurfs and nothing would change. There are some funny jokes in the show, which were absent on The Smurfs, but this show is nothing but well-worn cliches. And from the House that Henson Built, that's not great.
Also for the record, I don't think the science of the graham crackers absorbing the bubbles checks out. **1/2.
Fozzie Can't Bear It:
Even more overstuffed with cliches and hoary homilies than the first cartoon, but I have to confess I liked some of the jokes.
I like when Fozzie and Gonzo say "Hi ho, Fozzie!" they briefly get Kermit eyes. I also like Fozzie naming his robot dinosaur Chad, and after a beat of confusion Kermit's all, "I can see that." Yeah, minimal effort is put into the writing of this show. But it's totally not hard to make you laugh at a dumb observational joke. I'll give the show that. **1/2.
Episode Overall: **1/2.
Disney Random Rings "Launchpad Calls Cricket"
Mildly diverting. ***1/2.
The Blacklist "Roanoke"
This is season 8 of The Blacklist. And I find myself in a very similar position of where I was very late into the runs of House M.D. and Blindspot. I realize I wish I had never started watching the show but it's too late for me to simply duck out. I've invested too much time. I feel very fortunate Riverdale imploded as early as it did. I hate everything about this show and everything about every subtext to this show.
Liz is spoiled, and basically committed treason, and her friends are still using the kid gloves. I don't know why the producers thought that after the summer of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, and Donald Trump, we'd be rooting for law enforcement to look the other way for a cute white girl while she commits heinous crimes far more worthy of a death sentence than selling loose cigarettes. This is the wrong show for this moment in time.
I don't review Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, but I do watch it, and that show is exploring the controversies of police misconduct, instead of trying to make me sympathize with the people who engage in it.
Let me be blunt. Elizabeth Keene is the worst fictional character on television. You could argue Cheryl Blossom from Riverdale is worse, and I'd see the argument. But I don't think anyone takes Riverdale seriously. There's been Emmy talk for James Spader for so long, and this show actually attracts a fair amount of prestige guest stars. But Keene is so bad, not because her mission is misguided or stupid (although it's both things), but because the show doesn't believe it is.
Here is a truth that this show, and frankly a LOT of TV needs to learn: Just because you love somebody, that doesn't make you entitled to their secrets. I am adopted. I know nothing about my birth mother or father, their deal, if they are still alive. And if I searched them out someday and found out neither wanted anything to do with me? That's their decision. I am not automatically entitled to answers about my past. Nobody is. Television has put it into society's heads that people who care about each other tell each other everything. But Liz is in intelligence, for God's sake. She cannot understand the notion that some things are too dangerous for her to learn? That the people who have died for every tree she's rattled don't care about her whiny daddy issues? That she is not entitled to every bit of information she wants for the sole reason of wanting it?
She kisses Ressler for the first time just to steal his gun. That's how much she sucks.
And I will admit Katerina's story sounds plausible. Except, Liz has been through major ordeals with Red, has seen him sacrifice for her, has seen how much he truly cares about her. Even if Katerina were right that doesn't change any of that.
To be blunt, I was PO-ed at Harold too for blaming Red for Liz's behavior. Frankly, Liz has been like this for seasons, and it has nothing to do with Red. People are responsible for their own actions. Red does not own any of Liz's decisions. Liz is a grown-@$$ woman with her own agency who made her own bad choices. And I have to say Red didn't earn much of my sympathy when he proclaimed it was her destiny. Which is another way for someone to excuse Liz's behavior on anybody but Liz. It's revolting.
I should probably say something nice about the episode before moving on. I am thrilled they recast Dom after Brian Dennehy died and didn't kill off the character off-screen as a "tribute" to him. I don't like when television does that. I think TV really needs to look into and accept recasting characters for actors who either die, or just don't plain work out. I don't like that the strength of any given TV show's arc is largely dependent on how fickle the actors the show have hired are. The bad news is that The Blacklist's arc already sucks. I would very much have preferred this mindset to hit a show I actually liked like Batwoman.
I very much regret starting this show. This show is everything I hate about television. 0.
The Blacklist "Katerina Rostova: Conclusion"
Liz is even more despicable than I ever could have previously imagined.
Red sucks too, but let's be clear: Liz forced his hand. If Liz hadn't abducted Dom, Katerina never would have learned the information she did, and Red probably wouldn't have killed her. Everyone is blaming Red for Liz's behavior. I suspect everyone will be largely silent when it is time to blame Liz for Red's behavior.
This show is turning my stomach. 0.
The Blacklist "16 Ounces"
God, I've had enough. This better be the last season. I can't take this anymore.
Red was never ever going to kill Essie. Until Liz manipulated her into trying to kill him. Now he actually will. Essie's death is another Liz will have on her head.
The only thing I liked was Aram finally telling Liz off and having enough. It's time the rest of the characters did that too.
This show sucks harder than anything else I currently watch. (Okay, maybe Titans is worse. Maybe.) 0.
