jochang-30856

This is a very average movie with some scenes that are pretty decent, but for the most part it is entirely forgettable. The story isn't particularly engaging. It is full of typical tropes with typical villains. Much of it can be described as, "good enough". There is also a weird musical number out of nowhere that felt incredibly out of place and very Disney. I don't dislike the film overall, but halfway through found myself losing interest. No strong feelings one way or the other.

The combat is just slightly above par. There are a few good fights, but Geralt does too many flips and downward attacks. None of it conveys impact or significance, and gives the impression of choreography rehearsal. Included are also some twists and turns befitting a Witcher story, but much of it feels artificial. Like they were trying for this specific thing the Witcher is known for and you can tell. Honestly, the best part is Geralt being himself, and his interactions with Essi. Outside of Jaskier (who is exactly as you expect him to be), Essi is the only character worth paying attention to, and unsurprisingly one that ultimately justified the time spent watching. But even then, her best scenes come at the end.

Recommended for casual fans only.

I heard nothing about this series anywhere and stumbled upon it browsing through Netflix. Turns out, it's good. This is not a scary show. There are horror elements, but it's a comedy first and foremost, with some drama and light romance. All in all pretty unique. Can't think of anything else that's close to what they did here. An amalgamation of what works throughout different genres over the years that resulted in what is unquestionably its own thing.

Kristen Bouchard is the perfect woman. I kind of fell in love with her throughout this series. Strong, vulnerable, and ironclad in her convictions where it matters. Yet still conscientious enough to have doubts without regret. Adventurous. Daring. Also a little mischievous. A good mom. Sometimes a liar. Flawed in the best way. Katja Herbers did such a good job I found myself looking her up in interviews just to hear her talk. The relationship between the three leads is also very well done. Wasn't until the show was almost over that I found myself missing these fictional people, wishing there was another season. Aside from all of the other supporting characters that are simply fantastic, I also really enjoyed the four young actresses that were her daughters. Seeing them move around in unison like a shared consciousness of adolescent chaos is delightful.

There's only a few complaints, and one in particular that may spoil the show were I to elaborate in specific detail. The first is the inclusion of racial politics in too many episodes. While I feel they walked the line pretty well and gave some nuanced perspectives, the repeated occurrence of race as an issue in the show ultimately took away from it. The second, is that the end of the final season felt a bit rushed. Enough to tie up all the relevant points, but in a way that lessened the impact of everything that happened to get here. Another episode or two would have easily remedied this. Finally, one of the characters was unceremoniously removed in order to further the plot. Why do this? There are far better ways to implement the change without essentially destroying everything they were up to that point. It didn't make any sense and reduced what was an easy 8+ to a mid/high 7.

What this show does right is the best example of it anywhere. What it does wrong is rare, but noticeable, especially in contrast to everything else present. Still, absolutely worth watching. A nice surprise.

Pretty unusual. A spy thriller/comedy with moments of good action that nails everything they try for. It is also very aware of itself, with characters aptly describing in-universe who the main protagonist really is. These people have so much personality that it's impossible not to notice and admire. In most of what you see in today's media landscape, characters usually fit into a particular category, and actors try to suit that archetype without too much deviation from what is expected. While these archetypes exist here, the creators and actors make it their own, resulting in something that feels new and unique. You won't have any trouble recognizing who's who, and the interactions between them and each individual agenda are far more amusing because of it. Wasn't until having noticed a dumb smile on my face for most any viewing session that I realized how much I was enjoying it. This is a fun show that is totally worth your time.