doydoy-75472

Oy. The internet decided to freshen up last night, and poof went my review.

I broke the silence on Shtisel 8 years ago, so it's probably only fair that... 4 episodes in and here's the skinny: you are here because you fell in love with Kive, Shulem et al and, rest assured, your heart will not be broken.

The progeny, older than the parent, is faithful to the sharp writing, emotional depth and moral subtleties. The acting, too, is as excellent. The ambiance lacks the warmth of a simple Jerusalem street, but the cooler cinematography is just as well characterized.

You might be worried that the creative spark, known to be extinguished by off spinning of different kind, is no more. It is, more. We know a bit about the future, which adds some mysterious zest to every scene. But this past stands on its own feet. The stories and personages embrace you quickly and securely. If this were born first, its human pace would shine just as brightly.

The showrunner must be one of those legendary humans that are very good at a thing, and know what that thing is. We are lucky to be around.

9.5/10 (0.5 goes to the burnt part of the kugel)

This show, as well as a not too distant remark about Hollywood and the descendants of Abraham, made me rethink Dave Chappelle. Who I consider, still, to be a top notch funny guy.

For a man who grew up in high DC / academic society, to be so thoroughly obsessed by race, the 'hood', and its lowest humor is disingenuous to put it mildly. And this show is just that: low brow, low hanging, race this race that, humor fruit. And, well, barely funny. Really. It scratches funny here and there. But mostly... Nahhh.

Compare with Key and Peele, for crying out loud. Freagin genius, intelligent, well produced, cry your eyes out funny. With minimal exploitation of race.

We are the fashion organism. And this show's rating is just that. A fashion. Check out the French Restaurant scene from K&P for an 8.8 (+).

Star Wars is Gen X. My dear, forgotten generation.

The Millenial prequels were not SW.

The Gen Z spin offs are not SW.

We should have buckled our seatbelts for disappointment long ago, but freaks like Andor and some of the Mandalorian have given us false hope.

Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'entrate.

If you are over 40 consider who is now behind our entertainment. How old. The values they are loaded with, and what they grew up on.

This is nauseating on so many levels, but how can a gen x'er not watch anything related to Han Solo. The only way to get through it is accept some generational inevitabilities.

Oy well...