jacohop

I've been a Tolkien fan for a long time-read all the books, seen all the movies-and I really enjoyed this series. (It's infinitely better than whatever mess the Hobbit movies were... there, now you have some data points to judge the rest of my opinions.) It's not just beautiful-it's expertly made. Every part of the production feels deliberate and well-crafted. The show leans heavily on dialogue, which isn't especially clever or quotable, but it does the job. It's more describey than sharp, and it supports a solid story underneath. It might not click for some because there's a lot to remember-the show's trying to lay the groundwork for all the arcs that eventually bloom in the LOTR trilogy. I'd guess those issues explain most of the hate in other reviews. That said, I'd wager a third of you will really like it-especially if you enjoy shows that lean nerdy. About 15% will definitely hate it, for reasons that mostly escape me, but that seems to be how these things go. Hopefully you're in the first group, because you'll get to enjoy the series.

This should be an amazing show. The humor, writing, and acting are all top-notch, and the visuals are fantastic. However, with only 10 episodes per season and each one running just 22 to 24 minutes, it feels frustratingly brief.

I doubt we'll ever return to the good old days of TV seasons with 22 to 26 episodes, but let's be honest-this feels severely limited. In terms of total content, it's the equivalent of just five full-length episodes. That's even less than what typical UK series offer. (Personally, I even find 10-episode seasons too compressed-it takes me a while to get truly invested).

Unfortunately, my review focuses more on this structural aspect than the creative side, simply because I believe it's the most critical (and maybe only) flaw. In my opinion, this is a misstep. Time will tell if others feel the same.

P. S. If this series were a person, I'd rename it M. Short Shorty McShortface. From ... This would be an amazing show. The humor, writing, and acting are all top-notch, and the visuals are fantastic. However, with only 10 episodes per season and each one running just 22 to 24 minutes, it feels frustratingly brief.

I doubt we'll ever return to the good old days of TV seasons with 22 to 26 episodes, but let's be honest-this feels severely limited. In terms of total content, it's the equivalent of just five full-length episodes. That's even less than what typical UK series offer. Personally, I even find 10-episode seasons too compressed-it takes me a while to get truly invested.

Unfortunately, my review focuses more on this structural aspect than the creative side, simply because I believe it's the most critical flaw. In my opinion, this is a misstep. Time will tell if others feel the same.

P. S. If this series were a person, I'd rename it M. Short Shorty McShortface.. from Shortistan..... on planet Shortia.

Carry-On starts off promising-the setup is engaging, the characters have chemistry, and Jason Bateman brings his usual cool/charm. I was hopeful. But the CGI is rough, the stunts are totally implausible, and the gunfights? The angles and logistics make zero sense. They didn't try very hard. It pulled me out of the story. I really wanted to like this, and there's definitely potential here, but I just couldn't get past the messiness. I made it about halfway before I had to call it. Bummer, but not without some bright spots. I could see some people enjoying it-especially if you're more of a casual viewer. Pretty solid five stars from me.