jackalman22
Joined Nov 2004
Welcome to the new profile
Our updates are still in development. While the previous version of the profile is no longer accessible, we're actively working on improvements, and some of the missing features will be returning soon! Stay tuned for their return. In the meantime, the Ratings Analysis is still available on our iOS and Android apps, found on the profile page. To view your Rating Distribution(s) by Year and Genre, please refer to our new Help guide.
Badges2
To learn how to earn badges, go to the badges help page.
Reviews7
jackalman22's rating
The Twilight Zone has always been hard to describe. My understanding of the Twilight Zone (in its original run) is that it portrayed stories in which characters are placed in philosophically thought-provoking yet impossible scenarios. The moral and existential dilemmas that then arise from these scenarios offer an intriguing and insightful exploration of humanity and inner conflicts, often painted in creatively strange ways.
I think a lot of people think of the Twilight Zone and envision aliens, conspiracies, and alternate dimensions. While some of these outlandish scenarios often serve as a fun and fitting backdrop for Twilight Zone stories, they themselves are not the core ingredients. What I loved about "The Comedian" is that it portrayed the eerily lonely life of a person who is faced with the choice of chasing after what he desires the most at increasingly dire and often scary costs. It threw in a supernatural premise that then set the story and character arc in motion, and managed to portray a rather contained narrative with chilling implications. Definitely something that can benefit from a rewatch or two, but accessible enough to hook people in to the tone and style of the new series.
Kumail Nanjiani gave an excellent performance while conveying the dark side of what I imagine many fame- and glory-seeking performers often struggle with. I think he did an amazing job. The show is shot very stylishly without drawing too much attention to itself, and I appreciated the bookended narration offered by Jordan Peele.
Despite the presence of supernatural elements and conundrums of the moral and philosophical variety, my prediction is that the rather grounded premise of this episode may turn some people off -- namely those who were expecting the more superficial themes of "alien, sci-fi, and conspiracy" to be present.
This is a solid return to form for the series, but as with the original Twilight Zone, it might struggle to find an audience. And that may have something to do with people's expectations being unable to connect with a show that's difficult to define.
Check it out, turn on your brain, and enjoy the ride.
I think a lot of people think of the Twilight Zone and envision aliens, conspiracies, and alternate dimensions. While some of these outlandish scenarios often serve as a fun and fitting backdrop for Twilight Zone stories, they themselves are not the core ingredients. What I loved about "The Comedian" is that it portrayed the eerily lonely life of a person who is faced with the choice of chasing after what he desires the most at increasingly dire and often scary costs. It threw in a supernatural premise that then set the story and character arc in motion, and managed to portray a rather contained narrative with chilling implications. Definitely something that can benefit from a rewatch or two, but accessible enough to hook people in to the tone and style of the new series.
Kumail Nanjiani gave an excellent performance while conveying the dark side of what I imagine many fame- and glory-seeking performers often struggle with. I think he did an amazing job. The show is shot very stylishly without drawing too much attention to itself, and I appreciated the bookended narration offered by Jordan Peele.
Despite the presence of supernatural elements and conundrums of the moral and philosophical variety, my prediction is that the rather grounded premise of this episode may turn some people off -- namely those who were expecting the more superficial themes of "alien, sci-fi, and conspiracy" to be present.
This is a solid return to form for the series, but as with the original Twilight Zone, it might struggle to find an audience. And that may have something to do with people's expectations being unable to connect with a show that's difficult to define.
Check it out, turn on your brain, and enjoy the ride.