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I finally figured out how to watch The Studio on Apple-TV. At first, I disliked it for several reasons, despite the presence of some actors I usually enjoy. (I'm not talking about you, Seth Rogen.) I do appreciate the Wright-esque studio building, but the cinematography can be frustrating, with its uninspired overuse of one-shots. Add to that the drone shots are visually artsy but often stomach-churning. The over-acting, constant yelling, and excessive vulgar language didn't help either. However, I found a solution that improved the experience for me: I turned off the sound and watched with subtitles. Isolated from some of the other distractions, the writing turned out to be quite clever and funny. While I'm still not a huge fan, I'll keep watching - and enjoy the silence.

It must count for something that I made it through eight episodes, although, to be fair, I was sometimes scrolling through the internet out of boredom. On a positive note, the setting is ravishing, making the lavish Hawaian setting of the first series look like a backyard garden in comparison. While positioned as a wellness resort, the amount of alcohol that was consumed was surprising. The whole effort was like a lovely travelogue peopled with unpleasant, unlikable people. I found the endless shots of monkeys, lizards and scenery most rewarding. The cast was uniformly good, considering the dreck of a script that they had to work with. (Hey, who wouldn't accept a well paying gig at a luxurious Thai resort.) The plot limped along, well seasoned with red herrings, a good dose of kink, and pointless sub plots. The finale reminded me a bit of the Blood Wedding in GoTT. Let's kill off a lot of characters! Unfortunately, the three back-biting BFFs survived. Long live the nuclear family!

I was initially put off by the first episode. It seemed like show-boating, emphasizing form over substance. Too much happened in the first episode, complex events just don't happen that quickly. But the cinematography was obviously impressive as was the acting and direction, and the story drew me in. The following three episodes deepened the story and the more leisurely pace seemed more appropriate, allowing me to better share the anguish of these characters. Still, the camera work continued to be spectacular. Acting was without exception top-tier with riveting performances all around. Young Owen Cooper is a standout. That this little-promoted series quickly found a huge and admiring audience is testament to its quality! I'm still amazed at the cinematography at the end of the fourth episode as the camera soars to the sky.