XTheXXTruthX's reviews
by XTheXXTruthX
This page compiles all reviews XTheXXTruthX has written, sharing their detailed thoughts about movies, TV shows, and more.
114 reviews
The first season got off to a reasonable start, mostly due to the change of location.
But that novelty soon wears off and when it does the weak writing is completely exposed.
The first season is at least watchable, even if it takes some patience from the view to get though it it. When I say viewer, I'm talking about people who actually watch tv and don't use it as background while they mess around on their phones.
The second season however is absolutely dire. The whole "plot", if you could call it that, is stretched out beyond belief.
Characters flip flop their personalities, on the rare occasion they actually have one.
Daryl is a pale shadow of the character he once was.
Introducing Carol was even worse because she's become pathetic and has not evolved as a character for years.
Out of the wider cast there is no-one for the viewer to care about. They are so valid and void of any memorable qualities. Just an extensive cast of utter nobodies, the most boring people you could ever imagine.
By the time we get to the Scottish characters at the end of season 2 it's just absolutely cringeworthy.
I've followed the Walking Dead through bad and good but this show has no real reason to exist. There's no story to tell. There's no ideas here. It's so utterly uncreative that one wonders why the writers and directors who work on this show actually wanted to have these careers because they have nothing of interest to say. No passion. No wit. Nothing. Absolute airheads.
Anyone giving this a 10/10 needs to give their head a wobble.
But that novelty soon wears off and when it does the weak writing is completely exposed.
The first season is at least watchable, even if it takes some patience from the view to get though it it. When I say viewer, I'm talking about people who actually watch tv and don't use it as background while they mess around on their phones.
The second season however is absolutely dire. The whole "plot", if you could call it that, is stretched out beyond belief.
Characters flip flop their personalities, on the rare occasion they actually have one.
Daryl is a pale shadow of the character he once was.
Introducing Carol was even worse because she's become pathetic and has not evolved as a character for years.
Out of the wider cast there is no-one for the viewer to care about. They are so valid and void of any memorable qualities. Just an extensive cast of utter nobodies, the most boring people you could ever imagine.
By the time we get to the Scottish characters at the end of season 2 it's just absolutely cringeworthy.
I've followed the Walking Dead through bad and good but this show has no real reason to exist. There's no story to tell. There's no ideas here. It's so utterly uncreative that one wonders why the writers and directors who work on this show actually wanted to have these careers because they have nothing of interest to say. No passion. No wit. Nothing. Absolute airheads.
Anyone giving this a 10/10 needs to give their head a wobble.
I was really excited for this early on.
The concept is strong and in the sweet spot for 80s and 90s horror lovers. The younger cast are all excellent, those of us who lived through the video nasty era will appreciate the buzz, just for VHS horror in general, regardless of video nasties.
The longer it goes on it unfortunately loses focus.
It becomes yet another attack on men, synonymous with this current era of constant feminist commentary. There's a time where this would have been effective but it's now a massive, creatively bankrupt cliche.
Once they throw in the queer elements the show has lost its promising premise and morphed into a paint by numbers disappointment.
Such a pity. There was a terrific horror tv show in here somewhere, but the politics once again became more important than entertainment.
The concept is strong and in the sweet spot for 80s and 90s horror lovers. The younger cast are all excellent, those of us who lived through the video nasty era will appreciate the buzz, just for VHS horror in general, regardless of video nasties.
The longer it goes on it unfortunately loses focus.
It becomes yet another attack on men, synonymous with this current era of constant feminist commentary. There's a time where this would have been effective but it's now a massive, creatively bankrupt cliche.
Once they throw in the queer elements the show has lost its promising premise and morphed into a paint by numbers disappointment.
Such a pity. There was a terrific horror tv show in here somewhere, but the politics once again became more important than entertainment.
You know, a TV show can be slow and also be good.
This is not that. I think to enjoy this you need to be lacking a few brain cells. It's repetitive. The dialogue is inane. The cast are mostly bland as hell.
To pull of a slow burn you need a writer who can pull together an interesting script. Especially if your plot points are so thinly spread that you need to pad out 6 episodes. This is pretty much 95% padding.
You also need a cast who have some form of magnetism. Something naturally watchable or endearing about them. Some screen presence, some charm, something going on behind the eyes that suggests they know something the viewer does not.
This is a collection of actors who are going through the motions of reading lines with no real acting ability.
The problem with TV now is it's just seen as content, rather than art. Rather than having a burning desire to tell a story. As there is so much demand for 'content' across multiple platforms far too many shows are hiring weak writers and actors. People who look like they won a competition to appear on a show.
An IP this big deserves better. This is garbage and todays audiences it appear will just lap up any old tripe.
This is not that. I think to enjoy this you need to be lacking a few brain cells. It's repetitive. The dialogue is inane. The cast are mostly bland as hell.
To pull of a slow burn you need a writer who can pull together an interesting script. Especially if your plot points are so thinly spread that you need to pad out 6 episodes. This is pretty much 95% padding.
You also need a cast who have some form of magnetism. Something naturally watchable or endearing about them. Some screen presence, some charm, something going on behind the eyes that suggests they know something the viewer does not.
This is a collection of actors who are going through the motions of reading lines with no real acting ability.
The problem with TV now is it's just seen as content, rather than art. Rather than having a burning desire to tell a story. As there is so much demand for 'content' across multiple platforms far too many shows are hiring weak writers and actors. People who look like they won a competition to appear on a show.
An IP this big deserves better. This is garbage and todays audiences it appear will just lap up any old tripe.
They only had 6 episodes to write and still it's decompressed padding for the vast majority of the running time of this season.
Is this really the best they can come up with?
Was it really worth making?
The producers are to blame ultimately, as they should have sat on this until they received a pitch that was worth making a show out of.
Where they continue to find these writers who are incapable of a few lines of interesting dialogue or any idea of pacing, building tension, drama, relationships and pay off - I have no idea.
6 episodes of fan favourite Rick being sidelined for 3 girl bosses and some of the most boring episodes of The Walking Dead to date.
Please do better.
Is this really the best they can come up with?
Was it really worth making?
The producers are to blame ultimately, as they should have sat on this until they received a pitch that was worth making a show out of.
Where they continue to find these writers who are incapable of a few lines of interesting dialogue or any idea of pacing, building tension, drama, relationships and pay off - I have no idea.
6 episodes of fan favourite Rick being sidelined for 3 girl bosses and some of the most boring episodes of The Walking Dead to date.
Please do better.
Underrated episode on IMBD, presumably by attention deficit viewers who came on board for Discovery; a show that can be watched while playing with your phone.
A vehicle to give Miles and Bashir's relationship plenty of air time, further develop Nog and Jake's relationship, and the relationship with their fathers.
This is something DS6 has always done well, particularly this first season, which has less action and bolder plot driven epsiodes, but more than makes up for it with character development.
Kira, Odo, Quark, Dax, Sisko, Jake, Nog, O'Brien, Bashir and their families, as well as the extended cast are all fully fleshed out by this point - which is a quite a remarkable feat.
Especially given Discovery and Strange New Worlds are still floundering to add some meat to the bones of their barely formed crews, who all seem to have the same voice, mostly narky or overly emotional, 5 seasons and 2 seasons in respectively.
Their failed writers could learn a thing or two by watching this episode and this season of DS9 in general.
A vehicle to give Miles and Bashir's relationship plenty of air time, further develop Nog and Jake's relationship, and the relationship with their fathers.
This is something DS6 has always done well, particularly this first season, which has less action and bolder plot driven epsiodes, but more than makes up for it with character development.
Kira, Odo, Quark, Dax, Sisko, Jake, Nog, O'Brien, Bashir and their families, as well as the extended cast are all fully fleshed out by this point - which is a quite a remarkable feat.
Especially given Discovery and Strange New Worlds are still floundering to add some meat to the bones of their barely formed crews, who all seem to have the same voice, mostly narky or overly emotional, 5 seasons and 2 seasons in respectively.
Their failed writers could learn a thing or two by watching this episode and this season of DS9 in general.
I never made it through the first episode because I could barely hear a word the main character said, she mumbles her way through the entire show
It's very difficult to give a show a good review when they can't achieve the basics of making the dialogue audible.
That said, the dialogue is so mind numbingly boring that the cast sound like they are falling asleep while speaking it.
I've never seen a cast so void of energy and apparently going through the motions. There's nothing here for the view to grab hold of; bad writing, bad acting, boring direction.
The whole thing is just a waste of an intriguing premise. It's like these production companies either don't know what they are doing or just don't care any more.
It's very difficult to give a show a good review when they can't achieve the basics of making the dialogue audible.
That said, the dialogue is so mind numbingly boring that the cast sound like they are falling asleep while speaking it.
I've never seen a cast so void of energy and apparently going through the motions. There's nothing here for the view to grab hold of; bad writing, bad acting, boring direction.
The whole thing is just a waste of an intriguing premise. It's like these production companies either don't know what they are doing or just don't care any more.
Switched it off 3 minutes and 27 seconds in with the pro-nouns 'joke'
I know where this is headed; great concept, terribly realised.
Pretty much guaranteed to be one season only. No jokes.
5 to 10 years time we are going to look back at this era and universally realise how bad it was.
There's no audience for this crap
Netflix quality control is horrendous. Alarm bells should have been ringing immediately with the execs who signed off on this. How these people have jobs is absolutely bewildering. Where do they find these people?
I wish someone would take the idea, do it again and do it properly. It could so easily be a hit. It's clear the streaming companies really don't know what they are doing. A few of them will be going the way of Blockbuster in the not too distant future.
I know where this is headed; great concept, terribly realised.
Pretty much guaranteed to be one season only. No jokes.
5 to 10 years time we are going to look back at this era and universally realise how bad it was.
There's no audience for this crap
Netflix quality control is horrendous. Alarm bells should have been ringing immediately with the execs who signed off on this. How these people have jobs is absolutely bewildering. Where do they find these people?
I wish someone would take the idea, do it again and do it properly. It could so easily be a hit. It's clear the streaming companies really don't know what they are doing. A few of them will be going the way of Blockbuster in the not too distant future.
Another of the standalone type episodes filmed during covid and the best of the bunch.
I don't want to spoil the name of the guest actor but he adds some real gravitas and tension to the proceedings and was a perfect choice for the role
Some good character work on Gabriel in particular.
It's clear to me that, after having taken a break from watching it for a while, The Walking Dead has maintained quite a high bar throughout its long duration and the level of quality (dips and peaks from season one all the way through EVERY season, even the more highly rated ones) has been fairly consistent. I don't really get the backlash to the show online.
I don't want to spoil the name of the guest actor but he adds some real gravitas and tension to the proceedings and was a perfect choice for the role
Some good character work on Gabriel in particular.
It's clear to me that, after having taken a break from watching it for a while, The Walking Dead has maintained quite a high bar throughout its long duration and the level of quality (dips and peaks from season one all the way through EVERY season, even the more highly rated ones) has been fairly consistent. I don't really get the backlash to the show online.
How anyone can rate this 10/10 is beyond me - political point scoring nonsense that makes it impossible to judge shows from their ratings online
The pros - It looks lovely in places Costumes and sets are great Something happens in the opening 10 mins and closing 10 mins
The cons - The writing is dull as hell Half the episode is spent having the same conversations over and over The writing seems to prefer 'tell' over 'show' - a common flaw with a lot of modern tv, most notably the Marvel shows. Just amateur writing.
Cast is all a bit bland The dialogue is boring There's very little going on.
No standout characters as yet.
The pros - It looks lovely in places Costumes and sets are great Something happens in the opening 10 mins and closing 10 mins
The cons - The writing is dull as hell Half the episode is spent having the same conversations over and over The writing seems to prefer 'tell' over 'show' - a common flaw with a lot of modern tv, most notably the Marvel shows. Just amateur writing.
Cast is all a bit bland The dialogue is boring There's very little going on.
No standout characters as yet.
I get the sense the idea to do the anthology was inspired by Creepshow (there's a similar vibe, although some of that is down to the low budget) and this was the perfect sort of episode to sit within that structure.
A great vehicle for Parker Posey and Gillian Bell, who were obviously having a blast filming this. Both of them were superb fun. Some good dialogue in there and a few laughs.
I see a lot of people who have left reviews are missing the point of this whole venture altogether.
A great vehicle for Parker Posey and Gillian Bell, who were obviously having a blast filming this. Both of them were superb fun. Some good dialogue in there and a few laughs.
I see a lot of people who have left reviews are missing the point of this whole venture altogether.
A solid start.
The 1s and 10s in the ratings are baffling, it's neither great nor bad.
Takes a while to get going.
Matt Smith is excellent, potential there for a very memorable character.
I don't really get the complaints about the diversity, this doesn't feel forced the way some modern shows are (yes Sandman, I'm looking at you).
There's someone on here calling the show a masterpiece. After 1 episode.
There's another clown complaining about the sex, when that was one of the main reasons GoT became the phenomenon that it did, and we all know it. No-one wants some watered down poor imitation of the predecessor; if you don't like it go watch Wheel of Time.
This is sadly what HBO are up against, the advice would be to ignore the minority of offended balloons and focus on what made the first 4 season of GoT must watch television.
The 1s and 10s in the ratings are baffling, it's neither great nor bad.
Takes a while to get going.
Matt Smith is excellent, potential there for a very memorable character.
I don't really get the complaints about the diversity, this doesn't feel forced the way some modern shows are (yes Sandman, I'm looking at you).
There's someone on here calling the show a masterpiece. After 1 episode.
There's another clown complaining about the sex, when that was one of the main reasons GoT became the phenomenon that it did, and we all know it. No-one wants some watered down poor imitation of the predecessor; if you don't like it go watch Wheel of Time.
This is sadly what HBO are up against, the advice would be to ignore the minority of offended balloons and focus on what made the first 4 season of GoT must watch television.
Essentially this is what happens when you launch an exciting new horror anthology but give wrong jobs to people whose previous credentials are Lipstick Jungle, Pretty Little Liars, How To Get Away With Murder and the other Walking Dead series that I forget the name of but is really crap.
It's clearly low budget which is totally fine for me and it looks ok, but 2 good actors can't carry this mediocre script. I watched this over 2 sittings because I fell asleep halfway through.
Not a good start.
It's clearly low budget which is totally fine for me and it looks ok, but 2 good actors can't carry this mediocre script. I watched this over 2 sittings because I fell asleep halfway through.
Not a good start.
I've never known a show to go downhill so abruptly.
The last 4 episodes feel like they were made by another group of creatives altogether.
Epsiodes 1 to 4 are one of the best, closest adaptations (in terms of plot) that I've watched.
Episode 5 is an incredible piece of television. Worth watching up until they point for this alone.
Episode 6 starts of really poorly due to the poor casting of death, not because of her colour, but because it feels like you are watching an episode of Eastenders. However, it then turns to the Hob storyline, and handles its brilliantly. Really terrific job.
Episodes 7 - 10 are a car crash of decompressed, poor writing, poor acting, poor casting and just a terrible handling of the Doll's House storyline. Just really awful, boring, intelligence insulting television.
If they continue in this vein for season 2 there will be no season 3.
Ignore the 10/10 reviews, they are just ridiculous
Ignore the 1/10 reviews which are equally ridiculous, but understandable, because it's very hard to ignore how stupid some of the decisions that have been made here totally overcompensating in the name of diversity (it gets really, really stupid).
I've read the Sandman half a dozen times, it's one of the greatest achievements in comics. The closer the stick to the material the better. Sadly the casting is pretty awful for the most point, from Dream, to the Corinthian, to Death, to Rose. So much of it does not work, Desire probably being the low point of them all. It genuinely feels like some of this casting was done deliberately to bait the audiences so they can take a leaf out of Disney's book and blame toxic fandom if the show underperforms. The casting is atrocious but you can almost get past that. But it requires the rest of the show to be good. And it very nearly was.
There's a good show in here but they buried it under the last 4 episodes, and the show will lose a lot of viewers as a result.
The last 4 episodes feel like they were made by another group of creatives altogether.
Epsiodes 1 to 4 are one of the best, closest adaptations (in terms of plot) that I've watched.
Episode 5 is an incredible piece of television. Worth watching up until they point for this alone.
Episode 6 starts of really poorly due to the poor casting of death, not because of her colour, but because it feels like you are watching an episode of Eastenders. However, it then turns to the Hob storyline, and handles its brilliantly. Really terrific job.
Episodes 7 - 10 are a car crash of decompressed, poor writing, poor acting, poor casting and just a terrible handling of the Doll's House storyline. Just really awful, boring, intelligence insulting television.
If they continue in this vein for season 2 there will be no season 3.
Ignore the 10/10 reviews, they are just ridiculous
Ignore the 1/10 reviews which are equally ridiculous, but understandable, because it's very hard to ignore how stupid some of the decisions that have been made here totally overcompensating in the name of diversity (it gets really, really stupid).
I've read the Sandman half a dozen times, it's one of the greatest achievements in comics. The closer the stick to the material the better. Sadly the casting is pretty awful for the most point, from Dream, to the Corinthian, to Death, to Rose. So much of it does not work, Desire probably being the low point of them all. It genuinely feels like some of this casting was done deliberately to bait the audiences so they can take a leaf out of Disney's book and blame toxic fandom if the show underperforms. The casting is atrocious but you can almost get past that. But it requires the rest of the show to be good. And it very nearly was.
There's a good show in here but they buried it under the last 4 episodes, and the show will lose a lot of viewers as a result.
The show was pretty good up until this point (it's not great, let's not pretend otherwise, but it's one of the better comic book adaptations, sticking to the source material for the most part - casting aside)
Episodes 5 and 6 being high points
But this episode is all over the place.
I've read the comics about a dozen times, the delivery of this great storyline in this episode is really shoddy
Hope they get back on track for episode 8 because another one like this and I'm out.
I've read the comics about a dozen times, the delivery of this great storyline in this episode is really shoddy
Hope they get back on track for episode 8 because another one like this and I'm out.
I don't know what Brian K Vaughan has done that's brought him such bad karma, as the comic series was pretty good, and his amazing Y The Last Man was also an awful Tv adaptation.
Dull, awful acting, bland, derivative. One of the worst shows I've had the misfortune of subjecting myself to in a long time.
Dull, awful acting, bland, derivative. One of the worst shows I've had the misfortune of subjecting myself to in a long time.
This would have been more interesting 15-20 years ago when this sort of thing was fresh enough to be shocking or vaguely interesting, but we need a bit more from our tv now.
Not surprised to see it was written by Sharon Horgan, who is rubbish at swearing, the dialogue is the usual forced cringeworthy crap that plagues her shows.
It's not scary, it's not funny it's cringeworthy and it's all been done before. Better.
Not surprised to see it was written by Sharon Horgan, who is rubbish at swearing, the dialogue is the usual forced cringeworthy crap that plagues her shows.
It's not scary, it's not funny it's cringeworthy and it's all been done before. Better.
I never read the books so I don't care either way, but this show is crap in every possible way.
Absolutely no redeeming features whatsoever.
It's not even up for debate.
Absolutely no redeeming features whatsoever.
It's not even up for debate.
Sadly, they've taken the most gripping part of new Trek; M'Benga's story, and made a complete mockery of it. The build up takes away any of the emotion they try and squeeze into the end.
Awful episode, mainly for 2 reasons.
1. It is far too early for an episode of this absurd tone. The more fun and silly episodes have always been a welcome pit stop throughout every iteration of Trek (I don't include STD or PIC here). But not 8 epsiodes in for Christ's sake, when the show is finding it's feet. The whole point in these things is seeing the actors/characters play something very different from what they do every week, but that needs to be established first 2. Even if this was a lot further in and we had a far more established crew, the script and dialogue is terrible. It's actually cringeworthy watching this really good cast try and perform with the lines and direction they have been given. There's not a line here that zings or a joke that lands. It's just an awful script.
I can see what they are trying to do here but they have failed miserable because they are just not up to the job.
I don't know why I got my hopes up for SNW having been thru the pain of the other two howling live action new trek shows, the last saving grace here is that at least it is episodic and there is always next week, but this was horrible for all bar about 4 minutes.
Awful episode, mainly for 2 reasons.
1. It is far too early for an episode of this absurd tone. The more fun and silly episodes have always been a welcome pit stop throughout every iteration of Trek (I don't include STD or PIC here). But not 8 epsiodes in for Christ's sake, when the show is finding it's feet. The whole point in these things is seeing the actors/characters play something very different from what they do every week, but that needs to be established first 2. Even if this was a lot further in and we had a far more established crew, the script and dialogue is terrible. It's actually cringeworthy watching this really good cast try and perform with the lines and direction they have been given. There's not a line here that zings or a joke that lands. It's just an awful script.
I can see what they are trying to do here but they have failed miserable because they are just not up to the job.
I don't know why I got my hopes up for SNW having been thru the pain of the other two howling live action new trek shows, the last saving grace here is that at least it is episodic and there is always next week, but this was horrible for all bar about 4 minutes.
I never thought I would see a movie this well made again.
The 2 hours 10 mins flew by and felt more like 90.
Star turns from all of the cast, drama, tension, humour, romance, terrific action, great soundtrack.
The most engaged I've felt watching a blockbuster in I don't know how long. Blown away.
The 2 hours 10 mins flew by and felt more like 90.
Star turns from all of the cast, drama, tension, humour, romance, terrific action, great soundtrack.
The most engaged I've felt watching a blockbuster in I don't know how long. Blown away.
The show started off with an ok first episode, really good 2nd and 3rd episodes, now it's started tailing off badly in the 5th and 6th.
It's becoming really repetitive with not a lot going on.
I think I've got 1 more episode in me and if it doesn't pick up it's time to throw the towel in.
It's becoming really repetitive with not a lot going on.
I think I've got 1 more episode in me and if it doesn't pick up it's time to throw the towel in.
This place will never cease to amaze me.
Stunningly stylish movie full of big personalities, an amazing soundtrack, and gorgeously filmed scenes.
Movie stars in full effect - oh how I've missed them.
Stunningly stylish movie full of big personalities, an amazing soundtrack, and gorgeously filmed scenes.
Movie stars in full effect - oh how I've missed them.
It's the best episode of SNW yet and therefore the best episode of Star Trek in around 13 years, whenever Enterprise stopped airing.
This is also the first time it has properly felt like I've watched a new episode of Trek in that time.
SNW has shown some signs of promise but for me this is the episode that it all came together and the cast/crew really clicked in my head (although again, the potential has been there). The guest actors were all great, including the kids.
Genuinely brilliant with a great mystery and tense A plot.
We get some Pike centric story, a bit more development on Ulhura and Doctor M'Benga's storyline which is picked up from a previous episode is heartbreaking, and the sense of living with hope is overwhelming, without the manipulation and tears of Discovery.
I was glued to this episode from about 5 mins in until the very end and my stomach had butterflies as it all unfolded.
This has made me very happy and I can't wait to see what we get next week.
Thank you, for finally getting it right.
This is also the first time it has properly felt like I've watched a new episode of Trek in that time.
SNW has shown some signs of promise but for me this is the episode that it all came together and the cast/crew really clicked in my head (although again, the potential has been there). The guest actors were all great, including the kids.
Genuinely brilliant with a great mystery and tense A plot.
We get some Pike centric story, a bit more development on Ulhura and Doctor M'Benga's storyline which is picked up from a previous episode is heartbreaking, and the sense of living with hope is overwhelming, without the manipulation and tears of Discovery.
I was glued to this episode from about 5 mins in until the very end and my stomach had butterflies as it all unfolded.
This has made me very happy and I can't wait to see what we get next week.
Thank you, for finally getting it right.
For fighting for comedy.
Superb and fearless show that I'm certain his fellow comedians will appreciate. Take a bow Ricky. You are no doubt going to get some flack for this one, but it will be worth it.
Superb and fearless show that I'm certain his fellow comedians will appreciate. Take a bow Ricky. You are no doubt going to get some flack for this one, but it will be worth it.
Outstanding in every way: direction, acting, sets, attention to detail, cinematography.
Full of passion and well researched authenticity - such a rarity just now with cinema full of carbon copy mindless superhero crap and soulless, exec driven tick box garbage.
The Northman is an absolute triumph of filmmaking and Robert Eggers best movie to date, I can't wait to see what he does next.
A must watch for genuine movie lovers.
Ignore the negative reviews, they've been written by complete and utter cabbages.
Full of passion and well researched authenticity - such a rarity just now with cinema full of carbon copy mindless superhero crap and soulless, exec driven tick box garbage.
The Northman is an absolute triumph of filmmaking and Robert Eggers best movie to date, I can't wait to see what he does next.
A must watch for genuine movie lovers.
Ignore the negative reviews, they've been written by complete and utter cabbages.