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[Superman and Lois]

Whenever we start a new show, we usually give it at least three episodes before we quit if we're not feeling it. So, although I'm watching this show alone, figured I could give it a review since I just watched the third episode.

Superman and Lois

I'm honestly already head over heels for this show. I never got into any of the superhero TV stuff, I didn't watch Gotham, I never watched any of the other CW shows (Green Arrow, Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, Batwoman), and I haven't watched a single episode of WandaVision, so this isn't simply me being a comic book geek. I'm picky of my live action TV.

That being said, I also have a preference for my Superman (Supermen?) I enjoyed Cavill's performance in the latest Superman movies, even if I didn't care much for that Superman's characterization (nor much of the movie around him in at least 2 of his latest showings).

Superman and Lois' Superman/Clark Kent is played by Tyler Hoechlin, reprising the role he played in CW's Supergirl (and the "Arrowverse" in general). I don't know much about the CW DC-verse, except they had some multiverse shenanigans which are supposedly all settled, but may be playing into the plot of this show.

The first two episodes work as a sort of two-parter, with the initial pilot running longer than a normal episode. The pilot begins with the usual recap that rushes through what we already know: Krypton, baby rocket, Jonathan and Martha, Superman, Lois. Then it keeps going, and now we see in addition to the usual (Daily Planet, Metropolis), Lois and Supes also have two teenage boys this time around.

The show plays as a family show, for sure, and I like that about it. This is back to the big blue boy scout, aw-shucks type Superman, but takes him out of his element by giving him this family to care for in addition to the entire world (live action-wise. In the comics, Superboy's been around as well as other Kent-Lane kids I think, and of course Superman Returns broached this subject a bit, but nowhere near as in depth as this show).

The main premise is simple: After returning to Smallville for a brief period, Lois and Clark decide to move back to get their kids out of the big city for more family time, and so Clark can give back to a community he sees as having raised him. Naturally, this doesn't solve everything, because he's still Superman and has to spend time away, and meanwhile a Jeff Bezos type, Morgan Edge, is eyeing Smallville for his next big project (bring jobs to the town type of thing), despite the last town he bought out failing to achieve anything he promised which sets Lois Lane on her own investigative journey. Things become even more complicated when Superman is attacked by a mysterious, powerful figure who seems to know who he is, where he's from and his entire history. Naturally, all we know about him is that he goes by the name "Captain Luthor," but it's not QUITE what you think.

Being on the CW, I was expecting something not particularly great, as I'm pretty much only familiar with Riverdale from the CW (and Sabrina, which was Netflix show, but made by the same people). Superman and Lois is NOT that. The two teenage boys are actually pretty realistic, rather than just angsty teenage stereotypes (I wouldn't even refer to Jonathan as an angsty teenager, which is great!), and the show really solves the Superman problem by grounding it in Smallville with the attention being how he goes about raising these kids and working on his marriage with Lois, while also still trying to be the world's hero.



Lot of great stuff in these first three episodes. The Captain Luthor bit takes up time in the first two episodes, and I found the payoff there (so far) to be really satisfying. I'm enjoying Lois having her own sort of villain in Morgan Edge, and the boys high school storyline is actually keeping me interested (it never gets super melodramatic, or feels inauthentic to the highschool/teenager experience, like a Riverdale, and also leads to a pretty amazing football montage in the third episode). I'm excited to see where this goes, but have been very happy with the first three episodes so far. Apparently the pilot was one of CW's most watched ever and it's also their most streamed show already (which seems surprising given that Supernatural is one of theirs....)


Anyways, if you haven't checked it out yet, like your goofy Clark Kent type Superman, I'd highly recommend it.

https://www.bizbuysell.com/Business-Opportunity/hi-way-drive-in-movie-theater-in-upstate-ny/1814375


I've got 5,000, who's putting up the other 870,000 with me? Guys? Anyone?

I went from "I don't need Mario All-Stars, I've played Mario 64 enough in my life" to "I'm getting all 120 of these fricking stars at least once on my life" pretty quick, but it was worth it. On to Sunshine next I guess.

[Search Party Seasons 2-4]

Search Party Seasons 2-4

So just to see this thing through and get some quick thoughts out, we finished up the rest of the series a bit ago. Seasons 2 and 3 are pretty much in sync with season 1, as the events of that season lead into and inform the events of those two seasons. All-in-all, I was very happy with them, season 2 probably being the highlight for me (and probably the darkest season of all four).

Season 3 was a bit of a genre change and provided some delightful moments (Elliott's lawyer, as played by Chelsea Peretti) and down moments (as Crewe pointed out in the spoilers above, there are mirrored scenes early in season 3 with Dory and Portia, and the Portia part is just so heartbreaking to watch).

Season 4's probably the biggest break, with a pretty out-there concept (that takes from multiple Stephen King stories, but mainly Misery) and the group split up. I think I liked this season the least out of all four, as it seems the most disconnected from what we've seen so far, which isn't a bad thing, just an adjustment. That being said, the ending isn't quite as ambiguous as I had been lead to believe. It's very reminiscent of the penultimate episode of

Spoiler

Bojack Horseman

, so I don't think the continuity is destroyed, but I imagine it'll have a large effect on the character involved.

Regardless, a very good show, highly worth a recommendation. At 10 episodes a season, about 22-23 minutes per episode, it's a pretty quick watch (especially during quarantine), but very rewarding.

Grateful for your safety, and glad your family's doing well, one burst pipe aside.

Soooooo....how's it going, Crewe?

[Search Party]

Search Party

You know how you say to yourself, these characters are awful, when watching a mob movie or the like?
In Search Party, these people are awful! I mean, vapid, shallow, selfish vile creatures.
This is among the newer genre of today, cringe comedy if you will, and it is every bit just that, cringe.
When I think satire in tvland, I think All in the Family featuring an over the top character that is meant to house feelings and views of many viewers, however, there is a grounded reality and believability because that's how he reaches the audience.
These fuckers? Sheesh.
It is so absurd that...well, wait a sec, I was going to say that noone would act like these guys but based on the last couple of years, I guess I have to take that back.
However, that doesn't diminish the outlandish nature possessed by this gaggle of friends.
So, Dory (Alia Shawkat) muddles through her lost rudderless existence with no purpose. In a sexless or at the very least, odd, sexual relationship with Drew (John Reynolds) she pours herself in to her routines and one day she sees a "Missing" poster of a college acquaintance which grabs her in an unsettling way. Barely knowing her, Dory is drawn i to try to find out where Chantal (Clare McNulty) has disappeared to, and why.
Her immediate group of Drew, Portia (Meredith Hagner) and Elliott (John Early) are dismissive of the entire situation, but they endure Dory because why not?
Portia is an actress who is narcissistic and saturated with selfishness to an alarming degree and is by far one of the most shallow characters you might ever venture across. Meanwhile, Elliott, who shares an apartment with Portia (btw, how do these guys get such nice digs in NYC while being bums?) is gay, outlandish, full of himself and quite outspoken. He will go wherever the winds take him. Whatever gets him the most adoration, he's down.
Dory continues her quest as it gives her purpose but in doing so, she alienates herself from Chantal's family because of what she thinks she knows.
Her friends however, begin to invest in the fun. they take this on more as a parlor game rather than an actual real life situation,which is certainly on par for them.
Search Party is 4 seasons, thus far. I dont know anything about it, if this is the end, if there's more or what. I didnt know anything about when I found it, and still don't. I noticed it was highly rated on RT and I wanted something to watch that was interesting.
This, wasnt interesting.
That isn't to say it isn't fun to watch or that it cant be addicting, because it is and it can be.
Each season is a distinct part of the story. I know, you say, well, duh. But, I cant really divulge anything here, but let's do it this way...not a lot of time passes during each season and not a lot, if any, passes between seasons.

During the run, there are indeed some good story arcs that show thought and reason, but then, the very next step, we are in Wile E. Coyote land with such a preposterous scenario, it just leaves you gaping at the screen with your mouth open.
At some point the show tries to take itself really serious and it just detaches everything, like really? Now? Youre going to pull this shit now?
It's absolute mayhem as far as continuity and logic are concerned. But, I guess since it's really cringe, they don't care. Maybe that is supposed to be the viewers leap of faith, or suspension of disbelief.
Beyond that, the characters are rich and vibrant and full of vigor and all of them have some really laugh out loud moments at some points.
There is a coherence to the long term arc and you do have to watch all four seasons to get there. I deeply suspect there's more to come based on the ending of S4.
This show involves, comedy (dark, cringe) mystery thriller and shades of horror even.
You absolutely cannot take any aspect of this show seriously on any level and if you go in knowing that, you will have a good time.

Ill have to spoiler these, but know that there are some salient scenes worthy of appraisal IMO

Spoiler

After Dory is arrested, she is confronted in the interrogation room and she refuses to fall for the threats and repeats multiple times, lawyer. I just shouted YES! Thank you Jeebus! Finally!
And to balance that, later we see Portia interrogated who does the same thing initially, but it so stylishly and effortlessly shows how her weak character and a cunning officer can manipulate the situation and the witness. Then later, she is used at trial against her friends.
I just thought this was a perfect technique to demonstrate just how those situations can and usually do unfold.

I loved that Drew was a half a step away from getting away clean early on

The cop who accidentally murders the FBI informant shows how corruption and self preservation by those in power can lead to innocents in jail.

Give it a look. At only 23 minutes an episode, you can blow through this thing in no time.

Search Party (Season 1)

So, I'd been reading about the show since it's debut on TBS or so, and had read really good things although often saw it referred to as "very millenial" or, in one review, literally "painfully millenial," so I knew I was in for....something.

And, dear lord, it IS painfully millenial, I really wasn't prepared for just HOW cringe it gets. But I love cringe! And I love ANXIETY. So I wasn't the test subject for this, my fiancee was.

She HATES Curb Your Enthusiasm. She HATED Uncut Gems (fully for the non-stop anxiety-inducing antics of Howard). So, I wasn't sure how this was going to play for her.

She absolutely loves this show. It IS a ridiculous show for sure, and if you're the kind of person to go "No one would behave like that" or "There's no way you could get away with this," it may not be the show for you. Search Party is much more about tone (and, dear god, what a BIZARRE tone it is. There's a scene played 100% seriously at the end of the first season, with at least four characters crying, with the camera spinning around them, but in the context of everything it's just the most ridiculous, insincere moment for at least one of them).

The amount of times in the first season alone where we'd either just be mouth agape, or doing the hide your face "oh god no why are they doing that" type of deal (Drew's hallway "argument" with his neighbor was a particularly uncomfortable moment, but those just keep on coming in this show) was absurd, but that's just kind of the show it is.




I know bits and pieces about the seasons. I know season 3 is a legal drama, season 4 is a kidnapper bit (although, I know what you're referencing regarding continuity and logic Crewe, and I'm curious to see how that'll play for me when I see it/how it'll lead into Season 5, considering the show was just renewed). We're 2 episodes into Season 2 and I'm getting Twin Peaks vibes (season 2 is the season I know the least about), but enjoying it so far.

https://screencrush.com/gina-carano-the-mandalorian-fired/


And that's a wrap on this thread.

https://twitter.com/MarienneMaid/status/1359561948539482112?s=20


It's like she doesn't know when to stop.

[All that said, I feared TB defense was going to be out to shut down KC.]

I was really indifferent to him starting out this year and was kind of interested to see what would happen in TB, but the AB sitch and the PPP loan shit tossed him back down to the lower levels. Fuck him and his greatness. I had more, but this is a football thread so...

Allow me to be whiny complainer here. Yes, the referees.
And you can tell me that it wouldnt have mattered either way but there's no way for you to know that.
Those penalties were at crucial points in the game where it was no where near over. It wasnt even half time yet.
So yea, GTFO with that shit.
I dont care who you are, those were terrible, terrible calls.
Would TB have won anyway? In all likelihood, probably. Still.
These refs HAVE to have some accountability for crying out loud.
Is uncatchable pass still a thing? Because neither of those were catchable btw.

All that said, I feared TB defense was going to be out to shut down KC. I thought they would be able to overcome with all of their weapons, but it wasnt to be.
Andy Reid didnt call a great game either. I wonder if his attempted manslaughtering shit head of a kid was messing with his head all game?

First off: I took no joy in this Super Bowl. Not that I root for Tampa anymore anyways, but still, this feels less like a Tampa Bay win and more like another win for Brady, and nothing more. And man, I can't stand that guy.

But yeah, I think ON-THE-FIELD (qualifier alert), it's pretty clear Brady's the best to play the game, at the very least at the QB position. But man, the dude seems to motivate teammates too (although, a lot of clout comes with the first 6 SB wins which helps with that, I imagine).

But mostly, Tampa just seemed prepared for everything KC threw at them. A lot has been made of KC's O-Line deficiencies with only one week 1 starter playing, I also wonder how much the situation with Andy Reid's kid (Chiefs OLB coach Britt Reid, who is Andy Reid's son, had a DUI incident days prior to the game which resulted in a child being in critical condition) affected this game too, especially given KC's inability to adapt and continuously calling plays with long dropbacks despite the onslaught Mahomes was under.

What a boring game. It's the Super Bowl this season deserved, I suppose. Really makes the already horrid decision to play the season during the pandemic seem even LESS necessary than it already did.

Oh, and fuck Antonio Brown. Doesn't deserve to be on any team, much less a SB winner. I know Super Bowl week is always fluff questions from the media, but the "how'd you turn it around" redemption arc questions were vomit inducing.

Microtransactions haven't been too bad in Madden, although I don't play that Madden Ultimate Team mode (and I don't see how you could do an NCAA Ultimate Team without likenesses), so hopefully it shouldn't be bad. Let's just hope Dynasty has all the features (and more?) that it used to have. Theyve got plenty of time to work on it.

Yeah, no talk of a release but sounds like definitely not this year. Still, looking forward to it. At least I cant get screwed by the BCS anymore.

Yeah, I think you're right about that being a composite. I'd love to watch that one for the performances and cast alone, haven't gotten around to it yet though.

[Search Party]

Search Party

This brings up two very quick, funny (maybe just to me?) stories:

1) We just finished watching Community, and I brought up Search Party as a potential next watch (still want to, I've heard great things, although I can see where it'd definitely be cringe content). Fiancee hits me with "Big Sky" instead, some ABC cop show that she says her friends like. We made it through three episodes before we gave up, however, this was my FIRST "filmed during the pandemic" show, as it was only partly through the first episode when the sheriff, talking about a bar, said "the owner's going to sell it to me, whenever the pandemic's over," and suddenly I realized there hadn't been more than 3 people in a scene together in this show, NO extras, and everyone's staying fairly apart from each other. In addition to just not being our cup of tea, it was just WEIRD.

2) So, instead we started Snowpiercer, another choice of the fiancee's (which led to us watching the movie first, per The Movies Thread). That being said, while the BASIC premise of the show is the same, the beginning is a bit different: Daveed Diggs, playing the Chris Evans character, is pulled from the back of the train because he used to be a homicide detective, and there's been a murder in the forward cars.

Yup, Snowpiercer is ALSO a cop show. Or is it? We haven't finished the first season, there was just a bit of a twist in the story, so we'll see if the cop shenanigans continue or if a train revolt goes underway (I suspect the latter will still happen, or at least a friendly combining of forces, perhaps, given that there's a season 2. I dunno). May come back to rate this one later, but I'm looking ahead to Search Party already.

[Snowpiercer (2013)]

I'm bored and work is slow, lets do this:

Today, I bring you, stories from three separate movie ventures I've engaged upon recently (there's a reason I'm doing this intro, it's not a great bit). Lets begin with Snowpiercer.

Snowpiercer (2013)

A movie that's been on my "To See" list since...well, 2013. Out of nowhere, my fiancee says to me the other night, "I want to watch that Snowpiercer TV show." I said then we have to watch the movie first, and 8 years later than I'd originally meant to, I've finally done it.

If you don't know the story, the simple and quick premise is: in the battle against climate change, mankind screws up extraordinarily when they launch...tech...into the sky to...end?...climate change. Look, the intent or how it was supposed to work doesn't matter, because they BACKFIRE, and the world descends into a tremendous ice age, killing all of humanity except for the inhabitants of Snowpiercer.

Snowpiercer is a big train, on a track that circles the globe (presumably around the equator? Trajectory is never made clear), that rich folks hid away on as they were protected from the elements, however the tail cars were taken over by the "rabble," if you will. Yup, much like Parasite, Snowpiercer is about capitalism, class and, well, climate change. Thanks, Bong Joon-Ho!

To continue would be the beginning of spoilers, so suffice to say, the movie absolutely lives up to the hype. Chris Evans has a great performance, Tilda Swinton is here being really weird, and I enjoyed Kang-ho Song as Namgoong Minsoo (Kang-ho having played the father in Parasite, which, again, if you have not seen, go do it now. It's free on Hulu.) The direction is fantastic, confirming that yes, Bong-Joon Ho CAN film an action scene. Also, Jamie Bell is here, just a FEW years before he'd be made irrelevant by the existence of Tom Holland.

Anyways, Snowpiercer. Go check it out, it's on Netflix right now.

4 Stars




A good movie that was, and what a fantastic recap to share with all of you. That's not all I have though, for I ALSO bring you (here, the bit "pays off"):

News of the World (2020)

No, I did not subject myself to the innards of a movie house, HOWEVER, I did subject myself to the outtards of a drive-in theater! Yes, one of those words in the previous sentence was NOT a word. Lets get to it.

News of the World follows Tom Hank's character, Captain Jefferson Kidd, as he (repeatedly tells people) "travels town-to-town" with news of the world. I didn't have much of a care to see this, I'd heard some mixed reviews, but it was in a double feature with another film I DID want to see, and it was cheaper to see both at the drive-in than just rent one on Prime. I say this to note I DID very much enjoy the film. I can't say for sure if it'll bait the Oscars like it's clearly attempting to do, since I haven't seen nearly enough 2020 films to say, but I'm sure it'll contend.

The "twist" of the film is that, while travelling, Hanks happens upon a young girl, played expertly by Helena Zengel. The girl was being delivered to distant family, as her parents and home were killed by native americans, and now those same native americans are dead, leaving her in her current situation. The problem is, her escort has clearly been murdered, and now she's alone, with Hanks being the only one around. And she's NOT quite civilized.

The movie, as you may have read, has many parallels to the modern world, opening with Kidd reading from a newspaper about a measles outbreak, as he travels a country greatly divided following the Civil War, as they try to figure out how to unite with their former enemies under one flag. Unfortunately (or not, depending on how exhausted you are after the last four years), I don't think it quite delved as far into that well as it could, as the movie came alive more in those moments of him reading and delivering the news (sometimes to hostile crowds), than I felt it did during some lengthy chase sequences that seemed to fill time more than fill the story (although, I suppose we can file those under "gaining a younling's trust").

Regardless, if you're a fan of Hanks, feel like renting a new release or travelling out (to a drive-in) for it, or just want to know it's worth waiting for when it comes to the $1 Redbox months later, the answer, simply is yes.

3.5 stars



Promising Young Woman (2020)

Wow, this movie. The basic premise is simple: Cassie and Nina are best friends, who go to med school together. Nina is raped, and later drops out (Cassie does too), and commits suicide. The man who raped her, graduates #1 in their med school, goes on to have a nice life with no consequences.

But this isn't just some revenge story, that'd be TOO simple. Promising Young Woman, written and directed by Emerald Fennell (who showran the second season of Killing Eve, and wrote for Fleabag, I believe, with Phoebe-Waller Bridger) takes a keen eye on everyone who failed that night (including, to some extent, Cassie herself, as she blames herself for not being at the party where events occurred).

Cassie, now 30 and working the same job at a coffee house, goes out most nights, pretending to act incredibly drunk and allowing men to take her to their place, "to make sure she's ok." Naturally, these men are up to no good, but when Cassie shows she's not drunk at all and is 100% cognitively aware, they all immediately distress and start telling her how they're all "nice guys."

The movie may lose you here, because clearly, Cassie puts herself in a position to be taken advantage of by someone with predatory intentions, but that's not who the movie wants to focus on. Predators know they're predators, the movie targets those who don't realize they're the bad guy. To say more would be to spoil some of the movie's great moments (including a Spiderman 2 actor who does such a fantastic job with his limited time on-screen), but it's not just "man bad, hate men," and instead focuses on "rape culture" as a whole, who aids and abets it, and who the real culpable ones are.

One last thing: the movies' use of Bo Burnham is so effective. I love him as a stand-up, but after he wrote and directed Eighth Grade, and seeing him in this starring role, I'm excited for any project he has next. Incredible talent.

3.5 stars




As usual, I'll note I track my movies at my profile on Letterboxd, right here: https://letterboxd.com/bucfever/

Have my best of 2020 list (it's a small list), my unranked, "Every Movie I've Watched During Quarantine" list, and the simplest of reviews for each movie I watched: Is It Worth It? Often it's a yes. Sometimes there's a no. Riveting stuff.