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Superhero TV Series: My All-Time Favorites
The character doesn't have to be a hero or necessarily one of the "good guys" - which is why enhanced is more appropriate. Actual superheros are included - whether they are enhanced or not.
Shows listed randomly except that I listed ongoing active series on top.
Comedies & Light Dramas: All-Time Favorite TV Series
If a light drama or comedy also falls under the Sci-fi, Superhero or Horror genres... they are on those lists and not listed here. This is to keep duplicates among my various lists to a bare minimum.
All active, ongoing series (if any) listed on top - otherwise in no particular order.
Drama & Action TV Shows: My Favorites
I tried very hard to not include anything that fell into my core genres (Superhero, Sci-fi, horror) since they have their own carefully curated lists. So there might be dramas and action shows that clearly belong here but I left them off this list to keep duplicates to near zero.
Ongoing, active series listed first.
Horror: Apocalypse to Zombies: My Favorite TV Series
Apocalypse, Monsters, Vampires, Dystopia, Zombies and even dread/despair if a primary element of a series.
As always, active (ongoing) series listed on top. Otherwise, shows listed in random order.
Sports & Competitions: My All-Time Fav Movies & TV
Shows/Films listed randomly except that I place active ongoing TV series (if any), recent films and upcoming (watchlisted) items on top.
Time Loops: TV & Films: Ranked (plus extras)
Section 1: The Top 18 Time Loop Films/TV shows of All-Time. Ranked in order: All are recommended viewing. These Films and TV Shows define the Time Loop Genre.
Section 2: Watched. Not Ranked - Suggestions are: (1) Recommended (2) Partial Recommend (3) Not Recommended
Section 3: Watchlisted items: In the queue to see at a later time.
Parallel Universes & Alternate Reality: TV & Films
Second section: 8 entries: Watchlist items.
Third section: 4 entries: Watched: Partial recommendation.
2024-2025 TV Series Watchlist: Superhero, Sci-fi & Horror
I'll make sure to use spoiler tags if I think I'm giving anything away.
Once I see a series, I'll delete from this list (in time). They may end up on one of my favorites list.
Sci-Fi TV (see description): My Favorites
2. No Sci-fi about Parallel Universes and/or Alternate Reality. I have a dedicated list and want to keep duplicates to a minimum.
3. No Sci-fi about Time Loops. I have a dedicated list for this too. (Time Travel - which is different from Time Loops - is included on this list)
Shows listed randomly except I placed ongoing/active shows on top.
Reviews
Before I Fall (2017)
Time enough to see our true selves
Originally I did not like the core concept. The Universe is essentially saying: "We don't like the person you are. Be better".
I think we can all be terrible people. Sometimes, we can be terrible for a day. Often, it is much longer than that. This film takes an honest look at a character's shortcomings.
Shortcomings we all have and that when faced with them... we reject the truth of it. We simply do not see that the behavior we engaged in was terrible at the time. Even worse... we may even justify that behavior.
The film was not afraid to expose its main character to the many negative flaws a person must sometimes work their way through. It continued to display these flaws through most of the film making the character very difficult to like.
This was done to drive home a singular point. That she (and by extension the viewing audience) deserves an opportunity to really see the ill we have caused others in life. In so doing, we see our true selves; all of the pieces - the good and the bad.
Perhaps then, we can repent. Given enough time (loops)... we might even be able to forgive ourselves.
Jury Duty (2023)
As real as wrestling and The Blair Witch Project
Everyone is an actor except for that one guy (who also happens to be an actor).
How did they turn up this supposedly non-actor. He is the difference between a great show and a total bomb. There is no in-between with a show like this and it all hinges on the "non-actor". The producers went through great pains to find this guy.
I have very strong doubts that he isn't an actor. He's too good at not looking at the camera even when the so-called action is on the other actors and far away from him. This guy will never, ever look at a camera directly - at any time. The real actors all behave exactly the same way (though even they can't resists a peek but not this "non-actor"). You and I would never behave this way. Ever.
The other actors are also too good at not flubbing their lines - which means multiple takes. It's impossible to say as much as these guys are saying and not flub many lines. All the moving parts and interactions... mean multiple takes, multiple angles. There's no way around this. No way. The "non-actor" is a part of the multiple takes.
Everyone is mic'ed. Yet this guy speaks with zero concern - as if he's in his living room speaking to buddies. He is diplomatic when he needs to be or embroiled in awkward situations - all of this he takes in stride.
Remember... there are multiple cameras, there's harsh lighting, there's a crew of people filming (running around), there's a director, there's makeup, there's a ton of activity - not - related to the actual (fake) court case and he's completely unfazed by any of it. This is years of practice.
How about all the times the camera (crew) happens to be in the right place at the right time to capture a secretive moment. This rarely even happens in real life - at least not to the degree in which intimate moments are captured here. Too funny if anyone believes this is real.
The show even dares to pretend it's real. It utterly fails when the other actors pretend to have their own lives and interact with each other away from the non-actor. This isn't being sold as 'The Office', version 2.0. This is suppose to be a reality show so Jeannie Abruzzo's interest in Noah Price, for example, and their possible relationship holds little interest if it happens away from the "non-actor". Or an actor talking about the *fake* case like it was real (away from the eyes/ears of the non-actor). We're here to see the "non-actor" because we were told everything else is 100% fake.
This show is highly rated because too many just want to believe. They are even forgetting these are actors faking a story and are getting lost in the story as if it was real.
Focus on some of the points above and you'll see this is obviously fake - like most of the reality shows & courtroom dramas that have aired before this.
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman: Ultra Woman (1995)
Epitomizes the relationship between Lois & Clark
This is such a great episode. It isn't just about Ultra Woman... it somehow finds a way to delve deeply into the personas of both Lois & Clark.
For a few episodes preceding this, Lois was beginning to grate on me. She was becoming increasingly superficial. Lois was just about the story or just about her feelings or at a critical juncture in her relationship with Clark - she would allow someone else to woe her.
This episode gives Lois a kind of ultimate power. The way she responded to this gift showed us the kind of person she really was and the reason Clark/Superman loves her so deeply.
The episode also shows us why Clark is such a unique and humble individual. The way he manages the loss of his powers, his relationship with his parents... with Lois.
I also couldn't help but feel that if this episode was done in the modern era (it's 2023 as I write this), the makers would have found a way to stretch this single episode into 7 or 13 episodes because they can't seem to get beyond a single idea per season these days.
Jiu Jitsu (2020)
Better than John Wick in every way, worse than Predator.
That's right. I said it. It's got a better plot, much better acting and much, much better fight scenes than John Wick.
Jiu Jitsu is the poor man's version of Predator. It is 'Predator' without the Charisma - except for every single Nick Cage scene. Nick Cage makes this film good.
I'd rate 'Jui Jitsu' a 7. The Nick Cage scenes are each a masterpiece in storytelling and in contrast to the brainless, boring, plotless contrivance that are John Wick films (except for that first one which was a passable viewing).
You make Nick Cage the new John Wick... and that will be a movie I want to see. PS: filled my minimum character quota. Also... not a fan of the John Wick films.
Let the Right One In (2022)
Superb Vampire series with a heart
Bingeable good throughout including a great ending. Loved it. Well-developed characters, real-world serious tone, pacing is excellent, every actor seems to shine in their roles.
Baez and Bichir, in particular, have really delivered and made this adaptation their own.
We see a father protecting his daughter from the monster she is by taking on the cruelty and traumas himself.
The brutality of their existence, the paternal instincts, the predatory behavior and the unconditional love they have for each other. It's such a powerful dynamic - and so wonderfully executed by these two actors - that it's nearly impossible not to be drawn into the father-daughter relationship.
I'm also finding these vampires to be far more human compared to the film versions. This is what makes this series work within the extended episodic format.
You feel for them. You understand that they are victims suffering through something beyond their control. They feel like outcasts in need of real human contact. You see other characters "break bad" for them and understand why.
I wouldn't say this series is a remake of the film versions. I would say that it is inspired by the film versions. This is an important distinction.
Sadly it was not renewed for a season 2. My understanding (as of 15mar2023) is that it is being shopped around. I hope it gets picked up by another network.
Reginald the Vampire (2022)
Great addition to the Vampire genre. Minor acting issues.
Great cast, good story, fun to watch, good (open-ended) closure. My actual rating is a 7.5 but could have easily been a 9 if not for one major failing:
Jacob Batalon does not seem to possess the comedic pacing, at this point in his career, to make this show an easy 8 or 9. He spoke his lines but didn't add any comedic style to his performance and was unable to help elevate this series.
He's the lead in this series. Everyone else can fail to deliver except the lead.
A lot depended on this comedic pacing because without it, the long soliloquies came across like deadpan & deflating whining. To be fair, better writing would have helped. Some (not all) of his lines were just too long and I wanted to say... take a breath - so I can't blame him entirely.
For comparison, Sam Richardson (in virtually everything he does) is a genius at this. The unknown (to me) actor, Adam Brooks (playing the father in Psycho Goreman) had me in stitches - all based on comedic pacing. Kayvan Novak & Harvey Guillén & Mark Proksch (in What We Do in the Shadows) also very good at pacing.
It's very hard to do. Not enough people really pull it off well but when they do... it's a highlight and elevates a series or film.
On the plus side - and the most important point I want to make here - the rest of show was incredibly strong. Batalon wasn't awful (just comedically lacking). As a result, overall... this show was very bingeable, entertaining and immersive.
Yakamoz S-245 (2022)
The entire series needs to be torpedoed.
Warning!!! Major Spoilers!!! Using the spoiler tag to also speak freely and bluntly.
Biggest problem with this series is that the lead characters - The Scientists - are nearly all entitled, self-important, a--h-les. At no point do you ever care or root for them. They seem to exist to make the survival of everyone else as difficult as possible.
I cheered when The Commander said to Defne (and Arman)... "Spain was YOUR choice." (BOOM!). Man, that felt good!
Smile on my face when Cem made his final decision... See ya, Cem! You were a danger to everyone around you.
I liked the Navy guys - all of them. They wanted to survive. They had a plan (of sorts). Imagine you had a plan to survive - for you, family and friends. Suddenly a group of people show up and instantly try and sabotage everything you're trying to do. They risk your family's life daily.
These people want to be treated like royalty while at the same time, threatening the survival of everyone you hold dear. How many more people have to die because of them? That is the perspective here.
I made it through 6 episodes and couldn't quite make it thru the final one. I skipped ahead and saw Arman getting shot. This would have made me happy if it happened much earlier.
Anyway... if there's a season 2 (which I will not watch), they will probably bring back Arman the a--h-le. Thankfully, I won't be there to watch it.
I wasted too much time on something I hoped would be on the same tier as 'Into The Night'.
Star Trek: Prodigy (2021)
Great stories, adventures, Sci-fi, exploration. This is Star Trek.
This review is for the first 10 episodes of season 1 only:
Pleasantly surprised at how good this turned out to be.
I thought the show was trying to appeal to both kids and adults through their choices of characters. The writing style and story-line worked well enough that I found that they succeeded in connecting me with the younger characters in a mostly nostalgic way.
I really liked that it was the older characters, however, that drove the core of each episode. It helped maintain the seriousness of the evolving story.
I'll admit that I have a preference for serious storytelling. The plot for this series definitely leans toward a more adult mindset within a coming of age framework.
The serious overtones, good Sci-fi elements and the way the story is organically growing made a huge difference for me. I'm very happy with the way this series started because Star Trek can be 'hit or miss'. This one hits the bullseye.
I also love the addition of Hologram (Captain) Janeway. Everyone has their favorite captain. Janeway happens to be my favorite post-TOS captain and Kate Mulgrew has delivered on the role once again.
The Fantastic Journey (1977)
Nice parallel story, great Sci-fi, still viewable today
Watched entire series during the first week of Sept/2022.
Loved it! Good stories, serious tone (in a 1970s family drama way). I think it stands the test of time and viewable today. I found it interesting that a few episodes had a Star Trek: TOS feel to them (maybe this was D. C. Fontana's influence).
If you decide to watch and find you enjoyed this, I highly recommend Otherworld (1985). The thematic setting, serious tone and character styles are similar enough... with 'Otherworld' feeling more modern (1977 vs 1985).
Sometimes you watch an older series and think... these guys really seemed to want to produce something good. Today... sometimes it feels like - these guys were in a hurry to make some money and to move on to their next project as quickly as possible.
'The Fantastic Journey' is old school. They were focused on creating the best series they could.
Tip: The entire 10-episode series is available on YouTube for free.
Charlie Jade (2005)
Detailed trip through parallel worlds. Be patient, hidden gem.
1 season / 20 episodes: Series Complete
Watched entire series (miniseries) during Feb/2022 for the first time.
Excellent. Real-world delivery of story (so it moves at slower pace). Great use of flashbacks to fill in background and to remind viewers what happened X episodes back. Terrific character depth and development.
A TV series with complete series-ending closure and can be classified as a miniseries.
I felt the first 8 episodes moved a little too slowly but the characters and story line were interesting enough that I kept coming back. It picked up dramatically at episode 9 - so the last 12 episodes were engaging and made the entire series a great watch.
Alphaverse represents a dark, gloomy, class-structured, dystopian world run by megacorps - lots of advanced tech, lots of surveillance. Betaverse represents our world. Gammaverse is an idyllic world that's close to nature.
Star Trek: The Infinite Vulcan (1973)
A classic trek story
Intelligent plant-based lifeforms, cloning - with some 100 feet tall, eugenics, galaxy conqueror, Spock being Spock no matter what size he is, material that is 600x more dense than lead, plant based giant bats (I think they were bats), plants that move and lay down their own roots and move again, the original crew seeks/finds new life, Scotty at the helm making the tough choices (I always felt he never got enough credit)...
I loved this episode. I'm watching this series for the first time, nearly 50 years later (Nov/2022). This is the Trek I know. It's a time capsule for me. A lesser known series that tries to capture the essence of The Original TV Series in animated form. This episode does a good job of that.
I missed this kind of story-telling. The mystery, the reveals, the pure Sci-fi, the ideas, the thought that goes into building a good story, dialogue that's based on real life/death issues or mysteries you are reacting to.
A lot of today's Sci-fi dialogue are about feelings, discomforts, perceptions.
Some people work best when they are on mission, when they are humanely interacting toward an end goal. Trek was always best when it was about the mission. Even if it never felt that way, they were always on mission. The end goal in this episode's mission? To prevent calamity in the future by healing the present.
House of the Dragon (2022)
Like watching kids play checkers when GoT was Grand Masters at Chess
I am currently on episode 3. This series is associated with 'Games of Throne' because the talentless money-grubbers demanded it. In contrast to most period fantasy dramas of this type - HoD is a very simple & childish tale that wears GoT like a cheap suit.
Also, there's a sub-theme revolving around women not having the same rights as men. Doesn't seem to fit the era and there's no nuance to it. In GoT, these issues were dealt with by having a woman prove herself (Daenerys Targaryen, Cersei Lannister, Arya Stark, Brienne of Tarth, Ygritte, Yara Greyjoy) - virtually all of them.
In House of Dragon, it's a privileged expectation that goes like this... If people don't like me in this male role (and I clearly haven't earned the right), I'll step into the role anyway because I'm special.
It's the typical writing you see from immature writers that are more interested in making a point than making that point through actual story-telling (like in GoT).
It's ugly, there's no nuance and no joy for the viewer. You are simply being preached to.
----------------------
After 2+ episodes, it's mostly about an entitled teenage princess who wants to be Queen. That's it! No layers, no other mainline stories, no other characters.
There is dialogue centering around her soft-bellied Father (The Beta King), her uncle (the weird prince who is either a warrior, a drunk, a dummy or unhinged... portrayed as all four) but it's mostly about a privileged teenage girl. As such... there's an awful amount of pouting, no action and lots of complaining that life is not fair when she imagines she doesn't get her way.
The show is so badly written that nobody does anything worthy, including our heroine. She has done nothing to merit anything accept for mastering the art of pouting.
Frustratingly... the show is written in such a way that we're suppose to feel empathy for her - as this character is the only one that's being fully developed (in a cardboard way). All the others are just simple supporting caricatures.
If you are a teenage girl who wants to be a princess someday, fancies dragons and still believes in unicorns - this series is for you.
If you are the type that's easily impressed with gowns, ancient wardrobes, lots of long white/yellow hair, hairdos in general and castles... but no plot whatsoever: This series is for you too because an actual story is so mundane.
If you are like me - hoping that after 2+ episodes it will turn things around - we are probably wasting our time. I'm going to stick with this a little longer anyway because...
The princess just ran off on a horse. It was the crazy pouting that hinted something was wrong. She was upset that she's suppose to start seeing the world through adult eyes. All she wants to be is queen with no responsibilities. Why can't people understand this! Poor girl...
Oh... did I mention that she's being chased by a knight in shining armor? Her protector. I kid you not. The horror that is her life.
Ok... going back in. Unpausing episode 3 at the 18min, 29sec mark. Wish me ughh!
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final update, 25nov2022: Made it thru 1/3 of episode 5. I'm done. The talentless, money grubbing hacks - like vultures - pecking away at the memory of GoT for easy cash. They win (again), we lose (again).
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: A Quality of Mercy (2022)
Best episode of season 1
Well... after a kinda' mostly lukewarm (safe) season... 'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' finishes off with a bang. If you want to have even more fun with this episode, I suggest (re)watching Balance of Terror (1966) - as this 1966 episode is closely related (I am so primed to do this now).
Corrective Measures (2022)
Superpowers, good performances, decent script
I have watched a few of the more _recent_ Bruce Willis films and they have generally been pretty poor; coupled with generic scripts. This one, in contrast, was good entertainment.
The only subpar performance was from Bruce Willis but we understand why now (re: his medical condition). His role in this film was limited through most of the film but picks up a bit toward the end (with some decent and rewarding writing).
I got pulled into this film for two reasons:
1. Superpowers!
2. A couple of other actors I recognized and whose work I've enjoyed... Michael Rooker (The Walking Dead) and Tom Cavanagh (The Flash). They did not disappoint.
A number of other fairly good performances highlight a fairly decent script.
If I have one major issue, it was with the role of Michael Rooker. His role required him to "sell" the parody aspect of this film. All the other scenes (a few still parody-like), leaned toward more serious story-telling (my preference) and then segued into comical parody during the Rooker scenes (which I did not like).
Overall, this film is probably a 6/6+... but within the superhero genre specifically (when you take _everything_ into account) - it is clear 7. I happen to think it hit more checkmarks than most and rate it an 8 and would certainly watch this again.
Escape from Area 51 (2021)
Fun b-movie fare
This film was tons more fun than I thought it was going to be. Fun, enjoyable script, eye-candy and some actual great lines. No one should take this film too seriously.
Donna D'Errico as Sheera and Chris Browning as Sklarr were magnificent in their roles. These two leads really made this self-parody work. Most of the other actors, didn't pull of great performances but as a whole - the film accomplished what it intended.
It feels like the entire crew had a great time making this film. This positive energy certainly rubs off on the viewers entering with the right expectations. The trailer does a great job of setting these expectations.
Queue this film for when you're in the mood for escapist fun.
Morbius (2022)
Great new character, terrible plot.
I found the Morbius character a compelling new addition to the MCU. The plot, not so much. It wasn't just generic and lifeless... it made no sense.
Morbius makes serum and becomes a vampire. Kills nearly everyone on boat. We're suppose to be fine with this but we never developed hatred for the bad guys because they were never developed in any way.
Now his best friend for life takes serum. He also kills but in his case, his killing is evil. Also, he wants to both force Morbius to accept his new powers and to kill his lifelong friend almost immediately. Why try to kill him?
The rest is predictable storytelling: They fight, Morbius wins, the end.
There were only 3 interesting things to come out of this film: (1) Morbius, (2) Michael Keaton (closing credit scene) and (3) The Bug Guy (?) at the end (the 2nd closing credit scene).
I would see a Morbius part two because I think (I hope) they got the really bad character intro out of the way and the closing credit scenes promise more interesting storylines.
Jigeum uri hakgyoneun (2022)
Great zombie series, deep cast, good script
This is a big budget, large cast, tightly-scripted zombie (near) apocalypse TV series written as a miniseries. I'm saddened to think that there might not be a season 2 since there was complete closure at series end.
Very bingeable, great character depth and development as the series progresses. I had one problem with the series that keeps it from getting a higher rating (it's an 8 rating, a 10 rating for overall entertainment):
There were too many scenes where the core group of students just stood there like deers caught in headlights, while a single member of the group did most of the battling. Also little prep, no weapons.
It happened too often and it wasn't until a second older group of students emerged (senior class, the archers) that appeared more suited to surviving and behaved more like expected. They also understood the importance of arming themselves.
I understand the paralyzing fear and their younger ages (+/- 16 years) being a factor. I understand that this is how any younger group might react (so it was well-written in this regard) but it was still frustrating to see this as an adult.
Side note: This is the fifth South Korean TV series I've watched in the last few months. All (except 1) have been really good TV.
Recommended (in no specific order):
-- Hellbound / JioK
-- Squid Game / Ojing-eo geim
-- All of Us Are Dead / Jigeum Uri Hakgyoneun
-- Sweet Home / Seuwiteuhom
xx The Silent Sea (Failed for me)
On my watch list:
-- Glitch / Geullichi.
Timeless (2016)
Time-travel show done exceptionally well
This series was so much better than I expected. Strong drama, good amount of tension and the power of time travel exceptionally explored.
I also truly enjoyed the depictions of historical figures. I would constantly pause the show to read their wikipedia entries and perform other historical searches. It was both a fun series and informative.
I kinda' wished they went even further back (Jurassic, Neanderthal/Denisovans, etc) but that would have been against the plot of the story.
I'll admit that my favorite character was Garcia Flynn. He took on both the all-powerful shadowy group and the US government without breaking a sweat. His actions (along with the counteractions of the US government group) helped define this series - ie, the constant changes to history and their future ramifications.
I was concerned that this was going to be a humdrum show where the "good guys" always thwarted the "bad guy". Instead, the series allowed history to be (partially) rewritten and even tweaked. This made for fresh viewing.
The show also had me thinking about the fragile-ness of our own existence. How much of a blip on the timeline we all are. This was a constant thought of mine throughout the series.
One moment you could be talking to Harriet Tubman and the next moment... the entirety of her life is long gone (as you jump back to the future). How we might think this is the present but we could easily be the long-forgotten past of someone else.
The Mule (2018)
Engaging story, soft landing
Found the film engaging throughout except it felt a bit empty at the end. I understand the story was centered on Clint Eastwood and his love of horticulture at the expense of his family.
But... there was really good buildup as the DEA was zeroing in on a big bust. Yes, they got a huge haul of drugs. They didn't get any cartel members, they didn't dismantle the network or infrastructure. All they got was a Mule.
A Mule who was essentially oblivious of the cartel operations. His capture saved his life - which was in line with the plot. His final week of freedom was spent with his ex-wife which led to his redemption. At this stage of his life, this was far more important to him.
I thought if the film managed to have the current ending plus damage to the cartel itself in some form, it might have hit an 8 or even 9 rating. It was beautifully written and acted. But the too soft ending felt almost anticlimactic.
His daughter stated at the end, at least they will know where to find him now. His redemption, working with flowers (at the prison), his availability to family... a happy ending and a solid 7-rated film.
Servant (2019)
Basically a drama with spooky music
=== MAJOR SPOILER ALERT ===
Stephen King nearly ruined this series for me but he did get me to watch it. I had to quickly adjust my expectations but this is what he had to say:
"SERVANT, on Apple+: Extremely creepy and totally involving. Two episodes and I'm hooked." (December 5, 2019)
"SERVANT is back on Apple+.
M. Night Shayamalan, spooky as hell, crawls right up your nerve-endings, need I say more?" (January 15, 2021)
He oversold this series by miles. 'Servant' isn't creepy, it doesn't crawl right up your nerve-endings. I just finished the 2nd season and it's essentially a drama:
1. Dorothy is responsible for killing her own newborn. Creates a fantasy while the family enables her.
2. Leanne, a member of a religious cult, manages to become a part of the household (Leanne remembers Dorothy from when she was a child).
3. Religious cult seems spooky but they only appear to harm their own. Lots of ominous music when they make appearances. Also, difficult to leave this cult...
4. Lots of creepy music and insinuation that Leanne might have some kind of dark power (which is also very easily explained by coincidences).
5. Some dumb stuff: Sean (the husband) constantly pulling out large splinters throughout his body (he barely questions this), loses his sense of smell (does not have this checked out), complete loss of feeling from a hand (so he lights it on fire).
In the end, it's a good drama (crazy mother and her family take on a religious cult) in a long, drawn out (but engaging) story with lots of mood music. Good acting, small cast of characters, each episodes is only 30 minutes but feels longer (so they really make this work).
It's pretty good if you go in with the right expectations - ie; a drama dealing with unusual circumstances. It's long and boring if you believe what Stephen King had to say about this.
Dexter: New Blood (2021)
Rage inducing ending. Wish this sequel didn't exist.
I was mostly enjoying this series through the first 9 episodes (with some caveats). It wasn't anywhere near as good as the original but it held my interest. Lots of teen drama and angst from Dexter's son was the biggest annoyance but despite this, the series was moving along pretty well - at around a 7 rating.
Suddenly... the ending. It was like the people involved in this production needed to apologize for the original series. They weren't producing this for fans of the show, for fans of Dexter. They were producing this to somehow makes themselves feel better about something.
Even Dexter's first kill in ten years seemed wrong. The original Dexter went after the vilest, most evil predators. The stomach-turning monsters who were generally still very active. Or anyone that threatened his life or freedom.
This version of Dexter went after a hothead for a crime he committed years before in a moment of anger. His only crime in all the years afterwards was being a complete tool. This was a red flag early on. If that wasn't non-Dexter enough, they had him going after a drug-dealer and later his supplier. It was as if they were chipping away at the old Dexter - creating a new version. Still, I didn't expect these apologists to end one of the greatest anti-heroes (and survivors) ever created in fiction.
Dexter was never about the morality police judging every little infraction. Dexter didn't live in that world. Dexter lived and operated in a hellish, PTSD inducing subworld. Only people like Dexter could navigate it, battle the evil within and remain sane.
I wasted 10 hours on this retooled garbage written by a bunch of apologists for the fainthearted. Now it's canon. No more Dexter. Harrison can go frack himself.
The Room (2019)
Great Sci-fi premise, decent execution
Comment mostly aimed at those who've already watched this film.
I expected at some point for the story to dissolve into predictable horror but it finished off pretty well (even if it got a bit weird at the end with the "son").
Some pros/cons:
I didn't like John Doe being a figment in the outside world. The only way for a figment to survive in the outside world is by killing the person who wished it into existence. Every other aspect to this story had really good Sci-fi except for this pseudo-nonsense. I was glad that it didn't become a major part of the story.
Also didn't like the electrician saying he'd get in touch with an estimate. It was seriously bothering me throughout the entire film. I was afraid he was going to show up and start cutting lines - destroying the 'dream machine' home. We never heard from the electrician again - odd that his scene was even included. Sloppy writing.
Loved that 'The Room' was capable of creating a virtual world. I kept thinking about all the fun things a person can do - limited only by their imagination. Only Shane (the son) seemed to have any real imagination. Why make the husband an artist if he was incapable of any creativity - instantly pulled in by base greed. Everything about him was pedestrian. He did manage some creativity towards the end (during the 'save the wife' scene).
I do wish they would have talked about the 'science' behind the food. You can eat anything but once you step outside... the contents would turn to dust at any point within the body, right? Spending a few minutes on this would have been entertaining (and driven the sci-fi aspect further) but, I guess, they were too focused on trying to create creepiness.
There are a few other annoyances sprinkled throughout the film (husband reacting too strongly at times, the long intro period where they toss money around/house messy/lose all motivation). But in the end, a fairly good story with a strong (and satisfying) ending.
Would love to see a (more tightly written) sequel after that ending (wife pregnant). A sequel can both creepy and fun and with more science (fiction).
The Predator (2018)
Light drama, clever dialogue, reignites franchise
Spoilers because I want to speak freely about some specific things in the film.
Loved the faster moving Predator. All the previous Predators have always moved too slowly (I know, it was the suit) but this movie really addressed the problem.
Did not like, at all, how the military was so quick to want to kill those helping them (Casey Brackett) or lock up those with knowledge of these aliens (Quinn McKenna). This, to me, was the biggest single failure in the film. There was this constant sense of betrayal.
Loved the dialogue and most of the script. I thought it was sharp, clever, well-written.
Still not sure how I feel about the lighter approach taken in this film. The Predator itself often felt like a backdrop to the other characters. It didn't have the menacing presence it should have but it was still a good film to watch.
Also conflicted about the vicious Predator Dog being turned into a harmless puppy thing. I still wanted hard-hitting, tense and dramatic - like the original film.
I did not like the ending. Quinn McKenna working with the same group that tried to lock him up, that tried to kill him. As if nothing had happened. I feel like the only reason they kept him alive was because of his son. McKenna should know this - given how savvy he is.
Nebraska Williams was a great secondary character. Sterling K. Brown as Traeger was phenomenal - switching between good guy and bad guy convincingly (I would have just preferred he was a good guy throughout). Jacob Tremblay as Rory McKenna was great as the autistic genius.
This film turned out to be my second best favorite - after the original. There's a prequel expected summer/2022.
National Champions (2021)
Great drama, poor ending
The entire dramatic presentation was riveting. The acting was superb throughout.
Then it picks up steam and it wasn't just... I have a little bit of dirt on you. Suddenly the lead character is looking at attempted murder charges, attempted murder coverup, a half-brother, a suicide, his best friend's life will be ruined. Really?
Plus all the earlier stuff... drinking problems, bad knee, secret medical records indicating he'll never play pro ball.
The film didn't need most of this. I think the bad knee might have sufficed. I thought both sides made their cases well. I liked that about the film. I understand the complexities of changing the system and that a resolution was impossible within a two hour film. Still... the ending was pure cop-out: a choice that was forced upon him.
You are both enjoying the drama, the acting, the general story and learning about the financials of college football but equally frustrated at a hero weighed down with so many problems that he really could never have led this fight.
Blood Red Sky (2021)
Great film. Adds value to genre.
Spoilers because I just wanted to talk freely about the film:
I liked this vampire mutation. After so many years of human-like vampires, we finally see a version that's more brutal, more animal. I'd say somewhere between a classic vampire and a werewolf in terms of brutality, in terms of how they think. Also loved the overall look. Vampires should be terrifying and they really pulled off the look (and the behavior).
I'm trying to think of similar vampires but all I keep seeing are champagne drinking intellectuals. I'm saying that vampire movies needed a kick in the genre and this movie does just that.
Also loved how the mother was able to control her urges but it wasn't easy. I kinda' hope she survived because the actor portraying her was incredible.
If I have one quibble, it's that all the vampires became too primordially animalistic. This vampire version can be quite formidable if they can maintain human-like thinking. Even the mother seemed to have lost all her humanity at the end.
Loved "30 Days of Night" because it's one of the few vampire movies that I can recall, right now, that really hit the right mix between brutal and intelligent predator.
Great film, terrific use of flashbacks to help connect with the lead character, good character depth for several other characters, drama-driven (so it isn't all about the vampire "hook"). High recommend for 'Blood Red Sky'.