Five things, four times per week. That's a solid 20 shares per week. And Venti=20, so after three years of doing this thang called Ventipop, at least the name finally makes some sense. Please, enjoy and share. And yes, you're still a bastard.
The past week was all about Game of Thrones (Night King turned out to be sort of a puss) and Avengers: Endgame ( i bet it's not). But it turns out, while I really enjoyed both of those viewing experiences, neither of them were the best most shocking or entertaining thing I watched on a screen this week. That honor belongs to the latest episode of Barry. Holy bonkers! Somebody go ahead and give actor, writer and director of the episode Bill Hader a trophy case full of Emmys now. Here are the five best things I've watched this week.
1. Barry :: "Ronny/Lily"
I tell you what. It's been a long time since I watched something and I just sort of sat there in a delirious state of shock the entire time wondering what the hell was going on. I love it when shows take a chance and just sort of say, "WTF...we're doing this." And I have to think that's exactly what Bill Hader and the Barry crew had to be thinking the entire time they were having a ball making this off the wall (literally) episode of instant classic tv. Sorry, it's not tv, it's HBO.
2. Avengers: Endgame
Avengers: Endgame broke every major box office record this past weekend. It was great. Kudos to Marvel for interweaving and building a storyline over 22 movies. At the other end of the successful movie spectrum, there's Zyzzyx Road which is considered to be the biggest box office flop in movie history. In 2006, this $2 million dollar movie grossed $30. After watching the trailer, I'm sort of shocked it made that much:
3. Game of Thrones :: "The Long Night"
Yes it was dark. Yes none of the major characters shockingly died. Yes I was a bit tired out by all the fighting and the absurdity of characters somehow surviving against horde after horde of never tiring dead things attacking them. But damned if I wasn't entertained by one, if not THE, most elaborate and expensive episodes of tv of all-time. Anyone bitching about this Game of Thones episode clearly doesn't see how extremely spoiled they have become living in this era of peak tv. While I was saddened the Night King was so "easily"defeated, I was also pumping my fist and screaming, "Yes!" when the knife went in.
4. Bosch :: Season 5
So-Called prestige tv is certainly at its apex, but there's still something to be said for straight-up, straight-forward narrative story-telling. Amazon Prime's series Bosch is the best at it. It's old-school, one clue at a time, character-driven police work. There aren't any twists or supernatural shockers. Just a great fun show every season. Like visiting old friends once a year every year.
5. Ramy :: Season One
Hulu's newest series Ramy is so far hit or miss with me. The episodes I've enjoyed. I've really enjoyed. The episodes I haven't. I really haven't. I'll give it a chance because the high points are so high.
