I didn’t get around to too much TV, or a Quality Check, because I ventured to see Captain America: Brave New World, which took up more of my day. More on that later. So, this will seem quiet for a Sunday.
TV Shows Watched: Vietnam: the War That Changed America: S1E3 (Apple Plus) with audio description, From: S1E7 (MGM Plus) with audio description,School Spirits: S2E3 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Wags to Riches: S1E5 (Netflix) with audio description, invincible- S3E1 (Amazon) with audio description, and Have I Got News For You: S2E1 (MAX) no audio description. I also watched a little of the SNL 50 red carpet, but was too tired to watch the actual event. It’ll be on Peacock at some point.
Best Episode: From- Not even close. We finally saw what happened when lonely boy gave in to his fake romantic interest that couldn’t come inside. Honestly, I would have been more surprised to find out they could restrain themselves from killing immediately.lots of really minor character deaths, but at least two characters of consequence bit the dust.
Runner Up: Vietnam: The war That Changed America- In this episode, the focus was mostly on black soldiers, reminding us what they were fighting for back home, while also being sent off to Vietnam. It centered a lot on a soldier who ended up being pulled from the fight to compete in the Olympics as part of a goodwill tour. Considering our current Government is gutting Veteran’s Affairs, has a DOD secretary that came from hosting a weekend talk show, and a president who took a deferral from bone spurs that seemingly don’t effect his golf game, it is nice to remember a time when America actually supported the troops. Even the black ones. Now, as we run from the word “diversity”, it makes me wonder if this story… today… would make anyone care, or elicit the opposite reaction?
Best Performance: Shaun Majumder (From)- when he started into that story, and he was getting Boyd ready for something, and he started talking about this sweet, young, innocent boy… I realized I’ve been completely programmed for my mind to go “oh no” and think we were headed in that direction. For the bulk of this, until he reveals otherwise, I thought he might be a Priest who inspired the movie Spotlight. But, no. Instead, it goes a different path. The fact that Shaun walked such a narrow line, as honestly as possible, made him the easy choice for today.
Runner Up: The Regulars And Guests (Have I Got News For You)- A welcome and swift return for CNN’s foray into delivering comedy and news at the same time. I do enjoy the regulars, but guests Andy Richter and George Conway (Yes, THAT George Conway) made for some fun responses. It is so crazy to see someone like George Conway, a lifelong conservative republican, and driving force behind The Lincoln Project be so welcoming to the idea of poking fun at the current administration.
Best Audio Description- From- I feel like this episode was the first time I had pause with the description. There’s a character whose throat gets cut toward the end, and I missed how that happened. You hear a voice call out “Hey, You Guys Need Help?”, but that voice felt so far away. I don’t know where he got hit from. But, so many other moments were well done, even if I knew the minute the yellow sweater became a thing exactly what they’d be doing with it. For one of the smartest shows I’m watching, that was painfully obvious.
Runner Up: Vietnam The War That Changed America- For a docuseries, that has to work around talking heads and Ethan Hawke, we get a surprising amount of description.
Best Moment Of Audio description: Lonely Boy Kisses The Girl (From)- I mean, again, I’d have been more surprised if the girl had shown restraint, but we all knew what was going to happen. At least he got his kiss? technically?
Runner Up: She Wore A Yellow Sweater (From)- yes, both moments are from From. Say that ten times fast. Like you are starting up a car. But, as soon as this sweater became a thing for Fatima, and she gave it to Trudy, and i knew was lonely boy was doing, I knew where it was headed. the audio description did a good job of what the point of all of this was, which was Ellis’s reaction.
Worst Of…- Nothing too bad, though I’d love for Have I got News For You to get audio description, but the aforementioned throat slit was unclear for me in From, and I laughed when I heard “weekender bag” in school Spirits. it isn’t that I don’t know the word, but… does your target demo? This is a show about kids in high school, and the target demo is mostly going to be young people. Don’t use me as a gauge for everything. I’m watching everything from Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man to The Kardashians to From. I’m all over the map. But, unless the kids that use “Riz” are bringing back “weekender”, I think I would have gone with “duffel bag”. Or just “small suitcase”.
