TV Shows Watched: Ransom Canyon: S1E1 (Netflix) with audio description, Yellowjackets: S3E10 (Paramount Plus) with audio description, Will Trent: S3E14 (Hulu) with audio description, the Connors: S6E4 (Hulu) with audio description, Wolf King: s1E6 (Netflix) with audio description
Best Episode: Yellowjackets- While the show has definitely continued its descent into madness in the third season, i thought the finale wrapped up the narrative for the third season rather well. Based on where we are, I’m wondering if Season 4 is the last. This show definitely wouldn’t be able to sustain more than two seasons, at best. But, it was horrifying, and felt like it completed our season long journey, which eliminated a few people past and present.
runner Up: ransom Canyon- I actually enjoyed the pilot to this enough to put it here. the beginning of the episode is a little rushed, and undercooked, but by the end of the pilot I knew what I was watching. This is if Virgin River and Yellowstone had a baby.If the thought of combining the pace and sentimentality of Virgin river, with the setting and character structure of Yellowstone interests you, this is your show. josh Duhamel is anchoring the thing, so it has at least one decent star.
Best Audio description: Yellowjackets- The gory finale had so many little moments that worked. There was a lot to describe.
Runner Up: Wolf King- This animated fantasy series continues to carve a path for it as one of the shows with strong audio description. I am starting to get bored a little with this show though, which doesn’t bode well for long term plans.
best Performance: Sophie thatcher and Sophie Nelisse (Yellowjackets)- Teens Natalie and Shauna both faced off in the finale in a battle of ideology. Natalie wants to get the hell out of there, and a growing number support her. Shauna seems to be doing everything she can to maintain her power, and stay. Both Sophie’s do a lovely job matching the energy of their adult counterparts, while still exploring the nuances of their past selves. It is so easy to recognize the adult actors in the present roles, but the younger actors (who are all technically adults… Thatcher is 24) are just as vital in pushing the narrative forward as we learn they all did very bad things.
runner Ups: Melanie Lynskey and Sarah Desjardins (Yellowjackets)- everyone is from the same show today. these are actors from the present timeline, with grown up Shauna having just dealt with a surprise reappearance, and a death, only to find that her husband and daughter are gone. She wanders to misty, and learns the truth. it isn’t until we see her totally unravel in the final moments of the episode, and possibly start journaling some honesty, that we see any transformation from the series lead (who might also be its biggest villain). Meanwhile, Desjardins as Callie, has been hanging in the shadows for three seasons, only to be gifted this character arc, where after being confronted by Misty about what bad things she may have done, she ends up asking her father if she’s just as bad as her mom, and if that’s why her mom doesn’t love her. Callie’s storyline really ropes in the concept of generational trauma, but more importantly, whether or not a developed psychosis from a traumatic event can be passed along to your daughter. it is something they open the door for, that hopefully they explore in Season 4.
Best Moment Of Audio description: Her Finger Twitched (Yellowjackets)- there were a lot of great moments in the hunt sequence, but the best, goriest, and most heartbreaking involved a little mention of a twitching finger. Now that one scene from last episode makes sense.
runner Up: Another head (Yellowjackets)- Another head was driven on a pike, and this one had some arrows poking out of it. Shivers. These girls just live and walk around a camp with heads on pikes like it’s just an every day thing.
Worst Of…- Will Trent’s third season, including this subplot involving a specific character turned into an informant, has been dragging this series down for me. but also, The Connor’s was gifted a six episode final season, which is just not a lot of time. can we stop trying to introduce and flesh out new characters? You barely have anytime to wrap up the story you have. it’s pretty noticeable that not all of The Connor’s actually appear in every episode, even though the season is so short, I’m sure they all had time. Goodman is the busiest of the cast, and he is in every episode, so no one else has an excuse.
