Yesterday, i finally started the buzzy Korean horror show Parasite: The Grey (Netflix), which wastes no time in jumping into its plot. It has a lot of explaining to do, so it doesn’t bother with any lead in before the events. In many ways, that is what makes it a strong pilot, is you know exactly what this show is. There is no main character prior to the alien invasion, but we find one after the fact. This show definitely uses body horror, and is very gory, and the audio description leans into that. I’m so happy Netflix decided to audio describe one of their foreign shows, but I do wish the narrator didn’t sound like AI. they might not be, but narrators who sound AI adjacent aren’t much fun either. Bring some life to it. I actually thought the written description was pretty good, considering the batshit things that happen in this show, and the heavy body horror, but the voice sounded synthetic. Still, I want more foreign content described, so if this is what Netflix is paying for, the voice wasn’t god awful (I’ve heard worse), and the writing was strong.I’ll take it.
Shogun (Hulu) put me one episode closer to the finale. I think, as we lose characters we have to remember this is a limited series, so it’s not like they had a shot at coming back next season. Episode 9 definitely ended on a cliffhanger, and the whole episode was just a powerhouse for the actress playing Mariko. This is a terrific series, and I only have 1 episode left now. The audio description is balanced here so that at least you can hear the acting of the original actors underneath the voice dubbing. You can’t hear that with Parasite The Grey, which totally just uses dubbed voice talent.
Knuckles (Paramount Plus) in the second episode puts a lot on Wade (Adam Pally) as he must rescue Knuckles with no discernible skill set. Still, I found it to be entertaining. The audio description does feel like it’s coming in mono though. Just a thought.
Chucky (Peacock) now has our dying psychopath with nuclear codes. In the last episode, he killed *spoiler*, and this show just gives up on making any sense. Really, I’m surprised they don’t just break the fourth wall and remind you that you are talking about a show with a living Good Guy doll. Apparently almost no one works in this White House, and Presidential doubles are a thing. This one actor they keep using over and over is driving me nuts. This episode does have a surprising ending, and I’m now interested to see what comes next though.
The Equalizer (Paramount Plus), which was recently renewed for a fifth season, finally saw Robin sit down with her daughter and say that she doesn’t want her to be like her, and just because she’s out there fighting crime doesn’t mean her teenage daughter with no discernible skill set needs to do that as well. Parenting. Also, pretty solid audio description. Most CBS shows have been doing solid work. I think them partnering with Media Access Group was the right call, while ABC shifting to Vi-Tech has been a mixed bag.
And I finally sat down for The Sympathizer (MAX), which I knew had Robert Downey jr. As a pilot, this doesn’t do a good job of telling you what the show will be about. it barely does a good job of anything really. i know when it takes place, but this pilot episode was all over the place. I couldn’t get invested in anything, and I have very little ideas as to what this show would even be about. I might watch another episode, just because of RDJ, but he’s barely in this. With all the strong limited content from this past year, I can’t see this being a strong force at the Emmys.
