TV Shows Watched: One Piece: S2E8 (Netflix) with audio description, Shrinking: S3E11 (Apple) with audio description, High Potential: S2E16 (Disney Plus) with audio description, Tracker: S3E12 (Paramount) with audio description, The Burbs: S1E6 (Peacock) with audio description, and Dutton Ranch: S1E1 (Paramount Plus) with audio description
One Piece- In case I don’t review the whole season, I’ll say the audio description, IDC, written by Dakota Green, narrated by Jamie Lemcheck, is fantastic, start to finish. This adaptation of anime has so many visually stunning elements, like how the finale has pink snow, and giant monsters, that there is never a shortage of things that must be described for us to enjoy the series. I think I liked the first season more, as a cohesive unit, but Season 2 had some really fun places to visit, like their version of Jurassic Park, the giants fighting, and the reindeer (Chomper?). I also remember a sword fight from earlier in the season. But, the season felt like cast accumulation, and a slow progression, with no clear season arc. I’m also a big Katey Sagal fan, but ultimately, her performance here wasn’t campy enough to work.
Shrinking- A lovely finale. Just like a big warm hug. Shrinking is the only series that deserves to go toe-to-toe for Hacks for Best Comedy Series, as it has truly earned its wings. I wouldn’t be mad at all if it won. Also, while we definitely need nominations for Jason Segal, Harrison Ford, and Michael J Fox in guest, please don’t leave out Michael Urie, Chris’s Miller, Jessica Williams, and Sherry Cola in Guest Actress.
High potential- A lot has been said about ABC benching their top show until midseason. I’m shocked that I have to wait till next spring for a third season of this, but I’m not quite done here. Jennifer Jason Leigh is proving a solid foil here at the end. Love this show. The AD is performed by She-Ra, and until a certain voice wants to prove they are alive, and have a name, they can’t prove that the show wasn’t narrated by She-Ra.
Tracker- It’ll be interesting to see how the move from Vancouver to Los Angeles for Season 4 will affect the series. But, this was just another typical mystery for Colter, with some excellent audio description.
The Burbs- Paula Pell is the secret MVP here. Love her. I loved her on Girls5Eva, and the revelation about her character in this episode made her character make sense. She brings the funny, but also a bit of melancholy heart. Peacock picked this up for a second season, by the way.
Dutton Ranch- Clearly, no one has communicated between MArshals and Dutton Ranch, as the series premiere for this Yellowstone spinoff burns it all to the ground. Not just Yellowstone, but like the whole area, which has never been mentioned on Marshals. So the new spinoff is set in Texas, despite the franchise really being about how many generations the Dutton family has been on that land, Beth and Rip dip out to Texas pretty quickly with their adopted kid. He now has to go to school. New major characters include Annette Bening as Beulah, the antagonist, who does not get along with Beth, her son Rob, played by Jai Courtney, who is a hot head wild card, and a veteran veterinarian played by Ed Harris, who is given the good guy angle up front. Carter picks up a love interest as well. The premiere ends with Rip finding something awful, yet you kinda know it’s coming. It’s funny how the Dutton’s existed on that land for over 100 years,but apparently never had a “what if… fire” solution.The AD here is great, and really gives Beth Dutton a once over. Despite being a returning character, her introduction is super in depth. Had there been a longer break before another line of dialogue, I feel like i would have learned about her freckles, or crows feet.
