Dammit. Amazon is officially currently on my shit list for dropping Outer Range. They cancelled the show after 2 seasons, and I should have known better. Every time a show like this gets cancelled, it in turn makes me less invested in the future of other shows. Really, it is the lack of resolution. It’s the idea that we can be loyal fans, and do exactly what we are supposed to do, watch these shows over and over, and never get resolution. At least with a movie, you get an ending. Aside from the Divergent franchise, I can’t think of any times where films have failed to conclude. I’m sure there are a few other cliffhangers, but it is mostly a rarity. It happens all the time. I won’t see an end to Apple Plus’s The big Door Prize, or Amazon’s Outer Range, and both of them left off on big moments.
I watched The Acolyte (Disney Plus), and while I stopped grading things in this stream of consciousness, it bares mentioning that I do recap this on my YouTube, and this latest episode got the lowest grade. Talking about talking. Boring.
After that, I cleaned my palate with Land Of Women (Apple Plus), which knows exactly what kind of show it wants to be. In the third episode we open up more about Kate’s transition, as the people in the small town react to her, and she’s having a hard time getting her medications she’s supposed to be on.And those bumbling idiots have followed them to Spain, and even know what town they are in. How can they be this good at finding these women, but so bad at finding the guy who ACTUALLY owes them money? Food for thought. Can we think a bit more about authentic narrator casting? This show is half in Spanish, set in Spain, and sounds like it has the whitest male narrator on board. Mayhaps, might you be willing to think more about representation in voice talent as well? I feel like this should be a latina narrating, and those definitely exist in the field,you just need to hire them.
I finished Clipped (Hulu), which really is a tragic mixed bag of coulda/woulda/shoulda. Ed o’Neill needed to be someone more believable in a bad guy role. He’s far too sympathetic, a trust he’s built with audiences from over the years of playing good guys on TV. Jackie Weaver as Sheila ended up being the character I liked the least, because Weaver is used to playing this type of role, and getting you to dislike her. Laurence Fishburne is great, and Doc’s story was pretty well told, as maybe the strongest element in the show, but it felt so odd that the actual Clippers are so poorly developed.The show would have been a lot better had there been a stronger Clipper presence in Clipped, but still has some major script development issues to overcome. Now that I’ve seen all six episodes, despite the solid work from Descriptive Video Works, I’d say skip this.
I think I finished Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show (MAX), in an episode where his mom, who I swore he mourned her death in another episode, speaks far too freely about her feelings on her son’s sexuality, despite someone trying to pull out the Bible verses on not judging, and love thy neighbor. I applaud Jerrod for doing this, but I have no idea what a second season would bring.
that 90’s Show (Netflix) had a pregnancy scare, and for once I was rooting for it because I thought it might actually make the show interesting.The best part about this episode is Red having this conversation in the hospital with someone who REALLY needs a cigarette. Seriously, I just want Red and Kitty to spend the next season in Paris alone, without any of the kids, and I’d watch that.
The Bear (Hulu) gave Tina her own episode, exploring her past, and how she came to work at the restaurant. It’s one hell of a story, and it should get Liza across the nomination threshold (if she doesn’t get one this season) next year. Also, a strong guest appearance from Jon Bernthal, also making sure he keeps getting those guest star nominations.
In the “not from the current season” list, I’m still catching up on three shows that have audio description: Blood Of Zeus (Netflix), Resident Alien (Peacock), and 911 (Hulu).
