jamesaedwards-22729 Reviews

Rick and Morty (2013– )

Everyone needs to not take things so seriously

[10/10 · 11 February 2024]

Rick and Morty is equally one of the most influential pieces of entertainment in the 2010's decade while also creating one of the most insufferable fan bases out of any media in that time, as well.

The premise for the show is one of the most distilled versions of Postmodern ideology that you really can find - there's no real point to anything, objectivity goes right out the window, so might as well do whatever you want while you can.

At its best, this show goes off the rails with (not so subtle) references to other pieces of culture that mixes a push to make fun of the very things that they're referencing. At its worst, it's patronizing and self-referential in a way that's been the catalyst to create some of the egotistical fanbases that it now has.

However, for all that's been said about this show (the good and the bad), that's precisely what has driven its ethos for 7 seasons (and more) - "we can make fun of whatever we want to and do whatever we want to because what you love doesn't actually matter. You and I are both going to die one day."

I love this show for many reasons. Top of the list being - what they make fun of, I also understand and love as well. From Ice T, to Birdperson, to the council of the Rick's, and the commercial for Two Brothers, this show has no problem letting its imagination drive the engine in fresh, new ways while being wholly unoriginal most of the time (and better for it).

Band of Brothers (2001)

At this point, how much more can be said?

[10/10 · 10 February 2024]

Western white men, in particular, have a supreme fascination for WW2 in a way that I'll likely never be able to comprehend. I say that as a western, white man with a fascination in WW2.

However, I think this show does that best out of any WW2 content at distilling WHY there's a surpreme interest in the subject; why the generation of fighters in Europe that we see are known as the greatest generation; and, ultimately, why war is actually hell.

From seeing the lives of the American men in the company, to the lives of those effected by Nazi Germany, to those that are simply living in their respective towns, there's a reason that "Saving Private Ryan" and "Band of Brothers" is in the biblical canon, as it were, for the war.

Wu-Tang: An American Saga: Can It Be All So Simple (2019) Season 1, Episode 1

Beautifully Confusing

[8/10 · 11 September 2019]

#1.) Beautiful - The acting, cinematography, audio, writing is gorgeous. Dude, I literally was crying in this episode. It tells an incredibly compelling story that goes through various characters and eventually falls into a simplistic idea: rivalry, tribalism, me vs. you. But, what falls in the middle, is Bobby. Bobby, RZA, is an incredibly written and acted character that, even in the first episode, has the entire audience rooting for him. His impact in the story allows this fleshed out idea of us vs them to be told in a different way: through understanding. the story doesn't depict one side as the protagonists whereas the audience feels a need to be hateful towards the antagonists, and the story ALSO doesn't depict an equal share of time between both sides, allotting emotional currency to build up equally for both sides. Instead, Bobby's character builds up the story to have us rooting for the downfall of the entire system already built up in the first episode. We desire, because of him, to rid this world in the screen of gang violence, and align ourselves with Bobby's solution: music. This grows and allows this story to be told in a different way than it has been before.

#2.) Confusing - it's so deeply hard to keep track of who aligns with who and whose relationship is with who. The downside of having such a well-liked and acquainted protagonist is discovering everyone else's relationship to each other and why. This was and is the difficulty for me now, even after viewing both episodes that were out at the time. I enjoy it, and I'm making an active effort to discern the relationships between the characters, however with so much going on, so many people interacting, and having a protagonist in the midst/yet still on the outside (watch the show and you'll get it) of every situation and conflict, confusion can't help but happen.

Man Seeking Woman: Dram (2015) Season 1, Episode 4

Amazing

[10/10 · 11 September 2019]

"I dunno, seems kinda sketchy..."

This episode is one of my favorites out of any T.V. show. It goes through relatable topics in a relatable way that most people can enjoy and laugh at because of the sheer ridiculousness of it all, which is true for most episodes of this show. However, what's different about this is the progression of the story. It doesn't simply depict a day in the life of Josh, it tells a cohesive story that moves along with the general rise/fall action, and it does it uniquely.

This is funny, it's fun, it's incredibly quotable. And the parents' characters are l i t e r a l l y incredible. Genuinely, as a big T.V. watching film buff, I just enjoy the simplistic ridiculousness of this episode; in the storytelling, acting, jokes, and conclusion. Love it.

Man Seeking Woman: Pitbull (2015) Season 1, Episode 3

They're doing it!

[8/10 · 11 September 2019]

I think that they're really hitting their sweet spot with this episode, and if not hitting it completely, then at least recognizing where they can thrive.

In this episode, they genuinely tell a linear story that goes from point A (the beginning of the night) to point B (the next morning), and they do it in their own way. With an intermixed taste of their brand of fantastical jokes, they build on Josh's story, develop Mike as a character more, and drive home Liz's influence in the story and on Josh.

Great third eousode. It's funny, it's very well shot with each location and especially the montage sequence driving home how their art direction tells a story too, and this is the first episode that their choice in music has really stuck out to me as being exceptional. All-in-all, how this particular story fits together works really well without giving up on their own unique touch of comedy; which is something that ep. 2 missed out on.

Man Seeking Woman: Traib (2015) Season 1, Episode 2

It has clever moments, for sure

[6/10 · 11 September 2019]

There are some incredibly clever scenes in this episode, specifically whenever they are trying to figure out what to text Laura and getting rid of Maggie's things. BUT, on the whole, this was a transition episode.

The first episode kept up with a seemingly linear storyline, Josh coming to terms with his new setup in life, however it was told through mini-stories from scene-to-scene that could be easily tracked by the separate bits of comedy that they were. And, although this episode had that seem kind of feel, it fell short in how these bits and the story as a whole coincided with one another. To that point again, it's a transition episode.

It seems as though Simon Rich was cleared after they hired on his pilot, and now he's in a place to create and actual series now. This episode was just one of the first steps in creating this new world that we, as the audience, get to walk around in. I still enjoy it, but in terms of both ep. 1 and 3 being on either side of this, this was definitely the runt of the litter.

Man Seeking Woman: Lizard (2015) Season 1, Episode 1

Setting a Tone

[8/10 · 11 September 2019]

The nature of this show is fleshed out within the opening scene, which shows Josh (Jay Baruchel) getting rained on, while birds dive bomb his head. From there, the episode progresses into more of a melodical and hyperbolic state that leads this entire series into a pre-engineered crux showcasing various stories, elements, and commentaries. With all of that being said, I love this show. I've probably gone back and rewatched the first season 3 or 4 times, and I always enjoy it. Because of that, I love this episode because it genuinely sets an unprecedented tone for how ridiculous this show is and will be. I replay the Eric Andre Show's pilot in my head, which starts as most off-brand comedies or talk shows would until he (Eric) comes bursting through the set crashing into furniture, people, everything. Within the first 5 minutes of that show, along with this one, it shows its own brand of comedy that it simply will not apologize for, and in that they know will not be enjoyed by everyone who watches it. Which polarizes the audience. Either you enjoy it a lot and love it because it fits your own brand of comedy, OR you dislike it and actively do not enjoy it because it simply doesn't, both of which ARE FINE.

However, at the end of the day, if you enjoy this discombobulated assembly of hyperbolic stories by Simon Rich that commentate on societal norms of the time, then great! You'll enjoy this series, at least what I've seen of it. But, if you don't like this episode, as it works with most cult-classical movies and shows, then you don't need to like this series.