newpapyrus Reviews

Black Mirror (2011– )

Absolutely loved season 6

[9/10 · 26 September 2023]

After an awful season five, it took me awhile to watch all of the episodes in the latest season of Black Mirror. The trailers for each episode didn't really excite me. And some of the low ratings made me reluctant to find the time to sit down and watch the new season.

But I thought no season of Black Mirror would ever match or even exceed season four: Arkangel, Crocodile, USS Callister, Hang the DJ, Metalhead, Black Museum. Every episode of that season was absolutely brilliant.

But season 6: Joan is Awful, Loch Henry, Mazey Day, Demon 79, and Beyond the Sea far exceeded my expectations. Every episode was like watching an individual movie. Simply amazing!

And I like the inclusion of the Red Mirror variant (Demon 79). But I still don't understand why Mazey Day wasn't also considered a Red Mirror movie.

Invasion: The Tunnel (2023) Season 2, Episode 4

Exciting Episode

[9/10 · 13 September 2023]

The Tunnel was an extremely exciting and intense episode with great performances from the British child actors. Nice to have real teens actually playing teenagers instead of actors in their twenties and sometimes in their 30s playing teenagers.

India Brown's performance was excellent as usual. And Paddy Holland was also very good.

I'm also really enjoying child actress, Rubby Siddle's performance. What a remarkable little actor.

It was nice to have an episode that focused solely on the plight of the UK children during the post apocalyptic alien invasion.

I really hope the UK kids will eventually meet more of the principal adult characters in this series.

Black Mirror: Mazey Day (2023) Season 6, Episode 4

Excellent

[9/10 · 29 August 2023]

Mazey Day was an excellent episode with a poetically shocking ending.

Obviously, it should have been labeled as a Red Mirror episode. So I'm really not sure why Demon 79 was labeled Red Mirror and Mazey Day was not?

But I'm really glad that Charlie Brooker is not limiting himself to the constraints of the technology based Black Mirror paradigm.

But he's obviously going to annoy some Black Mirror fans if he doesn't clearly label an episode with a super natural element as Red Mirror, IMO.

I originally thought this season of Black Mirror ranked second behind the amazing fourth season of Black Mirror. But now I think this sixth season of Black Mirror is clearly the best season Brooker has ever made. The surprising two Red Mirror episodes made this season even better!

Black Mirror: Demon 79 (2023) Season 6, Episode 5

Absolutely Brilliant!

[10/10 · 22 August 2023]

The ratings for this episode are definitely going to be pulled down significantly by the anti immigrant pro BREXIT and pro Trump MANGA crowd-- just like "The Waldo Moment" was. But Demon 79 was an absolutely brilliant episode!

After being rather disappointed by the previous season of Black Mirror, this show has come back with some absolutely incredible writing, acting, and story telling. And I also loved the music in this episode.

This black comedy with all of it quirkiness was interesting right from the start. And the tragic story made us really feel for its lonely protagonist and the people who tried to help her.

Thank you Charlie Brooker and Bisha K. Ali for your brilliant writing! The epic ending of this episode actually brought me to tears!

From: Once Upon a Time... (2023) Season 2, Episode 10

Brilliant finale

[9/10 · 26 June 2023]

Brilliant finale!

I liked the fact that this season focused a lot more on character development while also providing some answers to many of the questions in the first season.

Where the creatures live has now been answered.

If the creatures sleep has now been answered Can the creatures be killed has now been answered What the creatures use to be has now been answered Whether the boy in white is good or bad has now been answered.

Whether, or not, this terrifying town can be escaped from has now been answered.

Two of the new characters that were added to the show were also very good.

I really look forward to the next season. Just add two more episodes. This season went by to quickly, IMO.

From: Lullaby (2023) Season 2, Episode 5

Another excellent episode

[8/10 · 21 May 2023]

Although there was not a lot of action in this episode, there were a lot of interesting character interactions and some surprising revelations. This show is so damn interesting. I think its one of the best horror mystery shows ever made.

Love the character development. But sometimes its so frustrating that each individual is so reluctant to discuss what each of them knows and has experienced.

But it makes me wonder if the entity or entities involved in this terrifying situation are also making this happen.

The story telling and the number of complex characters on this show is really amazing.

House of the Dragon: King of the Narrow Sea (2022) Season 1, Episode 4

Dark and Brilliant

[10/10 · 12 September 2022]

This episode of House of the Dragon is i so dark and so tense and so erotic-- incredibly brilliant.

The actors need to thank the director and the writers for allowing them to perform such a masterful teleplay. They've managed to create a fantasy world that is so remarkably realistic that you almost believe that it once existed.

Brilliant and complex performances from Paddy Considine, Rhys Ifans, Milly Alcock, Emily Carey, and Matt Smith. And great directing from Clare Kilner.

This series makes me anxious because I keep wondering how the writing, directing, and acting on this show can continue to be so incredible.

But only four episodes in, The House of the Dragon is clearly the best drama on television.

Nope (2022)

Interesting concept that was poorly written & directed

[6/10 · 1 August 2022]

Unfortunately for Jordan Peele, every movie he makes is going to be compared to his outstanding debut film, 'Get Out'. And he has definitely regressed since his academy award nominated film.

With the exceptions of Daniel Kaluuya and Michael Wincott, the acting was surprising poor possibly due to the surprisingly poor script. And the under use of veteran actor, Keith David, was a travesty. David's relationship with his children was the key to making us interested in the principal characters. But Peele didn't seem interested in having much dialogue with David and Keke Palmer and very little interaction with Kaluuya.

The movie was also unnecessarily long since it really didn't have much of a character story to tell. And that only made it long and boring.

Sure Peele should make a good profit off this movie, but the novel concept was probably something he should have put on the back burner until he-- actually had a real story to tell.

Arcane: Welcome to the Playground (2021) Season 1, Episode 1

OK Starting Episode

[7/10 · 24 May 2022]

After a very intriguing and intense opening sequence, we're introduced to some rather non-interesting young teenage characters, IMO.

And there's nothing really special about the style of animation either, IMO.

However, I've noticed that the pilot also has one of the lowest IMDb ratings for this series. So hopefully the story gets a lot more interesting in future episodes.

Love, Death & Robots (2019– )

Love, Death, + Robots

[8/10 · 21 May 2022]

After an incredible season one, it appears that the producers of LD+R. Caved in to the harsh criticism that there was-- too much female nudity-- in the initial season. So provocative stories in seasons two and three were clearly sanitized to appease the critics rather than appeasing the taste of the audience that loved the first season so much!

So it now appears that the writers, directors, and producers of the animated series attempted to compensate for the reduction in eroticism and graphic nudity by increasing the amount of profanity and graphic violence. And it really didn't work, IMO.

I initially rated the series as a nine. But now I rate it at 8.

Its still a good series with some provocative and interesting stories. But subsequent seasons will never be as good as the first season if the series continues to appease the political anti-sex league (Orwell's 1984).

From (2022– )

Great series that needs a lot more episodes per season

[9/10 · 10 April 2022]

So many terrifying and mysterious things happening in this series. But there were not enough episodes this season, IMO, to feel satisfied with the season finally. So it felt a bit rushed.

Hopefully, there will be at least 12 or more episodes next season.

From: Into the Woods (2022) Season 1, Episode 9

Enjoyable episode but...

[8/10 · 3 April 2022]

Another enjoyable episode-- but the cliffhangers drive me absolutely crazy.

And with just one more episode left, there is no way this show is going to explain even a significant portion of what's really going on in this strange nightmarish place.

Too bad that Epix won't let you binge watch all of the episodes of this really great series right now. So I envy those who'll encounter this series later on and get to watch all of the episodes in one or just a few days.

Invasion: Hope (2021) Season 1, Episode 7

Tense and Thrilling!

[9/10 · 19 November 2021]

Another tense and unbelievably thrilling episode.

I love how complicated the lives of the American Muslim family is getting as her husband finally begins to realize what an incredible woman he's married too.

I love the shock and awe on the faces of the British children as they finally become aware of what has happened to the world while they were gone.

And the American soldier trying to get out of Afghanistan is equally as thrilling.

And the feeling of discovery by the Japanese space officials who are trying to figure out the origin of the invasion is also very exciting.

Just amazing stories within an amazing program!

Easily the best scifi show on television!

Easily!

Invasion: Home Invasion (2021) Season 1, Episode 6

Absolutely terrifying!

[10/10 · 13 November 2021]

This episode reminds me of the alien encounter in the classic 1950s film War of the Worlds- but on steroids. The episode starts off with increasing dread that quickly evolves into absolute terror and horror. What a thrill ride!

Give Miss Farahani her Emmy nomination!

Invasion: Going Home (2021) Season 1, Episode 5

Game Changing Episode

[9/10 · 11 November 2021]

A game changing episode for all of our principal characters as the momentous revelation of what has been occurring now becomes much much clearer.

But now I'm wondering if any of the separate story lines and their main characters will actually meet other characters from different story lines. I hope so!

Hopefully, the second half of the season will be just as exciting and intense as the first half.

Thank you Apple TV for 'For All Mankind' and now 'Invasion'!

Invasion: Last Day (2021) Season 1, Episode 1

Unbelievable!

[10/10 · 9 November 2021]

Tremendous special effects and cinematography.

An absolutely haunting score by Max Richter.

Great writing.

Great acting.

Some shockingly dramatic scenes both on and off the Earth!

Wow!

Hope the rest of the series is as good as the opening episode!

Blood Red Sky (2021)

Great Vampire Movie

[8/10 · 26 July 2021]

One of the best vampire movies ever made, IMO. Well written, well acted, and with some excellent twist. Even the tragic vampire origin story was very well done.

The Lost Boys is still the best vampire movie ever made, IMO. But I think I'll rate this second, above Let Me In, 30 days of Night, and Bram Stoker's Dracula.

Very well done!

Love, Death & Robots: Fish Night (2019) Season 1, Episode 12

Love Fish Night

[8/10 · 18 May 2021]

I absolutely love 'Fish Night'!

An alternate ghost story with a tragic twist illustrated with simple but absolutely beautiful animation-- especially when night comes.

There will never be another ghost story quite like it!

Love, Death & Robots: Life Hutch (2021) Season 2, Episode 7

Metal head II

[7/10 · 14 May 2021]

A lot of great cgi but not much of a story, IMO. I'd rather watch Metalhead on Black Mirror.

Love, Death & Robots: All Through the House (2021) Season 2, Episode 6

Twisted Christmas Tale

[8/10 · 14 May 2021]

Great animation is featured in this twisted Christmas tale. But I'm not sure if this actually happened if children would ever enjoy Christmas again.

Better be good!

Love, Death & Robots: Pop Squad (2021) Season 2, Episode 3

Cyberpunk Dystopia

[9/10 · 14 May 2021]

Provocative cyberpunk dystopian tale with great cgi.

This is one of the better futuristic stories, IMO.

Love, Death & Robots: The Tall Grass (2021) Season 2, Episode 5

Fun tale

[8/10 · 14 May 2021]

A fun tale about listening when someone warns you not to do something.

And I loved the unique animation style.

Love, Death & Robots: Snow in the Desert (2021) Season 2, Episode 4

Cut out the nudity?

[7/10 · 14 May 2021]

They seem to have purposely cut out the nudity while increasing the violence in this story.

Trying to tell a provocative tale while trying to be politically correct is an unnecessary distraction, IMO.

I hope they are not trying to ruin this great Netflix series in order to be more puritanical!

The Walking Dead: World Beyond: In This Life (2020) Season 1, Episode 10

Finally!

[8/10 · 1 December 2020]

It took the last three episodes to-- finally-- make this a good show! The show is still plagued with enough pretentious dialogue to make even a five year old cringe. But they had enough twist and turns in the last episodes to make it a lot more interesting, tense, and exciting to watch-- and to make me want to watch the next season-- if there is one.

But please, please, please stop with all of the pretentious and mindless preaching and soul searching dialogue. No one cares!!!

Action speaks louder than words. Daryl Dixon says about three words per episode in the original 'Walking Dead', and he's everyone's favorite character:-)

Train to Busan (2016)

Zombie thriller!

[8/10 · 8 November 2020]

This was a very good zombie action film filled with horror, cliff hanging suspense, heroism, humanity, and , of course, frustrating-- inhumanity.

And the film's finale is a beautiful homage to the end of the original-- 'Night of the Living Dead'.

'Train to Busan' is an excellent addition to the zombie genera.