newark-61086 Reviews

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024– )

With complex relationship at the heart of it, the appeal is largely down to fantastic acting by Glover and Erskine

[8/10 · 4 February 2024]

Contrary to what most reviewers on here say, I found this series really enjoyable and, yes, also funny. This isn't all out, fast paced action and it isn't a run of the mill spy spoof. The pacing is slow, sometimes maybe a little too slow, but it delivers a complex, somewhat believable and at times hilarious relationship dynamic. The relationship between the two main characters is what this show is all about and Glover and Erskine both deliver outstanding performances. The emotions, especially laughter and joy, feel incredibly real.

I was not a 100% convinced by some of the action sequences, especially in earlier episodes. I felt some of the directorial choices were a bit odd in those. For example, early on in episode one there is a shootout on a porch, in which someone pirouettes into cover behind a pole that is barely broad enough to cover a quarter of their back or so. Little choices like that, sometimes add up to it feeling like action might not be the forte of everyone who directed an episode of this show.

That being said, I thought the the arc of the series as a troublesome marriage dynamic delivered some absolutely hilarious moments. The way the show's episodes are based on episodes of the relationship (such as "should we have kids?" or couple's counselling), with the addition of an absurd spy life twist, is thoroughly enjoyable. The episode featuring Ron Perlmann in particular is some of the funniest TV I have seen this year.

Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix (2023–2024)

A bit of a mess, really

[4/10 · 3 November 2023]

This show staples together characters from or inspired by various Ubisoft games, throwing them into a world that is heavily influenced by Cyberpunk 2077 and the Edgerunners series, alongside some other elements that are rather blatantly copied (Suicide Squad anyone?). It feels about as organic as you'd expect with an approach like that, which is to say: Not at all.

A lot of the characters are simply forgettable and some die quicker than the time it takes for you to learn their names. Yet, the show seems to expect you to have developed an attachment to them. That doesn't really work, if a character has only 5 lines, though. I guess, in a sense, that is pretty close to what story telling in some Ubisoft games amounts to, but it makes for an even less appealing experience in a TV show.

The show feels like a very halfhearted attempt to benefit from the reason success of shows like Edgerunners or Arcane. Like it was pushed out with (too) little thought going into it, to ride that wave... without putting in the work. Disappointing.

Onimusha (2023)

Not bad, but not as good as the games deserved

[5/10 · 3 November 2023]

To be honest, I feel conflicted about this show. I loved the games, so I really wanted to like this show and parts of it do feel very close to the games. Some of the characters and dialogue are well done.

The fighting in particular, however, was a letdown. The games delivered such aesthetic and spectacular fights, but this show fails to capture both the aesthetics and the feeling of those fights. The fights are over stylized and movements depicted so abstract, that it loses any resemblance to actual sword fighting. They end up feeling generic and became the least favourite part of this show for me... and that is a problem for a show that is supposed to be based on sword fighting games.

That is not to say the other parts all hit the mark. The style is somewhat "hit or miss", with parts of it being very atmospheric and well done, while certain scenes lack detail in a major way (waterfalls/strong currents for example look hideous in multiple scenes).

Overall not a must watch. A fan of the games might find some enjoyment in this series. Everyone else is probably better off watching Blue Eye Samurai.

The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)

Possibly more satire than horror...

[7/10 · 14 October 2023]

The show works if you're willing to see the satirical element of it, not if you are expecting a straightforward horror story or a faithful Poe adaptation.

The characters are as over the top, as their deaths. They are evil and ruthless caricatures, who rely on fancy speech and an aristocratic act in a (failing) attempt to dress themselves up as exceptional, as genius innovators who "change the world", while none of their big "ideas" are actually theirs and their motivations are rooted in basic greed and vanity.

The fact that the marketing leans so heavily on Poe as an inspiration is ... well, questionable. The gothic horror element in this series is more of a visual, tonal backdrop and the connection to Poe's stories mostly presents itself as a wink to them, rather than a nod.