maxglen Reviews

WrestleMania XL (2024 TV Special)

Great Wrestling Storytelling

[9/10 · 8 April 2024]

I've been on and off wrestling for most of my life, I was briefly a fan as a kid during the Ruthless Aggression era and then again during the early 2010s. I decided to come back to wrestling after hearing things were on the up a few years ago. As such, I've been able to follow the entire Bloodline and Cody Rhodes narratives and I don't think it's much of a stretch to say they are the two best storylines we've had in professional wrestling and they both came to a glorious header in this very special event.

Night one was pretty good, Rhea and Becky was very enjoyable and I believe had the right outcome. I loved the 6 Pack Ladder Match for the tag belts, glad R-Truth has finally had his Wrestlemania moment after all these years. Rey Mysterio & Andrade v Santos Escobar and Dominik Mysterio was a fun match, although the ending didn't particularly land for me as I'm not an Eagles fan, though it makes sense seeing as Rey's outfit heavily integrated the Eagles iconography and logo. Jimmy vs Jey was disappointing. It would have been a fine enough match on say Monday Night Raw but was extremely underwhelming for a Wrestlemania spot. Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill and Naomi vs Damage CTRL was a lot of fun and allowed Jade to have a solid debut where she looked like a million bucks. Sami Zayn vs Gunther worried me as I firmly believed that Gunther would have and should have maintained up until the Bash at Berlin but I think the way they built up the match with Chad Gable and hearing Sami talk about his first wrestling match way back when in Philly, it made sense that it went down the way it did and it was a great match regardless of what you might think of the outcome. Last match of the night was of course the tag match between Cody Rhodes with Seth Rollins & The Rock with Roman Reigns. It began a little slowly but ramped up significantly toward its climax and set up night two in style.

Night two? That's where it's at. The whole vibe was just better, thanks in no small part to the improved Philadelphia crowd, who had been a little stagnant on night one. Seth Rollins v Drew McIntyre was a classic! Both had great intros and just when it looked like it was going to be a squash match, Seth got his head in the game and we got a real contest of champions. McIntyre finally got his Wrestlemania moment in front of an actual crowd and despite injury, so did CM Punk. Damian Priest then finally cashed in his Money in the Bank contract and stole the belt off a defeated McIntyre, great stuff. We then got the Philadelphia Street Fight Match, Bobby Lashley & the Street Prophets vs The Final Testament with Snoop Dogg on commentary who was actually very entertaining and ECW alumni Bubba Ray Dudley serving as the special guest referee. This was a very fun match that knew exactly what it was and gave us some good nostalgia for the ECW days hot off the heels of Paul Heyman's Hall of Fame induction. LA Knight vs AJ Styles was fun, I think it could have done with having a stipulation like hell in the cell or extreme rules to really pop but it got the job done and the crowd was having a blast with the "Yeah!" chants. Logan Paul vs Kevin Owens vs Randy Orton for the United States Championship was fun. All three are proven commodities at this point and had opportunities a plenty to show off. I don't know that much about iShowSpeed so his inclusion felt a little random to me but I'm out of the loop with things like social media, streaming and the sort so that's on me. Bayley vs Iyo Sky was REALLY good! The Damage CTRL narrative has been kind of hit or miss for me but it was worth it if it meant getting to this point. Finally seeing Bayley get her flowers at Wrestlemania and hearing the crazy pop she got was great. But it all pails in comparison to the insane main event of night two... Cody Rhodes vs Roman Reigns: Bloodline Rules. Both superstars got epic, goosebump inducing entrances that just told you this match was gonna be special and it doesn't disappoint! The opening half of the match is your standard mano a mano between Cody and Roman and it's electric, both men take full advantage of the Bloodline Rules stipulation, using weapons, tables and moving to the outside of the ring into the audience. There's some great trash talk from Roman too which did an effective job at filling the quieter moments of the match. The second half of this match is absolutely bats**t! It basically becomes Avengers Endgame with superstars and legends running out every few moments... Jey Uso spearing Jimmy off the ramp, John Cena giving the attitude adjustment to Roman and Solo, Seth coming out in his Shield gear, Undertaker appearing centre of the ring to get revenge on Roman for beating him at WM33 and showing The Rock who the REAL final boss is! It was nuts. But my favourite moment was when Roman was going to take out Cody with the chair but saw Seth in the corner of his eye and decided to get payback on him after Seth betrayed the Shield almost a decade ago, a decision which ultimately cost Roman the championship. Seth told Cody he would be his shield and he did exactly that. It was also beautiful to see Cody's family and the rest of the WWE universe get into the ring and celebrate alongside The American Nightmare as he fulfils his American Dream. A truly special two nights of wrestling that won't soon be forgotten.

9/10 Thank you for reading and stay safe!

Doctor Who: The Star Beast (2023) Season Unknown, Episode Unknown

...and we're back!

[7/10 · 25 November 2023]

Doctor Who has always been a big part of my life, ever since it returned to screens when I was a wee nipper. I've since watched the original show and delved into the world of the novels and audio dramas and despite loving (almost) every second of it, I've always held Russell's era very closely to my hearts. I was both extremely excited and extremely worried about this fresh run of things: would it be able to capture the charm and atmosphere that made the Davies' era so wonderful? Would it feel like a soulless nostalgia grab? So many questions! But I'm glad to report that I LOVED this first episode. It was everything I had hoped for and more! Brilliant effects, wonderful performances, a tight script, music that hits all the right notes... I could go on. I'm not going to spoil it because it's got more twists and turns than a twisty turny thing but you should go and watch it right now! I imagine that I'll be seeing you back here this time next week, so until then, allons-y!

007: Road to a Million (2023– )

Know what to expect.

[10 November 2023]

I've seen a lot of people across the internet going on about the show, saying they were expecting a proper serialised Bond show and that they were disappointed it was a reality show which I get but as somebody who knew exactly what to expect going in? I had quite a bit of fun with this. It's a vaguely Bond themed reality show with very cinematic camera work and the delightful Brian Cox hamming it up as the would be Bond Villain. The intro sequence is fantastic and the challenges are very much in line with what you would expect from an espionage based reality show. I think as long as you enjoy a bit of reality television here and there and know what you're getting yourself into, you might just have a good time.

Thank you for reading my review and have a lovely day.

Ahsoka: Part Eight: The Jedi, the Witch and the Warlord (2023) Season 1, Episode 8

Lots of fun, plenty of great moments but a tad disappointing

[8/10 · 4 October 2023]

After a mostly strong season of television, Ahsoka comes to a close with an action packed chase to stop Grand Admiral Thrawn from escaping Peridea and returning to the core worlds to reunite the Empire. Pretty much every scene was packed with explosions and laser bolts and lightsabers galore and it's a nice change of pace to get a (somewhat) downer ending, similar to The Empire Strikes Back but I can't help feeling a tad disappointed and I'll tell ya why. It's no surprise that the season left us with a cliffhanger and plenty of questions, tv shows do it all the time but, considering we know Filoni is directing a Mandoverse movie with Thrawn as the big baddie and that a Mandalorian season 4 is currently undergoing pre-production, it is likely that the story of this show will be continued and possibly concluded in those projects which would make Ahsoka feel like a less complete package on it's own. But, this is all hypothetical at the moment and I won't let it budge my opinions too much until we know more. What does upset me is the lack of Baylan and Shin in this episode. Shin is briefly seen arriving at a camp of natives, presumably to live among them after Baylan's departure in the last episode and Baylan puts in a practically blink and you'll miss it appearance in a foreboding scene where we get a cool little appearance of the Mortis gods (in statue form) but, as we all know, Ray Stevenson tragically passed away before the show was released, meaning this cliffhanger and his character arc will never be fulfilled. Of course this is out of the creator's hands but it still feels like it hampers the narrative of the show as a whole for me. Pair this with the fact that we still don't know what was in those caskets and this season has left us with almost entirely questions and no answers, BUT I don't like being a negative nelly so here's what I liked about this episode... The fights scenes were awesome. The skirmish with the Night Troopers, both pre and post zombification, the duels with Morgan and Ahsoka which probably had the best fight choreography we've seen in Disney's live action Star Wars projects, the effects were very impressive as we've come to expect and Lars Mikkelsen just oozes every iota of what Thrawn should be as a villain. I like that Ezra was the one to get home instead of Sabine, Ahsoka and Huyang. I had a sneaking suspicion Ezra was gonna be left stranded (again) but I'm glad to report that wasn't the case. And, of course, I have to mention Sabine, who finally understands what it means to be a padawan.

Overall a very solid piece of TV with a few personal gripes from yours truly. Thank you for reading my review if you got this far and I'll see you next time, a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.

Ahsoka: Part Seven: Dreams and Madness (2023) Season 1, Episode 7

A fast paced and enjoyable episode

[8/10 · 27 September 2023]

Very enjoyable but felt just a bit too short. We only have one episode left and I'm starting to feel more and more concerned that the finale has too much to wrap up in such a short period of time, but I will trust in Filoni until then. The episode began with a fantastic scene, featuring a reunion between us, the viewer and C3PO as well as Admiral Ackbar! We then move back to Peridea and witness Ahsoka and Huyang's arrival which is quite the spectacle. I was dreading seeing any Purrgil die but luckily it didn't come to that. Thrawn learns of Ashoka's past and devises a strategy, Baylan says goodbye to his apprentice and Ezra, Sabine and the Noti square off against Shin and the Night Troopers.

It was packed with great moments but just wizzed by far too quickly. Hopefully next week we get a bit more to work with. A decent 8/10 from me.

No One Will Save You (2023)

What I think happened...

[8/10 · 23 September 2023]

SPOILERS I've seen a few people saying they were confused about the ending, so I'm gonna throw my hat in the ring and try and explain it to the best of my ability as I see things.

Brynn is an outcast, because of the terrible mistake she made when she was young (namely accidentally killing her best friend) the town and community of which she was once an accepted member of, has shunned her and her mother into a life of seclusion; in this sense, you could say that Brynn is an alien to society. She lives like a seamstress from the mid 50s, creating an idyllic model of the town she wishes she lived in but cannot. After her struggle against the aliens, who have been taking over people's bodies with parasites that trick them into believing they are living out there greatest fantasies, the aliens finally abduct Brynn and experience her life and memories themselves and they delegate that they do not need to trick her into thinking she's getting what she wants like everybody else, because what she wants is for everybody in town to like her and forget about her past, which, once the aliens have taken over, they can do. So, they leave her. As she is. She isn't an outcast anymore.

Hopefully this sheds some light on things. I personally loved this movie and it's ending (for me at least) might just be it's greatest strength. I love how the story is conveyed almost entirely through visuals and action and Kaitlyn Dever puts in an incredibly expressive and powerful performance as the lead. Thank you for reading my review/explanation/theory thing and I hope you have a wonderful night or day wherever you are :)

Ahsoka: Part Six: Far, Far Away (2023) Season 1, Episode 6

The Heir to the Empire is Here!

[9/10 · 20 September 2023]

Another brilliant episode. Despite not having the seminal character in it, other than the first few minutes, this episode stood very comfortably on it's own two feet. Peridea has deepened the lore of Star Wars in a significant way with Huyang basically stating that it's where many of the first tales of the galaxy originated from and of course the Nightsisters which make their live-action debut here as well. The episode takes on a slightly darker tone which I think is fitting for the direction we are headed and helps that feeling of stepping boldly into the unknown. We finally get to see Thrawn and he is absolutely marvellous, Lars does an exceedingly stellar job with the character, as he did in Rebels. Sabine goes looking for Ezra and meets a species of adorable hermit people who, in turn, lead her to their village where we and Sabine are reunited with Ezra Bridger. The visuals and the music were stunning in this episode and it feels like it's all building up to an explosive conclusion. A strong 8 to a light 9/10 from me.

May the force be with you.

Ahsoka: Part Five: Shadow Warrior (2023) Season 1, Episode 5

A Stunning Spectacle. Star Wars at its finest.

[9/10 · 13 September 2023]

I went into this episode excited but with tempered expectations. I didn't want to be let down like I have with a lot of Star Wars content since the Disney buy out, but, I am glad to say, this was spectacular. I enjoyed the first three episodes and episode four made it clear that the show had real potential, but this? This episode was another level. If you don't want this episode spoilt i recommend not reading on as I'm going to mention a few of my favourite moments from this and if you are a Star Wars fan, you won't want to here them from me.

Of course, we get a follow on from that brilliant final scene in the previous episode, Ahsoka finally reunited with Anakin. We are to assume that Ahsoka has passed on into the Jedi afterlife but part of her is still holding on to the mortal realm. Anakin offers a final lesson and a chance at life and thus we get a string of sublime scenes that made me giddy like a child. Seeing the Clone Wars in live action again? Fantastic. Seeing Hayden in Anakin's animated attire? Perfect. Seeing the SEIGE OF MANDALORE?! Sorry... allow me to compose myself. If you, like me have watched all the Star Wars movies and animated shows, this episode will feel like a heartfelt thank you from Dave Filoni himself for sticking with it. I can't close out this review without mentioning how perfectly Hayden portrays Anakin here. He feels like a mixture of his portrayal of the character and Matt Lanter's in the Clone Wars series, and it just works. Not to mention, he's certainly not lost his touch with a lightsaber.

The final scene with the Purrgil was spectacular and left me desperate for next week. If Filoni is being trusted with the future of Star Wars from here on out? I think we're in good hands.

I'm gonna give "Shadow Warrior" a decent to strong 9/10.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (2023)

An enjoyable conclusion to the franchise

[7/10 · 2 July 2023]

I'm a huge Indy fan. Temple of Doom and Raiders were played practically on repeat throughout my childhood, I also have somewhat unpopular taste in the sense that Temple of Doom, often cited as the worst of the original trilogy is actually my personal favourite. I loved it's extremely dark third act and Short Round is a personal favourite character. Willie is a bit grating but that's sort of the idea. To cut a long story short, if anybody was going to like this film, it was probably going to be me. It has a lot of Temple of Doom's DNA and although I don't think it lives up to any of the original three, I think it is a much more consistently enjoyable film than Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, a film that I've always thought it slightly over-hated, although I understand it's criticisms. Dial of Destiny opens with a de-aged Harrison Ford undercover and behind enemy lines attempting to get his hands on the Lance of Longinus before the Nazis do. Despite the less than perfect effects, this is a highly engaging and epic introduction to the film and is probably the best sequence in the whole thing. The film then switches to 1969, the day of the Apollo 11 launch. Indy is an alcoholic and it about to go through a divorce for an unknown reason. Through this sequence we are eventually introduced to Helena, Indy's goddaughter, played by Phoebe Waller Bridge. I've heard a lot of criticism thrown toward Helena as a character and I don't really get it, she's not the most likeable character ever but she's not even in my bottom five Indy characters. I do find the inclusion of Teddy slightly pointless, he feels like he's just there to try and evoke the days of Indy and Short Round which doesn't really work as well as they might have wanted it to. Mads Mikkelsen is as good as ever, playing an engaging, if one note villain, alongside Boyd Holbrook as his henchman. Cameos from Sallah and Marion are sweet but short lived. The film's script begins to feel slightly disjointed and messy by the time Indy travels to Tangiers and I don't think it ever fully recovers. The climax of the film is decent but feels a little underbaked which is surprising considering Dial of Destiny is the longest Indy movie to date. There's a few questionable decisions but nothing as egregious as Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. It's a film I can imagine coming back to even if it is just so I can watch the stellar opening hour.

I think a strong 6 to a 7/10 is a fair rating for tDoD as I've taken to calling it. Thanks for reading my review and I hope I've helped you make a decision on wether or not you will see this film or not.

Andor: The Eye (2022) Season 1, Episode 6

Incredible

[10/10 · 12 October 2022]

What can I say? Absolutely stunning throughout. The cinematography and effects were stunning, I was absolutely in awe of the visuals this episode. The acting and writing were spot on and engaging. Tense as anything with riveting action sequences. It almost felt like a Christopher Nolan movie at times. I love the three episode arc structure where we get the build up episodes and then the kicker at the end, it allows each storyline to fester and build so that the conclusion feels earned. Of course the real focus of this episode was the heist but Mon Mothma and Luthen both get attention back on Coruscant and I enjoy seeing their storylines simmer and flex in response to happenings elsewhere in the galaxy. Just a wonderfully well made and stunning piece of television which makes me sad more people aren't watching this show. 10/10 from me. Thank you for reading my review.

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: A Shadow of the Past (2022) Season 1, Episode 1

Made me feel like a kid again

[8/10 · 2 September 2022]

Growing up on the Jackson movies and then later reading the source material and it's accompaniments like The Silmarilion, The Middle-Earth franchise is a big comfort for me. Perfect escapism. I'm not sure whether it's the fact I had low expectations of Rings of Power or wether or not it's genuinely wonderful but I had a blast with this first episode. Where to start? How about the visuals? Breathtaking. Absolutely breathtaking. Rings of Power is supposedly the most expensive show ever made and honestly, I can see it. Music is up next. Bear McCreary and Howard Shore both do a stunning job with the soundtrack. Of course with Shore's involvement the atmosphere of those first three films is maintained but also built upon with the inclusion of McCreary, who has previously worked on the recent God of War, Black Sails and the Walking Dead just to name a few of my favourites. Acting? Pretty darn good. There's a few performances I don't care for but the brunt of the main cast do an excellent job and keep me attentive. Of course, acting is only ever as good as the writers allow and the dialogue, like the acting is mostly pretty solid; there's a few questionable lines but I found myself quite impressed with the dialogue and pacing. It's not perfect but it is far from what I thought it might be and for that I am grateful. A Shadow of the Past gets a strong 8 to a light 9/10 from me. Hope it can stay consistent. Thank you for reading my review and have a lovely day or night wherever you may be!

House of the Dragon: The Rogue Prince (2022) Season 1, Episode 2

Just as good as the premiere

[8/10 · 29 August 2022]

A slower burn for sure but the tension blistering on the surface is tangible. Once again the writing is brilliant and the actors all do a great job. I've really been enjoying Steve Toussaint as Corlys Velaryon. The scene with Otto's men standing off against Daemon's at Dragonstone has to be a highlight, when Rhaenyra rode in on Syrax I'm not ashamed to admit I screamed a little inside. The business with Viserys and his decision to take a new wife was a bit uncomfortable but his decision to ultimately wed Alicent was as a left turn that although was somewhat expected (even if you haven't read the book) has shifted the landscape of loyalties quite significantly. If things continue on this trajectory, it won't be long before we see some of the Fire and Blood that the Targaryen namesake promises. A strong 8 to Light 9/10.

House of the Dragon: The Heirs of the Dragon (2022) Season 1, Episode 1

An extremely solid premiere

[9/10 · 22 August 2022]

Was cautiously optimistic about this going in but the caution was in jest; this show is (so far) marvellous. The cast are all fantastic. Milly Alcock is fantastic, Rhys Ifans is brooding and calculating, Matt Smith is frustrated and unhinged but Paddy Considine has to be my stand out... what a performance! Everybody did wonderfully. The score by Ramin Djawadi takes motifs from the Game of Thrones score but there is plenty of new stuff to sink your teeth into and it's all splendid stuff. Sapochnik's directing is unquestionably superb as usual. The writing feels like early Thrones which was a big relief to me. Just everything about this premiere is expertly crafted and it has gotten me very excited to see just where this show will go. 9/10.

Better Call Saul: Saul Gone (2022) Season 6, Episode 13

A beautifully emotional climax. I'm gonna miss this...

[10/10 · 16 August 2022]

Better Call Saul has always been an important show for me on a personal level, I hold it partially responsible for reconnecting me with my family as we would watch it weekly together and theorise and discuss each episode as they'd come. It also helps that the show is an absolute masterclass in almost every respect; this episode is not the exception. Saul Gone is a tense, tragic, and sometimes surprisingly enough, romantic story of guilt and redemption. The colour flashbacks with Mike, Walter and Chuck weren't just fan service, they were markers, showing how far we've come and tying wonderfully into the themes this episode brings with the "Time Machine" parallel. Despite being the longest instalment of the series at an hour and ten minutes, the episode moves at breakneck pace and feels half the length it actually is. I loved visual call backs to earlier poignant moments in the series, like the buzzing exit sign in the courtroom calling back to Chuck's outburst in 'Chicanery' as Jimmy has an outburst of his own so to speak. Jimmy and Kim smoking a cigarette with the faces cast in light from a nearby window, mirroring an almost identical exchange back in the show's opening episode. I could sit here and type forever but I don't want to drone, so I'll leave with this... thank you Peter Gould, Vince Gilligan, Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn and everybody else that worked on this magical show; and thank you for reading this review. I guess, that's all folks.

Better Call Saul: Waterworks (2022) Season 6, Episode 12

This is the way the world ends...

[9/10 · 9 August 2022]

What an episode. A tense and heart wrenching penultimate instalment. We finally see what Kim's been up to since leaving Saul and it's painfully pedestrian, we also got to see what was actually said over the phone between Saul and Kim from the conversation they had last episode. Kim travels to Albuquerque and spills to beans about everything to Mrs Hamlin and on her way back, has a emotional breakdown on a bus (please, give Rhea Seehorn her award!) I also found the empty toll booth under the bridge to be a particularly heartbreaking touch. Meanwhile, Saul is finishing the job we saw left unfulfilled last week; this scene is so tense, between Jeff and the police car and Saul with the cancer man, you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. Saul manages to escape but Jeff is caught under pretty hilarious circumstances and is blamed for the robbery that occurred nearby. We see Kim and Saul sign their divorce papers, taking place just before the start of breaking bad if the Emilio cameo is anything to go by and we learn that Kim may be one of the reasons Jesse went to Saul in the first place, "so, this guy... is he good?" Jesse asks, in which she retorts "he was when I knew him" before running away into the rain, the "waterworks" if you will. Jeff calls Saul under the guise that Saul is his father and Saul agrees to get him out after he tells his mother which leads us into the incredible climax of this episode. After learning of his true identity, Marion confronts Saul in her kitchen, we get that great shot of the coloured screen reflected in Saul's eyes we got in the first ever episode again and it appears that for a brief moment, Saul actually considers killing Marion. He rips the phone line from the wall before tying it around his hands like a garrotte but drops it. He then grabs Marion's care alarm necklace with a cold, unfeeling stare but suddenly, just for a moment, Jimmy comes back to us and he backs away. Marion sets off her alarm and says that there's a criminal in her house and his name is Saul Goodman. Saul makes a hasty exit and we are left with another week of anticipation for what I have no doubt will be an explosive finale. Another incredible episode to one of if not the best seasons of television I have ever seen. I'm feeling a decent 9/10. Thank you for reading my review and I'll see you next week for "Saul Gone".

Better Call Saul: Breaking Bad (2022) Season 6, Episode 11

A Tale of Two Sauls

[9/10 · 2 August 2022]

Another really good episode. A slower burn, like last week's but there is still plenty happening and being built up in preparation for the finale in a couple weeks. The episode is mostly a sequel to last week's episode with Gene continuing to 'play the game' so to speak; his plan isn't 100% clear just yet but it currently involves drugging rich guys and credit card fraud, ya know? The fun stuff. The rest of the episode plays out a few in between moments from Breaking Bad, taking place directly before or after iconic scenes from Saul's first episode in that. These scenes were great and do more than fill in gaps, they also provide a sort of parallel for Gene's final victim of the episode which I assume will continue into next week's instalment. Shot and edited beautifully as per usual, stellar soundtrack and of course the acting and writing are both some of the best you're going to get on television. The only things that slightly pulled me out were just how much Aaron Paul has aged since doing Breaking Bad and how little seems to have been done to make him look as young as he was in season two of BB and the other thing being more of a continued complaint from last week which is Jeff's recasting is still a little jarring but that's not much of a gripe seeing as the new actor is still pretty decent. Overall, a great episode that I feel will be easier judged when the story has come to fruition and it's significance is clearer. A 9/10 for now though. Thank you for reading my review and have a lovely day or night wherever you may be.

Better Call Saul: Fun and Games (2022) Season 6, Episode 9

Heartbreaking don't cut it.

[10/10 · 19 July 2022]

This episode... it's a slower episode but honestly? After the last two? Thank god. Don't think my heart could take another; but my heart isn't totally spared because this episode is an emotional rollercoaster. We open with the cleanup to what went down in the last two episodes and this scene is so beautifully shot and portrayed. The transitions are just wonderful and the imagery is this unnerving juxtaposition between mundane normality and the aftermath of chaos. The scene with Gus, Hector, the Twins, Don Eladio and Bolsa by the pool is another masterclass. Beautifully shot, written and acted. I particularly liked the shot of the fire reflected in Gus' glasses as he stared into the eyes of those he will one day claim his revenge upon. The scene with Gus and David at the bar is a favourite of mine and it may be the most telling scene of Gus we have seen to date. It's clear that Gus has a crush on David from the moment he sees him and we get a rare smile from him. David rambles on about wine and such and Gus just stares at him, almost longingly with that same smile still plastered on his face. It even appears towards the end of this encounter that Gus is trying to get David to come home with him but after David leaves briefly we see Gus taste the same wine David had 'impressed' him with just moments ago and the smile fades. It was an act, like Gus' whole life. Gus seems to come to a moment of personal realisation and decides to leave alone. This scene has made me wonder if Max and Gus were more than just friends? Or if Gus had some unrequited love for Max. It would certainly make sense seeing how passionately he pursues justice for his fallen Hermano. Speaking of Justice, Mike pays a visit to Nacho's father at his work and tells him what has become of his son and promises that the Salamanca's day of reckoning is nigh, but Mr Varga is a peaceful man and he knows that justice served by a criminal is no true justice in his eyes. Howard's service at HHM is a particularly depressing and somber affair, it paints a picture of a life well lived but also a life cut far too short and a reputation that will be forever shattered, even his legacy, HHM itself is downsizing and changing it's name. Saul and Kim offer their condolences to Mrs Hamlin but things get tense VERY quickly and predictably Kim and Saul have to waggle their tongues to wriggle out of another potentially problematic situation. The kiss between Kim and Jimmy in the car park felt so final to me and although I tried to convince myself otherwise, that finality reared it's ugly head shortly after. Kim resigns as an attorney and is confronted by Saul when he returns, he tries to talk her out of it but it's too late... Kim's bags are packed and her mind is made. They love each other but they are not good for each other. They had fun, but that's exactly the problem. This scene is gut wrenching and Rhea Seehorn and Bob Odenkirk both deserve an award for their performances here. We then cut to some time later, presumably during Breaking Bad or slightly before and we see Saul Goodman beginning his day. His home tells us he lives a life of luxury but we know that this man has lost far more than he has. What an outstanding piece of television. Sorry I went on a bit but I just had so much to say. I'm not sure if we are permanently caught up with the Breaking Bad timeline now or wether or not we will return to where we left off with Kim and Saul going their separate ways but whatever happens, I trust Peter Gould and Vince Gilligan to deliver something spectacular. Thank you for reading my review and have a wonderful day!

Better Call Saul: Point and Shoot (2022) Season 6, Episode 8

How do they follow this up?

[10/10 · 12 July 2022]

Wow... another absolutely incredible episode. Cinematography? Beautiful. Acting? Perfection. Tension? You better believe it. This episode succeeds at doing just about everything it sets out to do and it does it with style. I don't understand how we still have another handful of episodes after this?! Rhea Seehorn is probably my stand out this episode. Her performance in the first half of this episode was haunting. Give the woman an award I beg of you. Giancarlo Esposito also delivers a stinging monologue when confronted with Lalo which has to be up there as one of the characters best moments. Speaking of which, the pieces of Gus' puzzle all fell into place this week and although it probably didn't go down as cleanly as they'd hoped, Lalo is gone. Lalo has been such an incredible villain (my personal favourite of the series) and it's sad to see him go but nobody could say he didn't get what was coming to him, and that bloody smile just before he dies is exactly what I have come to expect from him. I also liked seeing how Mike Insisted on Howard's body being handled with more humility than Lalo's, it's a subtle moment but completely fitting with Mike's character. I can't really fault this one. I have no idea how they are going to continue from here but this has to be a 10 for me. That's all I got. Thank you for reading my review and I'll see you all next week.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Set Your Heart Ablaze (2021) Season 2, Episode 7

Cried like a baby... absolutely stunning.

[10/10 · 23 June 2022]

The Mugen Train took us for quite a ride. The whole season was beautiful from the word go. The fight scene in the previous episode was absolutely incredible and it picks up here but it's the emotional and narrative legwork that this episode deals with alongside it's character moments that makes it an absolutely unforgettable episode of television. Kyojuro very quickly became my favourite character this season and it was heartbreaking to have to see him go, but oh boy... he went out like an absolute champ. Best episode of the show thus far and I'm extremely excited to dive head first into the entertainment district arc. 10/10 "Set your heart ablaze"

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: New Mission (2019) Season 1, Episode 26

Underrated Finale

[9/10 · 22 June 2022]

Personally thought this was a really fantastic way to end the season, a big scene with Muzan and the lower Kizuki, big set up for the Mugen Train arc toward the end and some really emotional scenes throughout (the coin scene is a stand out) I was really surprised to see the episode only had an 8.8 as this is certainly one of my highlights of the season. All in all a great final episode that sets up a lot of things for season two whilst putting a capper on the first season. Next stop, Mugen Train arc! 9.2/10.

Better Call Saul: Plan and Execution (2022) Season 6, Episode 7

What just happened?!

[10/10 · 24 May 2022]

Um... usually I'd write some long, in depth, detailed recount of the episode and my opinions on it but... I'm pretty much speechless and anything I had planned has basically just gone out the window. I guess I'll start by saying that seeing the plan or 'D-Day' come to fruition was both satisfying and quite depressing. I know as they say at the end of the episode that Howard would have "landed on his feet" per say but it felt wrong and dirty to have been routing for Saul and Kim all this time. Seeing how humiliated Howard was... I'm not gonna lie, I felt for him. Lalo has been doing his best impression of Stephen King's Pennywise hangin' out in storm drain watching Gus' laundromat. His plans seemingly go out the window but I think it's safe to say he knows what's up. Right, let's talk the final scene. It was perfection. Haunting, gut wrenching perfection. The candle flickering as the door opened was chilling and that fantastic monologue by Patrick Fabian before Lalo enters the room and our hearts drop... wow. I'm not exaggerating when I say my jaw dropped and I was left in a state of petrification for a solid two minutes. "Let's Talk" is what we are left with for the next month and a half and I'm already aching to find out what happens next. This? Is why Better Call Saul is one of the best shows on television. 10/10 thank you for reading my review and I hope you have a lovely day or night wherever you may be.

Better Call Saul: Black and Blue (2022) Season 6, Episode 5

Love... your boys.

[9/10 · 10 May 2022]

Gus' mask is slipping as his paranoia reaches fever pitch. Cliff grows increasingly wary of his involvement with Howard and confronts him about recent events. Saul opens shop and we see the return of Francesca in some important groundwork for the events of Breaking Bad. Meanwhile, It appears Kim's conscience is beginning to weigh heavy on her. Howard (or shall I say 'Mr Ward') sets up a tense meeting with Saul which ends in the two punching it out in the ring; we also learn that Howard has hired somebody to keep tabs on Saul for the foreseeable. Mike and Gus speculate on Lalo's next move before taking a road trip to what will soon no doubt be a very familiar locale for any BB fan. Speaking of Lalo, he's in Germany flirting with the widowed Mrs Ziegler and breaking into her house, presumably looking for evidence of the project Gus had her husband working on which is when we see the resin incased ruler from the intro with the words "In Liebe... Deine jungs" or "Love... your boys" engraved on it. It's a tense scene which appears to be leading to the untimely demise of Mrs Ziegler but she thankfully makes it through unscathed. Overall? It's a pretty slow burn but it does an incredibly effective job of building tension and suspense for next the next instalment and giving us a glimpse into the mindsets of our major players. As per usual, acting is stellar and the cinematography and music accompaniments are wonderful. A weaker episode for this season but that's not saying much considering the consistent quality we've seen thus far. Another strong 8 to a light 9/10 from me. Thanks for reading my review and have a lovely day or night wherever you are.

Better Call Saul: Hit and Run (2022) Season 6, Episode 4

Slower but significant.

[9/10 · 3 May 2022]

Kim and Saul continue their plan to discredit Howard with a fun cameo from Wendy. Cliff still isn't quite ready to throw Howard under the bus though, possibly because of his son's history with substance abuse. Gus gets paranoid and has people watching anybody who Lalo might approach and has his house bugged to Timbuktu. The one shot of him going through that secret tunnel was fantastic. The court has completely disowned Saul like a leper after news of him helping Lalo has broken and because of the negative attention he's drawing to the nail bar, he has been kicked out and must find a new place to practice, which is when we finally see that iconic lot from Breaking Bad. It's also worth mentioning we see Spooge, the junky who gets his head crushed by an ATM in BB, although, he's looking a little healthier here; perhaps Walt's 'superior' product destroyed more lives than we might have thought. Overall, a slower but still important episode with a few great cameos, fantastic acting and cinematography and a particularly good score. A strong 8 to a light 9/10.

Dungeons and Daddies (2019 Podcast Series)

Perfect and hilarious escapism.

[10/10 · 24 March 2022]

My most recent obsession and pass time, Dungeons and Daddies: *not a BDSM podcast is perfect for anyone who enjoys a good podcast or fantasy lovers. I've been using it to unwind for the last month or so and it NEVER fails to have me rolling. It's also surprisingly emotional at times. Ron Stampler may be my new favourite fictional character XD.

The whole team has great chemistry and fantastic comedic timing.

A perfect podcast 10/10.

Doctor Who: Flux: Chapter Two - War of the Sontarans (2021) Season 13, Episode 2

We're getting back on the right track...

[8/10 · 8 November 2021]

I really liked this episode. It felt like it continued the arc well whilst also being a monster of the week episode with the Sontarans. The new design is very reminiscent of the original design from "The Time Warrior" and I'm digging it. Jodie was top form here and Dan was great as well. Looking forward to next week.

8/10.