Tag Archives: amazon originals

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power – First Impressions

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Amazon has just released its Lord of the Rings show, and I have to say, I am addicted. I am not the biggest fan of the series, I haven’t read the book and have only watched the Hobbit, but this show definitely sparked my curiosity. I am living proof that you don’t need extensive knowledge of the lore to enjoy this show, but having the wiki open might help you get a deeper understanding of what is going on. If you are intimidated to get into Lord of the Rings, don’t be. It is a very in-depth fantasy, but it is well done.

This is a prequel to the series as it details the events that led up to how they crafted the rings. So far there are only two episodes out for the series with new episodes coming out weekly. The acting is fantastic, the story is interesting, and the setting is beautiful. The first two episodes do a great job at introducing the different factions, setting up the world, and getting you hooked for more. They spent a lot of money producing this show, and it shows. My only complaint is that I have to wait another week to see what happens next.

If you are patient, hop on this show immediately. If you aren’t, wait till it is all out. I am definitely excited to see where this series will go.

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Series Review: A League of Their Own (2022)

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I haven’t seen the movie this series is based on, nor can I comment on its historical accuracy, but I can definitely recommend it because it is a good show. If you are on the fence, don’t be. Go, stream it now.

The series follows one of America’s first women’s baseball teams. The series focuses on the adversities they faced and how they overcame them. The series covers social issues such as racism, sexism, and homophobia. While I do have to admit that it addresses these topics in a fantastical wholesome manner, it does so respectfully, and I can’t take issue.

This show is incredibly wholesome with a fantastic cast, a fun narrative, and a lot of baseball. The characters are unique, and watching them grow and become a team throughout the series is truly inspiring. The Peaches face a lot of obstacles because they don’t fit the traditional role society has assigned them. They just want to play baseball and be who they are, but that isn’t what a traditional woman is. The show does a great job at showing that the traditional woman is a myth, and it instead broadens the definition by including a more inclusive representation of womanhood.

It is inspiring to see all that these women had to endure and to see what they accomplished. This is an important narrative and one that needs to be told. My only complaint is that the narrative is a little too whitewashed, but the intent of this show is to be wholesome and fun, not real and heavy. I’ll let it slide. You need to watch this show.

You can stream this on Amazon with a Prime membership.

TV Series Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty

The Summer I Turned Pretty turned out to be a solid coming-of-age story that I didn’t hate. Usually, I stay away from these types of shows because I am not the target audience, but I am glad I didn’t. If you are the target audience or love sappy reverse harems, this is a decent one you can find on Amazon.

The show focuses on Belly who has just grown out of her awkward teen phase. She takes it upon herself to make the most of her summer and try to find love as well as define who she is. Will she find love, or will she be overwhelmed by the new world she is setting off into?

While the show does follow some of the tropes and the characters are a bit two-dimensional, it stands out against others I’ve seen. It is a lot tamer, the characters are likable, and the story is interesting. I liked that the show doesn’t rely heavily on fan service, current slang, or over-the-top quirky characters to trick people into watching it. You have a solid cast, some heartwarming moments, and some very real situations despite the narrative existing in a bubble.

The whole story takes place in a vacation town, far removed from most problems. It allows Belly to exist in this world where she can be the main character for once and also gives her the opportunity to find herself. The show handles a very complicated period in our lives pretty well. I liked watching Belly grow from her experiences and mistakes, but I was a bit disappointed by the ending. My problem with this story is that this is a very specific experience that plays out like a fantasy. As a result, the story is a bit sappy, but it never got cringy or unwatchable. I think if you are the target audience and enjoy these types of dramas you will enjoy this show a bit better.

You can watch this on Amazon with your prime membership. While I wouldn’t go out of my way to watch it, you won’t hate it if you do.  

Series Review: The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022)

There were a lot of ads as well as Reddit posts that tried to generate hype for this series, claiming that it would canonically expand on The Boys universe. I also saw a few ads and posts trying to hype up the fact that the Awkwafina be involved in the series. I love Awkwafina so I was rightfully excited. While the claims weren’t misleading, The Boys Presents: Diabolical doesn’t expand the world or lore in a meaningful way, at least not in a way that is worth your time.

The Boys Presents: Diabolical is an anthology of animated shorts focusing on different stories within The Boys’ universe. Each episode is done in its unique style and focuses on a different group affected by Vaught and the world of superheroes. While the art and voice acting are solid, the stories told aren’t interesting. Out of the eight episodes available, I only found myself liking one, and it wasn’t the Awkwafina one. The series leans on tropes already explored in the main series with the focus being on the other people in the universe. The problem with this is that this spin-off isn’t as good, and the commentary isn’t made as competently. 

If you watch this anthology, you will skip some episodes because the story or the narrative style isn’t interesting. I assure you that you aren’t missing out on any meaningful context if you choose to ignore the spin-off. Don’t waste your time with this series. There are better animated series out there more worthy of your time. But if you don’t believe me, you can watch this on Amazon with a prime membership. 

Movie Review: I Want You Back (2022)

Despite what you may think about romantic comedies, “I Want You Back” is one that you should at least consider. Jenny Slate and Charlie Day work spectacularly together! This movie is well-written, well-acted, and delightful at its worst. If you have an Amazon Prime subscription, you need to see this now.

Something to think about before going into this movie is that the characters’ morals are a bit hazy. This movie features two heartbroken characters who find comfort in each other’s company. They have recently gone through a hard breakup and are learning to cope with being alone. This movie does a great job of showing how difficult heartbreak is to overcome. The two plot to help each other break up their ex-partners. This plot is problematic because the main characters are set to ruin relationships and lives for selfish motives. This genre tends to have these problematic immoralities because love makes people do crazy things. In this case, I can excuse it because the journey is well worth the immorality.

The best part about this movie is watching the relationship between the two leads blossom. The chemistry they share is the reason you should watch this movie. The supporting cast is nothing to scoff at. Together they tell a very entertaining story that I must recommend to everyone. As a bonus, this movie has a great musical number. It is beautifully performed and perfectly woven into the plot. I enjoyed it thoroughly. If you have little interest in this movie, that moment is very much worth your time, but it makes more sense in context.

Watch this even if you don’t like the genre. This brings new life to a genre that has been a bit stagnant as of late. It is a nice date night movie, but I would argue that it is a fun anytime movie.

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