Great Pretender started as background noise. It was something I threw on randomly while I worked. Instead of something I glossed over, I ended up binging the series far quicker than I wanted. This anime has beautiful art, a great story, and a fantastic soundtrack. If you enjoy watching heist movies, this series should be next on your watchlist.
Edamura was a lowly scammer in Japan, preying on the old to get by. His life changes when a mysterious blond French man recruits him into an elite group of con men. This group of ethical con men preys on the shadiest figures that plague the planet to rob them of all their money for personal gain. But despite Edamura’s natural talent as a scammer, he doesn’t want to be a conman. As hard as he tries to live a normal life, Edamura keeps finding himself on another job. Can people like Edamura ever find peace?
This series captures everything I loved about heist movies. It has unique and charming characters to fall in love with, high stakes, and a very colorful art style. This series is full of deception and misdirection. Every time I thought I figured out the mystery, I found myself being scammed. What sets this series apart in the genre is Edamura’s constant struggle with being a con man. He doesn’t want to scam anyone, even when they deserve it. Watching this struggle as he tries to figure out what kind of man he wants to be made for a powerful narrative. Watching the cast grow with Edamura was even more powerful still.
The crew that Edamura joins isn’t perfect. They never execute a plan perfectly, and they find themself having to constantly improvise. This gave the series a much-needed sense of tension. I liked that despite the crew being made up of gifted individuals, they are all flawed. I loved watching them work through their flaws and grow from their experience. It makes for a very good narrative. One that I am sure you will enjoy.
Great Pretender is a fantastic series with beautiful art, terrific music, and a fun story. If you haven’t done so already, check it out on Netflix.
Series Review: Agent Elvis
I remember reading about Agent Elvis when it was announced, but I had completely forgotten about it. While the series isn’t the worst adult cartoon I have seen this year, it isn’t good either.
Elvis becomes a vigilante because he wants to fight against the injustices that plague America. His life changes when a secret organization recruits Elvis so that he can perform in an official capacity. But instead of living the cool spy life, he has always envisioned, Elvis begins to uncover dark secrets about his life that begin to shake his foundation.
This series certainly had its moments, but not enough to be worth the trouble. I would occasionally get a good laugh from a joke or gag, but everything between those moments was boring. The animation is fine, and the voice acting is solid, but the story is dull. This is a crude adult cartoon that feels like a lazy copy of Archer, but one that doesn’t have any of the charm. Even if you are an Elvis fan, your time is better spent watching his movies or listening to his records instead.
Agent Elvis isn’t as bad as Velma, but I don’t think it is good enough to recommend. It is a bland and uninspired show that makes alright background noise, but it isn’t anything you should be rushing to watch. You can watch it on Netflix if you are still interested, but your time is better spent elsewhere.
Series Review: Scissor Seven
I know I am a bit late in reviewing Scissor Seven, but I loved it so much that I needed to write something. If you haven’t seen this series yet, now is a great time because season four is on the horizon. If you are even remotely a fan of anime, this is a great series to get into.
Seven is a strange kid with no memory of his past who lives on Chicken island. With the help of a pair of scissors that he can control with his qi, Seven tries to make a living as a hired assassin. The problem with this plan is that Seven is too kind and ends up befriending the people he is supposed to kill. But Seven’s mysterious past comes to disrupt the peace he’s achieved during his time there. Can Seven unlock his full potential as an assassin in time to save his friends?
Scissor Seven is originally in Mandarin. While I always recommend consuming media in its original language, the English dub is fantastic. The animation is what sold this series to me. I love the blending of different art styles and animation. Sillyness aside, the narrative of this series is very well done. I was caught off guard by how cohesive and intricate the narrative can be. Sure it hits many of the traditional anime tropes, but it does it in such a way that it doesn’t matter. Watching Seven slowly regain his memories, make friends, and a life for himself is a delight to watch.
If you are a fan of anime or Asian dramas, you will love how it parodies the genres while maintaining its narrative. This series is full of bad puns, dad jokes, and physical humor, but it gets away with it. Once you get past the obvious parodies, the action is amazing. The epic choreography of the fights will keep you on the edge of your seat, even when it gets ridiculous. Package off this with one of the most amazing soundtracks I’ve ever sat through, and you have a series that should at least be on your watchlist.
Do yourself a favor and watch one of the most ridiculous and epic anime series on the Netflix catalog.
Hello Tomorrow! (2023)
The first four episodes of Hello Tomorrow! are available for streaming on Apple TV. So far, I am enjoying the series. I love the 50s retro aesthetic, and Billy Crudup’s performance is fantastic. I did find the story lacking in places, but it is good enough for what it is.
Jack Billings and the small team he leads sell timeshares on the moon. Jack is a successful businessman who can close his sales. But fate has other plans for Jack. A terrible accident puts his ex-wife in a coma and his estranged son back in his life. In a strange change of character, Jack chooses to take the opportunity to right some of the wrongs in his life. Will this sudden change in character destroy the enterprise Jack has worked so hard to build, or will it be the positive change he didn’t know he needed?
If you watch this series, it’s for the aesthetic and the performances. While the story isn’t bad, it is easy and predictable. There are a few weak and forgettable story threads, but the series isn’t bad. It seems that they traded story for style, but it’s not necessarily a bad trade. The retrofuturism in this series is so pretty. They get very creative with the technology without ever losing their 50s aesthetic.
The series will have ten episodes total, with the last episode airing on April 7. 2023. You can wait for April to binge it in one go or watch the new episodes on Friday. They’ve done a good enough job with the pacing that I don’t have a problem returning every Friday. While it is not a show I will be rushing to finish, I am curious enough to see how it ends.
If you have an Apple TV subscription and want something to watch, check out Hello Tomorrow! So far, it’s been a solid series.
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Series Review: Alice in Borderlands
I know I am a bit late on covering Alice in Borderlands, but I loved it so much I needed to talk about it. Alice in Borderlands is the live-action isakai series that you didn’t know you needed in your life. If you haven’t seen it, I urge you to add it to your list. It may be a bit cheesy, and the CGI is rough, but it is such an epic narrative that it doesn’t matter.
Irasu and his friends find themselves in a deserted Tokyo. As they travel through the empty streets of the town they once called home, they find themselves trapped in a deadly game. To survive, they must win a series of games where failure isn’t an option. Those who lose or run out of time die. It’s a similar concept to Squid Games, but this series came out first. Can Irasu and his friends find out who is behind the games before it is too late? Will they ever be able to return to their normal lives?
Both seasons are well done, with the second season being a narrative roller coaster that kept me on edge. The suspense in this season is killer despite the overpowered plot armor the main characters seem to carry.
The games are so much fun to watch, each getting more intense than the last. It does get a bit predictable, but I didn’t care because I was having so much fun. This show is graphic, so viewer discretion is advised.
The series uses the violence and stakes of the games to make important criticisms of the stagnation in human life. Each protagonist had moments in their past before the game where they wasted their lives or weren’t living to their potential. It was only when they no longer have control of their lives that they begin to reflect on their lives. For some, it is too late. They die without having the chance to make any real changes. Others, like Arisu, begin to experience personal growth as they begin to see life in a new light.
I loved Irasu as a protagonist. He isn’t a generic stoic that can be common in the genre. Instead, he is a flawed man whose resolve is constantly shaken by events in the game. As he spends more time in the games, Isaru never gets comfortable with the harsh world around him. There are times when the events will break him, and he will struggle to act when necessary. It is very cool to see a hero who is capable, but not perfect. It creates the perfect amount of tension for a series like this to work.
But as much as I love this series, it isn’t perfect. This series has a problem with its pacing. Towards the end of the series, it certainly feels drawn out. There are also times when this series will get a bit preachy about life and humanity, but it never gets so bad that I turned it off. Despite its flaws, I will be returning to this series.
Go watch this series! You might figure out the mystery ahead of time, and the special effects might look cheesy, but the story and action are so good that it won’t matter. The series is in Japanese with multiple dubbing available. While I always recommend watching media in their original language, the English dubbing is great. You can stream Alice in Borderlands on Netflix
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Series Review: Wolf Pack (2023)
I haven’t been too impressed with Paramount’s original content, and Wolf Pack did little to change that. This series is a poorly-written supernatural drama about werewolves that won’t leave much of an impression. While it may have moments that keep it from being terrible, it isn’t good enough to recommend.
Wildfires threaten the lives of a generic small town. As the smoke and flames creep ever closer, something sinister lurks in its shadows. Werewolves exist in our world, and while some may be harmless, some use the fires to come for blood. The series focuses on a pair of unremarkable teens who get turned into werewolves. As they struggle to control their powers, they seek answers. But where will they start?
This series isn’t great. The writing is terrible. The actors may be doing their best, but their best is mediocre. The only good thing about this series is its suspense. I loved the scenes where the teens are facing the unknown. There is a real sense of uncertainty about the fate of these teens as they attempt to hide from an unknown hunter. I know they will survive, but it was easy to get lost in the moment as the poorly rendered whatever stalked them from a distance. As bad as the acting got, I am impressed with how well the kids acted in these scenes. It wasn’t enough to earn a recommendation, but I would be curious to see how they do in better horror.
I don’t have much to say about this series because it didn’t leave an impression on me. It wasn’t bad enough to hate, but it isn’t good enough to recommend. Wolf Pack exists as a lazy attempt to rebuild the werewolf mythos. The characters are generic and flat, the story isn’t good, and everything looks ugly. I would be fine if this were some campy fun series about werewolves, but it isn’t. I got so bored that I had to fight the urge to fast forward. New episodes of this series come out weekly, but the first three episodes did little to make me want to finish. I might do so if curiosity strikes, but I doubt it will get any better.
You can stream Wolf Pack on Paramont+, but I wouldn’t bother. There are better shows about werewolves you could be watching instead. Oh and if you are thinking of watching this series for Sarah Michelle Gellar, she’s barely in it.
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Series Review: Chainsaw Man (2022)
I understand that I am a little late on this review, but I enjoyed this anime enough to recommend it. If you are looking for a new anime to get into, go stream Chainsaw Man on Hulu.
Denji was a normal kid, burdened by the crippling debt that he inherited from his father. He works it off by doing all the odd jobs and hunting devils. Denji and Pochita, a chainsaw demon dog he befriends, live on the scraps left after each payment. Denji’s life changes when he is sacrificed by the gang he owes money to. In order to save Denji, Pochita gives Denji his heart. Denji now has the power to turn his body parts into chainsaws. Denji gets recruited to serve with the Public Safety Devil Hunters to keep Japan safe from devils. With his new power and job, Denji can live the life he’s always dreamed of. A life with three meals a day, jelly on toast, and boobs.
I liked this anime quite a bit. The art style and animation are interesting, the concept is neat, and the story is fun. There is a bit of shameless fan service, and the tone does get a bit silly, but the story is good enough that it doesn’t matter. What I liked most about this anime is that the protagonist isn’t the traditional hero who is overly good with an unbeatable sense of justice. Denji chooses to join the Public Safety Devil Hunters because he gets to live a better life. He has a warm place to sleep, all the food he can eat, and for the first time in his life, people treat him nicely. There are some very interesting moments where Denji will doubt his humanity or selfishness, but he always does what’s right. Denji is slowly learning to be heroic even if his motives aren’t as righteous as his colleagues. It is also interesting to have the point of view of someone who has never had anything. What he values, his reactions to new experiences, and the way he finds motivation is a refreshing take on the protagonist.
The first season is on Hulu and I believe it does a great job of introducing the series. You get a good sense of the world and what drives it, a taste of the big bad and his powers, the stakes involved, and its cast of interesting characters. It reminds me a lot of suicide squad and I am interested to see where this series will take me. In the meantime, I think I will attempt to catch up with the manga.
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Series Review: Hunters Season 2
I want to give a shoutout to Cathrine for her kind words and the coffee! I appreciate your support. You don’t know how much your kind words meant to me. Thank you so much! I’m here wishing you the best.
I enjoyed the first season of Hunters but was disappointed by how it ended. I was so disappointed by its conclusion that I was considering not returning for the second season. This season was fine, but I didn’t think it was worth the effort. It feels too drawn out and without any real direction. It may not be a terrible show, but it does leave a lot to be desired. If you are curious about this series or need a proper conclusion, I suggest you throw it in the background so you can skip all the boring bits.
Hunters is a series about a group of people who come together to hunt down Nazis who went into hiding. The justice is too slow so the Hunters are taking justice into their own hands.
I found this season more convoluted than the last with less action. The action it did have isn’t exciting. This season felt like it lacked direction as it struggled to pad its run time with a boring backstory and intrapersonal conflict. There are a lot of stories added to this season that felt out of place even within the narrative. Some characters were devastatingly underutilized, while others overstayed their welcome. Nothing stood out this time, and I found myself struggling not to fast forward.
My issue with this season is that it doesn’t have a proper villain. The first season with its faults had a proper force fighting against the hunters. Here, the heroes only seem to fight themselves, and it gets tiresome. I get that the point was to have an incompetent villain, but when they are this incompetent, what is the point? This season turns an interesting concept into another generic action thriller, but one that isn’t very fun.
I wasn’t a fan of this series and have already forgotten what happens in it. It may not be the worst, but with so much better content out there, it is better to hold off until you have absolutely nothing to watch. If you do end up watching this series, I suggest you keep the remote handy to skip over all the boring bits. For those interested, check it out on Amazon.
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The Last of Us – Initial Thoughts
I never got to play The Last of Us because I never had a PlayStation. I might play it when it comes out for Steam, but we will see how stable I am on March 3rd. I have heard great things about the game, and everyone I know who played it loved it, but I have also been lucky enough to not encounter any spoilers. I went into this series as blindly as possible and loved every minute. The Last of Us has gotten its strong start. It effectively introduces its world and problems and shows off how effective it can be with its storytelling. If you have been cautious about getting into the series, don’t be. At the very least, you will love the first episode.
The world has been thrown into chaos as a mysterious disease runs rampant across the world. People are turning into zombies, and the remaining survivors struggle to create a new life from the burning remains of the old one. Warring factions fight over resources, and every day seems to be more hopeless. The series focuses on Joel and his story of survival as he escorts a young girl into the unknown. Can they survive with the limited resources left behind after the fall, or will their end be tragic like so many before them?
There is only one episode of this series out at the moment, with a new one released every Sunday. Usually, I complain about a show going on a weekly schedule, but The Last of Us takes full advantage of it. By the end of the episode, I was left wanting more and saddened that I will have to wait another week to learn what happens next. Yes, I could easily look up what happens next, but I don’t want to. I want to enjoy the ride as it happens and remain hopeful that they don’t mess it up.
The acting is fantastic, the pacing is great, and the action is intense. I haven’t felt this much anxiety in a while, especially from a zombie series. If you haven’t played the game or know anything about it, this series does a fantastic job of existing on its own. You will be caught up by the end of the episode, but frustrated that there isn’t more. I hope the series can keep this momentum because I have been burned by shows before.
I will admit that I was afraid that they were going to mess this up because recent video game adaptations haven’t been great. I am relieved that The Last of Us got its strong start. It has a great cast and competent storytellers. I will continue tuning in, and I recommend you do the same. Check out the first episode on HBO max if you have a subscription.
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Mythic Quest Season 3 Review
With the third season of Mythic Quest now fully released, I feel disappointed with how it all unfolded. I am a fan of this series, but I found it nearly impossible to finish this season. Don’t get me wrong, I still recommend this series if you haven’t seen it, but this season has left a lot to be desired.
Mythic Quest is a comedy series that satirizes the gaming industry as it follows the work life at the world’s most popular MMORPG of the same name. The series focuses on a collection of wacky characters and their budding personalities as they try to make Mythic Quest a game worth playing. The series criticizes the gaming industry through its use of humor and its well-written narrative.
While I loved the first two seasons of Mythic Quest, this season falls flat. The narrative was drawn out, with each episode ending in disappointing. This season felt like a setup for something that hopefully won’t get canceled by Apple. It began a lot of story threads bringing forth minor characters featuring stories you probably won’t care for. The overall experience was fine, but waiting week to week made this series harder to follow. Nothing was hooking me to come back for the next episode or season while we are at it. It is a better experience to watch the episodes back to back, but it remains the show’s weakest season.
What keeps me from hating this season is that if you look at it as a whole and remove all the fluff, there is much-needed character growth that I was happy to see. There are important story beats that give the narrative its meaningful advancement, but you have to sit through some boring story-lines.
I will probably watch the fourth season because I need my closure, but I lack the excitement I once had. Do not be discouraged, Mythic Quest is still worth watching. It has a fantastic cast playing great characters, and the story is mostly good. If you have Apple TV, you should have already watched it. If you don’t, it is worth the free trial.
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