Loot is a wholesome comedy on Apple TV that you should consider watching. Apple is in a great position for streaming because of all the fantastic original content it has available. If you don’t have a subscription, find out if your cell phone or internet provider has a trial available. But, even without the trial, a paid subscription is worth $4.99 a month.

Loot tells the story of Molly, a woman who divorces her cheating husband. Molly wins 89 billion dollars from the settlement, and the series focuses on the aftermath of the divorce. At first, Molly uses partying and drugs to dull the pain, but these prove temporary fixes. Molly can never forget or escape the damage done to her pride and reputation. At her lowest, she decides to become more involved in a charaity created in her name. Will she find meaning and fulfillment in this new role, or will she grow bored and go back to living her life of fantasy and luxury.

Maya Rudolph is a treasure, and this show is a fantastic example. But this show is nothing without its equally fantastic costars. The chemistry between the costars is what drives the narrative and gives the show its charm. I loved watching unlikely friendships form, the fun banter, and watching Molly grow because of the people she has surrounded herself with. If you aren’t laughing at how funny this show is, you will be smiling at how heartwarming.

The story is a fun redemption arch. Molly is an out-of-touch billionaire who makes a lot of mistakes because she doesn’t know how the real world works. A lot of the humor comes from her not being bound by things like rent, work, or even laws. Molly is making an effort to change, and I am excited to see where her adventures go. 

While this show is a comedy, it makes important criticisms about how society treats women. Molly was cheated on, but she is the one that has to deal with her husband’s transgressions. While her husband lives his new life with his new partner, Molly’s whole life has been destroyed. Her friends, the life she had, and even her identity have been taken from her. She is now the divorced billionaire who was cheated on, but she desires to be more than that. There is an unfair amount of stigma and pressure put on Molly, but it is fun to see her find the strength to find who she wants to be and now what society wants her to be. She won’t let society choose what she is supposed to be and that should be enough reason for you to give this show a chance. 

Go watch this on Apple TV.

Series Reviews

TV Series Review: The Wilds (2022)

July 20, 2022 josechurape Leave a comment

The Wilds is a modern reimagining of the novel Lord of the Flies. While it isn’t a direct adaptation, the show expands on themes explored in the novel. The show focuses on a group of girls who are stranded on an island and are forced to survive its elements. The island will test the girl’s resilience as well as a lot of their resolve. Will they survive this strange new world, or will it be too much?

I liked this show more than I thought I would. The acting is great, the story is fun, and the suspense is killer. The series is structured as interviews recounting the girls’ time on the island. Each girl represents an archetype of the female identity, but each is unique enough that they are more than the personality trait they represent. It was interesting to see each girl overcome their own hurdle as they adapted to life on the island.

The show will jump between different narratives as it pieces together what happened on the island. The show constantly jumps between the present, the island, and each character’s backstory in an almost formula. You get a scene of the interview that will cut to an event on the island which will further cut to the back story. I liked this structure, but it does get a bit tedious towards the end. The back stories are fine, but it definitely feels as if they are pandering for sympathy. As a result, pacing can become an issue, but it is never unwatchable. 

The Wilds explores themes like gender roles, mental illness, personality, and ethics as it shows the complications of building a functioning society. For the most part, it is well done, but there are moments where the show reaches for explanations. The show is a bit cheesy and it leans more on the fantasy side, but it makes for a good story. I found great difficulty pulling myself away from this series because of how invested I was in the narrative. You should watch this show. Check it out on Amazon if you have a Prime membership. 

Series Reviews

South Park: The Streaming Wars Part 2 (2022) Review

July 15, 2022 josechurape 2 Comments

I am not a fan of the direction South Park is heading in. Maybe I am getting old, but the newer content doesn’t have the spark it used to. Granted, a lot of that spark was generated by me being ten watching South Park, but that shouldn’t matter. I have gone back and rewatched the series from the beginning multiple times. While some of the episodes haven’t aged well, there are still a few I can always rely on to make me laugh. This isn’t a bad show, its impact on pop culture is important, but maybe it is time for the series to end.

I didn’t care for any of the new specials released on Paramount+. The shenanigans are a lot tamer, and the jokes are forced and obvious. This whole special is a series of jokes you have already seen as memes. Even if you like the series, I don’t think it does anything special enough to be worth watching.

Streaming Wars 2 is the conclusion to a special that no one asked for. You get an insufferable villain and the kids trying to stop him, a collection of viral videos that have been redone with South Park characters, and a story that isn’t fun to watch. Sure the show makes important social criticism, but it is criticism that has been made better elsewhere. Maybe they are using their platform to speak to the new fans of the show, but I thought it was a waste.

South Park has had a good run, but it is about time it is retired. But those who are interested can watch it on Paramount+.