Neflix’s Fubar is so bad that I couldn’t bring myself to finish it. I finish everything I watch, but this series took a toll on my soul that I don’t think I can ever recover from. I sat this wishing I was watching Citadel, and I hated Citadel. Who is this show even for? You have to sit through two insufferable people bickering about nothing the whole time, and sometimes comedy and action happen. Do yourself a favor and watch anything else.
The world’s greatest spy is about to retire after a lifetime of accolades. He has plans to live a quiet life and try to mend the relationships he’s severed over the years. But America has other plans for our hero. Before he even has a chance to retire, he is placed on one more assignment. A villain from his past returns to wreak havoc. Our hero must extract a compromised agent from the villain’s clutches and save the world once again. The problem is, the agent is his daughter. Now the two must work through their relationship and save the world. Can they do it before it is too late?
This series is worse than you think because nothing it tries to do works. The little action it has is boring, the humor it tries to pull off rarely lands, everyone in this series sucks, and the writing is terrible. Most of the time, the series deals with family drama no one is going to care about, and they fill the rest with forced romances. If you cut out all the pointless filler plot, you have no show. The series has a solid cast, but it wastes them.
Between the sudden tonal changes and the annoying bickering, I just couldn’t convince myself to finish. I tried my hardest to make it to the end to see what stupid plot twist they would throw in to sequel bait, but I don’t have it in me. This series broke me. I am glad people got paid to be in this terrible show, I would have taken the job too, but I just hope it doesn’t kill any careers. You can stream it on Netflix, but your time is too precious to waste on this terrible series. Thanks for reading. I need to reevaluate some of my life choices.
The Big Door Prize (2023)
I just watched the available episodes for Apple’s new series The Big Door Prize, and I can’t help but feel disappointed. The series had potential and some interesting ideas, but it was boring. It was a mistake for Apple to make this series a weekly release. The series is about halfway over, and I don’t want to finish it. I probably will because I have to, but I doubt it gets better.
A small town becomes destabilized when a mysterious machine appears at the local grocery store. For just two dollars, the machine can tell you your potential. After seeing their potential, some people find the courage to pursue a dream they didn’t know they had. Others will spiral as they struggle with the ideas of fate and free will. Where did this mysterious machine come from? Is it really the miracle everyone believes it is, or is it a piece of nefarious engineering?
The series has a solid cast who give decent performances, but the writing and pacing aren’t good. The events of this series move much too slowly because they drag this series out for too many episodes. This could have been a better movie or smaller series, but instead, we have to sit through all its filler. It doesn’t help that the commentary and criticism it tries to make about fate and potential are redundant and lazy. The biggest issue I had was keeping myself from fast-forwarding to the end.
The Big Prize Door proved too quirky, slow, and dull for my taste. It isn’t the worst series in Apple’s catalog, but it is hard to sit through. If you are thinking of watching it, I hold off till you can binge the whole thing, and then I would hold off until you have nothing else to watch.
Series Review: The Owl House
The series finale of The Owl House just aired, and I have been left with a deepening sadness as the realization that this fantastic adventure is over. If you haven’t seen this cartoon, go watch it now. It is a cute and epic story of friendship and self-discovery that everyone needs to experience at least once. While I am sad that the series is over, I am at least glad it got its proper conclusion.
Luz is an odd kid who has trouble fitting in. To fix how weird she is, Luz is sent to a camp that will make her normal. But instead of going to camp, Luz finds herself in the demon realm where she meets an eccentric named Eda. Through her adventures in the demon realm, Luz finally finds a place where she belongs. But an evil lurks in the shadows trying to destroy everything Luz has come to love. Can Luz become strong enough to save the world she now calls home?
The Owl House has easily become one of my favorite cartoons because of its fantastic storytelling, quirky characters, and epic adventure. If there is a better story out there, I will be back to tell you about it.
This series is full of quirky characters that you will love unconditionally. Each goes on an important quest of self-discovery where they learn to be comfortable with who they want to be despite society’s expectations. Luz pushes people to think outside the box, and watching them grow alongside is delightful. I love how the characters at the end of the series aren’t in the same place as where they started. I love even more what they have become.
Luz is an amazing protagonist. She is weird and quirky, but she is also strong in an authentic way. I loved watching her grow and fight for her beliefs as she went on her journey of self-discovery. Luz isn’t perfect. She makes mistakes, but she learns and grows from them. Her journey isn’t easy, and while there are times when she wavers, it is cute to watch how her friends are there to help her as she is always there to help them. I loved that as she began to find her place in the world, she was helping others find theirs.
This series is silly and has some adorable quirks, but it knows when to get serious and tell its epic story. I can’t tell you how many times this series made me cry. This story builds ups to some pretty emotional beats that made me feel all sorts of emotions, but when this series gets epic, I was at the edge of my seat. I am sad the adventure is over, but I am not disappointed by how it ended. The series has such a good ending, and it told its story properly.
If you haven’t seen The Owl House, you need to go and watch it. It is an epic adventure of friendship and self discovery that will make you laugh, cry and smile. Go stream it on Disney+!
Image by By The logo is from the following website: https://www.disneychannel.ca/shows/the-owl-house/, Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63801542
Series Review: Hello Tomorrow! (2023)
After watching the first two episodes of Hello Tomorrow!, I was hopeful that this series would at least be entertaining. I didn’t expect it to be the greatest series Apple added to their library, but it would at least be a fun way to spend some time if I needed the distraction. The characters were delightful, and I loved the 50’s retrofuturism this series is a master at. Unfortunately, this hopefulness quickly faded when I had to sit through a dull series that frankly, was a waste of time.
Jack is a charismatic salesman who sells the dream of living on the moon on exclusive luxury timeshares that the average hard-working American can afford. But the dream Jack sell isn’t real. There are no timeshares, and Jack is the only one who knows this. For years, Jack runs this scam without issue. It is only when a freak accident brings his son back into his life that Jack suddenly has a change of heart. Jack now struggles with the lies he is comfortable telling and building a meaningful relationship with his son. Will he be able to pull the greatest scam America has ever known, or will a heart change him for the better?
This series has a beautiful aesthetic but lacks the substance to make it worth watching. It was a mistake on Apple’s part to make this series a weekly release because it isn’t worth waiting a week to watch the next disappointing episode. People wouldn’t have finished it if you could binge this series all at once, but some would have stuck with it longer. The problem with this series is that the writing isn’t good. The actors do their best, but the story isn’t there to make this series work. It is a shame because some delightful characters in this series deserved better.
What I hated most about this series is how they fumbled Jack’s development. His transformation is magical and comes out of nowhere. Jack starts this series as this suave charismatic salesman who is incredibly good at what he does, but there is a sudden pivot where he is now a stary-eyed dreamer who wants to help everyone. This pivot is jarring, and it ends up making Jack the villain. I would have been okay with Jack being the villain if the series set this transformation better, but I am over-analyzing a series that frankly doesn’t deserve this much attention.
You can stream Hello Tomorrow! On Apple TV if you have a subscription, but I wouldn’t waste my time on it.
Series Review: Swarm (2023)
Amazon’s Swarm is a creepy and strange series that you should be making time for. The series has an amazing cast that gives terrifying performances, a solid story, and beautiful cinematography. At the very least, add this series to your watch list.
After Marissa’s suicide, Dre finds it impossible to adjust to a life without her sister. Dre’s only comfort now is listening to her favorite RnB singer, Ni’Jah. But Dre’s love for Ni’Jah is dangerously obsessive, and this obsession makes Dre violent. The series will deal with the extent of Dre’s toxic fandom as she turns against anyone who offends Ni’Jah. Swarm is violent and full of sex, drugs, and nudity. Viewer discursion is advised.
I will keep my review vague because I don’t want to spoil the experience. This incredibly creepy and captivating series never ceased to amaze me. It is a bit slow and artsy, but it works. The storytelling in this series is amazing. The foreshadowing, symbolism, and fashion all work together to elevate the effectiveness of its narrative. I loved the attention to detail as I picked up on the subtle clues. I even went back to pick them up the ones I missed. Swarm has a well-crafted mystery if you are paying attention. I will be rewatching it to see how much of them I have missed.
This series would be nothing without its lead, Dominique Fishback. Fishback as Dre is the best thing about this series. The way she plays Dre remains unrivaled in the genre. You need to watch this series just to appreciate her performance. The rest of the cast is just as great and plays off of Fishback’s terrifying energy beautifully.
This series does a fantastic job of dealing with obsession and addiction. The way Dre and other characters let their lives be controlled by their obsessions is what makes this series truly terrifying. It is a reality that does exist for people, and this series does a great job depicting the nightmare.
If you haven’t seen this series, at the very least add it to your watch list. It is creepy, beautiful, and has a great story. You can stream Swarm on Amazon if you have a subscription.
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: Poker Face (2023)
The first season of Poker Face has finally wrapped up, and it was fine. If you are looking for a quirky and silly mystery of the week series to get into, this one should at least be on your list.
Charlie is a human lie detector who finds herself running from the mob. As she makes her way across the American landscape, she keeps finding herself in the middle of all these murders. Charlie is too kind to let things go unsolved, so for the first time in her life, she uses her gifts for good. Watch Charlie as she fumbles through a mystery to bring justice to crimes that would otherwise go unnoticed. But for every new friend she makes, she also leaves behind new enemies. Will Charlie ever find peace, or is she destined to be a runaway?
Natasha Lyonne’s role as Charlie is a gift, and you need to watch this series to enjoy her performance. Lyonne has the presence and charisma to make this series work. If you aren’t in love with Charlie by the end of the first episode, you weren’t paying attention. I love that Charlie isn’t the usual detective archetype that you get in shows like Law and Order. Charlie is a flawed character who will fumble through the investigation. Charlie is clever enough to make the connections, but her carefree demeanor makes her come to it at her own pace. A lot of the fun for this series comes from watching Charlie slowly put the pieces together.
The only issue I have with this series is that not every episode is good. I will be skipping a few episodes the next time I watch this season, but I see the value of watching the whole series at least once. Each episode will have important character moments for Charlie that come back in subtle ways in the future. These details aren’t so important that it affects the story significantly, but I appreciate the attention to detail. That said, the worst episode is still good enough, and the series is collectively solid.
If you haven’t seen this series and have a Peacock subscription because it is worth the trouble. At the very least, you will fall in love with a fictional character.
Series Review: The Last of Us (2023)
I didn’t want to get my hopes up for The Last of Us because historically, video game adaptations haven’t been good. I was pleasantly surprised by how well the series adapted the story, and I was deservingly hooked after the first couple of episodes. While not every episode is a masterpiece in storytelling, the series is solid and worth looking into if you haven’t done so already.
Civilization spins into chaos when a fungus starts turning people into zombies. Now the remaining survivors hold up in the ruins of the old world. Most survivors have gotten used to the hopeless routine of survival, but there are still those few who continue fighting for something better. In this hopeless world, a glimmer still exists. Ellie is the only known survivor immune to the infection, and it is up to Joel to get her to anyone who can use her to find a cure. The pair will travel over hostile lands in search of a better future, but is Ellie the cure humanity is waiting for?
This series is incredible. The acting is fantastic, the story is amazing, and the action is keeping you on the edge of your seat. The chemistry between the two leads is powerful, and what drives the story. Watching the relationship between Ellie and Joel evolve through the series will make you obsessed with this series.
I’ve seen people complain about the lack of zombies this season, but the zombies wouldn’t have added much to the narrative. This first season acts as a way to build the world and characters, and it does that spectacularly. If the lack of zombies bothers you, it has been confirmed that the next season will feature more.
The only issue I have with this series is that some of the episodes felt slow and drawn out. It wasn’t bad enough to quit the series, but inconsistency dulled some of my excitement. I was also a bit disappointed by the finale, but that is mostly due to having to wait for season two. The finale has some great character moments and does enough to set up season two, but I wanted more. I could play the games for instant gratification, but I need to find time to play them.
If you have HBO+ or can still get the free trial, you need to watch this series because it is one of the better shows on the platform. Go stream it now!
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.
Now for a shameless plug, check out Canva. If you need a quick and easy photo or video editor that works in your browser, try Canva. It is free, easy to use, and you get access to a wide selection of templates for those who are like me and aren’t that creative. Check out my affiliate link today!