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. 

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TV Series Review: The Summer I Turned Pretty

July 18, 2022 josechurape 2 Comments

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 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+.

Series Reviews

Series Review: The Boys Presents: Diabolical (2022)

July 13, 2022 josechurape 2 Comments

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. 

Series Reviews

TV Series Review: The Boys

July 12, 2022 josechurape 3 Comments

I know I am a bit late for this review, but I thought I would share it anyways. If you haven’t seen The Boys on Amazon, I highly recommend it. The Boys challenges the traditional tropes of superheroes by satirizing the current American political climate. There are three forces that control the superhero narrative. There is a narrative created for the public, one where the hero is just and honorable, ready to save the day. It is the expected narrative of the genre. But behind closed doors, in the shadows of society, there is the narrative that is kept a secret. One that is pushed away from the public eye, where heroes are revealed to be selfish and careless, causing mayhem and indulging in debauchery. If people truly knew what their beloved superheroes were really like, there wouldn’t be superheroes. It is up to the corporation Vaught to control the narrative, and sell the public on superheroes.

The series focuses on a band of misfits who want to bring to light the true evil that hides beneath the public narrative. They are brought together by the symptoms of Vaught’s greed and evil. They face impossible odds as they are up against the most powerful man and the superheroes he controls. 

I love this series because it is a refreshing take on a tired genre. I didn’t believe that live-action comic book adaptations could ever work, but I am glad I was wrong. If you have seen the series, I would recommend the comic. There is enough repetition between both where it won’t be repetitive, and it is a solid read. If you haven’t seen the series, you should stop reading and go watch it now. A bit of warning though, the show and comic are very brutal and gory. The deeper you get into the series, the more bloody and violent the show gets. The third season specifically tries to outdo its violence and gore with each additional episode and it is fantastic.

The story for this show is brilliant. There is violence, mayhem, and some very much appreciated satire. The third season is a little more obvious with its satire, often times parodying direct events from American politics, but it is well done and fits the overall tone of the series. The story is brought to life by an amazing cast who give some great performances. 

You need to watch this show if you haven’t already. Keep in mind that this show is very violent and bloody. If that sounds good to you, you can watch The Boys on Amazon with your Prime membership.

Series Reviews

TV Series Review: Fairfax (2021)

July 6, 2022 josechurape 3 Comments

There is an audience for this animated series, it just doesn’t include me. There is nothing technically bad with Fairfax, it was just too obnoxious for my tastes. The animation is fine, the voice acting is solid, the attention to detail is fantastic, and there is a good soundtrack buried throughout the series. But this show was created with a specific audience in mind and it is not for everyone.

The show follows Dale, a kid from Oregon who moves to the trendy city of Fairfax California. While everyone is obsessed with chasing clout through popularity and fashion, Dale only wants to make friends and go hiking. Dale makes friends with a group of characters who try to teach him how to fit in. While he does have a lot to learn about the new culture he has been dropped into, he also has a lot to learn.

Fairfax makes a lot of important social commentary about the culture obsessed with clout chasing. The show is supposed to be obnoxious as it satirizes the ridiculous never-ending cycle of being trendy. Every episode is a tedious adventure about chasing the lasted fad only to end in the disappointment that there is a new trend to chase. The whole series is about a society stuck in this endless and stressful race of seeking attention. It is well done, for the most part, I just wish it was wrapped in a different package.

I will say that I respect the attention to detail put into this show. If you were around for the Hypebeast era, you will catch and appreciate a lot of the references. Slang, posters, and music, amongst the constant barrage of pop culture references, encapsulate a whole generation of culture. I just didn’t like the characters or the tone of the series. If you can get past both of these jarring details, you might have a better time with this show. 

The show isn’t bad. It has its moments, and it makes some very cool observations, but it isn’t for me. This show was made with a specific audience in mind. Those on the outside of this group won’t find this show entertaining. That said, you can check it out on Amazon if you have a Prime Membership.