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Curb Your Enthusiasm: No Lessons Learned (2024)
Leaning into the Seinfeld finale
While I understood the criticism of the Seinfeld finale, i still think it's fantastic and does exactly what a finale should do. LD gave a middle finger to Allison Janney in the show, and by ending Curb with a ridiculous court case, the middle finger to anyone who didn't like the Seinfeld finale.
All the key players are represented in the episode and get to rehash some of their best interactions with Larry. Leon watching Seinfeld and characterising it was some of the best material.
And as a fellow hater of flies indoors, I completely understood and appreciated Larry's inopportune timing when it came to murdering a fly.
Chef's kiss.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The Gang Goes Bowling (2023)
Best episode of an already very strong season
I am one of the people who has enjoyed all the recent seasons, but do understand the criticisms that it had dipped a little from the highs of earlier seasons.
That said, this season is really shaping to be one of the best and this episode in particular, is a real standout to me, with the return of some excellent characters (and actors) and a return to more straightforward storyline and characterizations.
I'm also a podcast listener, and it seems clear to me that the gang reminiscing about their early days, and re-watching early seasons, has had a big and positive influence on the writing of season 16.
Westworld: Que Será, Será (2022)
This finally broke me
As with many others, I have hung on through season three and season 4 started strong, but come on... The final scene of this finale in particular really broke me. As usual, some great ideas, philosophical ideas, character interactions and lines (everyone hates a camper 😂) in this season and episode. However, the plot mechanics really just make no sense (which again, I've been able to not think about too much to try and enjoy it).
But to end by going back to virtual Westworld as 'one last game.... of the highest stakes' after literally already wiping out 9 or more billion people.... WTF? Pretty sure the high stakes game has been lost.
Also, what about the sublime? Aren't the hosts already living their free lives in there already?
Even bringing back Anthony Hopkins for season five won't save this if they head back to Westworld.
Really needs Christopher Nolan to read the scripts. Of the two brothers he seems to be able to make crazy sci-fi ideas internally consistent.
Foundation (2021)
The future is diverse
Imagine being such a snowflake you rate this show low as the cast isn't white enough for you...
In a galactic empire thousands of years in the future humans probably won't look like any of us, but they sure as hell will be more diverse.
Yes, characters are different to how you imagined them in the books. It's an adaptation. The only reason you have a problem with this is, you know, you're racist.
The Test: A New Era for Australia's Team (2020)
A compelling inside look
Unbelievably fantastic access to the Australian cricket team while they were rebuilding. This is really a story about leadership and how to build a team.
Even if cricket wasn't your thing you could get something out of this. But If you followed the Australian cricket team over the last 18 months, then this is a must watch.
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
Ignore the plot and just enjoy the spectacle
The plot is nonsensical, so turn your brain off. It's abundantly clear that across all the three new movies there was no planned out overall story arc; so lots of retconning required. As with Ep 7 and 8, this movie has a very convoluted McGuffin(s).
As with Ep 7, JJ employs lots of fan service; which as a fan, I'm fine with.
Everything with Daisy Ridley (Rey) and Adam Driver (Kylo) is fantastic. The character development aspects all have great emotional payoffs; and this, along with the best force battles of any SW movie, is what make this a great finale.
Game of Thrones: The Iron Throne (2019)
The finale is suffering from 'peak end theory'
Peak end theory is a cognitive bias. Google it.
In short, our memories of positive and negative experiences are dependent upon two things: what we were feeling at the most extreme (peak) point and how the experience ended. Our memories are typically not an average of the experience or the amount of time we were engaged in the situation.
Yes there are issues with the final season, and you could rate this episode lowly compared to other GOT episodes. But, it's still significantly better than pretty much anything else that's ever been on the small screen. People have really lost their perspective.
Game of Thrones: The Last of the Starks (2019)
Still entertaining, but the rush to the end shows
I understand the criticism of the previous episode, but in my view the overall artistry and impact made up for most of the shortcuts. Unfortunately in this episode, even at 80 mins, all the shortcuts show.
Really obvious the show runners are keen to start their Star Wars work early...
Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)
A review of the negative reviews
The Last Jedi buids on all that made TFA great and does away with the bits of it that weren't so great. It manages to upset many expectations in a good way, and pays homage to Empire and ROTJ.
Negative reviews: "As if a barely trained girl could use the force against Kylo Ren" etc, etc, etc, other plot holes, implausibilities.
Yet the same people have no problem with:
- A New Hope: "Of course Luke, the farm boy, could expertly fly an X-wing with no training and the rebels who he's just met would let him lead the mission against the Death Star".
- Return of the Jedi: "Sure, four foot furball creatures throw rocks and shoot small stick arrows at armoured professional soldiers and kill them."
- The Phantom Menace: "Sure, the Jedi tacitly condone slavery and cut a deal where a 6 year old has to win a high speed equivalent to F1 race to earn his freedom".
- And so on for every aspect of every Star Wars movie.
It's all made up fantasy BS with glaring inconsistencies, since 1977. This movie is no different. Let it go and just enjoy it for what it is, a swashbuckling sci fi/ fantasy space adventure. Go an watch The Martian if you want some hard sci-fi. (Also, love the number of negative reviews about strong female leads - says more about the reviewer's insecurities than the movie.)