Amai Also Watches

I watched this because it came up, and the song in the trailer was cool. Honestly, the song was about 50% of my reason. I can't quite recall why I finished it, I think because I'd started it, it was short, and it had the actress form Downtown Abbey in it. The ending was deeply unsatisfying, neither trying a predictably neat bow, or leaving a mystery, and in general the whole exercise felt pointless. I read a few articles about it being a show that evidenced the progression of feminism, but watching that, it felt hollow to me. Yes, more woman shot guns. Yes, several woman were interesting characters. But by and large the male characters were more solidly fleshed out, there was a rape flashback that didn't actual contribute anything to the plot, and a teen actor who got more screen time and less decent script than I enjoyed. I did enjoy the schoolteacher/sheriff sister relationship. On the whole, while not actively bad, it was fairly boring and not the best time I've sp...

I was so excited for this, because the Punisher was the best part of the second season of Daredevil (the dog bit!). While it didn't live up to my entirely unreasonable expectations, it was pretty solid. No Jessica Jones, but enjoyable all the way through. The lead remains perfectly cast, the villain was a little obvious (I wish there could be a very attractive friend who didn't turn out to be a slimebucket at some point), and I'm not sure a show that deals a lot with the uglier side of being a solider and coping should have leaned so far in to the irrational bomber trope. It also lacked a certain amount of dog, but I liked the supporting characters, I like the way things with the hackers wife worked out, and I did gasp during one point of the final fight, which was as brutal and satisfying as one expects from the Punisher. ***

I finally started this one on a recommendation I was given this summer. I liked the first season, but didn't make it more than two episodes into the second. Partly, because that's when I found it was cancelled, and partly for the same reason I had to drop Selfridge. I don't like watching main characters make terrible choices that will end badly for them. When the Khan started screwing over the people that meant well and listening to the ones that didn't... That said, I did really like the first season. I need to find a teacher monk. Don't get the big deal with the blue princess. The empress is kick ass. And the foot binding I had to watch through my fingers. ***

I've tried and failed to start this one a bunch. Once I got going though, it was smooth sailing. I do often have trouble with things based on real people, and this flared up here. While I find it super interesting, and there is a lot I didn't know about the story, they show many foils and foibles that make me a little uncomfortable, given that I'm generally a fan of the monarchy. It seemed a little personal. The acting and sets are all top notch, but I struggled with the fact that the character keep making stupid choices that won't end well for them. I mean, sure, I know how it ends, but every time Elizabeth breaks a promise on the advice of someone because she's the queen I wince a bit. And it's a lot of wincing. We'll see how season two goes.  ***

I'm a fan of Canadian history and Jason Momoa. But this series didn't get me like I thought it would. First, it was more violent than I expected. I get that it was a lawless time, and fur trapping was a brutal game, but I found it a bit wearing and gratuitous. The main character, the Irish boy didn't quite hook me, and his devotion was a little under developed by the time it appeared at full strength. I loved the barkeep though. Momoa was a little restrained in the role (It was certainly no Ronan Dex), and his torture seen felt like something I'd seen in several things too recently (Outlander being the last) for the amount of time it went on. I will likely watch the next season, but if it had been cancelled, I'd've been okay with that too. ***

I saw a trailer that made me curious, although firmly aware that it was not going to be a good movie. It pretty much lived up to my expectations.I later found out it was the fourth in the series and that fact made a lot of sense. I had no real inclination to watch any of the movies that have come before. The sister made seriously dumb adolescent choices, but Patrick Stewart as the dragon was awesome. The wrong person definitely dies at the end. ***