Category Archives: TV Reviews

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe – Spoiler: Gary Dies [S1E1] – TV Review

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TL;DR – This is a wild premise for a show, and I think it just might work.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the HBO Max service used to view this series.

Welcome to Pasadena sign.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Review Introduction

Today we look at what might be one of the weirdest spin-offs from a TV Show that I have ever seen. The world of The Big Bang Theory has indeed had a long reach, but I am not sure that anyone was ready for the general pitch that was this series. However, it is so wild, it just might work.

So, to set the scene, we open on a broken and ruined Pasadena that has suffered a grand apocalypse. There are giant moths in the sky, zombies in the ground, and yet Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman) is still running his comic shop, where consumers like Bert Kibbler (Brian Posehn) trade food for what comics are left. But when a Stuart from another timeline slides in and explains that the destruction is not meant to happen, but a failed quantum-entanglement-thing created by the core gang from The Big Bang Theory has destroyed everything. Stuart and Bert have a quest to save the universe, but will they survive the walk to the end of the street first? Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – Valles Marineris [S4E1] – TV Review

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TL;DR – An opening episode that both delighted and profoundly frustrated me.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Paramount+ service used to view this series.

Pike riding across an alien planet on a horse.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Review Introduction

Today is a little bit of a bittersweet moment. For we have new Star Trek, which is always a delight; however, it is also the start of what we now know is a countdown to the end of an era, with no new Star Trek shows currently in production. Still, with three seasons left to enjoy, it is time to jump into this latest adventure, complete with a touch of time travel.

So, to set the scene, we open on horses cruising across an alien landscape after Pike (Anson Mount) undertakes a little undercover Prime Directive shenanigans. The USS Enterprise has spent six months on non-stop missions, giving the crew little time to dwell on the events of New Life and New Civilizations. But waiting for Pike when he comes back is Admiral April (Adrian Holmes) with a recommendation for a promotion; he has to make up his mind after the next mission. A completely normal mission that should not go wrong; it is just a subspace storm after all. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Among Us (2026): Season 1 – TV Review

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TL;DR – This is an almost perfect adaptation of the original game, full of tasks, murder, and voting people to their doom.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Paramount+ service used to view this series.

The whole crew around a pizza party table.

Among Us Review Introduction

Back at the heart of COVID in 2020, there were a few things that helped get us through it. One of those was this weird little hidden role game where you set yourself a bunch of tasks to complete on a spaceship while one or more of you are aliens trying to kill you. Now, I played a lot of Among Us during this time, and my self-reports were legendary. Which means I am very interested to see how this animated adaptation turned out.   

So, to set the scene, deep in an asteroid field, a bunch of new employees, Green (Elijah Wood) and White (Patton Oswalt), for the MIRA Corporation, have begun the trip up to their new ship. Fun. Engagement. Fun-Gagement. These are the pillars of MIRA. All they have to do is take this new Ore+ from the asteroid to Industria, a simple trip. As Orange (Yvette Nicole Brown) gives them a tour of the ship and the crew, including the doctor Blue (Dan Stevens), we find a whole bunch of quirky characters for a trip like this. It all looks to be going swimmingly, well, you would hate it if there was a secret imposter on board wanting to take everyone else out one by one. Now, from here, we will be looking at the season as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.   

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Citadel: Baked Alaskas [S2:E1] – TV Review

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TL;DR – A stronger start, but the jury is still out if it can rebound from a very mixed first outing.  

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Amazon Prime service that viewed this series.

A computer screen with information on Frank Sharpe.

Citadel Review Introduction

Back in 2023, one of the few ambitious projects in the streaming era started. I mean, what is the point of having a global streaming conglomerate if you are not going to do something with it? Citadel and its Spyverse were going to be a worldwide streaming universe where different countries would add to the growing lore. Conceptionally fascinating, practically quite a mess, with Season One devolving into massive expensive reshoots, which didn’t help the promotion of the spin-offs Diana & Honey Bunny. But the series has been improving with each iteration, so it is time to see if the original series can continue the charge, or if this is the last hurrah.

So, to set the scene, everyone has gone into hiding after the events of Season One. But the reach of Manticore is large, and soon, nowhere is safe to hide. In England, a smuggler is enjoying a party only to have his entire security taken out by Hutch (Jack Reynor), for he is hunting for Paolo Braga (Gabriel Leone), who didn’t suspect that the item that was being smuggled was none other than Bernard (Stanley Tucci). Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead. 

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Deadloch: Season Two – TV Review

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TL;DR – This is a series that fires more chaos at you in the space of thirty seconds than I have ever seen fired at you in thirty seconds.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Amazon Prime service that viewed this series.

Warning – Contains scenes which may cause distress.

A Crocodile.

Deadloch Review Introduction

I had no idea what I was getting into when I sat down to watch a Nordic noir translocated into the Tasmanian wilderness, and the crazy turned up to 11. Season 1 was a wild ride, but it was very Tasmanian-coded. So, I was a touch concerned when they relocated the series up north, literally as far as you could get from Tasmania from a distance, weather, temperature, and general humidity perspective. However, given how well the first season went, I had to find out if it could survive the shift, and I can now say that it has not lost one iota of momentum when it comes to the chaos.  

So, to set the scene, up in the Northern Territory, in a town called Barra Creek, a local croc tour is taking a bunch of tourists out on the river. But tragedy strikes when they find the local bull-crocodile has been murdered, but even more concerning was what was in the late crocodile’s mouth. Thankfully, Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) and Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami) were already in the area and were able to give a hand before the local detective looking into some missing Swedish backpackers came and made a mess of everything. The only issue, okay, one of many issues, is that Eddie used to live here back in the day. Now we will be looking at the season as a whole, so there may be some [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair – Season One – TV Review

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TL;DR – While it had some truly wild moments, it always felt that this was a show that had its predecessor dragging behind it like an anchor, and it likely would have worked better if they had cut that cord free more than they ended up doing.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service that viewed this series.

The family on a video call.

Malcolm in the Middle: Life’s Still Unfair Review Introduction

I’m going to come out right from the start and say that I am old enough to have enjoyed the show when it originally aired, but beyond the odd episode here and there, I have not seen the show since its original run. I remember enjoying it when it was on, but then I never found the drive, nor was it easily accessible to rewatch it where I live. Coming into this, I had a lot of nostalgia, but also significant distance from the show, and I’m not sure whether that helped or hurt my viewing experience.

So, to set the scene, A lot has happened to Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) in the years since the show aired. He went off to college, had a daughter, Leah (Keeley Karsten), founded a charity, and has gone mostly non-contact with his family. He keeps up the presence, but then always has a reason as to why he is busy. Well, try as he might to avoid it, his parents, Hal (Bryan Cranston) and Lois (Jane Kaczmarek), are about to have their 40th Wedding Anniversary, and they want all the kids back to celebrate it, come hell or high water. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead. 

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Shrinking: Season 3 – TV Review

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TL;DR – Shrinking is the kind of show that has cornered the market in laugh-crying your way through an episode, and this final but not final season captured that beautifully

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the AppleTV service that I used to view this series.

Liz looking down from her balcony.

Shrinking Review introduction –

Today, we are looking at a very odd sort of ending. Because in one sense, we have reached the end of a story, three planned-out seasons careening towards a goal. However, because of the impact of the cast and characters, we know there will be another season with another story. It is like wondering if you are saying goodbye to characters you love or see you later. It is in that space that we explore the final season today.  

So, to set the scene, things are looking up for the group of friends working their way around life, love, and finding themselves. However, while everyone is growing and changing, life finds its way to throw curveballs everywhere. Jimmy (Jason Segel) wants Alice (Lukita Maxwell) to get into Wesleyan, but he is very much not ready for his daughter to move across the country for college in Connecticut. Paul’s (Harrison Ford) Parkinson’s is progressing, and he can’t hold a pencil anymore. But nothing prepares you for the reason someone says, “My bad”. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead. 

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Paradise: Season 2 – TV Review

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TL;DR – The more I think about this season, the more it feels like it suffered from “Part-two-itus”, taking on the needed plot swerve so it can be the bridge between the opening and finale.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service that viewed this series.

Sinatra walks through Paradise before it destroys itself.

Paradise Review Introduction

Well, we have gotten to the end of Paradise’s second season, and I can say that it did feel like a very odd season for me. Moments of profound interest, wasted plot points, and a perplexing ending. This gives it an interesting feel, and I feel like I am still wrapping my head around it days later.

So, to set the scene, as Season Two progressed, Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) finally reunited with his wife, Teri Rogers-Collins (Enuka Okuma). Sinatra (Julianne Nicholson) has been slowly moving back into the position of main power, thanks to Jane (Nicole Brydon Bloom) killing all those who opposed her. Link (Thomas Doherty) and his group have made it to the outside of Paradise and have started making demands. All while everyone is trying to work out who is Alex? Now, from here, we will be looking at the season as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Deadloch: Croc Justice [S2:E1] – TV Review

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TL;DR – A delightful return of a wonderfully amusing Australian show

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Amazon Prime service that viewed this series.

"Don Darrell's Best Best Jumping Croc Tours"

Deadloch Review Introduction

I had no idea what I was getting into when I sat down to watch a Nordic noir translocated into the Tasmanian wilderness, and the crazy turned up to 11. Season 1 was a wild ride, but it was very Tasmanian-coded. So, I was a touch concerned when they relocated the series up north, literally as far as you could get from Tasmania from a distance, weather, temperature, and general humidity perspective. However, given how well the first season went, I had to find out if it could survive the shift.  

So, to set the scene, up in the Northern Territory, in a town called Barra Creek, a local croc tour is taking a bunch of tourists out on the river. But tragedy strikes when they find the local bull-crocodile has been murdered, but even more concerning was what was in the late crocodile’s mouth. Thankfully, Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) and Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami) were already in the area and were able to give a hand before the local detective looking into some missing Swedish backpackers came and made a mess of everything. The only issue, okay, one of many issues, is that Eddie used to live here back in the day. Now we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there may be some [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat – Onboarding [S2:E1] – TV Review

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TL;DR – This opening episode shows that lightning just might be able to strike twice.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Amazon Prime service that streamed this series.

Oak Canyon Ranch Retreat.

Company Retreat Review Introduction

Back in 2023, something very odd happened: television created a prank show that ended up uplifting its target rather than beating them down. Jury Duty was a wild experiment that frankly should not have worked. Seriously, when you think about all the different elements that needed to come together to make it work, it is astonishing. However, once you have pulled that off, there is no way you could go in for a second bite at the apple … right? …

So, to set the scene, Anthony Norman (Anthony Norman) is working as a temp when he applied for a position at Rockin’ Grandma’s Hot Sauce company. You see, hot sauce is having a glow up at the moment, and there is a celebratory feel to the company. Well, Anthony has been brought on by the head of HR, Kevin Gomez (Ryan Perez), to assist him in running the company retreat. The only weird thing is that there is a documentary crew following them around because the CEO of the company, Doug (Jerry Hauck), is retiring and is about to hand the reins to his son Dougy Jr. (Alex Bonifer). Oh, and did I mention that everyone in the show is an actor, except Anthony Norman. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.      

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