Tag Archives: American Television

VisionQuest: Reboot [S1:E3] – TV Review

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TL;DR – When you introduce a villain in the same show as Ultron, you need to do it as well as this.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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

Pixelated fire at the heart of Vision.

VisionQuest Review Introduction

We have now moved into the next batch of episodes with VisionQuest, and after some solid set-up, it is time to get into the meat of the episode. Is what I would be saying if this was not another set-up episode, but when you are setting up such a solid villain, well, I will allow it.

So, to set the scene, at the end of Theseus, things are looking really bad for Vision (Paul Bettany). Paladin (Todd Stashwick) just shot him full of adamantium rounds, breaking his unbreakable case and leaking vital fluids all over the place. He would be dead if not for the fact that Tommy (Ruaridh Mollica) does not like to listen to such advice. But Paladin is under a contract and is not going to stop just because his third attempt to catch Vision failed. But while everyone was watching Vision die, they should have been watching the news for all the murders going around. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Scrubs: My Best Friend’s Birthday [S2:E5] – TV Review

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TL;DR – An odd episode with big moments and some awkward encounters.  

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service that aired this episode.

JD, Turk, and Elliot look in shock.

Scrubs Review Introduction

Today we are looking at an episode that has become quite contentious in my friend circles. I have heard quite negative things about it before I sat down, and now I have watched it; well, it was fine.

So, to set the scene, it is one of those rare days where JD (Zach Braff) and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) have the day off, but the hospital is a difficult third person in any relationship. Just when you think you are free, it pulls you back in, and that is a hard sell on any relationship. Even Turk (Donald Faison) is feeling the pain when he can’t get one night by himself. But in many ways the hospital is a grand trial, some will thrive, and others will fail. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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VisionQuest: Theseus [S1:E2] – TV Review

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TL;DR – The show continues to draw me in with its world slowly revealing itself.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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

A painting of Vison arising from flames.

VisionQuest Review Introduction

Today we continue our dive into VisionQuest, the third and maybe final in the series of Wanda-instigated Disney+ shows. Each drops a new side of the MCU as they play in their realm of witches and monsters where miracles and tragedy go hand in hand.

So, to set the scene, we find out that when Tommy/Thomas (Ruaridh Mollica) had been held under the water too long, there was a bolt of lightning and suddenly one person became two. Two people, with two lives, and one body. But he is not crazy, because we saw what happened in Maiden Mother Crone; we know the truth, the police don’t. Well, what’s a little avoiding arrest when among friends? Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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VisionQuest: No Strings [S1:E1] – TV Review

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Rating: 4 out of 5.

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

W+V.

VisionQuest Review Introduction

While I have been keeping up with the MCU movies, over the last few years, I have fallen off the Disney+ TV shows. However, when you see Terry Matalas come in to land the Wanda trilogy, that breaks through, and you need to check it out.

So, to set the scene, since the events of WandaVision, Vision (Paul Bettany) or at least the white rebirthed version of Vision in human form, has gone into hiding in Edinburgh, where he and Wanda hid leading up to Captain America: Civil War. But Vision is not alone; he downloaded many of the old Stark AI programs, including JARVIS (James D’Arcy) and stored them in his quantum processes, where he visits each night. Working with them to become human, well, more human, human-er. But one stored program might come back to bite him: Ultron (James Spader). Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Scrubs: My Chief [S2:E4] – TV Review

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TL;DR – A lot happened in this episode, but only one thing landed its mark

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service that aired this episode.

Scrubs Review Introduction

Today we are looking at an episode that is a bit of a mixed bag, because at least one of its major points landed. However, the rest of the episode was kind of fine. Nothing remarkable, but just fine.

So, to set the scene, JD (Zach Braff) is having a problem. Someone in the hospital just made a huge mistake, and a patient had to be readmitted. This is a huge financial loss for the hospital, and JD, as chief, is looking to find which idiot doctor let the person go before they were ready. Unfortunately for JD, the answer is not the one he wanted to find. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Scrubs: My Ex’s Ex [S2:E3] – TV Review

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TL;DR – An episode that brings that old-school feel before kicking you in the face.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service that aired this episode.

Charlie stuck in-between JD and Carla.

Scrubs Review –

When I was reviewing Season 1 of Scrubs, or Season 10 depending on your perspective, one of my main criticisms was that it felt isolated from the older episodes because most of the supporting cast didn’t make the jump. Today is the first episode where it felt like we were finally getting back to that level.

So, to set the scene, at Sacred Heart, there are three relationships on show. JD (Zach Braff) and Charlie (Rachel Bilson) are in that first stage of romance, Carla (Judy Reyes) and Turk (Donald Faison) are working through living together after so many years of marriage, and for Elliot (Sarah Chalke), well, she is single again. Which makes it the perfect time for JD to run into Sean (Scott Foley), his ex’s ex. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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The Diplomat: Windsor [S4:E1] – TV Review

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TL;DR – Delightfully chaotic as we get to watch a masterclass in dialogue.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

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

Hal and Grace look out different windows during a car trip.

The Diplomat Review Introduction

My background is in International Relations, and it does not come up here as much as I would like, other than the occasional The Hitman’s Bodyguard jaunt. Well, today, given the situation of the world, I thought I would take a chance to have some wishful thinking in a world where the right things still matter, integrity still matters, to pretend for a couple of hours that everything hasn’t just gone to shit everywhere. Which is what I wrote when I dived into Season 3 of The Diplomat, and looking out at the world today, it still applies to Season 4.

So, to set the scene, everyone at the embassy is still dealing with the fallout of the Americans stealing a nuclear device from a grounded Russian submarine in British waters, which Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) did not know about, poor form, given that her husband Hal (Rufus Sewell) was the one who planned the covert military action with President Grace Penn (Allison Janney). Especially since Grace just got out from the cloud that she set in motion the events in Season 1 that led to the explosion on the British naval vessel. A lot of stuff went down last season. As both the President and Vice President made their way back to Air Force One, protestors blocked the highway. So, there is only one thing you can do: camp out at Windsor Castle for a while. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be some [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Scrubs: My Mentee [S2:E2] – TV Review

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TL;DR – A good example of one of the sillier episodes that still sneaks some commentary under the shenanigans.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service that aired this episode.

Sam with a blown up plastic glove.

Scrubs Review –

When you have a reboot series where you bring back the old cast, you can pretend that nothing has changed, or you can incorporate that time into your narratives. Today’s episode does the latter as it gets into the core of the characters.

So, to set the scene, Dr Cox’s (John C. McGinley) treatment has been going well, and he is in remission. The only problem is that each of his infusions costs $35.000. As they struggle to work out how to fix the American healthcare system, JD (Zach Braff), Turk (Donald Faison), and Elliot (Sarah Chalke) have to see their lives through the prism of their mentees. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Scrubs: My First Time in a While [S2:E1] – TV Review

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TL;DR – A surprisingly emotional episode right out of the gate.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Disclosure – I paid for the Disney+ service that aired this episode.

Sasha Parking Only.

Scrubs Review –

Well, we are back for Season Two or Season 11 of Scrubs, and in a rare form these years, we did not have to wait three-odd years to get it. Scrubs is now and has always been a comfort show for me, and today we will see if that trend continues or not.

So, to set the scene, while JD (Zach Braff) is celebrating the first meaningful relationship since his divorce from Elliot (Sarah Chalke), things are not all good at Sacred Heart. That is because Dr Cox’s (John C. McGinley) treatment is not progressing as it should, putting a real strain on his kidneys. It is a problem only a super team of medical superheroes, and Todd (Robert Maschio) can fix, if at all. Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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Lanterns: The Jordan Boys’ Legacy [S1E7] – TV Review

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TL;DR – This is all preparation for the season finale next week, but still, it engages you at every level.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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

End Credit Scene – There is a making-of and trailer after the end credits.

Warning – Contains scenes which may cause distress.

A Navy cap.

Lanterns Review Introduction

Well, we are getting precariously close to the season/series finale next week, and I am surprised at myself that I am not quite ready to let all these characters go. Each week has been almost like a new tapestry being unveiled or a new part of a quilt being added, all building to the final picture. Today we dive deeper while muddling things around the edges in a fascinating way.

So, to set the scene, Hal Jordan (Kyle Chandler) dead, long live Hal Jordan, for John Stewart (Aaron Pierre) remembered a trick Hal showed him one time to etch 5% more power out of a ring. That 5% was just enough to summon the backup of Hal that Hal had stored there. Though it had not been activated in 10 years and his first sight is his dead body lying in a grave. It’s a lot to take in. John needs Hal’s voice to activate the safe he left behind, but Hal will only do it if John takes him to see Sheriff Kane (Kelly Macdonald). Now, from here, we will be looking at the episode as a whole, so there will be [SPOILERS] ahead.

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