Compliments to Your Show

    Created by: David Appelbaum  Executive Producers: Ken Woodruff, Arika Lisanne Mittman, Thor Freudenthal, Adam Davidson, Avi Nir, Alon Shtruzman, Peter Traugott, Rachel Kaplan, Steven Lilien & Bryan Wynbrandt, David Appelbaum, and Christopher Hollier Starring: Natalie Zea (Eve Harris), Eoin Macken (Gavin Harris), Chiké Okonkwo (Ty Coleman), Zyra Gorecki (Izzy Harris), Jack Martin (Josh Harris), Veronica St. Clair (Riley Velez), Rohan Mirchandaney (Scott Israni), Lily Santiago (Veronica Castillo), Michelle Vergara Moore (Ella Jones), Jon Seda (Sam Velez), Josh McKenzie (Lucas Hayes), Nicholas Gonzalez (Levi Delgado), Tonantzin Carmelo (Paara) (Note: The beginning of this post covers Part 1.  I was under the impression while writing Part 1 that season 2 was fully out. However, I learned in the middle of writing that there was a Part 2 which, at that time, had yet to air. My review of Part...

  Created by: Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz Executive Producers: Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz, Steve Pearlman, David H. Goodman, Andrew Chambliss Starring: Lana Parilla (Roni), Colin O'Donoghue (Rogers), Andrew J. West (Henry), Dania Ramirez (Jacinda), Gabrielle Anwar (Victoria Belfrey), Alison Fernandez (Lucy), Robert Carlyle (Weaver), Mekia Cox (Sabine), Adelaide Kane (Ivy), Rose Reynolds (Tilly) While one could very logically and correctly argue that this seventh season was unnecessary, I thought it was still really well executed.  I watched this several years after the season had already come out, so I knew the drama about the soft reboot and was prepared for all the changes going in. I remember seeing the news about the changes as they came out, especially about Jennifer Morrison not returning (in any major way) and just thinking to myself, "Well, they'll just have to be more creative about it, then." And guess what? They were.  Some aspects of ...

   Based on: Winx Club  (2004) Nickelodeon animated series created by Iginio Straffi Created by: Brian Young Producer by: Jon Finn, Macdara Kelleher, John Keville, Edmund Sampson Starring: Abigail Cowen (Bloom), Hannah van der Westhuysen (Stella), Precious Mustapha (Aisha), Eliot Salt (Terra), Elisha Applebaum (Musa), Danny Griffin (Sky), Sadie Soverall (Beatrix), Paulina Chávez (Flora), Eve Best (Farah Dowling), Miranda Richardson (Rosalind Hale) Although the first season absolutely enamored me, this second (and sadly final) season seemed to fall short.  It was great to see all the familiar characters from season 1 back again. It was also refreshing to see old enemies become new allies under the dictator-like ruling of Headmistress Rosalind. Her strict, emotionless style had a way of bringing the students together. I really enjoyed the new character of Flora coming in near the beginning and lending her own plant-based ski...

    Based on: Israeli TV series When Heroes Fly  (2018) by Omri Givon, in turn based on novel of the same name by Amir Gutfreund Created by: Mark Boal Executive Producers: Mark Boal, Jason Horwitch, Peter Traugott, Mark Sourian, Pablo Trapero, Omri Givon, Eitan Mansuri, Jonathan Doweck, Avi Nir, Alon Shtruzman, Karni Ziv Starring: Michiel Huisman (Prince Haas), Luke Evans ("Bambi"), Jessica Ann Collins (Amber Chesborough), Elizabeth Anweis (Natalie Foster), Martina Gusmán (Violeta Matiz) I really wasn't sure what I'd make of this show going in, but wow , it was so good!!  In basic, it's the story of an American scientist who is kidnapped in Columbia. When legal extraction methods fail, her special forces-trained husband and brother team up to get her out with brute force. Not a whole lot of that synopsis really appeals to me, but the writing captured me in the way it humanized the people and presented realistic politics--and consequences...

   Based on: Sequel to/Revival of Quantum Leap  (1989) created by Donald P. Bellisario Developed by: Steven Lilien & Bryan Wynbrandt Executive producers: Donald Bellisario, Martin Gero, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt, Deborah Pratt, Helen Shaver, Dean Georgaris Starring: Raymond Lee (Ben Song), Caitlin Bassett (Addison Augustine), Mason Alexander Park (Ian Wright), Nanrisa Lee (Jenn Chou), Ernie Hudson ("Magic") Another reboot/spinoff series I've gone into blind and really enjoyed!!  (The others being House of the Dragon , technically The Winchesters , and 1923 .) I had very little idea what Quantum Leap was about upon tuning into my very first episode. I understood from the Google synonpsis that there was time travel involved, but that's basically it. But honestly, that's all I needed. I think it's a testament to the excellent writing of the season that I didn't feel alienated as a newcomer. In fact, most of the characters in t...

   Created by: Steven Levitan Executive producers: Steven Levitan, John Enbom, Danielle Stokdyk, Jeff Morton Starring: Keegan-Michael Key (Reed), Johnny Knoxville (Clay), Rachel Bloom (Hannah), Calum Worthy (Zack), Krista Marie Yu (Elaine), Judy Greer (Bree), Paul Reiser (Gordon) I don't usually jump at comedies, but I do enjoy behind-the-scenes peeks into the writing and especially film industries, even if those peeks are highly dramatized or fictionalized.  Although it was a bit too raunchy for my taste (though honestly, most shows are; I just have to mentally filter it out), it was exactly the kind of behind-the-scenes peek I was hoping for. Even though I have no way of knowing whether it was an accurate glimpse or way off, I can probably safely assume it has elements of reality. The series began with a Hannah, a screenwriter, pitching a reboot TV show idea to Hulu--vera meta, considering the season aired on Hulu. Her pitch was g...

   Based on: webcomic & graphic novel of same name by Alice Oseman Written for Netflix by: Alice Oseman  Directed by: Euros Lyn Starring: Kit Connor (Nick), Joe Locke (Charlie), William Gao (Tao), Yasmin Finney (Elle), Corinna Brown (Tara), Kizzy Edgell (Darcy)   Something I always ask for in any drama series, especially rom-coms, is for miscommunication not  to be the foundational conflict. For that, and many other things, this show was perfect .  Communication created tension in one single episode and was almost immediately resolved (with more communication). That made me so happy. Otherwise, this show was a pure, wholesome little piece about two people falling in love. It didn't need drama, extra conflict, weird circumstances, or relational twists and turns to get in the way. It was just two people falling in love--unexpectedly--and that subversion of expectation was all the show needed to be great.  Nick &...

   Based on: manga of the same name by Nobuyuki Anzai  Adapted to anime by Studio Pierrot Starring:  Japanese cast:  Kousuke Okano (Recca Hanabishi), Yuki Masuda (Yanagi Sakoshita), Akiko Hiramatsu (Fūko Kirisawa), Nobuo Tobita (Domon Ishijima), Hikaru Midorikawa (Tokiya Mikagami), Motoko Kumai (Kaoru Koganei), Kotono Mitsuishi (Kage Hōshi) English cast:  Scott Roberts (Recca Hanabishi), Carol-Anne Day (Yanagi Sakoshita), Onalea Gilbertson (Fūko Kirisawa), Adam Hunter (Domon Ishijima), Paul Hunter (Tokiya Mikagami), Brett Bauer (Kaoru Koganei), Mariette Sluyter (Kage Hōshi) This was a fun, fantastical series that served a lot of mythology with good potential in its opening arc.  But this will be a shorter blog because I suffered from lack of focus and only made it about a dozen eps in before I switched shows! I saw that there are about 40 total eps in this series, and that's just wa...

Based on: DC comics character Courtney Whitmore created by Geoff Johns and Lee Moder Created by: Geoff Johns Executive producers: Sarah Schechter, Glen Winter, Greg Beeman, Melissa Carter, Greg Berlanti, Geoff Johns Starring: Brec Bassinger (Courtney/Stargirl), Yvette Monreal (Yolanda/ Wildcat), Anjelika Washington (Beth /Dr Mid-Nite), Cameron Gellman (Rick/Hourman), Luke Wilson (Pat/S.T.R.I.P.E.), Amy Smart (Barbara), Trae Romano (Mike), Meg DeLacy (Cindy/Shiv), Hunter Sansone (Cameron), Neil Jackson (Jordan/Icicle), Alkoya Brunson (Jakeem Thunder), Neil Hopkins (Sportsmaster), Joy Osmanski (Tigress), Joel McHale (Starman) This has been an excellent series from beginning to end. (Which... there are strong rumors that the show will be picked up again, somehow, at some point.)  I don't know much about comics, but I'm in several DC groups on Facebook and other comic-focused fans have praised the portrays of all the main characters, es...

      Based on: Fire and Blood  book by George RR Martin Created by: Ryan Condal & George R. R. Martin Showrunners: Ryan Condal & Miguel Sapochnik Starring: Paddy Considine (Viserys Targaryen), Matt Smith (Daemon Targaryen), Milly Alcock (young Rhaenyra Targaryen), Emma D'Arcy (older Rhaenyra), Rhys Ifans (Otto Hightower), Steve Toussaint (Corlys Velaryon), Eve Best (Rhaenys Targaryen), Sonoya Mizuno (Mysaria), Fabien Frankel (Criston Cole), Emily Carey (young Alicent Hightower), Olivia Cooke (older Alicent), Graham McTavish (Harrold Westerling), Matthew Needham (Larys Strong), Jefferson Hall (Jason & Tyland Lannister), Harry Collett ("Jace" Velaryon), Tom Glynn-Carney (Aegon II Targaryen), Ewan Mitchell (Aemond Targaryen), Phia Saban (Helaena Targaryen), Bethany Antonia (Baela Targaryen), Phoebe Campbell (Rhaena Targaryen) This was actually my first foray ...