TheLittleSongbird
Joined Jan 2009
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'Law and Order: Special Victims Unit' "Swimming with the Sharks" (2020)
Opening thoughts: Most of Season 21's episodes on first watch did not leave a positive impression. "Swimming with the Sharks" was one of the worst first watches, a case of one great guest performance (despite having serious issues with her character) but also a story and writing that were all over the place and left a bad taste in the mouth. That the subject was tackled was laudable and it did sound very interesting, but on first watch this episode just didn't work on most levels.
As much as it pains me to say it, "Swimming with the Sharks" still didn't work on most levels on rewatch and for the same reasons. Except that the flaws found on first watch were bigger issues this time around, and more flaws were found along the way. It is a real shame, and actually quite anger inducing, that Season 21 just like that went from its second best episode "I Deserve Some Loving Too" to one of its worst (a contender actually for the worst). "Swimming with the Sharks" isn't an abomination, but most of its numerous problems are executed terribly.
Good things: It is saved from total disaster by primarily the brave guest turn of Samantha Mathis. Despite intensely hating her character, or at least how she was written, Mathis does a very convincing job in a challenging role that could have been easy to overact but wasn't. Most of the regular acting is very good, and the acting overall is fine considering the awful writing and characterisation they are given to work with.
The production values are well done, subtly stylish and intimate without being claustrophobic. The music isn't too melodramatic.
Bad things: However, the writing and story are a total shambles. Luna is one truly unsympathetic and impossible to root for character from the get go, especially when what happens at the beginning goes against what is revealed later. The bait and switch on the character was not believable and would have been better if the victim that has more to her than what it seemed initially was kept, rather than throwing in an attempt to get us on her side again. The episode did much better at making her appear guilty rather than innocent, especially when the latter was not fleshed out anywhere near enough, convoluted the story and felt thrown in.
Regarding the case, it is both very dull and ridiculous, the character writing of Luna and the attempts to make her not a villain confused the story and came over as inconsistent. The characters came over as cartoonish stereotypes and not real people, and this is the fault of the writing and not the game efforts of the actors. There is an exception to the acting, which is again the flat Jamie Gray Hyder. Too much of the dialogue is awkward and melodramatic, with it being especially lacking in taste at the end. Didn't like how it trivialises suffering and Olivia's words of wisdom dialogue is both senseless and patronising. The ending was truly unsatisfying to the point of feeling angry, it didn't feel realistic, felt like a cheat and the message it seems to send being dubious. Season 21 has really not been very good when it comes to balanced character writing in regard to gender, with the male bashing being quite strong at times.
Closing thoughts: Concluding, didn't do anything for me. Didn't like it first time, didn't like it this time and actually liked it even less.
4/10.
Opening thoughts: Most of Season 21's episodes on first watch did not leave a positive impression. "Swimming with the Sharks" was one of the worst first watches, a case of one great guest performance (despite having serious issues with her character) but also a story and writing that were all over the place and left a bad taste in the mouth. That the subject was tackled was laudable and it did sound very interesting, but on first watch this episode just didn't work on most levels.
As much as it pains me to say it, "Swimming with the Sharks" still didn't work on most levels on rewatch and for the same reasons. Except that the flaws found on first watch were bigger issues this time around, and more flaws were found along the way. It is a real shame, and actually quite anger inducing, that Season 21 just like that went from its second best episode "I Deserve Some Loving Too" to one of its worst (a contender actually for the worst). "Swimming with the Sharks" isn't an abomination, but most of its numerous problems are executed terribly.
Good things: It is saved from total disaster by primarily the brave guest turn of Samantha Mathis. Despite intensely hating her character, or at least how she was written, Mathis does a very convincing job in a challenging role that could have been easy to overact but wasn't. Most of the regular acting is very good, and the acting overall is fine considering the awful writing and characterisation they are given to work with.
The production values are well done, subtly stylish and intimate without being claustrophobic. The music isn't too melodramatic.
Bad things: However, the writing and story are a total shambles. Luna is one truly unsympathetic and impossible to root for character from the get go, especially when what happens at the beginning goes against what is revealed later. The bait and switch on the character was not believable and would have been better if the victim that has more to her than what it seemed initially was kept, rather than throwing in an attempt to get us on her side again. The episode did much better at making her appear guilty rather than innocent, especially when the latter was not fleshed out anywhere near enough, convoluted the story and felt thrown in.
Regarding the case, it is both very dull and ridiculous, the character writing of Luna and the attempts to make her not a villain confused the story and came over as inconsistent. The characters came over as cartoonish stereotypes and not real people, and this is the fault of the writing and not the game efforts of the actors. There is an exception to the acting, which is again the flat Jamie Gray Hyder. Too much of the dialogue is awkward and melodramatic, with it being especially lacking in taste at the end. Didn't like how it trivialises suffering and Olivia's words of wisdom dialogue is both senseless and patronising. The ending was truly unsatisfying to the point of feeling angry, it didn't feel realistic, felt like a cheat and the message it seems to send being dubious. Season 21 has really not been very good when it comes to balanced character writing in regard to gender, with the male bashing being quite strong at times.
Closing thoughts: Concluding, didn't do anything for me. Didn't like it first time, didn't like it this time and actually liked it even less.
4/10.
'Puss in Boots' (1922)
Opening thoughts: Although a huge Disney fan, liking to loving all but about four of their films and liking to loving a vast majority of their cartoons, it has to be admitted that my knowledge of Disney pre-'Steamboat Willie' is still pretty limited. Am planning though to rectify this through primarily watching the Alice series, which has been the aim for years but being behind with film watching and reviewing has stopped that.
1922's 'Puss in Boots' (very loose adaptation-wise but with the basic elements) is a pretty interesting example of early Disney. It is not perfect or great, but it is still pretty decent and quite charming. Enough to make one want to see more of Disney's pre-'Steamboat Willie' output. Especially to see how they fare in comparison to their output 1928 onwards.
Bad things: It is not perfect. The story is very slight and takes time to get going. The pace could have been tighter and there was the feeling that the cartoon could have been 2 or 3 minutes shorter.
Other than the titular character, the characters don't make much of an impression.
Good things: However, the animation is quite impressive, was very surprised at how fluid the character movements are and the backgrounds were already more elaborate than most animation studios in their infancy in the 20s. The music has lush orchestration and lively character, never at odds with the action.
Furthermore, the titular character has an appealing and fun personality, the topical references while of the time and ones younger audiences are not going to get are amusing to spot and once the cartoon gets going it goes at a lively clip and entertains and charms. The climax is suspenseful and visually striking.
Closing thoughts: Concluding, pretty decent.
7/10.
Opening thoughts: Although a huge Disney fan, liking to loving all but about four of their films and liking to loving a vast majority of their cartoons, it has to be admitted that my knowledge of Disney pre-'Steamboat Willie' is still pretty limited. Am planning though to rectify this through primarily watching the Alice series, which has been the aim for years but being behind with film watching and reviewing has stopped that.
1922's 'Puss in Boots' (very loose adaptation-wise but with the basic elements) is a pretty interesting example of early Disney. It is not perfect or great, but it is still pretty decent and quite charming. Enough to make one want to see more of Disney's pre-'Steamboat Willie' output. Especially to see how they fare in comparison to their output 1928 onwards.
Bad things: It is not perfect. The story is very slight and takes time to get going. The pace could have been tighter and there was the feeling that the cartoon could have been 2 or 3 minutes shorter.
Other than the titular character, the characters don't make much of an impression.
Good things: However, the animation is quite impressive, was very surprised at how fluid the character movements are and the backgrounds were already more elaborate than most animation studios in their infancy in the 20s. The music has lush orchestration and lively character, never at odds with the action.
Furthermore, the titular character has an appealing and fun personality, the topical references while of the time and ones younger audiences are not going to get are amusing to spot and once the cartoon gets going it goes at a lively clip and entertains and charms. The climax is suspenseful and visually striking.
Closing thoughts: Concluding, pretty decent.
7/10.
'High Guardian Spice' (2021)
Opening thoughts: The complete opposite in fact. Actually feel really bad about giving 'High Guardian Spice' a low rating and review, being a lifelong lover of animation and anime, as someone who appreciates the addressing and embracing of diversity and LGBTQ representation and as someone who is big on equality and acceptance. While the concept did not sound exciting and the near universal panning put me off, 'High Guardian Spice' did have some potential.
Potential that is delivered disastrously and there is not much more to add to what has already been said so well. Everything about 'High Guardian Spice' felt incredibly lazy and the show's biggest interest point somehow managed to be one of its biggest failures to the point of being offensive. Actually (despite some of my recent reviews probably indicating otherwise) have given many incredibly high ratings and many positive reviews for animated shows, 'Gravity Falls' and 'Amphibia' being the two most deserving recent ones, and have seen diversity done tastefully many times elsewhere, but somehow nothing works about 'High Guardian Spice'.
Good things: None
Bad things: Everything. 'High Guardian Spice's' animation couldn't have been much worse. Consisting of very flat colours, unfinished looking backgrounds, very generic character designs and stiff character animation, so calling it very bad is a major understatement. The music sounds cheap and would have belonged better in the early 90s or something, it sure doesn't sound like anything from two or so years ago. The voice actors sound so disinterested and old fashioned, almost like they know that the material was bad, and they are poorly recorded too.
Writing is incredibly poor throughout, with an over-reliance on very cheap, overly dumb humour that would be insulting even to children. Humour that has a very recycled feel and with no original idea or joke of its own. Emotionally, there is nothing. No depth, no pathos or heart, there is not even enough emotion to be remotely sentimental. The storytelling in all the episodes is as unoriginal as one can get (very rehashed feeling actually), the world building is not immersive and is never fully fleshed out and it is very dull by the numbers in execution.
Absolutely hated all the characters, with Rosemary being one of the most irritating lead characters in animation in recent years. They are incredibly one dimensional with like two or three character traits each, all incredibly unappealing and not in some while has some of the most unappealing character traits being this exaggerated anywhere. Positive traits are next to none and there is no growth to the characters. While really appreciating that the show had LGBTQ representation, it is handled in a very stereotyped, over-generalised and caricatured way, in a way where one would find it impossible to believe that the creator was trans when it feels like it was done by someone with a narrow viewpoint of the LGBT community.
Closing thoughts: Overall, incredibly lazy and awful in every way.
1/10.
Opening thoughts: The complete opposite in fact. Actually feel really bad about giving 'High Guardian Spice' a low rating and review, being a lifelong lover of animation and anime, as someone who appreciates the addressing and embracing of diversity and LGBTQ representation and as someone who is big on equality and acceptance. While the concept did not sound exciting and the near universal panning put me off, 'High Guardian Spice' did have some potential.
Potential that is delivered disastrously and there is not much more to add to what has already been said so well. Everything about 'High Guardian Spice' felt incredibly lazy and the show's biggest interest point somehow managed to be one of its biggest failures to the point of being offensive. Actually (despite some of my recent reviews probably indicating otherwise) have given many incredibly high ratings and many positive reviews for animated shows, 'Gravity Falls' and 'Amphibia' being the two most deserving recent ones, and have seen diversity done tastefully many times elsewhere, but somehow nothing works about 'High Guardian Spice'.
Good things: None
Bad things: Everything. 'High Guardian Spice's' animation couldn't have been much worse. Consisting of very flat colours, unfinished looking backgrounds, very generic character designs and stiff character animation, so calling it very bad is a major understatement. The music sounds cheap and would have belonged better in the early 90s or something, it sure doesn't sound like anything from two or so years ago. The voice actors sound so disinterested and old fashioned, almost like they know that the material was bad, and they are poorly recorded too.
Writing is incredibly poor throughout, with an over-reliance on very cheap, overly dumb humour that would be insulting even to children. Humour that has a very recycled feel and with no original idea or joke of its own. Emotionally, there is nothing. No depth, no pathos or heart, there is not even enough emotion to be remotely sentimental. The storytelling in all the episodes is as unoriginal as one can get (very rehashed feeling actually), the world building is not immersive and is never fully fleshed out and it is very dull by the numbers in execution.
Absolutely hated all the characters, with Rosemary being one of the most irritating lead characters in animation in recent years. They are incredibly one dimensional with like two or three character traits each, all incredibly unappealing and not in some while has some of the most unappealing character traits being this exaggerated anywhere. Positive traits are next to none and there is no growth to the characters. While really appreciating that the show had LGBTQ representation, it is handled in a very stereotyped, over-generalised and caricatured way, in a way where one would find it impossible to believe that the creator was trans when it feels like it was done by someone with a narrow viewpoint of the LGBT community.
Closing thoughts: Overall, incredibly lazy and awful in every way.
1/10.