Tag Archives: TV

I love “Lost” but I never rewatch it: The burden of the perfect ending in the streaming era

Does a popular mythology-laden TV show or film series need to stick the landing to be viable in the streaming world? This question came up around “Game of Thrones” in a recent “Binge Mode” episode.

I’ve been thinking about this in relation to my own viewing habits. Back in the day, when TV networks had all the juice and DVRs were still novelties, I wrote about “Lost.” It was a wonderful experience that connected me to people who shared my enthusiasm for the series. “Lost” meant a lot to me.

But here’s the weird thing: It’s been 10 years since “Lost” went off the air and I haven’t rewatched the show. Continue reading →

A mostly real-time review of “Killing Eve,” season 1

Jodie Comer in "Killing Eve"

Jodie Comer as Villanelle, an assassin who doesn’t mind standing out. Credit: BBC America

The following are notes and questions I jotted down as I watched the first season of “Killing Eve” on Hulu. There are loads of SPOILERS in this write-up. I don’t provide a lot of context, so this stuff won’t make much sense if you aren’t watching the show. Footnotes include a mix of random asides and follow-ups I posted after I finished the show.

What’s this show about?

Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) is a British intelligence analyst. Villanelle (Jodie Comer) is an assassin working for a murky organization with murky goals. As each becomes aware of the other, mutual interest turns into mutual obsession / infatuation / attraction (maybe?). Hilarity and a substantial body count ensue. Also, the show has brilliant production, a spot-on cast, unexpected bursts of dark comedy, and a fantastic soundtrack. You should absolutely watch it.

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A mostly real-time review of “Money Heist” (“La Casa de Papel”), parts 1 and 2


The cast of “Money Heist” (“La Casa de Papel”).
Left to right: Rio, ??, The Professor, Nairobi, Tokyo, and Denver. Credit: Netflix. 1

The following are notes and questions I jotted down as I watched “Money Heist” on Netflix. There are loads of SPOILERS. I don’t provide a lot of context, so this stuff won’t make much sense if you aren’t watching the show. Footnotes include a mix of random asides and follow-ups I posted after I finished the show.

What’s this show about?

Eight thieves—each using a code name that corresponds to a city—break into the Royal Mint of Spain. Their goal isn’t to steal money, it’s to print money. Their most valuable resources are hostages, time, anonymity, and public support: they need all four to print billions in cash and get away. The intricate plan is overseen from outside the mint by The Professor, a mastermind who’s been planning this crime for most of his life.

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