'The Walking Dead' "Stradivarius" (2018)
Opening thoughts: Actually was incredibly impressed by all the previous Season 9 episodes and Season 9 on the whole was a massive improvement over the previous two seasons easily. "Stradivarius" having said that was a bit disappointing. Not that it is bad, it is actually still good with many things being great and it was wonderful to see development to a character that had not been properly focused on for ages. Just that all the previous Season 9 episodes were tighter paced and had more consistent writing.
Bad things: Getting the not so good things out of the way, for my tastes it was too slow for my tastes. Due to having a little too much content that didn't add very much, some of it dragged out.
Especially in the final act, which is rather contrived.
Good things: "Stradivarius" is primarily compensated though by two things. One is the character development for Daryl, who is at his most interesting here since what feels (and has been) a long time. Character development that actually progresses him and that is insightful and not dumbed down or contradictory. The other is Norman Reedus, who is outstanding in a performance that wrenches the gut in a tense and moving way.
Furthermore, it is a very stylishly and atmospherically made episode, with no signs of self indulgent gimmicks or showing off. The music is also full of atmosphere of the haunting and ominous kind, while also having emotion that is not spelled out. There are thrills and suspense when the episode is more eventful with little coming over as ridiculous or chaotic. The massive improvement in the writing obvious in the previous Season 9 episodes carries over into this one too. The previous two seasons had a lot of (too much) extraneous talk, long winded-ness and soap-opera, next to none of that is here apart from some long winded-ness early on but even that was done far worse in Seasons 7 and 8. Instead the scripting is tight and thoughtful on the whole, treating the characters and the viewer with respect.
On the whole, the story compels and has intrigue and emotion. None of the characters frustrated me, with none of the intelligence insultingly ridiculous and vague decision makings and motivations that plagued too much of Season 7 and nearly all of Season 8. The acting is very good, outstanding in the case of Reedus.
Concluding thoughts: All in all, good but not great.
7/10.
Opening thoughts: Actually was incredibly impressed by all the previous Season 9 episodes and Season 9 on the whole was a massive improvement over the previous two seasons easily. "Stradivarius" having said that was a bit disappointing. Not that it is bad, it is actually still good with many things being great and it was wonderful to see development to a character that had not been properly focused on for ages. Just that all the previous Season 9 episodes were tighter paced and had more consistent writing.
Bad things: Getting the not so good things out of the way, for my tastes it was too slow for my tastes. Due to having a little too much content that didn't add very much, some of it dragged out.
Especially in the final act, which is rather contrived.
Good things: "Stradivarius" is primarily compensated though by two things. One is the character development for Daryl, who is at his most interesting here since what feels (and has been) a long time. Character development that actually progresses him and that is insightful and not dumbed down or contradictory. The other is Norman Reedus, who is outstanding in a performance that wrenches the gut in a tense and moving way.
Furthermore, it is a very stylishly and atmospherically made episode, with no signs of self indulgent gimmicks or showing off. The music is also full of atmosphere of the haunting and ominous kind, while also having emotion that is not spelled out. There are thrills and suspense when the episode is more eventful with little coming over as ridiculous or chaotic. The massive improvement in the writing obvious in the previous Season 9 episodes carries over into this one too. The previous two seasons had a lot of (too much) extraneous talk, long winded-ness and soap-opera, next to none of that is here apart from some long winded-ness early on but even that was done far worse in Seasons 7 and 8. Instead the scripting is tight and thoughtful on the whole, treating the characters and the viewer with respect.
On the whole, the story compels and has intrigue and emotion. None of the characters frustrated me, with none of the intelligence insultingly ridiculous and vague decision makings and motivations that plagued too much of Season 7 and nearly all of Season 8. The acting is very good, outstanding in the case of Reedus.
Concluding thoughts: All in all, good but not great.
7/10.