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larrydearing
Reviews
Enterprise: Anomaly (2003)
Another shoot-out on the OK starship
Marshall Archer, Festus Tucker, Doc Phlox, Newly Mayweather. And Miss Kittie T'Pol are on the Enterprise Ranch, which is overrun by some bad men who say they were forced into a life of crime. When our space cowboys realize that the strangers have stolen a lot of their supplies, including weapons and grub, they chase the robbers through the badlands, sometimes exchanging shots. Our heroes, of course, are never badly injured. One of the invaders is captured and held prisoner in the camp. The marshall threatens to hurt him if he doesn't reveal what he knows. The captive says that the marshall's morality won't let him do that, but Archer is so devoted to those he protects that he dioes indeed torture the prisoner. Using his information, our cowboys recover their grub & their guns but are still in the badlands. The prisoner, who is allowed to leave, tells the marshall that mercy is not a quality that will serve him well in the wild frontier. The episode concludes with a teaser for the next episode in our thrilling adventure.
This show has had a few episodes that have challenged us to think, but far too many of them are recycled adventure stories that could be adapted to any genre. Where have you gone, Gene Roddenberry? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you.
Laverne & Shirley: 2001: A Comedy Odyssey (1978)
Not cool
One of the last acceptable prejudices in our society is ageism. For some reason it's still OK with a lot of people to make fun of the elderly. It's not. How offended would people have been if racial stereotypes were blown out of proportion and laughed at? The idea that there is a segment of our population that it's OK to ridicule and laugh at is offensive and cruel. This episode is unacceptable from start to finish. Don't say "You're overreacting. This is just good clean fun." It's not good, it's not clean, and it shouldn't be perceived as fun.
Something that is fortunately becoming less acceptable is pejudice against and the ridicule of fat people. Laverne's size as well as her age was ridiculed.
I gave this episode a 1 only because 0 is not available.
Death in Paradise: Murder on Mosquito Island (2020)
How much more of Neville will be have to take?
Again I give an episode a rating of 4 because of an interesting, although implausable, story line. It's totally unbelievable and solved by pulling a rabbit out of a hat, but it was - - - - interesting - something that Neville is not. I still watch it because I was fully into the first 8 1/2 seasons, but now I'm just waiting for Neville to leave Saint Marie. I like the other characters, espcially Camille, Fidel, and Dwayne, - - - oh, wait!
Death in Paradise: Switcharoo (2020)
WHY?
A new detective that is seriously annoying & that nobody could like? Richard was annoying, but he was not a total putz like Neville is. He had some good qualities & was fun to watch. Humphrey had some endearing quirks and was easy to like. Jack was endearing from the start. (One reviewer said Humphrey & Jack showed sociopathic tendencies - no way. I think the reviewer needs to look up the word). I hated to see each of the first three detectives, as well as Camille, go. I hope Neville recovers quickly & rushes back to Manchester. It's not going to be fun watching this guy for the next several episodes. I gave the show a 4 because of the good story.
The Adventurer: Target! (1972)
It's not Burke's Law
Pitiful. If this episode is typical, Gene Barry should have turned down the role. The story is trite, shallow, predictable, derivative, and incredibly full of plot holes.
Burke's Law was good camp humor & fun to watch. If The Adventurer was supposed to be camp humor, it fell short of the mark. To quote Peter Noone, it's "A Must to Avoid."
Castle: The Blue Butterfly (2012)
My favorite episode yet
I'm amazed at the negative reviews. I think they just didn't get that this is a loving SPOOF! It, like the series itself, is not meant to be taken too seriously. It's humor, mixed with a tribute to old detective stories & films noir. As far as I'm concerned, this is as close to perfect as TV can be. The accents, the costumes, the 1947 setting are all intentionally over the top. I like the way the small things were done, especially "the end." I enjoyed every second of this episode & feel kind of sorry for those who missed the point. Since it has a rating of 9, obviously most people who loved it didn't review it.
Hamish Macbeth: West Coast Story (1995)
Excellent in every way
Terrific story line, relating it to West Side Story. Too bad they didn't clear the copyright barriers. The script, the depth of character, and the acting are all superb. The only drawback is a 26 year old woman being bound to do what her father says. Oh well, there's no such thing as perfection. As far as TV episodes are concerned, this one came close.
Murdoch Mysteries: The Devil Inside (2017)
Definitely not an 8.2
I agree with the reviewer who panned this episode & said it may be the episode that jumped the shark. It's full of flashbacks & ridiculous real time events. Bringing up Gillies again is nothing more than beating a dead shark. It seems like the writers were desperate for a story, and they came up with the worst Murdoch episode to date. Many recent episodes dating back to the end of last season have been disappointing. I didn't think it could get any worse than Murdoch being kidnapped and chained to the bed by a deranged woman, but this show proved me wrong. This has been one of my favorite shows. I hope it's not running on fumes like Happy Days did for so long.
Semi-spoiler: the next episode is not much better.
Once Upon a Time (2011)
TERRIFIC
My adult son said he liked this show. Given the premise I thought it would be superficial along the lines of Marvel superhero shows, but this has blown me away. It's endlessly fascinating and interesting. The characters are so real, the stories captivating, the writing, directing, special effects, and casting are all perfect 10's. Some reviewers said the last season is not as good. I'll find out in a while. I have watched the first five episodes and am loving it. Mr son is, once again, a reliable source for recommendations.
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1983)
Not bad
There are some very good things about this production. The direction and photography are excellent, and Ian Richardson is quite good as Holmes - almost as good as Jeremy Brett. Watson is a bit of a letdown. He was closer to Doyle's portrayal of a doctor with above average intelligence than many Watsons have been, but Donald Churchill was no David Burke or even Edward Hardwick. He swallowed every sound to the point of talking from his throat rather than his mouth - distracting and irritating.
Glynis Barber (Beryl Stapleton) and Martin Shaw (Sir Henry) looked like they belonged 100 years in the future. Ronald Lacy (Inspector Lestrade) looked like a boy trying to play a grown-up. These actors gave the movie the aura of a high school play with students playing grown up characters from 100 years earlier. Shaw did have one of the best American accents I have heard from a British actor.
It is an enjoyable effort, but - like so many Holmes stories - it pales in comparison to the version with Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwick.
In Plain Sight: Pilot (2008)
Disgusting
I am with you, virtuoso, except I don't know why you gave it three stars too many. Usually when I'm disappointed in a pilot, I'll give the show a second chance, but by the time I spent over an hour watching a skanky pissed off lead character, I felt like taking a shower. The plot was totally uninteresting, and, like virtuoso said, the humor fell flat, and I think my time is too valuable to waste on trash like this. Try "Person of Interest." It's a good show about righting wrongs.
Joan of Arcadia: Something Wicked This Way Comes (2005)
What could have been
This was the best show in an outstanding but short-lived series. In reply to another review - of course Joan's friends & family didn't know Ryan was the devil. According to the Judeo-Christian mythology, that's the was Lucifer works. His battles against a 17-year-old girl who wanted to do the right thing would have been a great season three. This episode was intended to be a harbinger of shows to come, not a series finale. The show was unexpectedly cancelled. The song that ended it was not the Stones. It was "Trapped" by Bruce Springsteen. In a way, cancellation was a break for many of the main characters. There would have been extreme angst for Joan, Helen, Lilly, Adam, and Grace. The complexities of character and relationships could have been deeply explored. It's like the fourth season of the original Star Trek - a great season that never was.
Veronica Mars: Spring Break Forever (2019)
What a letdown
I really liked seasons one and two. Three wasn't much good, but since the movie was a step in the right direction, I was looking forward to season four. Unfortunately, I just suffered through one of the most disappointing shows I have ever watched. When I saw it was from Hulu, I knew it was in trouble. Sure enough, it was full of foul language (lots of s**t in English and Spanish). On top of that, there were also some gross sexual innuendos. These things were mercifully missing from the previous seasons & the movie. Not everybody enjoys wallowing in the baser qualities of the human species. That's not what Veronica Mars had been about - until this episode. The main plot, both subplots, and the backstory are all uninteresting. The writiers were just coasting, letting free association carry the story & the dialogue. One redeeming quality - Kristen Bell. Without her, it would be a 1.
Happy Days: A Little Case of Revenge (1982)
This ain't Happy Days
Pretty good episode - the best one I've seen after season four. I watched this one just to see Tom Hanks. 1982 was obviously a long time ago! I haven't watched many episodes since Fonzie jumped the shark in season four and was amazed at how different the show was by season 10. Fonzie getting a good citizenship award & refusing to fight!!?? And where was everybody? Without Richie, Potsie, and Ralph, the show shouldn't even be called Happy Days. Fonzie domesticated with a girlfriend and her child! Roger & the two personalityless guys are nowheresville. This is one show that stayed on the air WAY too long. It originated the expression "jumped the shark" for a good reason.
Timeless: The World's Columbian Exposition (2017)
Someone should prooflisten
This episode, like all the others is excellent. The characters are well defined and the stories are always engaging. Getting to see historic figures like Harry Houdini in a fictional setting is entertaining. The story of Garcia Flynn is being revealed one layer at a time like an onion being peeled. I highly recomment this series to anyone who is at all interested in history and/or good drama. But - the writers need someone who really knows the English language to catch anachronisms. No one in 1893 would have said "Have a good day." That came into fashion about the time happy faces appeared. I'm sure people would have wanted to know what happened to loved ones who disappeared, but they would have been even more confused than I am about the term "closure." That began being used decades after the Chicago World's Fair. I've heard it hundreds (thousands?) of times, and still don't really know what it means. No one in 1893 would have heard the expression. These anachronism may seem like a little thing, but it grates as badly as someone saying "Me and my wife like this show" or "It's good entertainment for my wife and I."
The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes: The Mysterious Death on the Underground Railway (1973)
No danger from this "rival"
I had hoped for much more. I'm a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes (especially the shows with Jeremy Brett) and Victoriana. Both the story and the presentation are disappointing. The script is predictable & simplistic, and the courtroon scenes are no competition for Perry Mason or even Rumpole of the Bailey. The only competent actor is John Savident as the defense attorney. The rest of the cast is straight out of small town community theater. The production is also weak. Dialogue is often obscured by sound effects and unfortunate placement of mikes.
I will watch more episodes because of the era & genre - they are the reason for the four stars. I expect the acting & production will be no better, but I hope the scripts & stories will improve.
Turn (2014)
Say WHAT?
I really wanted to like this show. I'm a history buff, and the American revolution is one of the most intersting events of all time. But it's hard to like when so much of the dialogue is incomprehensible because of strange "accents." Were the actors talking strangely because the producers knew that 18th century English was different from today's? It might not have been a bad idea if the dialogue had been intelligible.
The other serious problem is that it's hard to tell the revolutionaries from the Tories. And furthermore - history as fascinating as the American revolution doesn't need blood & guts to be interesting. The violence detracted from the story. People who get some kind of strange thrill from bloodshed will probably not be interested in the intracacies of alliances. Go for one audience or the other: boneheads or intelligent people. By trying to appeal to both, this show appeals to neither.
Minder: Get Daley (1984)
One of the best
Excellent episode of an outstanding series. Everybody gets what's coming to them, thanks mainly to Terry. The story is easy to follow (sometimes it's not), and the dialogue is understandable (sometimes it's not). Arthur even expresses some positive feelings about Terry! Mr. Daley has a decent side. There was one thing that especially caught my attention: Arthur was told that his insurance scheme would not pay because he had signed up too recently. I thought the National Health System would cover it. If anyone understands this, please expalin.
The Dead Zone (1983)
Good but not great
The movie has an excellent premise, but fails to realize its potential. Johnny never rises above the mundane. Sarah is a more interesting and complex character. There are some engaging and emotional scenes, but much of the movie is slow moving and even boring. What I found more impactful than anything else was Martin Sheen's portrayal of a 1983 version of Donald Trump - the complete opposite of Sheen's character in The West Wing.
The X Files: Die Hand Die Verletzt (1995)
Getting gruesomer
I used to eat while watching this show. No more. This episode and the previous one have become too bloody to be able to enjoy food while watching. The girl's description of things that were done to her were too horrible to bear. This show started out by having interesting ideas explored in depth, but it has changed and is now violent, bloody, and graphic for no good reason other than sensationalism. This would have been a good story if they had not taken it over the top.
And also, there is one glaring scientific error. The coriolis effect does not determine which way water drains. That's an old wives tale with no basis in truth. The coriolis effect is relevant only to macro weather systems like hurricanes, not something as insignificant as the way a sink drains. Sources = MIT & Scientific American.
The Avengers: Homicide and Old Lace (1969)
Absolutely awful
I can't add much to the spot on negative comments by other reviewers except to say that this episode is proof positive that the problem with this season was not Linda Thorson as Tara King. "Get rid of the lemon & bring back the Peel" was the battle cry for Diana Rigg fans, but there are some episode in which Ms. Thorson shines. The problem was the scripts, and this one is undoubtedly the worst.
Sybil (1976)
Not nonfiction
Interesting story, well acted by Sally Field & Joanne Woodward. When a child actor is needed, why do directors so often settle for a kid who can spout the lines with no meaning? There are children who can act. One of the two serious problems with this movie is that the person who was the inspiration for it lied about her multiple personalities to keep seeing her therapist. The other problem is that it is about an hour too long. Some of the scenes dragged on mercilessly.
I gave it a 7 only because Sally Field is tremendous in the title role.
Cain and Mabel (1936)
Old story, fresh script
The plot is as trite & hackneyed as they come, but the characters and the lines are great - lots of laughs. Clark Gable is great. Ruth Donelly is entertaining in her one-note character actress role. I've been an Allen Jenkins fan for years. He's another one-note character actor but always entertaining. This is one of his biggest & best roles. Marion Davies? - As an actress, she's a good dancer. This is a thoroughly enjoyable movie if you're in the mood for an unchallenging but unashamedly fun movie.