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Ricky823
Reviews
The Orville (2017)
The Holy Grail of Sci-Fi Television!
I know that some readers will find this title to be hyperbolic, but it isn't a stretch for me to say that this is one of the deepest, most thought-provoking, and most interesting series to come along in a very long time!
If you're watching this show from the very beginning, do not let the tone of the first episode fool you. It can come across as almost spoof-ish at times, not only in circumstance but in the way that characters forcibly lean into jokes. It can create a stigma or impression about the show, especially knowing it's creator (who we're very aware also created Family Guy), that makes you doubt that it could ever be sincere or intellectual.
The truth, though, is that couldn't be further from the truth. Seth McFarlane pored his heart and soul into this series, and every ounce of his brain, as well. You begin seeing that after only the first few episodes, and it grows progressively thereafter. This series deals with some of the heaviest, most topical subjects without ever being preachy, which in today's day and age is an extreme rarity.
It simply forces you to consider them, as all great shows do, by excellent writing and a strong faith in the intellect of their audience.
By allowing you to see the world from multiple people's perspective -- which in this setting can mean other planets, races, dimensions and even timelines -- you often find yourself feeling conflicted over things that you'd otherwise chalk up to reactionary judgment.
This is the thought-provoking element that this show does so incredibly well, and I've only just begun to crack the surface of what makes this a well-written show. I would have to write up a whole other review to get into all of the visual and special FX achievements that make this show ground-breaking, especially as the show transitioned away from network television and found a home at Hulu.
If you're a fan of science-fiction at all, this show is for you! If you love Star Trek then this show should be as addictive as crack-cocaine, and if you're just a fan of good writing and deep, emotional story-telling then this show is one that you do not want to miss!
I almost did miss it and I feel absolutely foolish for having almost done so. I made the mistake of prejudging the show because of its creator, and not that I had any issue with Seth McFarlane personally but I never thought he could create a serious show with living, breathing characters. But trust me when I say this... He has!
Do yourself a favor and watch this show! Don't listen to the negative reviews, because I can promise you they are baseless. It's an amazing show and you will absolutely love it!
The Good Lord Bird (2020)
Genuine Masterpiece!!
Before giving my impression of this series (spoiler-free), I would just like to say that anyone with a true love of brilliant writing, beautiful set design and deep, rich, captivating character arcs should avoid any and all criticisms of The Good Lord Bird at all costs!
Seriously -- the negative remarks against this show are entirely unfounded, and I say this as someone who's actually taken the time to read the autobiography of Frederick Douglass, and who can appreciate sensitivity to historical inaccuracy in television & movies. This series does not do that.
In fact, I find it to be an insanely refreshing departure from the genre (slavery-era cinema) in that it doesn't insert immense amounts of undue virtuosity and evil into its characters as a point of emphasis to the horror of slavery. It doesn't pacify them, either, but what it does is invoke pragmatism into the behavior of its characters, making them feel far more real than they would otherwise.
This, to me, is what makes this series a masterpiece. I certainly wouldn't recommend it as a substitute for an education, which should be no different from *any* cinematic retelling of history, but getting upset with this series taking creative liberties with characters would be like getting upset with Titanic for doing the same.
Not that this in any way reaches for the same emotional or dramatic response as a film like Titanic, but it does present characters and an environment which were clearly not meant to be taken literally. I would argue that this is the entire purpose of art itself!
Personally, I don't want to watch something only to be patronized by writers who believe their only duty is to inform me of which side is righteous and which is evil. Imagine how horrendous Breaking Bad would be if they spent ten minutes of every episode layering in PSA's of the dangers of crystal meth. It was never Vince Gilligan's job to teach us not to be like Walter White. It was simply his purpose to take the audience on a journey, and to strike every emotional chord within us through the art of storytelling.
My feeling on television series like this, as well as movies, is that so long as they can get me to think differently about the human experience, and to relate to characters in ways that can be incredibly difficult in everyday life, then they are deserving of praise -- no asterisk necessary.
This is art, after all, and at the risk of sounding repetitive, it should leave us with a more complex view of the world around us. It should provoke us to think in new ways, to challenge our preconceptions, and -- if it's good enough -- to gift us with an extraordinary experience.
The Good Lord Bird does this in spades, and I think it ultimately will go down as one of the best TV series of all-time. I understand why it will take some time for this to happen, particularly because it is so incredibly different, but once enough people view it and it finds its way to the right audience, I have no doubt that it will be gain a massive amount of praise and recognition. It's excellent and I implore anyone capable of laying down their staunchness of history to watch it! You will not regret it! The casting is flawless, the acting is flawless, and the writing is flawless! You will love it!