Necrotongue

Episode nine really had me torn. On one hand, I was thoroughly entertained and had a good time. Even with all the emotional scenes, it didn't feel like they were just trying to pull at heartstrings for the sake of it. On the flip side, there were moments that didn't quite hit the mark for me. I can't shake the feeling that the first season had a better overall quality. / Lesson learned: If you're going to have a secret fling, maybe go for a run instead. 4*-

It finally seems like the series is inching back towards the quality of its previous season. It's as if the creators remembered what made the series great in the first place, ditched the aimless wandering through the Italian countryside and got back to business. Yet, I found myself staring dumbfounded at new developments. How does an utterly vile, violent, disgusting parasite of a character, a slimy bastard, and a national disgrace die without everyone celebrating? It baffles me. When Mussolini was executed, people danced and sang, yet here, the crowd seemed to be mourning (even though the crime seems pretty comparable, right?). / Lesson learned: If you have more friends than fingers on one hand (or two hands if you work in the wood processing industry), you're likely to end up disappointed. 4*-

Seems like the disgusting, slimy evil got its due punishment, but TMS isn't quite hitting the mark it used to. After addressing a lesbian relationship in the previous episode, we're off to a vacation to Italy. I have to give it to the creators - they nailed the true essence of those hot Italian afternoons. The plot meandered slowly, almost as if wilting under the intense Italian sun. The characters' actions (I'm not counting Paola) struck me as odd, and those "profound" dialogues meant to impart deep wisdom just didn't quite land for me. / Lesson learned: If you're looking to solve life's problems, perhaps a trip to Italy is in order.

Seriously, an entire episode revolving around a lesbian relationship? Who's even interested in that as a big deal these days? In my book, same-sex relationships are pretty common (even favored by creators in movies and TV shows). So why the fuss over something so ordinary? The second season is turning out to be a letdown for me, as the creators seem to be tripping over themselves, which isn't exactly entertaining. / Lesson learned: If you're a guy wishing for a lesbian relationship experience, maybe think twice and wish for something else.

The episode was quite frustrating for me. Hannah's storyline has become a real headache, and I'm still scratching my head trying to figure out what's going on here. One moment, an adult woman willingly sleeps with a man without any objections, then a few days later it's labeled as rape. And when it's mentioned in the news that she was mentally unstable, suddenly it's a whole different issue? The episode itself felt lacking in interest and didn't really stand out in terms of plot development. / Lesson learned: If you're considering having sex with an American woman, perhaps playing Russian roulette might feel safer. 3*-

If you've managed to keep your critical thinking intact, not swayed by the relentless media propaganda, just a few episodes of TMS will reveal how twisted America has become. And it's not just about the coronavirus. This supposed land of freedom now requires you to rehearse your sentences for hours before even stepping out of your apartment, just to avoid offending anyone from every different movement and minority out there. Books, movies, and TV series are under constant threat of being banned, and I don't like where this is going. / Lesson learned: Don't go breaking other people's vases. Don't cuddle with groundhogs.

Honestly, I was hoping for a bit more action in this episode. The escape from Wuhan definitely caught my attention, bringing back memories of the Shanghai escape, minus the whole virus situation back then. As for the developments in UBA, they felt a bit repetitive to me. It's like we're treading the same ground over and over. Considering my initial concerns after the first episode, a slightly above-average rating isn't too bad. I was worried it might go downhill fast, but it's holding up. Still, the first season remains the standout for now. / Lesson learned: When in doubt about the weather, ask a groundhog.

This episode definitely deserves five stars. And no, it's not just because Billy Crudup delivered another fantastic performance, or because Reese Witherspoon finally hit her stride. It's not even about the manipulation and sneakiness that I secretly enjoy. No, my rating shot through the roof when I heard that conversation (or rather, monologue) over Italian ice cream. It was like being transported to a place where the world was still okay. But in all seriousness, I can't help but wonder if someone from the writing team got into hot water with an angry mob of American housewives and the anti-male league after that scene. / Lesson learned: When you're fighting for something fervently, make sure you're kicking for the right (and stronger) side. It might just land you an office with a stunning view.

After diving into the second season, I'm left a bit uncertain if I can take it. It started off focusing on cancel culture, but now we're diving into a modern plague? I don't need to tune into the show for that; I just have to switch on any TV channel to get a real-time update on the stats – infected, hospitalized, dead, recovered, re-infected, vaccinated – the whole lot. And you know what those numbers mean to me? Zilch. I couldn't care less about them, and if TMS is going to go down that road, it might be the last straw for me. But let's get back to the episode. It was a decent kick-off for the new season, but it didn't exactly blow me away or have me on the edge of my seat. As usual, the standout was the great Billy Crudup. The others didn't quite shine in the same way. / Lesson learned: If you're planning to celebrate New Year's Eve in the town square, put on some warm clothes.

Season 1 of Ted Lasso was quite a surprise. When I found out in the very first episode that it was going to be about a fictional Premier League club run by an American football coach, it pleased me about as much as the sound of the dentist's drill. But it actually put me in a great mood and I ended up giving it four stars. The writers, with a few exceptions, managed to avoid tugging at the viewers’ heartstrings, the humor was quite decent, and although incurable optimists get on my nerves, Ted was so incredibly human that it was impossible to hate him. There were a lot of other great characters, with Juno Temple as a bonus. As for me, I’m satisfied. 4*+