Necrotongue

I liked this show a lot all those many years ago, but after two seasons it started losing its breath and went through a crisis of sorts. After Season 6, I gave up on watching it altogether. This year, I started reviewing shows I'd already seen, so I gave it another chance and made it to the end. I'm not going to lie; my frustration grew with each successive season, so I was really surprised that the final season wasn't the worst one. As I said, the first two seasons were okay, but the quality started to fade in the third season, and then it went downhill from there. But I hung in there and I’m truly proud of myself. / Lesson learned: It could have been way more legen...wait for it...dary!

Season 9 was probably the least balanced one. The quality of the episodes flew up and down like a seismograph. The creators constantly alternated excellent ideas and jokes with pathetic to disastrous ones, often unable to resist recycling and ripping off themselves, which didn’t do the show any good. On the upside, they did manage to pull off both final episodes, so I’m willing to go as high as two stars. / Lesson learned: A wedding weekend can get pretty damn long sometimes.

Honestly, I was expecting to feel relieved as the series concluded, thinking I could finally put it behind me. The journey was far from easy, but to my surprise, the creators managed to conclude it with dignity in the finale. I was entertained and my expectations from the nineteenth episode were confirmed. It turned out to be a fitting farewell to the series. / Lesson learned: Wait for it.

I just can't wrap my head around it. How can the same team be responsible for both the absolute worst and the top-notch episodes? Do the writers have a toggle switch in their heads or something? This episode wasn't heavy on humor, but surprisingly, I wasn't bothered by it because the storyline made complete sense throughout. The creators didn't rip themselves off; I could really tell they put in the effort. / Lesson learned: Why do weddings feel so pointless to me? Here's a prime example.

I get it, this series isn't just a comedy, there's a romantic element, too. But what's up with the recurring theme of runaway bride scenarios? It's just ridiculous. Most of the characters were punchworthy. Marshall and Lily cranked up the romance to a level that made me queasy, and the humor took a back seat again. / Lesson learned: Patience pays off – you might even see the ring bear.

I'm kind of torn on the seventh episode. First off, it's just downright bizarre to witness situations that could (and let's be real, still can) happen in a country that touts itself as the defender of world democracy. I totally get the frustrations of various American minorities in this context, and I'm sympathetic to their concerns. On the flip side, there's this other perspective where it's crystal clear that Netflix is bending over backward to ride the wave of current trends, often doing a disservice to the very folks it claims to be "helping." / Lesson learned: Complaining all the time won't earn you much trust from others.

This episode was quite different from the usual, mainly because Jeffrey Dahmer wasn't the central character. It was one of his victims. Shifting the focus to the victims is something I appreciate. I didn't really care whether the story was embellished; even if it were entirely made up, it still carried weight. I often feel like serial killers get portrayed as misunderstood souls with tough childhoods, blah, blah, blah. But the real concern should be for the victims. / Lesson learned: Beware of sudden strokes of good luck.

The fifth episode felt pretty much like the previous one in terms of length and content. However, this time around, I'm starting to question if the series was solely made because of Dahmer's notoriety. I couldn't shake the persistent feeling that Netflix made it to push its racially conscious agenda.  / Lesson learned: Grandmas are light sleepers.

I'm not sure if it was because of the longer runtime or if I just wasn't fully tuned in, but the plot felt like it dragged on. It wasn't exactly a thrill ride before, but this time, I caught myself getting bored more than once. The series still maintains that creepy atmosphere, but it's not bringing much else to the table. This episode was the most well-developed I've seen so far, but the pace was painfully slow. With Jeffrey Dahmer being so widely known, I wasn't expecting any groundbreaking revelations, but I did hope the creators would find a way to keep me more engaged. / Lesson learned: Party like you're in Egypt. Only drink what you've opened yourself.

The wonder what the creators were trying to convey with this episode. Over the course of those nine seasons, they've delved into so many details that I can practically picture the color of Ted's stool after each meal. Then out of nowhere, a character pops up, and everyone seems to have some history with them, but I'm left wondering, "Who the heck is this?" Gary Blauman seems to be the go-to for any struggling or burnt-out screenwriter desperately trying to hit their deadline. / Lesson learned: Writer's block hitting hard? Throw in some Blauman.