novoten

There is only one Tree Hill. And it's MY home.

From fantasies to reality, from patients to doctors, and from uncontrollable laughter to sincere tears. The true gem that I simply had to find. In addition, Perry Cox is the most lively and admirable sitcom character I know.

1st season - 70% - Because it was clear that over time Angel would become just a sidekick in Sunnydale and there were many possibilities hidden within his character, separating Angel's fate from the rest of the party was the best solution. However, in the first season, there is still a lack of it, especially a more significant long-term storyline. Compared to the parallel fourth season of Buffy, the episodic nature is particularly surprising. Another problem is the group around the main hero. Instead of the main partner, the unexpected departure makes it a somewhat problematic role, and Wesley, in his angelic beginnings, still looks grotesque. Unfortunately, Cordelia only alternates between annoying/materialistic/misunderstanding/sympathetic, but the ending itself hints at better times. And finally, the positives? Angel! David Boreanaz could just wave his coat and look sadly into the camera and it would work. Whether he dislikes something or just remembers a recent romance, the viewer can only go through everything with him. This is most evident in the episodes when both series overlap, whether it is "I Will Remember You", fulfilling dreams for all B+A fans, or "Five by Five", which deepens the special relationship with Faith, emotions almost come off the screen. And as for the villains - Wolfram & Hart look good, act slyly and cunningly, and at the very end, they show unexpected claws. Yes, there were episodes that I experienced, but Buffy also didn't start off on the right foot. And considering what magnificent fantasy Angel eventually turned out to be, I am willing to forgive a few initial stumbling blocks. 2nd season - 90% - The enemy comes, against whom there is no defense. Someone who wraps you around their finger and you won't know whether to hate or adore them. Angel intertwines the past with the present because of him, rejecting more and more of his current existence and reaching the edge of the abyss from which he might never escape. The continuation of Angel leaves its beginnings far behind. Also because it is never clear if I will get a dark spectacle from a torn soul or a classic detective story like in the old times. And the idea to make the end of the season a four-part adventure instead of a gradual finale deserves some kind of award for Joss Whedon's team. 3rd season - 100% - The past brings the future. An old enemy, a new enemy, an unexpected enemy, and one surprising motive for redemption, surrounded by so many webs that it almost takes your breath away. Hyperion thus becomes definitively the place where I want to work. And not just because there's nothing better than twists that make it clear that the main storyline will never be the same. With this, Angel definitely steps out of Buffy's shadow, and to my infinite surprise, in several respects, surpasses her. It's all thanks to that pervasive darkness. Bad things often happen in Buffy too, but when a motive for potential betrayal from within appears - that's the moment that completely paralyzes the viewer. And the way the final episode ends suggests a story of genuine tragedy. 4th season - 100% - Climax, misfortune, ruin, and climax again. What the first half of the season brings, that is, drama in which there is no room for happy endings, is without exaggeration the best that the world of Angel and Buffy has ever offered. Surprising revelations interspersed with humor, escalating apocalypse, a few returns, and dialogues so well thought-out that they send shivers down your spine. But when beloved characters appear and unexpected enemies arrive, it's a sign of impending fate. Although I had to get used to the final antagonist for a while, with hindsight, there is nothing to criticize. But it wouldn't be Angel if there wasn't a twist at the end of it all. And it's not just any twist, but an explanation and an indirectly shocking conclusion to the previous four years. The episode "Home" is a daring and incredibly bold leap into unknown waters. The fifth season will show us where it can lead us. 5th season - 100% - The lion's pit has opened, the heroes enter it with their heads held high, and the limits of what one small story can achieve are pushed to the maximum. Since the blonde with a stake first appeared at Sunnydale High, twelve seasons have passed, either in Sunnydale or Los Angeles. And at the end of it all is her inconspicuous pensive protector, whom no one could have predicted such rich fates for in the pilot episode of Buffy. And whether the final (and best) batch of episodes tries to attack the viewer's senses in a deadly way or destroys them with the departure of the main character, for the entire series, I never doubted for a moment that everything always led right here. To the essence of the whole story, to gather the last bit of strength. To the final resistance, one rainy night, back alley behind the Hyperion. And that is what makes Angel a legendary TV monument.

Season 1 - 70% - A small, sassy, chosen blonde arrives in the town of Sunnydale to defend innocent citizens, fight evil, give her observer a hard time, dance at the local club, and admire the mysterious tough guy. This most precious supernatural treasure starts out as a B-movie teenage horror/sci-fi/thriller and relies only on occasional central storylines with the Master, but I can't help it. Buffy has had her unmistakable charm for me since the very beginning, as the main characters' personalities (which will later develop into truly unexpected dimensions) and the fact that the series doesn't always take itself seriously are clearly defined. Giles' Englishness, Angel's charisma (strengthened by the fact that we only know a fraction about him so far), and the beginning of a legend. Season 2 - 90% - The expected deepening of psychology and characters, a much better soundtrack, and, most importantly, a change in the whole storytelling spirit. Since Spike's arrival, nothing has been the same, and the slayer has gone irretrievably on a journey that she deserved more sadness in her eyes than she should have. But make no mistake, it is by no means a serious show, especially in the first half where Buffy occasionally faces clumsy plot lines (like Reptile Boy, which is terrible in every aspect). The pivotal transformation becomes the two-part Surprise/Innocence, divided by a twist that shattered the hearts of fans, definitively changing the tone of the story to a tragic, almost gothic romance and deciding how the series will develop practically until its end (!) I felt pain and lived through those characters. And that's even though it's still "just" a show about fighting evil forces. The final two-part episode Becoming is maybe the most heartbreaking one in all of Buffy. Season 3 - 90% - The creators claim the music, deepen the relationships, and erase any remaining stereotypes of all (even minor) characters. Faith brings in a significant storyline as the element of the chosen one's burden. The writers struggled for a while, but they eventually gave this chapter of Buffy's life a unique face. And they did it very well. Playing with parallel worlds requires certain experience and courage. And a genre experiment like in the episode The Zeppo is exceptionally brilliant even by Whedon's standards. Season 4 - 90% - Everything is different after high school. Friends scatter, responsibilities change, and you may never see some people again. But new ones come along and they can change your life even more than those before them. A new chapter of life begins, part of the original cast disperses, and newcomers arrive. Tara and Riley. And both of them bring about changes that will never fade away from the group. The somewhat melancholy mood of self-discovery leaves behind the emotional tragedy of the second season and the adventurousness of the third, so it reveals the full consequences of that cursed word, adulthood. It does so based on a story where the contrast of modern technology with overpowering tradition is explored from all sides, and despite a few hiccups at the beginning (the creators simply didn't know what to do with the characters after high school - see Giles), they do it remarkably well. And when something starts to seem cliché, a certain blond quip master comes in and ruthlessly knocks it down. Season 5 - 100% - Where maturity arrived last year, responsibility comes in this period. Responsibility that is painful, unexpected, and inevitable. Except for the Dracula intermezzo at the beginning, it is clear that the adventures ending with a beautiful fight and a calming bedtime conversation are irretrievably gone. With each episode, it becomes more and more evident that life is simply a traitor and it doesn't matter how much happiness it gives us because it will eventually take it away. And even where love, loyalty, and friendship try to make a difference, it's not enough. The fifth season of Buffy truly leaves an impression with its escalating climax. Season 6 - 100% - Eternal sadness, lots of tears, and a feeling of inner turmoil that affects not only Buffy but also everyone revolving around the Magic Box or the Summers' house. The sixth season reaches the lowest point of strength not only for the group but also for the viewers. Although there are a few happy moments, they are usually just sparks that we shouldn't be afraid will go out at any moment. On the contrary - whenever something has even a slightly dark outline, nothing good is coming our way. This year in Sunnydale is simply a strong and sometimes unbelievably truthful psychological exploration that culminates in the fateful moment in the episode Seeing Red when multiple hopes collapse. And yet, the real purification for the heroes is just beginning. In other words, it is the best season that brings one surprise after another, overturns all conceivable clichés, and delivers the beautiful Once More with Feeling, in my eyes the best episode ever. Season 7 - 90% - Every story eventually comes to an end. It hurts especially with the long-loved ones. And even more so with those who can penetrate deeply into one's heart under any circumstances. Trying to overcome the tragedy and intimacy of the previous season was meaningless, so this time the scripts tell a completely interconnected final chapter as an adventure story. Sometimes with unexpectedly strong romance, sometimes with a touch of horror. But always with surprises, even though this kind of heroic epic seemed like too much to me at first. Moreover, when everything culminates in such grand, touching, yet humorously connected way, you can't help but smile and shed tears. The final season is not the best, the most action-packed, or the most relationship-focused. But it is the pure essence of everything that made Buffy change my life. P.S.: The series includes episodes that don't advance the plot, deepen the characters, or brim with wit.

Season 1 - 90% - With TV shows that have a cult status right from the start, I am usually skeptical, but try not to believe it when every other character fascinates you (Sawyer, Charlie, and the mysterious John Locke) and the setting, like the Island, has never been seen before. The Robinson Crusoe beginning is forgotten by the end of the first episode and gives way to personal dramas, efforts to build trust, and fear of the unknown. From the episode "The Moth," I became a fan, and from the legendary "Numbers," I became a Lostie. And now I'm going down the rabbit hole into a new rabbit burrow... Season 2 - 85% - The mysterious string plays the right tone again, hinting at deep mythological possibilities and showing who can hide in the depths of the jungle. The scripts also amp up the music. Once again, we witness a shocking departure of an important character, but regular relationships between characters become sharper, mainly due to the theme of getting used to new arrivals. The only objection I have is the slight dragging. While Sayid literally walks along the beach for a few minutes in the first season, the second group wanders around the jungle on the beach for three episodes. We do get to know the newcomers better, but it strongly affects the tension and atmosphere we knew when we got to know Jack or Sawyer a season ago. Nevertheless, I wouldn't label the second season as significantly weak. In the second half, the atmosphere thickens so much that each episode is a true dramatic gem, and the finale is literally flawless. Only a slight drawback compared to the pace of the first season remains. Season 3 - 100% - The mythology takes a backseat and relationships and characters take the lead. For me, this is a positive change, and the best proof is the first six episodes. While many viewers label this period as the weakest part of the series, I didn't take a breath for even a minute. And because the rest of the third season also fascinated me, I couldn't help but applaud. The series gains a new central motif through Desmond, and John Locke's new position becomes the most intriguing storyline. The brilliant finale surprises us so much that it almost requires another viewing. At the time, I thought that the episode "Through the Looking Glass" was the key to the end of the series, but the creators had even more daring plans. Season 4 - 100% - Flashbacks + flash forwards, a ship with new characters, and the best season yet. The playfulness with time and storytelling reaches a new level, and I can only wonder. We get some crucial answers, but the information that would provide the decisive key to the complex point is still out of reach. But how can I be mad at the creators when they expand the mythology to such dimensions that without occasional private recapitulation, I might easily get confused in the plot? This epic and complex TV milestone has definitively entered history with this season. And it shows us that while the mysteries of the Island are irresistible, it is always about the characters. This is evidenced by the fact that Jack, who was once unpredictable and often cursed, has become one of my favorites. Season 5 - 100% - When I thought that the time play and storytelling reached their highest level in the fourth season, I didn't know that the creators would take me at my word and give me - time play. The memories of the main characters suddenly seem to be the scheme of a completely different series, and no matter how we couldn't predict what would happen in the next minutes before, now we can't even guess what and when will appear in the next second. And of course, I made the same mistake again. At the end of the final episode, I had the feeling that I guessed how the whole series would end. I couldn't have been further from the truth. Season 6 - 100% - The End has come. It didn't give us answers about who built the four-toed statue, didn't reveal how the ocean currents around the Island work, didn't reveal even more important things. But it was the ending it should have been. Absolute, grounding, concluding all the beloved characters I was rooting for for six seasons. I can understand all the criticisms: not enough information about Jacob and his companion, not enough answers to questions about the nature of the island and its core, an ending that changes the face of the whole series. But I remain elated. Uncertain, because I know only slightly more than the characters themselves, but that's how it was supposed to be. We only know what the main characters were told by the supporting characters, and they only know what they experienced themselves. Nothing more, no answer from above, no clue to move forward beyond the passengers of Oceanic 815 and all those who joined them over time. And for that, thank you. Only like this could The End be such a breathtaking, personal, and touching experience. See you in another life.

One is everything and everything is one. When the original Alchemist ended with a spectacular final film, deviating from the literary source, the whole series became an unforgettable fantasy ride and one of the best animes I have ever seen. Everything seemed closed, going through the whole story again with a different ending and a few new characters seemed unnecessary to me. However, the first episode of Brotherhood eventually ended up in the player and then another one. And another one. There was no turning back. The new perspective on the Elric brothers, homunculi, Central, or even the whole Amestris is grander and, above all, more complex. Father and the whole plot with the promised day is exactly what the original series lacked as one of the few things. And as I devoured the final ten episodes and every twist, even the smallest one, left me with my mouth open exactly where the creators wanted to take me, I realized that this was the anime I had been waiting for all this time. Epic fantasy, sincere confessions, breathtaking action, and captivating soundtrack. There is no mood in which I don't feel like watching at least one episode. Anime no. 1.

Ironically, "Friends" is the regular barrage of laughter, life models, and also my favorite series of all time. Each character is precisely characterized, each has their own weakness that they can be caught on, and surely everyone knows someone who hits on girls constantly, makes nerve-wracking jokes, loves science, never misses a fashion magazine, adores cleaning, or is just plain out there. It's hard to say whether "Friends" would succeed even today, but whenever I start watching from the beginning, I find myself at the first episode, questioning whether I could believe that it would go so far, for ten absolutely beautiful years. Very few creations hold so much truth in them, that you can recognize yourself in them, that they are from life. Watching the last episode is like letting your best friends leave.

1st season - 90% - I have to laugh at him, root for him in action, and wish him Sarah. Chuck is a total loser in many ways, but he never exceeds the point where I would roll my eyes and stop liking him. With every characteristic, from his love of computer games to his willingness to experiment and do the craziest things at the most inappropriate times, he got under my skin more and more. In addition, the overall potential of the series promises much more. 2nd season - 100% - This is not just about the appearance of more beautiful agents, surprising minor roles, or pop culture references. This is about Chuck+Sarah being a duo that I root for from beginning to end, Chuck+Morgan being a duo whose friendship often moves me, and Chuck+Casey being a duo that makes me laugh out loud with every dialogue. Moreover, the episodic plots become exotically interesting, and most importantly: the last five episodes are such a perfect action-adventure ride that it takes your breath away long after watching. Chuck is simply no longer just a snack, but a legitimate bomb. 3rd season - 100% - It has original action, easily surpasses sitcoms in humor, and in relationship-family matters, I still see Schwartz's producer signature of the better part of O.C. Chuck remains at the top of all the genres present. There are again long-lasting storylines where each main character gets more prominent space, and the supporting characters please with familiar faces (Daniel Shaw is fascinating in every scene thanks to Brandon Routh). I am still amazed. Not just at Zachary Levi's new and new grimaces, or the increasingly clever points of missions, but mainly at how the bar keeps getting raised higher and higher. 4th season - 90% - From a shy guy next door, he turned into an absolute certainty. The new shades in the background of the parental past are revealed naturally, and the worries á la Buy More are a welcome opportunity to breathe in and out. And I don't mind at all that the comedic spy has become a show about relationships where they occasionally go on missions. I still love both aspects, and this time the rating is a hundred not just because the episodic plots have slowed down a bit in pace and ideas. The whole story around Volkoff Industries and the respective characters more than makes up for it. The announced final season thus had the doors wide open for a triumphant conclusion. 5th season - 100% - The end within reach, the threat at its maximum, the lines still deadly. Chris Fedak and the other writers knew exactly what they were doing when they entrusted the Intersect with the right people. The farewell story unfolds over thirteen episodes, with everything it entails. With the final dose of beautiful women, heroic agents, brave deeds, and love like a beam. And once again, deadly Morgan's glosses, appropriate self-destructive mood, and Jeffster stand behind them. Right after the last episode, there can be nothing but a perfect score like it was stitched. And heartfelt. Goodbye, team Bartowski.