238. Web-series Reviews – 84

More web-series reviews…

WeCrashed – Came out in 2022.  The greed-filled rise and inevitable fall of WeWork, one of the world's most valuable startups, and the narcissists whose chaotic love made it all possible.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

The first episode is great, it sets up the story of WeWork in such an engaging and energetic way with upbeat music and awesome monologues from Jared Leto's character. The performances are excellent and the story is interesting.

However, it is a little odd how they idolize the two main characters so much and make their story seem inspiring despite this show being advertised as a satirical look at the narcissistic founders of WeWork. Sometimes they'll have a one off line from Adam that makes him seem full of himself but he is shown in such a positive light within the first 3 episodes but it's kinda hard to root for them.

The pacing in this movie can be very iffy at times, it really feels like they're trying to fill the time with a lot of pointless subplots and they're stretching out the story to get to 8 episodes. Honestly I think the first about 3 hours could've easily been cut down to 2 hours.

Overall I like the story of the show but I'm worried they're just gonna stretch this story way too thin and it will become a bore.

My Take – Skipped this after 1 episode and saw the documentary mentioned below😊!!

 

WeWork: Or the Making and Breaking of a $47 Billion Unicorn – Came out in 2021.  An account of the six-week death spiral that brought down the company's IPO, a behind-the-scenes look at WeWork's frat-boy culture.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

A few years ago while traveling around Southern California, I noticed the WeWork sign popping up on buildings. At first, I thought it was an employment agency moving in, then I was told that it was floors of suites for rent. I thought that was great because when I was in College, I had heard of "Fegen Suites". Those were the first in floors of offices Lawyers/Attorneys and Government rented.

Fegen Suites shared a common reception area (usually two or three receptionists behind a nice large desk), a few folks in another room answering their phones and taking messages if they wanted (They could have the phones ring through to them if they chose) and could share an administrative area with copy machines, computers, etc. On that floor. It had conference rooms. It was a cost saving measure for young lawyers/attorneys starting out.

These grew popular as top entertainment companies and government offices started using them for "extra office space". Then new Production Companies were using them for their offices, and many small businesses started to rent them, all for the same reason. They did have 'top' real estate salespeople/companies to help rent these suites, and they were consistently full -- even a wait lists. That's what led me to believe that's what WeWork sounded like, but possibly now have been updated for the digital generation of those just starting out.

Boy was I wrong!

I watched this documentary, and it was like watching a horror show on so many levels! I had no idea WeWork was like this at all! The documentary takes you through the two founders Neumann and Miguel, but centering mostly on Neumann and his sales techniques into having young people buy into this WeWork experience. It came across like a Real Estate Cult with Neumann at the head. I had never seen anything in real estate quite like this (and I saw the beginning of house flipping!! Guys, it didn't start as legit as the shows now show.)

This "salesman", Neumann seemed to cultivate a mesh between a pyramid scheme and a cult where he and his wife (who did a few movies and was related to Gwyneth Paltrow - big whoop!) conned banks out of now millions off the sweat of wide-eyed, well meaning young people who fell for his con and did all the work while he took all the glory. What a racket, as as with all rackets this plummeted fast.

The documentary does a good job of telling the tale of WeWork through employee and others interviews, spots of Neumann's ego appearances on programs and films of employee camps, etc. But Neumann and his wife "did not participate in the making of the documentary". Why should they? What can they say to make any real sense out of this? I've seen just about enough to see why WeWork fell so quickly from grace. However, Neumann and his wife will still walk away with a big payday and according to the documentary have already set their sights on something new.

My Take – Another 'unicorn-goes-bust' story!

 

Umbrella Academy 3 – Came out in 2022.   One of the reviews from IMDB...

The first and second season was truly amazing. From its epic soundtrack to well thought of plot twists, it is really something worth the watch.

However, come season 3, the plot and how it was delivered was really terrible. The addition of new characters were fine, but as the episodes progresses plotholes after plotholes continue to be very visible. Plus the ending is a real bonkers and will leave you scratching your head.

Still it is a lot of fun to watch. I love how the characters are portrayed, but i seriously believe Alysson doesn't deserve a happy ending.

My Take – Avoidable!  See Season 1 and 2.

 

Down Under Dogs – India’s Greatest Comeback –  Came out in 2022.  Cricketers and sports experts analyse India's victory over Australia during the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

Cricket fans of today need no introduction as to what this series is based upon, the historic test series win in Australia 2020-21. Very well shot . It is the SonyLiv or rather Indian version of the THE TEST available on Prime video. This series was like a fairy tale which one rarely get to witness. It has all the elements to become a blockbuster thriller.

Makers should have waited another few years to release this as such fairy tale like series stories age like wine, they get better and more nostalgic with time. The impact would have been 100 times more, 100 times more emotional if it were released few years later. Still , even after a year watching it would definitely leave you tear eyed and joyful if you have followed the series closely and seen what horrendous things happened inside indian camp and then still come out victorious at the end.

Md. Siraj 's tale of fulfilling his father's dream will surely bring tears to your eyes.

The 1st episode felt exactly like an episode of "Seconds from Disaster" with each wicket along with time being shown.

Save this series for your kids of future. If they become cricket fans, show them this sonyliv series, tell them, your dad witnessed this epic fairy tale even before you were born. A reason why such shows age well with time as more future kids would witness this story and get inspired.

My Take – Another take on Bande Mein Tha Dum by Neeraj Pandey.  But this has more cricketers and commentators speaking on the series.  Go for it.  This is also available on YouTube.

 

Girl in the Picture – Came out in 2022.  A young mother's mysterious death and her son's subsequent kidnapping blow open a decades-long mystery about the woman's true identity, and the murderous federal fugitive at the center of it all.

One of the reviews from IMDB...

I'd seen this same story told on 48 hours, but this was so much more informative and heartfelt; the tragedy of Suzanne's life from beginning to heartbreaking end is told so poignantly and precisely.

One walks away from this and can only feel that her life was so tumultuous- from her ridiculous mother and the affair while the child's father was fighting a pointless war that left him a shell of his former self, birthing two additional children, then marrying and divorcing that man, decides to go it alone and her story goes from bad to worse, ultimately loosing all 3 girls to the state (there's no definitive answer to this, only the pathetic mother offering incredibly poor excuses) to find her falling for this pathetic excuse for a man, who would ultimately dump the two younger girls at an orphanage and embarking on the travesty that became Suzanne's life.

At one point, this adorable and incredibly intelligent girl had the world in the palm of her hand, only to have this monster destroy it again, tear her from a likely successful collegiate career, and turns her again upside down to further destroy what little joy she'd gathered. That she was able to turn her horrific adolescence into a brilliant success speaks greatly to her character, despite the monstrous influence of this horrible, pathetic man.

She eventually finds herself forced into a life she'd never imagined; having children, forced into exotic dancing and prostitution- surrounded at every turn by devastation and depression.

So many people refused to give up, refused to let her fade into obscurity. An author, a retired FBI agent, and an incredibly brilliant group of DNA genealogists combined forces to finally give this girl the name and proper headstone she deserved, in spite of the monster who'd taken it upon himself to destroy her, her son, and their lives.

This story is so wonderfully done and pays tribute to a brilliant star in the sky who was never able to realize the power of her shine. What a complete and total tragedy that befell this child, and it's an honorable group of people that ultimately ensured her death would not be the end of who she was. What a tragedy that even she never knew who she really was, how many people failed her, and hopefully, her daughter lives a long and love-filled life, as a legacy of what her mother was.

My Take – Worth a watch!

Cheers till next time😊!

Daffy Definition

Motorist – A person who keeps pedestrians in good running condition😊!!