335. Web-series Reviews – 158

More web-series reviews…

Berlin – Came out in 2023.  Back to his golden age before the events of "Money Heist," Berlin and a masterful gang gather in Paris to plan one of his most ambitious robberies ever.

A review from IMDB...

Berlin. One of the most flamboyant characters of Money Heist, deserved his own series. And sadly, it was disappointing. The series has virtually no plot apart from looting an auction house which too is very naive. Money Heist was exciting and it had on-the-toes plot and picturization. Berlin is just reduced to more of a "not-so-exciting" love-story of Berlin rather than emphasis on his brilliant, masterful mind.

Apart from Pedro Alonso (Berlin) and Tristán Ulloa (Damien), nobody else stands out. Even old Money Heist characters, cameos played by Najwa Nimri (Insp. Alicia Sierra) and Itziar Ituño (Insp. Raquel Murillo) are absolutely wasted. Money Heist had characters which people still remember till date, but this can't be said about Berlin.

Many of the scenes are too stretchy without any relevance. The heist cannot be even called a heist. Audience expected more thrill and excitement from Berlin, sadly enough to get only a bland screenplay and amateurish direction.

My take – An ok watch!

 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians – Came out in 2023. Percy Jackson is on a dangerous quest. Outrunning monsters and outwitting gods, he must journey across America to return Zeus' master bolt and stop an all-out war. After losing his mother, Percy is sheltered at Camp Half-Blood, a sanctuary for demigod children. He must prove himself and confront his origins once he discovers he too is a demigod, and will take off into the perils of pursuing enemies in search of the Underworld. With the help of his quest mates Annabeth and Grover, Percy's journey will lead him closer to the answers he seeks: how to fit into a world where he feels out of place, if he'll ever see his mother again, and if he can ever find out who he's destined to be. Based on a book series.

A review from IMDB...

Having read and loved all the books (and even enjoying the films to some extent), I had high expectations for the new series adaptation.

However, upon finishing the first season, I couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed. There seemed to be so much potential for exciting scenes, thrilling moments, and epic action sequences, yet the entire first season fell short in delivering them. Many fans, myself included, found ourselves eagerly anticipating major developments in several episodes, only to be met with a lack of significant action.

Even the most memorable scenes from the books felt watered down, lacking the challenge and excitement they originally possessed. There were no spectacular moves or thrilling fights to be found.

While I understand that this adaptation is geared towards a younger audience, I still believe there is room for more action and excitement. I urge the creators to follow the books more closely and inject more energy into the series.

As a suggestion, I recommend looking at the new Airbender series, which targets a similar audience but manages to pack more action into its opening scene than the entire first season of Percy Jackson.

I'm hopeful that future episodes and seasons will explore these themes more deeply and deliver the excitement that fans of the books are craving.

My take – An ok watch!

 

The Artful Dodger – Came out in 2023.  An irreverent follow up to Dickens' Oliver Twist exploring the adult double life of Charles Dickens' famous prince of thieves. Set in 1850s Australia, in the lively colony of Port Victory, we meet Jack Dawkins, The Artful Dodger, who's transferred his fast fingers as a pickpocket to the nimble skilled fingers of a surgeon. Dodger's past returns to haunt him with the arrival of Fagin, luring him back into a world of crime. A greater threat to Dodger's heart is Lady Belle, the Governor's daughter, determined to become the colony's first female surgeon. From heists to life-and-death surgeries, from soirées to street violence, this is a tale of reinvention, betrayal, redemption and love with a twist.

A review from IMDB...

Victorian-era aesthetics and a quick-paced plot added to the many virtues of "The Artful Dodger". The show packed plenty of potential by way of smart storytelling and distinct characterization.

Playing the titular character Jack "Dodger" Dawkins - a gambler on one side, doctor on the other, and troublemaker all round - was Thomas Brodie-Sangster, who gave his character a signature on-screen presence. I've been a fan of his acting for a while now, and he delivered in this role as well.

Maia Mitchell as Lady Belle Fox was a pleasant and much-needed addition to the storyline. It felt great to see the team use her character properly and give her an independent and empowered arc, something that Victorian-era Australia wasn't known for.

Speaking of which, this series was set in 1850s Australia, and captured some amazing vintage elements from that era. They usually place such stories in Colonial America or Victorian England, so going Down Under was a neat and elegant creative decision.

This was, curiously enough, a time when British prisoners, ne'er-do-wells, and dangerous criminals were sent away to Australia, which accounts for the many thugs, hooligans, and criminals showcased on its streets in this series. In fact, the entirety of the story unravelled in a penal colony.

Now, if you feel the characters seem familiar for some reason, that's because a lot of them are connected to Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist 'universe'. The greatest giveaway was Norbert Fagin, who was played superbly by David Thewlis.

David's performance was equal parts riveting and hilarious, and enriched the series to no end. He even named Twist at a key moment and set certain facts straight. But this story was mainly about "Dodger", the boy he'd trained as a thief, later abandoned, and now needed.

All the other artists brought their A-game to tell this captivating story about a young doctor with gambling debts, which threatened more than just his practice but also his life. Dodger used to be part of Fagin's gang of little London pickpockets but had gone his separate way. The past seemed to be coming back to haunt him, and he was not in a position to play host.

I particularly liked the way the show-writers wove in the 'Yankee Dodge', which involved the use of Ether for the first time in medical history to perform painless surgery. Their first-time discovery and application of infection-countering carbolic acid added to the plot's nuances.

Fun twists and turns with a little rom-com thrown in made this series one of the most engaging I've seen in recent months. Its plot could easily be termed impressive and its characters, delightful. There was also an intriguing medical conflict at the 'heart' of the plot, which tied in quite well with its romance angle.

And who do you think featured in the final two episodes than Oliver Twist (played by Hal Cumpston) himself - all grown up and working for the Bank of England, no less. Fagin and Dodger were at their wits' end, because their cleverly hidden covers could easily be blown by "honest" Oliver who seemed to have developed a flair for villainy.

I wish they announce a season 2, because there is much still to explore in this little classic universe.

My take – A delightful watch😊!

 

Cheers till next time😊!