345. Web-series Reviews – 163

More web-series reviews…

True Detective – Night Country – 4th season came in 2024.  Anthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law.

A review from IMDB...

Anthology series' can be some of the greatest television you will ever watch. There aren't many in existence, but what a fantastic idea when they are executed with excellence. Fargo is the best of the best, and I believe True Detective belongs next on the list. Nic Pizzolatto created a prolific series that has a knack for attracting the perfect actors for the particular projects and writing fantastic material for them. These are not "whodunit" mysteries, and in fact most of the time, we don't even meet the killer until well into the season, so if you are looking for a Doyle or Christie type of mystery, this isn't for you. What you will be treated to are exceptional performances, dark and brooding scripts and a touch of the supernatural.

Season One: There's no question this is the best of the four seasons. The story was original and fresh at the time it came out, and it moved Matthew McConaughey into a whole new category of acting in the public's perception. He and Woody Harrelson have fantastic chemistry and Pizzolatto's writing was firing on all cylinders.

Season Two: Personally, I think this season is underrated. Sure it is the weakest of the four and it takes a little time to build up steam, but there is real meat there if you give it a chance. I think most people just expected something similar to the first season when it came out and it is an entirely different animal. If it suffers from anything, I think it was probably rushed forward by the network because of season one's popularity and Pizzolatto probably wasn't ready for it. Nevertheless, it is still better than the average trash they churn out these days.

Season Three: The defining factor of this season is Mahershala Ali. The story isn't particularly exciting but that didn't matter much as this was clearly an acting vehicle for Ali and we all enjoyed the benefits of it. The writing takes a step up from season two, and that was no doubt due to Ali helping inspire Pizzolatto into reigniting his fire.

Season Four: It's really good, but it does suffer from Nic Pizzolatto's absence. This was his brainchild and it feels like someone just traced over it by copying the formula. It mostly works with an amazing star, a chilling location and a provocative storyline. There was just something about it that didn't click the same with me and that can only be summed up by the absence of the creator. No wonder they tried hard to make the show its own thing by carrying a subtitle for the first time. It's still a lot of fun, but it doesn't feel like it is in the same universe.

My Take – An ok watch for the 4th season.

 

One Day – Came in 2024. It's 1988 and Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley have only just met. They both know that the next day, after college graduation, they must go their separate ways. But after only one day together, they cannot stop thinking about one another. As the years go by, Dex and Em begin to lead separate lives very different from the people they once dreamed they'd become. And yet, unable to let go of that special something that grabbed onto them that first night, an extraordinary relationship develops between the two. Over 20 years, snapshots of that relationship are revealed on the same day July 15th of each year. Dex and Em face squabbles and fights, hopes and missed opportunities, laughter and tears. And as the true meaning of this one crucial day is revealed, they must come to grips with the nature of love and life itself.

A review from IMDB...

Wow - the story of One Day was finally adapted in a way that truly captured the spirit of the book, and in some ways excelled it. I read One Day after graduating many years ago, I was really touched by the story. The film was ok but didn't do the story justice for me. Who knew what I really wanted (and needed) was this limited series format.

This was beautifully done. It captured the spirit of love, life, heartbreak, the enuui and challenges of life. I watched this over 3 days, though if I didn't work full time - I would have binged it in one day. That being said - I think it's best to watch it in parts, because this show captures the different chapters of life and how they intertwine to make one's person's life so beautiful. I could imagine it would be even more intense if I watched it in one day.

Watching One Day reminded me that life can be heartbreaking, lovely, exciting, thrilling, scary, but most importantly wonderful and adventurous, especially if you are willing to take a risk when it comes to love. In the way Dexter and Emma finally meet on the penultimate day at the end of university, just before their graduation, and have a significant impact on each other's life indefinitely- loving each other throughout the years as friends, both near and from afar, weaving through the different chapters of life and growing up and trying to figure out life and the purpose of it.... As well as finding one's function (in layman's term: work that suits you), I think we all know that love is the most important thing that gives our lives meaning - and that love comes in so many forms - whether it's familial, romantic, friendship.

There are so many moments that touched me when watching this show. I have been on an emotional rollercoaster and have the empty boxes of tissue as proof! The acting from the main leads who portrayed Emma and Dexter was superb, and the supporting cast were fantastic too - a special shout out to the actors who played Dexter's mum and dad, Tilly, Ian, and Sylvie. Truly, the whole cast was superb and the show captured significant moments of life through the lens of one day - because really, everything in all of our lives happens in one day, as all we ever have is today, some days can be monotonous and some can be significant in a positive or negative way.

The show will take you on an existential journey - it's definitely taken me on one. I will also be fishing out my book to read (or purchasing it again if I have lost my copy). Thank you for this gem of a show...I will definitely rewatch again, but only when I am ready to get back on the emotional rollercoaster.

My Take – Worth a watch!

 

Unauthorized Living/Vivir Sin Permiso – 2 seasons from 2018 to 2020.  Nemo Bandeira, a dealer with a clean businessman facade, is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and tries to keep it from his family while he starts to think about who might be his successor.

A review from IMDB...

Exciting and thrilling Spanish series about a corrupt businessman diagnosed with a serious illness

Nemo Bandeira : José Coronado, a Galicia entrepreneur is a known businessman who has a clean facade but is really a drug baron. As things go wrong when he is diagnosed with Alzheimer . Then his family becomes involved with a series of vicissitudes and distresses . Nemo attempts to maintain his family united and along the way he contends an obstinate police inspector police and other mobsters , while beginning to determine who can be the best successor of his valuable inheritance.

Nemo is very well played by Jose Coronado , giving a good character studio. Nemo is surrounded by a motley family , friends , enemies and hoodlums , these are the following ones : his ambitious wife Chon nicely performed by Pilar Castro , their children played by the beautiful young Nina: Giulia Charm and Alex Monner who gives an overacting by extreme gay mannerisms . While Alex González plays Nemo's corrupt lawyer and adopted son who feels jealous for the legitimate brothers , and Luis Zahera as the faithful henchman who will stop at nothing to execute Nemo's purports and at whatever cost , including killing . Furthermore , Claudia Traisac as Lara , the ilegitimate daughter who falls for Malcolm : Unax Ugalde, an advocate of dark aims and justly hired by Nemo.

This is a moving and stirring series with plenty of twisted family relationships , thrills , emotion, violence, romance , betrayal, twists and turns. It is formed by two seasons , a total of 23 episodes , whose shooting was made by good directors as Oskar Santos , Oscar Pedraza , Miguel Angel Vivas, Marc Vigil , Mar Olud , Alfonso Arandia. And a great creato, he is the notorious Aitor Gabilondo. He is a prestigious showrunner who has created famous series , writing the following ones : El Principe also starred by Coronado and Alex González, Patria , Madres Amor y vida, Allí abajo, La Verdad, El Principe , Sofía , El Síndrome de Ulises , Genesis la mente del asesino, El Comisario , Periodistas, among others. The series will appeal to Jose Coronado and Alex González fans.

My Take – An excellent watch.  Finished both seasons!!

Cheers till next time😊!