453. Web-series Reviews – 250
More web-series reviews…
A review from IMDB...
To put it bluntly, this is the French answer to The Queen's Gambit (2020). The only difference is that Rematch is based on the true story of Garry Kasparov's struggle against the Deep Blue computer and tells more about the history of computing than about chess. It also has a lot to say about capitalism, because as Xavier Valens (Luca Pasqualino) puts it: "Kasparov isn't playing against a computer, he's playing against IBM" (you'll understand what that means when you watch). If you enjoyed The Queen's Gambit, a rather niche series with lightning-fast chess games, you'll also like Rematch. I really enjoyed it, though personally I'm surprised by the enormous success of The Queen's Gambit - it's quite a niche series for a mainstream audience. It's hard to say why Rematch is so little known. This series is even more niche because it covers the history of computing and the degeneration of capitalism. There are really many interesting facts in the series. For example, even though I'm a computer dinosaur, I was surprised that the 802.11 standard existed in 1997, though it wasn't yet commercially available. In my country, the first permanent connection with a dizzying speed of 115 kb/s appeared in 1999, and the first widely available connection in large cities in 2002. Wi-Fi was still far off. A really interesting surprise.
Beyond the educational aspects of chess and computing, we have interesting characters. On one hand, we have the ambitious, though quite impulsive (definitely breaking the chess player stereotype) Garry Kasparov (Christian Cooke); on the other hand, we have P. C. (Orion Lee), an unlikeable, introverted computer scientist who dreams of designing a computer better than a chess grandmaster, but who initially works in IBM's basement.
The series contains numerous flashbacks (though they focus exclusively on Kasparov's history), showing the uncompromising nature, stubbornness, and paranoid tendencies of the future champion. In the series we also have IBM executives who serve as antagonists and do it brilliantly. The scene where the CEO plays golf in the office, and the scene where Kasparov receives an envelope allegedly containing the analytical data IBM used to train Deep Blue, are excellent scenes.
In the background, we observe interesting social changes - people who clearly root for Kasparov and can boo the IBM team, we already see the emerging aversion to computers and AI (for example, hysterical messages about Kasparov playing on behalf of all humanity), which as we know from history will continue to grow (today AI is often senselessly hated on the internet).
My Take – An excellent series!
The Pirate Bay – Came in 2025. Peter, Fredrik and Gottfrid, ended up creating one of the world's largest BitTorrent indexes in 2003 as a reaction to big business trying to take control file sharing over the Internet.
A review from IMDB...
The Pirate Bay (TPB) is, a most watch worthy, non-formalistic, gripping drama-documentary.
The initial "disclaimer" is valid and, for once, on point; it is made with a view not to be precise - rather to capture the spirit of the moment, the debate and feelings TPB evoked.
It does so apparently well.
Added to that TPB successfully manages to capture the fears and trepidations - not only of those directly involved, but also of those doubting "the entire system".
TPB addresses, at least, three examples of historically interesting phenomena: The "David against Goliath" The relentless development of technology The speed at which innovations can be disruptive
Added to the above it also highlights some of the issues that arise when a democracy, behaviourally, shifts towards a plutocracy - when capital attempts to "top-manage" a democratic society.
TPB has all the ingredients of a captivating drama - and then some. What, easily, could have become a formulaic Hollywood production manages to maintain an indie vibe - a vibe that feels particularly relevant given the topic.
The weaving of this drama-documentary comes together nicely. TPB is arguably a "must see" for anyone interested in the effects of disruptive technology - and also for those interested in the frailty of democracy...
My Take – An excellent series!
The One That Got Away – Came in 2024. Following the murder of a nurse in the Welsh town of Pembroke Dock, old cases are being re-examined under the suspicion of a copycat killer.
A review from IMDB...
This six part Welsh drama is set in the town of Pembroke Dock. When a nurse is found murdered in Cleddau Woods police are reminded of a similar case that occurred some time ago. Since a man is already in gaol for the previous killing it looks as if there is a copycat at work... or they got the wrong man before. DS Rick Sheldon is leading the case but when links to the old case are found DI Ffion Lloyd, who also worked that case, is called in from Cardiff. This leads to some tension as they had been involved with each other before he left her for the woman who is now his wife.
I thought this was a solid addition to the 'Cambri-Noir' genre; I'm certainly glad my newspaper recommended it as I doubt I would have seen it otherwise. The case is interesting as are the main characters. There are a good selection of suspects which should keep the viewer guessing. The relationship issues are perhaps unnecessary but don't detract from the story too much. Pembrokeshire may be an attractive part of these islands but the way this is shot manages to create an ominous feel. The cast does a fine job bringing the characters to life; most obviously Elen Rhys and Richard Harrington who play DI Lloyd and DS Sheldon respectively. As the story approaches its conclusion there are some nice twists and turns. By the end the case may be wrapped up but it feels like we might not have seen the last of these characters. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to viewers who enjoyed shows like 'Hinterland' from a few years ago which also starred Richard Harrington.
These comments are based on watching the series in Welsh with English subtitles as shown on S4C. I believe an English version titled 'The One That Got Away' will air later, presumably on BBC4 if it follows the pattern set by 'Hinterland'.
My Take – Worth a watch!
Adios till next time😊!!
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