TV Show Review - The Residence (Mini Series)

Season: Mini Series
Genre: Mystery/ Comedy/ Crime
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2025
Starring: Uzo Aduba, Giancarlo Esposito, Molly Griggs, Ken Marino, Randall Park, Susan Kelechi Watson, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Jason Lee, Bronson Pinchot, Jane Curtin, Julian McMahon, Kylie Minogue

Description: An inside look of the White House’s staff residence and the lives workers share with the First Family, and the brilliant detective (Uzo Aduba) hired to crack the case of the mystery death that has occurred.

Review: A murder, a number of suspects and multiple rooms and murder weapons; for fans of the board game (and movie) “Clue” this is right up their alley. I love this stuff. With “The Residence’ we get an entertaining whodunit, full of satire and eccentric characters. And while there is plenty to choose from when it comes to murder mysteries, this one is definitely worth watching.

During a gran state banquet at the White House, the head of the household is found dead. The country’s best detective, Cordelia Cupp, is called in to investigate and solve the case as discreetly as possible. Anything but inconspicuous, she sets to work in her own eccentric way.

The creators have found a perfect way to frame the story. Months after the incident, a hearing takes place in which a committee re-examines all the details of the case. People involved are questioned and through flashbacks the viewers get a better picture of the events. Little by little, new insights are revealed. In this way, time is played with and time jumps provide a dynamic progression.

At the same time it allows the committee’s interrogators to question Cupp’s distinct but highly effective modus operandi. Actress Uzo Aduba portrays her role of detective as an unflappable and perceptive character. Cupp is not intimidated by her surroundings or the influential people she interrogates. In her spare time, she is a passionate birder, ans those skills – patience, attention to detail and focus – come in handy in her work as well. In Sherlock-like fashion, she manages to paint a complete picture of a situation with just a few clues.

The pace of the series is fast, with quick edits and fluid jumps in time. This contrasts with the slower, more introspective scenes in which characters are explored. The White House is obviously the ideal setting for a murder mystery, because with its many beautifully decorated rooms, hidden hallways and intriguing hierarchy among the staff, much remains hidden. Cupp has the location locked down; no one is allowed our until the culprit is known.

With a cleverly constructed story, interesting characters and a great setting, the series remains engaging from start to finish. For every murder mystery fan, this is a definite must-see.

90s Movie Review - The Usual Suspects

Director: Bryan Singer
Genre: Crime/ Drama/ Thriller
Runtime: 102 minutes
Year: 1995
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Stephen Baldwin, Kevin Spacey, Benicio Del Toro, Kevin Pollak, Chazz Palminteri, Pete Postlethwaite, Dan Hedaya, Giancarlo Esposito

Description: A sole survivor tells of the twisty events leading up to a horrific gun battle on a boat, which begin when five criminals meet at a seemingly random police lineup.

Review: There is one scene in “The Usual Suspects” that was considered failed by director Brian Singer. The actors couldn’t concentrate and constantly laughed. Eventually Singer decided to use the footage, the scene could be more interesting because of it. And he was right: one of the most characteristic scenes from the movie was born.

Off course we’re talking about that famous line-up. This ‘failed’ scene managed to give us an impression of the five different criminals. We see their frigid, defiant and anarchistic attitude.
Any form of identification is important in a movie like this, where the characters are criminals and their activities and social environment are so different from ours. All the characters have their quirks.
Kevin Spacey is the one that catches our eye, this was the movie that put him on the map. His insecure portrayal of Verbal Kint is completely credible and he is the one that connects the audience with the story.     

The cunning script by Christopher McQuarrie is the main reason you keep watching. We want to know what’s going on and who Keyser Söze is. This villain is so on point, like a devil, who is mainly in the background but a constant threat.

“The Usual Suspects” needs your attention at all times, but it’s inevitable that you eventually get on the wrong track. It’s a great crime story, with beautiful music, good acting and film noir like camerawork. And that amazing twist at the end makes it to the classic it is.

Rating: 5/ 5

TV Show Review - The Mandalorian (Season 3)

Season: 3
Genre: Science Fiction/ Adventure/ Action
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2023
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Carl Weathers, Giancarlo Esposito, Katee Sackhoff, Jack Black, Lizzo, Christopher Lloyd

Description: The travels of a lone bounty hunter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic.

Review: Mandalorian Din Djarin has quite a bit to recover from after taking off his helmet against all rules. To save his honor, he must travel to his home planet for a cleansing ritual. Mandalore is badly scarred and now largely deserted. In addition having to care for Grogu, Din Djarin comes to the aid of an old acquaintance and former enemy in the fight against pirates on the planet Nevarro. Supporters of the old Empire are also still asserting themselves.

The nice thing about “The Mandalorian” is that while there is a large story arc that spans a season, each episode also contains a completed story. Often a mission. This continues on in the third season, but creator Jon Favreau gradually tries to tie in more and more to the larger “Star Wars” universe as well as characters from earlier seasons.

A major factor is Bo Katan Kryze, who has a large and important role in this season. I loved that. Despite the many contradictions Bo Katan and Din Djarin have, it makes for an interesting interplay between the two characters who are clearly matched but also complement each other. And Grogu, cute as ever, is also present. Can’t get enough of him.

Despite the familiar approach, this new season explores a number of separate side paths, the function of which is not always immediately clear. For example, an entire episode is devoted to two defectors from the former Empire trying to find amnesty on planet Coruscant. This episode only gains momentum towards the end . Later in the season, these Mandalorian-less events are given a bit more context.

Totally bizarre and even more self-contained is a trip to a strange planet called Plazir 15, where actors Jack Black and Christopher Lloyd and singer Lizzo make an appearance. It is the most bizarre episode in the series so far, even though I found it highly entertaining. But it’s not the show’s best. The last two episode on the other hand, make you quickly forget about that and are of the high level we are used to. And it has a heart-warming conclusion.

Even though this season wasn’t as good as the previous two, I still really enjoyed it and I can’t get enough of this amazing series.

TV Show Review - Kaleidoscope (Mini Series)

Season: Mini Series
Genre: Drama/ Crime/ Action
Number of episodes: 9
Year: 2023
Starring: Giancarlo Esposito, Rufus Sewel, Paz Vega, Jai Courtney, Tati Gabrielle, Rosaline Elbay, Peter Mark Kendall, Niousha Noor, Jordan Mendoza

Description: Centered around the largest heist ever attempted, the vengeance and betrayals that surround it.

Review: The idea behind the new Netflix show “Kaleidoscope” is quite ambitious: namely the viewer can choose the order of the crime series, which would make the viewing experience different for each person. The concept is fantastic, the execution is pretty mediocre.

Before “Kaleidoscope” begins, you get a notification that you get to decide the order of the series. Therefore, the episodes don’t have a number, but a color. And to give viewers a a hand, Netflix has released the series in different sequences. For me the series started with episode Green, for other it can be Blue or Red and so on. Although you should note that White is always the finale.

The story of “Kaleidoscope” is fairly standard: a group of thieves led by Leo Pap want to rob a heavily guarded vault. How they prepare and why Leo has it in for this particular safe is told in these episodes. The final episode is the actual heist. To keep the storylines clear, each episode stand for a time period. Such as seven years before the heist, five week before the heist and the day after the heist.  

For example, in episode yellow you see how Leo puts together his crew, in Green Leo manages to escape from prison, Orange revolves around an FBI agent hunting the group and in Pink you follow the group six months after the heist. As a result, the episodes are fairly self-contained and it matters little whether you start with Leo’s escape or his plan to rob a safe, because the story remains the same. I think it would have worked better if each episode was the story told from different character’s perspectives. This way, it would be more of a puzzle that would eventually come together. And with that, White is the episode you are supposed to finish on, but I believe Pink is the best episode of the series and the perfect ending.

As a result, “Kaleidoscope” is still entertaining enough, but it’s a pretty standard heist story. It has a great concept, but they could have done so much more with it.

TV Show Review - The Boys (Season 3)

Season: 3
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2022
Starring: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Anthony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Dominique McElligott, Jessie T. Usher, Jensen Ackles, Paul Reiser, Colbie Minifie, Claudia Doumit, Giancarlo Esposito, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Tomer Capon, Karen Fukuhara, Nathan Mitchell     

Description: A group of vigilantes sets out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers.

Review: “The Boys” are back, and it takes another stab at all the insanity of the previous two seasons. The series still manages to strike the right (and sometimes painful) chord in a hilarious, satirical way. This third season is gory and never before, but also has the strongest emotional core. Layered, sharp and at times moving.

It begins with a Butcher we haven’t seen before: sober. Hughie working for the FBSA in order o do something against the supes from the inside in a more normal way. In short, the Boys are no more. Still, the superheroes manage to fuck it up well again in the eyes of the member of the Boys and yet soon find each other again.

Still it is abundantly clear that Homelander is the greatest danger. Seeking validation, but never more broken and dangerous, he enters the field of supervillain with confident strides with threats to wipe out entire states. Actor Anthony Starr has never been as scary as he is in this season. I haven’t hated a character as much as Homelander, since Joffrey in “Game of Thrones”.

The two main storylines are that of an increasingly unstable Homelander and that of Butcher who thinks he has found a weapon that can work agains his threat. In addition, there are about sic subplots that “The Boys” also juggle. Extraordinary, it manages to keep them all interesting. Extremely clever and above all unprecedentedly efficient.

Of course there is also the necessary satirical moments based on real life. For example, cancel culture is riduled, Black Lives matter and the LGBTQ+ community are discussed and even a Pepsi commercial is imitated almost exactly. There is also the obvious reference to Trump supporters among the fans of Homelander. So every episode is crammed with references, social commentary and satire.

The biggest newcomer in season three is Jensen Ackles as Soldier Boy, who is truly a highlight. Seeing him as a hero for many season in the TV-show “Supernatural”, he now plays a supervillain. Just as sleezy and fake as Homelander, only more old-fashioned. The characters of Butcher, Black Noir and A-Train get more depth.

“The Boys” does it again, it seems like the show is getting better by the season.

TV Show Review - Better Call Saul (Season 6)

Season: 6
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Number of episodes: 13
Year: 2022
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorne, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Giancarlo Esposito, Mark Margolis, Tony Dalton, Aaron Paul, Bryan Cranston

Description: The trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) in the time before he established his strip-mall law office in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Review: The sin that many film and television makers commit when making prequels, us putting the familiar characters in mortal danger. It’s an empty way of cheating suspense, because the story is set in the past, we know in advance that these characters are going to survive. “Better Call Saul”, thankfully” has pretty much never been guilty of this. In this final season, everything falls neatly into place.

WARNING: THIS REVIEW MIGHT CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!

The opening of the final season differs from that of the previous five seasons. Instead of black-and-white images showing what the absconding Jimmy McGill, better known as Saul Goodman, is up to, a different kind of prologue immediately picks up after the cliffhanger of season five. what concerns Jimmy after the events of “Breaking Bad” is not addressed untiol a later episode.

Just as the creators know their audience by avoiding life-threatening scenes, they also know that fans expected the timeline to collide with the perils of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman in this final season. It does, but not in the way we thought it would. In theory, it’s interesting that the two storylines will intertwine, but in practive that would take away from the focus of the series. Which, therefore, thankfully stays with Jimmy.

SO once he’s at the point where the world to know him as Saul Goodman, the creators for the most part take us into the “present” where we see what he’s made of as Gene. As manager of a cinnamon roll bakery in a mall, he kept a low profile for a long time but in the last season, a random passerby recognized him from the commercials of his lawyer days. Is Gene the version of Jimmy who has learned from his mistakes? Or is he creeping back into the role of Slippin’ Jimmy, the con man who gets away with it more often than not?

The biggest question that surfaced years ago is how his wife Kim Wexler fits into the picture. She seems to be the linchpin of Jimmy’s life, so where will she be the moment he becomes Walter Whites lawyer? This final season finally provides an answer to that, revealing how (un)important she really is to him. In addition, we also memorably learn the conclusion of the chronic bashing of Howard Hamlin, Jimmy and Kim’s former boss who has been the target of their harassment since they left.

As it always does in this world, actions have their consequences. They shaped Jimmy into who is was and who he is. As with its predecessor, at many points in “Better Call Saul” the tension was incredibly high, but the pace was always slow. This continues in a final episode that doesn’t rely on sensation or action, but keeps you captivated by leaving you wondering. Where does this end? What’s his plan?

The season flies by thanks to the usual top-notch acting and the sleek cinematography that regularly recalls the visual work of the Coen Brothers. There was once a rumor that the spin-off series about Saul Goodman was going to be a comedy series, but it’s a blessing that the creators stuck to their established style.

Unlike Walter White, Jimmy McGill continually switches paths in life. Somewhere he wants to be free of his shenanigans, but somehow it’s in his nature. He is constantly in the middle of good and bad.
Like “Breaking Bad”, “Better Call Saul” is one of the few shows that has no single bad season, it’s solid throughout. I loved the show, hated that it had to end, but it ended perfectly. And many questions we had Saul Goodman, after “Breaking Bad”, were answered. The circle is complete and I couldn’t be happier with the result.

TV Show Review - The Mandalorian (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Science Fiction/ Adventure/ Action
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2020
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Carl Weathers, Gina Carano, Giancarlo Esposito, Katee Sackhoff, Temuera Morrison, Ming-Na Wen, Rosario Dawson, Bill Burr

Description: The travels of a lone bounty hunter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic.

Review: Bounty Hunter Din Djarin is determined to deliver The Child to the mythical Jedi. Meanwhile, the supporters of the fallen Empire, led by Moff Gideon, are right behind him.
“Star Wars” is one of those franchises whose name has long been synonymous with major theatrical releases, but since 2019 it has also taken a step towards streaming services, with the first live-action series: “The Mandalorian”. And it is the crown jewel of Disney +.
There have been many animated series, but “The Mandalorian” is an original concept. Led by showrunner Jon Favreau. The first season turned out to be a hit with “Star Wars” fans all over the world, including myself. And it was one of the best, if not the best, series of that year. And with season 2 having its finale, it probably also is of 2020.
At the start of this season, we follow Mando and each episode contains a separate plot. But as the season continues, it becomes a more connected story that works towards a goal. The fate of The Child turns out to be more important to the “Star Wars” universe than expected.
In the first season, Mando was mostly the protector of The Child. He simply did his job. He is still the protector, but the two have formed a bond. This gives the bounty hunter even more character development. Despite the fact that we only seen him in a handful of scenes without a helmet, Pedro Pascal provides him with a lot of personality by making good use of his voice and body language. Pascal is yet again a strong asset in the series.
Season 2 contains a lot of references to the original trilogy, but also the prequels, the sequels and the animated series. This is not just for fan service, although most of it feels like it. But I don’t care, because it’s been done so well and it makes a lot of purists happy.
I think, season 2 of “The Mandalorian” gave us what we were hoping for with the last “Star Wars” movie. This movie was a big disappointment for a lot of people, including myself. And the second season of “The Mandalorian” is anything but a disappointment.
Once again, Jon Favreau and his directors take u to the crucibles of the “Star Wars” universe. “The Mandalorian” remains a series that will only appeal to “Star Wars” fans. The second season is bigger, better and more exciting. And I didn’t believe that was possible.

TV Show Review - The Boys (Season 2)

Season: 2
Genre: Action/ Comedy/ Crime
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2020
Starring: Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Anthony Starr, Erin Moriarty, Dominique McElligott, Jessie T. Usher, Laz Alonso, Chace Crawford, Elisabeth Shue, Tomer Capon, Karen Fukuhara, Nathan Mitchell, Aya Cash, Shawn Ashmore, Giancarlo Esposito

    
Description: A group of vigilantes sets out to take down corrupt superheroes who abuse their superpowers.

Review: Before I started watching this show, I wasn’t very enthusiastic, since we get so many superheroes in movies and now also TV. I had just finished “The Umbrella Academy” which I really liked because it had a different take on it. And the same goes for “Watchmen”, which also took a very different route. But after reading all the positive reviews, I decided to watch “The Boys” and I loved the first season. It was a wild rollercoaster filled with blood and gore, great characters and surprisingly good storylines. I enjoyed the dazzling combination of conflicting interests, cutting edge action and hopeless situations.
This second season builds on the hopeless efforts of an unorthodox group of vigilantes to end the evil Vought International and The Seven, a team of superheroes that works for Vought and is mainly allowed to show up for photo sessions and interviews. They barely fight actual crime, although that’s supposed to be their main task. In reality, it’s all about making money though smart marketing strategies. Vought’s leadership is ruthless when the image of these heroes is compromised, because they earn gold from the merchandise and promotions.
To Vought’s frustration, it’s been rumbling within The Seven for a while now. After they fell into disfavor in season one, A-Train and The Deep are eager to rejoin The Seven. The arrival of the unpredictable and mysterious new hero Stormfront gives the team new dynamic. However, her plans are not immediately clear. She behaves completely different from the good and seemingly incorruptible other members and that makes Vought and Homelander quite nervous.
Besides the fuss within The Seven and the rebellious behavior of Stormfront, the megalomaniac and physically invulnerable Homelander is especially busy with the sudden arrival of ‘super-terrorists’. He considers himself the leader of America, a protector of America. His own hypocritical interests and manipulative manners drive Homelander to murder all of them. His unstable behavior gets even worse when at the same time he decides to interfere more intensively with his son’s upbringing.
The counterbalance in the series is formed by the undercover fighters of the CIA, the titular Boys. The unstoppable Butcher has his own reasons for pushing his boys to the limit in their almost hopeless battle against the powerful, perhaps unbeatable superheroes. This season it will become more clear where his hatred of The Seven and Homelander in particular comes from. And Hughie tries to restore his relationship with Annie, also known as The Seven member Starlight. Something for which he regularly has a hard time with Butcher.
These and other storylines are key and interweave into one of the most original series of the year. The viewers won’t have difficulties in understanding the motivation for the different characters, although the methods used are doubtful. The main motive is clearly survival in a world where danger is almost ubiquitous. How do you successfully fight against demigods, especially when they dismiss murder and innocent victims as an afterthought without ethical objections? And not unimportantly, how do you preserve your humanity in this bloody battle?
The start of season 2 is a bit slow, but eventually the writers manage to deepen the story without stopping the progress of events. You get to know more about certain characters and new ones are introduces. MM was probably my favorite this season, since with Butcher being less present at the start, he unintentionally becomes the leading figure for the boys. I also loved the dynamic between Frenchie and Kimiko. I also realized that Queen Maeve is one of the best characters on the show. She is not pure evil, because she still knows the difference between good and bad. Maeve probably started out just like Starlight, but she is so deep into it all now, it’s hard to go back. The addition of two new characters Stormfront and Lamplighter was very welcome. Stormfront is a really well-written character and perfectly portrayed by Aya Cash. Lamplighter is only in a few episodes but Shawn Ashmore really impresses. And I wished he would be around longer. But the one that really stands out is Anthony Starr as Homelander. He was already a dick in season one, but he is even a bigger dick here. If that were possible. Starr really took in that role and he is a really good actor. Because I constantly want to slap him in the face, when he probably is a really nice guy in real life.
The only negative for me is probably the roles of The Deep and A-Train in this season. The Deep’s storyline isn’t all that interesting and A-Train doesn’t have a lot to do.
I was very pleased with season 2 of “The Boys” and the ending really looked promising. I’m glad I decided to watch this show, because it’s so good.

TV Show Review - Better Call Saul (Season 5)

Season: 5
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2020
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorne, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Giancarlo Esposito, Mark Margolis, Tony Dalton, Dean Norris

Description: The trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) in the time before he established his strip-mall law office in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Review: “Better Call Saul” is a spin-off and a prequel to (and to a very limited extent it has some sequel elements) the series “Breaking Bad”, a series considered by many to be the best series ever made. It is therefore all the more impressive that “Better Call Saul” is often also considered one of the best series of the moment. Both “Breaking Bad” and “Better Call Saul” are certainly among my favorite series and I think the latter is THE best show of the moment. “Better Call Saul” ‘breathes’ “Breaking Bad”, but has its own identity. This is partly because of the cast’s excellent performance, but also because the series takes its own route, separate from “Breaking Bad”.
“Better Call Saul” focuses on the eccentric lawyer Jimmy McGill, who was introduced as the corrupt lawyer Saul Goodman in season 2 of “Breaking Bad”. “Better Call Saul” is about how Jimmy is slowly changing into Saul, but also offers a lot of background information about other well-known “Breaking Bad” characters, such as Gustavo Frink, the Salamanca family and Mike Ehremantrout.
At the end of the previous season, we first heard of Jimmy’s plans to become Saul Goodman and at the start of season five Jimmy definitively evolves into Saul Goodman. Apart from the fact that he has his name changed, his moral compass is becoming more and more absent. He continues to come up with ideas to win lawsuits that are on the boundary of what is permissible. The market Saul will focus on is that of petty criminals. In addition, this season he becomes more involved in the drug world in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a result, the transition from “Better Call Saul” to “Breaking Bad” is closer than ever.
Besides Saul, his girlfriend Kim Wexler and handyman Mike are also going through important developments. Mike seems to get used to the role of handyman for the underworld and Kim, who used to serve as a moral compass for Saul, seems to get used to stretching boundaries. The gradual development of these characters has been underway since the first season, but has been built up in a very credible way that the viewers will still sympathize them.
Bob Odenkirk is at its best, but it’s Rhea Seehorne’s season. She is incredibly good as Kim Wexler in this fifth season. And Odenkirk is fantastic too, especially in the season’s 8th episode “Bagman”, which is the best episode of the show so far.
Despite the fact that “Better Call Saul” as a stand-alone series is perfectly watchable, it is advisable to watch “Breaking Bad” first, if you haven’t seen it yet. Season six will most likely be the last season of “Better Call Saul” and the references to “Breaking Bad” will become more frequent, to a point where the shows will meet or overlap each other. Season five will be more enjoyed with the foreknowledge, since one new big character from “Breaking Bad” makes a surprise entrance and the feud between the Salamanca family and Gus Frink will be deepened a lot.
It is inevitable to compare “Better Call Saul” with “Breaking Bad”. Many characters are similar, it takes place in the same region and the cinematographic similarities are not to be missed. “Better Call Saul” is a bit slower than “Breaking Bad”, but that’s one of the strengths of the series. But season five is their best season so far and just as good as the entire series of “Breaking Bad”. This season proofs that “Better Call Saul” is the best series running today. I can’t wait for season six, what it most likely going to be the final season. Hopes are that Walter White and Jesse Pinkman will make an appearance.

TV Show Review - Better Call Saul (Season 4)

Season: 4
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2018
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorne, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Michael McKean, Giancarlo Esposito, Mark Margolis, Tony Dalton, Rainer Bock

Description: The trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) in the time before he established his strip-mall law office in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Review: The fourth season of the “Breaking Bad” spin-off has reach great heights. They are now so close to the aforementioned “Breaking Bad”. The structure, the direction, the music, the dialogues, the cinematography and the actors; everything seems to be right. The two series come awfully close to each other in this fourth season.
“Better Call Saul” tells the story of James “Jimmy” McGill and his difficult journey to become the lawyer we know so well from “Breaking Bad”: Saul Goodman. Season four comes so close that you can almost feel the presence of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman. But it’s Bob Odenkirk who steals the show. He knows how to surprise and grab the viewer. But also the other characters/ actors. Where in the first seasons, Odenkirk depended on his supporting actors, he starts carrying the show more and more.
The dialogues are sharp and the images beautiful. And it’s a joy to watch all the great performances on this show. From Rhea Seehorne as Kim Wexler to Jonathan Banks as Mike Ehremantrout to Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo Fring. It’s a joy to watch them all. But Bob Odenkirk is king in this season.
“Better Call Saul” is a series that rises above other shows running now. In terms of quality but especially in craftmanship of the characters and the story. Jimmy’s failed path is beautifully told through the seasons, but the fourth season somehow seems sadder, more melancholy and dark. It’s the time they take to tell the story, the “Breaking Bad” atmosphere hanging over your head and the events happening. Jimmy is more human then ever, more vulnerable. That humanity and vulnerability makes Jimmy feel like one of us, not just a rogue lawyer. He knows how to grab the viewers with his imperfections and not-so-clever actions. He does hardly play by the rules, but inside there is a very good heart. And that makes for you to relate to Jimmy.
I still don’t think “Better Call Saul” is better than “Breaking Bad”, but it’s coming awfully close.

TV Show Review - Better Call Saul (Season 3)

Season: 3
Genre: Drama/ Comedy
Number of episodes: 10
Year: 2017
Starring: Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, Rhea Seehorne, Patrick Fabian, Michael Mando, Michael McKeen, Giancarlo Esposito, Mark Margolis

Description: The trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) in the time before he established his strip-mall law office in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Review: I don’t know if everyone thought it was a good idea to create a prequel to one of the best series ever made: “Breaking Bad”. Yet Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould dared to create a series about one of the supporting roles Saul Goodman, here still Jimmy McGill. The somewhat shady lawyer entered the “Breaking Bad” universe in season 2 and with his role he added a lot of comedic elements to the series.
“Better Call Saul” was also originally intended as a light-hearted comedy, Gilligan and Gould soon decided that it had to be a drama series, combined with the comedy we know Saul Goodman for. Because “Better Call Saul” is set a few years before “Breaking Bad”, the makers were able to allow some other iconic character from that show to resume their roles. And we get an exciting ‘new’ one in the third season.
In the third season, Jimmy McGill has developed a lot from season one. But he is still not Saul Goodman as we know him so well from “Breaking Bad”. He is still trying to be a successful lawyer by trial and error. At the start of the season, Jimmy still shares a law firm in Albuquerque with Kim Wexler, who is also his girlfriend. In addition, tension between him and his brother Chuck is increasing, especially when it turns out that Chuck has incriminating evidence about Jimmy that could seriously ruin him.
Parallel to these storylines, we follow the story of Mike. At the end of the second season, Mike wanted to deal once and for all with the Mexican cartel boss Hector Salamanca who threatened him and his granddaughter. At the moment of truth however, he was stopped by a stranger. And it is the return of the iconic, brilliant fast-food magnate Gustavo Fring. Many fans, including myself, looked forward to his possible return. And finally, in the third season, one of the best villains in television history actually returns. The way Fring is introduced is brilliant and, despite virtually nothing happening in it, the scene in which he first appeared is a nail-biter.
The main focus of this season is the feud between the McGill brothers, which seems to be working towards a climax. I won’t spoil it for you, but the fifth episode is so incredibly good that you can let go of any doubts you’ve had about “Better Call Saul”. It’s the best episode of the season. Great acting by Bob Odenkirk, Rhea Seehorn and especially Michael McKean. McKean as Chuck turned out to be more of a villainous character in season 2, but is even given more layers in the third season. He is at the top of his game here.
The same goes for Odenkirk, who has given Jimmy so much depth in all three season. And Rhea Seehorn is also formidable, her character Kim Wexler functions as the moral compass of the series. Jonathan Banks and Giancarlo Esposito (Mike and Fring) only have smaller roles, but shine every moment they get.
As we already know from previous seasons and “Breaking Bad”, the camera work is beautiful. It’s so beautifully portrayed. And this combined with strong direction and a good screenplay, makes “Better Call Saul” in its third season again one of the best TV shows of the moment. It’s still not better than “Breaking Bad”, but often manages to come very close.
Some people mind the slow pace of the show, but I see it as the show’s strength. They take their time with the story, so that all the loose ends will be tied together in the end. And all the character’s choice and developments make sense.
The only downside of the show is that I believe Mike and Fring should have been given more screentime.
“Better Call Saul” is a series that can stand on its own, although you sometimes still make comparisons to “Breaking Bad”. I don’t think that will ever be different. But with a rock solid third season, it is as consistent as “Breaking Bad”. Again the season ends with a cliffhanger, so I can’t wait to be dragged into the sunny and dark world of Albuquerque.

TV Show Review - The Mandalorian (Season 1)

Season: 1
Genre: Science Fiction/ Adventure/ Action
Number of episodes: 8
Year: 2019
Starring: Pedro Pascal, Carl Weathers, Gina Carano, Werner Herzog, Nick Nolte, Taika Waititi, Giancarlo Esposito

Description: The travels of a lone bounty hunter in the outer reaches of the galaxy, far from the authority of the New Republic.

Review: A ruthless bounty hunter who shoots, beats and punches himself through a treacherous universe. In "The Mandalorian", the Star Wars universe is introduced to the action, excitement and humor of a spaghetti western. The first episode of “The Mandalorian” alone raises the bar for the rest of the series and all the new Disney+ projects.
"The Mandalorian" takes place a few years after "Return Of The Jedi". After the second Death Star was blown up, and Darth Vader threw the emperor into a well (spoiler alert!), the Galactic Empire fell apart. Because of the victory of the rebels, people have regained their freedom, but have lost all their stability. Order is barely maintained and there is a deep economic crisis because the imperial currency has become worthless in one fell swoop. The new republic is still organizing itself and former members of the empire are working behind the scenes frantically to regain power. Golden times in short for criminals, smugglers and bounty hunters who don't ask too many questions.
"The Mandalorian" follows one of these shadowy figures and takes you into the messy underworld of the Star Wars universe. The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) is a silent bounty hunter who ruthlessly takes on defaulters and cheaters. The Mandalorian's career takes an unexpected turn when a wealthy client sends him to a remote desert planet on a vague, super-lucrative mission: delivering him The Child, whose importance isn’t known yet.
Lawlessness, the chance of a huge fortune, shootings, open plains and a collection of factotums that try to trump each other... Deep inside, "The Mandalorian" is actually an old-fashioned spaghetti western, with the Mandalorian as the legendary 'Man Without a Name'. The period between "Return Of The Jedi" and "The Force Awakens" is very noisy, and because everyone is busy with his own ass, the threat of shoot-outs and betrayal is constantly present. The action is also a bit rawer than we are used to from Star Wars, a few bandits are killed in a very inventive way, but fortunately it never gets really graphic.
Pedro Pascal gives the Mandalorian a self-assured, alert 'swagger' without becoming theatrical. Very well-done and very important, since the main character remains pertinently masked. How the makers got the idea to cast Werner Herzog in a Star Wars series; we don't know, but it's a masterly move. The bounty hunter's mysterious client knows a lot more than he's letting go, and despite his kindness, an uncanny threat emanates from him. An unrecognizable Nick Nolte plays an important supporting role as a strict alien who helps the Mandalorian on his way. Also worth mentioning are Gina Carano, as the badd-ass Cara Dune, who helps out the Mandalorian in his journey to protect the Child.
A characteristic of Star Wars is that the created worlds usually look as if they were actually being lived in. Showrunner Jon Favreau has paid extra attention to this, it seems. The universe is in crisis, so the world of The Mandalorian looks particularly worn out. Vehicles spit smoke, buildings are temporarily patched up and a few stray stormtroopers walk around in worn armour. In the first episode there are quite a few 'easter eggs' that make Star Wars fans smile, without getting annoying.
"The Mandalorian" of course has a smaller budget than the Star Wars films, but due to the clever use of camera angles and indoor locations, the series does not fall short in most scenes. Because it looks like a million dollars.
I also want to use this as an ode to the new fandom that was started: The Child, or as the fans call him, Baby Yoda. Without a doubt the best thing that TV brought us this year.
The new Star Wars series is a fresh new insight into the worlds of Star Wars, and "The Mandalorian" keeps all promises, because it’s what us Star Wars fan really deserved. With the series, Star Wars takes a welcome detour through the Wild West and I can hardly wait for the sequel!

100 Movie Challenge 2016 - # 59: The Jungle Book

Director: Jon Favreau
Genre: Adventure/ Drama/ Fantasy
Runtime: 105 minutes
Year: 2016
Starring: Neel Sethi, Bill Murray, Ben Kingsley, Idris Elba, Lupita Nyong’o, Scarlett Johansson, Christopher Walken, Garry Shandling, Giancarlo Esposito

Description: The man-cub Mowgli (Neel Sethi) flees the jungle after a threat from the tiger Shere Khan (Idris Elba). Guided by Bagheera the panther (Ben Kingsley) and the bear Baloo (Bill Murray), Mowgli embarks on a journey of self-discovery, though he also meets creatures who don't have his best interests at heart.

Review: Director Jon Favreau believed that an animated classic could profit from the modern film techniques. And he was right. With “The Jungle Book” he made one of the most technological advanced remakes.
People were afraid that the animals would sound too human, but it doesn’t. Where the original Disney animation mixed the animals with human stereotypes, this version shows a much more realistic perspective. Elephants are seen as mighty creatures and all the animals kept their animalistic behavior. Fire, tools and people are seen as unnatural, which brings Shere Khan to hunting down Mowgli. The way Shere Khan, Kaa or King Louie respond to humanity, you don’t just see an animal that can talk. You seen actual characters.
The film has a very adult feel to it. The moments where Baloo and Bagheera collide as worried guardians, with complete different ideologies, are the best. Both life lessons aren’t forced. And along the way there are more animals that are trying to influence Mowgli.
The cast is perfect. Scarlett Johansson and Christopher Walken have fun supporting roles. Both impressive. Ben Kingsley voices Bagheera, who is perfect as the wise panther. But the best roles are for Bill Murray and Idris Elba. The tiger Shere Khan doesn’t only impress because of his calmth and arrogance, but his motivation and temper are also understandable. Bill Murray is the exact opposite as the somewhat laid back and nobel bear Baloo. These two character keep the film balanced.
The only human in the film is Mowgli, played by Neel Sethy. It’s his debut and he does a very good job.
If I were a kid and saw this version of “The Jungle Book”, I wouldn’t stop talking about it. But I’m an adult and I feel exactly the same. This is the best adaptation of the story I ever saw, even better then the animation. Jon Favreau managed to make it a perfect family film, without being to childish or to scary for kids. And it was great from beginning to end, it didn’t have a dull moment. I loved “The Jungle Book”!

Rating: 5/ 5