FlorianLaur Reviews

April Story (1998)

Put a smile on my face

[8/10 · 19 September 2023]

Ever since I saw "Yentown" in a store and decided to buy and watch it, I felt mesmerized by the works of Shunji Iwai.

Japan released some very, very beautiful and deep movies in that time after the bubble years and before the recent years that saw a lot of shows or movies from Japan flood Netflix.

This is one of those movies from that partially forgotten, but beautiful era.

There's not much plot to talk about, nor is there even much talking (at least in the first half of the movie) and it is quite "Japanese". Western viewer might not understand some behavior or why our female lead doesn't act more "aggressive".

But that's what I love about those kind of movies. They can help to give you an idea of a different culture, a different approach at love, a different way of flirting.

The first half of the movie shows our lead as a very shy, timid young woman who doesn't seem very confident and who even seems lonely at times.

However, after her attempt to reach out to her neighbor seemingly failed, but eventually doesn't, things start to turn around in all aspects of her life.

The ending isn't a real "end", but the last couple of minutes put a smile on my face.

Iwai creates those beautiful every day situations that COULD happen in real life (although sadly, they never do, at least to me) and that are oddly sweet, romantic and beautiful. And those situations aren't necessarily "romantic" in a usual way. But Iwai finds a way to show us the beauty in the mundane.

Just like Yentown, April Story is also beautifully shot. The Cherryblossoms, the rain...and yet it remains a slightly grainy look that I love about this particular time period that give me a yearning for a past time in Japan I never actually experienced, but that he makes me wish I had.

Moonlighting: I See England, I See France, I See Maddie's Netherworld (1989) Season 5, Episode 7

Something's a bit off

[6/10 · 17 September 2023]

Maddie bursts in on David and the guys calling a 976-number, scolding David once again on his professionalism (seems a bit odd at this point, especially since Maddie just told us she accepts David for who he is a few episodes earlier), ignoring a client who's waiting for her at her office.

When she and David finally finish their argument, the client is "finished" too as he has mysteriously passed away. The paramedics confirm this, but leave the body at the office which leads to some awkward, albeit funny moments that seem a bit like they were used as a way to fill air time. Soon another client shows up, explaining that he was the friend of the client who died, Harry, and that he and the client won 12 million dollars and he promises Blue Moon 10% of the winnings if they help him find the ticket before Thursday!

This is one of those episodes of season 5 that doesn't quite work for me 100%. It starts out good enough with the 976-stuff and David getting the guys all riled up with his description of getting a bath over the phone(!), but the episode really drifts off in odd ways around the third act. The nightmare/afterlife sequence of Maddie, although well-done seems to reference some movie I didn't recognize (Nightbreed?), but it just seems a bit...off... Also, the topic of God vs no God, is there a heaven, etc. Seems like it's already been done by the show (and better) in season 2 and 3. It feels rehashed. The ending seems very rushed too.

On the plus side, the plot is decent enough until the third act and Bruce and Cybill really seem to have genuine fun doing this episode which is a plus.

Still, I'd say this is overall one of the weaker episodes of the show.

I give it a 6/10.

Moonlighting: A Womb with a View (1988) Season 5, Episode 1

Bittersweet

[7/10 · 17 September 2023]

Season 4, but especially Season 5 seems to be hated and disliked by most fans. While I don't hate it (I actually like Season 4 a lot), I can understand why many didn't like Season 5.

While the final episode of Season 4 gave people some hope for Maddie and Dave and promises of Lamaze classes together, Season 5 skips right past all those plot points. It feels like they wrote some episodes that we just never got to see.

Last we knew, Maddie told Agnes and Walter that she KNOWS the baby is Sam's! Although that never made any sense, because how can the fatherhood be determined if none of the fathers where in a hospital with Maddie for a blood test.

So either Maddie lied to David and Agnes and Walter (which would beg the question as to why?) or the writers really dropped the ball here.

Either way, the episode now established that apparently it IS David's baby. But neither he nor Maddie can actually know about this, so the sad ending of the episode and the follow-up in the next episode don't make much sense.

The episode itself isn't completely bad. Bruce playing a baby is kind of cute. I also really liked "Water-cooler Roulette" between McGillicuddy and Viola.

This was one episode the creator of the show, Glenn wrote himself (even though he had left the show after season 3) and I wonder if he tried to fix the mess the show had started to become due to Cybill's pregnancy that surprises the producers and writers (he commented on that in the commentary for "Sam and Dave" in season 3 and how the show had a different outlining and plan originally).

Unfortunately the entire "Maddie Hayes pregnant" plot seems to be what put the kibosh on the show.

Many said it was because her and David had slept together, but I don't think that was it. After all, "The Nanny" did that too and the show didn't drop after.

So the episode gives us a bittersweet feeling. It's not bad, but it also reminds us of how much better it could have been if it would have been able to follow the plan the show originally had. One can't help but wonder...

I give it a 7/10.

Moonlighting: Here's Living with You, Kid (1988) Season 4, Episode 13

"Here's looking at you, kid" (aka the Brillo pad always scrubs twice)

[8/10 · 10 September 2023]

This episode, like most episodes of season 4 is unfortunately very low-rated and I can't understand why.

I always loved the story of Agnes di Pesto and Herbert Quentin Viola. Not only are Allyce Beasley and Curtis Armstrong very good actors, their relationship also mirrors the relationship of Maddie and Dave, but where Maddie and Dave fail, they succeed.

There's an episode of Scrubs where Dr. Cox explains relationships/those that succeed and it basically all comes down to: "Because one of them will always have the strength to swallow their pride and forgive the other or to reach out to them!" That, in a nutshell describes Herbert and Agnes. They might fight or squabble, but you know they're meant to be!

Unlike David, Herbert succeeds by being who he really is (David fails when he tries to be someone he isn't and plays by Maddie's rules) and unlike Maddie, Agnes doesn't need weeks and months to make up her mind. If you know, you know!

This episode seems to be disliked by many and I can't understand why. It's well-written, it's atmospheric, it has a beautiful soundtrack (for example the scenes when Bert guards the grapefruit and shares his thoughts) and it's funny ("I can be taller!").

If this episode had been written and played by Bruce and Cybill (and the LA Times at the time seemingly was under the impression, because they wrote Bruce and Cybill did a Casablanca spoof), I think it would be among the highest-rated. One can't help but wonder if Agnes pokes fun at that when she says "Let's face it, Herbert, you're not the kind of man a woman couldn't leave" (sounds like something many female fans of Bruce must have felt that time for him).

It's an episode that I always enjoy and that makes me wish that there'd be a spin-off of the show with Curtis and Allyce. It's definitely very touching when the two declare their love for each other at the end. Maybe Maddie and Dave didn't work out and never should, but seeing these two succeed makes up for it a little (at least for me).

Strong 8/10.

Moonlighting: Come Back Little Shiksa (1987) Season 4, Episode 2

I actually like it

[8/10 · 31 August 2023]

As far as I know, most Moonlighting fans didn't like season 4 and downright HATE season 5.

I don't belong to that group.

To me, the charm of this show was mostly Bruce Willis's David Addison and Curtis Armstrong as Herbert "Bert" Viola. Probably because Mr. Armstrong is such a nice and sweet person in real life and Bruce at least used to be back then.

I was never such a huge fan of Cybill Shepherd. Similar to Amanda Bearse on "MWC", you could tell SHE was the problem of the stars.

For me, the less Maddie we get, the better. It's honestly tiring and exhausting to see anyone want David to end up with a woman who actually does not want to be happy.

She complains that she lost Sam, the man she was supposed to end up with. But she didn't lose him over David per se, she lost him because as usual, she needed "time to think".

Maddie ALWAYS demands time to think when she actually wants to say no. Sam, who knows her well must have realized, so he was smart enough to leave. David came close in "I am curious, Maddie", but ultimately fell for her (his speech that he realizes why she is still single at 36 and that she is the problem).

Maddie also says she can't be spontaneous, she ALWAYS has to think about things.

Yet she could spontaneously go to Argentina or spontaneously leave David hanging and go to Chicago. Or leave her own company out to dry.

This shows us that Maddie is actually kind of selfish. The world has to be the way SHE wants it to be and if she doesn't get her will, she is angry. There's a lot of examples of hipocrisy throughout the show and season 4 shows them all (although they existed before).

I like that Maddie's dad calls her out on this. Ultimately, HE is the man she basically wants. Someone just like her dad, although she clearly doesn't want who he really is (shown by her inacceptance to accept his cheating), she just likes the idea of him.

I think it's the same problem with David or Sam. Maddie likes that guys want her, but she doesn't actually want to settle down, because then that attention would dry up.

So yeah, for me, it's much nicer to see some actual cases and the sweet Curtis Armstrong growing into his role as detective than more of the same dance we have seen for 3 seasons. Because by now, anyone should already know that David and Maddie shouldn't be together.

Maddie needs some kind of therapy first or some consequences for her actions before she can understand what she really wants (and more importantly, still deserves). And David also needs to step back and ask himself why he keeps chasing a woman he doesn't have much in common with when he met much more suitable women along the way and why he has such anger issues (shown well in this episode with the BMW).

I ultimately give this episode a solid 8/10 because I really liked the guy time with David and Bert, the case and Maddie in smaller doses worked better for me.

Moonlighting: Blonde on Blonde (1987) Season 3, Episode 11

The best episodes to come (five parts, part 1)

[9/10 · 24 August 2023]

This is the first of five episodes that are connected with each other to create one overarching storyline.

As Maddie wakes up to yet another "normal" day, we see the scenes of her getting up and out of bed (and in and out of her clothes) being mixed with scenes of another pretty blonde (Donna Dixon) arriving in LA, apparently being followed by one or more men (and we see her murder one).

David is worried when Maddie (who called in sick on a fluke) suddenly bursts in as the staff is on "lice control"(David's euphemism for strip poker) and doesn't react at all. He wants to know why she doesn't freak out, but Maddie doesn't want to tell him.

Yet David keeps asking and reminds them of their friendship until Maddie tells him that she's basically looking for a one night stand. This isn't what David expected or wants to hear however.

As Maddie leaves the office, David, now clearly jealous/worried pushes Bert to join him "on a case" as they follow Maddie. They see her going into a supermarket, but leaving her purchase in some other woman's shopping cart outside and continue to follow her to an infamous night club (that Bert seems to know better than he first admits to).

To me, this episode, but also the 5 episodes and arc it's a part of is probably the best that Moonlighting ever did. We now have all the major characters established and they're all used well here.

It's beautiful to see Bert and David together! Bert delivers as the comical relief, but is also a good male perspective that David didn't have before on the show.

I especially love how they follow Maddie through LA at night, the beautiful mundane, but romantic scene of her at the supermarket and the amazingly atmospheric scenes inside the club.

This is coincidentally also where the other Blonde from the beginning of the episode reappears. Maddie runs into her in the ladies room after "some clot" spilled his drink on her dress to lure her back to his place ( Sam McMurray who played Andy on Married...with Children in season 4). The other Blonde steals Maddie's coat and hat to sneak out as she again is being followed by someone and uses Maddie's clothes to escape.

Since David doesn't know this however, he follows her, thinking it's Maddie. We're treated to more beautiful shots of LA at night (am I the only one who loves how beautifully romantic this ugly city seems at night?).

Finally, he catches up with her at a hotel but interrupts her in yet another murder which eventually lands both him and her in jail.

This is the set up for one of the most beautiful scenes in Moonlighting as she asks David if Maddie knows that he loves her. David tries to deny it, but almost like a mother, she won't hear of it and encourages David to "Tell her".

As David finally arrives at Maddie's house, he is dirty, wet and confused, but also seems full of happiness and energy to finally tell Maddie what everyone else had guessed before. But when he frantically knocks at the door and it opens, it's not Maddie who opens...

Moonlighting: Poltergeist III - Dipesto Nothing (1987) Season 3, Episode 10

Agnes and Herbert are a dream team

[7/10 · 21 August 2023]

In this episode, a family that lives in a desolate mansion needs proof for a (potential) haunting/ghosts at said mansion. After the older sister of the family became catatonic due to some spook, her sister tries to hire Maddie and Dave. They don't want to take the case though.

In the meantime, Agnes is shocked and outraged that Bert seemingly already got field experience and his own cases after just 2,5 months with Blue Moon while she's still stuck answering the phone.

Due to this discrepancy, she runs after the rejected client and ends up at the mansion, not knowing what the case is actually about. And then things turn spooky...

Herbert Viola/Curtis Armstrong is one of the main reasons why Moonlighting rose above similar shows of the time. He's just such a sweet and cute guy and his acting so good. He is basically the female equivalent for how Agnes is Maddie's soundboard and becomes that for David later on during this season.

In this episode, after Agnes and Bert already had some difficulties, they get a whole episode to cement their chemistry and relation (not quite a relationship yet) and it's a very good one.

It's atmospheric with a spooky vibe and feels like a real detective story (something that isn't always the case with Moonlighting). I especially loved Herbert in his gumshoe trenchcoat and hat, but Agnes isn't so bad herself.

The two of them eventually manage to solve the case through good teamwork, but it's really their on- and off camera chemistry that makes this episode work. Also kudos to both Curtis and Alyce for properly pronouncing the name "Ludwig" (it seems after Bert does so for the first time, it catches on).

A strong 7/10 for me!

Moonlighting: Somewhere Under the Rainbow (1985) Season 2, Episode 7

Le(a)p - rechaun of faith?

[7/10 · 20 August 2023]

A woman hires Maddie and Dave to "protect her pot of gold" as she identifies as a leprechaun!

This of course has Dave and Maddie at opposing opinions once again with Dave basically saying people can see themselves as whatever they want (as long as they pay) and Maddie suggesting the lady is a case for the nuthouse.

Dave decides to take the case against Maddie's wish and guards the client who also tells him that she killed a guy and is being followed. David doesn't believe her, but then he does get knocked out. Is the lady telling the truth and she's really a leprechaun?

This episode is one that apparently many people didn't like. I can see why, although I wouldn't say it's "the worst" for me. It does have a nice atmosphere with the rain, the city at night, them being at Maddie's house...

I also didn't mind the accent. Maybe because English is not my native language, I usually don't care too much and just take it for granted that American shows or movies NEVER do good accents. I did like the actress who plays the client though, she seems very positive and quirky and it's easy to see why Dave and even Maddie want to help her.

Overall, the episode might be a little too fantastic to be very good, but it's not the worst for me. I give it a (weaker) 7/10.

Moonlighting: Sleep Talkin' Guy (1986) Season 2, Episode 16

A fun episode

[8/10 · 16 August 2023]

Maddie and Dave celebrate 1 year of Blue Moon as a team. The festivities are soon dampened by an argument over a potential raise and Maddie making light of David's detective skills. After Maddie already left the office, David is visited by another blonde (Lisa Blount) who wants to warn him about an imminent homicide. She tells David that one of her clients (she's a lady of the night) talks in his sleep and that she gained that information through him.

David doesn't really seem to believe her, but is shocked to see the next day that she was indeed correct! He suggests a partnership...

This episode is definitely one of the better ones in season 2. Lisa Blount and Bruce Willis had a great chemistry and it's interesting to see how David treats other women and is treated by them. It's kind of a shame that Maddie never really knows (she takes a step aside in this episode) because she might be jealous.

The episode has that strong 80s vibe I love about Moonlighting. Not only do we get some nice shots of LA at night, we are also shown the dating scene, here in a smokey bar where David's client works.

And although David soon swims on a wave of success, he doesn't seem to be happy and misses Maddie.

The case has a more comedic than serious overtone, but that's ok in this case because the relation between David and his client (basically just business, but with a hint of care and romance) becomes the strong part and focus.

I give this episode an 8/10.

Moonlighting: Knowing Her (1985) Season 2, Episode 6

Cherchez-la-femme

[7/10 · 14 August 2023]

This episode had great potential. Like many of the best film noir, it features a greedy femme fatale, a painful memory from the past, money and murder.

Dana Delaney does a good job playing David's old flame, although it's clear why her and David wouldn't have worked: Unlike David who seems to be a happy go lucky guy who doesn't care that much about wealth, wealth is paramount to her. That's why she married a man just for his money. And she now claims her husband is out to kill her.

And as Maddie and Dave (mostly Maddie) investigate, it becomes clearer and clearer that for once, Maddie might be right in her assertion of the people involved when she pegs Gillian's husband as less of a potential culprit and more of a victim himself.

The episode peaks in the romantic and very noir scene of Gillian and Dave meeting at night. There's stars, there's the city lights, there's beautiful music...and Gillian's husband? Gillian still has a lot of influence over David as he seemingly feels the need to side with and protect Gillian, although there's no proof so far.

This also doesn't seem to matter anymore as Gillian's husband is dead just moments later, seemingly dying as Gillian uses self defense.

And this is where I start to have my problems with this episode:

Maybe it's partially due to the 40-45 mins any episode has, but this just seems like an episode that would work better if it was longer or a two parter. We never really get to know too much about Gillian and even less about her husband. We do find out that Gillian has been very selfish and reckless with David in the past (which is interesting in a way for those of us who are romantic and maybe thought things were better in the 80s, they weren't). It also doesn't help that the overall dark tone of the episode becomes too goofy and comical towards the end with the chase and music.

I do like the episode for showing us a different side to David we hadn't seen that much yet (maybe in episode 1 of season 2) and to let Maddie shine. But overall, it's "just" a 7/10 for me.

Moonlighting: My Fair David (1985) Season 2, Episode 5

Light and shadow

[7/10 · 14 August 2023]

Maddie is tired of being the bad guy at the office and is upset that while she feels she has compromised with David, he isn't behaving mature and professional enough. They make a bet that David can't behave like a mature guy for a week.

In the meantime, Blue Moon is being hired to pay off the kidnappers of a rich lady's gambling-addicted stepson. They succeed, but find out it was the son himself who had faked his kidnapping. Before they can break the good news to her though, he disappears again...

This episode starts with the famous limbo scene at the office and gives us a nice back and forth between Maddie and Dave and their very different attitude and beliefs. It's interesting to see that as Maddie seemingly won, she loses the respect and love of Agnes and even she herself starts to miss David being David.

The case is not bad either, although as it's unfortunately often the case on Moonlighting, it seems a bit rushed.

Overall, it's a good episode and I give it a good 7/10.

Moonlighting: Read the Mind... See the Movie (1985) Season 1, Episode 3

Just ok

[7/10 · 12 August 2023]

Maddie and Dave got a cushy job doing the security with a company that works in technology, doing the security for that company. Especially David enjoys this (maybe a little too much). However, despite Blue Moon doing their security, company secrets keep getting out and when an important demonstration goes awry and Maddie and Dave lose the job, they start to investigate and uncover that things aren't what they seem...

The episode starts well, but unfortunately begins to fizzle out a bit after 10-15 minutes. I like the night time atmosphere and the whole "Sweet cakes and Papa Bear" bit, but something just seems missing in this episode. Maybe it's the case, the run time or pacing issues.

I give this episode a 7/10.

Moonlighting: Gunfight at the So-So Corral (1985) Season 1, Episode 2

First case

[8/10 · 8 August 2023]

In this episode, we have the first case for Maddie and David after the pilot. An aging hitman who is terminally ill becomes their client as David shanghais him from another agency across the street in hilarious fashion. He hires them to find his son before he dies. But as Maddie and Dave investigate, they soon find out that someone's not telling the truth...

I thought this is a good episode. Many episodes of Moonlighting involve their financial trouble and this is one of the few times where they actually get some money (although its kind of a moral dilemma whether to accept it, especially for Maddie).

Both Maddie and David show their very different characters and their approach to detective work which leads to a funny scene in a back alley bar and some serious quarrelling and clash of opinions later down the road.

Ultimately, morality and kindness win and although that might seem a little preachy, it does fit nicely with the tone of the episode and show.

I give this episode an 8/10.

Moonlighting: Next Stop Murder (1985) Season 1, Episode 5

First Agnes di Pesto episode

[8/10 · 6 August 2023]

First episode where the spotlight isn't solely on Maddie and Dave.

Miss di Pesto is (seemingly) the winner of a murder mystery, created and hosted by a famous mystery novelist. As she doesn't want to leave her car at the station, Maddie and Dave offer to take her there, but eventually end up being stuck on the train where a REAL murder occurs.

This is a very well rounded episode with some guess-work (whodunnit), some romance (the train) and some good funny moments.

I especially liked when David is telling the story of how he caused the Big Blackout of 1965. Bruce is telling the story with such energy that you aren't sure if he's yanking Maddie's chain or if he's for real.

I give the episode an 8/10.

Moonlighting: Moonlighting (Pilot) (1985) Season 1, Episode 1

No flies on you!

[8/10 · 2 August 2023]

The Pilot episode begins with 3 people waking up/preparing for their day.

The first is some strange-looking, pockmarked Punk with a Mohawk who prepares a gun. The second is of a man waking up next to a woman, putting on his watch and leaving for a jog.

Soon, we see that Mr. Pockmark and Mr. Watch both jog in the same park. Mr. Pockmark doesn't say a word, but he makes Mr. Watch feel very uneasy. As Mr. Watch runs from Mr. Pockmark, he's hit by a car (Mr. Pockmark was just about to shoot at him) and Mr. Pockmark takes the watch off of him.

After a cut, we see a beautiful montage of photos of a beautiful woman on the cover of magazines in all kind of languages. As the camera pans over them, the Moonlighting theme plays and there's a melancholic and sweet atmosphere that continues until the camera reaches the end of the bed of the woman - and she's awoken by a terrible ruckus, seemingly coming from downstairs!

As the woman hurries down in her nightgown and we get a first impression of her beautiful home, we're now introduced to Miss Maddie Hayes, former fashion model (and the Blue Moon Shampoo girl). Her accountant ran off with her money, leaving her with nothing but some business investments she kept solely for tax write-off reasons. Her laywer and friend recommends that she quickly closes them down, so she can't acrue more debt.

I could go on, but I guess we all know the basic story of the pilot. What makes it so beautiful and put it above all the other shows of the time that were similar (like Hart to Hart, Scarecrow and Mrs King, Magnum) is that the plot often doesn't actually matter that much.

What really matters and charms us is the beautiful 1980s vibe and the similarly beautiful witty banter and friction between Maddie and Dave/Cybill and Bruce.

Cybill's role here mirrors her real life a bit, because she once was a very beautiful young lady with success, but by the time the show started, she wasn't exactly a superstar anymore.

And Bruce... it's funny to see what he looked like with almost all his hair (didn't actually suit him that well if you ask me) and you can immediately see why he beat out everyone else. Every scene he's in, you feel like he isn't acting, but he's just having fun with a role that was seemingly written for him.

Another star of the show for me was always the city. LA isn't the most beautiful city in real life from what I heard, but Moonlighting (and Michael Mann) managed to show us some real beauty there ( especially at night).

The scenes at the Starlite room for one are very beautiful and romantic. It also has the very good and tense elevator chase between Mr. Pockmark and another bad guy. Even though I already knew how it ended, I found myself at the edge of my seat.

The house they picked for Maddie (it also was featured in an episode of Columbo) is truly beautiful! Far too big for just one person, but beautiful.

The charme of the pilot that makes you eager for more is certainly the chemistry and friction between Maddie and Dave. They both put on a bit of a mask, but also show us their true colors. Maddie is actually kind of sweet when she shows her vulnerable side. And Dave is surprisingly sensitive for a guy who jokes about everything (but then he still has to figure out what "No flies on you" means).

It doesn't have all the ingredients yet that made Moonlighting such a hit, but it sets the foundation for one of the best shows and the mother of dramedies.

Modern Family: The Last Halloween (2019) Season 11, Episode 5

Call me Phil Bates

[8/10 · 15 July 2023]

The final season of Modern Family is a beautiful good-bye. Instead of trying to add too many new storylines, they rather conclude them here.

We see the end of Alex's and Luke's relationship (both for rather hilarious reasons). We see a reversal of the time Jay felt old in a Halloween episode and was cheered up by a drag queen (this time, it's Gloria who is oblivious and Jay who points out not to let her know because she "needs this", going full circle).

Mitch and Cam not being able to understand Lily or help her is nice in a way too. Nice, because it shows that sometimes all they can do is be there.

But the best storyline for me is the beautiful parody of "Psycho", including Phil as Norman Bates and Claire as his victim. Unfortunately for Phil, the result may be more than what he hoped for^^...

My Name: Episode #1.8 (2021) Season 1, Episode 8

Good finale

[8/10 · 21 May 2023]

Considering that this is not a movie and probably had even less of a budget than most Korean movies (which always accomplish amazing results on 1-5% of the budgets Hollywood requires for far less), I thought My Name was a good show. It isn't perfect and maybe that's in parts because it seems a bit stuck between "too long for a movie, too short for a conclusive series", but I can't see any REAL weaknesses.

The death of yet another character might seem unnecessary to some and I have my problems with it too (although for other reasons), but it makes sense.

Our villain WANTS to die. He pushes our heroine because he does feel regret for the lives he ended and ruined. He also owes his at least once to her and her father.

So if he has to kill another person to achieve closure, it makes sense to him.

One could also argue that she "cheated" her way to finally face off with him by shooting his last goon who would have ended her life a second later.

What I don't like is that he somehow does succeed in turning her into a monster. Which is why I have my problems with the character death in this episode.

The right (and unexpected) ending would have been an arrest. Killing the villain is what everyone was expecting, but like Pildo explained to her, it ultimately turns us into a monster and that's why he abandoned his revenge.

So by continuing hers again, our heroine really hasn't learned anything and that cheapens the ending a little bit for me.

Otherwise, anyone who is familiar with Korean movies or shows knows that the Koreans unfortunately have this tendency to sometimes go for "overkill" in assuring that there is no "happy" ending by killing off main characters towards the end. But like I said, it seems that this was intended to "push" her back on her revenge path.

Ultimately, although she took her revenge now, it seems she won't have a life like her father or Pildo had hoped. Seemingly, she is on the run now (or faked her death, but if she did, it wasn't explained at all). I doubt that there will be another season, the story is concluded. But I did like it and it had the usual strong cinematography and acting most Korean movies and shows have. I especially liked the villain and although I understand that he has to pay for what he did, I feel kind of bad for him and her, maybe because the actor just did such a great job portraying him and seemed much deeper than a purely "bad" guy who doesn't care about others or sees them as prey. I remain to believe that he did regret what he did and wanted her to succeed in her revenge as a kind of atonement.

Darling in the Franxx: Jian (2018) Season 1, Episode 15

Just some thoughts

[7 May 2023]

I watched the first 15 episodes so far and continue to think what the many, many metaphors of the show stand for.

There are quite a few questions that have never been addressed, such as what actually happened to the world that it's now in the state it is.

The show uses a lot of sexual symbolism. When two plantations meet and exchange energy, it's called "kissing".

The Franxx(two x for x chromosomes/girls) need a darling (male "hiro/hero), the whole process on how to operate the robots is highly sexual (the girls are "entered" and crouch in front of the guys), etc, etc.

After watching this episode, I am now absolutely sure of a theory I had, regarding the Klaxosaurs.

I was already wondering where they come from or why they are fighting with mankind. Why does their core have to be destroyed and what does that core remind us off?

Well, I believe now the core is a symbol for an inseminated egg. What the parasites (still not sure why they have that name) do is basically an abortion.

Honestly, I believe the whole show has to be seen less literal and much more metaphorically. This is a world where children aren't "born" and the act of sex or birth seem just "awful" for some reason (presumably the world is in such terrible state because of it).

Then we have the characters of Hiro and Zero Two (who is Zero One btw?). Zero Two reminds me a lot of Lucy from Elfenlied, their background is very similar (hybrid of two races, tested on and tortured, takes it out on the person that loves her or means well).

I assume now that it turns out that the real "bad guys" are APE (surely no coincidence either?) and "Papa" are the villains.

I do like the show and liked this episode as well for the beautiful way it makes you care about the characters.

The battles to me are just so so, but like I wrote, I think we're not supposed to care much about them. I think the focus is really on the characters and that's what I care about. Whether they fight in robots or on foot or not at all is secondary to me at best. It's the "human" side I care about:).

The Pool (2022)

Freibad (free bath literally) mocks PC culture

[7/10 · 31 March 2023]

I don't like most German movies that came out in the last 20+ years. They're unfunny, boring and too woke.

But I saw the trailer for this one and it actually seemed fun and entertaining, so I was surprised to see the low rating.

Freibad or "The pool" is a clever movie that mocks a lot of hypocrisies in modern German (or Western) society, especially some of women.

What I really liked is how the movie is very fem-centric. Except for a few police men in the opening, there are only two male characters. One of them is gay (although he might actually be bi), the other is a life guard. They seem to represent the male side in the gender war that the movie seems to satirize.

Freibad is the German word for, I guess, community pools? But Frei literally means free (bad is bath) and I think freedom or rather the freedom to be who we are or to do what we want is a big topic of the film.

This Freibad is unique because only women are allowed to attend. The only exception are men under the age of 6 and said gay character. The reasoning: "If you feel female, you are", which is a nice nod at the whole polygender absurdity.

The other male character is a life guard who is fascinated with "aquatic creatures". He seems to serve the story in two ways:

One is to show the hypocrisy/opportunism of many women (you'll see a strong change of tune in almost every woman at the Freibad and how they abandon all their "values" for some eye candy), the other in my opinion is to represent the male viewer/men in general.

The character voices how he "doesn't want to be used by any of the groups". This, again, seems like a clever way to make sure the women in the movie are not given any cheap excuses. Thick or thin, lazy or hard-working, every woman here has a light shun upon her and they are all exposed for who and what they are. And - surprise - they aren't "better" or anything, they are just human.

The lifeguard for instance can't seem to be bothered to actually do her job. She also uses manipulation to push her own agenda and easily folds when she actually has to be accountable and responsible. And she then can't be replaced because apparently, jobs with low pay, but lots of responsibility aren't exactly what women want. In this way, the movie shines a light at some of the hypocrisy of feminism, yet this criticism comes from a woman/women.

The manager(?) on the other hand doesn't seem to care much either way. If she isn't ripping off a group of (perceived) tourists, she just seems to exercise. She could be seen as the kind of man-hating misandrist no-one would have expected to eventually change.

Then there's the aging former singer (played beautifully by a brave Andrea Sawatzki who seems comfortable showing her age and breasts) with approaching deafness and seemingly feminist (although actually just self serving) agenda and her best friend, a judgemental high society lady who now lives off her husband (we never see him, other than in a photo or find out how he has so much money). They both have their own issues, be it with loneliness, childlessness or just getting older in general.

Finally, there's the half German, half Turkish Muslima, caught between two cultures who seems to have everything figured out, but later hates to realize that she's not that different from some of the women she previously felt superior to.

Freibad ultimately seems to mock the many white lies or half truths women often tell men or society, but here, they all become "free" (frei) and although this leads to chaos and violence at first, it ultimately becomes the catalyst for the happiness and improvement of everyone.

Eventually, it's the two male characters who help push the women in the right direction which I see as Doris Dörrie's call for less trench wars and more harmony between men and women. I think that's what the movie is trying to tell us and it does that in a clever way, with lots of metaphors, symbolism and the storyline.

I don't think this movie deserves the low rating. I give it a 7/10 which is strong for me (70-80% of movies I watch are 6 or less) and it's the only German movie in 2 decades I actually would recommend to anyone. Let's hope we get a few more films like this in the future, maybe German film making isn't dead yet. Kudos:)!

South Park: The Big Fix (2022) Season 25, Episode 2

Weak, dude, seriously lame

[3/10 · 28 March 2023]

It's funny that the creators and many fans seem to hate the first 3 seasons the most. Some call them a chore to get through.

But do people forget that the early seasons laid the foundation for this show? That Token was already a character then and his name was never an issue?

I mean, of course I get the "joke" and stuff. But gosh, the show really lost a lot of quality after it becomes so focused on ONE thing in every episode.

I love the early seasons because it's just about 4 naive boys who try to find out who their dad is or to get their dad a "res-erection" or have a gay dog or die every episode.

Kenny might as well never existed, he played absolutely no role in the last couple of seasons.

There's WAY too much Randy and I really find stoner and week jokes lazy and lame. What's sooo funny about all the Tegridy stuff? His own family hates it, the city hates it. Is THAT the joke? That the creators know everyone hates this, but they don't give a damn?

I don't get why this episode is rated so highly. There have been better episodes this season and it's been a weak season.

If they don't want to focus more on the boys and "normal" plots (instead of being topical all the time), I don't think I will watch South Park much more. They change characters all the time (Cartman's mom no longer is a sl.., Sheila is no longer constantly angry, Randy is just annoying now) and yet don't want to let the boys grow (except Butters).

I see a lot of similarities to Curb your Enthusiasm. They are also too topical now and it's ruined the show.

South Park: Doubling Down (2017) Season 21, Episode 7

Sad 😢

[8/10 · 24 March 2023]

I personally enjoyed season 18-21 a lot, mainly because it had one long storyline. A big part of it for me was the Heiman relationship (Heidi Cartman).

It was just sweet and different to finally see a side of Eric we hadn't seen since the very early seasons.

Does anyone still remember that despite being a prick, Eric actually was always a child who suffered a lot from never having a male role model and a mother who is an enabler?

Of course he is a selfish person and I am not going to say none of it is his fault. But we have seen in "Tsst" that Cartman actually CAN change! In episodes like Fatcamp or My Future Self and Me, he also seemed self aware.

So I don't completely agree with Kyle that Cartman will always blame others. He may now, but he didn't before.

That's why I am quite sad to see that Southpark doesn't take the opportunity to let him change a little.

I mean, this is a show that by now has pretty much written Kenny out of the show. And Kenny's character also was changed from the kid dying to...I don't know, the poor background character? So why can't they allow Eric to find some happiness?

I really feel bad for Heidi, because she also changed. Compared to the rather mean girl she was in Marjorine, she seems like a very sincere and compassionate girl. And Cartman WAS a really good boyfriend for a while, so it's not like he couldn't be one. He also seems to realize on some level that Heidi is good for him. It's just all that toxic learned behavior he would have to get past.

It is too late now, because they scrapped that storyline in season 21, but I always thought this was one of the last truly good stories and they gave it all up for a show that no longer is about 4 naive kids from Colorado going to school.

I really wish Eric and Heidi could have been happy together, even on a cynical show like Southpark.

Non Non Biyori: I Practiced Really Hard (2015) Season 2, Episode 10

The innocence of childhood

[9/10 · 16 March 2023]

Another beautiful episode, centered around Renge. This time, she is amazed at the "monsters" around her and is trying hard to learn riding her bike without her training wheels.

Once again, the creators manage to perfectly capture the way a child thinks or behaves. It's just super cute to see Renge having her favorite book read to her, even though she knows it by heart or trying her hardest and never giving up on riding her bike.

At the same time, Candy Store/Kaede is showing how much Renge means to her and their relationship is developing.

I really like how the show can remind us all what it was like to be a child.

Amy's Orgasm (2001)

A New York film about LA

[6/10 · 3 March 2023]

Amy's Orgasm felt a lot like a New York film. The style, the music...if I hadn't known that Sex and the City was already in season 3 or 4 by then, I could have sworn that they copied their style from this movie!

Similar to Sex and the City, Amy's Orgasm is told like the early seasons of SatC, with the female main character telling us who she is, why she is who she is, etc. We get some friends and relatives of her to add some contrast or different opinions and a fairly common plot line that is used as the vehicle to give us some actually rather useful insights into a lot of female assumptions and insecurities.

Frankly, I don't understand why the movie is rated so low. Maybe because it's from 2001? I'm quite sure if it was made in today's super woke and "women are superior in every way and need no man" misandric society, this movie would easily score a 7-8 from young women (the same kind that actually thought ANY of the women on Sex and the City would be a role model, while really, they're anything but).

I did like that it didn't give us all those man-hating and hypocritical messages that today's movies throw at us. Amy is at least seeing some of her flaws.

Plot-wise, yeah, it's not that realistic or makes a lot of sense. But I think sometimes it's ok if the message is ultimately a life-affirming one, rather than all those messages today that support hook-up culture and hypergamy.

The Orgasm from the title has to be seen as a more metaphorical than physical one. It's less about the penetration of the body and more about the penetration of the walls we built around us and taking a leap of faith.

In that sense, it's a very nice little movie that I could imagine to view again. I give it a strong 6/10.

Alice in Borderland: Episode 8 (2022) Season 2, Episode 8

Was it so hard to understand?

[10/10 · 11 February 2023]

I just finished the last two episodes and I must say, I thought season 2 was even better than season 1.

I had watched season 1 last December while a friend of mine hadn't seen the show yet and binged both seasons in 3-4 days. He thought it started well, then dipped in quality (the beach), but was also disappointed by season 2.

As for me, I agree about the beach, but I also thought the show picked up again towards the end of season 1 and I can't really find any fault with season 2, except that it might feel a little rushed in times (mainly because we don't get to see ALL games), but I totally understand why and it's ok with me.

I am confused by all the bad reviews of episode 7 and also those for this one.

It seems to be a similar issue that I noticed with the people who watched Squid Game, but mostly enjoyed it as some kind of gore fest or torture porn.

And although season 2 might have had one of the cruelest ways to die (acid), I think it was actually far more humane. My friend complained that the games didn't feel dangerous, but I think season 2 was almost only about psychology. Except for the King of Spades and I think he needs to be seen as something "special" and maybe not quite literally.

So the show is called "Alice in BORDERland", right?

Alice is Arisu (Japanese pronounciation of Alice). Usagi is Japanese for bunny (one can argue that she made him go deeper into the rabbit hole). Mira of course is the "evil" queen (although I honestly liked her, not only because she's super pretty. But she seemed happy and touched when she actually lost her game and seemed to be sincerely happy that she could play croquet with someone).

The whole borderland of course is the border between death and life. It's not just an imaginary place either, it does exist as some kind of limbo. And if you die there, you usually die in the real world too (except for Ann, but maybe that's because Kuina got to choose for her?).

So we can then glean from context that all the Kings and Queens might be dead or at least in permanent limbo (more likely). This might explain why all but one of them seem rather happy to die and why all of them seem quite lonely and bored.

So all the "unrealistic" things in episode 7 make a lot more sense under that context, because we're not in a real world. Some characters that would be certainly dead like the girl with the bow or Aguni seem to survive because of their will power (in real life). I mean, didn't the King of Spades super human reflexes seem odd as well?

I am sure even the plant life has some deeper meaning when we can see how quickly Shibuya is covered in plants and how there are skeletons with no meat or skin (it would take weeks or months usually to be so clean) on them.

Mira actually mentions this in a way. She said the truth really doesn't matter and if they never ever felt that this world is a bit...off? It is! Because it's not our "normal" world.

In a way, her trick (that's what makes her game one of the deadliest, although one has to wonder if it would work with 50+ participants?) that Arisu was in an accident isn't that far from the truth. He and Usagi were in an accident and so was everybody else (except for the Kings and Queens).

The message of Alice in Borderland is clear: The purpose of life is relative and what You make of it. Just as long as you live your life to the fullest and work together and treat others kindly.

I don't know if the Joker means that there will be another season, but I actually can't imagine it. Although I would have loved to see and know more about this world, I can't imagine a better ending for the show. A perfect 10 from me :).

Alice in Borderland: Episode 6 (2022) Season 2, Episode 6

Wow

[9/10 · 9 February 2023]

I really liked season 2 so far, so much that I can't keep myself from watching just "one" episode per day. I don't quite understand why many people seem disappointed or dislike it. My friend who binged the show in a few days told me he felt disappointed, but so far, I can't agree.

The way the first game turned out, yeah, I can understand that the Queen didn't feel "threatening". But I think he and others forget how short-sighted and emotional most people behave, especially under stress.

Of course at first it seems like there's no way the players would voluntarily be on the Queen's team if they could easily win by just remaining one group. But once they chip away at that group and a loss seems possible, self preservation kicks in and the Queen does make a good point (although the players don't seem to see why).

We do know that she must have been playing that game for a long time because she's so hellbent on getting Arisu for her team because "he's my type". So through her, we get a good idea how lonely and sad this game actually is: You have to keep playing it with the same people and her team is very small to begin with for a game that she always won so far (that seems like a bit of a plothole, unless this was the first time the game was played).

It's the psychological part and the selfishness of people that makes this a dangerous game.

As to those who complain that the boy just shows up and then is immediately dropped, well...first of all, it does seem highly unrealistic a child could have lived through most of these games. But maybe he was just sent to this world? Also, he does have that lady who took him under her wings, so it does make some sense to leave him to her. They just helped him to extend his visa.

Now as for the second game, it was very tense. I especially liked the flashback and the speech by the King's boss. He does have a point about the law, but the King also has a point about having ideals and standing up for them.

I am not surprised that WESTERN audiences may not understand that concept anymore or think anyone would put so much meaning into it, but I think it makes a lot sense for a country where society functions the way it does because people were brought up this way for centuries.

I also thought Chisiya was betting on the King to make the choices he did, based on reading his character, so I wouldn't say it was unrealistic or dumb luck. I honestly wouldn't have been surprised if both had died or Chisiya had.

Speaking of him though, I do think he has Urbach-Wiethe disease, a very rare (400 recorded cases) condition where a person is incapable of feeling fear. Because tell me what you want, but logic only goes so far and he has shown that he doesn't seem capable of feeling fear before.

I was actually more surprised to see that he was a doctor in the real world. I never quite thought as what I imagined him before, but definitely not a doctor.

The King did win in a way, because Chisiya showed what choice he made in real life. He choose "the greater good" and saved recommended patients who kept the clinic open, understanding that he may help the patients who actually earned the surgery, but that eventually the result would be that all of those patients had to die and not just some. It's a mere logical decision, not a very humane or ethical one.

To me, this made it one of the best episodes of the show so far. I really like the world building that is done on this show and the focus on the value of life and what value we give it. None of the King's or Queen's seemed the least bit phased (not counting the selfish prison King and his game was one that didn't value life in any way) about their imminent death and I'm guessing all of this will bring us some conclusion later on in the show.

So don't watch this show if all you care about is gore or how you would like to see the show. Thinking like that has already ruined shows like Twin Peaks season 2 or Game of Thrones. Just enjoy the ride and be happy that there is thought-provoking tv like this:).