bobcobb301 Reviews

The Big Door Prize: Back in the Saddle (2024) Season 2, Episode 6

Episode 206

[27 May 2024]

"Back in the Saddle" showed that even a strong program like The Big Door Prize can have some underwhelming episodes. They focused on a variety of characters even if the main point was to drive home Beau's continued vision, but that could kind of be problematic here. Way too many things going on which made none of them really stand out as noteworthy.

I just hope that they are building to yet another stage. I didn't think they had the visions in them for the second stage so maybe they'll surprise me, but I want a third season only if the Morpho Machine still plays a huge role in the lives of these people.

The Big Door Prize: Rehearsals (2024) Season 2, Episode 7

Rehearsals

[27 May 2024]

This was probably the weakest of the season and the first underwhelming one, but even this episode had a lot of standout moments in it.

The Big Door Prize is having a good second season that has somehow found a way to make the Morpho Machine even more relevant in the world.

I just think focusing on the singular character each week is a bad idea and Cas' mother did not need her own plot. We also do not need yet another forced same sex couple just for the sake of hitting a quota.

Tell good stories, and no matter who is in the relationship at the end of the day people will want to keep watching.

Inside No. 9: Boo To A Goose (2024) Season 9, Episode 1

Episode 1

[27 May 2024]

The ending did not totally make sense because if the government could easily clone people why not just replace the obviously problematic ones and not bother with tests like this?

But it was still exciting and kind of a holy bleep moment when you wondered what was going on with the gas masks and the duplicates.

They presented a wide variety of characters here and yet it all turned into the eventual moral dilemma a show or movie like this would give us.

This was a good start to the season. A little weird ending, but definitely entertaining. Hope this sets the stage for a good farewell for Inside No. 9.

Inside No. 9: The Trolley Problem (2024) Season 9, Episode 2

The Trolley Problem

[27 May 2024]

There was an episode just like this last season, but with Reece and Steve shifting roles in the assailant and the murderer. Nevertheless, they found a way to throw in a good twist at the end and make him mentioning the trolley problem that much more fitting.

I think these episodes all in one setting can sometimes be a miss, but this one was pretty good. The characters were just a little two dimensional though when we used to get very three dimensional people at times.

Still, Inside No. 9 is having a good final season and I hope they can continue this momentum for the entire run of episodes this year.

Inside No. 9: Mulberry Close (2024) Season 9, Episode 3

Mulberry Close

[27 May 2024]

Another standout episode this season for Inside No. 9.

I began to doubt that he had killed her, but was not quite sure what the twist would be. One of the neighbors ending Valerie was a perfect ending, and then they topped it off with one of the neighbors killing Popcorn and setting that in motion too.

Not many shows would try an episode almost entirely from a doorbell camera, but this show is able to try things like that. I would only note that bad guys or even well-intentioned neighbors should expect homes to have this nowadays and not do something like breaking into a home in the first place.

The Voice: Live: Recap Finale Performances (2024) Season 25, Episode 21

Live Finale

[27 May 2024]

This has not been a particularly strong season of The Voice. I have not felt a really strong connection to any of the contestants, and ones like Maddi Jane that I was pulling for fell short.

But The Voice usually does the finale concept well and this one was no different.

I do miss the coach and artist performances and the original songs though. I feel like that could get the show back to its glory days.

Not sure who is going to win, and I don't know if the winner is lined up for a success, but it was not a bad night. Just stop doing Whitney Houston songs on this show, because they never can match the original artist, or even come close.

The Conners: Less Money, More Problems (2024) Season 6, Episode 13

Episode 613

[27 May 2024]

They actually set the stage for the seventh and final season with Mark getting into some dangerous activities. He will end up mkaing a lot of money, but will probably get in trouble. Not quite winning the lottery from the original Roseanne series, but I guess a good way to give us something near.

This was a solid finale for a show that has seen better days for sure, but still is somewhat appealing and engaging every week. This feels like the last of a dying breed: a laugh track sitcom that still feels relevant to fans of 90's TV. Sad that we now only have one season left to look forward to, but at least we get that.

Elsbeth: Artificial Genius (2024) Season 1, Episode 8

Artificial Genius

[26 May 2024]

As woke as Robert and Michelle King are when it comes to their TV shows, particularly those within The Good Wife universe, it was good to see them at least point out of some of the absurdities that exist there from therapy animals to fake canes to trauma.

They really picked a bad villain, but did not paint her overly cartoonish and one sided. They made you dislike her, but also clearly showed her intentions.

This show is really finding its voice and just like The Good Wife before it is probably the best hour long drama on broadcast TV. Although it isn't 2009, so that's not the same accomplishment it once was.

Elsbeth: Sweet Justice (2024) Season 1, Episode 9

Sweet Justice

[26 May 2024]

We know in the finale next week they'll find a permanent spot for Elsbeth in NYC, so no need to tease that exit. But they have done a good job of adding a long-running arc in the background of the episodes which are resolved at the end of each week.

I also like that there was at least a little bit of doubt with Elsbeth in pointing out the bad guy, even though she clearly gets it each and every week. Just once her being wrong could be a good thing for the health of this series, and would definitely point things in a much more realistic direction given how most police forces seem to operate these days.

Ring of Honor Wrestling: ROH on HonorClub #65 (2024) Season 16, Episode 21

May 23

[26 May 2024]

The main event was okay, but this is the kind of match that should appear on AEW TV every week. Give the fans the flippy stuff and something to talk about. I don't even know what the direction fo AEW is at the moment.

But the rest of the show was pretty forgettable. If the challenger never prevails in the Proving Ground matches they are going to lose their luster a bit.

Mike Bennett losing to Daddy Magic makes no sense, and just proves how little they care about Bennett and Taven. Those two would probably be better off if they were still in TNA, but what can you really do at this point in time?

All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite: For The World (2024) Season 6, Episode 21

May 22

[26 May 2024]

There really are not a lot of storylines to get excited about when it comes to AEW. I don't really need that stuff and would actually prefer they dialed it back, but if we're not going to get good wrestling what is the point.

Serena Deeb's character is a polar opposite to what Saraya and Harley Cameron stand for so why are they wrestling the Champ and her partner? This doesn't make sense.

The Elite taking over needs clearer direction too. We just get a few, mildly entertaining, backstage segments each week. Not much impact. If Tony Khan was okay to drive why wait until the very end to appear on the show?

Ring of Honor Wrestling: ROH on HonorClub #64 (2024) Season 16, Episode 20

May 16

[21 May 2024]

Wrestling continues to be in a downward spiral right now and it is really disappointing because ROH has some good talent at their disposal.

Rachael Ellering and Skye Blue had a decent match, but I know both are capable of better. Thankfully, the production team was able to drown out some of the rumored inappropriate comments made during the bout.

Jay Lethal back in ROH is a good thing, but not in this role. He should be in the main event of the next PPV facing Mark Briscoe for the title.

Athena vs. Queen Aminata should be good, but hopefully Athena retains. Not nearly time for her title reign to end.

The Conners: Flying, Applying and Rassling Gators (2024) Season 6, Episode 12

Flying, Applying

[20 May 2024]

Dan getting in fights felt very reminiscent of Roseanne and the episode where he got revenge for Fisher hurting Jackie, but I wish we could have actually seen a punch get thrown.

For a show that is very dated and behind the times, seeing them tackle flight controversy actually felt current. This is still going on and is not going to stop anytime soon.

The Mark story is a little bit underwhelming, but I just don't care about his highs or his lows. I don't really agree with Darlene that telling him was a good thing though. It is better to not know and wonder, but that's just my opinion. Not a parent so I'm indifferent.

The Big Door Prize: Night Under the Stars (2024) Season 2, Episode 5

Episode 205

[20 May 2024]

"Night Under the Stars" seemed like it wrapped up most of the relationships and put them in a good place, except for the one with the two leads.

There was some good comedy thrown in and as someone who has battled some gambling issues over the years, it is appreciated that they can poke fun at that, but not quite as memorable as some other episodes this year.

The show is in a good position though. Very few of the half hours feel like a letdown and I feel like you get a lot each and every week.

More people need to start watching the show, but if that does not happen then I am fine keeping this as a secret gem.

American Idol: 718 (Grand Finale) (2024) Season 22, Episode 18

Finale

[20 May 2024]

I feel like Abi Carter was destined to win the show. She isn't who I would choose, but I can't necessarily argue it was the wrong move. I would have picked Emmy Russell, but out of the final three Will probably should have gotten the nod.

There was a nice variety of guest performers too, which was good to see. For The Voice they usually go all current acts that are boring and maybe one nostalgia one. This was a good mix and they seemed to find some natural fits for the talent.

Okay finale, not the strongest group of talent in the top 3, but it was a fun season as a whole. Feel like a slight reboot might be best ahead of next year though.

Law & Order: Organized Crime: Redcoat (2024) Season 4, Episode 11

Redcoat

[18 May 2024]

I am glad that the farm storyline is over. This wasn't that bad, but it never seemed to really make any sense. Stabler took down a heroin ring instead of avenging a teammate's death? The operative would have been called off as soon as he showed up dead.

I also wonder why the police didn't just rush in earlier. Is nearly killing a cop really any worse than the one they actually killed?

This show is having a decent fourth season, but far too often it feels like you have to throw logic completely out the window with this show and that is really disappointing. Still fun to watch every Thursday though.

Law & Order: Organized Crime: Goodnight (2024) Season 4, Episode 12

Goodnight

[18 May 2024]

We knew that Joe was going to get free, and then we knew it would be to try and help Elliott. We have all seen too much TV to wonder anything differently.

But this was still a solid episode. Some laughs thrown in and it just feels a bit edgier than the other two Law and Orders. The move to Peacock feels natural, even if it does mean the crossovers will probably not be as often.

I just have to wonder how Stabler can consistently go undercover in these different organizations. No one recognizes him as a cop, or even as an undercover from a competing or rival gang? I am not buying that they do not do that research.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Prima Nocta (2024) Season 25, Episode 11

Prima Nocta

[18 May 2024]

This was an okay episode of SVU, but one thing I like about what this season has given us is that we are getting a closer look at how the team finally cracks what is going on.

Most of us at home that have watched a procedural or two could easily tell that it was going to be something related to the wedding planner or the flower delivery, but seeing the team slowly get it felt different than how SVU usually does. Having the stepmother be clever and protect him was a nice change of pace too, as too often these people are easily manipulated by police.

Good, but not a memorable or standout episode.

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Marauder (2024) Season 25, Episode 12

Marauder

[18 May 2024]

It was good to see the team go a little bit off the book and go through some cold cases. It was funny when the old attacker tried to make a run for it in his house when we knew he could not get away.

But having Sykes' sister not turn up alive, or really any of them turn up alive, it just seemed odd to do this now. I don't even know if Sykes is going to come back to the show, so why rush this kind of resolution.

Are there really cops out there that get haunted by past cases and keep boards of the details around them in their basements long after retiring? Or is that just a thing done on television?

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Duty to Hope (2024) Season 25, Episode 13

Duty to Hope

[18 May 2024]

Fin going out of his way to protect the son shooting him felt like something we'd see on Walker Texas Ranger or a police show of yesteryear, but it did not really work here.

The bulk of this episode just felt really all over the place. Not sure a new DA butting heads with SVU and Carisi is what this show needs heading into next season, but I expect that to be the case.

It was a solid episode, but just a little too corny here. Having another hostage crisis so soon after the last one on SVU just felt a little tacky and a little bit lazy from the writing team, but that's just my humble opinion.

AEW Collision: Bust Em Up (2024) Season 1, Episode 45

May 11

[18 May 2024]

I cannot take this long Adam Copeland matches anymore. I disliked them in WWE and they are worse here. This is not elevating the opposing talent, and Tony Schiavone calling Kyle O'Reilly "kid" felt a little strange.

Tommy Billington had a breakout performance here. He has a lot of work to do, but it would be good for AEW to slowly build up someone like this. Not sure if it was a one off or not.

I'm a fan of Thunder Rosa and Robyn Renegade, but the match did not quite work here.

Will Ospreay remains one of the best wrestlers in the world and having a match like this proves there isn't an ego there which is a positive sign.

All Elite Wrestling: Rampage: Episode #4.7 (2024) Season 4, Episode 7

May 11

[18 May 2024]

Most of these matches were good on paper, but they all just felt like squash bouts. They ran too long, but they didn't give the underdog a chance to win.

Deonna Purrazzo and Lady Frost both should be on TV every single week, but I'll take what I can get here.

Dalton Castle is loved by the AEW audience and has a unique gimmick, but for some reason Tony Khan keeps him solely in ROH. I don't really get it at all.

Johnny TV finally getting on AEW TV is a positive sign, but we know he'll never get a push here. Such a disappointment and a rare case where maybe he would be better off if he could get back to WWE somehow.

Halo: Onyx (2024) Season 2, Episode 6

Episode 6

[18 May 2024]

The sixth episode of the second season was titled "Onyx" and we finally got a little bit of action, we finally got a "slam" or two, to make a dated rap reference. John going bezerk and fighting for what he believes in and letting the viewer know the stakes of what is going on is what works about this show.

We do not need all the heavy emotional stuff. That is not what the video game was about, I don't think that's what the fans want, and it is not even well done.

Just give us simple storylines with clear good guys and bad guys and let them battle it out to see who wins it all in the end. Not complicated.

Halo: Thermopylae (2024) Season 2, Episode 7

Episode 7

[18 May 2024]

You can give the episode a cool title like " Thermopylae" but you have to actually give us a reason to care about everything. This was way too much talking and dragging on and not nearly enough action or storyline development.

The whole point of John was that he was not this deep character, but that's way too much of what they gave us here.

I see a lot of people talking about the CGI and graphics and directing, but I don't really waste too much time worrying about stuff like that. It all seems pretty impressive to me, but the content is what I care about and the content did not work here tonight.

Halo: Halo (2024) Season 2, Episode 8

Episode 208

[18 May 2024]

If this is not the series finale of this show, they might want to reconsider.

This season has had a few good moments, but for the most part it has just been disaster after disaster. It just feels boring and it feels like it is dragging on and on.

I guess the virus bit was okay, but we have had so many other shows fully focus on this that I don't think anyone wants to see Halo donate significant time to covering this.

And for all of the random action and battle sequences we have had throughout the show's second season, this one was surprisingly light on the action on that front. That was odd.