lisadewaal-98104 Reviews

Villainous (2017–2021)

Problems with heroes?

[10/10 · 20 December 2022]

I first heard of this show 10 years ago and watched through all of its mini-episodes. The characters were absolutely fantastic. I remember having only one complaint: they were too short. A few days ago, I stumbled across this show again and decided to watch the six released episodes of season 1. It was amazing. This is a show you don't necessarily have to watch for the overarching story (yet), but the characters are SO GOOD that it doesn't matter that the story isn't that fleshed out (YET).

The concept of the show is rather original. Black Hat, the ultimate villain, has gotten rid of all of his own heroes, and now runs a company to help other villains destroy THEIR heroes. Black Hat sends out his three employees, Dr. Flug, Demencia, and 5.0.5., to get rid of these 'heroic problems'.

I absolutely adore Dr. Flug, the nervous paper-bag scientist. His character design is unique and his personality is surprisingly three-dimensional. He's a perfectionist, striving to prove himself. He's caring toward his cohorts, and quite jumpy when it comes to scary things (like Black Hat). At the same time, Flug's a villain who likes to create insane devices for his boss to cause mayhem. Flug has his own backstory and motivations for joining Black Hat Organization, and I can't wait for it to be fully uncovered.

Demencia is best described as a Harley Quinn-like character who's completely obsessed with Black Hat. She's very tough but not the brightest one around. I love her dynamic with Dr. Flug. Her character design is a real eye-catcher and I love the sound effects of a rattle snake when she slithers across the floor. She really doesn't hold anything back and just wants to maim and destroy. Her love for Black Hat is somewhat disturbing, which fits her deranged personality.

5.0.5. Is a big, blue bear who really doesn't seem to belong. He's very sweet and has the mind and naivety of a child, making him a cute side character who you feel sorry for when he has to witness horrific events. He's kind of a breath of fresh air among the evil things going on.

Ah, and then there the big boss himself. Black Hat. He's quite different from most cartoon villains I've seen. Most are comical and not that harmful. They have their weaknesses to be defeated in the end, or are even sympathetic. Black Hat... isn't like that. He is actually pure evil. It's no secret that he kills and tortures people on a regular basis. He takes delight in the suffering of others without holding anything back. He treats everyone pretty much with the same sadism, because that's just who he is. He makes any interaction with him as uncomfortable as possible. He has the essence of a horror movie villain in his behavior, constantly twisting physical appearance and cruelty. But of course, he's not actually the antagonist of this show. This villain is impossible to defeat, but he also just doesn't need to BE defeated. And it's so surreal to watch!

Needless to say, Black Hat is the star of this show. Whenever he's on screen, it's always ridiculously entertaining. But now that I've seen the sixth episode, I'm really curious to see where the story with the rest of the characters is headed. It has a LOT of potential and I just want to know more about them. The animation is also of very high quality and the visual gags are always a blast. The only thing missing so far is a musical number, but maybe that's just me. Can't wait to see more!

The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021)

2/10. I Will Never Watch Again

[1/10 · 3 September 2021]

After everyone at work recommended this movie, I decided to watch it with my family. Ohhh boy was I embarrassed. The jokes were so horrible. My brother cringed so much that he left the room after 50 minutes of watching, even though he usually loves animated movies. My father left after the first 10 minutes, but he's not big on animation anyway. My mother and sister watched it all the way to the end, but they didn't laugh once. I have no idea what this movie is trying to communicate except for 'being crazy is a good thing'? It's super on the nose. 2 stars because I did enjoy some of the robots' personalities. Sadly their designs were very unoriginal.

Lucifer: Daniel Espinoza: Naked and Afraid (2021) Season 5, Episode 12

Lucifer said the F word

[10/10 · 29 May 2021]

I can't believe Lucifer said the F word. 10/10 episode.

Pokémon: Nyabby, Time to Begin the Journey! (2017) Season 20, Episode 21

Oh, the tears

[10/10 · 11 February 2021]

Didn't expect to end up gross sobbing while watching Pokémon. Why is no one talking about this episode??

David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet (2020 TV Movie)

Our legacy

[9/10 · 28 September 2020]

I just returned from the premiere of David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, a documentary in which the man himself talks about how he witnessed many drastic changes that happened in our world during a single lifetime. As I was watching it, I often felt the need to look away, even though I knew that I would be closing my eyes to the harsh truth of our planet's decay if I did. My advice? Do not look away from this documentary for a second. It will show you seemingly irreversible damage done to this earth, but give you specific hope that'll make sure not all will be lost. It will show you that everything that has been destroyed can be rebuilt. My personal favorite part is where he shows us that this is not about saving our planet: it's about saving ourselves. Because if humanity perishes due to its own errors, life will start anew anyway. It's all about the legacy we leave behind that will determine whether our species becomes extinct... or gets to live another century to see the world rise from the ashes we created.

All in all, a convincing documentary, not with necessarily lots of new visual content, but rather an incredibly moving, personal story beautifully tied together with video footage and fantastic music.

Lucifer: Spoiler Alert (2020) Season 5, Episode 8

HOW FAR THIS SHOW HAS COME

[10/10 · 23 August 2020]

After so many episodes, so much exploration of characters, so many story arcs and relationships formed and destroyed, I didn't think ANYTHING in Lucifer would bring back the same feelings of excitement I used to have for this show. But HELL was I wrong.

This entire season has been the absolute PEAK of Lucifer's history so far. It has completely found its way back to being groundbreaking, heart wrenching, epic and incredibly exciting. The pacing has become perfect, the revelations and plot points no longer dawdle. It's one crucial event after the other and I don't know how the writers managed to do that, but I will tell you that it was AMAZING to experience. Everything falls into place perfectly as new characters are added. And the visual effects!!!! I couldn't believe my eyes while I was watching this episode. It really shows you how far this show has come.

Netflix has not only revived Lucifer. It has ENHANCED it and given it so much more.

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood (2019)

Difficult to understand...

[5/10 · 10 August 2020]

And I think perhaps a little TOO difficult. I just didn't know what was happening. None of the characters sounded familiar to me, but I had the feeling like I was supposed to know them. There were scenes full of tension that, in my eyes, led to absolutely nothing. The ending made zero sense to me: I didn't know where those teenagers came from or how I was supposed to know them. I'm really bad at memorizing faces, so maybe they did appear in the movie once or twice, but it just wasn't enough for me to recognize them.

Only when I was done watching, still throwing up because of a few gruesome scenes that happened without warning, I decided to look up what the hell it all meant, if it even meant anything. Apparently, the movie is based on a real tragedy or a murder that took place in Hollywood years ago. However, I know nothing of Hollywood's history, so I didn't understand any references that were made.

I think the movie could be really cool and surprising to people who know Hollywood's history. However, I'm rating this based on my own experience: confusion, boredom, sickness and a lack of sleep.

DuckTales: The Last Crash of the Sunchaser! (2018) Season 1, Episode 22

Heartbroken

[10/10 · 31 July 2020]

The last five minutes of this episode contain the most emotional scenes I've seen in a long time. I don't cry at shows often, but I shed several tears when this episode ended. Complex characters, tragic revelations and amazing animation, especially for the facial expressions and body language. I watched the final scene several times, pausing it to better understand what I was seeing... and it broke my heart.

13 Reasons Why: Bye (2018) Season 2, Episode 13

I Blame This Show

[1/10 · 18 June 2020]

I never felt so sick in my life after watching parts of this episode of 13 Reasons Why. For some reason, I always felt extremely uncomfortable whenever I caught a glimpse of this show. My parents were the ones watching it every evening, not me, but I had a decent understanding of what the story was about. I arrived home in the evening, when my parents were like ten minutes into this episode, and I tuned in, missing the apparent trigger warning at the beginning.

I had to relax, and I had to go to bed early that evening, because I had an exam the next day, so I was already pretty on edge about that. And then that Tyler scene just had to happen. And I accidentally saw it. Needless to say, I got a severy anxiety attack, felt extremely sick, couldn't sleep, and failed the exam the next day.

I know I shouldn't blame this episode, but I do. After failing the exam, I found myself back in that dark place I tried to stay out of for so long.

Fortunately, about a month later, I was able to enjoy life again. When I eventually retook the exam, I passed.

But I still associate this show with one of the worst times of my life that involved lots of crying, isolating, and things I don't want to talk about.

The Vampire Diaries: Bloodlines (2010) Season 1, Episode 11

Damon killed many people, Elena

[7/10 · 12 June 2020]

Until this episode, I always considered Elena a character who was able to stand up to herself, considering that she knew how many good people died at the hands (or fangs) of Damon, and thus always made sure she kept her distance from him. When it was possible, anyway. She called him out on killing people, she said he was a bad person, she even punched him several times because she hated him so much. And that's why I liked Elena. She had a conscious.

Well, until this episode of course. What is she doing, for God's sake? Yes, I understand it wouldn't be too smart to try and escape. Yes, I understand that she doesn't fight him because she knows he's stronger than her. But here's the thing: she's actually enjoying being kidnapped. Why did she not answer Stefan's call to ask him to PLEASE take her away from this psychopath? And most importantly: why did she desperately stop that other man from killing Damon? Before, when Stefan said he was going to kill Damon after Lexi's death, Elena said: "I'm not protecting Damon, I'm protecting you. Please don't kill him." And that's completely understandable, that's noble. For the sake of Stefan's mental state. But this? When she saw Damon on the ground, FINALLY about to die at the hands of a guy who deserves his revenge more than anyone, it was clear she only tried to stop him to keep Damon alive. I mean, why? She knows that he won't stop killing people, doesn't she? Oh man, she came across as such an unsympathetic character in this episode. It's a shame, really.

(On a side note: villains are always my favorite characters from any book, show or movie. Always have been. But villains only work when the protagonist of the story understands that they ARE evil and actively work against them. Which is why Elena not caring about Damon being the villain of her story, automatically waters down Damon's entire presence. Which is maybe the saddest thing of all, considering he was so terrifying in the previous episodes.)

The good parts of this episode were Bonnie, her grandmother, and Stefan. It was great to see Bonnie find the tomb, and Stefan's interactions with her and her grandma were amazing and heartwarming.

This is the first episode of this show that contains the thing I dread most when consuming any work of fiction: a villain who starts to lose his menacing presence.

I just hope it doesn't devitalize to the point where I simply lose interest.

Milo Murphy's Law (2016–2019)

It's a GEM

[10/10 · 24 May 2020]

I have to say, I did not expect to enjoy this show THIS much. After rewatching Phineas & Ferb, I had no idea what cartoon could be as enjoyable to get into. That's when I heard of Milo Murphy's Law. I had no idea that the series existed. I had no idea that the characters are fantastic. I had no idea that actual important plot points from Phineas & Ferb were being continued in this.

Admittedly, I had little idea what was going on in the first couple of episodes. Especially with the pistachio people. I thought they would be some weird comic relief serving characters who'd appear in each episode to protect some nuts. Oh, how wrong I was! I was blown away by their overlapping story arc and the chemistry between those two characters became more and more fantastic.

And then there's Milo Murphy himself. I know of one rule to create the perfect character: have bad luck put them in trouble, and have them use their own wit to get out of it. A perfect example of a character that does the exact opposite is Jar Jar Binks: he gets in trouble because of his own stupidity, but gets out by pure luck. And what a coincidence it is that Jar Jar Binks is the most hated character of all time! But I don't like making too many comparisons, which is why I'll just say this: Milo is a great, optimistic boy who is a lot of fun to watch. And so are the incredibly daring, yet human side characters.

And of course, then there's season two, which had me completely hooked. It's not a secret that Doofenshmirtz is my favorite character from Phineas & Ferb, but I didn't expect he would STILL be as enjoyable to watch in a different series. I mean, he has perfect chemistry with almost every character. Milo's sister even has a more interesting sibling-rivalry with Doofenshmirtz, a random old guy who just showed up one day, than with her actual brother! It's crazy how Dr. D after all this time, all his SCREEN time, still manages to be so much fun to watch.

I really hope this show will continue on Disney+. I don't think it's really a kid's show, though. I'm in my twenties and I enjoyed Phineas & Ferb more at my age now than I did when I was twelve, and Milo Murphy's Law seems to be even more mature, for the most part. I know there's a Phineas & Ferb movie coming out soon as well, but honestly? I'd rather have a next season of this gem.

(That doesn't mean I'm not excited about the movie, though. Keep up the good work!)

Milo Murphy's Law: Game Night/Pace Makes Waste (2018) Season 2, Episode 4

Game Night is probably my favorite episode

[9/10 · 19 May 2020]

I absolutely loved the first episode. I loved how creative the kids were in order to even begin playing the board game. The episode got better and better as so many other characters joined in. Cavendish and Dekota were once again fantastic. And it's great to see a certain someone crash through the ceiling only to see he's, once again, bathing.

The second episode was fine, there wasn't anything special going on. I'm not a big fan of cars, but the commentator with the glasses was hilarious.

First episode 10/10, second episode 7/10.

Monster (2004–2005)

MASTERFUL storytelling

[10/10 · 16 March 2020]

I was always a bit negative about anime because of the childish, almost cringy ways of delivering stories that have the potential of being really good.

And that's when I came across Monster. The first episode immediately got me scared and hooked at the same time, and it wasn't necessarily the episode itself that got me. It was the credits. The image I saw, the music that played gave me an indescribable feeling of terror, loneliness... and great anticipation.

So I continued watching. Every episode was even better than the last. The story was extremely engaging. I had strong emotions about every character, whether it was love, hatred, disgust or fear. The tension was constantly there, and it was great to see the mysteries unfold. What was so great about it is that the mysteries don't stay mysteries for too long, I always found that when unanswered questions drag on for too long, I lose my interest to even find out the answers (I'm looking at you, BBC Sherlock and the Kingdom Hearts Saga), but this show really got me going.

The small backstories were also a lot of fun, I've told people various small tales that come from this show and I always manage to pique their interest. And I'm not even a good storyteller, that's just how amazing the concept of each backstory is!

Well, I think I've said plenty. If the animation quality/style is what throws you off, which I can kind of understand, please do keep watching anyway. It's really, really worth it.

Fruits Basket (2019–2021)

It's so beautiful

[10/10 · 20 February 2020]

I watched the 2001 version of Fruits Basket like five years ago, and even though I enjoyed it, it didn't feel entirely right, especially the ending. THIS version, however... It's just beautiful. The animation is fantastic. The characters are all likable in their own way. The story is fantastic.

Another really interesting aspect of this anime is that it feels real. The things that happen, the flaws and struggles each character has to deal with, they're all rather realistic. I found myself crying actual tears in some episodes because of how the story hits home.

I also adore the message it sends. The main character is extremely endearing and if everyone would strive to be more like her, the world would be a much better place.

And finally, the English dub is very good. I watched the 2001 version with English dub as well, and I was surprised to hear that the entire cast is the same as back then! I love how consistent Funimation is, they have my greatest respect.

I can't wait to see the second season!

Lucifer (2016–2021)

Hot. Fun. Positive.

[10/10 · 17 October 2019]

There's isn't a single show I've enjoyed as much as Lucifer. I fell in love within the first five minutes of the first episode, which never happens. The repeating formula is great, the twists and turns are amazing and unpredictable, the character development is the best I've ever seen. Characters actually learn and grow.

The supernatural aspect really speaks to me, I've always been all ears when it came to the devil. Even back in middle school, where I was raised a Christian. I really like the story of the Bible and I enjoy seeing the references made to it in this show.

I have nothing to add. It's great. The characters are attractive. It has great life lessons and morals. Everyone could learn something from this, whether it's forgiveness, tolerance or purely knowledge on religion.

Toy Story 4 (2019)

Andy's Gonna Yeet Bonnie Right Out The Window

[7/10 · 19 July 2019]

This movie was extremely well made. The graphics are beautiful, the characters are great, and the story is good. However, this movie makes Toy Story 1, 2 and 3 feel... a little hollow.

As it was said in the other movies, toys are supposed to be there for children. That's what they're made for. Even when they don't get played with for a while, they'll find a new kid. Andy giving away Woody at the end of Toy Story 3 was such a heartfelt moment I was crying. And I trusted Bonnie to take good care of Woody, as did Andy.

And then in Toy Story 4, Bonnie doesn't look at Woody anymore. And that's fine, she has other toys. But abandoning her felt incredibly wrong, that's something Woody would never do. I understand that he wants more out of life now, but it stands in contradiction to everything he's ever said in the other movies. That, and Buzz was... rather dumb and even useless here? What happened?

Also, I can only imagine what will happen to Bonnie once Andy visits her to see how Woody's doing. God, he's gonna yeet that kid right out the window of a ten story building. Rest in pieces, girl.

Breakout Kings: The Bag Man (2011) Season 1, Episode 3

A Great Way To Bid T-Bag Farewell

[7/10 · 11 July 2019]

I watched this episode several years ago, only because Prison Break had come to an end. Theodore Bagwell is a character that I just loved to hate, and after watching him on screen for such a long time in a show I was so invested in, it felt weird to start watching something else. It was as if I hadn't gotten the opportunity to... say goodbye.

Breakout Kings dared to put this character in a different light. They made him seem like an interesting person to be around. Some of the other characters in the show seemed like 'fans' of this criminal, and his murders were made to be considered almost honorable. As if he was committing them for a good cause. This was, needless to say, not my cup of tea. A villain should always be treated as a villain, not just by the other characters, but by the writers of the show itself as well. Now sadly, it was all too obvious that the writers thought T-Bag was a magnificent character, and even though he is, that should never be this obvious to the audience. They should have portrayed him as the vile criminal he is.

In the end, they kind of made it right by adding the little 'conversation' at the end. Theodore Bagwell, he's not an interesting person, not a magnificent character, he's a broken machine and nothing more. But considering that the writers had kind of been treating him like the hero of the story before, it wasn't that believable anymore. However, this doesn't mean that the final converstation wasn't the perfect way to bid farewell to Theodore Bagwell. It had finally been said out loud exactly what he is, and there's nothing more to him. He might be coming back in the sixth season of Prison Break, but he will never be as enjoyable to watch as he used to be. I have seen everything there is to see about this character, and this episode wraps it all up.

So yes, in the context of Breakout Kings, this is just another episode about tracking down a criminal. In the context of T-Bag's story however... it's the end.

Then I myself will bring this review to an end by saying what should have been the final sentence of this episode:

Keep a candle burnin' for me, pretty.

Gotham: A Dark Knight: Let Them Eat Pie (2017) Season 4, Episode 9

Fantasticly theatrical and deliciously dark

[10/10 · 15 June 2019]

I just keep coming back to this episode because it's SO GOOD. The newly introduced characters really get their chance to shine.

The Pyg is one of my favorite villains in Gotham. I've always been quite a fan of shows that dare to go as dark as to include cannibalism (which is why I also ADORED the episode 'Into The Woods' and shows like Hannibal). This episode brings that darkness back, but with a little bit more... flair! The dinner scene at the end is really well made. Pyg's character is established wonderfully by making him sing THE MEAT PIE TANGO, which kind of lightens the mood, before revealing that he's been taking out people's organs and putting them into the meat pies. Truly a twisted, terrifying villain with a great sense of humour.

This episode also explores more of Penguin's character, showing his softer side. Sure, he's the first person that starts eating the meat pies, but he does it because Martin, the orphan, is being threatened by the Pyg. I don't have to tell you how amazing the acting was during this scene. Penguin's rage is one of the things that make this entire show memorable.

And then there's the 'final battle' where Jim Gordon fights the Pyg on top of the dinner table. A fantastic, original fight scene, maybe the best one. No guns, just the use of huge knives and surrounding objects. So cool.

Bruce Wayne's character development is probably the only thing in this episode that wasn't that well done. I like the idea of Bruce traveling down a 'darker' path, but I think his change in personality was way too sudden. Alfred Pennyworth is a beacon of light in these moments.

Overall, fantastic episode. A good, dark story that wraps up nicely in the end, with many meaningful scenes that explore the personalities of the most important characters.

Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (2018)

Incredible violence

[8/10 · 9 December 2018]

If you want to know what kind of movie this is, just look at Baloo's design. Not cuddly. Almost frightening. And that's exactly what this movie is.

I'm used to the softer story of Jungle Book, but the truth is that the true story simply isn't soft; this take on the story shows that perfectly well. No silly songs, no goofy character scenes.

The downside of this movie is that some characters add almost nothing to the story, and that's kind of sad because they all have so much potential. I like the little twists it has, although at some parts I wish they would grant a little more attention to the violent events that happen. I won't give any examples so I don't spoil it, but maybe you remember a certain moment that left you in shock... and they never speak of that moment again.

Overall, pretty good movie. The CGI is cool, the violence is incredible, the characters are better represented than in the Disney versions and the acting is brilliant.

A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017–2019)

My cup of tea

[10/10 · 1 November 2018]

This show is either your cup of tea, or it is not. The expression 'your cup of tea' here has nothing to do with hot beverages, but is rather used as a metaphor. Tea comes in countless flavours, which is perfectly normal considering that there are countless types of people. And if you don't like a certain flavour, you don't like it.

Same goes for this show. If it's not your cup of tea, it's not. But if it is your cup of tea, it is a BIG one. I have not enjoyed a show this much since... ever. Let's just say it's the greatest cup of tea I've ever had.

The best mistake I've ever made is picking up the first book of A Series of Unfortunate Events three years ago and reading it. I got so into this series I read every single book in a few months, and I got so invested all I could wish for was a TV series or a movie covering every book.

When I watched the movie, I was disappointed, although I should have expected as much from a 90 minute movie containing the three first books. Especially since the rest of the books were so, so good.

And then I started to hear whispers. Rumors, even, about Netflix creating a new show called "A Series of Unfortunate Events" which would cover every book... and I was figuratively jumping for joy because I was so happy.

The first season was truly a vague, fabulous display that was, I daresay, even BETTER than the books. And the second season... Don't even get me started, for I would still be here tomorrow documenting why it was so amazing and satisfying to watch. I truly hope season three will be a blast as well.

Knowing the details of this story's end, I am not curious about the ending at all. But I am excited about what's to come, and how many more musical songs will be sang before this tragic tale comes to an end.

Do I recommend this series? That I cannot answer, for I do not know if you, dear reader, prefer black or green tea or don't drink tea at all.