The Umbrella Academy Season Two!

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The Umbrella Academy

The Umbrella Academy Season Two Synopsis:

The Umbrella Academy season two finds the siblings scattered throughout the 1960s after they jump time to avoid the apocalypse. But when Five finally makes it to the 60s there is nuclear war threatening dooms day again. So with a final word from Hazel, Five must find and gather his siblings together, once again, to save the world from the apocalypse.

Season Two Quick Thoughts

I am absolutely obsessed with The Umbrella Academy and season two was well worth the year and a half wait. Falling through time and ending up in different years of the same decade sees the siblings yet again separated. Little by little they reunite and despite their individual agendas, they come together to stop the end of the world. While I love each and every character and their individual abilities they will always be better together. As evidenced by the final episodes in season two.

The Characters!

Klaus remains my favorite character and in Klaus fashion he finds himself in the 60s and starts a cult aided by his spirit brother, Ben. Allison drops into the 60s without her voice. But it’s just like Allison to heavily involve herself in the 60s Civil Rights movement. She marries a man of integrity who is also a Civil Rights leader. We find Diego in the year that Kennedy is assassinated, and the year they all reunite. Ever Diego, he determines to stop the assassination of Kennedy and has a partner, Lila, when he escapes the mental institution he is in. Lila is a mystery we get to discover and unravel as the season progresses.

Luther is the personal bodyguard and boxer for the gangster, Jack Ruby, and Vanya is living with a family on a small farm. Unfortunately she has no memory of what happened and only remembers her name. The commission is back at it with a triple threat of assassins and the Handler has big plans of her own. Mayhem and shenanigans ensue and I am here for every single second!

Overall Thoughts

I give it a 10/10. The Umbrella Academy was entertaining from beginning to end and the cliffhanger ending makes me want more! To see my thoughts on the first season you can click here. This season was so exciting that I had to do an entry in my TV Journal for it. See that below or click here.


Five Binge-Worthy Netflix Shows!

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Binge-Worthy Netflix Shows

With the world in its current state of self-isolating and social distancing, we have been trying to find ways to occupy our time.  Of course, many of us turn to entertainment.  So I’ve compiled a shortlist of binge-worthy Netflix shows to keep you entertained.

On My Block

Binge Worthy Show

On My Block follows a quartet of bright, street-savvy friends who are just beginning high school.   Experiencing all of the triumph, pain, and fresheness of a new school, life long friendships are tested.   Monse, Ruby, Jamal and Cesar confront the challenges of adolescence and life in their predominantly Hispanic and black neighborhood, based in South Central Los Angeles in this coming-of-age comedy series.

Quick Thoughts

I adore this show and have binged it so many times and will continue to. I love the family-like relationship and bonds between the four friends and I find it incredibly hilarious. The episodes are only 30 minutes so it’s a quick and entertaining show to get through. Season Three just dropped back in April and great news for fans of this show, there will be a season four!

Money Heist

Binge Worthy

A criminal mastermind who goes by “The Professor” has a plan to pull off the biggest heist in recorded history — to print billions of euros in the Royal Mint of Spain. To help him carry out the ambitious plan, he recruits eight people with certain abilities and who have nothing to lose. The group of thieves take hostages to aid in their negotiations with the authorities, who strategize to come up with a way to capture The Professor. As more time elapses, the robbers prepare for a showdown with the police.

Quick Thoughts

I have mentioned this binge-worthy show before.  This has to be one of the most brilliantly written shows I’ve encountered in some time. This is a high stakes game The Professor and his band of misfit thieves are trying to pull off and you feel every tense and frenzied moment. From stupid mistakes to amazing triumphs at the viewer will vacillate between wanting to scream at the characters to wanting to hug or hi-five them. The characters are three-dimensional and the plot is so compelling and engaging. The Fourth season just aired and with the way it ended, I forsee a season five on the horizon! So excited! I’ve binged this one several times as well.

Tiger King

A zoo owner spirals out of control amid a cast of eccentric characters in this true murder-for-hire story from the underworld of big cat breeding.

Quick Thoughts

Another binge-worthy show currently on Netflix is Tiger King.  This show is a train wreck of epic proportions. And just when you think that it cannot get any more ridiculous, the following episode ups the ante. It is equal parts hilarious and tragic and leaves me wondering how and why these people exist and how I never had a clue. This show is not for everybody but I was fascinated. It is so outrageous that I couldn’t look away. I binged the entire series in one sitting and still ponder over this foolishness today. The myriad of memes, articles, and stories that have followed have only served to keep this going. It’s definitely entertaining. It seemed to have been so popular that Netflix has released a new episode.

Ozark

This drama series stars Jason Bateman as Marty Byrde, a financial planner who relocates his family from Chicago to a summer resort community in the Ozarks. With wife Wendy and their two kids in tow, Marty is on the move after a money-laundering scheme goes wrong, forcing him to pay off a substantial debt to a Mexican drug lord in order to keep his family safe. While the Byrdes’ fate hangs in the balance, the dire circumstances force the fractured family to reconnect.

Quick Thoughts

Jason Bateman as Marty Byrde and the ostentatious character, Ruth, makes this series for me. Though Marty has relocated his family to a resort town it can often look and seem gloomy which I guess is appropriate considering their situation. While Marty has the best of intentions of digging himself out of this hole he and his family find themselves in, events ensue that only seem to get them more and more entrenched in life. I appreciate that no matter how dire things seem, Marty seems to figure out a plan and keeps his cool in the midst of everyone melting down. Marty is constant and consistent and he is smart. I think because he is so unassuming people underestimate him, and it makes for an interesting cat and mouse game with the cartel. Season three was just released on Netflix and I imagine with the positive response there will be a follow-up season.

The Circle

“Big Brother” meets “Catfish” on this reality series on which not everything is as it seems. Comic Michelle Buteau hosts the show that features its contestants moving into the same apartment building. The twist is that the players never meet face-to-face during the competition, as each one lives in his or her own apartment. The contestants communicate exclusively through profiles created on a specially-designed social media app. This anonymity allows them to hide their true identities and portray themselves however they choose. Throughout the competition, the players rate one another, with the lowest-rated players put at risk of being eliminated, or blocked, from the game. The contestant who survives the contest and emerges the winner takes home the $100,000 grand prize.

Quick Thoughts

Lately, Netflix has been dipping their toes in the whole reality tv genre and I’m not mad. Included in my list of binge-worthy Netflix shows is The Circle, which premiered a few months ago and sees several contestants isolated in their own apartments and they can only communicate with each other through a social app called The Circle. Based on their interactions, each day they must rank each player from last to first and contestants who don’t make the cut are eliminated and soon replaced by a different player. But not all contestants are truly who they say they are. This show was a fun social experiment and very entertaining to watch. Not only are the interactions between the players interesting and oftentimes funny, but the host is hilarious! I truly hope they do another season of this show because I really enjoyed it. And in a time where we have to be isolated anyway, it’s the perfect time to watch this.

Wrap Up

Of course, there are so many more binge-worthy Netflix shows but these are ones I particularly enjoyed. For more suggestions check out links here, here, and here! I’ll be back with another binge-worthy post in the near future! I hope you all are consuming some great entertainment and are staying safe.

TV/Movie Journal Entry: Apple+ Series, See!

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TV/Movie Journal Entry

TV/Movie Journal Entry: See!

My latest TV/Movie Journal entry features the Apple+ show See! As I have expressed in this post, I absolutely this series. See stars Jason Mamoa, Alfre Woodard, and Syliva Hoeks and is about a dystopian future where the human race has lost its sense of sight. Until Baba Voss and his wife give birth to sighted twins, changing everything.

To hear more about my thoughts and see my process video for this journal entry, check out the video below!

Have you watched the show See? If so I’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave me a comment below!

Netflix Show Recommendation: The Witcher!

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The Witcher

Synopsis of The Witcher

The show The Witcher is a fantasy show based on the book series by Andrzej Sapkowski. The story follows the adventures of Witcher and professional monster hunter Geralt of Rivia. Tensions are high and a war is on the horizon. Geralt must find his way through a world full of people who can seem just as monstrous as the creatures he hunts. Navigating his way through politics, nobility, and love, Geralt must eventually surrender to his destiny.

Character Thoughts

There are so many wonderful characters in the show so I will stick to the ones central to the main story and throw in my favorite. Geralt of Rivia is a fascinating character. He is a mutant and trained to become a Witcher as a child. The world has preconceived notions and prejudices about him and his character. Viewing him as a ruthless butcher, people are generally afraid of him or have made up their minds to dislike him, despite not knowing a thing about him. And while Geralt can be brutal, he never is unless he has cause. He’s broody and used to being on his own so disturbing his peace isn’t always welcome. But despite his oftentimes apathetic disposition, he cares about people and usually looks for a more peaceful resolution before he’s pushed to violence. He’s observant and practical and I just love him.

Yennefer is a crooked urchin who accidentally portals her way out of danger. Taken from her family, she receives training in the ways of magic by the Rectoress. But Yennefer feels so ugly, worthless, and undeserving, that her self doubts interfere with her learning. Eventually, Yennefer becomes one of the most powerful mages the world has seen. But that power still cannot rub out her feelings of unworthiness and self-doubt. She longs for a child to have something in the world to see her as important. But Yennefer must discover her importance and worthiness comes from within and nothing outside of herself can provide that for her. Such an amazing character, I truly enjoyed seeing her journey and growth.

Princess Cirella is running for her life when her home of Centra is attacked. Losing all the family she’s ever known, Ciri embarks on a journey of survival. On her journey, she meets many people and must figure out who she can trust and who means her harm. On the run from the Nilfgardians, Ciri must also come to terms with her power and her destiny.

The Bard!

Now my favorite character in the show The Witcher is Jaskier, the Bard. Attaching himself to Geralt in order to find adventure for his tunes, he discovers first hand that Geralt is not who people make him out to be. The Bard sort of campaigns through his music to change the public’s perception of Geralt and is pretty successful. He is down for almost any adventure and is great comedic relief when it is necessary. Jaskier entertains me so. His songs tickle me, and I love how his unwanted relationship with The Witcher softens Geralt up a bit. I can’t wait to see more of this character in season two.

Overall Thoughts

If you’re a fan of fantasy then the show The Witcher is a must-see! This show is weaving many threads at once and it can be confusing and difficult to keep up with. They jump back and forth in time between the past and the present, and some of the names are…different. But stick with it. By the conclusion all of the threads, they are weaving come together in a spectacular ending! I cannot wait until season two and have heard they’ve already approved it for three seasons. Just a little tip, consider watching it the first time through with the closed captioning on. It helped me tremendously in getting all the names of people and places in the story down. If you’ve watched The Witcher, I’d love to know what you thought of it so leave me a comment below!

To see more of my show recommendations click here and here!

Apple Plus Show Recommendation: See!

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See

Synopsis

In the show See future civilization has lost all ability to see. The mysterious wife of blind warrior Chief, Baba Voss, gives birth to twins. But a traitor amongst the clan gets word to the witch hunters about this mysterious woman and they come seeking her and her newly born children. With their home and way of life threatened, Baba Voss and his clan are led to safety following the instructions of the twins’ natural father. It is soon discovered that Baba Voss’s children can see. The decision is made to keep it secret from the rest of the village for the children’s safety and protection.

Quick Character Thoughts

There are a host of interesting characters throughout this series, but my favorites are Baba Voss, Paris, and Haniwa. Baba Voss is the Chieftan of the Alkenny tribe and tasked with the safety and protection of his clan. At first glance, you understand Baba Voss to be a great warrior and leader. But Baba Voss has a mysterious and violent past of his own and discovering who he is and what he came from was enlightening. To see and understand the contrast between his present life as a family man and his past was a beautiful addition to the storyline of the show.

Paris, played by the illustrious Alfre Woodard, is an elder in the Alkenny Tribe. She becomes an unofficial teacher and caretaker for the twins, Kofun and Haniwa. While Baba Voss and their mother have reservations about their ability to see, Paris understands what a gift it is. She encourages them to do, experience, and learn all the things that the rest have been denied because of their blindness. I love that Paris is unwilling to hold the twins back in their abilities. She knows that their ability to see is a game-changer for all of civilization.

Lastly, in the show See, I loved the character of Haniwa. Of the pair, she is the more adventurous and bold twin. While her brother, Kofun, is generally cautious and a rule follower, Haniwa wants to live life by her own rules. She feels constricted and stifled in her current situation and longs to open up her world and explore. I admire her courage and fearless spirit to discover the unknown. Haniwa can be hot-headed and impulsive, but she is brave and smart, and I am looking forward to seeing the growth in her character as this series continues.

Overall Thoughts

The show See had me all in from the first moment. I really enjoyed Jason Mamoa in this role and the overall story. He really picks his roles well. He knows what he’s good at, and I appreciate that. See is an adventure and a journey of self-discovery for many of the pivotal characters. It also showcases how humans can make a way in this world despite not having all the senses. We tend to discount people who may not have all of the same abilities as us. This show speaks to how people without all of the five senses aren’t necessarily at a disadvantage, and sometimes it can become their greatest gift in survival.

I absolutely loved this show and am awaiting season two! Bravo! For more show recommendations you can click the following links here and here! Please let me know what you thought of this show in the comments!