The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/category/arts/television/)
A fair warning — this article doesn’t hold back any spoilers. If you’re not prepared to read about some of the biggest shocks of the show, this is your chance to turn back.
There is nothing I hate more than when producers make terrible sequels to original movies or when TV shows drag on too long. Mean Girls 2 and 3? Terrible. The five millionth Bring It On movie?
Tolerance. Prejudice. These two concepts are on everybody’s minds nowadays. Racial, ethnic, political and religious tensions are flaring around the world — including in our own country. It’s an uncertain time for children to grow up in, and some aren’t learning about the importance of coexisting with others who differ from themselves. That’s where several media studios are stepping up.
And then there’s Nickelodeon’s new show, Bunsen is a Beast.
Let me preface my column with a countdown of the saddest stories in animation:
Littlefoot saying goodbye to his dying mother in The Land Before Time. Carl and Ellie’s life story unfolding at the beginning of Up. The demise of Nickelodeon
I’ve written about Nickelodeon and its downfall before, but the issue came back to the forefront of my mind with a big event that got hyped up: Nickelodeon has recently put together the first Nicktoons crossover in over a decade! When I was little, I remember when The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and The Fairly Oddparents crossed over in The Jimmy Timmy Power Hour. That was kind of a big deal for me.
When I first heard that my hometown was getting its own Netflix Original series, I was amused but thoroughly skeptical. What on earth was in Santa Clarita that could support a genuinely good show? I expected something in the mold of 90210 (though a step down — after all, Santa Clarita is quite a bit removed from the wealth of Beverly Hills), but when the Santa Clarita Diet trailers were released, I was both confused and intrigued to see that the show was actually about… zombies? Turns out that’s not quite the best description. Eric, the show’s geeky next-door expert on the supernatural says he prefers not to use that term as it has a “negative connotation.” Even after I knew it would involve cannibalism, I underestimated its potential.
Legion already separates itself from other superhero shows through its use of a largely character-driven story and departure from long-winded exposition. The first episode takes its audience on a visually stunning journey as it diverges from typical superhero tropes and commits to its unique style. The series follows the journey of David Haller (Dan Stevens), a young man being treated in a mental hospital after being diagnosed with schizophrenia and attempting suicide. The causes of his illness are vague as he is also a mutant with telepathic and telekinetic powers. While he is undoubtedly able to move things and cause serious damage with his mind, it is unclear whether the voices in his head are entirely hallucinations or if they are a result of his mind-reading abilities.
Sherlock’s fourth season was a whirlwind of twists, turns and excitement. While this season was extremely entertaining and watchable, many of the emotional stakes felt forced and it lacked Sherlock’s addictive spirit that made previous seasons so great. SPOILER ALERT THE NEXT TWO PARAGRAPHS. Throughout this season Sherlock takes a more personal look at the characters as their pasts catch up with them and they are forced to finally face their demons. Mary’s mysterious former life comes to light as an old teammate surfaces to kill her after thinking that she betrayed their team, and while she escapes his threat, she ultimately dies saving Sherlock after he’s provoked the woman who betrayed Mary with his cockiness.
The series’ opening credits may tell you to “look away,” but if you do, you’ll miss the chance to watch an excellent show with brilliant writing and a gripping plot. Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events, adapted from the book series of the same name, focuses on the misadventures of three orphaned children, Violet (Malina Weissman), Klaus (Louis Hynes), and Sunny Baudelaire (Presley Smith). In the beginning of the series, the three Baudelaire children are faced with the tragic news that their parents have passed away in a fire. They are then taken to live with the whimsical Count Olaf (Neil Patrick Harris). It becomes obvious to the children that Olaf is after their enormous fortune that they will inherit once Violet turns 18.
I’m going to start my review of The Grand Tour by talking about the one thing the show’s hosts can’t: Top Gear. Odds are, if you’ve ever been into cars (or had a “petrolhead” friend), you’ve heard of Top Gear, and I don’t mean the American version (that version sucks). I’m talking about 20 glorious series (which I suppose is British-speak for season) of Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May getting up to ridiculous hijinks in even more ridiculous cars on the BBC. Say what you will about the trio’s final stint being “too scripted” or “played out,” but as a whole I remember their time on Top Gear fondly. After Clarkson got into some trouble and his two cohorts followed him out the door, Chris Evans and Matt LeBlanc took over and slowly lost me.
The Urban Millennial is a prickly trope in comedy. Many have tried to parody the UM. Many have failed (See: The Great Indoors). Few have succeeded. Think of the UM parodies you’ve seen.
Nobody wants to watch a cheesy K-drama about first love, unless you’re feeling reminiscent and/or have the time. What’s not important is why you watched Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo, but rather what you felt for each character, which tells you a lot about yourself in the most unexpected way. In the first episode, the most important characters are introduced, as well as the conflicts. Kim Bok-Joo is the university’s weightlifting ace, and has her mind set on nothing but weightlifting to make her dad proud. Jung Joon-Hyeong should parallel her in swimming, but his anxiety before matches causes him to have false starts and get disqualified.
This article is dedicated to the original Arts journalist, Rory Gilmore — even though she was the Editor-in-Chief of the Yale Daily News. Originally conceived of as a home-delivery DVD service, Netflix’s influence has spanned beyond its refusal to charge customers late fees. Its magical algorithm that generates suggestions based on viewers’ past media preferences, library of unabridged series and truckloads of original content destigmatize acute television obsession. But in other areas — specifically in its attempt at revival programming — the streaming service has not been as successful. Its poor endeavor to resuscitate Arrested Development seven years after it was canceled by Fox left viewers confused as to why they even enjoyed the show in the first place.
