ayonijaprithuvainya

Those About to Die (2024)

Ancient Rome : The Pulp Edition

TLDR - A silly but entertaining pulp fiction ride through the bloody underbelly of Ancient Rome, with surprising amount of historically authentic details, marred by quaint CGI and hodgepodge of fake accents.

While this does not come anywhere close to matching the gritty genius of HBO's Rome or dramatic splendor of I, Claudius, this however is the distant third best series about Ancient Rome I have seen, not counting comedy like Plebs. Significantly better than atrocities like The Baribarians or Domina, and much less nonsensical than Spartacus.

The good -

1. Some details aside, the show is remarkably accurate to broad historical events. Vespasian, a great general from humble background who rose to become Caesar and rescued Rome from destruction after the year of the four emperors. His sons, Titus the warrior, and Domitian the statesmen, both efficient in their own ways. Together the Flavians restored Rome to glory, engaged in massive public building projects including the Flavian Amphitheater (also know as the Colosseum). There are other bits that follow history such as Titus' scandalous affair with Queen Berenice of Judea, and his untimely demise under dubious circumstances. All this is portrayed in the show with relative accuracy.

2. Now I am no expert on gladiatorial combat or chariot races, so I can not verify how accurately all that was portrayed. But it certainly felt exhilarating, authentic, and meticulous. The races were particularly well executed. The roaring of the crowd, the sound of the metal chariots, the raging horses, the wheels skidding on the sands, the Imperial family seated in with a row of statuesque Vestals in front - audio-visual extravaganza.

The questionable -

1. Roman empire during the Flavian dynasty stetched from Hispania to Syria, from Britannia to North Africa. This immense ethnic diversity was especially prominent in the underbelly and arenas of Rome. This presents a massive challenge for casting in a TV show especially these days. The show largely tries to do right, casting English speaking actors with ancestry matching that of their characters, along with an Italian supporting cast. They did cast black actors as Numidians (historically North African Berbers), a widespread error in Western productions about Ancient Rome, but at least they had enough respect for history to clarify that these characters were of Nubian descent despite coming from Numidia, which made a lot more sense.

It does however create a hodge-podge of accents. Some Roman characters speak in English accents. Others in Italian accents. Some English actors try to imitate the accents of their characters, others don't. It is jarring and distracting.

2. The acting is a mixed bag. Some like Anthony Hopkins and Iwan Rheon are excellent. Others like the Flavian brothers are mediocre. Many other non-English actors clearly struggled with their dialogue.

3. For better or worse. The amount of flesh and blood in the show will put Game of Thrones to shame, bringing to mind the pulp fiction genre referred to in my title.

4. The story was simplistic and predictable, but engaging. I was still eager to see it unfold. Silly but entertaining, very Roland Emmerich.

5. Visual effects range from spectacular (Rome and its architecture, chariot races) to cartoonish (CGI animals).

The ugly -

1. I mentioned earlier that some historical details are sketchy. Foremost among these is the character of Domitian. He is already a controversial figure with two distinct legacies. He was much maligned by his contemporaries led by the Roman senate due to his autocratic rule and increased centralization of power. But most modern historians agree he was a highly efficient and effective ruler, with the longest reign since Tiberius. His policies paved the way for the Five Good Emperors - the longest period of stability of the Roman Empire.

This show creates a third version of Domitian. While still clever, he is shown as an overambitious decadent violent sociopath, with no interest in the ladies. None of this corresponds to history, and detracts from the otherwise overall historical authenticity of the show.

2. Kwame the Lion-killer and his family have plot-armor thicker than Jon Snow's at the Battle of the Bastards.

The Gentlemen (2024)

An 8 Hours Long Guy Ritchie Movie

If, like me, you are fan of Guy Ritchie (or Quentin Tarantino for that matter), you will love this. It is his trademark dark comedy mixed with crime drama, which fits in perfectly with core premise of British nobility mingling with organized crime. The show thrives on this theme of contrasting ingredients that create an entertaining blend.

Much like the show's the two leads - one the head of a dukedom (i.e the Duke), another the de-facto head of a crime family. They have superb chemistry, which is like the engine that drives this show. Kaya Scoledario is perfection as the Cockney Comtesse of Crime. Vinnie Jones is shockingly good in a role very different from what he is used to. Michael Vu has a memorable break-through. Giancarlo Esposito is Giancarlo Esposito.

The story itself continues that theme of contrast, mixing absurdity with actuality, humor with harsh reality. The downside is that sometimes characters do crazy things which make no sense. But the end-product is always funny and entertaining.

A note for the fans of the original film - this show takes one of the sub-plots of the film and expands on it. However all the characters involved, despite some of them sharing the DNA as the originals, are different ones.

Animal Control (2023)

Like a Charming Quiet Little Puppy

If you enjoy shows like Community and Parks and Rec, chances are you will like this one. Bonus if you are an animal lover.

This is not laugh-out-loud funny. Everything about this show feels a bit toned down from its small runtime to small cast. But it is like a charming but quiet little puppy. It is not a bundle of energy jumping up in joy every time it sees you. But it gently snuggles into your lap and looks at you with sweet happy puppy-dog eyes. The show brings brings joy, if not laughter.

It is held up by its cast of lovable goofballs. Grace Palmer is the highlight. Joel McHale is basically Jeffrey Winger, which I can never get enough of. Vella Lovell is lovely. All the lead characters are worth rooting for. I am invested in them, and do definitely want to see where their stories go. I hope the evidently small budget of this show ensures at least 3-4 seasons to allow writers to conclude it on their own terms.

Dune: Part Two (2024)

Slightly Short of Perfection

It is a audio-visual masterpiece with impeccable production values, brilliant writing, and stellar acting, especially by Rebecca Fergusson, Javier Bardem and Timothee Chalamet. This movie will stir your imagination and live in your memory. As a bonus, there were some unexpected elements of humor which I also enjoyed.

The first half of the movie does a great job at delving deep into the Fremen way of life, as well as inside look at the Harkonnens, which is essential for any Science Fiction production that needs to immerse the audience into alien cultures. I loved it.

But like the first movie, this one is held back from true greatness by Hollywood's commercial obsession with shortening run-times.

Later half of the movie strips away massive chunks of the original story, oversimplifying or even completely omitting characters, events and conflicts. It felt rushed, abrupt, unresolved, unexplained and lacking in payoff.

So I really hope Mr Villeneuve has stashed away all of these stripped-out components of both movies, for an 8-9 hours long complete Director's Cut. That would be an epic 10 out 10.

Shogun (2024)

A Classic for the Ages

As a fan of the Sengoku Era, I have long waited for a show like this. The old Shogun adaptation is good but it has not aged well. I wished for someone to adapt the Tales of the Otori, or perhaps the actual history, or take another pass at adapting Shogun with the benefits of modern technology and bigger budgets. We finally have it. And it is almost everything I could have wished for. It is near perfection.

The sets, the cinematography, the acting, the writing, the attention to detail, faithfulness to the source material, in fact going beyond the source material (which we need to remember was written an age without ready abundant access to research that internet allows us now) to actual Japanese history, culture, traditions up to minute details - everything is incredible.

If I really have to nitpick to find a flaw, I would say the natural beauty of Japanese landscape has a very distinct look, with the iconic cherry blossoms and vibrant colors. The show being primarily shot in Canada is not able to recreate that aesthetic..But I have heard at least some shooting was done in Japan, so perhaps this will be remedied in future episodes. So this is not enough to take away a whole point from my rating.

I hope this becomes a cultural phenomenon and a darling of history and fantasy enthusiasts next to shows like Rome, Game of Thrones, Tudors, I Claudius etc. It will be well deserved.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2024)

Entertaining, but Lacking Beloved Elements of the Original.

Visuals - 9/10

The visual effects and production values are spectacular. From the locations to costumes and makeup to bending and martial arts, everything looks incredible. I am removing a point for Princess Yue's garish wig and makeup, which makes her look like the Princess Yue from the Ember Island play .

Casting - 7/10

Some of the casting is perfection - Kiawentiio as Katara, Ian Ousley as Sokka, Daniel Dae Kim as Fire Lord Ozai, Maria Zhang as Suki, Gordon Cormier as Aang himself are the highlights. Katara and Sokka look eerily similar to their cartoon counterparts, which is no easy feat. Danny Pudi makes a great cameo.

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee as General Iroh is also a great choice, but IMO he should have made an effort to evoke Mako's iconic vocal performance.

But some of the other cast members are a let down. Zuko, Azula, Mai in particular. I can't fault their acting, but they look very different from the originals, which stands out given how well the show has otherwise done to pick actors that look the part. Biggest let down was Zhao, who neither has the look or the strength or charisma of the original.

Humor - 2/10

Humor was a major and much loved part of the original. Lot of that humor is lost in translation to the new medium. I understand it is difficult to replicate cartoon humor in live action, but the writers could have still tried to make it as funny in the way live action comedy can be funny.

Faithfulness to the Original - 6/10

Adapting a children's cartoon (especially an eternal classic beloved by kids and adults alike) to live action for a more diverse global audience is a challenging act, which is why most anime adaptations fail. Changes are unavoidable.

Some of the changes are good. As a fan of Avatar Kiyoshi, it was great to see her in action even it meant the Avatar getting a new ability. The darker events that the original avoided for the sake of its young audience, are portrayed vividly in this one. The opening with the events at the beginning of the war and the annihilation of the Air Nomads does a great job of introducing the villainy of the Fire Nation and the harsh reality of a world at war.

But other changes are not so sensible. I have already mentioned the lack of humor. Along with the humor many other little details of the story are streamlined or removed altogether (for instance, the events of the Northern Air Temple are moved to Omashu) despite the overall runtime of this first season being close to that of the original's. Instead we have an unnecessary subplot involving the early introduction of Azula and her cohort. They should saved on the salaries of those cast members and the extra runtime, and used it for some of those missing elements.

Conclusion - 7/10

While it is not nearly as good as it could have been, it is still a huge improvement on the previous live action adaption. It is entertaining in its own right, and I would happily watch two more seasons. So Netflix please don't cancel it. Take the criticism which this is inevitably going to get from fans and posers alike, and make it better next season. Flamio!

The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)

A Dream Within a Dream

When I was very young, 10 or 12 perhaps, my uncle bought me a collection of horror stories. Among those stories were The Pit and the Pendulum, The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Fall of the House of Usher.

Those stories captivated my young impressionable mind. I imagined the scenes with vivid horror, and with wonder. Wonder at the genius of a mind who gave words to such scenes. Feeling of reading those stories for the first time still remains fresh in my memory.

I started seeking out other works by Poe. I was shocked when I read The Murders at Rue Morgue, that this was the same genius that inspired another of my favorites - a certain Mr Holmes who I had thought was the first of his kind up until that point (did not have internet back then to learn these things beforehand).

Later when I did get access to internet, I read Poe's Biography. And it broke my heart. How could such a master wordsmith suffer so much with so little recognition in his short life. My only consolations were that perhaps it was his tortured existence that gave life to such incredible literature, and that incredible literature has achieved all the fame and adoration he never received in his life making him immortal after death.

I thank you if you have bothered to read through that soliloquy. It was necessary to fully express the tearful joy I felt after I watched this series. It is more than an adaptation. More than an homage. It is a love-letter to Edgar Allan Poe from the legions that have loved his work, love that he never had the chance to experience in person.

The perfection (take it for the subjective term it usually is) with which themes and elements of some of Poe's famous stories and poetry, even aspects of his real life, have been incorporated, often in great detail, into the overarching narrative set in a very different time from when they were actually written, simply blew my mind. It shows a deep love and understanding of Poe's writing that I related to very much.

The performances were also captivating. Willa Fitzgerald, Mark Hamill and Kate Siegel were the highlights. Carla Gugino was as great as ever. My only regret is not seeing Frank Langella as Roderick Usher. Bruce Greenwood is a nice guy, but... well that is exactly the problem, he is too nice. Langella would have brought menace and coldness that suited the character that goes on doing business while horrible things kept happening his near and dear ones. I don't know the exact circumstances of his firing from the project, but I hope they had good reason.

A final note - a caution to the viewer. This is not the kind of horror story you may expect. There are no jump-scares. No demons or monsters, well, not in a literal sense at least. It is about monsters within us. Around us. It is about poets and dreamers. It is about the grandmaster of horror, mystery, and imagination - Edgar Allan Poe.

Rogue One (2016)

Best Star Wars Movie Made by Disney

Great cast. Intriguing story. Tributes to the original trilogy. Great performances. Mendelsohn, Whitaker, Yen were especially memorable. Not much to say really. If you are a fan of Star Wars, don't miss it.

I only have two issues with this movie -

1. Why bother inventing all these new rebel characters? They should have instead brought back more of the beloved heroes from Star Wars Rebels, not counting the announcement about "General Syndulla". It would have made a lot of sense that characters like Kallus, Syndulla, Zeb etc. Were major leaders of the rebellion at this point in the timeline.

2. I absolutely despise the CGI retrofitting the faces of deceased actors over those of the new ones. Completely disgusting. Disrespectful to the original actors, as you are exploiting them when they are not alive to give you permission. It is even more disrespectful to the current actors whose performances are wasted. Especially worse in this case as Guy Henry would have made an excellent Tarkin in his own skin. He looks and sounds so similar. What a waste of great casting. And Carrie Fisher's own daughter (already affiliated with Star Wars) could have played Princess Leia in a more fitting tribute.

Captain Fall (2023)

More Seasons Please

Well I did not see this coming.

I can't really explain what it is. It is not laugh-out-loud funny. But it was a cathartic experience for me. If you are tired of the mind-numbing idiocy all around the world, and would want to have a beer with Dan Harmon and the ghost of George Carlin as they brutally mock them all, well, this show gets you partway there.

Bloody-handed Russian oligarchs, shameless oil sheikhs, clueless Scandinavians, insufferable middle-aged married couples that you hate on TV, none are safe.... from savage mockery.

I expect the average viewers will not be able to appreciate this. I hope Netflix knew that when they signed up for this show, and keep new seasons coming regardless.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Charades (2023)

Where Few Vulcans Have Gone Before

If the last episode exhibited the worst of old-school Star Trek, this exhibited the best of it.

What if a Vulcan let go of their pathological restraint and fully embraced their emotions? Similar ideas have been explored previously by Star Trek with many of its Vulcan and android characters. However, it still remains... fascinating, when supported by good acting, good writing, and Star Trek blend of fantasy and plausibility.

Other than that, it is great to have speculative insight into alien cultures far removed from our own. That is what good space opera is all about. And it is always a joy to see familiar guest stars show up.

The Rookie (2018)

Still Good, But Getting Worse With Each Season

Season 1 of The Rookie was some of the best police procedural of all time, both in terms of technical details and as entertainment. Since then it has been going downhill.

The show used to be about -

+ Struggles of a 40-year-old who had a midlife crisis and became a cop.

+ The sharp contrast in attitude of a person who has attained maturity outside of the system compared to regular cops.

+ Authentic (by TV show standards) nitty-gritty of police work and training, both good and bad.

+ The massive impact on a newly minted cop of killing someone in the line of duty.

+ Flawed relatable characters trying to do their best.

+ Impact of a cop's job on their personal life.

Now it is about -

X Insufferable Mary Sue characters that have replaced many of the more complex and relatable original roster. Even characters originally worth rooting for like Lopez and Harper, have become insufferable and a distraction from the core subject matter.

X Cops mowing down bad guys like 90s action heroes or video game characters. Completely bonkers off the rails nonsense like shootout in the desert, patrol cops (including a rookie) practically conducting CIA black ops on foreign soil.

X Family drama and romantic comedy.

X Detectives Cagney and Lacey having babies every few episodes. I mean, I am fine with them having babies, but does it have to involve a major story event every time?

X The Fire Department, which apparently has only one insufferable employee assigned to every 911 call. From Sarah Shahi to Ali Larter to this one. What a downgrade, for Nolan and for the viewers.

X Psychics.

X The "Dim and Juicy" stuff.... It genuinely feels like a parody of the police procedural that this show used to be.

The show is in danger of going from The Wire to Police Academy. My request to showrunners (not that anyone will care) is to cut down the rom-com family drama and go back to what made the first season so incredible. I understand and appreciate the need for characters to grow, but the show itself should maintains its original spirit and scope. Otherwise, it is bait and switch. Like, if Nolan has another epiphany and decided to join beauty school like he once joked, is that going to be new subject of the show?

The Witcher: The Art of the Illusion (2023)

I Really Tried

This review is for the season 3 vol 1 as a whole.

I really tried with this one. Really tried to agree with the internet. From IGN to the certain bearded youtubers, everyone on the internet seemingly wants us to hate this show.

Unfortunately, despite my earnest effort to summon hate, I am just enjoying it too much. The story is intriguing that has kept me hooked, characters are complex, the dialogue is very genre appropriate, the monsters are gruesome, the combat is stunning, and the cast and acting which has improved every season.

It is not without actual problems (as opposed to made-up ones). The writing throws too many characters, terms, locations at you which can be confusing even to people who are familiar with the universe. Some of the scenes are rather silly, some subplots superfluous, some narrative tricks (such as the one in this episode) completely unnecessary. And some new characters are once again cast with actors that look very different from how they are described in the original or portrayed popularly in earlier adaptations, as was in previous seasons.

Regardless, I have enjoyed it enough to eagerly look forward to volume 2, and season 4 after that even without Mr. Cavill. My sincere apologies to you, internet. I will try to do better next time. Please be gentle when using the thumb-down button.

Rick and Morty: Bethic Twinstinct (2022)

Hilarious but a bit predictable

The moment I saw may-be-a-clone Beth in season 4, I knew the events of this episode will eventually take place. Beth is too much of a narcissist, and Jerry too much of a perverted doormat, for this not to happen. But that does not stop it from being hilarious. It is the hallmark of great writing where even the most absurd plotlines actually make sense for the characters and world.

It has been a while since I laughed out loudly at a Rick & Morty episode. That changed today.

The mocking of "realism" in videogames is also on point. And there were quite few callbacks to beloved episodes of the past. This season keeps going strong.

The Sandman (2022)

A Treat for the Senses

+ Gorgeous audio-visual experience with a haunting memorable soundtrack and beautiful scene composition and cinematography. Many scenes look like they came to life from paintings, which is especially apt for an adaptation of a graphic novel. The music continues to play in my head for the past couple of days.

+ Fascinating stories, for the most part. The events in the diner, the convention of "collectors", the journey to and the duel in Hades, the ghost in the dream will stay in my thoughts for a long time.

+ Many excellent performances. Morpheus, Morningstar, John and The Corinthian are standouts. Constantine, The Librarian, Fiddler's Green, Mr. Burgess, Lyta, and Matthew the Raven, the goth sisters are great as well.

• The ending was a bit of letdown. It was overly simplistic and out of tune from all that came before it.

• Is it really "diversity" when two thirds of the major characters are from the one same ethnicity? To me it seems like racism and privilege, just of a different shade. (Pun intended.)

Brooklyn Nine-Nine: He Said, She Said (2019)

The fans to an insult

This episode is a funny take on a very serious issue, something this show has done many MANY times. We have had episodes that made comedy out of everything from serial killers to cannibalism. It baffles me how suddenly some "fans" chose this episode to be "insulted" about.

Some people actually think the workplace harassment centerpiece in this episode is comparable to Jina "harassing" Terry, and thus the show is hypocritical in villainizing the former and not the latter. That is a clueless comparison. Terry and Jina are shown to close friends with an understanding between them. And Jina is not Terry's boss.

Overall, the portrayal of the workplace harassment case, and the corporate culture surrounding it, was portrayed both accurately and in a manner lighthearted enough for the spirit of this show. Captain Holt meeting his old nemesis was quite funny as well to round things off.

Vampire in the Garden (2022)

A bit too short... of greatness

+ Gorgeous animation and design.

+ Fascinating world which will make you want to learn about it more.

+ Interesting characters who will make you want to know them better.

+ Classical vampires.

+ Zero fan service. Very few anime tropes. It almost feels like a Studio Ghibli movie.

• At only five episodes, it is just way too short. It is more like a movie broken up into 5 episodes. All other problems are due to this.

• Lots of unanswered questions about the lore.

• We barely scratch the surface of said fascinating world.

• Not nearly enough time given to characters to understand them.

• The conclusion of the story feels abrupt and pointless.

The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020)

Every Ghost Story is a Love Story

It is not a horror story in a conventional sense. It is more like a romantic fantasy with supernatural themes. I expect some people will be disappointed by that. But that does not change the fact that this is superlative work of art, with stellar performances, endearing characters, masterful storytelling, and near-perfect production values in terms of cinematography, music and design.

Belgravia (2020)

Old-school

+ The writing and story-telling have been great so far. Much more consistent and plausible, and far less sappy and cringe-worthy than Downtown Abbey. It is closer in style to the writings of Victorian authors like Trollope and Dickens, which is apt for this setting.

+ Visually gorgeous and picturesque. Nineteenth century London is relatively fresh among period dramas.

+ Great performances all around.

+ Lead characters are worth rooting for.

• The "downstairs" stuff is tacked on and distracting. Waste of some talented actors in unnecessary roles.

The Witcher (2019)

Rough Diamond

After watching the show I can understand and appreciate why the critics are divided on this one. The writing is generally good but inconsistent. The storytelling varies from fascinating to convoluted. Characters often behave in nonsensical ways. Several the details of the plots are rushed or glossed over which can add a feeling of contrivance. The time-jumps can be confusing at first, although it is unavoidable given the season was based on collection short stories. The world building, while groundbreaking by the standards videogamers are used to, is rather simplistic compared to the giants of fantasy literature.

But whatever flaws it has, is redeemed by excellent production values, endearing and outstanding performances by the cast, and the fascinating central premise of the mutant-monster-hunter-investigator.

Henry Cavill has permanently become Geralt of Rivia. If being Superman was not enough, this performance should ensure that Cavill remain an enduring beloved icon among the nerds. Veterans like Burring or May are as good as one could hope. Anya Chalotra, however, is the breakout star. Much like her character, she displayed charisma, ease and nuance worthy of someone well beyond her years. It is pretty ironic given a small-minded subset of the fanbase tried to get her removed from the cast because of imaginary skintone mismatch.

While the overarching plot is good enough to be invested in, it is the monster-hunter bits that I found most fascinating. There is a lot of potential there for mixing elements of folklore, fantasy, horror and mystery in the vein of classics like X-files, and for some philosophical musings about the definition of a monster. I would love to see a few self-contained episodes each season dedicated to the monster hunting.

Ultimately it is a question of whether one would like to see more of this show just as it is? I most certainly do. With the evident success of this season, I am sure the show-runners will be more confident at telling their story at a more consistent pace, introduce more popular faces, and do even better.

The Expanse (2015)

Science and Fiction

TLDR: Because of its definitive mix of scientific plausibility and speculative fiction, along with high production values, massive scope, dramatic story, likeable protagonists, humane villains, and brilliant performances from a cast that combines feted veterans and talented newcomers, I would rate it at the very top of science fiction TV shows, with very few rivals near it.

What makes great science fiction?

Great science fiction in my book needs to be good at both science and fiction. Be both plausible and imaginative. It should showcase plausible non-ridiculous use of futuristic science and technology, and should be creative enough to imagine how those technologies should greatly alter the people (humans or otherwise) who are using them.

There are some like the 2001: A Space Odyssey, Westworld and Black Mirror that depict grounded and plausible use of technology, but (and sometimes for the very same purpose) do not make much of an effort to imagine a world different from ours. They nonetheless make great entertainment by being informational and cerebral, and by exploring other fascinating themes like effect of technological innovation on our current lives.

There are some franchises like Dune, Rick & Morty, Legend of the Galactic Heroes, and of course Star Wars that are great at the "fiction" half and are successful based on the merit of that alone, without giving much focus to science or plausibility. Viewers are enthralled by the cultures and worlds depicted that are vastly different than our own. We love them for the same reason we love fantasy. Star Trek got pretty close to the balance.... but it was pulled short by space-whales, energy beings, and its pretty but nonsensical spaceships.

Some, such as X-files, Firefly, Trigun, Futurama, are great at mixing science fiction with other genres like horror, westerns or comedy to make great entertainment despite not being particularly compelling as science fiction.

Then there are the rest that are terrible at both science and fiction, such as Battlestar Galactica which ignores the hows and ifs of sentient AI and interstellar colonisation to showcase a civilisation that is practically modern US in space. They can still be immensely successful and popular by providing a very familiar and easy viewing experience for the average TV audience. They are cheap and hollow replicas of what Science Fiction should be. Good TV show, but terrible science fiction.

There are very few franchises that are able to find the balance. There are lot of good book series (Rama, Dread Empire's Fall, The Expanse, The Foundation, Culture), anime (Ghost in the Shell, Planetes, Cowboy Bebop), and movies (Blade Runner, Solaris, Alien, Interstellar) that have got there, but The Expanse is the first one on live-action television. Altered Carbon followed but it can not compete with The Expanse on scope. That pretty much automatically makes it the very best science fiction TV show as far as I am concerned. Adaptations of The Foundation and Mars Trilogy are in production, which will give it more competition in the future.

What makes The Expanse great?

Technologically The Expanse goes to great lengths and details to maintain plausibility, or at least the illusion of it... and speculate how it will shape human civilization centuries ahead in a manner that is simultaneously believable, informative and fascinating. It features highly plausible / realistic portrayal of interplanetary travel, generation (or lack) of gravity in space and its challenges on human physique, design of spaceships, coriolis effect, O'Neill cylinders etc, while also dealing with fictional / theoretical elements like alien technologies, worm holes, alien planets etc.

What makes it truly special is how it logically and believably speculates on how those things will affect the future of humanity - how planetary colonisation, overpopulation and global warming will affect humanity - physically, morally, politically, socially, linguistically, how humans will adapt and evolve while living in Mars or asteroids across multiple generations to be different from what we are now, how different biomes will interact in an alien planet, how life on a spaceship at zero gravity for a small group of people would be like, how humans will react to discovery of alien intelligence. It shows a future that is plausible enough to feel real, and different enough to be wondrous and fascinating. That is the very highest watermark of science fiction.

On top of that, it has all the other elements that makes a good TV show. It has a large cast of diverse (in all its meanings) multi-layered characters, massive scope to qualify for an epic. It has brilliant performances from familiar veterans, and more importantly by a large group of new relatively unknown actors. It has human drama, humour, political manoeuvres, military life, character growth. It has lovably flawed protagonists worth rooting for. It has an engaging story that is forever evolving, avoiding the annoyingly common sci-fi trope of going in circles as seen in Alien(s), Lost in Space, The 100 etc.

All things combined not only is it the best science fiction has offer on TV, but also a great TV show in general.

Kidô Senshi Gundam 00 (2007)

Exciting, Mature and Grounded

It can sometimes take itself a bit too seriously but this is arguably one of the most mature and grounded entries in the Gundam franchise, by popular anime standards. If you are fascinated by mechs, but are turned off by anime tropes, this one is a very good place to start.

It has a large Game-of-Throne-esque collection of grown-up characters, often with dubious moralities and oblique agendas, and with believable personalities (again, by popular anime standards) and flaws.

The setting is essentially the same as our world, but a few decades into the future. Many of the real world issues of today are mirrored in this show, such as religious and racial conflicts, war-profiteering, absolutism, child-soldiers, and the core question of using violence as a means to achieve peace. It also delves into some classic Japanese concepts such as the meaning of honour for a warrior.

The plot is relatively easy to follow, and technology depicted in the show seems grounded. A visionary scientist sets in motion a shadowy anti-war organisation made up of small set of superlative war-machines called Gundams (hitherto unknown in this world), driven by a hand-picked group of pilots and an elite supporting crew. Their goal is to put a stop to military conflicts across the world, ironically, through military interventions of their own, planned by a semi-sentient AI. Of course, the interventions, while initially successful, have unintended consequences as the rest of the world comes up with desperate measures to make up for the technical superiority of the Gundams. The objectives of the organisation turns out to be not as transparent as it seemed, even to its members, with hidden forces at play with their own agendas.

As a mech enthusiast, I was mightily impressed with the mech designs in this show. They are the right mix of style and plausibility, and often exemplify pure mechanical joy of putting things together or taking things apart.

The animation style is absolutely superb, and the soundtrack is memorable. What more is there to say! Highly recommended. Would love to see this story revisited in the future, or adapted to other media.

See (2019)

Requires Imagination to Appreciate

This has a potential to be a masterpiece. It has brilliant visuals akin to films of Terence Malick. The music is sublime. Performances are solid. The premise is unique and fascinating. All it requires is your imagination to fully appreciate, which is the hallmark of good science fiction.

You might find the premise confusing. How can a community of blind people survive with so much convenience? Well... remember our history! We adapt, and we survive. Have you met a person blind from birth. You will be shocked at how conveniently they can live. Imagine that, over multiple generations. They will find ingenuous ways of doing things that you can not imagine doing without your eyes. It makes perfect sense that they have survived. And it also makes sense that the world has receded to the dark ages, as certain facilities like power, computers, internet and several other essential industries would be lost because the blind workforce at the time of the apocalyptic event would not have the knowledge of maintaining them. I think the show has done a solid job of a balanced portrayal a depopulated earth inhabited by the blind.

You may also be confused as to why sight is considered a heresy. Again, I ask you to look to our history. We have always been afraid of knowledge (i.e. the unknown) and anything that challenges our perception of the world. Great scientists from Copernicus to Galileo to Darwin were all persecuted. There are religious people today who still violently reject scientific truths like global warming and evolution. Sight in the premise of this show represents forgotten and forbidden knowledge. It is a power that is greater than the blind kings and queens of the world, hence it makes perfect sense that they will try to suppress it through violent means.

I have seen some reviewers call the blindness a gimmick. That is the most astoundingly idiotic criticism of all. The show is called "See". The blindness and the return of vision is the central premise of the show, and what distinguishes it from other post-apocalyptic sci-fi. It is like saying historically grounded feudal politics in Game of Thrones is a gimmick, or that the family drama is a gimmick in the Sopranos.

There are other questions. What do the blind need of jewellery? It is clearly shown they are using them for the sounds as well as functional audio cues. Why are there no predators? Predators do not attack large groups of humans. And we also do not know how the epidemic has affected animals. It has just been three episodes. Give it time for world building, like all good science fiction and fantasy. Else the first several episodes would be spent in a narrator explaining the world.

Leila (2019)

Hard Pill to Swallow

This is a dark dystopian look at a potential direction Indian society is heading to with the rampant disregard for the environment, and rise of religious fanaticism, jingoism and misogyny. It is competently made, with solid performances, with a nice amount of cheesiness suitable for Indian entertainment.

But of course, instead of looking at this as cautionary tale, the Indian prefers to live in denial. He is pathologically incapable of looking beyond his own ingrained irrational beliefs. His only response is to hate and reviewbomb anything that questions those beliefs.

Perhaps the producers should have added a few item numbers to grab his attention.

Warrior (2019)

Blown My Mind

I was expecting a fun and cheesy show about martial arts, perhaps pandering to its target demographic. But nope. This has turned out to be technically superb, with solid performances all round, especially from the leads. The writing is also stellar. It deals with difficult subjects such as racism and politics without being sanctimonious and manages to humanize both the "good" and "bad" guys with a thin line between them. Despite an experimental setting rarely seen previously in the entertainment business, they are not afraid to experiment even further. The latest episode for instance was a bottle episode set entirely in a saloon in Nevada, with a group of strangers bonding together to face-off against cowboys and bandits, reminiscent of Tarantino or Sergio Leone. The combat choreography is stunning as expected. The music is memorable.

It is a unique, stylish and visceral depiction of the cultural melting pot that was late 19th century US. More than anything it is a charming love letter to martial arts based on Bruce Lee's own writings. It is one of the best new shows of 2019. Sadly it is flying under the radar. I pray we see it return for future seasons.