Wandavision (serial)

A limited series in the Marvel universe. Wanda Maximoff and Vision are seemingly characters in a sitcom world, and each episode moves that sitcom another era into the future. So we get Dick van Dyke, Mary Tyler Moore, Brady Bunch, etc. This is a super fun conceit, but fair warning - the first two episodes are played almost entirely straight (no Marvel, only sitcom). After that, things get interesting. Largely this is an origin story for Wanda coming into her Scarlett Witch-iness. The long form of an 8 hour limited series allows some really good story telling. I just wish that if the story only requires 6 hours, don't force it.

4 stars (out of 5)

Shadow and Bone (serial)

Season 1

A world of magic. The fold is a dark area that splits a continent in two. It is a cloud full of magical creatures and to cross the fold is almost certain death. The magicians of this world each have a specific power (healing, matter manipulation, shield, etc.) and to initiate it they must make a hand signal where their hands are touching. So keeping a spell from being cast is as simple as keeping their hands apart (if you can get close enough). The magicians are born with their talent, so youth across the world are tested, and then set to special training schools. In this world, an orphan mapmaker finds she is magical, but did not get trained as she "cheated" the test to not be selected as a kid. But her magic is powerful and she is the key to dismantling the fold. In all, this is a pretty good world created, and will probably need 2-3 seasons to tell the story and resolve. In this first season, the world is created and the sides are set. And there are at least 4 different storylines running in parallel in true fantasy storytelling style.

3 stars (out of 5)

Charlie's Angels

A re-reboot, of sorts, as the 2019 Elizabeth Banks version. The plot follows the angels as they help a programmer who is blowing the whistle on her clean energy company. Turns out the clean energy device that is about to go to market can be hacked and weaponized. Oops. While they are helping said programmer, they are also embroiled in an internal traitor to the organization situation. As far as basic action plots, not bad. However, the characters are not really given anything special to be. We get some generic action scenes (hanging out of a car while shooting, driving a motorcycle real fast) but no distinguishing skill that can contribute to a team or a sense of rooting for the character. Largely a flat offering. 

2 stars (out of 5)

The Nevers (serial)

Season 1: Part 1

A Joss Whedon creation, and it feels like it. Victorian era english women are "touched" and have gained a particular new power. Molly collects these women together to help them navigate the bias and harassment that comes with their new ability. Oh, and also she is not exactly what or who she seems. This starts as a historical fantasy, and transitions pretty quickly into a sci-fi mystery. Not classically space opera like Firefly, but has the same quirky characters that makes everything fun. 

4 stars (out of 5)

Ragnarok (Serial)

Season 2

The sophomore season of Ragnarok keeps up the quality and culture and feel of the first fabulous season. Magne as Thor is gaining allies in his pending battle with the giants, and his brother Laurits continues waffling as Loki. This season moves the story along and continues to integrate a surprising amount of human angst and emotion into these immortals. I also like the hints and foreshadowing about the ultimate role of land, the physicality of place, in the resolution of the story. Again, 6 episodes is too short. Give me more.

5 stars (out of 5)