Mademoiselle Holmes (serial)

Season 2

I liked this more than Season 1, mostly because I realized that Holmes is Raphael from Astrid and Watson/Sami is Aurélien from Munch. And because the characters are set from the first season, we jump right into the quirk and don't need to slow roll the development. Holmes continues to solve cases, needs the emotional support of Sami and kid gloves from her co-workers. But she is the key member of the team instead of a side element that needs to force her way in. Maybe more traditional police procedural, but more fun because of it. 

5 stars (out of 5)

Project Hail Mary

Outstanding offering based on Andy Weir's book by the same name. A mysterious alien "infection" is plaguing the sun and siphoning energy away. Which means that within <50 years, catastrophic environmental system collapse change life on earth. In a remarkable (and likely utopian view of the goodness of humanity) all countries on earth collaborate to find a solution. Yes, there are some science fiction stretches in this story, but "global collaboration" is the most unbelievable part of the entire thing. What ends up happening is a massive effort to use the "alien infection" as a fuel source for an interstellar investigative flight to a system that is also infected but for some reason has reached homeostasis. There are a lot of surprises and fun moments along the way, which you should see or read (or both). For me, the most fun in this entire tale comes with the 'cynical realism' of a stereotypical scientist/engineer. The background dialogue give Murderbot vibes, which I also love. 

5 stars (out of 5)

Nr 24

Set during the Nazi occupation of Norway, this is the story of Gunnar Sønsteby, a Norwegian resistance fighter/leader. The plot mechanism is Gunnar as an old man giving a lecture / telling his history to a room full of school children. As he tells his story, 80% of the film is flashback to the events of the 1940's. With the telling, most of it is straight forward resistance warfare (sabotage, who do you trust, etc.). But what makes this film outstanding is the interactions in the present, as Gunnar reflects on his history, what he is willing to talk about, and the questions that the students ask. When is it appropriate to be violent? What is different about "war time"? Did you ever consider nonviolent resistance, like Ghandi? Gunnar's response that Ghandi never faced the Nazis is not sufficient for one particularly interested kid. When the kid says something to the effect of  "it seems like nonviolent resistance is more important in that situation", the filmmakers give us time to think. Wait, is it? Or is that just naiveté? It also struck me how daily and personal that threat was for Norwegians, and a that a real resistance grew in opposition. Gunnar telling his story to modern kids (2 or 3 generations removed) is an important part of a society struggling with threat, violence, resistance and freedom. Collectively in the US we haven't experienced a daily and personal threat since the 1800's, too many generations removed to have a connection to the moral dilemmas and trauma, to be able to have an experience informed discussion of what resistance really requires. 

5 stars (out of 5)

The Princess Bride

Does this get better with age? Or is nostalgia that much stronger with age? In this rewatching (my first in a decade), I am amazed at how many quotable one-liners that are part of my lexicon originate with this film. "You've mocked me once, never do it again".  Every generation needs a signature cult film... this is mine.

5 stars (out of 5)

Astrid (serial)

Season 5

In this season, the running theme is centered around a series of Astrid's epileptic seizures. They seem to be triggered by something and so she begins to investigate her own history / memory.  Tetsu loses his funding (and therefore visa), a childhood aquaintance comes back into her life, and Raphaelle is pregnant. All traumatic events that could contribute. This season thread is woven through the individual cases of each episode and we are even treated to young Astrid in flashback. Great storylines and I love the 8-10 episode seasons that is the new norm for seasons. Not so long that I lose interest -- good addictive encouragement, keep them wanting more :)

5 stars (out of 5)

Sinners

Michael B. Jordan plays the twin brothers Smoke and Stack, a pair of southern gangsters just returning home to Mississippi after a stint working with Capone in Chicago. They are setting up a bar, music, gambling joint to try to bring their cash earning experience back home. Of course, there are racial undertones as well as questions about the acceptance of these "criminals" back into their community. And to drive this all home (since just being straight about race is fake news), we jump to an allegorical portrayal of racial tension in the form of vampires. And oh my, this is effective. The ugly-ness, the evil, the tension, the no-win hopelessness. Writer/Director Ryan Coogler knocks this out of the park. I'll need to sit with this for awhile and then go back and watch it again as it is one of those films that you don't see everything the first time around. 

5 stars (out of 5)

The Ballad of Wallis Island

A now broken up folk duo has been brought to a remote island under the guise of a concert with a big payday. From the beginning it is clear that this is an ultra-remote and oddly eccentric situation. And it turns out that the concert is a private showing for a super-fan who happens to be a lotto winner. Ultimately, this is an exploration of loss and renewal. It is charming, weird, heart-felt and engaging. Excellent small film. 

5 stars (out of 5)

Murderbot (serial)

Season 1

An outstanding interpretation of the Murderbot books by Martha Wells. This season is based on her first entry in the series, All Systems Red. The titular protagonist is SecUnit, a cyber/organic creation with a governor chip that has been hacked (meaning the SecUnit is independent of human control). He is trying to stay under the radar (since independence is illegal), but his current assignment as Security Unit for the survey team of "The Preservationist Society" makes it hard. They recognize the sentience of robots, and are consensus decision making, anti-violence, world explorers that are quirky enough to see through his non-traditional behavior. The shining piece of this portrayal is that the irreverence and cynicism of the SecUnit are spot on with the tone created by Wells. I am all in on the book series and more seasons. Can't get enough. 

5 stars (out of 5)

Somebody Somewhere (serial)

Season 1, 2 & 3

A comedy-drama series set in Manhattan Kansas. Sam is the show protagonist and she is 30 something, working a dead end job, still grieving the loss of a sister to cancer, and dealing with a dysfunctional family. She connects with Joel, who she finds out was also in choir in high school, and the two become best of friends. The next 3 seasons follow this growing friendship and both the drama and the banality of daily life. And in spite of the sadness or difficulty surrounding them, Joel and Sam are the most hilarious pair you will find, able to laugh and love and support each other throughout the years. Hands down one of the best series I have seen. Loved it. 

5 stars (out of 5)

Astrid (serial)

Season 4

This French PBS series follows Astrid Nielson, an autistic police officer who works in the documents archive. Astrid continues to navigate social integration and the novelty of relationship with new boyfriend Tetsu and Stepbrother Niels. Astrid continues to be the driving force in all investigative break throughs with the team. So entirely predictable. And entirely enjoyable. One of my favorite police procedurals of recent years. 

5 stars (out of 5)

Black Doves (serial)

Keira Knightly plays the titular Black Dove, a deep cover spy working for a non-governmental agency who deals in information for sale to the highest bidder. Pure capitalism - or at least that is the idea. But information is power, and the political interweaving of this power with corruption and the requisite mistrust that accompanies state actors (China, England and U.S. in this case) means that more is at stake than just money. This series is exactly what serial story telling should be. Coming in at 6 episodes, we have plenty of time to have plot depth, character depth, intrigue and several interweaving storylines. And at 6 episodes, we don't have time for fluff. There isn't even one interstitial scene to just fill time and make another episode. More creators could learn from this editing. Not much gets 5 stars from me these days, but this I loved. 

5 stars (out of 5)

Ted Lasso (serial)

Season 3

Finally got around to watching it and boy, it still doesn't disappoint. Every episode was emotional and meaningful. I particularly enjoyed the Amsterdam episode and the team and individual connections that were portrayed. Just good comedy and likely irreproducible (although I know they'll try -- over and over...)

5 stars (out of 5)

The Bad Batch (serial)

Season 3

This is one of the best Star Wars series, IMO. Omega got captured at the end of last season, and opens in prison on a secret planet. The season goal is to rescue Omega and learn more about why she is so important. We get a little bit of info about project necromancer, but really I feel like I am only a part time fan and that a true fan already knows the whole story, with dialogue droppings functioning as easter eggs. Regardless, great story, pacing and characters.

5 stars (out of 5) 

Astrid (serial)

Season 3

Astrid is well ensconced in the Crime Squad and becomes essential to their every case. The only way she can continue to work with them is to attend the police academy courses for forensic analysis. So that thread wanders the entire season. Otherwise, it is the same genius show that the prior seasons showed. 

5 stars (out of 5)

Yu Yu Hakusho (serial)

A 5-episode series based on a Manga of the same name. Yusuke is the protagonist, a tough guy school student who shows signs of caring for the underdog. When he dies saving a kid from a runaway truck, he gets a second chance. The price, he becomes a spirit investigator. First job, recover some stolen artifacts from demons who have infiltrated the human world. Which leads to the bigger job of preventing a permanent rift in the barrier between the demon and human world. He makes friends along the way, and everyone discovers something about themselves and the importance of relationship and trust and friendship. Appropriate length and really fun imagining of demon forms and battle scenes. Really fun. 

5 stars (out of 5)

My Daemon

A really fun anime series, 13 episodes of <30 min each. Set in Japan in a world after nuclear events where the use of nuclear bombs has created daemonium particles that eventually hatch into daemons. This sets up the inevitable human/daemon conflict. Enter Kentu, a young boy who has befriended a daemon Anna and seems to have a connection with her that befuddles other humans. When Kentu's mom is killed, he and Anna set off in search of a rumored time reversal daemon who can bring her back. The series tells the story of Kentu and Anna and the people and daemons that they meet along the way. It is creative and fun and ultimately helps us explore compassion, attitudes towards difference and how effective personal relationship is in allowing people to organically change their long held beliefs. 

5 stars (out of 5)

Lupin (serial)

Season 3

Picking up where Season 2 left off, Arsène is in exile, having fled France and been presumed dead. Or actually, not even presumed, but actually buried. His wife and son are still hassled by the media, to the extent that Arsène has to come home and clear his name. Of course he does it with capers and hijinks. Still a great character study and heist series. Love it. 

5 stars (out of 5)

One Piece (serial)

Hopefully this is season 1. One Piece is a live action serial based on a manga series by the same name. Protagonist Monkey D Luffy is a pirate putting together a crew to find the Grand Line and search for a mythical treasure known as the One Piece. Find this treasure will be a big part of Luffy becoming king of the pirates. The series definitely plays like a manga with a target audience age of middle school. Characters are eccentric and caricatures, often with special abilities. Luffy himself has eaten a dragon fruit and has become stretchy. And the crew that he is putting together is a reluctant set of individualists who are all discovering the benefits of a team or family for the first time in their lives. Overall, a highly enjoyable series that walks that live action/animation line perfectly. 

5 stars (out of 5)

The Thieves

Rewatched this from a decade ago. Still a top 10 heist films of all time. 

5 stars (out of 5)

Divorce Attorney Shin (serial)

A 12 episode K-Drama centered around Shin and his two friends (Jang and Jo). Shin is a former international piano professor/performer who gave up music to become a lawyer when his sister was divorced and then killed in an accident. He thought the circumstances suspect at best. In the process, he becomes a divorce attorney to gain expertise in the field and understand what happened. The series takes on a case every 2-3 episodes and is quite heady in addressing the seriousness and difficulty of divorce, abuse, custody, etc. So in that realm, this is a heavy load. But the three guys are outstanding as a trio. They are late 30-something and yet, in many ways, still interacting as teenage boys. At the same time, they have a depth of relationship that takes years to develop. I love this relationship and how it is portrayed in the silliness and the emotional depth of their lives. A fabulous series.  

5 stars (out of 5)