studioAT Reviews

The Big Bang Theory: The 43 Peculiarity (2012) Season 6, Episode 8

The 43 Peculiarity

[7/10 · 8 May 2024]

I agree with other reviewers - this felt very much like a good old fashioned 'Big Bang Theory' episode. No talk of Howard in space (gosh, I hated that storyline), not Amy (though I like Amy) and Bernadette (not a fan) - just the geeks and the girl dynamic that worked very well for the first three years of the show.

It was nice to see Howard and Raj team up for a storyline and although it ends in particularly silly style, it's well-played and funny stuff.

Leonard is a bit of a wet blanket, and his distrust of Penny wears a bit thin. Then again, her college buddy would go on to be Chale in 'Kevin Can Wait', so you can see why he'd be worried...

In an inconsistent sixth series, this was a good episode.

The Big Bang Theory: The Habitation Configuration (2012) Season 6, Episode 7

The Habitation Configuration

[6/10 · 8 May 2024]

I seem to be in a different camp than some of the other reviewers here - I like Amy, I don't like Bernadette.

To be fair, I don't like the storylines the character has been given. This episode was no exception. It went nowhere, had some confusing messaging, and didn't do very much to develop her as a character.

Poor old Raj is shafted once again to make room for her, and that's a big shame.

I like the Sheldon/Amy storyline and thought it had some lovely moments. Any episode that ends up with a sweet moment between Sheldon and Penny is always worth a watch too.

So I can't agree with other people, there's a 'Yoko' in the camp, but for me it's not Amy.

Afterlife of the Party (2021)

Afterlife of the Party

[3/10 · 6 May 2024]

Like many before her, Victoria Justice has never really been able to make the transition between teen star to adult actress.

She's popped up in a few things now, and at least they had a bit more of a bite about them than this rather wishy washy 'Heaven Can Wait' inspired fluff.

There's nothing hugely wrong with it, it just doesn't doesn't seem to know if it's going for an adult audience or a tween crowd. This is continued by the fact the film makes references to 'Victorious', which is the show you'd think Justice would want to be moving away from.

There's no real reason why the fairy godmother character is English (laying the accent on very very thick) or why Justice has to spend the whole film in a very tight dress (other than to get people to stick around), but this never really became anything other than just fine.

I hope Victoria Justice can make her mark in something else though.

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One (2023)

Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part On

[4/10 · 6 May 2024]

Quite simply, this is what it is.

If you enjoyed the other films in the franchise then there's no doubt at all that you'll enjoy this.

It's brimming with great visuals, it's good some brilliant action sequences, and Tom Cruise again delivers good old fashioned popcorn entertainment in the same way that he did with 'Top Gun: Maverick'.

It's not my sort of thing, all these films look the same to me, but it was engaging enough, and I would watch the second part of what is rumoured to be the last in the series with interest to see where all the many plot elements set up here lead.

Overall, fine.

The Big Bang Theory: The Extract Obliteration (2012) Season 6, Episode 6

The Extract Obliteration

[6/10 · 6 May 2024]

I thought this was the best episode of series six so far.

Thank goodness we are now done with the whole 'Howard in space' saga, which has dogged the show from the moment it was brought up. Those episodes of him floating around in space still haunt me.

This felt very much like a good old fashioned 'Big Bang Theory' episode, with all the characters being given lots to do, and Bernadette saying very little. Happy days.

At the heart of this show has always been the Leonard and Sheldon relationship, so I was glad that some focus was given to that dynamic here.

Overall, a much better episode, hopefully this quality will be sustained.

The Big Bang Theory: The Holographic Excitation (2012) Season 6, Episode 5

The Holographic Excitation

[6/10 · 4 May 2024]

Finally! The show reflects what we have all been thinking. We are all pig sick with the 'Howard is an astronaut/Howard is in space' plot line! Thank goodness.

This storyline has bored me from the start, so it was nice that the other characters finally shared my feelings.

As for the episode as a whole, there were some nice moments of character development here.

From Penny's slow burning realisation that she's falling for Leonard, to some actual realistic scenes between Howard and Bernadette. Anything is better than the awful storylines when he was up in space I know, but this wasn't too bad from my least favourite characters in the show.

I'm still not sure about Stuart being in things more regularly, he's a stock side-line character, and fleshing him out isn't working so far. They'd be better off trying to actually do something with Raj. Anything really. Now there is a good character.

Overall, a good enough episode.

The Big Bang Theory: The Re-Entry Minimization (2012) Season 6, Episode 4

The Re-Entry Minimization

[3/10 · 4 May 2024]

This isn't a good episode.

Yes, the Pictionary scene is very funny indeed, but that's just one scene out of a whole episode.

The rest I'm afraid to say isn't very good. We've seen a 'Sheldon gets into a contest' episode not so long ago in series five, so trying to repeat the trick (and that wasn't a very good episode either!) so soon after doesn't really work.

I know that the show was producing twenty-four episodes a year and that they can't all be winners, but other than that scene the quality felt lower here.

There was a 'Howard returning from space' storyline, but it was so weak it doesn't really prove worth mentioning.

The Big Bang Theory: The Higgs Boson Observation (2012) Season 6, Episode 3

The Higgs Boson Observation

[6/10 · 4 May 2024]

Can we just end the 'Howard in space' plotline now? Please!

It's absolutely rubbish. It wasn't much fun when in the fifth series he was planning to go, now he's up there it's actually worse. There's nothing funny about any of the scenarios they have put him in, and they are hard scenes to get through.

It's a terrible shame because everything else in this episode works very nicely.

Penny's slow realisation about the depth of her feelings for Leonard is well played, and they really give Jim Parsons lots to work with, as Sheldon gets an attractive assistant.

I really hope the Howard plotline ends soon.

The Big Bang Theory: The Decoupling Fluctuation (2012) Season 6, Episode 2

The Decoupling Fluctuation

[6/10 · 4 May 2024]

Everything worked here for me other than the continually annoying 'Howard in space' storyline.

It just doesn't work. It's not funny, the character of Howard isn't well-rounded enough for us to really care two hoots about it, and I admit to skipping past most of it.

It's such a shame too, because there's some great stuff in the other storylines, with Sheldon's inability to keep a secret and then the tender moment between him and Penny proving to be lovely.

I really hope Howard is back on the ground soon, because his whole NASA plot is proving to be about as dull as it could possibly be.

Fine overall.

The Simpsons: Heartbreak Hotel (2018) Season 30, Episode 2

Heartbreak Hotel

[4/10 · 4 May 2024]

I agree with a previous reviewer - this is an episode that starts very well and then goes downhill and never recovers after the black and white scene.

I know the creative powers that be are obviously trying to shake things up with the show and do some quirky things, but this didn't work for me.

It's a shame really, because this episode was going along nicely for me up to that point.

There was a sense of heart about the piece, and some nice focus on the Homer and Marge relationship.

Unfortunately though once we came back from the black and white scene the episode seemed to fade away.

Not uncommon for a recent episode of the show.

The Big Bang Theory: The Date Night Variable (2012) Season 6, Episode 1

The Date Night Variable

[5/10 · 4 May 2024]

I really hoped we'd be done with this whole 'Howard in space' storyline now.

It's just not funny. Yes, Howard is a sad sack character who can never 'win' for very long, but the magic of this show is having the characters in the same room bouncing off of each other, not seeing Howard being berated by both his new wife and his mother in space.

Here's hoping that storyline is brought to a close very quickly in this the sixth series of the show.

I don't like it when they write Sheldon to be too annoying, or Penny too bratty, and both things happened here. The bumping up of Stuart as a character to be a regular is a strange one, and they don't seem to know what to do with Raj.

There were some signs of character development though, so that's something.

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway: Episode #20.7 (2024) Season 20, Episode 7

The last portion of Takeaway

[10/10 · 28 April 2024]

That's how you say goodbye.

The final episode of 'Saturday Night Takeaway' went out with a real bang, and reminded us just why we have loved it for the last twenty series.

Full of brilliant moments and a genuine sense of heart, there really is nobody like Ant and Dec or indeed like this show on television. We are lucky to have them, and have been lucky to have this show for as long as we have.

The messaging about whether it is just being 'rested' or 'ending' seemed confused, but if I were the boys I would make this the last one ever. Not because I don't love it and will miss it dearly, but because this felt very much like the final 'portion', a lovely way to go out.

Any more could just cause indigestion.

Herbie Fully Loaded (2005)

Herbie: Fully Loaded

[3/10 · 27 April 2024]

This was Disney basically trying to give Lindsay Lohan one more tween role before she got too old.

What is interesting though is that they rebooted the Herbie franchise with her in the lead, knowing full well she would be unlikely to be able to appear in any follow ups.

This is a decent enough film without ever being spectacular. Lohan is entertaining enough, playing on her 'every girl' charm.

It's got some decent people in support as well, so Disney clearly had faith in the project.

It's just a shame it doesn't seem to know if it's just for kids or for their parents as well, so falls a bit at that hurdle.

The Simpsons: Bart's Not Dead (2018) Season 30, Episode 1

Bart's Not Dead

[3/10 · 27 April 2024]

So begins the thirtieth series of the show. Yes, you read that right - the thirtieth.

There's a nice little celebration montage at the start of the episode to celebrate this, and to be honest, it's the best bit of the episode.

I don't like it when the show goes a bit too dark for its own good, and when it starts having a dig at faith/God etc.

I know that's personal preference, but I didn't like the tone of the episode or the situations it put the characters into.

It's got some nice moments along the way, but I just think everyone has their own favourite sort of 'Simpsons' episode, and this wasn't mine.

The Big Bang Theory: The Countdown Reflection (2012) Season 5, Episode 24

The Countdown Reflection

[6/10 · 27 April 2024]

This was a nice way to round off the fifth series of 'The Big Bang Theory', and if I were to be cynical, I'd say I hope it brings to a close the rather tedious 'Howard going to space' and 'Howard and Bernadette are getting married' plots.

They've tried to humanise Howard over the course of the last couple of series, but work still needs to be done. Bernadette as a character is still about as three dimensional a postage stamp.

Thee are some lovely moments along the way though, especially in the final scene, that remind us of the quality of the show and how when it gets it right it gets it very right.

The fifth series has had some bumps in the road along the way (understandable when you are producing 24 episodes a year) but the duds have been real clunkers.

The show has certainly changed, and it will be interesting to see how it continues to do so as it moves into Series Six.

Iron Man (2008)

Iron Man

[2/10 · 25 April 2024]

What can you really say about a film that's success doomed us to nearly twenty further years of Marvel doom?

It's fine, it's passable entertainment. That's the plus points covered?

Is it any good? Gosh, no. It's drivel.

Gwyneth Paltrow is hands down the best thing in the film by a country mile.

It's overlong, it's overly loud, it seems to think it's the best thing since sliced bread - and while you can sit back and commend Marvel for creating a Cinematic Universe that spanned nearly a decade after this, that doesn't make this any better than it actually is.

I'm sure people will leap to slate my review, but it's my honest take on the film.

The Big Bang Theory: The Launch Acceleration (2012) Season 5, Episode 23

The Launch Acceleration

[4/10 · 25 April 2024]

I can't say the Howard storyline has grabbed me throughout the fifth series of the show. Maybe it's because the character hadn't really ever gone through enough development to become fully three-dimensional beforehand. It's well played out, but the whole thing here about him secretly not being excited about going into space felt like a jarring gear change.

The Penny/Leonard storyline was pretty much same old, same old where they are concerned. They have a problem, they resolve it - normally because Leonard caves into her, and we move on only to repeat this again in the next episode.

The Amy/Sheldon plot was slight but funny, and goodness knows where poor Raj went.

Fine if unspectacular overall.

The Big Bang Theory: The Stag Convergence (2012) Season 5, Episode 22

The Stag Convergence

[3/10 · 23 April 2024]

This was a weak episode.

Having the characters be drunk and say inappropriate things is a sitcom staple plot, but you'd think a show of this level of intelligence would be able to put something (anything! New on top of it to make it uniquely 'Big Bang Theory' worthy.

They don't though. It's not a good episode.

I'm not even sure the nice speech by Howard at the end that shows some actual growth in him as a character since the first ever episode is enough to carry this over the line. It's a wonderful moment, don't get me wrong - but it's in such a dud episode that it feels like a bit of a waste.

A real shame.

95 Miles to Go (2004)

95 Miles to Go

[2/10 · 21 April 2024]

I like Ray Romano, I like 'Everybody Loves Raymond'.

I did not like this documentary.

It didn't need to exist in the first place. I think sometimes with stand-up comedians we don't need to see behind the curtain, it's ok for there to be some mystique about the person. Look at Jerry Seinfeld - he doesn't pop up too much and we're all glad of it.

This was a dull, slow affair. The journey parts aren't funny, I'm not sure Romano comes out of them looking all that brilliant too.

The bits where he's actually doing stand-up are good, but ultimately for me this was just a DVD extra that should never have been expanded further.

In for a Penny: Episode #6.1 (2024) Season 6, Episode 1

Series 6 begins

[7/10 · 21 April 2024]

The new format to this show is that it seems to jump around the country now, rather than each episode taking place in one set location. I'm not sure I like this.

What cannot be denied though is how much fun this show is, and that ITV absolutely waste it by sticking it on so early in the evening. Perhaps after six series they are starting to get a bit bored of it, but is the Joel Dommet game show that followed it really much better? Nope.

This is brilliant family fun, and deserves far more recognition than it gets. I hope that people do start watching it, or continue to do so, because we need programmes like this in our lives.

Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway: Episode #20.6 (2024) Season 20, Episode 6

A thinner portion.

[5/10 · 21 April 2024]

While 'Saturday Night Takeaway' is never anything less than good fun, this did feel like a smaller portion of it than normal.

Perhaps they were saving the budget for the final episode of the series, but if you were in the studio audience for this you didn't get to see very much that was live.

A lot of it was pre-recorded stuff, with the 'I'm a Celeb, Get out of my Ear: The Revenge' section being split into two parts to eek out proceedings.

The Take That number at the end saved things slightly, but this did feel like a bit of a padded and thin episode of the show overall.

Fine, but not overly filling.

A Life in Ten Pictures (2021– )

A Life in Ten Pictures

[4/10 · 21 April 2024]

This is a nice little show produced by the BBC.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this show designs to test that theory, by using photographs of celebrities to generate thoughts by those either in the pictures with them, or from those who knew them best.

It's an interesting affair, but obviously does depend on your interest in the subject being covered. If you have no interest in the person then of course you're more than likely going to switch off.

It's a bit of a slow moving affair, but credit to the BBC for making such programmes. It's certainly not in the Gen X remit that they seem to be going for.

A Life in Ten Pictures: Robin Williams (2023) Season 2, Episode 3

Robin Williams

[5/10 · 21 April 2024]

I'll happily watch any documentary about the much missed and loved Robin Williams, so I was pleased to see his inclusion in the 'A Life in Ten Pictures' series that the BBC produce.

It proved to be an interesting affair, with talking heads that don't tend to pop up on this sort of thing all the time. Pam Dawber (the Mindy to his Mork from 'Mork and Mindy') being one such example.

This is of course a BBC programme, so the need to be woke screamed through, so there is a very notable lack of coverage about 'Mrs Doubtfire', which seeing as this was one of Robin Williams' biggest commercial hits seems strange.

We do get some coverage about 'The Crazy Ones' though, so that's something.

Good enough overall.

The Big Bang Theory: The Hawking Excitation (2012) Season 5, Episode 21

The Hawking Excitation

[5/10 · 20 April 2024]

It cops out at the end with a rather cheap joke which I wasn't keen on (and that we've seen before from Sheldon), but on the whole this was a good episode from the fifth series of 'The Big Bang Theory'.

I like the Howard/Sheldon dynamic, and that features heavily here.

Nobody else really gets much of a look in here in terms of material, though there's a nice Penny/Sheldon moment at one point.

It was a shame that Raj's quandary from the last episode hadn't become more of a running plot and seemed completely forgotten, because I thought that had much more room for development.

It does feel on this occasion that the show went for laughs rather than growth.

The Big Bang Theory: The Transporter Malfunction (2012) Season 5, Episode 20

The Transporter Malfunction

[7/10 · 20 April 2024]

This was an odd little episode of 'The Big Bang Theory' indeed.

It manages to mix more surreal elements with actually some deeper material.

It's all very well played out, but actually I preferred the plotline involving Raj. I said in my review of the previous episode that I hoped the creatives behind the scenes would start to explore his loneliness in more detail, and here they do so. I thought there was a nice tenderness to this storyline.

It's a bit of an odd tonal mix, but on the whole it all comes together nicely and again proves that when this show is on top form it can be very good indeed.