RjNeel Reviews

Fargo: Linda (2023) Season 5, Episode 7

An unnecessary divergence in an otherwise finely crafted season

[5/10 · 31 December 2023]

There might be redemption on the cards for Gator. He can finally have his moment of truth about his father and empathize with Dot who comforted his scared little self during his father's violent episodes toward his mother. Overall, this was an unnecessary lane. We were already sold on Roy being a very bad man. Now, adding a new layer of pedophilia to his character reduces the overall pungency of his character. The societal attitude toward domestic abuse is to look the other way but child abuse is regarded as reprehensible enough to warrant intervention.

When you are dealing with a serious topic like domestic abuse you owe it to the victims to present an authentic representation of the problem. A certain amount of dramatic flair is fine. Ole and some other characters already filled that quota. So many Lindas or even one were not required. Even Dot's backstory was too much on the nose.

Fair Play (2023)

"Fair-played", Emily. Just leave her at "Human"

[9/10 · 30 December 2023]

Throughout the movie, I was hoping for Luke to come to his senses (Being a sucker for "happily ever after"). I knew the ending but realized the many subtleties in only the penultimate scene. In a way, the ending was a "happily ever after".

The film skillfully explores the complexities of relationships, offering a nuanced portrayal of human nature through Emily and Luke's characters. While some scenes featuring Luke may seem less refined, the movie succeeds in delivering a 'hard-hitting' message with well-timed clichés and subtle nuances. The relatability of Emily's character to real-life experiences adds a layer of authenticity. Despite minor flaws, this movie is a compelling watch for couples, sparking reflection and conversation on the intricacies of modern relationship.

Best scenes 1) The scene where Emily jokingly calls Luke 'pathetic,' and he interprets it as an insult to his ego, craftily encapsulated a well-known reality.

2) Luke's shameless boasts in the ending.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Subspace Rhapsody (2023) Season 2, Episode 9

A musical insight into the characters

[7/10 · 3 August 2023]

Did they hire professional singers? My favorite was the Spock song. The musical was delightful. On the other hand, the sience of the episode requires quite a bit of leap of faith. Storywise, it was romance and heartbreaks. Overall, it's an exjoyable episode.

Season 2 has largely focussed on character development and "Subspace Raphsody" is a musical attempt at this. SNW operates in a timeline different from the original. It was quite unnecessary and stupid to design it that way. The discontinuity has been the cause of much confusion as many felt disconnected with the established characters as they had seen them in a different light over the past many years through the original series and movies. It appears season 2 is an attempt to reconnect audiences to the characters. Unfortunately not all storylines click. However, Spock-Chapel and M'Benga have come off strong. Others are still finding their feet. It doesn't help if show writers play back and forth with storylines of the characters. La'an and Una are out of place at the moment.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds: Under the Cloak of War (2023) Season 2, Episode 8

Intense!!!!!!

[9/10 · 27 July 2023]

I have never been a fan of Kurtzmann's Star Trek, but "Under the Cloak of War" is an extraordinary episode. There was nothing special about the episode. It had no VFX or any other exciting elements and not even dialogues, so to speak. In fact, it wasn't the conversation between M'Benga and Raa but the silence between the two that lit up the episode. War is known to be horrifying and inhumane. Sometimes it's easier to capture the feelings with silence rather than the mightiest words. This episode perfectly demonstrated the use of silence for communication. The episode was intensely dark and steadily paced. Good to see Star Trek pushing mature subjects. Hope to see more pragmatic content.

The Blacklist: Raymond Reddington (No. 00): Good Night (2023) Season 10, Episode 22

Weirdly satisfying

[8/10 · 15 July 2023]

I'm conflicted about the finale. As far as farewells go, you couldn't have asked for anything better than a Sinatra song and a scenic Spanish landscape. It was delightful. However, as a loyal, long-term viewer of 10 years, I felt betrayed that they didn't reveal Red's true identity (although Katarina seems obvious). It was the last of non-political and non-divisive shows. It marks the end of an era.

The first part was action-packed, while the second was an emotional rollercoaster. The showrunners paid tribute to "Jellybean" and acknowledged many other recurring characters in earlier episodes. The honor of the final monologue was that of Dembe, who nailed it in his own way. It wasn't just the character but the actor Hashim himself pouring his heart out. That was a neat closure.

The 218 episode long ride was entertaining. We might never get such shows again. Spader received a lot of praise for his performance, but the actors who played Aram, Harold, Liz, Ressler, and Dembe were just as good. It was the ultimate package. I think they killed Red to make Reddington IMMORTAL in tv entertainment history.

Harper's Island (2009)

It draws you in despite the cliches. Binge-watch worthy

[7/10 · 10 July 2023]

It starts off as a modern take on Agatha Cristie's "And Then There Were None" with an excellent "serial/copycat killer" seasoning. Still, somehow it loses it all along the way.

It aired in 2009 and did not have the budget of Lost. The cinematography is not so fancy despite being an island. The plot is full of holes. The island is unusually empty despite a dozen deaths, and 6 people with guns seem unable to fight someone with a machete. There are many ridiculous elements to the show. But most of these shortcomings can still be forgiven, but the main letdown is its awful CLIMAX.

Nevertheless, it keeps the audience entertained and hooked and makes for a perfect binge-watch (at least until the 11th episode). They should have gone with a Copycat killer. The daughter, the doctor and even one of the groomsmen could have made a better murderer, but serial killing being hereditary seems laughable.

Deadloch (2023– )

"Fargo" of Australia even if somewhat dulled down by the flat humor

[9/10 · 28 June 2023]

One has to wait until episode 3 for the show to pick up pace, but it's an epic rollercoaster ride once it does. The negative reviews are understandable. The first two episodes are incredibly dull, and Det. Eddie Redcliffe (played by Madeliene Sami) is insufferable. However, once they reveal that the spree of crimes is actually the work of a serial killer, the show just lights up.

The humour is mainly flat and seems forced. Det. Eddie is needlessly portrayed as incompetent and obnoxious. However, the dysfunctional townsfolk, cinematography and Kate Box's effortless portrayal of Seargent Dulcie keep the audiences invested.

One needs to stick around to appreciate the show. There are many red herrings and detours to make the series less corny. Unfortunately, it is overdone. The end is not predictable, but it feels stretched.

From (2022– )

You never know what would happen next

[9/10 · 12 June 2023]

Has anyone else wondered why the show is titled "From" ? Title is just the tip of the icebergs when its comes to the mysteries of the show. I binged the first 18 episodes and couldn't help but wonder what's happening here? Not a single episode delves into the mysteries of the show. In fact, it only takes the existing mysteries to greater depths.

The story telling is slow, steady but each arc is frustratingly short and clumsy. They've paired characters and sent them on quests which ultimately lead nowhere. For e.g. Khatri-Boyd, Jim-Jade, Victor-Tabitha - all looked as though they were onto something but nothing. The same continues in seasin 2.

Overall, it is a disturbinlgy entertaining show. I've never seen a show that was so much unpreditable. Even the characters are not safe. You never know who the showrunner might axe next.

Lastly, a 10 episode season is NOT ENOUGH for such shows. You need at least a 20 episode to properly enjoy and appreciated the writing depth. The show is already in season 2 and quite frankly has not moved an inch. Streaming companies need to do something about this short season problem.

Manifest: Final Boarding (2023) Season 4, Episode 20

A turbulant journey's neat landing.

[9/10 · 3 June 2023]

Firstly, it is a tidy CLOSURE. It could have been better, but we were lucky to have something so NEAT, given how this show has gone.

It was one of those shows that made NO SENSE at all. However, the show garnered a cult following due to its CAPTIVATING central mystery. CURIOSITY sustained the show for four long seasons.

Back to the finale: It nicely wraps up (and sets up) the Mick-Zeke and Ramirez-Tamaki couples. Ben Stone gets back his family. Eagen turns a corner. Cal-man was a waste. The writers could have handled Angelina's story better. What was the point of her being punished by "God" if nothing happened?

Perhaps the showrunners chickened out and avoided a DARK ending. They set it up as an "end of the world story". The plane was supposed to be a modern-day Noah's ark with only the deserving passengers (and maybe a few other humans) destined to survive. However, there was no "end of the world". Instead, the passengers exit the terminal. But, then, that begs the question what was the purpose of Flight-828's disappearance in the first place? Also, no Captain Daly?

Anyways, enjoyable show. Wonderful characters. Hope to see Zeke, Mick, Ben, Olive, Sanvi, Ramirez, Drea, Eagen, etc, in more shows.

More shows should be made in this genre. However, one recurring problem with such shows is the inconsistent mythology. The writers often weave too many arcs around the central mystery. Many of which don't even make sense. But worse is the shabby unweaving. That disappoints the most. Hopefully, networks will take notice and fix this problem.

The Ark (2023– )

Agreed, Poor man's "The 100". But quite ENJOYABLE and worth giving a shot.

[8/10 · 30 March 2023]

I'm surprised by the barrage of negative reviews. I binged the first 9 episodes and found the show quite interesting. Everyone is respectfully entitled to their opinion, and to be fair, "the Ark" does have MANY FLAWS. Of course, the show's premise of a journey to a new world is not exactly original. Storytelling-wise, it's no BSG or the Expanse, and the CGI is hardly anything to boast about, but when did Scifi shows reduce to just CGI? It's a limited-budget show, and they had to improvise in many areas. Given the constraints, the frugal yet efficient use of resources and execution of a fine script is worthy of applause.

The casting is alright. Of course, the show is lite on big stars, and the character development is disappointing. Almost every scene is crowded, and individual characters or their backstories are seldom or shabbily explored. Therefore, it's tough for the audience to connect to any character. In fact, many storylines are rushed. Garnet's sister or Eva's initial lover served no purpose at all.

However, not all is negative. The banter between the cast is HILARIOUS, each crisis is uniquely designed to THRILL the audiences and the show's central MYSTERY is wrapped neatly. Overall, the show holds a lot of promise. The bad reviews may be due to the initial few episodes, which were agreeably underwhelming. But the show does get better. It's unfair to discard the show hurriedly.

With Syfy, series renewals can be tricky. The low budget is a positive for season 2, but the bad reviews might sink the show. Interestingly, while not great, the viewership is higher than some other shows that were renewed. If it does get renewed, I hope for better characterization, dialogues, and a whole lot better science (currently, the science is laughable and totally understandable if that's what is contributing to low ratings).

That '90s Show (2023– )

Got it ALL WRONG. Should have gone for a female Kelso and Leia-Luke Forman combo. Want Season 2 with major UPGRADES

[7/10 · 19 January 2023]

That 70s Show has a deep legacy. The main cast of the original series went on to become big Hollywood names (albeit, one of them for the wrong reasons). Given the popularity of the original, That 90s Show had some big shoes to fill. Sadly, it has been a DISAPPOINTING outing.

Like all current shows, this one, too, goes on to tick the diversity checkbox. Fortunately, unlike most reboots/sequels/prequels, this one actually does an amazing job with the Non-White casting. There is no element of overselling. The roles have been carved out nicely, and character development has been good. Unfortunately, it's about the only thing the show gets right. The main White leads are TERRIBLE. Leia, Jay, and Nate have no depth as characters and feel like cheap replicas of Eric and Michael. I feel they should have gone for a female Kelso. Betsy Kelso was already established in the original. Topher Grace had simply lit up Eric Forman. The Leia actress feels like a total MISFIT. She may not be a bad actress, but her character has been poorly outlined. For e.g., toward the end of episode 1, she comes off as confident and smart, and in the next couple of episodes, she is made out to be a dumb blond. In the original, Donna was a feminist. One would expect her daughter to be more confident. I feel like they should have gone for the "Leia and Luke Forman" combo. Nate serves no purpose in the show.

I sincerely hope and wish them luck for season 2 renewal. But I'd also hope for major changes in the characters and storylines. Maybe, bring in more character and chuck out a few. Also, 10 episodes are too little. Need at least, 20 episode season.

Btw. The original cast still rules. Watched it only to get a glimpse of Red, Kitty, Bob, Leo, Eric, Donna, Kelso, Jackie, and Fez.

Superstore: All Sales Final (2021) Season 6, Episode 15

Order PERFECTLY fulfilled

[10/10 · 13 January 2023]

Any series finale is always emotional. Most shows pretty soon become distant memory but some leave lasting impressions. I think Superstore is among those shows. Make no mistake it wasn't a perfect show. It didn't have the charms of Friends or the wittiness of Seinfeld but it evolved as a pleasant sitcom. In many it became Office with a much more significant home connect.

Wonderful characters and it was a fulfilling to see each eveolve over the 6 seasons. Jonah, Dina, Glenn, Garret, Sandra, Mateo, Cheyyene, Bo, Jerry, Brett, Marcus and even the cunning Carrol were all cleverly scripted.

Such shows are important. Most networks are not sanctioning such shows anymore which is very disappointing. Most of the society is the "little guy" and we seem to be forgetting about the "little guys" who matter.

The Orville: Electric Sheep (2022) Season 3, Episode 1

Back with a BANG

[10/10 · 2 June 2022]

Couldn't have asked for a better PREMIER after such a long hiatus. They kept things "human" and thankfully avoided the current "woke" theme that is so fashionable. Loved the brief Kaylon attack at the exact moment Capt Mercer was trying to convince Charlie. The attack also showed that the crew can manage without Issac. Thus, NEGATING the "pragmatic" choice of keeping Issac around which Capt. Mercer stated earlier. Hence, Issac's revival was more like the returm of a "family memeber" and not some INDISPENSABLE crew member. Also, the dialogues were good esp Capt. Mercer's memorial speech and Issac's therapy session with Dr. Finn.

Overall, a positive/meaningful episode and a great TONIC for MENTAL HEALTH.

The Batman (2022)

Darkest among all KNIGHTS

[8/10 · 4 March 2022]

3 hours, Rob Pattinson. No famous actors playing villain = No great expectations. Yet, somehow the trailers left a mark. The movies lives upto the hype. Although it's long, it is incredibly paced. It keeps you engaged and guessing. Only at the climax you feel a bit tired but that's okay.

The movie has been narrated from Bruce Wayne's. The music gives you a feel of Darth Vader theme. The car chase between Batman and Penguin is amazing. Truly appreciable content.

Yeh Kaali Kaali Ankhein (2022– )

Guilty pleasure flick.

[7/10 · 14 January 2022]

It's mindless, shallow and at times tawdry but somehow keeps you invested till the very end. I doubt it will find favors from so called "critics" but they exist on a different plain.

The music is awesome. Saurabh Shukla is the main attraction of the show. He literally owned the screen in his every single appearance. Anchal Singh was very convincing as the diabolical sociopath. Tahi Raj Bhasin was average at best. Not very impressed by his performance. Mostly forgetabble.

Hopefully, there is a season 2. Interesting cliffhanger. Much better than the overhyped Haseen Dilruba.

50 First Dates (2004)

Charming, motivating and leaves you with positivity

[9/10 · 9 January 2022]

Don't fall for the lower ratings from critics. Romcoms have never been popular with them and the movie is too "simplistic" for their taste.

The movie is an old fashion love story with no cosmetics, sexism or villains. Of course, it's fictional (and so are all the Superhero movies by the way) so don't really go by the medical inaccuracies (it's not like Gamma rays are going to create Hulk).

Overall, it is a charming plot. It's a happy version of "The Notebook" and "A walk to remember".

Hum Tum (2004)

When 2 people are meant to be together, the universe ensures that they are TOGETHER

[8/10 · 25 December 2021]

The movies take some time to get used to. It is painfully slow and needlessly cluttered but eventually the second half makes up for the initial hiccups. It's a typical love story: Boy meets girl -> HATE -> FRIENDSHIP ->LOVE->happily ever after. The novelty lies in the way the director tackled the subject: None think that they are good enough for each other all while being the SUPPORT SYSTEM for each other.

The movie may not gel into the "politically correct" environment of today but it was quite progressive for its time. Even today remarriage and divorce aren't easy subjects to broach. Back then the movie broke many of these stereotypes.

Apart from the story, the music is soothing. Saif is convincing in his role. It might have been his breakout movie (Before this he never carried a movie on his own and was always a part of an ensemble cast). Rani pulls off her role convincingly. Rishi Kapoor's extended cameo is a relief. Jimmy Shergill had a forgettable role here. His part could have easily cut 10 minutes without impacting the story much.

Overall, a pleasant watch. Also, TREAT BOLLYWOOD LIKE BOLLYWOOD. IT'S NEVER BIG ON REALISM. IT'S ALL ABOUT ESCAPISM.

Decoupled (2021– )

Crass, Cliched, Careless and Confused (Nope NO COMEDY)

[2/10 · 19 December 2021]

The show has a promising cast but the humor falls flat. The script had potential but it seemed perpetually confused. Reminds of Zee5 show Akoori which had perfect comic timing although not as fancy actors as this Neflix show. Overall waste of time.

Madhavan's expressions were top notch but at times it felt like even he was over trying. The female actress barely had a role. Surveen was totally underused.

I personally enjoyed Madhavan's back and forth with Chetan Bhagat (first one). The others were pointless. Also, it didn't hold any meaning in the larger context of the story. Even the banter with Prof Basu. They need better scripts.

Many will perhaps like the show. I tried to give it a shot but couldn't go beyond episode 4.

Resident Alien (2021– )

It's different

[9/10 · 15 December 2021]

Pleasant. Flamboyant, freash and adventurous. Resident Alien starts slow but by the third episode it wins your heart. Hats off to the casting. They couldn't have done any better here. Alan Tudyk is absolute fun. Corey Reynolds is killing it in his role and the Hawthorne family is an absolute delight. I like the way they have handled diversity without getting into any controversy or political correctness lectures. Perhaps, Marvels can take a pointer or two here from Syfy.

Coming to the content of the show, it's basically sci-fi meets comedy meets mystery-thriller. The back and forth between the Alien and the kid are an absolute treat. The lead character i.e. The Alien serves as both protagonist and the main antagonist of the show.

All in all season 1 was fun. They have left plenty of mysteries for the upcoming seasons.

PS: DON'T GET TOO ATTACHED TO THE SHOW AS SYFY HAS A HISTORY OF ENDING ITS SHOWS ABRUPTLY.

Bade Achhe Lagte Hain 2 (2021–2023)

A TOTAL DISASTER: Wasted potential

[2/10 · 22 September 2021]

A charming lead in Nakul, a competent actress in Disha, an established legacy of season 1, and a highly relatable yet unfettered arena of blossoming love among today's couples and still Ekta manages to foul it up.

The initial episodes were great. The back and forths between Ram and Priya were soothing but then things started going haywire. There are two main issues with the show: 1) Too many villains.

2) Too many characters

Despite over-stretched plots, Nakul's charms and Disha's class carried the show through the first 8 months. But later they turned the show into a murder mystery and separated the lead pair and in doing so WROTE ITS EPITAPH.

The show tackles the refreashing concept of a modern approach to relationship builiding centered around a successful man and an equally SUCCESSFUL women. This concept deserves better.

Kshatriya (1993)

Wasted potential

[5/10 · 13 September 2021]

Great ensemble, Great concept, breathtaking visuals and stand out costumes yet a poor product. All messed up on account of a cliched plot. Famed stories of Blood feuds among Rajputs is common throughout Rajasthan and frankly any one of those stories could have made for a better plot.

Mimi (I) (2021)

An absolute joyride

[9/10 · 1 August 2021]

Drama-Comedy-Twist all handled with absolute subtlety. Pankaj Tripathi finally overcomes the curse of typecasting. He did a fabulous job here. Kriti reminds you of Kajol. A few more movies of this quality and she will equal the fame of Kajol. Overall absolute joy ride.

Haseen Dillruba (2021)

New Bollywood, my foot. Humraz (1967) was lightyears ahead of this

[1/10 · 2 July 2021]

One really needs to reassess these "new" age actors and "new" age films. They promise a new bollywood but deliver poor hollywood rip offs which do not even have the entertainment value of an average bollywood movie of the 90s.

When you advertise it as a "Desi Gone Girl", you kind of already give away the mystery. Thus, your best hope is an engaging storyline that keeps the audience on the edge of their seats. "Haseen Dilruba" does nothing of this sorts. The story never lifts off. If anything they were delivering an incredibly cliched plot revolving around infidelity.

It appears Tapsee was straight away lifted from Thappad. Same expressions throughout the film even during supposed humor scenes. All these People like Pankaj Tripathi, Tapsee, Kirti Kulhari, etc are at risk of getting typecasted. They need to grow like Rajkumar, Ayushyaman, Yami or Bhumi Pednekar. It's not enough to just have acting skills.

Overall, the movie is INCREDIBLY BORING. Story: Man+Women+Arrange marriage +Kyunki Saans Bhi Kabhi Bahu thi + Stud Guest + Infidelity + Cat out of the bag + Fight + Murder(Whose?) + Happily ever after

All this complicated with Gone Girl style story telling. Totally UNWORTHY OF TIME.

Dhadkan (2000)

The last movie of the vintage old Bollywood style

[10/10 · 31 May 2021]

It is one of those rare movies where a predictable and otherwise ordinary plot is brought to life on the back of some mesmerizing acting by the lead trio and delightful music. The two Shettys have put the best performances of their careers. The director uses close-ups to capture emotions. Shilpa's flawless expressions are a treat to watch. The Nadeem-Shravan music is the heart of this film. Dhadkan, Janwar, Hera Pheri, and Ajnabee are chiefly responsible for reviving Akki's waning career and promoting him to a bankable superstar. The story builds well, with Shilpa driving the plot and Sunil garnering the sympathy of the audience. I felt the climax was timid and a bit disappointing, but it was the 1990s and the 2000s - the era of "lived happily ever after". Kiran Kumar and Mahima put up a commendable cameo.

Mohra (1994)

Masterpiece

[10/10 · 30 May 2021]

A rollercoaster ride.filled with thrill,excitement and.intense. It keeps you glued to the seat in its entire runtime. The songs are well timed. Among Akshay Kumar's best. The music gives you goosebumps (You may find the soundtrack familiar but ignore it). Can't give away spoilers but a must watch.