IndianaGuy Reviews

Elsbeth (2024– )

It was fun for a minute, but now, not so much

[5/10 · 30 April 2024]

Actually watched six episodes of this show, and they all had the same basic plot or formula. It's clear the writers aren't going to mix it up, so I'm done here. At first, I found the Elsbeth character refreshing, fun and quirky but the shtick gets old. So here's the formula in a nutshell: a murder is committed, and the cops are following standard police procedures, looking at the evidence, and ultimately barking up the wrong tree. Meanwhile, Elsbeth only needs 1/10th of a second, and she has the crime solved, and only has to prove to everyone else that she was right from the beginning. Every. Single. Time. They're trying to string the viewers along with a background story, "Is Captain Wagner a dirty cop or not?". I'm not interested enough to find out.

Resident Alien (2021– )

This show grew on me

[7/10 · 29 April 2024]

I didn't like it at first, but Netflix kept at me until I gave it a second (and third) try, and I was won over. I agree with many things that others have already said, for instance, season 2 is so caught up in side stories and character development, that it becomes more like a soap opera than a sci-fi series. Another comment that I will echo is there are many laugh out loud moments, but I will hasten to add, they are in equal proportion to cringy eye-rollers that don't work at all. Some parts are so dumb, if my wife walked into the room and I was watching it, I'd feel embarrassed. Harry's hokey alien voice is one of the main reasons I was initially turned-off. I mean, he's an alien from a race of superior intellect, and he can watch YouTube and learn how to perform medical procedures with ease, but he can't improve his ability to speak like us humans? It's a real mixed bag, but I couldn't stop watching it.

Ghosts (2021– )

The Ghosts Are Fun But the Main Characters Are Duds

[5/10 · 10 October 2021]

Been awhile since I wrote a review but I saw this show and felt compelled to say a few things. The ghosts are a humorous bunch and the premise is pretty clever (although I have since learned it's a remake of a BBC series, which I didn't know when I watched the first two episodes). The problem for me is the married couple. The actors are terrible, worse than soap opera caliber - especially the guy. The casting director who chose him for this role should be ashamed. And fired. In that order. This couple has zero chemistry together. I will probably watch one or two more episodes before writing this completely off, just to see what else the ghosts will say and do. I especially enjoyed the ones in the cellar.

Crisis (I) (2021)

What about her car?

[5/10 · 6 June 2021]

Agent Kelly does a great job cleaning up the scene of the shootout to hide the fact that he and Claire were there. And then they drive away, leaving her car behind. Anybody else notice that? This was an OK movie. Just average in my opinion.

Bridgerton (2020– )

Cheap imitation

[4/10 · 3 January 2021]

If you're expecting to see something on a par with Masterpiece Theatre, or even Downton Abbey, you will be sadly disappointed. Don't waste your time. This is a big step down for the genre. A dumbing down actually. Quite silly altogether. 4 stars is very generous. I give that much for the actors' and crew's good intentions and efforts.

Soulmates (II) (2020)

Motion Sickness!!

[5/10 · 7 October 2020]

I watched the first episode, and wished I had taken Dramamine beforehand. The camera isn't what I would call "shaky" exactly, it pans and swings back and forth, up and down, much more slowly and deliberately. It's more like the cameraperson is standing on an exercise ball, and trying badly to balance, while filming people on solid ground. Or maybe the entire cast, crew, cinematographer et al are filming the show on a boat on the ocean during a storm. Who can say. It was nearly a deal breaker but I did survive without vomiting until the end of the show, because it was mildly interesting. I really can't say whether I will watch the 2nd episode.

David Crosby: Remember My Name (2019)

Interesting take but from Crosby's POV

[6/10 · 12 January 2020]

I've seen other CSN documentaries where Crosby was described as the total POS that dragged the band down at every stage with his depression, drug addiction and social miscues. Yes in this film, David admits to being an a**hole - and more - and while I completely respect his honesty, this film makes it is easier to forgive him, to side with him and to see things from his perspective. But watch other films where you will see what a total DRAG he was and this film completely loses its punch. No one liked him.

9-1-1: Kids Today (2019) Season 3, Episode 1

Idiotic opening scene

[1/10 · 3 October 2019]

Turn off the runaway car with the key! Not one person thought of this? I have absolutely no idea how I watched this episode to the end after that. There's classy dialogue like "flesh-eating STD". This show's usually pretty outrageous but this episode is worse than normal.

America's Got Talent (2006– )

DVR it

[7/10 · 21 July 2019]

I rate this 7/10 but only if it is recorded and watched later. Then you can skip all the BS. There is a great variety of entertaining acts to watch here. But also a ton of back stories, chit chat, judge worship, etc. A 2 hour episode boiled down to about 40 minutes of actual performances and some of the judges' remarks is well worth your time. I cannot imagine watching it live.

Grand Hotel (2019)

Daytime Soaps are actually better than this

[2/10 · 21 July 2019]

Predictable and cheesy. Bad acting. Nebulous mob connections and blackmail. String-a-long murder of a girl that never gets solved let alone seriously investigated. If this was on at 2:30pm every day nobody would watch it. Calling it garbage would be a mistake. Garbage is less disappointing.

Whiskey Cavalier (2019)

Every cliché in the book

[3/10 · 8 March 2019]

Thoroughly unoriginal. Wickedly bad writing. Idiotic premise (my wife, who was watching it with me, said "maybe it's written for children"). Three stars because it is shot well in various interesting locations. And the completely predictable stunts are executed adequately. That's as nice as I can be.

I Am the Night (2019)

Goes nowhere slowly

[4/10 · 27 February 2019]

I bailed mid-episode 4. Enough was enough. Having read a few other reviews by people who said they researched the real people this show is based on spoiled the story for them inspired me to stop watching this excruciating mess and just google the actual people. Smartest thing I did all day.

Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

The critics are right but for the wrong reasons

[6/10 · 17 February 2019]

As a rabid fan of Queen's first three albums, I was disappointed. This film glossed over that stuff in the blink of an eye. Sure, they showed the band playing "Keep Yourself Alive" (from Queen I) but then sort of intimated that the album for which they sold their van and sacrificed so much to be able to record was Sheer Heart Attack. It's like Queen I and Queen II never happened. And those are my favorite Queen albums. Then they acted like Bohemian Rhapsody was the first longer-than-3-minutes track that was operatic and groundbreaking. Sorry, but Queen I & II fans already know this was done and done with tracks like "Liar", "Great King Rat", "Father to Son" and "March of the Black Queen". Bo-Rap was a rehash, pushing the envelope past artistic and bordering on kitschy. This film seems to cater to US audiences who didn't know Queen existed until Night at the Opera (which is when I stopped buying their records). And it's way too focused on Freddy when the other guys are super talented. Brian May now deserves his own movie, IMO. Sorry but 6/10 is the best I can muster.

The Wife (I) (2017)

Absurd premise

[6/10 · 31 January 2019]

All throughout literary history, there have been notable female authors who have been published and enjoyed by millions of people. But this film will have you believe that women are not taken seriously as authors and that women can't write a book that will sell. What about Austen, Wilder, Parker, Alcott, the Bronte sisters, Wharton, Cather, Woolf? Harper Lee, anyone?? And countless modern authors like Grafton who does that alphabet series. Tens of millions of people have read those. This screenplay is based on a false notion. I rated it a six because of performances. Close demonstrates outstanding control with resentment and even anger constantly brimming just below the surface. Pryce does well as the bumbling idiot of a husband. The son character is beyond annoying and I could well have done without him; however the actor playing him does a suitable job. Slater is also solid as the pesky, but persistent would-be biographer.

Dirty John (2018–2020)

Ignore the low ratings

[8/10 · 28 December 2018]

This series is great. The cast is superb! Sure, the character played by Connie Britton makes terrible decisions. She's gullible, if I'm being nice. She's downright stupid, if I'm being honest. This really happened. It's based on a podcast (which I have not listened to yet) and I have read that this show didn't embellish too much. You can't change the characters or the narrative to make certain people happy. Some viewers complain about the daughters. I think Juno Temple deserves an award for her portrayal of Veronica. The other daughter, played by Julia Garner, is slightly shrill and annoying.

Creepy people like this guy John Meehan are out there and need to be brought into the light. Great job.

BlacKkKlansman (2018)

What kind of idiotic police dept would do this

[5/10 · 9 November 2018]

This movie is fun and entertaining enough for a few chuckles but they have one guy who talks to the KKK on the phone and a different guy who meets with them in person. This is risky and frankly, stupid. There is no need at all for Ron to be the "phone guy" and Flip to be the "in person" guy. Just let the white guy run the whole op! For that reason, the entire film made no sense to me at all. However, it is based on a true story, so go figure??

9-1-1 (2018– )

So silly. How is it still on?

[3/10 · 8 November 2018]

My wife and I watch this and just laugh and laugh at it. Not with it. At it. So I guess you could say we are entertained? I don't know for sure if that's true, but we keep watching it - no idea why. The addition of ghost whisperer Jennifer Love Hewitt was clunky and forced and she does nothing to make the show more credible. Read the review written by user kaitchura. I could not agree more with what he or she says about this (and bonus: that review is more entertaining than any episode of this show!).

The Resident (2018–2023)

Speak UP!

[5/10 · 7 November 2018]

So many hospital dramas out there. Not all can be great. This one could be great. Talented cast. Original stories. One problem. The title character whispers, mumbles, low-talks, and in general causes me to lean on the volume button of my remote while screwing up my face and asking "huh? what'd he say?". It's completely unnecessary! His nurse girlfriend is a major whisperer as well. It's a shame. I shouldn't have to turn on subtitles.

American Vandal (2017–2018)

Fun for the first 10 minutes, then tedious

[4/10 · 21 October 2018]

Ok, I get it. It's a parody of all those investigative crime shows and it punks them pretty well, if you don't mind a little first-grade poopie humor. How it goes beyond episode one is beyond me. I was looking at the remaining time, thinking .. I get the joke, but this has to be over soon .. right? No. Not even. Those 32 minutes were longer than normal ones. They were super-minutes. I think each minute had at least 70 seconds. Or maybe it was just me. Anyway, I can't bring myself to watch a 2nd episode. One and done for me.

Madam Secretary (2014–2019)

Their children are insufferable!

[3/10 · 8 June 2018]

I've watched this for four seasons now, mostly because my wife likes it more than I do, and most of the time it keeps my interest, although I will confess to nodding off to sleep more than a few times. The plots parallel (and borrow from) current events around the world in a way that keeps the show relevant. But for me, the downfall of this program has always been the spoiled, entitled, bratty kids. How anyone can like these characters is beyond me. In a few recent episodes they have developed the character of the youngest child, the son, and sometimes I could just slap his petulant, smug face.

Alien: Covenant (2017)

Deja Vu

[5/10 · 24 August 2017]

Ridley Scott is not even trying to make something unique from the other films in the Alien catalog. If you've seen one, you've seen them all, most of which are better than this one. Covenant picks up where Prometheus left off, with a decent third act twist (robot-wise). Otherwise it's the same ole shtick.

The Missing (2014–2016)

Season 2 is (so far) outstanding

[9/10 · 16 March 2017]

I enjoyed Season 1 a good deal, but this new season is off the hook. The suspense, the tension, the unknowns (the answers to which are doled out at an agonizingly wonderful pace), the twists, the dialog, the acting. All of it has me on the edge of my seat each episode. Tremendous.