tay-sedai Reviews

The Devil's Hour (2022– )

Can't stop thinking about the show

[8/10 · 29 September 2023]

I finished watching last night, and can't stop thinking about it. I was literally yelling at the TV urging the mum to get home and save her son from that complete arsehole dad guy, but she didn't. I felt so sorry for the kid, and I was a little disappointed with the lack of a "happily ever after", e.g. Mum gets to kid in time. But also, the show really had to end how it did, I think.

Everyone was such a great actor in this show - and it was so well made. You definitely had to watch closely for every little flicker of 'memory' (that is, forward memory) to collect all the clues as the story went on.

I was on the edge of my seat the whole time I was watching, and I was fully invested in the characters (whether it was rooting for them or hating them completely).

Great show - bravo to all involved.

The Terminal List (2022– )

I liked the show

[8/10 · 31 July 2022]

I don't particularly glorify military men or anything (I'm a pacifist), but I really liked this. It was a captivating conspiracy and kept me guessing for a lot of the story as the viewer learned the next lot of secrets at the same time as the characters did.

I thought everyone did a good job, and I an admire Pratt's performance even if I think he's a bit of a prick in real life.

Fairly early on I was thinking "FFS, who else can he lose?" and it did seem a bit over the top, but of course it was necessary for the plot to keep going. The way the series ended was particularly sad, but also satisfying if you like vengeance storylines. For me it was definitely more bitter than sweet in the end.

Don't Look Up (2021)

Look all around, including up

[9/10 · 31 December 2021]

Story: an asteroid is heading straight for earth, and the scientists who discovered it are determined to get the word out so the world can get to talking solutions. They hadn't counted on the world refusing to listen.

Although the story was depressing because I can totally see it becoming our reality (only the comet is climate change/COVID/whatever catastrophe we'll face next), it was also great to see the main jerks of the film get their comeuppance in the end. No sympathy whatsoever.

I thought the film was brilliant, hilarious, and depressing, and the main people I've seen criticise it so far appear to have been people who were being ridiculed / caricatured in the movie itself. Interesting thought, that ...

Ever since watching this film, I've been looking at morning TV shows in a very different way. It's uncanny how realistic the content of this 'absurd', 'exaggerated' movie is when you look a little more closely at what mainstream media is force feeding you.

I've seen many climate scientists, climate activists, etc., talk about how watching this movie was like a punch in the gut, painful to watch even though it was also validating. I'm not a scientist or an activist, but I instantly recognised so much reality in the fictional scenario I was being presented with.

The 1st Shop of Coffee Prince (2007)

Well I do like coffee

[7/10 · 31 December 2021]

I finally finished this drama after a long time in between watching binges - I was paused at episode 11 or something for quite some time. I liked it, and appreciated that the heroine wasn't a typical girly girl. Go tomboys!! But I have never really loved plots where there is a huge deception between the two main leads and it goes on too long. At least, I feel it went on too long. Each to their own.

I loved the supporting cast and there were plenty of funny moments but also too much drama. The second lead guy made me uncomfortable with his behaviour towards our heroine. I thought the model guy and his gal (heroine's little sister) were cute too, at least once she stopped being a biatch. Anyway, it was a nice way to end the show, and I still love coffee!

The Wheel of Time (2021– )

Loving the adaptation so far (from a big WoT book fan)

[8/10 · 13 December 2021]

I have watched all the episodes so far, and while there have been some changes I wasn't a fan of, I am loving the show overall.

This book series is so vast, and the fantasy world so rich, that it is almost an impossible task to translate it truly to a different medium like screen.

Even though they were only given 8 episodes to pack a first season into they have done an amazing job filling the episodes with different important details.

I have been doing episode by episode commentary on my Twitter account and have been keeping track of all the little details that stood out to me along the way, such as the various times when we see Dragon's fangs, the first mention of the Forsaken, the little girl and her Birgitte doll, little hints about the Seanchan arriving, Rand picking up the Karaethon Cycle, Rand's first view of Dragonmount, the first time we see an Aielman, and so on.

I have watched each episode twice so far except for the latest one, and I pick up new details with each new viewing.

Yes, there are some changes that have left me feeling a little flat, but overall I am hooked and can't wait to see how the rest of the series pans out.

My Name (2021)

Brilliant drama

[10/10 · 20 October 2021]

I don't have any complaints about this one, despite the sad bits that occurred towards the end. The show is excellent in terms of cinematography, storyline, and acting quality. Oh, and did I mention the great, emotive soundtrack?

All in all, I don't have any complaints. The actors did a fantastic job and the dark atmosphere of the story really came through.

If you want to see a drama that keeps you on the edge of your seat, and slowly unwraps the mystery as the story unfolds, then I recommend this one for sure.

Reyka (2021– )

A gripping story

[9/10 · 7 October 2021]

I just finished watching this show tonight, and first off I want to note that I LOVED the soundtrack. I need to find out what tracks are on the soundtrack but can't seem to find any info about it anywhere. Hopefully I'll figure it out eventually!

Secondly, the show itself was mesmerising - with an intriguing, harrowing series of storylines running parallel to each other. The landscapes of South Africa (a place I haven't visited yet) were stunning, but the main setting for the drama (the cane fields) was haunting, mysterious, and hid plenty of dark secrets.

The story of Reyka and Angus was a perfect example of that of a master manipulator attempting to pull his victim back into his web, even though years have passed since they last saw each other. He was trying until the very end, but him involving her daughter in the whole mess didn't go the way he'd thought it would.

I felt that all the actors did amazing jobs, the cinematography was breathtaking, each episode ended with a cliffhanger that kept me eager to watch more, and as I mentioned, the soundtrack was perfect. I'm still left with some questions, but that could be because I missed obvious things that would have given me answers. For instance, was the Lucy we met in the flesh actually Lucy, or was she a faux Lucy? How was Angus planning to take Reyka along for the ride?

If you are a fan of creepy murder mysteries/other mysteries, then I recommend this show for sure.

Pandemic 2020 (2020– )

Eye-opening

[9/10 · 7 October 2021]

This was a really interesting (and somewhat depressing) flashback over how it all happened in 2020.

The first thing that struck me was how the couple from Wuhan expected the rest of the world to take their example of how they dealt with the outbreak, and run with it ... then being confused by how slow that world was to react when the virus started to spread.

The interview with the guy from the indigenous community made me think about Australia's Aboriginal communities and how they need to be protected.

The comment from the British nurse, too, about how 2021 certainly couldn't be any worse than 2020, gave me a bit of a pang.

P!nk: All I Know So Far (2021)

Good documentary

[8/10 · 24 June 2021]

This was a good documentary that I enjoyed very much. While I'm not a huge P!nk fan in terms of her music, I think she's a very cool chick and such an icon. She's definitely an amazing role model. It was fun seeing her interacting with her family, and really interesting getting insight into how much work goes into her tours.

It was cool to learn that she keeps the same crew for each subsequent tour. It does seem odd that more artists don't do that - if the crew is doing what they need to do, why audition all new people?

Seems that P!nk has a massive family around her - a family she's mostly made for herself.

Endless Love (2014)

Not bad, not great

[6/10 · 19 June 2021]

I haven't seen the original from 1980, though I'd be keen to watch it to see how the two compare.

I thought it was quite good to start, but then there were some parts where the acting was a bit overdone. Those parts (such as the dramatic moment between the heroine's dad and the hero after he picks him up after the zoo incident) sort of pulled me out of the story.

I would say that the plot was average in terms of not being particularly clever or unique, and the execution was probably just slightly above average.

I loved that song that was playing at the end of the movie.

True Beauty (2020–2021)

I loved it so much - will rewatch

[9/10 · 31 May 2021]

Just finished True Beauty tonight (it's the first full show I've got through in a while without being distracted by other shows 😊) and I absolutely loved it. So happy with how it turned out. It's definitely going on my faves list and will no doubt be rewatched sometime.

The theme was similar to My ID is Gangnam Beauty, though I'm glad that the heroine in this one didn't go as far as the Gangnam one did with an irreversible decision (trying to avoid sharing spoilers for anyone who has yet to see either show). Guess she had a less totally clueless parent which helped.

Loved the supporting cast, and it's hard to pick a fave but I love the heroine's sister and her grapefruit 😍💜

Anyway, that's about it I guess for my thoughts. Except to add that I very much enjoyed the dreamy dudes on offer.

The Mentalist (2008–2015)

Recently watched the full series for the first time

[7/10 · 30 December 2020]

I have wanted to watch The Mentalist all the way through for many years, but I never got around to buying all the DVDs back in the day, and once streaming services became accessible here in Aus it took ages for me to find this show available on one of them.

I got through the series this year, 2020, and really enjoyed it. Sometimes I thought it was a bit silly, and it got frustrating at times watching Jane be the actual boss of everyone, rather than a consultant. It frustrated me watching him basically tell Lisbon and everyone else what to do. But of course they all had their impact on him as well.

This is the story of a man so damaged from his personal trauma that he's cut himself off from people but inevitably there are connections forged, whether he wants there to be or not. It was a long character arc to accompany him and the rest of the cast on, with many ups and downs, stops and starts along the way. But it was a satisfying ending that tied things up very nicely.

The show wasn't quite the same in the last season or two given some cast departures, but it was nice that the two main ones were featured at the end of the series, to wrap things up.

He is Psychometric (2019)

Loved it but wished for a different ending

[9/10 · 30 December 2020]

I really did like this show, however I will probably not watch it again. I was quite fixated on the supporting cast, namely the older brother and his potential love interest. If you've seen the show you'll know how all that went down, and to me although it was quite realistic, it hurt and I didn't like it.

The show was really good though, with talented actors and a compelling storyline that kept me hooked to the end.

Certain Women (2016)

Really enjoyed it

[7/10 · 26 September 2020]

I liked this movie, despite it being extremely slow moving and not really following any sort of traditional plot. The movie wasn't intended to do that, after all. It was more of a snapshot into life in a pretty harsh environment, and one that makes me glad I live where I do, despite the beauty of the landscapes captured.

At times I found this movie blackly amusing (the hostage scene, the little doggy chasing after the buggy, the teachers asking irrelevant questions of the lawyer), and at other times it was desperately sad and a little depressing (that small town life just isn't for me).

Overall I would recommend it, but not if you're only into action or psychological thrillers or slasher flicks - it's just not that kinda movie.

Naesungjukin Boseu (2017)

I really enjoyed this one

[8/10 · 22 June 2020]

It was great to see a show featuring a character who struggles with anxiety, as you don't see that very often. The story was really tragic and so aspects of it were hard to take. I felt so bad for the main guy being so misunderstood by everyone, but it was great to see him gradually come to have a little circle of people he trusted, who trusted him too.

I think this show highlights how people with anxiety and similar conditions can so easily be misunderstood. I didn't think of the other characters as jerks, the way some reviewers apparently did - because I could see things from both sides. They had no reason to know that their boss wasn't a jerk, especially as his family worked so hard to hide the fact. There were of course plenty of moments where I wanted to shake people till they came to their senses. But every character was dealing with their own "stuff".

Becoming (II) (2020)

Still love Michelle Obama

[8/10 · 16 May 2020]

As a foreigner watching on in 2008, I was stunned that America had done this thing. Like many, I hadn't thought it would ever happen, or at least not for many more years. I was also extremely proud of the nation for the choice they made (unlike 8 years later). But you know one thought I had almost right away? "Oh God, I hope he doesn't get assassinated." Because I'm not naive about racism and extremism in America.

Watching this documentary gave me more insight into the person Michelle was before becoming First Lady. She came from such a great family so it's easy to see why she aimed so high with confidence. I could also see a little hint of how difficult it must have been, not just after the election but in the lead up to it with all the hatred directed towards her in the media. You could see on her face that she was feeling the pressure, and justifiably anger too, even while she stayed quiet, knowing that speaking her mind was detrimental to the campaign (for no good reason either).

I've always known that she was relieved to be leaving the White House, but this documentary gave me a better understanding of why that was. The Obama administration wasn't perfect, as I learned from watching Michael Moore's documentary about these years, including the story of Obama's visit to Flint, Michigan. I also knew that he was more of a deadly president to some Middle Eastern countries than even his predecessor, which I can't ever condone. Even so, watching this documentary made me pine for a time when the entire world didn't feel under threat because of the identity of the US leader.

My Secret Romance (2017)

Not bad

[7/10 · 11 May 2020]

I quite enjoyed this drama, although I don't think I'd class it as one of my favourites. I liked that it was a little more "modern day" and progressive than other Korean shows, in terms of the way in which the heroine and hero originally met. It made me laugh, but also melted my heart at times.

It was more light and fluffy than many Korean dramas I've watched, in that there was no dark, dangerous secrets to be uncovered or any of that. Each of the main characters had their own personal struggles, but overall it was a light and fluffy story. If you're looking for something light, sweet, and funny, then I'd recommend this one.

Crash Landing on You (2019–2020)

Definitely a "slow burn"

[8/10 · 11 May 2020]

I watched the first episode of this one back when it first started to play on Netflix. After that, it wasn't until the full series was available and had been for a while that I went back and watched the rest of the show.

I really enjoyed the show, whose two main stars I have seen in other shows that I also loved. It was quite slow moving, but had plenty of tension, action and laughs along the way. The way it ended was interesting, as I guess it was quite realistic - but also would you want to live your life like that? Well, I guess it's better than nothing right?

Anyway, I'm not sure how much I can take as gospel the information gleaned about life in North Korea from this show, and I'd never presume to believe I'm now an expert - but it was still interesting to get that insight.

I loved all the supporting characters as well as the main hero and heroine. This show might not be one of my all-time faves, but it's one I may watch again someday, so I'm calling it a good one. :)

Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List (2015)

Is it really so bad?

[8/10 · 4 May 2020]

I'm surprised that this has such a low rating. I watched it and thought it was a great story about two best friends figuring out who they are without each other - and eventually coming back together. It has been a while since I saw the movie, but I'd definitely watch it again to refresh my memory.

Which I plan to do!

Lady Bird (2017)

Really good

[9/10 · 4 May 2020]

I loved this when I saw it for the first time recently. I feel like it was a little bit more 'realistic' than some of the other coming-of-age stories I've seen, and for that reason it was more relatable than many I've seen. It was also captivating with lovely cinematography.

If you're looking for an action-packed story, this isn't it. But if you're looking for a beautiful work of art, then I'd recommend this one.

Knock Down the House (2019)

Loved it - and love AOC

[9/10 · 4 May 2020]

I really enjoyed this when I watched it not long after its release. I know it's not all about AOC, and I liked seeing the other women talk as well - though it was sad knowing they didn't succeed in the end with the ultimate victory. As for AOC, well she's a breath of fresh air in politics and as an Australian watching from afar, I can see that she is just what the USA needs. Actually, the USA needs to clone her and have many more like her.

It was great to get insight into where her campaign began and the uphill battle that was faced before the election.

I hope she gets reelected - A LOT.

The Perfect Date (I) (2019)

Meh

[5/10 · 4 May 2020]

I am a Noah Centineo fan in a big way, but this movie was just 'meh' for me. I didn't really care about his character, or any of the characters for that matter. I only saw the movie fairly recently and can't really remember how it ended, which tells me it wasn't too memorable.

I can't imagine that I'll watch this one again.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

A great movie ... but I need to watch it again.

[9/10 · 4 May 2020]

First up, I will say I have not yet read the book - even though somehow I have ended up with two different editions of it on my bookshelves. But I'm pretty sure that even when I eventually do, I won't change my mind about the movie being a great one.

I didn't know what to expect when I first saw it, but I wasn't expecting the dark aspect that was revealed later in the movie. All the actors did an outstanding job in this one.

Definitely recommended, including to myself because a rewatch is in order to refresh my memory.

The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)

Loving it so far

[9/10 · 4 May 2020]

We're only 6 episodes in but I'm I'm eagerly looking forward to each new episode - these weekly releases are killing me! It does move a little slowly I guess, but I've never been bored by it. I want to know more about each character, but in the meantime I'm captivated by the story unfolding, and by the beautiful cinematography (and yeah, the beautiful Lee Min-ho ;) ).

I'm scared about what evil stuff the bad guy is gonna do next. That's one thing I've noticed about Korean dramas - they have EXCELLENT bad guys that just make the viewer seethe with hatred, and you can't wait till they get their comeuppance. I don't feel quite that strongly about this jerk yet, as it's early on in the series, but he's certainly already bad enough to deserve a cold serve of justice.

Can't wait to see where the series goes. I'll update this review when it's done. :)

Because This Is My First Life (2017)

Another great drama for my faves list

[9/10 · 30 April 2020]

I don't know why I overlooked this drama for so long, but I looked at it so many times and just didn't sit down to watch it. But I finally got around to giving it a go the last week or so, and was quickly hooked on the story.

I've finished it now and I can say it's another one of those "slow burn" dramas, so if you're looking for something action packed, you probably won't like this one. Like other dramas of a similar nature, however, I loved it for the insight it gave into Korean culture, the slowly unfolding love story, and the complex character development.

The ending did seem a little too convenient with the way it worked out for all three of the main women characters (you'll know what I mean if you've watched it), but in the end I just didn't really mind.

Recommended for fans of "slow burn" romance stories, and people who are curious about social customs in South Korea too.