drew-bard Reviews

The Fall of the House of Usher (2023)

It sucks you in

[5/10 · 16 October 2023]

This really got me hooked right from the start.

I started to lose faith at about episode six, fearing that the ending just wouldn't cut it.

In truth, it became very tedious. Someone dies every episode and the backstory grows. Although it doesn't. It just becomes more and more nonsensical. I think it might be trying to be clever, it wasn't. It just became very, very boring. Lots of story telling without ever telling a compelling story. They are all bad people, except the good one. It's obvious why the children are the way they are but I'm not sure why the brother and sister are.

The unnecessary riddles just added meaningless dialogue.

What started great, ended in pure disappointment.

My advice is don't waste your time.

The Staircase (2022)

A promising start falls flat very quickly

[5/10 · 10 June 2022]

It must be hard with real life stories, I get that. But then choose a story that is worth telling.

If you like a good twist, if you enjoy seeing great people grow in to a story, then don't watch this past the 2nd episode.

You'll find out quickly that Michael is an awful man, regardless of whether he committed murder or not, don't hang on thinking you'll change your mind.

In the end it's irrelevant whether you think he killed her. He's so grotesque anyway, that you won't really care.

Stay Close (2021)

It's hard but definitely worth sticking with it.

[6/10 · 4 January 2022]

I can understand why people rate it so bad after just watching a few episodes. Everything is off at the start, especially the acting.

It slowly gets better in every aspect.

I ended up enjoying it.

Gomorrah (2014–2021)

Yep, amazing

[10/10 · 25 December 2021]

Name me a better programme anywhere in the world?

No, you're wrong!!

Everything about it is incredible. The music, the story, the characters, the acting, the background.

Vigil (2021– )

Dreadful

[4/10 · 5 October 2021]

It could have been so good. It was so bad.

Fantastic cast who didn't do a bad job. Some good suspense, but ultimately the writing was dross and the background storylines were totally unnecessary and added nothing to the programme.

The 4 was for the cast and the idea, but the writing was probably a 2 at best.

Lupin (2021– )

Just great fun

[8/10 · 28 June 2021]

Very enjoyable and great fun.

Watch with subtitles obviously.

The Innocent (2021)

Brilliant

[8/10 · 31 May 2021]

Absolutely brilliant. Every episode was strong, and a great ending too.

Things Heard & Seen (2021)

Strong start, average middle, rubbish end

[5/10 · 1 May 2021]

This started off great. Some decent acting but totally ruined by the last twenty minutes. Pure nonsense, such a shame.

The Grand Tour: The Grand Tour Presents: A Massive Hunt (2020) Season 4, Episode 2

Very poor

[5/10 · 19 December 2020]

The most disappointing special I've seen. Packed humour, tension and originality

The Blacklist: The Kazanjian Brothers (No. 156/157) (2020) Season 7, Episode 19

I like what you did

[8/10 · 29 August 2020]

In difficult times I think this was a brilliant idea, 10/10 for innovation on this episode. It was also good to see a slightly less cheesy episode.

The season as a whole has been pretty terrible though. I'm sorry but sometimes the storylines and especially the 'moral of the story' stuff has been so cringe. At times I've wanted to throw up. Please let's have more grit and less cheese in the next season.

The Accident (2019)

Mega Disappointment

[4/10 · 15 November 2019]

Congratulations to whoever created the trailer for this programme because it really got me excited. The same cannot be said for the programme. Some of the worse direction I've ever witnessed, it was terribly pieced together, no drama or suspense or emotion at all.

The storyline could've been brilliant. The underlying political message could have really been brought to life but it wasn't I imagine this started out as a six part drama but somewhere along the line the creators realised just how bad it was and gave up.

Some great actors who really tried their hardest to bring it to life but they didn't stand a chance.

Maybe I've been generous with a four

Mum (2016–2019)

Genius

[10/10 · 28 May 2019]

Stunning, beautiful, amazing. I love bitter sweet comedy. This is the best of the lot.

Designated Survivor (2016–2019)

Great potential fell flat on its backside

[5/10 · 8 March 2018]

What a great concept, it totally had me hooked. I love conspiracy. The idea of a quiet man with a great social conscience been put in a such a position, trying to rescue the world from a internal cult. What a fantastic storyline.... Then, the cult storyline drifts further into the background, the world is fixed, with the exception of the same generic political situations occuring in every political drama going. Issues which are fixed in one episode by a President and his team of superstars.

What started as a great storyline descended into an absolute cheese fest. It's truly painful.

The Characters are so annoying and the fairytale world they live in so wonderful. It makes me want to throw up.

Series 2 is just getting more & more ridiculous. Be prepared to be disappointed