reglyt

Besides 'Dungeons & Dragons', my favorite film/series starring Jeremy Irons. Seriously, though, Irons spearheaded a very talented cast, with many players I didn't know before, and many I have come to really admire (Sean Harris (!!!), Colm Feore, and Gina McKee).

SPOILERS
Obviously, I'm miffed like everyone else that the series ends before we see the eventual downfall of the Borgia papal dynasty-to-be. Here's hoping Showtime eventually ends the series with a standalone movie or mini-series.

Finished: August 18, 2016.

Finished July 06, 2016.

So much promise, and then it was cancelled. Sadness.

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Bringing Lucifer into the mix would have been fantastic! It only makes sense that in a world without God, the devil would look to assert dominance. Alas, poor Dominion, we hardly knew ye.

For a show that started in 1982, when I was three years old, 'Cheers' remains funny, engaging, charismatic, and touching. The show's supporting cast allowed the writers to vary the storylines, making the contributions of George Wendt and John Ratzenberger more than just B or C stories. Rhea Perlman *was* Carla Tortelli, in the best way an actor can embody her role. Woody Harrelson's timing is ridiculously good...dim-witted characters are not the easiest to play, and Harrelson, stepping into Nicholas Colasanto's slot, would have made Coach very proud.

I watched the entire run of 'Frasier' before sitting down to watch 'Cheers'. My affection for Frasier Crane only grew as the latter series went on and the writers gave Grammer room to show off his comedic range. Bebe Neuwerth's portrayal of Lilith Sternin shows off not only her ability to completely squash her normally exuberant personality, but also her fantastic sense of timing.

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My gut reaction is that the final episode, while 75 minutes long, failed to deliver the expected high-quality writing. The meeting between Rebecca and Diane was anything but monumental, as Rebecca was used as a plot device to further an ironic joke between Sam and Diane. Shelley Long resumed the role of Diane easily, but Sam's newfound desire to settle down seemed rushed.

The highlight of the series was Emma Thompson's portrayal of Nanny G. Her versatility as a musician and actor, whether comedic or dramatic, is extremely impressive.

Completed first viewing on 06/03/2016.