Shivoncarla

The 100 - SEASON ONE

eady for a Lost-Lord of the Flies-Galactica-Dawson's Creek mashup? That's one way to look at "The 100," which begins with all the makings of another CW "youth" stew misfire.
But wait. Keep calm past the generational split between adults running a post-nuke space station housing humans till they can return to a century-cooled Earth, and their 100 "juvenile offender" kids just blasted back to test if the planet is fit for habitation. Look past the pilot's perfect hair and makeup. Sit tight through early Earth-side factions of bullies vs. brains. Chill as they glimpse "grounders" (at least they're not called The Others), orange acid fog (it's no black smoke monster) and magical, glow-in-the-dark flora. Even calling their space station The Ark. It's OK. Really.
"The 100" is about to get light-years better -- actually, soul deep. Gutsy ground leader Clarke (worthy new face Eliza Taylor) faces mortal issues with her widowed mom, station council member Abby (Paige Turco). Bully chief Bellamy (Bob Morley) and his illegal-second-child sister, Octavia (Marie Avgeropoulos), meet their own dire dissension. Political upheaval above embroils conflicted councilors (Isaiah Washington of "Grey's Anatomy" and "Lost" fave Henry Ian Cusick), who plan to conserve resources by "culling" the population.
It's so rich that the first love triangle doesn't form till Episode 5. And then it's solid drama.

KAOS - SEASON ONE

While Kaos occasionally swings for the fences with its numerous ideas, many of them feel a bit too safe. Conceptually, this world and the separation of realms is fascinating, but it isn’t always handled with something a bit bravier.

GEEK GIRL - SEASON ONE

The format is extremely run-of-the-mill, even by teen romcom standards. Geek Girl tries to be a cosy watch but ends up disappointing any dedicated fans of the best-selling novel.

1899 - SEASON ONE

Cool production design and unusual worldbuilding can go a long way, but it’s hard to get fully invested when you don’t really care about the characters.

PARASYTE: THE GREY - SEASON ONE


An escape from reality. Director Yeon Sang-ho serves up this gory, cool-creature design and fight scenes that will have you simultaneously wincing and cheering.

BODIES - SEASON ONE

It’s not a cryptic puzzle-box -- the narrative wants to reveal itself. Bodies is both taut and great fun, an act of imagination akin to Christopher Nolan making a fast-paced adventure serial where the heroes team up across time.

QUEEN CHARLOTTE: A BRIDGERTON STORY - SEASON ONE

The Shonda Rhimes-written spinoff retains much of the charm of its predecessors. Combining characters from the original series with a new cast, Queen Charlotte delivers a sensual, intelligent, and intriguing new side to the franchise. The only catch though, is given the title it’d be fair to expect Queen Charlotte to focus more on…Queen Charlotte.

BEEF - SEASON ONE

It's a horrifying portrait of two people locked in a depressive spiral of mutually assured destruction. It's one of the best explorations of obsession I’ve ever seen, especially because it’s such a strange and humorous fixation between two strangers.

OBSESSION - SEASON ONE

Terrible. Works itself into knots trying to be interesting. While watching Armitage making love to a pillow is a sight that needs to be seen to be believed, this spectacle isn’t worth the pain of sitting through this mini-series for. It's positively anti-climactic in every sense.

THE MIDNIGHT CLUB - SEASON ONE

Absolutely loved! For those who are looking for horror with heart, and a Halloween season viewing with more on its mind than blood and gore, it’s well worth a watch. While not frightening per se, “The Midnight Club” taps into the horrors that life presents us and the demons we chase inside, and outside.