Bodies (2023)

Four London detectives from 4 different periods find the same body, in the same place.

'Bodies' is a miniseries with an interesting concept. The plot and the explanation of the mystery are copied from the Doctor Who manual, but without the original's ability to make nonsense make sense and have appeal. However, the 4 perspectives of the same case offer an interesting opportunity to create relevant and believable characters that interact with what surrounds them in an interesting way and that is worth watching.

Director:  Marco Kreuzpaintner,    Haolu Wang

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Paul Tomalin   

Duration:  miniseries of 8 episodes (~55 minutes each)  

With: Amaka Okafor, Kyle Soller, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd, Shira Haas, Stephen Graham, Greta Scacchi, Synnove Karlsen, George Parker, Michael Jibson

Rating: 7/10

Wednesday (2022-)

Wednesday Addams is sent to Nevermore Academy - her parents' school - as punishment for dangerous activities.

"Wednesday" is a horror comedy series with gothic accents, a Tim Burton make, based on the characters from the Addams Family. Jenny Ortega's Wednesday is faithful to the original material, adding some personal charm and improvisation that must be fully appreciated. The style is characteristic of Burton, in a comeback that deserves to be mentioned and applauded. The plot is quite rich and the whodunnit captures the attention it deserves. The only disappointment is probably the parents, with few scenes, a bit monotonous dialogue, which pales when compared to the memory of the portrayal of Angelica Huston and Raoul Julia, unfortunately. Not by any of the actors' fault, just the writing.

Director:  Tim Burton   

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Alfred Gough, Miles Millar

Duration:  1 season of 8 episodes (45 minutes each)   

With: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Christina Ricci, Emma Myers, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White, Luis Guzmán,  Catherine Zeta-Jones

Rating: 8/10

Bridgerton Season 2 (2022)

It's Anthony's - the eldest brother - turn to find a life partner, and he finds one where he least expects it.

Season two follows on with the style of the first one to the delight of the fans, but with less perfection of dialogue and action and more awkwardness and cringiness in scenes that are deemed subtle, despite the charm of the main focus couple, even with Anthony - the most unbearable character in the first season - as one of its halves.

Director:  Tom Verica and others 

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Chris Van Dusen   

Duration:  season 2 of 8 episodes (~60 minutes each) 

With: Simone Ashley, Phoebe Dynevor, Claudia Jessie, Luke Thompson, Ruth Gemmell, Jonathan Bailey, Polly Walker, Adjoa Andoh, Julie Andrews

Rating: 6/10

Ojing-eo geim / Squid Game (2021– )

Hundreds of people with considerable debt agree to participate in a secret competition, where competitors play childhood games, but those who lose will lose their lives.

'Squid Game' was a big hit for Netflix in 2021. It's a tough series, where the realities and social hardships of South Korea are a big factor in the intrigue and the reason behind why so many characters would accept such a risk. The film does not forgive anything, leaving room for friendships, low characters who do not take into care about the lives of others, the beginner's luck, and especially the survival of the fittest. The definition of "fittest" goes through several transitions during the 10 episodes and some surprises do appear, but the series does not cross the threshold to masterpiece, however its entertainment is satisfactory.

Director:  Hwang Dong-hyuk   

Production:  Netflix  

Creator:  Hwang Dong-hyuk   

Duration:  1 season of 10 episodes (55 minutes each)   

With: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, Masoud Sepahi, Kamran Kiani

Rating: 8/10

Jessica Jones (2015-2019)

Jessica Jones is a superhuman who chooses a career as a private investigator.

'Jessica Jones' is another Marvel TV hit series. As usual, it involves the story of another superhero with special powers, but it is a much more different series in style, as it's much more introspective and dark, especially when considering the personality of the main character, her cynicism and her alcohol problems. Krysten Ritter is wonderful as the protagonist of the series and is accompanied by her very different sister (Rachel Taylor), a lawyer who changes her tack often (Carrie-Anne Moss) and the few others who help her here and there in  her investigations.

Drector:  Stephen Surjik and others   

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Melissa Rosenberg   

Duration: 3 seasons of 13 episodes (56 minute each)   

With: Krysten Ritter, Rachael Taylor, Eka Darville, Carrie-Anne Moss, John Ventimiglia, David Tennant, Rebecca De Mornay, Janet McTeer, Mike Colter, Aneesh Sheth

Rating: 9/10

The Order (2019–2020)

Un tanar dornic de razbunare se inscrie la o universitate dominata de o societate secreta, unde supranaturalul face parte din viata cotidiana.

Un serial despre supranatural si adolescenti si vraji si varcolaci. Destul de comun in zilele astea, mai ales in lumea atator obsesii dupa carti de tip Young Adult. Si totusi The Order merita mai mult. Cu un personaj principal oarecum antipatic si o echipa de productie ce nu pare constienta de principiul de retake (multe scene par filmate si pastrate de la prima incercare), serialul nu pare sa promita prea multe, dar dialogul istet si in zeflemea, restul personajelor ce sunt mult mai captivante si bine puse in valoare precum si interactiunea distractiva a acestora fac rabdarea unui inceput oarecum incet sa fie rasplatita in mod neasteptat. 

Daca Netflix (sau scenaristii) si-ar fi dat seama din timp pe ce sa puna accent, poate The Order nu ar fi fost anulat dupa doar 2 sezoane.

Regia:  Leslie Hope si altii  

Productie:  Netflix  

Creator:  Dennis Heaton, Shelley Eriksen    

Durata:  2 sezoane a cate 10 episoade (45 de minute fiecare)   

Cu: Jake Manley, Sarah Grey, Adam DiMarco, Louriza Tronco, Katharine Isabelle, Thomas Elms, Devery Jacobs, Max Martini

Rating: 7/10

Also read in English

Ozark (2017 - )

Un consultant financiar este fortat de imprejurari sa isi mute familia in Ozark pentru a gasi metode rapide si eficiente de a spala bani pentru seful sau, cap al unui cartel de traficanti de droguri .

Un serial eficient, in spiritul lui Breaking Bad  sau Peaky Blinders sau The Sopranos. Cu personaje bine definite, aparent doar oameni obisnuiti initial, rapiti din normalul lor de zi cu zi, si fortati de imprejurari sa isi (re)descopere abilitati inedite, Ozark ofera o excursie in afara normalului privitorilor, binevenita fiind fara riscurile de care protagonistii se lovesc frecvent, dar plina de suspans si respiratie taiata oricum. Serialul nu este un roller-coaster constant, si are momente de taraganare enervanta din cand in cand, dar fiecare din aceste episoade sunt bine contracarate de desfasurari de evenimente intense ce aproape le anuleaza sau rezulta intr-un echilibru binevenit.

Regia: Jason Bateman si altii

Productie: Netflix   

Creator:  Bill Dubuque, Mark Williams   

Durata: 3 sezoane a cate 10 episoade (~1 ora fiecare); sezonul 4 va avea 14 episoade

Cu: Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Julia Garner, Sofia Hublitz, Lisa Emery, Janet McTeer, Skylar Gaertner

Rating: 9/10

Also read in English

Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018 - 2020)

As the result of the love between a witch and a human, Sabrina is attracted to both worlds and tries to stay connected to everything she loves.

An imaginative tv show, based on a comic book series that generated another cult tv series in the 90s, with a completely different tone as a sitcom. 'Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' retains the dark tone of the paper version and its deep connections to occult mythology, but also the playful and slightly caricaturistic feel, resulting in a mix that cannot be accused of inspiring negative ideas in any way when it's so ingenious and pleasant to watch, even as the characters deal with completely unpleasant things. It often makes use of the clichés that are very common to the genre, which usually involve having the one missing perfect element falling (read that as "being invented") in the heroes' lap at exactly the right time, but the story in this case is secondary to the visual show and speed of events, so these small missteps are easily forgiven.

Unfortunately the series was canceled by Netflix, and it ended in season 4 in an unfortunate situation that would have had a solution in an already planned future season, but the fans will not get to see what that was, so the series finale remains a little bitter.

Director:  Rob Seidenglanz and others   

Production:  Netflix   

Creator:  Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa   

Duration:  4 seasons of 8-11 episodes (~1 hour each)   

With: Kiernan Shipka, Ross Lynch, Lucy Davis, Chance Perdomo, Richard Coyle, Miranda Otto, Abigail Cowen, Alessandro Juliani

Rating: 8/10

Lucifer (2016– )

Lucifer se razvrateste impotriva numelui rau si paraseste Iadul in favoarea Los Angeles-ului, unde investigheaza crime.

Un serial plin de aventuri nonsalante. Cu o premisa simpla, Lucifer asculta cu adevarat ceea ce publicul fidel vrea. Ideea de investigatii criminalistice astfel a aparut, precum si prelungirea vietii serialului prin adoptarea de catre Netflix in 2019. 

Foloseste abil mitologia biblica si nu numai, dar fara a intra prea adanc in semnificatii prea complicate, foloseste clisee care functioneaza (bad boy, dragoste ispasitoare), actori carismatici si umor obraznic. In ciuda momentelor destul de dese in care eroul principal cam calca pe nervi, serialul e placut si usor de digerat. In plus, mutatul pe Netflix a oferit cateva ocazii fericite in care povestea si-a asumat niste riscuri interesante.

Regia:  Nathan Hope si altii   

Productie:  Warner Bros, Fox (<2018), Netflix (>2019)   

Creator:  Tom Kapinos   

Durata:  6 sezoane a cate 10-26 episoade (40-50+ minute fiecare, partea a 2-a a sezonului 5 si ultimul sezon fiind programate pentru 2021)  

Cu: Tom Ellis, Lauren German, Kevin Alejandro, D.B. Woodside, Rachael Harris, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Aimee Garcia, Tricia Helfer

Rating: 7/10

Also read in English

Bridgerton (2020– )

Aventurile familiei Bridgerton in vremea nebuniei regelui George.

Un serial din familia Shondaland ce are amprenta lui Shonda Rhimes. Un serial de epoca, dar care promoveaza diversitatea fara a tine cont de realitatea istorica (in mare pentru ca e irelevanta intr-o opera de fictiune ca cea de fata) si care nu se rusineaza in a merge mai departe decat stilul de dialog Austenian (e o exagerare, dialogul nu e chiar asa de bun), rezultand intr-un amestec ce aduce a Grey's Anatomy (fara sectiunile medicale), Gossip Girl si Pride and Prejudice totodata. Incitant dar superficial, Bridgerton e o vizionare usoara si placuta ce nu trebuie privita prea critic dar nici ridicata in slavi.

Regia:  Sheree Folkson si altii   

Productie:  Netflix   

Creator:  Chris Van Dusen   

Durata:  1 sezon de 8 episoade (~60 de minute fiecare)   

Cu: Phoebe Dynevor, Regé-Jean Page, Ruth Gemmell, Jonathan Bailey, Polly Walker, Adjoa Andoh, Julie Andrews

Rating: 7/10

Also read in English

The Wrong Missy (2020)

Tim este un tip dependent de sluba sa si invita tipa gresita la un weekend organizat de firma la care lucreaza.

Uhm..de evitat. Neverosimil si retardat cu un umor ce te face sa scrasnesti din dinti. Nu reuseste si probabil nici nu incearca sa faca publicul sa se recunoasca in nici unul dintre personaje si nici sa tina cu personajul principal sau chiar si cu asa-zisa Missy, deoarece aceste personaje sunt create sa evidentieze trasaturi foarte neatragatoare si putinele trasaturi pozitive pe care le au sunt pur si simplu incompatibile cu restul naratiunii si fara credibilitate.

Regia:  Tyler Spindel   

Cu: David Spade, Lauren Lapkus, Nick Swardson, Geoff Pierson

Rating: 4/10

Also read in English

The Devil All the Time (2020)

Mini povesti ale unor personaje cu intenții și acțiuni îndoielnice ce sunt conectate între ele fie geografic, fie prin sânge sau de elemente pur întâmplătoare. 

Un film drama ce concentrează cele mai îndoielnice caractere posibile într-un exercițiu in a evidenția diversitatea fațetelor umane. Autorii au probabil anumite convingeri legate de existenta unei sorti și a moștenirii păcatelor părinților și legate de karma ce sunt discutabile dar tabloul rezultat este convingător, bine pus în valoare, și un bun predicator al prezentei unei organizări quasi-aleatoare în evenimentele sorții umane. 

Regia: Antonio Campos    

Cu: Donald Ray Pollock, Bill Skarsgård, Tom Holland, Haley Bennett, Sebastian Stan, Riley Keough, Jason Clarke, Robert Pattinson, Eliza Scanlen

Rating: 8/10

Also read in English

The King (2019)

Povestirea circumstantelor devenirii rege al lui Henric al V-lea si desfasurarea bataliei de la Agincourt.

O dramatizare a unui episod istoric din timpul razboiului de 100 de ani ce isi permite multe licente poetice, inspirat fiind de scrierile lui Shakespeare. Bine scris si foarte bine jucat, The King poate fi gustat de un public variat. Lupta interna a lui Hal e foarte bine pusa in scena de Timothée Chalamet, unul din marile talente ale generatiei curente de actori. 

Prezenta lui Robert Pattinson, ca britanic in rolul Delfinului Francez, in antagonism cu francezul Timothée Chalamet in rolul regelui britanic este un deliciu surpriza, bine aranjat si bine primit.

Regia:  David Michôd    

Cu: Timothée Chalamet, Sean Harris, Ben Mendelsohn, Joel Edgerton, Tara Fitzgerald, Robert Pattinson, Lily-Rose Depp

Rating: 8/10

Also read in English

Dark (2017–2020)

Disparitia unor copii declanseaza o serie de evenimente conectate in moduri neasteptate odata ce factorul timp este modificat.

Un serial neasteptat ce este bazat pe idei des refolosite ca paradoxuri temporale dar dus la extrem foarte eficient si artistic contribuind la o retea de legaturi atat de complexa incat unii fani decid sa urmareasca Dark cu un creion in mana. Explicatia stiintifica devine oarecum personaj secundar in timp ce increngatura dependentelor devine atentia principala si generatoarea de fascinatie si curiozitate. Nimic nu este intamplator in Dark, iar putinele licente poetice adoptate sporesc fascinatia initiala ce ramane constanta pana la finalul eliberator de la sfarsitul sezonului 3. 

Atentia pentru detalii este de admirat si multi pot observa ca actorii nu sunt alesi intamplator, deoarece toti cei ce joaca acelasi personaj la diferite varste seamana de ajuns incat stii cine sunt fara a se prezenta.

Productie:  Netflix  

Creator:  Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese   

Durata:  primul sezon de 10 episoade apoi 2 sezoane a cate 8 (de 1 ora fiecare)   

Cu: Louis Hofmann, Karoline Eichhorn, Lisa Vicari, Maja Schöne

Rating: 9/10

Also read in English

In The Shadow Of The Moon (2019)

Un politist pasionat devine obsedat de o criminala in serie ce pare sa revina la fiecare 9 ani.

Un film aproape politist ce foloseste elemente populare pentru a mentine interesul, ceea ce reuseste in mare parte. Intriga este mai complicata decat era necesar si multe elemente sunt foarte predictibile, probabil pentru ca idei asemenatoare au mai fost ecranizate. 

Mai potrivit pentru cei carora le era dor de variatiuni pe tema calatoriilor in timp (fara grija - asta nu e spoiler deoarece sugestia apare in primele 10 minute), desi e probabil mai bine de recomandat o revizionare a unui 12 Monkeys mult superior.

Regia: Jim Mickle

Cu: Boyd Holbrook, Cleopatra Coleman, Michael C. Hall, Bokeem Woodbine

Also read in English