Strawhat's Streaming Shows: True Detective - Down Will Come

  As an eight episode series, not to mention an anthology show at that, True Detective has the hardest job in cable television to tell a story within a very small window of time. The first season did extremely well because of a fast startup and a very solid premise with only two main characters. True Detective's second season had a very rough start, and has the problem of attempting to juggle four main characters (two of which aren't detectives at all) and a storyline that is, unarguably, too complicated for its own good. We're at the middle mark, so something had to give - and boy did it. A climax that was different than anything that came before during the series.

"So... this is the Pokémon you wanted, right?"

Strawhat's Streaming Shows: True Detective - Maybe Tomorrow

Oh yes... that'll do nicely!

  After that near heart attack on last week's episode concerning Detective Velcoro's fate, I was glad this week let us know fairly early on that he was, in fact still alive. Three episodes in and it doesn't look like any other character is going to resonate or have that much depth as Velcoro (but before I get ahead of myself, I will cover Woodrugh's interesting solo storyline in a few...) - and potentially losing him would've been a crushing blow to the show. Unless Bezzeride's character steps up, I don't see anyone taking the mantle of lead. I am interested in the "why" of Frank as a main character - and his troubles, and solution at the end of the episode was a head scratcher.

Who brought the Quaaludes?

Strawhat's Streaming Shows: True Detective - Night Finds You

 Wait, what?

  I have this theory that HBO and George R.R. Martin have been such a good fit for each other because both take pleasure in messing with my emotions. Last episode I complained about the show being slow and having only one real character to get behind so far, Colin Farrell's amazing Detective Velcoro. And while I still stand by what I said about the season premiere not quite resonating with me the same way season one's premiere did, I can honestly say this second episode went over fairly well and might actually have been better as a season premiere. Except for some dialogue issues in the core of the episode.

"How do you kill that which has no dick?"

Strawhat's Streaming Shows: True Detective Season Two Premiere

  Last year, HBO tried a fun experiment with the cop drama genre. Taking visual cues and thematic elements from movies like Se7en, Nic Pizzolatto both created and wrote the amazing True Detective. It starred Woody Harrelson and Matthew McCognaughey in roles that both defined the show's dualing themes and timelines, while also having a buddy cop drama aesthetic that ascended higher than many like it due to how different the characters where. The nihilistic Rustin "Rust" Cohle and the down-to-Earth Detective Martin Hart. The first season's initial murder mystery took our protagonists on a macabre ride into the occult and religious fanaticism while showing us the vulnerability of our heroes' own mortality. But that was Season One. As it turns out, True Detective, much like American Horror Story, is an anthology; the events and characters from Louisiana no more. It's a new setting, a new crime, and a whole new set of Detectives.

"Hey, my eyes are up here, soldier!"  

Winter Has Come: Mother's Mercy (Game of Thrones Season 5 Finale)

  Seven Hells.

  Just when you think it's safe to go back to Westeros, (Protip: it never is!) Game of Thrones throws a whole bunch of deaths your way. Needless to say, this review will be spoiler ridden (of course) and with lots, and I mean lots, of deaths. While there has been some complaints about the pacing of this season: too slow, Dorne story has been pointless, the Sand Snakes aren't engrossing characters, etc; I would argue that most of those faults were address and somewhat fixed (a bit rushy, but fixed) with "Mother's Mercy."

"I said second exit, Drogon!"

  

The Ride is Over: Entourage the Movie Review

  Being mildly interested in the show for a better part of the last decade, I've enjoyed my on and off relationship with the Entourage series. Chronicling  the acting career of Vincent Chase and his childhood friends: Eric "E" Murphy, Salvatore "Turtle" Asante, Johnny "Drama" Chase from New York, and their agent Ari Gold as they navigate the unfamiliar terrain of Los Angeles, California. The series, in fact, mimics Mark Wahlberg's experiences with his friends as an up and coming star in Hollywood in the late 90s. 

Winter Has Come: The Dance of Dragons

   Well, that was horrifying...

RPG Party Archetype #5821

  After being utterly convinced that HBO's Game of Thrones could not possibly top itself after last week's phenomenal "Hardhome." I was so convinced that I even decided to name this section dedicated solely to Game of Thrones related columns or reviews "Winter Has Come," based on the fact that I'm convinced the "Winter" the Starks have been dreading has officially begun. And then came "The Dance of Dragons." Part of the dreaded "Number 9" episodes that usually have a shocking death and or event (The Rains of Castamere, Blackwater, The Watchers of the Wall), "The Dance of Dragons" is a worthy addition to the tradition the show has imbued in it's own canonical culture.