acid reflects

Just saying hi, and a short blog to say what else I have been doing recently.

I still review mainly for this site. And I only review stuff that I’ve been invited to see. Having done this for two decades (fifteen years for a newspaper,) I feel like I am not obliged to offer my opinion on everything that I watch, let alone write a full article about a film, a show or a stage play. I feel like I’ve done my share, despite the tsunami of streaming shows out there.

Anyhoo. What have I been watching lately?

Anime. Lots of it. Been watching since I was young, so I’ll just mention recent titles. Jujustu Kaisen is one of my all-time favorites. Season 2 is particularly awesome. Poetic. I think that if an anime deserves an Emmy citation, it should go to JJKS2.

Then there’s Zom100: Bucket List of the Dead for sheer exuberance for life. Hopefully the studio can finish the season this year? There’s a live-action adaptation on Netflix, but is literally and figuratively less colorful than the anime. Spy x Family. I’m on-again, off-again with both Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures and Attack on Titan, so those should count as current.

Surprised to find Kingdoms of Ruin compelling. Surprised that My Happy Marriage has some magic and sorcery involved, a little disappointed with how the story in the first season went (the sister angle is annoyingly cliche). Hell’s Paradise – amazing artwork, interesting musings on ninja philosophy and religion.

There’s the fan favorites: Demon Slayer, Chainsaw Man, Gundam (Witch from Mercury was pretty good), Mob Psycho 100 (which just ended, so I’m calling it recent.) SONNY BOY – my gods, that was sublime. I wanted that to win Anime of the Year 2021. Not much into isekai, but I found the quirkiness of So I’m a Spider, So What? very much enjoyable.

Honorable mentions: Bleach: Thousand Year Blood War – the endless pissing contest drove me nuts, but the base story of the clash between Soul Society and the Quincies is compelling. I’m restarting Bungo Stray Dogs because there’s a fifth season out now, so am finishing Season 1. Undead Murder Farce was a wild ride.

I tried Blue Lock, but I just couldn’t finish. Not compelling enough. Maniacal billionaire sports patron just doesn’t cut it for me. The one-off film The First Slam Dunk was okay, better if you’ve invested in the series (manga and/or anime) as a fan.

Animations from other places which we can’t call anime but still very much (and surprisingly compelling) watch: Castlevania (especially the latest season, Nocturne), Arcane. All the Godzillas in Netflix except Skull Island; Captain Laserhawk: A Blood Dragon Remix, DOTA: Dragon’s Blood, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. My Adventures with Superman with the rainbow undertones. Heaven Official’s Blessing and Mignon (iykyk.)

Suzume. Of course I loved it. Maybe I’ll write something about it. So excited for the master Hayao Miyazaki’s latest, The Boy and the Heron.

NOT ANIME.

Enjoyed Only Murders in the Building. Season 3 is better than how I enjoyed Season 2, but Season 1 is funniest and with the most coherent story. Glad that it’s been renewed for a fourth season, but if nothing improves, it should be okay to end the show on a high note.

Ahsoka. I feel like it’s too fan-serving to a fault. Like, fans surely love the fresh take, Anakin’s return, etc. But it’s too niche, like if you’re barely into Star Wars and have no idea what happened in the Clone Wars, should it be worth the hours to see the series? Andor is to me by far the best Star Wars show to come out of Disney+.

Just started on Bodies. Wow. But only two episodes down.

Just finished The Fall of the House of Usher. Decadent. Enjoyed it much more than I did Midnight Mass. Cast is amazing.

Gen V. Meh. Seriously, guys, how many angsty teens with superpowers shows do we need in a lifetime?

What is currently amazing over Prime Video is the second season of The Wheel of Time. Building and improving on the weaknesses of the first season, season 2 is a lot more watchable and exciting. Never mind that it jumbles events and characters from the books, we’re not talking Lord of the Rings anyway. Still, main weakness is the dragon reborn himself, Rand. Though his journey, like I said of the entire season, has improved compared to Season 1.

Speaking of book adaptations, AppleTV+’s Foundation also is better in Season 2. More time and budget allotted for FX in this space epic, worthy of Asimov’s vision. It feels grander. The empire looks and feels like an empire! Though it did eff Asimov’s books from the get go, main character and all.

One Piece. Very enjoyable, positively uplifting show, even if you haven’t seen one out of the 1040+ shows of the anime, which recently celebrated its 25th year of broadcast. Cast is adorable, you’d want to take on an adventure with them yourself.

The Witcher Season 3. This show died when Henry decided he just wanted to be a movie star. It’s good but should end with Season 4. Sorry, Liam. Henry was perfect as Geralt, nothing can change that.

SILO. If you haven’t seen this, go see it now. Amazing cast led by the badass Rebecca Ferguson, and compelling sci-fi story.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Deliciously quirky. Adorable cast. Please, more seasons, please.

The Last of Us. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. That’s the tweet.

I know Beef is good, as well as The Bear, but for my own sanity’s sake, they are too toxic for me. Too many triggers. I can’t finish the second episodes without shooting up my blood pressure. Sorry.

Succession. Haven’t seen it. Heard it’s amazing. But am not interested in the human conditions (really?) of billionaires fighting over their share of empires. I can live without seeing it.

Superman & Lois. Strong character writing, grounded family drama especially the first season. The coming fourth season should improve on the dark Superman storyline (like again, DC?) or should end if it doesn’t.

Honorable mention (they could get even better): The Diplomat.

Consciously avoiding K-dramas at the moment, though my last favorites were The Glory, Pachinko and Little Women. I heard Moving is good but it’s another superhero show.

Till next.