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228d
TV · on The Haunting of Hill House
The Haunting of Hill House (2018) - Family Trauma Never Looked This Terrifying - REVIEW
Source
The Haunting of Hill House is one of those shows that seriously messed me up for a while after watching it and you cant stop thinking about what you just saw for days, specially how that house fucked all those kids on the head and their lives, poor Luke and Nell. Mike Flanagan took this old Shirley Jackson book and turned it into something way more than just another ghost story on Netflix, Im not going to argue how close to the lore it is but I would say tight since the scores on sites like IMDB and RTT, he made it about family and loss and grief and how trauma can stick with you for years and completely destroy you as a person. This thing jumps back and forth between when the Crain family lived in that creepy ass house as kids and how fucked up they all are as adults because of what went down there and it works so damn well because you actually care about these people and there problems and there pain. Every single one of them is dealing with there own stuff from drug addiction too anger issues too just straight up refusing too believe what happened to them was real and watching them try too function as broken adults while dealing with ghosts from their past is what makes this show so good and different from all the other horror shit on streaming right now. The scares are legit too like there are moments where I had too pause because something jumped out that I was not expecting, but what really gets you is the emotional weight of everything and how heavy it feels the hole time your watching it.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6763664/
- Platform: NETFLIX
Rottentomatoes Rating

Source Steven Crain is this paranormal investigator and writer but hes also a huge skeptic witch is funny because he grew up in a haunted house although he doesnt believe or choose not to believe in any of what people experience because thats how he be coping with what has been chasing them all this hears. Shirley is the funeral home owner and she is basically the mom of the family specially after they abandon Hill House and left their mom behind, she is constantly taking care of everyone else problems and worrying about Luke and Nell too the point where its destroying her own life and marriage. Theo is the middle child and shes got this ability where she can feel emotions from people and objects when she touches them so she wear gloves all the time to avoid feeling others people, she helps kids but she cant help herself because shes so disconnected from everyone. Luke is the drug addict twin whos been in and out of rehab like a million times and nobody believes him anymore, truth is that nobody believe him as a kid and was a very very dark story and probably top two but now that I think about it the twins story were the worst thats Nell and Luke, as a kid mom and dad never believe him not about the ghosts he sees or the tall man with the floating hat or his friend that came out during the day who in fact was an actual girl, and Nell is his twin sister whos depressed and seeing this bent neck lady ghost that scared the shit out of her as a kid and is still following her around as an adult but never saw her face. Timothy Hutton plays the dad Hugh as an adult and Henry Thomas plays young Hugh in the flashbacks, both of them are so good you can see how much he cares about his kids while also being overwhelmed by what is happening in that house and not knowing what too do about it. The mom Olivia is played by Carla Gugino and shes amazing, you watch her slowly lose her mind over the episodes and its heartbreaking because shes trying so hard too protect her kids but the house is getting too her and messing with her head. The kid actors are surprisingly good too witch is rare because usually kid actors in horror stuff are annoying as hell, but these ones actually made me care about what was happening too them specially the young Nell and young Luke.

Source

Source The structure of the show is really smart where each episode focuses on one of the five kids and shows you there perspective on what happened at Hill House and what there dealing with now as adults. Episode five is Nells episode and its called The Bent Neck Lady, and holy shit that reveal at the end completely destroyed me emotionally I wont spoil it but its one of the best twists I have seen in any show period like it made me sit there staring at the screen for like five minutes just processing what I just watched, what a way to TERRORIZE a human as a kid and all the way up through adulthood, thats some sick shit in the head. Episode six is when all the siblings come together at Shirleys house for Nells funeral and its called Two Storms, its this one long take that goes back and forth between the present and the past during a storm, the technical stuff is insane and the acting is incredible because everyones just yelling at each other and all the family drama comes pouring out to the point that not even dead Nell can take it and her casket falls to the side. The ghosts in this show are actually scary not like cheap jumpscare scary but like disturbing scary in a way that sticks. Theres this tall floating man with a bowler hat that follows Luke around and hes creepy as hell, not that much at the house but you can feel Luke been paranoic about it, theres the bent neck lady that haunts Nell, theres hidden ghosts in the background of scenes that you dont even notice until someone points them out too and then you go back and watch it again and your like holy shit how did I miss that, but the scariest thing about the show isnt the ghosts its the family stuff and how real it feels, like if you have ever had someone die suddenly in your family this show is gonna hit you hard because it captures that weird fog you walk around in for weeks after where nothing feels real, this happen TWICE in the show. The way the siblings all deal with there grief differently and how they blame each other and there dad for what happened but it was never his fault, its so well written and acted that sometimes I forgot I was watching a horror show and just got hooked in there drama. Mike Flanagan really understands trauma and how it effects people and how it can tear families apart over time, hes also really good at making you care about characters before he scares the crap out of you witch is something most horror directors dont get right. The red room reveal is great though like finding out that all these different rooms the kids remembered were actually the same room the hole time, that was a cool twist I did not see coming.

Source

Source The ending though man the ending is where things get messy and I know other like have different things too say about it and argue about it online because I think the ending was very emotional but there could have been a more drastic fight against this danm house, like how Hugh was never able to neither open the Red Room or find where all the fungus was coming from but ALL his kids spend time inside the damn room. Without spoiling too much the last episode kind of goes against everything the show was building too for nine episodes, it feels way too happy for a show that was so dark and depressing and relentless with its sadness for so long. Some people think everyone actually died at the end and the happy ending is just the red room tricking them one last time witch would make sense with how the house works, would have been cool if the series had gave me some classic context on why this all happen, most like it was that crazy lady form the 60s who started all but who knows, the sure thing is that all her family was staying there stuck. The tone of that final episode is so different from everything else that it almost feels like a different show, its like Flanagan didnt have faith in his own dark ending and tried too give everyone a happy resolution witch just feels wrong for a story this tragic. I wanted it too end sad I wanted it too hurt because thats what the show earned over ten episodes of building up all this trauma and pain, instead we get this weird hopeful ending that dont really fit.

But even with that ambiguos or lets call it the ending that nobody wanted I still think The Haunting of Hill House is one of the best horror shows ever made and definitely the scariest show I have ever seen on any streaming service period, Im getting this one Blue Ray next month and re watch off line. It made me care about characters in a horror story witch does happen but this time we not only talking about the poor kit getting possesed, we talking about an entire family and its how the fkn Red Room play out EVERYONE!!! even Steven who didnt believe anything about the house, it was in his face like "Yeah you too... that game room was no game room, was more like a Red Room", it scared me in ways that werent just cheap jumpscares or loud noises too startle you but got into my mind and it made me think about family and grief and trauma, like what would you do if you were Hugh?? you still be watching and hearing your dead wife?? damn. Mike Flanagan is the real deal when it comes too horror and hes one of the few people working right now who understands that the best scares come from real human emotion not just spooky ghosts jumping out at you. If you havent seen it yet and your into horror or even just good tv you need too watch this thing as soon as possible because its really something special. The performances are all incredible specially the kids who play the younger versions, the production quality is way better than most stuff on Netflix, and the way they structure each episode around a different family member really works. 8 out of 10 for me because that ending really did bother me, but everything else about this show is pretty much perfect and its one of those things Ill probably rewatch just too catch all the stuff I missed the first time around
#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #haunting, #hillhouse, #netflix, #horror, #flanagan, #scary, #ghosts, #family, #trauma, #grief, #depression, #addiction, #supernatural, #thriller, #psychological, #episode, #twist, #emotional, #drama, #series, #binge, #scared, #creepy, #disturbing, #review

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I watch entirely too much Netflix and would like to find others with the same problem :)
228d
TV · on The Chair
The Chair Company (series): Much better than I anticipated
If you are not clear about who Tim Robinson actually is you are not alone. He is one of those comedians out there that it doesn't really make much sense to me how it is that people keep shoving money in his direction because most of what he does isn't really worth watching.

One of his clips from his sometimes ok show I Think You Should Leave might be something you recognize because it has become a meme.

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Apparently, Robinson was on Saturday Night Live and that is how he got his foot in the door. He was on there from 2012-2016 and that is probably why I never heard of the guy because who watched SNL anymore?

I saw his face on the advert for The Chair Company and I basically just ignored it because while Tim does have his moments that are hilarious in some of the things that he does, I Think You Should Leave was mostly unfunny crap and I expected this to be the same.

I'm actually pretty delighted to say that this is a departure from his usual short sketch comedy and instead is a big-picture series - which of course is about something stupid - but somehow manages to work.

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So the story here is that Ron Trosper (Robinson), who is a project manager for a property development company that builds shopping malls and I guess that is supposed to be funny because shopping malls aren't really something that people go to anymore.

When he is giving a presentation one day at a corporate events he goes to sit down on a chair and the chair breaks, briefly rendering him unconscious and making him feeling embarrassed about the fact that he fell. After being picked on a bit and getting harassed by HR because on the ground he accidentally looked up an unattractive coworker's skirt, he decides that he is going to reach out to the company that makes the chairs and demand answers about how it is that a chair could collapse and break so easily.

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When he attempt to get in touch with the comaany "Tecca" who manufactures the chairs he ends up going through something that I think most of us can relate to. It is nigh on impossible to get any contact information from their website, you end up speaking to an AI chatbot with no real helpful information, then when you do get a phone number and call, you are put through an enormous menu to automate as much of the process as possible then when you actually talk to a human being, they are powerless to provide you with any real answers.

Most people would just let it go at this point but Ron feels as though he has been seriously wronged by the chair manufacturing company and keeps digging until he starts to unravel that Tecca the office furniture company, is some sort of covert operation that is doing bad things to society. Ron has a lot of theories about this but then one day he is attacked in the parking lot of his work by a thug that was hired by Tecca.

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He keeps digging into the company and starts to find what he believes is a massive operation built on smuggling among other things and the more he digs the more he discovers that all of the information put online about this chair company is false including who works there, where they are located, and even what they manufacture.

All the while he is still forced to carry on with his corporate life and for me, this is where a lot of the real comedy came into play.

If you have never had to work in an office like this consider yourself extremely fortunate: The drab environment that is filled with everything looking the same and how everyone just starts to seem like an lifeless wage-slave starts to get to you after just a very short while. Things only get much worst (in real life) whenever you have to interact with Human Resources and their new and ever evolving rules and safety videos that you are forced to endure.

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As Ron keeps digging he starts to reveal other aspects of this chair company and we, the viewer, can't really tell if this is a real conspiracy, or if Ron is just made to feel this way because every corporation has awful customer service. I can relate to a lot of what happens in this series because honestly, fast and good customer service doesn't really exist anymore and the only way that a company is going to help you is if you are relentless and dig really deep in order to actually find a phone number.

In one particularly funny scene, Ron is elated that he finally got the contact information for Tecca's parent company called "Red Ball" think it was, only to call the number and end up being on hold listening to repetitive music and a repeating message about how "your call is important to us" for 5 hours before he finally gives up.

There is an ever growing list of side characters that Ron enlists to help him bring down this nefarious global operation and the comedy that we encounter along the way isn't particularly intelligent, but it is more of a stupid and well to be honest, very specific to Tim Robinson that reminds me of some of his skits on I think You Should Leave.

The team of writers probably didn't know any other way to write but somehow managed to make something that are 30 minute episodes stick a lot better than the vignettes that were in the sketch comedy that he has done in the past.

Should I watch it?

I will admit that the trailer above doesn't do much to entice people to watch it but I think they were trying to not reveal all the characters before you have even seen the show because a lot of them join in very unsuspecting ways.

But the show actually is quite funny in an unusual way that I haven't really seen in any other comedy. It combines the tedium of everyday life and work with the potential of accidentally uncovering something important. Yet, the show is presented in such a way that even after all 6 existing episodes I can't decide if the conspiracy is real, or if Ron is just making the situation out to be bigger than it is.

If you ever been driven to near madness by office jobs or poor to non-existent customer service, you'll be able to relate to a lot of what happens in this and that is part of the reason why it works so well.

The episodes are only 30 minutes long also and this appeals to me because it seems like these days that there is some sort of mandate that everything has to be an hour long even if you only have 20 minutes of actual material. Things move fast in this, so after half an hour you will know if you want to carry on. I did, and now I've run out of episodes.

If you are the type of person that needs to have all episodes available before watching, season 1 will be fully released by the end of November, 2025.

_{the only LEGAL way to watch this at the moment is to stream it as part of your HBO Max subscription}
@wiseagent
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Hive's first BRAZILIAN ORCA.
228d
Movie · on Weapons
MOVIE REVIEW: “Weapons” (2025)
This publication was also writen in SPANISH and PORTUGUESE.

IMDb

Synopsis: A disturbing event occurs in a small town when all the children in the same school class, except one, "disappear without leaving any conclusive trace. Everything happens on the same night and at exactly the same time, leaving the entire local community at the mercy of what hides this mysterious disappearance.

"The horror movie of the year." - That was the consensus of many critics out there about this movie. I bought into the hype of the idea, and then decided to watch it in the cinema. I can't say I was totally disappointed with what I saw, but I - not by a long shot - agree with the "acclaim" that was made here. This is indeed an unconventional horror movie (and I have no problem whatsoever with this type of approach; quite the contrary, I even quite like it because it goes beyond more trivial aspects within its own concept), but it is also a movie that got lost in its own idea by not being able to bear the weight of the mystery it tried to create by opting for its rather escapist ending.

Secuencia Zero

Ruthless Reviews

When a mysterious mass disappearance involving children (all from the same school class) occurs in a small town, everyone is intrigued not only by the tragedy itself (because it directly brought widespread chaos), but also by the fact that only one of the children had not actually disappeared. From there, the script begins to play with the audience's expectations about the mystery behind this event, which happened exactly at 2:17 AM, introducing a good variety of very distinct characters (where each of them has a specific treatment on screen, ensuring that they truly have an "identity").

The narrative structure is very dynamic, and purposefully divided into several chapters so that all the featured characters bring a unique perspective to the events that are inadvertently connected to the most important event in the entire movie: the disappearance of the children. This decision naturally sparks greater interest from the audience, who are drawn into the plot as everything becomes more complex, challenging all logic (which, incidentally, paves the way for an immersive atmosphere of doubt, tension, fear, and suspense), which, when they become more "evident", brings a sense of frustration about what was until then a mystery.

MUBI

Dead Northern

This was a rather shrewd choice (at least in my view, because it introduced challenging elements) to solidify the plot, but it only works precisely well up to its second act. From the third act onwards, everything starts to get too messy, and everything seems out of sync with what had been built up until then. Supernatural horror is strongly present, as is psychological suspense (which, incidentally, is quite interesting), in addition to the frenetic and intriguing mystery (although poorly developed) and the good touches of macabre humor, but none of this is enough to negate the great mess that happens in the climax of the project, which is almost a joke.

The script's effort to create immersive moments is worthy of recognition, because it truly happens during a good portion of the movie (as I mentioned earlier). The character development is one of the plot's high points, highlighting the clear functionality of each character in the complete (albeit very blurred) portrait that this movie presents. This fuels the great puzzle the script attempted to create, but once all the pieces start to fit together, the impact of showing each character's different perspectives becomes quite diluted, because the idea becomes something worn out, tedious, and repetitive in its functional essence.

Flickering Myth

The Hollywood Reporter

Also flirting with the idea of mass hysteria (where paranoia gains increasing intensity as the investigations unfold), the script connects the characters through chance encounters that are intricately tied to the children's disappearance (though not entirely). Within this context of hysteria (which finds space to address behavioral issues involving collective stress in difficult situations that fuel distrust), when the script shifts its narrative focus, it loses its impact by entering a more fantastical aspect, which is never properly explained in the ridiculous conclusion of the plot.

There are many inconsistencies within the script, as well as many narrative conventions used to support the entire plot (which is quite fragile, as some arguments are easily refuted by logic or technology). Undoubtedly, this undermines the script's potential, which, despite having an excellent idea, becomes implausible (beyond what can be considered acceptable) because it hasn't better developed its own narrative layers, which in the third act are reduced to a "gloomy hyperbole" where nothing is truly justifiable within the context of the rest of the project. Ironically, this is a creative horror movie... but one that is also frustrating due to some misguided decisions.

Consequence

The Direct

Weapons was written and directed by Zach Cregger (a double work where he was 50% successful and 50% in debt... but anyway, I think he's a promising filmmaker in Hollywood) and stars Julia Garner. No performance is impressive (some are even too cheesy), but the technical aspects (like the editing and cinematography, for example) manage to "hide" the lack of more prominent verbalization from the cast. Things get a little worse because there are many loose ends in the script, leaving gaps regarding everything that needed to be clarified. I really expected to see something much grander and meaningful here.

[ OFFICIAL TRAILER ]

CRÍTICA DE PELÍCULA: “Weapons” (2025)

Sinopsis: Un inquietante suceso ocurre en un pequeño pueblo cuando todos los niños de una misma clase, excepto uno, desaparecen sin dejar rastro. Todo sucede la misma noche y a la misma hora, dejando a toda la comunidad local a merced de lo que oculta esta misteriosa desaparición.

"La película de terror del año." - Ese fue el consenso de muchos críticos. Me dejé llevar por la expectación y decidí verla en el cine. No puedo decir que me decepcionara por completo, pero no realmente estoy de acuerdo con la “aclamación” que recibió. Se trata, sin duda, de una película de terror poco convencional (y no tengo ningún problema con este enfoque; al contrario, me gusta bastante porque va más allá de lo trivial dentro de su propio concepto), pero también es una película que se perdió en su propia idea al no poder sostener el peso del misterio que intentaba crear, optando por un final bastante escapista.

Cuando una misteriosa desaparición masiva de niños (todos de la misma clase) ocurre en un pequeño pueblo, la gente se intriga no solo por la tragedia en sí (porque provocó un caos generalizado), sino también por el hecho de que solo uno de los niños no desapareció. A partir de ahí, el guion juega con las expectativas del público sobre el misterio que rodea este suceso, ocurrido exactamente a las 2:17 de la madrugada, presentando una buena variedad de personajes muy distintos (cada uno con un tratamiento específico en pantalla, lo que garantiza que tengan una verdadera “identidade”).

La estructura narrativa es muy dinámica y está dividida deliberadamente en varios capítulos para que cada personaje aporte una perspectiva única a los eventos, los cuales, de forma indirecta, se conectan con el suceso más importante de la película: la desaparición de los niños. Esta decisión, naturalmente, despierta un mayor interés en el público, que se ve inmerso en la trama a medida que todo se vuelve más complejo, desafiando la lógica (lo que, dicho sea de paso, crea una atmósfera envolvente de duda, tensión, miedo y suspense), que, al hacerse más “evidentes”, genera una sensación de frustración ante lo que hasta entonces había sido un misterio.

Esta fue una elección bastante astuta (al menos en mi opinión, porque introdujo elementos desafiantes) para consolidar la trama, pero solo funciona bien hasta el segundo acto. A partir del tercer acto, todo se vuelve demasiado caótico y parece desentonar con lo construido hasta entonces. El terror sobrenatural está muy presente, al igual que el suspense psicológico (que, dicho sea de paso, es bastante interesante), además del misterio frenético e intrigante (aunque mal desarrollado) y los toques de humor macabro, pero nada de esto basta para compensar el gran desastre que se produce en el clímax, que roza lo ridículo.

El esfuerzo del guion por crear momentos inmersivos merece reconocimiento, ya que lo logra durante buena parte de la película (como mencioné antes). El desarrollo de los personajes es uno de los puntos fuertes de la trama, resaltando la clara función de cada uno en el retrato completo (aunque algo borroso) que presenta la película. Esto alimenta el gran rompecabezas que el guion intentó crear, pero una vez que todas las piezas empiezan a encajar, el impacto de mostrar las diferentes perspectivas de cada personaje se diluye bastante, porque la idea se vuelve algo desgastado, tedioso y repetitivo en su esencia funcional.

El guion, que también juega con la idea de la histeria colectiva (donde la paranoia se intensifica a medida que avanzan las investigaciones), conecta a los personajes mediante encuentros fortuitos intrincadamente ligados a la desaparición de los niños (aunque no del todo). Dentro de este contexto de histeria (que encuentra espacio para abordar problemas de comportamiento relacionados con el estrés colectivo en situaciones difíciles que alimentan la desconfianza), cuando el guion cambia su enfoque narrativo, pierde impacto al adentrarse en un aspecto más fantástico, que nunca se explica adecuadamente en el ridículo final de la trama.

Numerosas inconsistencias aparecen en el guión, así como muchos recursos narrativos que intentan sustentar la trama (bastante frágil, pues algunos argumentos se refutan fácilmente con lógica o tecnología). Sin duda, esto merma el potencial del guion, que, a pesar de partir de una excelente idea, se torna inverosímil (más allá de lo aceptable) por no haber desarrollado adecuadamente sus capas narrativas, las cuales, en el tercer acto, se reducen a una “hipérbole sombría” donde nada se justifica dentro del contexto del resto del proyecto. Irónicamente, se trata de una película de terror creativa... pero también frustrante debido a algunas decisiones desacertadas.

La película Weapons fue escrita y dirigida por Zach Cregger (un doble trabajo en el que tuvo un 50% de éxito y un 50% de deudas... pero bueno, creo que es un cineasta prometedor en Hollywood) y protagonizada por Julia Garner. Ninguna actuación es impresionante (algunas incluso resultan demasiado cursis), pero los aspectos técnicos (como el montaje y la fotografía, por ejemplo) logran disimular la falta de dicción del reparto. La cosa se complica un poco porque hay muchos cabos sueltos en el guion, dejando lagunas sobre todo aquello que necesitaba aclararse. La verdad es que esperaba algo mucho más grandioso y significativo.

CRÍTICA DE FILME: “A Hora do Mal” (2025)

Sinopse: Um evento perturbador acontece em uma pequena cidade quando todas as crianças da mesma turma escolar, exceto uma, “desaparecem sem deixar vestígios contundentes. Tudo acontece em uma mesma noite e exatamente no mesmo horário, deixando toda comunidade local à mercê do que esconde esse misterioso desaparecimento.

“O filme de horror do ano.” - Esse foi o consenso de muitos críticos por aí sobre este filme. Eu comprei o hype da ideia, e então, decidi assisti-lo no cinema. Não posso dizer que fiquei totalmente decepcionado com o que eu assisti, mas eu - nem de longe - concordo com a “aclamação” que foi feita aqui. Esse é sim um filme de horror não convencional (e eu não tenho problema algum com esse tipo de abordagem; muito pelo contrário, eu até gosto bastante porque corre por fora de aspectos mais triviais dentro do próprio seu conceito), mas também, é um filme que se perdeu na própria ideia por não conseguir aguentar o peso do próprio mistério que tentou criar ao optar por sua finalização bastante escapista.

Quando um misterioso desaparecimento coletivo envolvendo crianças (todas de uma mesma turma escolar) acontece em uma pequena cidade, todos ficam intrigados não apenas com a tragédia em si (porque isso trouxe diretamente um caos generalizado), mas também com o fato de que apenas uma das crianças não havia desaparecido de fato. A partir daí, o roteiro começa a brincar com as expectativas da audiência sobre qual é o mistério por trás desse acontecimento, que aconteceu exatamente às 02:17hs da manhã, inserindo então uma boa variedade de personagens muito distintos (onde cada um deles tem um tratamento específico na tela, garantindo que eles realmente tenham uma “identidade”).

A estrutura narrativa é muito dinâmica, e propositalmente dividida em alguns capítulos para que todos os personagens destacados tragam uma perspectiva única sobre os fatos que, inadvertidamente, estão conectados com o evento mais importante de todo o filme: o desaparecimento das crianças. Essa decisão acaba, naturalmente, despertando um maior interesse por parte do público, que vai sendo fisgado pela trama à medida em que tudo se torna mais complexo, e vai desafiando toda lógica dos fatos (que aliás... pavimenta uma imersiva atmosfera de dúvida, tensão, medo e suspense), que quando se tornam mais “evidentes”, trazem uma sensação de frustração acerca do que até então era um mistério.

Essa foi uma escolha bastante astuta (ao menos no meu ponto de vista, porque trouxe elementos desafiadores) para sedimentar a trama, mas que só funciona precisamente bem até seu segundo. A partir do terceiro ato, tudo começa a ficar bagunçado demais, e tudo parece não estar em parcimônia com relação a tudo o que já havia sido construído até então. O terror sobrenatural está fortemente presente, assim como o suspense com base psicológica (que aliás, é bem interessante), além do mistério frenético e intrigante (embora mal desenvolvido) e os bons toques de humor macabro, mas nada disso é o suficiente para anular a grande bagunça que acontece no clímax do projeto, que é quase uma piada.

O esforço do roteiro para criar momentos imersivos é algo digno de reconhecimento, porque isso realmente acontece durante uma boa parte do filme (como eu já havia mencionado anteriormente). O desenvolvimento dos personagens é um dos pontos altos da trama, que evidenciam a nítida funcionalidade de cada um deles no retrato completo (mesmo muito desfocado) que é este filme. Isso alimenta o grande quebra-cabeças que o roteiro tentou criar, mas quanto todas as peças começam a ser encaixadas, todo aquele esforço em mostrar as diferentes perspectivas de cada um deles tem o impacto bastante diluído, porque a ideia se torna algo desgastado, enfadonho e repetitivo na sua essência funcional.

Flertando também a com ideia de histeria coletiva (onde a paranoia acaba ganhando um espaço cada vez mais intenso à medida em que as investigações vão acontecendo), o roteiro vai conectando os personagens através de situações ao acaso, mas que estão intricadamente amarradas ao desaparecimento das crianças (ainda que não por completo). Ainda dentro dessa histeria (que encontra espaço para lidar com situações comportamentais envolvendo o estresse coletivo em situações difíceis que alimenta a desconfiança), quando o roteiro muda à chave da sua narrativa, ele perde à força por entrar em aspecto mais fantasioso, que acaba nunca sendo devidamente explicado na ridícula conclusão da trama.

Há muitas incoerências dentro do roteiro, assim como também há muitas convenções narrativas para sustentar toda a trama (que é bem frágil, por ter alguns argumentos que são facilmente destruídos por uma razão lógica ou tecnológica). Não há dúvidas que isso mina o potencial do roteiro, que apesar de ter uma excelente ideia, se torna inverossímil (além do que se pode considerar como aceitável) por não ter sedimentado melhor as suas próprias camadas narrativas, que no terceiro ato se resumem a uma “hipérbole tenebrosa” onde nada é realmente justificável com o restante do projeto. Ironicamente, eis aqui um terror criativo... Mas que ao mesmo tempo, é frustrante por algumas decisões equivocadas.

A Hora do Mal foi escrito e dirigido por Zach Cregger (um trabalho duplo onde ele foi 50% bem sucedido e tem 50% na linha de débito... mas de todo modo, eu o acho um cineasta promissor em Hollywood) e traz Julia Garner liderando o elenco. Nenhuma performance é impressionante (algumas são até cafonas demais), mas os aspectos técnicos (como a edição das cenas e a fotografia, por exemplo) conseguem “esconder” a falta de verbalização mais proeminente por parte o que deveria ter sido feito pelo elenco. Tudo fica um pouco pior porque há muitas pontas soltas no roteiro, deixando lacunas abertas acerca de tudo que precisava ter sido esclarecido. Eu realmente esperava ter assistido algo muito mais grandioso e significativo aqui.

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Cristian Caicedo
@cristiancaicedo (75)
📍 Venezuela
491 followers
358 following
228d
Movie · on Die My Love
Die My Love (2025): Another Oscar for Jennifer Lawrence? | ¿otro Oscar para Jennifer Lawrence? [ENG | ESP]
Directed by Lynne Ramsay | Dirigida por Lynne Ramsay

Of the films set to be released in the last two months of the year, there are some I'm really looking forward to, like the sequel to Wicked or—the one I'm most eagerly anticipating—Bugonia with Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, again directed by Yorgos Lanthimos. However, another story that caught my attention and that I had on my list without knowing what it was about, but with a stellar lead duo, was Die My Love by Lynne Ramsay, starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson.

De las películas a estrenarse en los últimos dos meses del año, hay algunas que tengo muchas ganas de ver como la segunda parte de Wicked o - la que espero con más ansias - Bugonia con Emma Stone y Jesse Plemons, dirigidos de nuevo por Yorgos Lanthimos. Sin embargo, otra historia que llamaba mi atención y que tenía en lista sin saber de qué trataba, pero con una dupla protagonista de lujo, era Die My Love de Lynne Ramsay, protagonizada por Jennifer Lawrence y Robert Pattinson.

Poster

Die My Love has a somewhat unusual mix. It's simultaneously a thriller, a drama, a comedy, a rural film, a story about motherhood and mental illness, and an exploration of femininity with a touch of horror. The film opens with Grace and Jackson, a young couple in love, who move from the city to a country house Jackson has inherited. Although the house needs repairs because it's dilapidated, it seems to be a haven of peace and tranquility that will allow them to lead a happy life and may also help with Grace's literary vocation, as she's a writer experiencing a kind of creative block. There, in the countryside, the couple experiences the birth of their first child, an event that represents a turning point in Grace's already rather unique personality and behavior. She's an intense woman. Intense in love, intense in arguments, intense in self-blame, and intense in her thinking. One of her main traits is a high libido, which, while initially fueled by Jackson's desire, eventually seems to be out of her reach, leading Grace to seek pleasure on her own or in the arms of other men. But it's not just a matter of sexual dissatisfaction. Grace's personality hides a great emotional burden which, added to a behavior that defies what is socially accepted, frequently places her - and by extension her partner - in shameful, immoral, dangerous and condemnable situations.

Die My Love tiene una mezcla un poco inusual. Es a la vez thriller, drama, comedia, una película rural, una historia que trata de la maternidad y de las enfermedades mentales y una exploración de la feminidad con un toque de terror. La cinta arranca con Grace y Jackson, una pareja joven y enamorada, que se mudan de la ciudad a una casa de campo que Jackson ha heredado. Aunque hay que hacerle reparaciones a la casa porque se encuentra deteriorada parece ser un remanso de paz y tranquilidad que les permitirá llevar una vida feliz y que además puede ayudar con la vocación literaria de Grace, una escritora que atraviesa una especie de bloqueo creativo. Allí, en el campo, la pareja vive el nacimiento de su primogénito, evento que representa un quiebre en la personalidad y en la conducta de Grace, ya de por sí bastante particular. Grace es una mujer intensa. Intensa para amar, intensa para discutir, intensa para culparse y para pensar. Uno de sus rasgos principales es una libido elevada que, si bien al inicio alimenta con el deseo de Jackson, con el tiempo pareciera ser que su pareja no es capaz de seguirle el ritmo lo que lleva a Grace a buscar el placer por sí misma o en los brazos de cualquier otro hombre. Pero no se trata sólo de un tema de insatisfacción sexual. La personalidad de Grace esconde una gran carga emocional que sumado a un comportamiento que desafía lo socialmente aceptado, con frecuencia la coloca a ella - y por extensión a su pareja y su familia - en situaciones vergonzosas, inmorales, condenables, peligrosas y criticadas por los demás.

Scene from the movie | Escena de la película

And all of this worsens or intensifies after the baby's birth, leading Grace to a breakdown and the collapse of her reality. Many have mentioned that the character suffers from severe postpartum depression, but in some cases, they've neglected to mention an aspect linked to that depression, and caused by it: paranoia. Grace's distrust and constant suspicion of Jackson, his mother, and almost everyone present, including herself, threaten to shatter her already fragile personal relationships.

Y todo eso se agrava o se intensifica tras el nacimiento del bebé lo que lleva a Grace al desmoronamiento y al colapso de su realidad. Muchos han mencionado que el personaje atraviesa una fuerte depresión postparto, pero en algunos casos han olvidado mencionar un aspecto ligado a esa depresión, provocado por ella, que es la paranoia. La desconfianza y esa permanente sospecha de Grace hacia Jackson, hacia la madre de este o hacia casi cualquier persona presente, incluso hacia ella misma, amenazará con quebrar sus relaciones personales, ya bastante agrietadas.

Poster

Lynne Ramsay is a Glasgow-born director with a very distinctive vision, and she has given us great works such as the dramatic We Need to Talk About Kevin, starring Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller, and the violent You Were Never Really Here, starring Joaquin Phoenix, released eight years ago and Ramsay's last feature film before this new story. She is joined by the talents of Irish writers Enda Walsh (Small Things Like These) and Alice Birch (Normal People, The Wonder) for the screenplay, and Seamus McGarvey (Nocturnal Animals) as director of photography. The film also features production from Martin Scorsese and Jennifer Lawrence herself through her production company, Excellent Cadaver. But the most outstanding aspect is the acting. Lakeith Stanfield, Sissy Spacek, and Nick Nolte play supporting roles in a film where the two leads truly shine. Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson have long since moved beyond being Katniss Everdeen and Edward Cullen, becoming mature and talented actors who constantly challenge themselves in their projects. Pattinson has demonstrated his acting range with films like Mickey 17, The Lighthouse, and The Batman, and in Die My Love he delivers another excellent dramatic performance. But the true star of this film is Jennifer Lawrence.

Jennifer Lawrence

Lynne Ramsay es una directora nacida en Glasgow con una visión muy particular y nos ha regalado grandes trabajos como la dramática We Need to Talk About Kevin con Tilda Swinton y Ezra Miller o la violenta You Were Never Really Here con Joaquin Phoenix, estrenada hace ocho años y último largometraje de Ramsay antes de esta nueva historia. A ella se suma el talento de los irlandeses Enda Walsh (Small Things Like These) y Alice Birch (Normal People, The Wonder) para escribir el guion y de Seamus McGarvey (Nocturnal Animals) como director de fotografía, además de la producción de Martin Scorsese y de la propia Jennifer Lawrence a través de su productora Excellent Cadaver. Pero lo más destacado son las actuaciones. Lakeith Stanfield, Sissy Spacek y Nick Nolte interpretan papeles secundarios en una película en donde los dos protagonistas brillan. Hace mucho tiempo que Jennifer Lawrence y Robert Pattinson dejaron de ser Katniss Everdeen y Edward Cullen para convertirse en actores maduros y talentosos que se desafían constantemente en sus proyectos. Pattinson ha demostrado su rango actoral con films como Mickey 17, The Lightouse o The Batman y en Die My Love entrega nuevamente una excelente actuación dramática. Pero la gran estrella de esta película es Jennifer Lawrence.

Scene from the movie | Escena de la película

Grace is a chaotic, impulsive character who teeters on the brink of madness, oscillating between inaction and violence. There are scenes of nudity, self-satisfaction, outbursts of rage and jealousy, but above all, there is erratic behavior. Grace is not a normal person, and on many occasions, she does things no one expects; she is an unpredictable, chaotic, sensitive, unstable, and also frustrating character... and Jennifer Lawrence is convincing throughout, even in those scenes that make us uncomfortable. The Oscars are still some time away, but I think it's one of the best performances of the year, and I believe that with this role, she could earn her fifth nomination and perhaps her second Oscar.

Grace es un personaje caótico, impulsivo, que transita la locura oscilando entre la inacción y la violencia. Hay escenas de desnudos, de auto satisfacción, explosiones de rabia, de celos, pero sobre todo hay un comportamiento errático. Grace no es una persona normal y en muchas ocasiones hace cosas que nadie espera; es un personaje impredecible, caótico, sensible, inestable, frustrante también... y Jennifer Lawrence resulta convincente en todo momento, incluso en esas escenas que se nos hacen incómodas. Aún falta algo de tiempo para los premios Oscar, pero creo que es una de las mejores actuaciones del año y pienso que con este papel podría obtener su quinta nominación y tal vez su segundo Oscar.

The Book | El libro

One of the things that surprised me was learning that the film is based on the novel Matate, amor (Kill Yourself, Love) by the Argentinian Ariana Harwicz, who confessed to having written the novel "with a desire for revenge [...] if it is not allowed to shoot, set fire to stables or kidnap neighbors, at least it is another way of taking justice into one's own hands" and that primitive, visceral and violent aspect is felt both in the book and in the film. It's a powerful read, especially considering it's Harwicz's first novel, written without any sense of being a writer or pursuing any aesthetic or literary goals. Now, having read the book, I want to rewatch Die My Love, though I'm not sure whether to see it in theaters again or wait for it to stream on MUBI. Finally, I'd like to recommend Elizabeth Sankey's documentary Witches and Catherine Cho's book Inferno: A Memoir of Motherhood and Madness, as both explore the themes of psychosis and motherhood. In that state of reality breakdown, Cho began to have dark and self-destructive thoughts, but she also heard voices telling her to hurt her baby, similar to what happened to Elizabeth Sankey and some of the episodes Grace experiences in Die My Love. It's very easy to judge a woman and simply say, "She's a bad mother" (as a French provincial judge told Ariana Harwicz when her book was taken to court) or pronounce, "She's crazy," without trying to understand the reality of what's happening, and I think these films shed light on those kinds of situations. Have you seen Die My Love? What do you think about it? Let me know in the comments.

Poster

Una de las cosas que me sorprendió fue enterarme de que la película está basada en la novela Matate Amor de la argentina Ariana Harwicz quien confesó haber escrito la novela "con ánimo de venganza [...] si no está permitido disparar, incendiar establos o secuestrar vecinos, al menos es otro modo de hacer justicia por mano propia" y ese aspecto primitivo, visceral y violento se siente tanto en el libro como en la película. Es una lectura que impresiona por su potencia y por el hecho de que es la primera novela de Harwicz quien la escribió sin sentirse escritora, sin perseguir ningún fin estético ni literario. Ahora, después de haber leído el libro quiero volver a ver Die My Love, no sé si en el cine otra vez o si esperar que llegue a MUBI en streaming. Finalmente quisiera recomendarles el documental Witches de Elizabeth Sankey y el libro de Catherine Cho Inferno: A Memoir of Motherhood and Madness, ya que ambos tratan el tema de la psicosis y la maternidad. En ese estado de quiebre de realidad, Cho llegó a tener pensamientos oscuros y autodestructivos, pero también escuchó voces que le pedían lastimar a su bebé, similar a lo que le ocurrió a Elizabeth Sankey y a algunos de los episodios que sufre Grace en Die My Love. Es muy fácil juzgar a una mujer y decir simplemente "es una mala madre" (como le dijo un juez de provincia francés a Ariana Harwicz cuando su libro fue llevado a juicio) o sentenciar "está loca" sin intentar comprender la realidad de lo que está sucediendo y creo que estas películas arrojan luz sobre ese tipo de situaciones, ¿ya vieron Die My Love? Los leo en los comentarios.

Reviewed by | Reseñado por @cristiancaicedo

Other posts that may interest you | Otros posts que pueden interesarte:

Almost Famous (2000): every fan's dream |
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3 x 1: favorite argentinian movies |
@hanshotfirst
@hanshotfirst (80)
13,279 followers
436 following
Geek, Dad, Husband, Special Education Teacher, Child of the 70s, Star Wars fan who knows Han Shot First! (No matter what Lucas says).
228d
TV · on Gen V
A Geeky Guy's Guide to Gen V
I am a HUGE fan of Amazon Prime's "The Boys". It is one of my favorite shows of all time. I love how they explore superheroes in a more realistic way. Of course a corporation would find a way to make money off of superheroes. Of course many "heroes" would only be heroic when the cameras were rolling. And of course, since absolute power corrupts absolutely, the most power would be the worst offender.

So when Gen V started a few years ago, I figured it would be a nice filler while I was waiting for the main course, The Boys, to get to the table. After a few episodes of season one of "Gen V", it seemed I was right. It was just going to be a silly one off aimed at the teenybopper crowd. Then about half way through season one, I realized it was not just a filler that I could take or leave. it was an essential accompaniment to the main course. Kind of how like a great glass of red wine makes steak taste better. It doesn't change the steak, it just amplifies it. That is what it turned out Gen V was doing. The fact that there were some cameos and direct crossovers with the main show really helped me enjoy Gen V. By the end of season one, I could not imagine watching the Boys without having seen these extra pieces of the big picture.

On top of that, season one of Gen V had some awesome characters and some of my favorite effects and battles I have ever seen. Without providing too many spoilers, one of the college age superheroes has sever mental health issues. He often sees reality as a muppet show. As a result, some of his bloodiest battles are him, in muppet form, tearing apart other muppets with red streamers flying everyone instead of the typical the Boys gore. Although super R-rated, it is one of the funniest things I have seen in a while.

Season two picked up right where season one left off (although there were far too few muppet battles for my liking). By the end of season two, it becomes crystal clear that the events of Gen V are going to be essential for The Boys Universe. These aren't just throwaway characters. They are going to play a major role in what happens with Homelander, the Seven and Star Lighter... I mean Annie... and her pals.

Even though Gen V is clearly an important part of the bigger story, they still manage to mix in some Old School type college humor. There are frats, hazing, and drunken parties. Some of the students' powers are hilarious even if they seem pretty useless at first. To give you a taste, look out for a student named Black Hole whose power consists of being able to hide anything in his ass. Think Hermione's magic bag... but in butt form. Imagine how much beer he can drink through it. Never mind. You won't have to imagine.

The final episode sets up the next chapter quite well. I can't wait to see what happens next in The Boys' Universe!
David Peña
@davidpena21 (78)
📍 Venezuela
827 followers
114 following
228d
Movie · on The Smashing Machine
The Smashing Machine | Review [ENG-ESP]
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Movies based on true stories always have something special and manage to show a truth that often goes beyond what we see on screen, since being based on real life is something of great value. This was the case with the recently released film The Smashing Machine, one of those stories that combines many aspects of life, such as the strength of sport with the more human side of a fighter who, despite his victories, also faces very tough battles that are not always seen. The film presents the life of Mark Kerr, a renowned figure in the world of MMA at that time, as today there are many legends, showing that behind all that success there was a path full of personal and emotional challenges. It is a film for all ages, especially for sports lovers.

Las películas basadas en historias reales siempre tienen algo especial y logran mostrar una verdad que muchas veces va más allá de lo que vemos en pantalla, puesto que al ser de la vida real es algo de mucho valor. Esto pasó con la película The Smashing Machine, estrenada hace poco, siendo una de esas historias que combina muchos aspectos de la vida como la fuerza del deporte con la parte más humana de un luchador que, a pesar de sus victorias, también enfrenta batallas muy rudas que no siempre se ven. La película nos presenta la vida de Mark Kerr, una figura reconocida en el mundo del MMA, para ese tiempo, ya que hoy en día existen muchas leyendas, la cual presenta que detrás de todo ese éxito tenía un camino lleno de retos personales y emocionales, siendo una película para todas las edades, en especial para los amantes del deporte.

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From the very first minute, the film immerses us in the world of this sport, which, being so strict and dangerous, not everyone practices. However, beyond punching, training, following a very demanding routine, and competing, it also shows the other side of the coin, which consists of the sacrifices, pressure, and mental exhaustion that many athletes go through. I really like this sport, and everyone has a very different view of it. This film manages to convey the internal struggle that Kerr had with himself, the stress, those moments when he wanted to give up, showing that the real challenge is not always in the ring, but in what happens outside it. He is a fighter with great potential and the desire to continue growing and fighting, which is why actor Dwayne Johnson takes on the role, doing a great job and at the same time being able to do something different, since his roles are always comedy or action.

There are many fight movies, and what's interesting is that each one has its own style and, above all, its own elements. That's why here we see how the relationship with his partner influences everything, showing moments of tension, support, and emotional exhaustion, which is a roller coaster ride for the fighter, because when you love someone, you give everything. Adding a relationship to the film adds a touch to the story, because it shows that success does not always mean stability and that even the strongest athletes can also feel fear. That is why every scene in the film is very well crafted and maintains every detail in a very natural way, without exaggerating anything, allowing each scene to have a purpose and feel authentic and motivational.

Desde el primer minuto la película nos sumergimos en el mundo de ese deporte, que al ser tan estricto y peligroso no todo el mundo lo practica, sin embargo, más allá de dar golpes, entrenar, llevar una rutina muy exigentes y competir, también muestra la otra cara de la moneda que consiste en los sacrificios, la presión y ese desgaste mental que muchos deportistas pasan. A mí me gusta mucho este deporte y cada uno tiene una visión muy distinta y esta entrega logra transmitir esa lucha interna que Kerr tenía consigo mismo, el estrés, esos momentos donde quería abandonar, mostrando que el verdadero reto no siempre está en el ring, sino en lo que ocurre fuera. Un peleador que tiene un buen potencial y las ganas de seguir creciendo y luchando, por eso el actor Dwayne Johnson es quien toma el papel, haciendo un gran trabajo y a la vez poder hacer algo distinto, ya que siempre sus papeles son de humor o acción.

Existen muchas películas de pelea y lo interesante es que cada una tiene su estilo y sobre todo los elementos que tienen a su lado, por eso aquí vemos cómo la relación con su pareja influye en todo, mostrando momentos de tensión, apoyo y desgaste emocional, siendo esa montaña rusa para dicho peleador, ya que cuando uno quiere a alguien dará todo. Agregar una relación en la película le da un toque a la historia, porque demuestra que el éxito no siempre significa estabilidad y que incluso los atletas más fuertes también pueden sentir miedo. Por eso cada escena de la película está muy bien trabajada y manteniendo cada detalle de una manera muy natural, sin exagerar nada, permitiendo que cada escena tenga un propósito y se sienta auténtica y de motivación.

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Another thing I liked was the pace of the whole film, starting from the bottom and working their way up to glory, highlighting every training session and every fight until they gave their last drop of sweat, as well as showing their sporting and personal lives, keeping the viewer engaged and connected with everything they are going through. It's a film that shows both glory and downfalls, reminding us that everyone has a side that is rarely shown, that it's normal to fall, and that it's all about how you deal with life's situations.

The Smashing Machine is a very good film. It maintains that real essence and fulfills its objective of showing a true, emotional story with a clear message for all ages. It doesn't matter if you're a fan of MMA or not, because what really grabs you is the harsh reality that athletes have to go through in order to succeed. That's why it's always important to be able to stay in control so you can stand firm when life gets tough, and in the end, it reminds us that everyone, even the strongest, can lose. It's a film that's worth watching and leaves you with a lot to think about.

Otra de las cosas que me gusto, ese es ritmo que tiene toda la película, al comenzar desde abajo hasta llegar a la gloria, destacando cada entrenamiento y cada pelea hasta dejar la última gota de sudor, al igual mostrar la vida deportiva y la vida personal, logrando que el espectador se mantenga atento y conecte con todo lo que va viviendo. Es una película que deja ver tanto la gloria como las caídas, recordándonos que cada persona tiene un lado que casi nunca se muestra, que es normal caerse y todo esta en la manera como enfrentes las situaciones de la vida.

The Smashing Machine es una película muy buena, mantiene esa esencia real y cumple con el objetivo de mostrar una historia real, emocional y con un mensaje claro para toda las edades, además no importa si eres fan del MMA o no, porque lo que realmente atrapa es la ruda realidad que tienen que pasar los deportistas para poder triunfar. Por eso siempre es importante poder llevar un buen control para así poder mantenerse firme cuando la vida se vuelve pesada, y que al final nos recuerda que todos, incluso los más fuertes, pueden llegar a perder. Una entrega que vale la pena ver y que deja mucho para reflexionar.

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Kyara
@twirilyn (62)
📍 Lima, Perú
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20 following
Arquitecta en proceso, me encanta el anime y los videojuegos. Aprendiendo día a día de la plataforma
228d
TV · on Marry My Husband
K-DRAMA RECOMMENDATION: MARRY MY HUSBAND / CÁSATE CON MI ESPOSO [Eng/Esp]
ENGLISH VERSION:

Hello everyone and this community! How are you? I hope you're all doing well and having a wonderful day ✨.

A while ago I made a post about this K-drama that I'll be talking about today, but in its manhwa version (HERE). For those unfamiliar with either version, this is a story filled with betrayal, revenge, and second chances for our protagonists. And for those wondering, "If you've already written a post about this work, why would it be worth watching the K-drama?"... I'll tell you that while the essence remains the same (despite the K-drama being shorter than the manhwa), you'll notice scenes and emotions that delve deeper into feelings, gestures, and glances, making each moment in the story feel much more human.

Link

> MARRY MY HUSBAND / CÁSATE CON MI ESPOSO

SYNOPSIS / SUMMARY:

Kang Ji-won, a woman with terminal cancer, is murdered by her husband and her best friend after they discover her affair. After her death, she travels back in time 10 years and decides to take revenge, trying to force her best friend to marry her husband. Along the way, she receives help from Yu Ji-hyuk, the CEO of her company, who is in love with her.

I must admit that the first chapter is frustrating and unfair (I could even say it gave me almost the same impression as the manhwa). This chapter, which is the beginning of everything, is where Jiwon decides to put a stop to all the mistreatment she received from her husband (from her previous life) and her "best friend." This action she takes is not out of revenge or to destroy them for no reason, but rather it is the starting point where our protagonist seeks to free herself from that abusive environment and at the same time improve her self-esteem, since being around people who belittled her made her feel inferior to others.

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So, in these chapters, we'll gradually see how Jiwon redirects her destiny, becoming able to rediscover a much stronger, more conscious version of herself, refusing to let anyone walk all over her.

Within the story, we encounter two antagonists who, in my opinion, did a fantastic job with their characters (to the point that you might dislike them or find them irritating). But thanks to them, Jiwon understands that she must free herself from both of them, as she doesn't deserve to be in an environment where she isn't valued as she should be, much less used for their benefit.
- We begin with her ex-husband, Park Min Hwan. From the moment we meet him, we know he'll be a detestable character from beginning to end. Not only because of the way he treats Jiwon at the start, almost killing her, but as the chapters progress, we see that he's the epitome of an emotionally abusive, manipulative, and selfish person. His childish attitude, or his belief that he was "the clever one who can do anything and get away with it" (to the point of falling into the temptations provoked by Jiwon's "best friend"), ended up emotionally destroying our protagonist.
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- Then we have Jung Soo Min... And if you thought Min Hwan was unpleasant, believe me, she's much worse. She's a very narcissistic person who constantly compares herself to Ji Won, and not just at work. She's been doing this for a long time, to the point of humiliating and ruining the protagonist's image, all disguised as "sincere friendship." Then, when things don't go her way, she goes completely crazy. (This actress made me dislike her when I saw her acting in this K-drama... in other words, I loved her performance.)
Link

But amidst all the chaos that seems to be working against the protagonist, Yoo Ji Hyuk appears. He's not the perfect protagonist who comes to Jiwon's rescue the moment she needs help; he's someone who observes, respects, and supports her every decision without overwhelming her. We'll see him as a pillar of support for the protagonist... who will later become her love interest, and a very cute couple.

Link

Finally, I highly recommend this K-drama not only for its entertainment value, but also because it prompts deep reflection on self-love and self-esteem through the protagonist and her healing process. It teaches us that we must set boundaries with others and rebuild ourselves after pain... But above all, it teaches us to realize that we shouldn't be afraid to distance ourselves from people who hurt us (thinking we'll be alone forever), but rather that it's just a matter of time before we find people who truly value us, love us, and above all, bring positive things into our lives without animosity or rivalry. It's a story that will hook you from the first episode with its drama, tension, and that touch of fantasy that makes it increasingly addictive, to the point where you finish the K-drama without even realizing it. The same will be true for the manhwa for those who decide to read it.

Link

> ALL THE IMAGES / CAPTURES THAT I PRESENT HAVE THE LINK OR PAGE WHERE THEY COME FROM AND THE TEXT IN ENGLISH WAS TRANSLATED IN GOOGLETRADUCTOR.

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR COMING THIS FAR AND TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY PUBLICATION. I WILL BE ATTENTIVE TO READ AND RESPOND TO YOUR COMMENTS. ANY SUGGESTION OR RECOMMENDATION IS WELCOME TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EACH FUTURE CONTENT.❤️

VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL:

Hola a todos y a esta comunidad! ¿Cómo están?, espero se encuentren bien y tengan un maravilloso día✨.

Hace un tiempo hice un post de este K-drama que les hablaré el día de hoy pero en la versión manhwa (AQUÍ). Para quienes no conocen ninguna de las 2 versiones, esta es una historia llena de traición, venganza y segundas oportunidades para nuestros protagonistas. Y bueno, para quienes pregunten "Si ya hizo un post de esa obra, ¿Por qué valdría la pena verlo en K-drama?"... Les comentaré que aunque la esencia es la misma, (A pesar de ser más breve el Kdrama que el manhwa) notaremos que habrán escenas y emociones que profundizarán en sentimientos, gestos, miradas... haciendo que cada uno de estos momentos dentro de la historia se sienta mucho más humano.

Link

> MARRY MY HUSBAND / CÁSATE CON MI ESPOSO

SINOPSIS / RESUMEN:

Kang Ji-won, una mujer con cáncer terminal que es asesinada por su esposo y su mejor amiga al descubrir que tienen una aventura. Tras su muerte, regresa en el tiempo 10 años y decide vengarse, buscando que su mejor amiga se case con su marido. En el proceso, recibe la ayuda de Yu Ji-hyuk, el director de su empresa, quien está enamorado de ella.

Debo admitir que el primer capítulo es frustrante e injusto (Incluso podría decir que me dio casi la misma impresión que el manhwa), este capítulo que es el inicio de todo... en el que Jiwon decide ponerle un alto a todos los malos tratos que recibió por parte de su esposo (De su vida anterior) y de su "mejor amiga", esta acción que realiza no lo hace por venganza o destruirlos porque sí, sino es el punto de partida donde nuestra protagonista busca liberarse de ese ambiente lleno de abuso y al mismo tiempo mejorar su autoestima, ya que el estar junto a personas que la menospreciaban hicieron que se sienta inferior a los demás.

Link

Así que en estos capítulos veremos poco a poco donde Jiwon redirige su destino, siendo capaz de reencontrarse con una versión de ella misma mucho más fuerte, consciente y no permitiendo que nadie pase por encima de ella.

Dentro de la historia encontraremos a dos antagonistas, que en mi opinión hicieron un gran trabajo con sus personajes (A tal punto que te pueden caer mal o parecer irritables). Pero gracias a ellos, Jiwon entiende que debe liberarse de ambos ya que no merece estar en un ambiente donde no es valorada como debería y mucho menos la terminan utilizando para beneficio de ellos.
- Empezamos con su ex esposo Park Min Hwan, ni bien lo conocemos ya sabemos que será un personaje detestable de principio a fin. No solo por la manera de tratar a Ji-won al inicio a punto de matarla, sino que mientras avanzan los capítulos observaremos que es el vivo de trato de una persona abusadora emocionalmente, manipuladora y egoísta. Su actitud tan infantil o por creerse el "Vivo que es capaz de hacer todo y salirse con la suya" (A tal punto de caer a las tentaciones que provocaba la "mejor amiga" de Jiwon), terminó destruyendo emocionalmente a nuestra protagonista.
Link
- Luego tenemos a Jung Soo Min... Y si creían que MinHwan era desagradable, créanme que ella es mucho peor. Es una persona muy narcisista que vive comparándose con Ji Won, pero esto no sólo en el trabajo, ella lo viene haciendo hace mucho tiempo atrás, a tal punto de humillar y malograr la imagen de la protagonista y todo esto viene disfrazado de una "amistad sincera", para que finalmente cuando las cosas no resulten como ella quiere, caiga en la locura (Esta actriz hizo que me caiga mal al verla actuar en este K-drama... en otras palabras me encantó la interpretación).
Link

Pero en medio de todo el caos que parece estar en contra de la protagonista, aparece Yoo Ji Hyuk. Que no es el protagonista perfecto que aparece a salvar a Jiwon en el momento que necesita ayuda, es una persona que observa, respeta y apoya cada decisión de ella sin agobiarla. Veremos en él un pilar de apoyo para la protagonista... Que más adelante será su interés amoroso y una muy linda pareja.

Link

Finalmente, recomiendo mucho este k-drama no solo por el entretenimiento, sino que también invita a reflexionar mucho sobre el amor propio y la mejora de autoestima a través de la protagonista y su proceso de sanar. Nos enseña que nosotros debemos poner límites ante los demás y reconstruirnos después del dolor... Pero sobre todo nos enseña a darnos cuenta que no debemos tener miedo de alejarnos de las personas que nos lastiman (Pensando que nos quedaremos solos por siempre), sino que es cuestión de tiempo de encontrar a gente que realmente te valore, te quiera y sobre todo te genere cosas buenas sin enemistades o rivalidades. Es una historia que nos enganchará desde el primer capítulo por el drama, la tensión y ese pequeño toque de fantasía que lo hará cada vez más adictivo a tal punto de terminar el k-drama sin darnos cuenta y de igual forma será con el manhwa para quienes se animen a leerlo.

Link

> TODAS LAS IMÁGENES / CAPTURAS QUE PRESENTO TIENE EL LINK O PÁGINA DE DONDE PROVIENEN Y EL TEXTO EN INGLES FUE TRADUCIDO EN GOOGLETRADUCTOR.

MUCHAS GRACIAS A TODOS POR LLEGAR HASTA AQUÍ Y TOMARSE LA MOLESTIA DE LEER MI PUBLICACIÓN, ESTARÉ ATENTA A LEER Y RESPONDER SUS COMENTARIOS, CUALQUIER SUGERENCIA O RECOMENDACIÓN ES BIEN RECIBIDA PARA MEJORAR LA CALIDAD EN CADA CONTENIDO A FUTURO❤️
@seki1
@seki1 (71)
203 followers
145 following
WAX: seki1winsall
228d
TV · on Midnight Mass
The Midnight Mass Series Review
I'm not a huge horror fan. I find no enjoyment in the regular jump scares, bloody gore trope. It usually bores me till I sleep off, disgusts me and then I'll find something better to watch or scares me shitless and I simply say "nope." and then go off for my peace of mind. When watching movies I prefer something that makes me think, something that has that touch of realism. A movie that's filled with thrills, just enough touch of the real world to make you realize that this could happen, yet just enough touch of fantasy movie magic that makes you understand that it can't happen to this degree. In other notes I'm still a big sucker for the theological movies and that's what drew me to this one. A single scene of a theological argument that made me immediately download the 7 episodes horror thriller. The scene wasn't even up to 6 minutes, but it was beautiful. Yet, it wasn't the most moving aspect of the series, not in a long way.

The Midnight Mass.

Plot

When a new priest is brought to the CrockPot, we see the dying town being revived with mysteries, miracles and religious fever. Yet for Riley Flynn and a few others, too much miracles happening in one place is a cause for suspicion.

***
Matthew 7:15: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves."
*** When watching this series, especially at the later episodes of it, this is the scripture that was in my mind and I'm led to believe that this scripture is the major theme of the story. I mentioned earlier how I was moved to watch this because of a single scene, well the movie is one of those that is hard to really raye without spoiling so I'll simply list what I like about it and then why I like it.

The first thing that I liked about this movie was the storytelling. There's a way the story is told that we on the audience are able to see it from everyone's eyes and understanding. We see the signs, see the wonders and understand why the characters are acting the way they are because they are in it but as we are the audience the wool is pulled off our eyes before the rest.

The series follows a buildup pattern, something that'll gently ease you up to the climax at the ending, and I'd have said they did a wonderful job on doing that... ..but saying that would be me lying because the pace became so drawn out in the middle episode that it felt as though nothing was happening 😭 The movie became boring and I had to take a two day break from it. This was the middle episode, just when we've started noticing the minor changes and oddities in the village.

The next episode instantly takes us deep. It was like we were standing on a ledge waiting for the revelations and everything to happen immediately, Lamentations which is the 4th episode is when it all starts to unravel.

And this is where we finally understand just how insane this woman really is.

It's safe to say that she's the main antagonist of the movie. She is probably the most easiest—to—hate character I've seen in a while and it's just insane how good the actress played this role. Infact how good the actors and actresses played every role.

A good story is only good when told by a good cast and the castings for this movie were some of the best. Their mannerisms, accents and movement all tell a story. It all speaks about the little obscure community that has something new introduced.

Something evil introduced...

I really can't talk more about the show without spoiling it but I assure you that its a stunning 9 out of 10! I invite all horror lovers and theological enthusiasts to check it out ✨

_Source
*** ![EoEo5nvDHnUht8Gw4ryE7E9nS23HoHWmGygWc5fXjaGo3xSgiSRM3P8oRKvot13tG7P.webp](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/seki1/EoEjKvABBjsvH2ZREKrtzRoQZ8ywRcjHtb5BJHvFYqW9vgfgY4brv1LhNaMP1KHiKmz.webp) *** _{**Images were screenshotted from the movie.**} *** ![20230709_110037_0000.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/seki1/23yJAHsT9WMcpCTSTe4RVhtQEYCWgvYkP3Lu6JdTaAaYicZBjtRVV8k83yvtUcJHUYv34.png) _{My [Instagram](https://instagram.com/seki_hub?igshid=ZGUzMzM3NWJiOQ==) page.}
kristii
@kristabel123 (64)
58 followers
17 following
Surviving
228d
Movie · on Me Before You
Me Before You | | Movie Review
I can't remember the last time a movie made me cry like Me Before You did. I wouldn't have even classified it as sad if I stopped watching halfway. I only wanted to watch a simple romance, that would be a calm experience and serve as a time-killer. But Me Before You decided otherwise. I am still trying to recover from the emotional damage it caused me.

I think the worst part is that the movie actually started so innocently. The colors, the humor and the weird clothes Lou wore - it didn't give any hint that I was going to cry my eyes out later.

Louisa "Lou" Clark is this cheerful and silly girl who starts working for a man named Will Traynor whom she's hired to care for. Will used to be everything you'd imagine a person with a perfect life to be. He was rich, handsome, successful and adventurous. Until an accident left him paralysed from the neck down. He doesn't care about life anymore. He's bitter, angry, just existing and has made a decision to end his life through assistant suicide in six months.

That's what Lou walks into, six months with a man who has already decided he wants to die. Lou walks into his life wearing bright clothes and a big smile. She talks too much, laughs too loud and manages to ignore how rude Will is at first. Slowly, she gets through to him. She became the one person who made him laugh again, gets him to talk and bring back color into his dark world. Admist all the laughter, jokes and sarcasm, they fell in love. That is why it hurt the most. Because I started hoping that maybe her light is enough to change Will's mind about everything. But no.

Will already made a decision about his life before Lou ever came along. Even when she tries to give him reasons to stay, like travelling again, living and loving her, he doesn't. He stands by his decision. He does not want her to live a mediocre lifee with him, does not want her pity or pain. So he sticks to his choice, and Lou had to see the man she loves choose to leave the world.

I can't even explain just how much this movie got to me. Lou and Will's relationship did not last long, but it was beautiful. Their chemistry was beautiful. But I wish the plot could be rewritten. The hope with which Lou looked at Will with shone brightly on her face. Hope that she could get him to change his mind.

I hated Will's decision. I really did. I was expecting him to change his mind, to choose her and to choose to live, even during the last few minutes left in the movie. He didn't, which added to the very real and very unfair part of the ending.

Lou was honestly my favourite character in the movie. Her energy, her awkwardness and the way she tried so hard to stay positive even when she was breaking inside. I don't even think it was out of pity for Will. She really loved him and it showed in every scene. And even though she couldn't change his decision, she changed everything else about those last months with him.

I was sad, angry, touched and strangely satisfied when the movie ended. Me Before You is not just a love story and I am glad I watched it. Even if it me feel broken.

Me Before You is a solid 9 out of 10 stars for me. The movie was beautiful and definitely worth a watch.

Images source First image Second image Third image Fourth image Fifth image

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Drax
@drax (77)
893 followers
106 following
Blogger, film critic, columnist (writes in Croatian and English)
228d
TV · on The Shield
Television Review: The Spread (The Shield, S1X03, 2002)

The Spread (S01E03)

Airdate: March 26th 2002

Written by: Glen Mazzara Directed by: Clark Johnson

Running Time: 45 minutes

The Spread, the third episode of FX's groundbreaking police drama The Shield, represents a significant tonal shift in the nascent series, marking the first instalment that could genuinely be described as "conventional" within the show's otherwise ambitious narrative framework. Unlike the preceding episodes that established complex multi-season arcs and morally ambiguous character dynamics, this entry opts for a more traditional police procedural format, featuring largely self-contained storylines with relatively straightforward resolutions. This departure from the series' established complexity, while perhaps necessary for broadening audience appeal, ultimately results in an episode that feels somewhat disconnected from the gritty, high-stakes drama that would come to define The Shield. The episode functions as a curious transitional piece, demonstrating creator Shawn Ryan's initial uncertainty about the show's long-term trajectory and narrative scope.

Written by Glen Mazzara, who served as an executive story editor for Season 1, The Spread structures its narrative around Captain David Aceveda's announcement that his officers must spend the entire day serving arrest warrants—a tedious yet essential policing task. The procedural nature of this assignment becomes the episode's backbone, with officers attempting to make the monotonous work more manageable by trading warrants among themselves. This practice leads to an significant exchange: one between Danny Sofer and Vic Mackey, with Danny and Julien later working together. Their warrant-serving proceeds uneventfully until they respond to a noise complaint against Ricky Harris (played by DJ Rabiola), which unexpectedly uncovers his involvement in an illegal gun-running operation. This subplot, while competently executed, lacks the narrative weight and moral complexity that would soon become the series' hallmark.

Meanwhile, Vic's motivation for trading his warrant reveals his personal vendetta against Virgil Lewis (Ria Hanna), a criminal who had previously assaulted him in front of children. The Strike Team's raid on Lewis's residence takes an unexpected turn when they discover Derek Tripp (Elimu Nelson), a celebrated New Jersey basketball star scheduled to play against the LA Lakers that very evening. Finding Tripp in possession of marijuana and illegal weapons, Vic immediately recognises a financial opportunity for the Strike Team. He orchestrates Tripp's unlawful detention in a rented apartment under the pretence of "settling matters with his captain," while the team places bets on the Lakers, confident that Tripp's absence will ensure their victory. The situation escalates when the Strike Team permits Tripp brief encounters with his glamorous girlfriend Adriana (Jenya Lano) to pacify him, triggering Shane Vendrell's growing resentment toward the wealthy Black athlete. This resentment culminates in racist outbursts and a physical altercation that Vic must intervene to stop. The episode concludes with Vic releasing Tripp after the game has commenced, advising him to avoid "criminal friends like Lewis," while Tripp's absence from the match is publicly attributed to "being caught in traffic after a charity event."

The warrant campaign additionally introduces Thomas Motyashik (Brent Roam), a minor offender wanted for passing a bad cheque who receives a suspended sentence. Though quickly released, Motyashik notices Julien and appears to recognise him from outside a gay club. This seemingly insignificant encounter proves pivotal when Julien later visits Motyashik's residence, confessing his homosexuality before the two share a kiss—a moment that initiates one of the series' more nuanced character explorations.

Parallel to these developments runs a conventional procedural storyline involving Connie Riesler (Jamie Brown), a crack-addicted prostitute and Vic's acquaintance who reports being injured by a client. Vic enlists Dutch Wagenbach and Claudette Wyms to investigate, with Dutch suspecting a serial killer targeting sex workers, while Claudette remains sceptical. Her doubts prove justified when Connie identifies William Greely (Kirk Baltz), an actuary suffering from a brain tumour that has instilled in him the delusion that he must "spread his seed." Greely's arrest and subsequent confession reveal he attacked Connie specifically because she insisted on using a condom—a detail that transforms what initially appeared to be a potential serial killer narrative into a rather pathetic character study.

The Spread is widely regarded as one of the weaker episodes in The Shield's impressive canon, a perception later contextualised as part of the show's "growing pains" during its inaugural season. At this early stage, Shawn Ryan reportedly remained uncertain about the series' longevity and core identity, resulting in an episode that functions more as standard police procedural than the morally complex drama the show would soon become. The Tripp storyline offers mild socio-economic commentary, exploring blue-collar white officers' resentment toward a successful Black athlete who, despite his achievements, continues associating with "street trash." More significantly, the episode dramatically complicates Shane Vendrell's characterisation—where the previous instalment portrayed him as someone troubled by moral compromises (specifically the Crowley killing), here he emerges as an unhinged racist and textbook abuser, requiring Vic's intervention to control his behaviour. This contrast temporarily positions Vic as the relative "good guy," a perception reinforced by scenes where he rescues a baby from a crack-addled man and demonstrates genuine concern for Connie's wellbeing.

Furthermore, The Spread introduces two character arcs that would develop substantially throughout the series: Julien's journey of self-acceptance regarding his homosexuality, and Vic's growing awareness of potential developmental issues with his young son. These narrative threads, while only hinted at here, would later become central to the show's emotional depth and complexity.

Historically, The Spread was not originally intended as the third episode. Dawg Day was scheduled to air first, but contractual negotiations involving Walton Goggins (who plays Shane Vendrell) created uncertainty about his continued involvement. To prevent potential continuity issues should Goggins exit the series, producers opted to broadcast The Spread earlier than planned—a decision that inadvertently positioned this comparatively conventional episode as the series' first proper procedural outing.

Critics have noted a problematic tonal inconsistency within The Spread, with the episode leaning heavily into comedic elements that clash with The Shield's otherwise gritty realism. The Tripp hostage situation devolves into farce, particularly with the inclusion of Adriana's statuesque presence and brief sex scene, which feels like fan service. Similarly, Greely's transformation from presumed serial killer to semen-obsessed nutter undermines the narrative tension, despite Kirk Baltz's competent performance (the actor being best known for his role as the ill-fated Officer Marvin Nash in Reservoir Dogs). One notable exception is the scene where Claudette attempts to extract a confession from Greely through flirtation—a rare opportunity for CCH Pounder to showcase her considerable acting range beyond the stoic professionalism that typically defines her character.

In conclusion, The Spread represents an intriguing but ultimately flawed chapter in The Shield's evolution. While it successfully introduces several character developments that would gain significance later, its embrace of conventional procedural storytelling and inconsistent tonal approach prevent it from achieving the narrative sophistication that would soon become the series' trademark.

RATING: 6/10 (++)

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Tekky
@teknon (73)
📍 Bookland
352 followers
139 following
I am having a full-blown love affair with words. Also on read.cash as tekky
228d
Movie · on The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle (2025) || Very Far From Chilling

From the jump, this film feels polished but after watching it, I had mixed feelings so I looked it up and noticed it’s a remake of a 1992 film with the same title but some inferred that this one is a complete wash down of the original. I haven’t seen the 1992 film yet but I can guess the 2025 remake is a polished version of it considering the time difference, the spotless suburban setting, and eerily soft lighting. Another thing is that there’s this constant undercurrent of “something is very wrong” glorified by the soundtrack anyway. But I tell ya, even with all the style, I found myself more angry than scared through its runtime.

One thing that gets me appalled is that the husband-never-believes-the-wife trope is always alive and kicking in horror films. Caitlyn (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) tells Miguel (Raúl Castillo) she thinks their nanny, Polly (Maika Monroe), is dangerous but he just writes it off. He’s like, “She’s overthinking” or “Maybe you need to rest,” until things go full-on chaotic. Every time I see that play out, I lose my freaking mind. Why does it always have to take a crisis before the husband listens? Like am I supposed to believe that’s just how it works in real life? I know some people can be a real pain in the ssa but come on. Sometimes, a woman doesn’t want her worries dismissed. She wants you to believe her, like right away.

Second, the movie leaves way too much on the table. Caitlyn (whose real name in the film turns out to be Jennifer) and Polly (whose real name is Rebecca) have this messy, horrifying shared past, but the film only teases part of it. Toward the ending, Caitlyn mentions that Polly’s father did bad things to her, she also mentions that Polly was also his victim and I was so curious about what exactly happened. Like, was it abuse? Was it something even more twisted? The movie hints at it, but doesn’t fully spell it out, and that had me frustrated. Maybe I should really see that original because if one is to ever remake a thriller, they should know better to not skim the surface. It’s only wise to go deep.

That said, performance wise, Winstead is solid. She brings this real vulnerability, the kind of worn-down mom who’s trying to balance a successful career and a family, and then suddenly has to deal with someone dangerous in her home. You actually feel her fear.

Polly/Rebecca on the other hand is played with tension by Monroe. She’s quiet, unsettling, and you can sense her anger and darkness simmering just below the surface. Her calmness actually makes her threat so creepy.

I also love the modern themes as it leans into class tension, emotional manipulation, and power. There’s also some nod to mental health where Polly messes with Caitlyn’s medication, destabilizing her, which reflects modern fears about trust, home and what it means to truly know someone.

I will give it to the director, Michelle Garza Cervera, for successfully creating a lovely atmosphere which helps build the suspense slowly. But, and this is a very big BUT, the tension is uneven. Once things start unraveling, some threats feel muted, and others feel exaggerated. There are moments where I suppose they expect the audience to be terrified but I am the audience and I’d say it was more like a prestige drama than a full-blown psychological nightmare.

So yeah, I enjoyed parts. But I also spent a lot of the movie rolling my eyes at how things played out. For a story that’s supposed to be about sinister betrayal and emotional manipulation, it sometimes feels like it’s tiptoeing around its own darkness.

Rating: 5.8 / 10

It’s not a total disaster, but it’s far from the chilling, deeply unsettling thriller it tries to be.
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If its on Tv I'll write about it || If its on Tv they already doing it
228d
TV · on Pluribus
Pluribus (2025): Grenade - S01E03 - RECAP
Source
Pluribus episode 3 release a few days ago and I got to be honest, this thing is starting to feel a bit too slow for my liking, the whole concept is interesting enough with Carol fighting against this happiness hive mind takeover but three episodes in and I am still waiting for something to really grab me and make me care, I cant denied its funny but is there more to it?. Gordon Smith directed this one and he did some Better Call Saul episodes so you know the production quality is solid but the pacing feels off, the Norway flashback opening with Carol and Helen at that ice hotel was really nice although I can only imagine the cold on a place like that and I guess they did this to try to give more layers to Carol as a character, showing she actually does have happy memories even though she loves feeling miserable but that whole sequence felt like it was dragging just to show us Carol has a favorite color which is purple. I mean we get it already, purple is everywhere in this show, her scarf is purple, the northern lights are suposed to turn purple, its like they are putting too much effort with simbolism instead of just telling the story, same as with Breaking Bad references I mention on the first two episodes, the grenade scene was probably the most interesting part of the episode along with the Nuclear weapon request that got me thinking. Carol literally pulls the pin thinking there is no way Zosia would give her a real one but she did, Zosia throws it out the window and got hurt badly after the explosion something hit her in the back which forces Carol to actually give a damn about her for a second. That moment worked because it showed cracks in both characters, for example why would Zosia drink if alcohol is bad for the body period no questions ask if they are all about efficiency and well being and there is Carol who waits at the hospital to make sure Zosia is ok which shows she still has empathy even though she acts like she does not care about anyone but then we are back to Carol just being pissed off about everything, asking if they would give her an atom bomb, which honestly felt like the show is trying too hard to be edgy.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22202452/
- Platform: AppleTV+
Rottentomatoes Rating

Source The Norway stuff at the beginning was supposed to give us more context about who Carol was before all this shit went down, we see her with Helen at this ice hotel made completely out of ice, Carol is complaining about how much money they spent just to sleep on a frozen bed, Helen is all excited talking to the hotel guy in Norwegian, Carol is sitting there asking if her book made the bestseller list and where exactly it landed. Its supposed to show us that Carol has always been miserable even when experiencing moments that should make people happy, Helen is trying to get her to enjoy the northern lights, Carol is calling it a screensaver and saying she needs to use the bathroom, but then there is this one moment where Carol stops and actually takes it in, she looks at Helen, she looks at the lights, and you can see on her face that she is happy for like half a second, that is the moment the episode should have focused on instead of all the purple crap. That moment is what makes the ending hit harder when Carol realizes the hive mind will give her anything she wants, the look on her face is the same look she had in Norway, like she is finally understanding something important, the dynamic between Carol and Zosia is probably the only thing keeping me watching at this point, Rhea Seehorn is doing amazing work here, you can tell she is trying to make Zosia feel like more than just a hive mind drone, there are moments where you see cracks in the programing, like when she looks back at Carol before getting on Air Force One at the end of episode 2, or when she tackles Carol to protect her from the grenade explotion.

Source

Source Those moments are what make this show interesting because they suggest that maybe the hive mind is not as perfect as it thinks it is, the grenade moment was wild because it showed just how literal this hive mind takes everything, Carol says sarcastically that she wants a hand grenade to make her happy, they actually bring her one, she pulls the pin thinking its fake, Zosia has to throw it out the window and takes shrapnel to her back protecting Carol from the blast. The aftermath is where the episode finally gets interesting, Carol is at the hospital waiting to hear if Zosia is ok, this DHL guy comes out to talk to her and Carol asks why the hell they gave her a real grenade in the first place, he says they would give her anything she asks for, another grenade, a bazooka, a tank, even an atomic bomb if she really wanted it, that scene at the end is the first time the show actually raise so many questions about what Carol is going to do with this information, the hive mind literally cannot say no to her but one thing is for sure that they want Carol and everybody else to turn in at all cost. They will give her weapons that could destroy the entire planet if she asks for them, that was the first time the hive mind doubt but I dont know if its because they wanted the scene to be funny, and now Carol is probably thinking about how she can use that to her advantage, maybe she can demand they bring her scientists, maybe she can demand they figure out how to reverse the virus, maybe she can just blow everything up out of spite, who knows at this point but at least now we have a direction for the story to go in, the problem is the show is taking way too long to get to that point, we are three episodes in and it still feels like we are in the setup phase, I get that Vince Gilligan loves a slow burn, Breaking Bad did not get good until Season 2, Better Call Saul took even longer but this is 2025 and people do not have the patience for that anymore, we are in an era of 8 episodes at most season.

Source

Source I need the show to give me a reason to care about Carol beyond just feeling bad that she lost Helen or that she is hilarious at been mad, I need to see her actualy do something instead of just reacting to everything the hive mind throws at her, the other big thing this episode did was show us more of the other immune people. Carol tries calling this guy in Paraguay named Manus, he tells her to fuck off in Spanish, she responds by telling him with "Chinga tu madre cabron" that was funny af. It seems like Manus is the only other person who hates the hive mind as much as Carol does and Im sure she will get back to him at some point, everyone else at that meeting in Spain was ready to either join or just live their lives in peace, Carol was the only one screaming about how they need to fight back and save humanity, I think the show is setting up Manus as someone who will finally give Carol an ally in all this, someone who understands what she is going through and wants to actually do something about it, but again we are three episodes in and we still have not met him yet so who knows when that is going to happen, the grocery store scene was another example of the show trying to be creepy but just coming off as weird. Carol goes to buy food and finds the whole place empty because the hive mind centralized all the resources, she demands they restock it, within minutes trucks show up and hundreds of people are walking around putting everything back on the shelves in perfect sync, it looked cool visually but it did not really add anything to the story except to show us again that the hive mind will do whatever Carol wants, we already knew that from the grenade scene, we already knew that from episode 2 when she stopped Air Force One by standing in front of it, the show keeps telling us the same things over and over again, Carol is miserable, the hive mind wants to make her happy, she hates them becuase they killed Helen and absorbed her memories, we get it already now lets move on to something new.

One thing I did enjoy about this episode was how it handled Carols grief, she is clearly still dealing with losing Helen, the hive mind keeps making it worse by bringing up memories they should not have access to, when they deliver a package that Helen ordered for Carol before she died, a massaged thing that Carol looked at in an airport, Carol loses her shit and tells them to forget everything about Helen and never think about her again. That moment worked because it showed just how much the hive mind does not understand boundaries or privacy, they think they are being helpful by using Helens memories to make Carol happy, all they are doing is reminding her that Helen is gone and that they stole her from Carol in more ways than one, the problem is the show does not really explore that grief in a meaningful way, it just uses it as another reason for Carol to be angry at the hive mind and then moves on to the next scene, overall I am giving this episode a 7 out of 10 because it had some good moments but it is starting to feel like the show does not know what it wants to be yet. Is it a character study about grief and loss, is it a sci fi thriller about fighting against a hive mind takeover, is it a dark comedy about the worlds most miserable person being forced to accept happiness, right now it feels like the show is trying to be all three and not really succeeding at any of them, I am still watching because I trust Vince Gilligan to stick the landing eventually but damn I expected more by now, three episodes in and I am still waiting for the show to actual y start, everything so far has just been setup and I am ready for some payoff.
#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #pluribus, #review, #episode, #grenade, #carol, #sosa, #hivemind, #gilligan, #norway, #helen, #grief, #hospital, #purple, #immune, #manus, #spain, #grocery, #explosion, #empathy, #scifi, #thriller, #rating, #slow, #hospital, #weapon

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