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The Punisher: 3 AM
(2017)
Episode 1, Season 1

Violent, Yet Limited...
So, it shouldn't be a secret that one of the best things to come out from the second season of "Daredevil" was Jon Bernthal's ruthless incarnation of Frank Castle. Fans of the original comicbook character had long been waiting for the definite screen version of him, and who would have ever imagined that it would come in the form of Shane from "The Walking Dead." He was an awesome part of another great show, and he managed to steal the spotlight from some other great secondary characters; to the point where it was only a question of time before he would get his own show. Now he has, and it's Steve Lightfoot who is the head of the show. This is a writer who has done some work on shows that I love like "Hannibal." It thrills me to the bone to say that he has done it once again with "The Punisher," because if the first episode is any indication, this is going to be an awesome and very violent television show.

The episode starts off with an awesome opening scene where we get to see Frank finally get his revenge over the final gang members involved in the death of his family. I did not expect the show to finish off that storyline so early, as I thought it would be the main plot of the show. However, since it isn't, I can only assume that Lightfoot managed to come up with another interesting premise that he felt more passionate about. Either way, I'm happy that he didn't just pass by everything that was set up by the end of "Daredevil," and that he paid it off in this awesome opening sequence.

One thing about the opening that made me afraid was that Frank was going to go on living without having to think back on his past. But, from the very beginning of this episode, it became clear that Frank is still not over the loss of his family, and neither should he be. It was his driving force in "Daredevil," so it would only make sense if it was going to play a part in his development this time around. And even though Frank didn't do that much in this episode, he had a lot of great development through a small amount of scenes. I loved to see his interactions with one of his former associates who knows that he isn't dead. I'm excited to see how Frank is as the leading man, and this episode did a good job of setting him up as exactly that.

I am very happy that the show takes time to focus on the veterans. It shows that Frank isn't the only one who suffered some things while overseas, but that there are many other people who are in his situation. There was a great scene at a meeting for veterans, and I found it to be very emotional and touching, as well as being a great fit for this show.

As I mentioned before, Frank doesn't really do that much in this episode. However, there comes a point in the episode where everything turns and Frank has to go back and become a little bit violent again. That part of the episode was by far a highlight for me, as this is the character that I remember and love from the comicbooks. It made sense for me that he wasn't that guy throughout the entire episode as the story didn't call for that, but to see him crack skulls and kill four people with a giant sledgehammer at the end, was so much fun, even though it shouldn't be. However, that is what the show promised us, so I'm glad they are delivering on that promise.

I will say, even though I loved the introduction of the supporting characters, I hate the trope of the 'douchebag boss' or the 'douchebag co-workers.' For the co-workers, it worked, but I don't see a point in making the police captain being a douchebag. Who knows? Maybe that will be explained or used in an upcoming episode.

Atlanta: The Jacket
(2016)
Episode 10, Season 1

Great Ending!
I think this is one of those shows that has been hyped to death, because of all the people who loves it and talks about it to their friends. I was one of those people who was told that this was a great show that touched on so many different elements of society, so I was very excited to watch it. What I didn't know was how much it would do those things, and how big of an impact the show ended making on me. This is truly one of the best shows that I have watched in a long time because of its subtle nature and of how down-to-Earth it feels. It never tries to be an all-out comedy, but more to be a show that simply takes a fun premise and makes it into something that could be very funny. The show has such a natural feeling, mixed with the feeling that I got when I watched "Twin Peaks" for the first time, and I fell in love with this show because of the same reason. It's the feeling I get from watching the show, as well as the variety of cooky characters that it presents and takes in so many amazing and weird directions.

Especially this episode, which had such a wacky atmosphere. Throughout the entire episode, I felt like something was very wrong. It came to the point where I actually believed that the entire episode could have been a dream, which could have been an interesting twist, but nothing that I really wished to see. Without spoiling the episode, I will say that my twist never came, so look at that how you want to it. But the writing is the reason why the atmosphere is so real. I love how Stephen Glover wrote the first few scenes and how they felt like something out a trip sequence in any film you can imagine. Or, maybe that's not true, because it was a very different trip scene.

Also with the dialogue, Glover gives such a great spin to it. From the conversation between Earnest and a stripper where they are discussing the shape of another stripper, to a scene featuring Earn and Vanessa sharing a tender moment in their living room. The dialogue was very clever and fun in this episode.

Something that I have never really talked about in this show was the directing. However, I will say that Hiro Murai does a great job of directing this episode. There is an entire sequence with is seen through a Snapchat video, a decision that I thought was very clever and refreshing in a fun way. The episode also has a heavy use of handhold camera, which can really take away from the thing you try to film, but in this episode it really worked, because it had a more gritty feeling to it than some of the other episodes. Murai has been very great at directing all of his episodes in the season, and it's very clear to see that he has given some tips to Glover, because in his episodes, it's very much the same style, with a few different touches.

The plot of the episode seemed a little confusing in the beginning, but as the episode reached its climax, I understood why this was an important episode to have at the end of the season. The outcome of the storyline revealed that there are more layers to Earn's character than I first thought, and I loved the subtle way of the reveal that we got. It was very emotional also, to see what was hiding behind that final gate.

Atlanta: Juneteenth
(2016)
Episode 9, Season 1

That Was Awkward...
The one thing that has constantly bothered me about this episode, is that there never seem to be any stereotypical white guys present in the show. Now, this is not because I particularly wanted a white guy to be on the show, but mostly because I thought they had done a great job of presenting various stereotypical characters in the show, but had never included that particular stereotype. I always thought it could be the funniest thing ever if they decided to include it, but it wasn't anything that I was calling for. I mean, they have had some very corny white characters on the show, like the manager guy who was in the premiere episode, and then never seen again since. The show has done a great job of keeping everything consistent so far, but still be able to change up the format a little bit for each episode. And this was another homerun episode, that had so much funny humor and some great and memorable moments.

Something that I have loved ever since the first episode, was the chemistry between Donald Glover and Zazie Beetz. They are great in their respective roles, and they both knock it out of the park everytime they are on the show: both together and in their standalone scenes. They have always been strongest together, and I think that this episode showed the power that they have on screen. There are many small scenes in this episode where they have to play off each other, and they do that so well and to the point where it does feel a little bit improvised, but never in a bad way. Plus, the ending scene was very satisfying for the people who are shipping these two characters.

This episode was another one that focused a lot on Vanessa, and I never think that is a bad thing, because her character is very strong in the show, even though she hasn't appeared in that many episodes. She has a great role to play in this episode, and it does play off the thing that happened to her at the end of the sixth episode, which I hoped they would. And seeing how things went in this episode, it feels like we are not done with this storyline yet, which means that we will probably get some more Van in the future, which makes me very exciting for what's going to come in Season 2.

I mentioned the stereotypical white guy, and we get that character in this episode in the form of the rich Craig. This was such a fun character and to see his interactions with Earnest were some of the highlights of this episode. Craig is one of those who doesn't want to offend black people, to the extend where he becomes obsessed with them and their culture, which made Earn feel incredibly uncomfortable. I never knew I wanted these scenes or a relationship like this, but I enjoyed watching it, and I hope that Craig is someone who we can revisit in a future episode.

The episode's setting also gave an opening to introduce a lot of fun and goofy characters. There is a very invested priest and a very awkward playwright, and I loved the awkward interactions they had with Earn and Vanessa. I loved those scenes and not only because of the introductions of these weird characters, but because it gave Glover and Beetz something interesting to play opposite and helped improve their respective performances.

Atlanta: The Club
(2016)
Episode 8, Season 1

That Club Did Kinda Suck...
How did a know that there would be one episode in this show that would be set primarily in a club? Probably because one of the show's main protagonists is a rapper and it would be be the foundation of some great moments. This show has been able to do so many unpredictable things over the course of the last seven episodes, however, there would come a point where they had to do something predictable. While the episode had a very predictable plotline, it never bothered me, because the show has been able to keep its tone consistent, and this setting did give the show a chance to do some things that could continue that. This episode was a fine episode, and with the greatness that was the last episode, it made sense that they were not going to reach those heights one again. So, even though, this episode did have some very predictable moments and a subplot that I didn't like that much, I think it's another very succesful episode for a show that has been filled with them.

One of the things that I loved about this episode, was that they focused on Alfred and how he deals with the fact that he has become a little bit famous now. The episode showed us that there are some parts of his fame that he enjoys, while there are also same attributes of it that doesn't fit him so well. One of those things is that there is another person in this episode who is more famous than him, and he doesn't like that. He is a very competitive player, and that is shown a lot in this episode.

The humor was spread out throughout the episode, which had a very serious undertone. One of those undertones that makes a humoristic nature very wanted, and the writers know that they can get away with that, as long as they don't forget what their tone is. Jamal Olori gets that, so he infuses the humor very well into the episode, and makes the humor fit with every character. Olori is also very good at making some creative and interesting humor, that Glover hasn't had the opportunity to explore yet. I hope that this episode will set some things in motion for the future.

There is some great commentary on the stereotypical characters in this show, especially surrounding the character Chris, who is the club owner. For some reasons I didn't really get, he owes our main gang some money, and while I didn't get the reason why, I loved the passion from Earnest to really get those money, because it shows that he is not a character that have so many opportunities. And the ending was also so great and really satisfying when you have been following this guy around through the entire episode.

I only really had one flaw with the episode, which was that Darius' subplot felt a little bit forced in this episode. His role didn't fit in with the overall story, and luckily, the didn't focus so much on him. I don't want Darius to become a redundant character who is just there to be there, mostly because I really like the character.

Atlanta: B.A.N.
(2016)
Episode 7, Season 1

This Is So Clever!
One of the big problems that I have with various shows today is that they don't stay consistent with what they have started. Most of the shows change after a specific amount of episodes, and they forget everything that made the audience fall in love with the show to begin with. However, there are some shows that manage to come up with creative things, yet still maintain the same tone and overall feeling of the show. One of those shows are "Atlanta." Seven episodes in, and the show still manages to find new ways to impress me with its clever writing and new storylines. The episodes that have gained the most positive response from me have been some of the most creative episodes, and this episode definitely fall in under that category. This episode was written solely by Glover, and it is probably the best episode of the show, this far. I had nothing but love for this magnificently creative episode.

The thing that immediately appealed to me was the special format that the episode had. The episode is structure to look like a television channel, so it's basically a lot of commercial and a special news coverage at times. This idea was so creative and it's something that I would have personally never come up with or predicted that they would ever do. Even though the episode has nothing to offer the overarching story, it felt so great to have a bottle episode that was simply there to have some fun with the audience and do nothing but entertain for thirty minutes or so.

This is also the episode where the writing felt the most episodic, but I didn't mind that at all, because of the episode's format. It's meant to feel episodic, because that is how commercials are done in this day and age. When we get into the meat of the episode, which is Alfred participating in a debate about transexual people, and the approach that Al had to everything in those scenes felt so consistent with his character. Glover could have easily chosen to make the character a little bit more political in this episode, but he opted not to do that which I found to be the right move. Brian Tyree Henry was a standout in the episode and once again proves that he is great when it comes to comedic delivery.

This episode also did something that I didn't expect the show to do, which was that they called back to things that happened earlier in the season. There is a specific character that appeared in the premiere episode, and he is revisited in this episode, and the way they decided to approach his "return" was perfect. Also, there were some commercials that were revisited multiple times in the episode, and I loved the progress in these individual stories. There is also a specific character that has a substantial role in the episode, and I didn't know what to feel about him when he first appeared, but as the episode reached the ending of his arc, I really couldn't do anything but love the character more than I have ever loved any other guest appearances on this show. ... Maybe except for black Justin Bieber.

Atlanta: Value
(2016)
Episode 6, Season 1

Girl-Power Episode!
So, it's very good in our days to remember that there shouldn't be a gap between genders. Women should have equally as many opportunities as men. We have seen a big flow of television series' that has had strong female protagonists and other shows dominated by the male gender, but with a powerful female character that stands out in the crowd. "Atlanta" is one of those shows, because throughout all the episode, I have constantly found Vanessa's appearances among the best acted and most consistent. I love her character and I love Zazie Beetz as an actress, because she brings so much life to a character that isn't interested in being in the middle of a male dominated show. Van is one of the greatest characters on this show. So, when I found out that I was about to watch an episode that centered around her, I was very excited, and the episode did not disappoint, because Donald Glover proves once and for all why Vanessa is a beast in this show.

The Van-centric storyline was such a breathe of fresh air. Her character had been absent from the last few episodes, and I had missed her presence on the show, so to get an episode that largely focuses on her, and only has Earnest in one single scene, was such a pleasant surprise. The episode made a switch in the leadership, and without completely changing the roles of the characters, they definitely placed them in the situation that the other character would have normally been in. This episode could have easily been with Earn as the main protagonist, but it wouldn't have been as powerful as it was with Van as the captain of the ship.

Beetz proves herself to be one of the strongest cast members in this episode, because her performance was both strong and powerful. Not only does she has this kind of sazz to her character that none of the guys have, but she has such a quick delivery that gives every single line a little more punch. She has a powerful presence to her, and she clearly owns her scenes. But there is still a sweet side to Van, and Beetz does a great job of clearly switching between her tough side and her sweet side, especially in a scene where she decides to do something with her friend that she probably should never have done. She is great, and this episode truly proved it.

I loved Earn's part in this episode. Most of the main cast took a backseat, and it was only Earn and Alfred who appeared in small cameo appearances. Earn had the parent role in this episode, something that we have mostly seen Van do in the previous episodes. There again, we see the switch in the character roles, and I loved the subtle way they did it. It never felt like they were forced to switch roles; it felt natural that Earn would take this backseat role, now that Van was the one in the spotlight.

But, in the midst of all this awesomeness, there is one big glaring weakness. The ending of the episode came across as very forced, and insanely cringeworthy. That entire scene was definitely the worst written scene that the show has ever had, mostly because it builds up to a completely different conclusion than what was ultimately handed to us. While Beetz still performed the hell out of that scene, and while it definitely didn't take away from the quality of the rest of the episode, it took a big chunk out of the enjoyment for me, because of the weird quality around that scene.

Atlanta: Nobody Beats the Biebs
(2016)
Episode 5, Season 1

Black Justin Bieber??
I always love when shows do something that alters reality just a little bit. That is why I have such a fun time with "Entourage," because it is a fake take on the real world. I didn't expect "Atlanta" to also do that, but in this episode it surprised me with one of the most unexpected twists ever. So far, this show has gotten me on its incredible writing and the great characters that we get to see more and more of each episode. I appreciate that they always have something new to do and that the writers always find new ways to pair the characters up. Only the best shows can make you feel for multiple characters after only one episode where nothing happens to them. "Atlanta" is a show with great writing and great overall humor that has really managed to entertain me, and this episode was nothing short of that. This is another great episode to add to bunch, and while it might not reach the heights of some of the best episodes of the show, it definitely has a lot of humor that makes it something great.

The writing is something that I have complimented in every single episode, but in this episode I especially loved the writing. Stephen Glover did some impressive things with this episode and took some real risks with some of the characters and the social commentary. However, those risks were the product of a great writer who has full control over everything and know what he is doing, so all the risks ended up paying off. There are also some great comedic moments in this episode, which were all subtle, yet still really out there and ridiculous. I loved everything that came from the writing in this episode and I can't wait to see more from these guys.

One of the things I really appreciated with this episode was how they handled Paper Boi. The episode focused on how he is seen by other people and I loved that his legacy has really been clouded by the murder that he committed in the first episode. It's something that he can't get away from and he has to stop trying, because it will always come back to him. I also loved the idea that he has a role to play as a rapper. He has to be the bad boy in order for the people to love him. I think that was such an interesting and clever touch on real social issues concerning rappers and their nature off-stage.

Now ... the big twist in this episode is that there is a version of Justin Bieber who is depicted as an African-American man. This was the most unexpected thing to happen, and I am so glad that it happened. It shows that this show is not afraid of taking some risks and see them pan out great. The character is very much the same, but with a few alterations. This just showed me that there are nothing that the writers are afraid of doing, and while I really enjoyed Bieber's role in this episode, I loved the statement from the writers even more.

There is a great subplot with Earn, who is mistaken for someone else. Those scenes were actually scenes that I thought were very sweet because they finally acknowledged Earn as a real manager in some ways, even though we all know that it was by mistake. The funniest part was how it ended and how it totally backfired on Earn, even though he never even meant for it go that way. I loved that scene and I hope that the aftermath of that scene will still be explored in later episodes or seasons.

There is also a subplot with Darius, and while I thought it was a clever subplot with some great writing, I thought it was a little bit too derivative from the main plot. It didn't connect to what Earn and Paper Boi were doing, and I thought that would have been a little bit better had it done that.

Atlanta: The Streisand Effect
(2016)
Episode 4, Season 1

The Streisand Effect??
So, for the past three episodes, the writers have shown that they know what they are doing. They are making a show that is filled with stereotypical characters in this very stereotypical setting, while making them relatable and quite unique in their ways. I love these characters very much, and I can't wait to see where the episodes take them, but I feel like the writers have a specific responsibility: to make the characters feel relevant and not just have them to have them. Donald Glover is someone who understands that very much, because all the characters in this episode had a great part to play. This was a very inventive episode, and I love that they are so early in the process, that there are many ways that they can go before it is all over. This is only the fourth of ten episodes, so I am very excited to see what will happen. However, this is the episode we are talking about now, and it was a hilarious episode that led to story forward in an exciting way.

Once again, I have to compliment the comedic writing. Donald Glover returns as writer, having written the premiere episode. He is great and he writes these lines better than anyone else ever could. I have enjoyed his brother's writing efforts, but I think Donald has a better hold when it comes to writing dialogue, because every single line in this episode were subtly written, and equally subtly delivered by the actors, who have embodied these characters by now. Especially, Lakeith Stanfield... He is so funny and his delivery is outstanding. The way his character is written could have easily been very offensive, but because of his portrayal, it becomes a character that has a lot of depth and so much to offer for the show in the future.

This episode continued to expand on the character roster by introducing another very weird character to the mix. Zan is someone who made an impression in this episode, but needs to get a little bit more in before I can say whether I like his addition or not. However, I will say that I enjoyed his conflict with Paper Boi in this episode very much, and I understood why he did some of the things he did, because he arguments made sense. I loved the social commentary in the episode, because a lot of stars has to deal with Internet trolls, and it isn't always funny. It was a very clever decision, and it shows that Paper Boi is becoming someone in this society.

I also love to see Earnest slowly adapting to how things work now that he works with Paper Boi and Darius. It's hard to understand what is going on with him, because we have seen very little of his life with Van, but we do know that he is poor and doesn't make that much money. I love these small 'fish-out-of-water' stories that we get with Earnest, because they set up his character for something to come down the line, plus it makes for some great moments with Glover. He had a very profound scene in this episode that - while being very funny - was also very dramatic in a sense of the word, and I really saw Glover's acting abilities come to light. I love Glover and I can't wait to see what they do with him coming up.

I do have one hope, though. I don't have any problem with this particular episode, but I do really hope that they will focus a little more on developing Earnest's character and his relationship with his family. It's a plea that I think will come true, because I think we need a little bit more reason to really care for Earnest.

Atlanta: Go for Broke
(2016)
Episode 3, Season 1

It's Hard to Be Broke...
I am very good at relating to fictional characters (that might say a lot about me, actually), and I know how much it sucks to be broke. Actually, it sucks very much. This show has done such a beautiful work of making these characters relatable and put them in very realistic situations that engage with the audience. The first two episodes have done a great job of setting up this world and setting up these characters to the point where we know so much about them. We know that Earnest is not the best at making money, but that he still has a good sense for business, which is something that Paper Boi (who makes a fair amount of money) could really use. I have a rule that I won't quit a show before I watched three episodes of it, because I believe that a show really needs three episodes in order to get going. Not in the meaning that I wouldn't continue to watch the show if this episode wasn't any good, but I would still like to have three episodes before I decide. While this episode isn't as good as the first two, it was still a very enjoyable episode with great writing.

Once again, Stephen Glover is behind writing the episode, and he is proving hmself as real force when it comes to comedic writing. What he does in this episode is that he uses the chemistry to pair up the right people. It's no question that Donald Glover and Zazie Beetz have amazing chemistry together, because they really do, but he also gives Brian Tyree Henry and Lakeith Stanfield their own little subplot, because they have great chemistry too. It's the perfect mashup of characters that this show could possibly have, so this episode felt very confined in that episode, which I really enjoyed. A comedy doesn't have to have a straight narrative through all the episode, and this show is really using that to create some memorable standalone episodes.

There is also a great balance in the writing, because it is very clear that Glover gives the comedic moments to Henry and Stanfield, because their story calls for the more funny moments, while Glover and Beetz' story already has that lighthearted element going in. And the banter between Henry and Stanfield is so hilarious and they have some great and subtle moments together. They have always had some great lines, but I feel like they really got to give something in this episode that they hadn't in the last two.

This episode also addresses something that I have been thinking about during the last two episodes. These are very stereotypical characters in some ways, and while I didn't know if that was on purpose or if it just came to be like that, I always noticed it and let it go. However, in this episode, Beetz' character comments on the notion that she is being shown as the "stereotypical black woman," which I thought was a great way to address the fact that the writers are fully aware that these are stereotypical characters and has nothing against it. It might be easy writing in some ways, but it also works.

I think that Zazie Beetz stole this episode with her performance. It wasn't that showy, but it was just enough that she managed to steel the show from Donald Glover, which is not an easy thing to do, because Glover is amazing. There is one scene towards the end of the episode where Glover has a very cliché monologue, and instead of doing the expected thing, Beetz has the best comeback that I could have imagined and that made me really appreciate her performance.

This episode, however, did get a bit confusing at times, and I think it was a little bit tonally uneven. It didn't become a straight-up drama, but it did feature some very dark things that left me a little confused. But, when you think about it, that really isn't that big of a deal when the rest of the episode was kind of amazing.

Atlanta: Streets on Lock
(2016)
Episode 2, Season 1

Who Knew Jail Was Fun?
After the premiere episode of "Atlanta," I was excited to see how they would follow it up. With the premiere being something that I had never seen before, and something that was so funny that I didn't know what to do with myself when it was done, I was so excited for the second episode. This time, it is Donald Glover's brother Stephen who is writing, and if the talent runs in the family, this episode could have the potential to be even funnier than the premiere was. I also hoped that the episode would expand on the weird element of the premiere, because while the premiere had some weird moments, it was only the scene in the bus that felt like something out of "Twin Peaks." I hoped that they would be able to expand on that, and after having seen the second episode, I can only say that they managed to do so much more and make this the funnier episode. It's been some time since I have laughed that hard at anything.

Just like the premiere, this episode had such great writing and the perfect amount of comedic moments to up what they did in the premiere, without making it seem forced. The screenplay for this particular episode offers up what every second episode should; it explores more of the world that we were introduced to in the premiere. Glover makes these suburban areas in Atlanta look like one of the weirdest places in all of America, and it's so brilliant, because it makes the audience invested in the place. It's a real place, that in many ways probably mirror the real place very well, but to someone who has never been there, it seems like the weirdest fictional place ever.

I like that the writers are concentrating on develop these characters more than anything else. This episode was very much about developing Paper Boi and make him adapt to this newfound fame. And something that Glover did was put Earn in prison, so the audience wouldn't ask "where is Earn?" while watching. And the prison setting was incredible funny. They made prison seem like the funniest place on Earth, even though there was also a lot of social commentary involved in these scenes. So, there was this great balance of making it very funny, but also very realistic. However, I will say the comedic moments in these scenes were genius.

The further exploration of Atlanta was also great, and we got introduced to so many weird new characters that seems like something out of "Twin Peaks" or "The Twilight Zone." That's a smart way for the showrunners to make the show too serious, even though there are a lot of very serious undertones. It's these small moments with these weird characters that makes the humor, and it might not land for some people, but for someone like me who loves everything that someone like David Lynch does, this is pure gold.

Once again, the performances were really great, and especially Glover who plays every scene very subtle, even though the people he surrounds himself with in prison are not that. There is a very funny conversation between an ex-couple where Earn is caught in the middle of the two, and while he plays it realistically, the two are like something from another place. Some of these people are messed up, and I love that they are.

Glover has really managed to pull me into this show that I didn't have any expectations for. I love everything that I have seen so far, and I cannot wait to watch more and see the insanity that they come up with in the remaining eight episodes.

Atlanta: The Big Bang
(2016)
Episode 1, Season 1

Truly "Twin Peaks" with Rappers!
So, if I was to name some of the most talented people in present day, Donald Glover would definitely be on that list. His work as Childish Gambino is awesome, and he continues to impress with his comedic performances both in film and on television. I always liked the idea of him doing some kind of television series, but as a writer as well as an actor. He is a great writer when it comes to rap, so why shouldn't he be great when it comes to episodic television. "Atlanta" is a show that he has described as "'Twin Peaks' with rappers," and I never understood that description. It definitely sounded like something I wanted to see, but it also sounded like something that couldn't possibly be created. I will say, that while this show isn't anything near "Twin Peaks," the description is a perfect fit for what "Atlanta" actually is. This is a great premiere episode, and it is some of the funniest television that I have seen in a long time, with fresh humor and a cool twist on stereotypes and social commentary.

This episode was written by Donald Glover, and he is a comedic genius. Not only is he brilliant at delivering comedic lines, but he is great at writing them. There was not one line in this entire episode that felt out-of-place. It was very subtle, and so very natural. There was no forced jokes, nor were there any jokes that fell flat, because it was so chill and down-to-earth. Also the comedic talent that is involved with the show is great. The delivery was always on-point, and the performances were great. Glover once again proves why he is one of the best comedians on television, while Lakeith Stanfield stole the entire episode with his great lines and amazing delivery.

I loved the way Glover made the environment come to life through music and through a variety of great characters. This show is supposed to be set in the poor areas of Atlanta, and it becomes so visible that this is not a place that people would like to live. There is no money to get in this place, and Earn (Glover's character) constantly tries to find a place where he can make some money, because he simply ain't making them at his workplace.

That also goes into the great character development. The show is definitely focusing on Earn and his family, and they did great work with setting him up. He is a very likable character, but he never comes across as very popular in the area. That served his character great, because I got very invested in him and started to feel for him because of it. I constantly wanted to get in there and help him out. That is very much the same with the other characters, because Paper Boi and Darius are one of the greatest duos in a long time. I can't wait to see where their story is going on this show.

Is this actually "Twin Peaks" with rappers? Yeah, is kinda is. There is one specific scene where Earn is sitting on the bus and is approached by a weird dude who disappears very abruptly during a conversation. That is the essence of "Twin Peaks." The mysteries and the cooky characters, which I think the Atlanta setting calls for in a weird way. They have a very funny way of answering those calls, and I can't wait to see what they come up with for the rest of the season, which I can't wait to watch.

Legion: Chapter 2
(2017)
Episode 2, Season 1

Summerland is Cool!
I have always been interested in seeing superheroes on the small screen. I think it's the perfect way of giving these characters the long storylines that they truly deserve, and even though superheroes have been the strongest in film, I will always prefer the medium of television when it comes to storytelling. In 2017, multiple writers had proven that superheroes could work on the small screen, and while there are a lot of good ones out at the moment, they never seem to have anything that makes them unique in style. The visual style of "Arrow," is very much the same as the visual style of "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." However, Noah Hawley proved with the premiere episode that a superhero show could have a different stylistic approach and still be very entertaining. And he manages to do that again with the second episode, that is very different than the premiere in many ways, but still carry the things that made the premiere ever so special and engaging.

Hawley has a great grip around these characters. He is slowly moving into a new territory in this episode, because in the premiere, he used a lot of focus on the realistic argument for David's condition. However, in this episode, he puts a lot of weight on David understanding that he actually has mutant abilities. That is great development, and I love the way he explores the inner workings of David's mind. It's done by litterally using characters on the show to explore his memory. This is a smart way to get some insight into David's character, and it gives the audience a better reason to care for David.

I also love what Hawley is doing with Summerland. He is basically creating a new version of Xavier's school, but without the school aspect. It's a facility that helps young mutants understand the full capacity of their powers. I bought into Dr. Bird's desire to help David, because helping him to understand his powers could also give them a better understanding of it.

David has some great development in this episode, as we learn that he has had a past with drugs, as well as a former girlfriend who left him. These are things that were teased in the premiere episode, but never specified. The episode also helped me appreciate David's sister even more, because it becomes clear in this episode that she truly loves David, and wants to help him. Because we get a deeper appreciation of David and Amy's relationship, it gives a bigger punch when she is taken by Division 3 at the end.

I am also digging the nonlinear structure that the show is going with. It was very present in the premiere, and in this episode they scaled down on it a bit, but for the good of the episode. It wasn't the episode's job to introduce us to the show's trippy visuals or structure, but more to introduce us to the characters and what is to come in the future. That said, I still liked the inclusion of that aspect, because it was such a refreshing part of the premiere, so it would have been missed had it been absent.

I would have liked a bit more connections to the premiere. There was very little material for me that kept these two episodes connected and this episode could in many ways have been a premiere in itself. It doesn't mean this episode was bad, but that it could have used a bit more connective tissue.

Arrow: Divided
(2018)
Episode 10, Season 6

Divided Doesn't Mean Good...
One of the things that "Arrow" has always focused on is the team that operates with Oliver Queen. It started out being Oliver alone, finding the men on his father's list. He was then quickly joined by John Diggle, and they became a dynamic duo of their own. Then Felicity Smoak joined and they soon became the trinity that we know and love. Since then, multiple other vigilantes like Roy Harper, Laurel Lance, and Thea Queen joined, but none of them decided to stay. Then, in Season Five, it looked like we were finally getting some new members that would stay on the team for as long as they were needed. However, this season has done a lot to divide Team Arrow, and in the mid-season finale, they decided to split up after a lot of problems with trusting each other. I have been a big defender of "Arrow" for many years, even through Seasons Three and Four, which I thought had its momoents. However, Season Six is starting to go down a path that I don't know if I am going to be onboard with for much longer.

What the episode had going for it was the original team back together. Oliver is now alone again with Felicity and Diggle. These characters feel much more likable and they seem to function much better when it's only the three of them. It has been like that ever since Season One, so when they started adding more members to the team, it started to get a little bit crowded. I have always seen the trio as the best team, but "Arrow" has become a show that puts a lot of focus on working as a team. Seeing these three together offered a lot of great nostalgia that I hope will continue.

And that leads us into the recruits. I have enjoyed them throughout the seasons they have appeared in, but this episode made it very clear that the writers are not going in the best direction with these characters. Their entire arc in this episode felt very tagged on, and their arc going forward seems to be as tagged on. I don't like the idea of them going off and starting their own group, because I don't think they are interesting enough, nor skilled enough to do that. I am afraid that the writers are going to make them much too powerful, and make them into characters that they are not.

All of three of them were also very inconsistent throughout the episode. I commented on that in the last episode, but in this episode is pretty clear that the writers doesn't know how to write these characters at the moment. In one scene, we have Rene in a conflict with himself because of the things he did to Oliver, and then in the next scene, we have him be very angry at Oliver, for things that we already settled in the previous episode. The recruits has much reason to be angry at Oliver, but all the reasons comes across as flat because of very weak writing for these three characters.

I also have a huge problem with the cabal of antagonists we get. None of the characters have reasons to work with Cayden James. There are no motives for any of them besides the fact that they are all somehow connected to Team Arrow. The only character who actually could have a crudge against Oliver, is Anatoly. However, none of the other characters should have any reason to work with Cayden. There is also the fact that we still don't know what they are planning to do, and we have come to the point now, where Cayden James is becoming a useless character. At this point, he is simply one of Oliver's foe for the sake of Oliver having a foe. I don't appreciate the approach the writers are taking with their antagonists this season.

There is, however, an amazing action sequence towards the end of the episode at the port. The cinematography has been consistent when it comes to the action sequences this season, so that is one of the few things that still keeps this show interesting at this point.

The Flash: The Trial of The Flash
(2018)
Episode 10, Season 4

Poor Barry Allen...
Here we have the beginning of another popular comicbook storyline for "The Flash," after last years use of the Flashpoint Paradox. The Trial of the Flash was a comicbook storyline that ran for more than 20 issues of the comicbook. This episode in some ways managed to take that famous storyline that smash it into a single episode that was supposed to tell that story. Obviously, the story isn't an exact adaptation from the comicbook, because of the circumstances being different this time around. The comic storyline is, in all fairness, very ridiculous and is not one of the most memorable storylines in that series, and the television show has done a much better job setting up the Trial of the Flash. The majority of the episode focuses on the trial, but there is also the usual villain of the week aspect, so the episode had a lot of things to juggle around. Unfortunately, this is not one of the strongest episodes and the writing came across as particular off this week, both for the trial and the villain of the week.

To start out with something that worked very well in the episode, I think the writers came up with an appropriately darker tone than in previous episodes. So far, this season has been way too goofy and stupid, so to see that aspect take a backseat and have the more somber elements take over was refreshing. There always seemed to be a dark cloud dangling over our characters in this episode and for good reason, as one of their best friends could go to prison. It never felt too light nor dark, but managed to create a balance between those two parts that made it a very well-balanced episode.

However, even though the writing was tonally great, I will say that the writers came across as very desperate. The writing was always against Barry and his defense, so no matter what the defendant came up with, the writing was constantly against it. I get that the writers needed Barry to go to prison to continue with her overarching storyline, but they were constantly beating Barry over the head. They also managed to make Cecile look like a horrible attorney, and I don't think that was their intentions, however, everything they had Cecile say felt like very poor arguments and I don't appreciate that, when the character has been set up differently.

The court scenes, however, did help give Dibny some purpose for once. He hasn't been to much use in these last few episodes, but it was like they finally managed to make him relevant, because they gave him a chance to use his private investigator skills in a cool way.

I also love the way they are setting up DeVoe. He is constantly coming across as someone who is superior to Barry and are always thinking three steps ahead, which is consistent to the character. He called himself the fastest mind alive, so it makes sense that he would always be prepared for anything Barry tries to do. I was also afraid that I would have a hard time bying into Kendrick Sampson taking over the character from Neil Sandilands, but I do like the way Sampson is playing him. He has a little bit more edge to him than Sandilands had, even though I still prefer Sandilands at this point.

Coming off the heels of DeVoe is the villain of the week. Because where DeVoe is a great villain, Fallout was definitely not. He felt like a very cliché villain, and we have already seen a character that ultimately became a nuclear weapon. She was called Plastique and was featured in Season One. The writers have not been too lucky with their choices when it comes to the smaller villains, so I hope they up their game a little bit on that front.

Supergirl: Legion of Super-Heroes
(2018)
Episode 10, Season 3

Another Boring Bottle Episode...
So, something that the four Arrowverse shows really like to do is have these bottle episodes a couple of times each season. An episode that focuses on the characters and them coming to terms with something about themselves. Last year, we saw one of the greatest examples of that with the "Arrow" episode "Kapiushon" that was all about breaking Oliver Queen and make him reveal what was really driving his crusade back in Season 1. They have done it multiple times and it has started to become a tired trend. To the point where, unless they are extremely good, I would prefer for them to not be present. However, as Kara needs to come to terms with her identity, the writers found it wisest to write another bottle episode. In contrast to the great bottle episode on "Arrow," this one came across as unnecessary and dragged out to the point where I didn't care about Kara and her realization.

The things that this episode had going for it, was the further exploration of the Legion of Superheroes. This subplot has given Mon-El a reason to be in the show, and I appreciate the writers for giving him something of a purpose. Even though we don't know what their purpose is yet, we get some interesting updates in this episode, when it is revealed that they have something in their DNA that is very important for their mission. The writers are slowly building momentum for these characters and a building up for a great revelation that I personally can't wait for.

I did mention that this episode's main story dragged out a little too long. The story with Kara in her coma, and her trying to find out what her subconscious wants to tell her, was intriguing in the first few scenes, but quickly became irrelevant for the overarching story that the writers are setting up for the season. Her little scenes with Brainiac-5 were not leading up to anything other than Kara finding out that she needs to be Kara, as well as Supergirl. This all came across as unimportant for the story, and I think the writers did a disservice to their main character by putting her to the sideline, just to have her come in and save the day.

There was a lot of fun dynamic between Kara and Brainiac-5, though. The actors had great chemistry and worked in their respective roles. Brainiac-5 ultimately became one of the standout characters in this episode, and I am excited to see more.

The development of Reign was also a big plus in this episode. I am still confused with the reasons behind her mission, but I think they are building her character up before revealing to the audience what her actual mission is. It was exciting to see how Kryptonite affects her, but not enough to truly stop her rage and her powers. Also, the revelation at the end that there are more like her, was a need reveal and I think our heroes are going to have to train a bit harder to defeat her.

With that said, the episode lacked a lot of tension. The final battle between the Legion and Reign was not that intense and came off as very lacking. It also leads to a bad habit by the writers to try and set up false tension. There was a lot of scenes where I thought something exciting would happen, but it ultimately simply led to a joke or an anticlimactic stop. The writers need to get a better grip on their action sequences, and also needs to up their game when it comes to intensity.

This episode also focuses way too much on the unimportant characters. Thomas Coville had a nice episode, but even in that episode, he came across as someone who doesn't have a place among these great characters. Coville has a small part in this particular episode, but it definitely seems like he will have a big role in the second half of the season. I have no interest in seeing him as a major character, as he doesn't come across as anything more than waste of time and space.

Legion: Chapter 1
(2017)
Episode 1, Season 1

What a Beginning!
So, if I ever had to choose my favorite superhero ever, I would say that it was Batman. However, I would definitely give the X-Men a very well-deserved second place. Throughout the years, those comicbooks have given me chills and have continued to come up with great new stories to tell. Chris Claremont and John Byrne are two of my favorite comicbook duos of all time, largely due to their amazing work with the X-Men characters. Those characters have also managed to make a huge impact on the big screen, having appeared in multiple great films under 20th Century Fox, as well as some that were not so good. And now, they are making their debut on the television screen with "Legion," based on David Haller, a character created by Claremont and Bill Sienkiewicz. This character is not that well known to basic comicbook fans, not even with the fact that he is offspring of Prof. Charles Xavier himself. However, this show should definitely get some fans hooked to learn more, because this is one of the best premiere episodes to any show I have ever seen.

Noah Hawley is currently killing in on television with his hit series "Fargo" currently in development of its fourth season, so I always thought that the show would be different. I would have never imagined how different, and if this episode is any indication, this is going to be a show that will consistent of smart and surprising writing. The decision to start out in a mental hospital was a great idea, because it approaches the idea of being a mutant in a completely new way. Are these characters really in possession of new powers, or are they just crazy. That was such a smart move made by Hawley, and I comment him for doing something that wasn't conventional.

The show also has a very distinctive visual style. It is very trippy at times, and follows a nonlinear structure. I love the fact that Hawley decided to go with this element instead of making it a straightforward show. It enables "Legion" to stand out from all the other superhero shows on television right now, and there are a lot of them. It also created a smart narrative that constantly kept me guessing what was going to happen next, and I was always surprised and never able to predict the exact outcome.

The characters are really well-written, especially David Haller. It becomes very clear early on that he is not a functional human, as he believes himself to be very schizophrenic. That is a very interesting way to go when introducing the audience to David's powers, and by doing that, we go on a journey with David, because as he learns of his powers, so do we. It was portrayed so well in this premiere, that I even doubted that he actually had superpowers, and I know the character. That is what strong writing is able to do and Hawley proves that he knows the right direction to take his characters in. And Dan Stevens gives a great performance as Haller. He plays the character with a lot of nerve, and he is constantly panicking because he don't understand the situation. I thought he was beautifully played and visualized by Stevens.

The ending also does the job that every premiere should, which is set up the future and make the audience want me. For me, it worked. I am very excited to see where David's story goes next, and I think that we still have a lot of setup to go through before we reach the true meat of the season. This premiere gave a lot of questions, and I think the next episode will give us even more, if that is even remotely possible.

The Flash: Don't Run
(2017)
Episode 9, Season 4

"The Flash" is Back, Baby!
One of the things that I have always complimented these shows for doing is coming up with a strong mid-season finale. It always seems like they manage to come up with something that is interesting and sets a great path for the remaining episodes to go down. "The Flash," in particular, has always managed to come up with something very enjoyable, and even in its weaker seasons, have managed to make me excited for what is to come. This season has been a bit of a disappointment to say the least. It has offered a slate of forgetable and cringeworthy villains that has not really been able to do anything to take down Barry. However, with the introduction of Clifford DeVoe in the previous episode, we have finally been introduced to a villain that is not a speedster, yet still has so many advantages over Barry. DeVoe has been one of the more intriguing villains in a long time, and after tonight, I cannot wait to see what his masterplan is and how it will affect the show.

The first thing I want to compliment is the chemistry between the team members. That aspect of the show has always been great; as well as in this season. I think there is something great to be taken away from these scenes, and it's that this show doesn't need to be goofy and over-the-top. With the right amount of humor, combined with the right amount of grit and realism, it is able to find its balance perfectly. The scenes between the teammembers are not always fun, which gives it some realism to it. The interactions were great, and the Christmas setting actually gave the characters a little bit more to go from, so I actually enjoyed the Christmas setting, as well.

The relationship that is being set up between Barry and DeVoe is probably the best since his relationship with Thawne in the first season. DeVoe is always two steps ahead of Barry, and he manages to never show Barry the things that make him weak. There is a great scene between them in DeVoe's lair where their chemistry is off-the-chain. And then, they have a great fight sequence where they are flying through Central City, in a sequence that actually looked quite good, even with the limited budget these shows have.

Their relationship also leads into one of the most satisfying twists that this show has ever provided. The fact that DeVoe has Barry framed for the "murder" of himself, after he transported his mind into another body, was such a cool thing to do, and it just made DeVoe an even better villain than I ever thought he would be. The only downside to this is that we won't get to see any more of Neil Sandilands, whose performance I have really enjoyed, and I think it's worth mentioning how great he has been throughout the entire season. I hope that he will come back in some capacity, but if this was truly the last time we'll see him, then I am alright with that.

The only thing that I didn't like with this episode was Amunet Black. Even though her subplot ended up being really important to the story, I just think that her character is another goofy addition to the crowd. Katee Sackhoff is a great actress, so I don't get why they would give her this very cringeworthy dialogue and a very unecessary English accent. I think Sackhoff deserves better than a character taken right out of a cartoon.

Supergirl: Reign
(2017)
Episode 9, Season 3

Finally, a Badass Villain!
So, as I have expressed many times now, "Supergirl" is my least favorite of the four shows in the Arrowverse. One of the things that the show has always lacked is a great villain that really felt like a challenge to Kara. The first season started to set up a good villain with Astra, but she was killed off halfway through in favor of some evil male Kryptonian who I personally never got into. And then, the second season featured an ocean of different villains, before finally deciding to use Mon-El's evil mother. Again, a very lame and uninteresting villain. So far, this season has only really been able to offer some very lame episodes featuring Morgan Edge, who originally looked like the main villain to me. However, as the season has progressed, it has become very easy to see that Reign was always meant to be the main villain, and I am very happy that she has finally arrived, because she has done something that I didn't think was possible: creating an interesting, powerful and badass villain.

To be fair, this would have been a really good episode, even without Reign. She doesn't show up until very late, but there were many other things to enjoy. The first thing is that Mon-El is actually not a useless character this time around. They are doing something great with him and finally introducing the Legion of Superheroes, thereby giving him a real purpose in the show. I liked the opening scene that really explaining the Legion's situation and what happened to them, as well as getting some clarification of what actually happened to Mon-El when he was send into space.

The writing in this episode was not as bad as previous episodes. There were some great moments between the majority of the cast, especially at the Christmas party where the characters had some time to just focus on being happy and not focus on being superheroes or secret agents. I like those moments in these show, and unfortunately, we don't get that many of them. I will say, though, that some of the writing in the episode was really cringeworthy, and felt more like a regular "Supergirl" writing effort. There is some really bad dialogue, especially in the very first scene between Samantha and Ruby, where Samantha said something that felt like it was written for a sketch comedy or something like that.

I like the role that religion is playing in this season. It doesn't feel ham-fisted, and it actually feels different and exciting. They have never really touched on that element before in these shows, so the fact that they are doing it here is actually a blow of fresh air. They are also doing a much better job of making it seem relevant than something like "Legends of Tomorrow" is.

And then, we can talk about Reign, because she was an absolute badass in this episode. The big spotlight moment she got was her battle with Supergirl, in which she constantly had the upperhand and totally kicked her ass. This is something that I have missed in "Supergirl," because even though Supergirl has gotten her ass beaten in the past, it always felt very forced. It never felt like Supergirl was using all of her powers to try and fight off the villain. However, this time she was using everything she could to try and defeat Reign, and she did get a fair amount of blows in, but ultimately, she was the big loser of the fight, which I really appreciated. I hope that they continue this momentum with Reign, and doesn't end up her making her another mediocre big bad.

And Morgan Edge is still useless... The only purpose he serves in this show is some kind of threat to Lena, but they haven't used him to his full potential either. If the writers have nothing more to offer with this character, than just another second grade villain, then they should get rid of him quickly. He has been underused in this whole season, and it doesn't seem like they are going to do anything remotely intriguing with him.

Legends of Tomorrow: Crisis on Earth-X, Part 4
(2017)
Episode 8, Season 3

Goodbye, Nazis!
One of the things that has been great so far with this entire crossover is the intense desire from the writers to make all the characters feel coherent with the shows they came from. The writers of the individual episodes did such an amazing work on the characters as they managed to make them all feel like they were pickpocketed out of their own shows. I also really enjoy the use of the different characters they chose to appear. It felt right for them to be in the environments they found themselves in, and the funny banter between them all was definitely a highlight for me. I think overall, this has been the most coherent crossover that we have had at this point. They managed to up the ante from last year, which was also very big.

This is the first episode where we see the majority of the Legends. Most of them have been left out up until now. It felt right that they weren't in the previous episodes, and their introduction in this final part felt so natural. It was also fun to see how many elements from their show was used in this episode, because the episode didn't feel like it was a "Legends of Tomorrow" episode. The goofy nature of that show was not in this episode, which I think was a wise decision because it helped the episode balance a little better, especially in comparison with the preceeding three episodes.

I loved how emotional the episode was. It continued the storyline of Dr. Stein being shot, and of course, we know that his death was the way Victor Garber got to departure the show. That was a bold decision, and in the end, I think it paid off. I wanted to see him go have a normal life, so they could be able to bring him back in the future, but the way they had everybody react to his death, was what sold me on the decision. With that added emotion, I also think the performances got a lot better than they usually were. Garber has always been one of the best actors on the show, but he definitely showed that in his final moments, as well as Franz Drameh, who found a great balance in expressing the right emotions.

The final battle sequence was awesome. It was so cool so see everybody have a moment to shine throughout the battle. Whether it was Oliver fighting off his evil doppelgänger, or if it was Mick and Leonard finally sharing a good action scene again. I also liked the budget they put into the fight, because it looked really good, so I bet they had to get out the big money in order to get this entire crossover financed.

I only had a couple of problems. Like the first episode, this one seemed a bit inconsistent. They have done such a big deal with Barry's speed and how he is now the fastest speedster in the world. However, during his fight with Eobard Thawne, they seemed to run at equal speed. Barry should have easily been able to take care of Thawne without even breaking a sweat.

Going off on that, I am done with Eobard Thawne in this universe. His entire arc after Season 1 of "The Flash" has made little sense as he shouldn't even be alive, and then, after "Legends of Tomorrow" when he was apparently erased from history, he somehow managed to return again. The writers are putting too much faith into this character, and I am a little bit sick of it.

The Flash: Crisis on Earth-X, Part 3
(2017)
Episode 8, Season 4

Freedom! Freedom! FREEDOM!!
As a continuation from the two episodes that aired on "Supergirl" and "Arrow," I think that this episode (once again) did a great job of keeping the tone and characters consistent with what we have seen so far. The writers of the individual shows have done a great job of keeping the feeling of all the shows intact and combining them with the right amount of elements from each one. There are some great character interactions and some very emotional moments between characters. And the writer did a great job of not making it seem overly sentimental; something that the writers on the "Arrow" episode didn't manage to do. So, in those terms, I think that episode had better writing, even though that wasn't the episodes strongest suit.

I love that this episode is set mainly on Earth-X. It's a dark and gritty world that we have not seen yet, because the main Earth is not like that. So they had a lot to do in terms of making Earth-X feel different, and they definitely managed to do that. There was a lot of Holocaust-like imagery in the episode, which makes sense given that the Nazis have full control of Earth-X. The exploration of some the characters on this Earth was also cool, and to see a Nazi version of Quentin Lance was almost too good to be true.

We were also introduced to the Freedom Fighters in this episode, led by none other than Winn Schott. That was a fun and cool twist that I did not see coming, as well as the fact that Leonard Snart was going to return in this episode, which was such a pleasant surprise. His presence on these shows are sorely missed, so these small chances to see him again are always cherished. In general, I thought the Freedom Fighters were very well-developed, and it made me excited to see the new animated series that they are making centering around these characters.

As usual, the final battle sequence is pretty impressive and very big in scope. The thing this battle has that is different to the others is a very emotional ending, with Dr. Stein getting shot by a Nazi. This could lead to speculations that the writers never meant to give Stein a normal life, but instead kill him of completely. I think that is a bold move, and even though I would have preferred for him to just go off and live with his family, I think that this decision is going to be the more emotional decision.

The episode had some weak points. And all of that goes back to the writing, because I don't think the writing was that strong on this episode. There were some very cringeworthy dialogue pieces that I thought belonged in a Disney Channel show. The episode also did their villains a huge disservice. The villains did nothing interesting in this episode, and I start to think their motivations for doing what they do is a bit weak. I believe there was a deeper solution that could have been decided, but if this is the way the showrunners went, then maybe it was the best.

The episode also tries too hard to make unecessary characters necessary. To the point where they almost give Felicity and Iris superpowers. They are able to overpower four highly-trained Nazi soldiers, without even receiving a scratch themselves. I think the episode would have been improved if they had gotten rid of Felicity and Iris completely.

Arrow: Crisis on Earth-X, Part 2
(2017)
Episode 8, Season 6

Cool and Confusing!
There are some things I would like to praise about this episode. First of all, I think the writers did a very good job of carrying the feeling from the first episode over into this one. All the characters once again feel very true to their individual shows, and the interactions between the characters continues to be fun to watch. This specific episode also did something that the last episode didn't do so much of, which is progressing the storyline of each show. Mostly, it managed to move its own storyline a little further, and include the characters that wasn't in the last episode very well.

The best things about this episode is that it did something unexpected. It did something that many fans have wanted to see ever since this character first appeared in Season 5. The episode revealed that Prometheus-X is actually Tommy Merlyn, which I thought was a clever and emotional twist. Not only did it leave the way open for a great scene between Oliver and Tommy, but it showed the consequences of living on Earth-X and developed the history of that specific Earth a little bit more. It was also a great pleasure seeing Colin Donnell back on the show, as his presence has been sorely missed since his death in the Seaon 1 finale. To have him in this one scene was great and I thought they incorporated him into the story perfectly.

This is also the episode where the antagonists got some time to shine. I love the dynamic between them. They don't know how to work with each other, especially because of Reverse-Flash, who was revealed in this episode to be Eobard Thawne from Earth-1, coming in and creating some kind of split between Oliver-X and Kara-X who are revealed to be married in this episode. Some new stakes were created in this episode and I liked the development of the antagonists.

There were some great action sequences in this episode, as well. The final set piece was a visual extravaganza with a lot of explosions and Nazis. What more could anyone ask for? And as this sequence is going along, with get one of the coolest fight scenes ever with Oliver-X whooping Team Arrow's butts. That was weirdly satisfying and I loved every minute of that fight.

Unfortunately, this episode has some shortcomings. One of the biggest and most confusing reveals in the episode was that Earth-X is actually a 53rd Earth that has been kept secret because it is so horrible. This was a weak and unecessary reveal as the writers really had a valid explanation under their nose. It would have been more acceptable to just make it Earth-10, but because the writers had to be a little smart, they tried to do something different and unexpected. In the end, though, it turned out to be a confusing and unecessary explanation.

It was even more confusing, though, when it was revealed that Thawne was the Reverse-Flash working with the Nazis. The writers of "The Flash" has managed to make the various timelines so confusing, and I still don't buy the fact that Thawne is even alive. It was a confusing reveal, that I hope will have some merit in a future episode of the crossover.

I also found this episode to be very sentimental. The first half of the episode is spent on everybody being sad and not sure about what they are doing. "Arrow" has always had a thing about sentimentality, and they have never been good at handling it. For some reason, the writers keep insisting on using it to move the plot along, but when everything is said and done, it doesn't help the show nearly as much as it throws the audience off.

Supergirl: Crisis on Earth-X, Part 1
(2017)
Episode 8, Season 3

Nazis? I Dig It...
One of the things that have been consistently entertaining about the Arrowverse is their crossovers. They have always managed to make some entertaining and well-written crossovers that have brought some extra life into the respective shows. Last year, they upped the ante by combining all four shows instead of only "Arrow" and "The Flash," and it makes sense that they decided to continue that trend as it worked so well. All four shows got a raise in viewership, so why wouldn't the showrunners do this one more time. And this crossover looks to be even more interesting than the one last year, that featured some incredible interactions between the characters, but had some weak antagonists. The Dominators weren't the best developed villains, so this time they go to something that is always fun to explore. Nazis... I think it's a cool idea and I think they can do something special out of the whole crossover, and build on the momentum of this great episode.

There are so many things to touch on in this episode. I would like to start with complimenting the writing. The writers on this episode are primarily "Supergirl" writers, but they still managed to capture the feeling of each individual character. It never felt like a "Supergirl" episode as much as it felt like a combination episode of each show. The episode included components of each show and instead of bathing the episode of pure "Supergirl" writing, they really managed to make every single character feel true to their roots and I adore the writers for managing that.

The tone of the episode was also perfect. It never felt dark like "Arrow," nor did it feel goofy like "Legends of Tomorrow." It had a bit of everything and pickpocketed where it needed to. That also resulted in some interactions between the various characters. There is a great moment between Sara and Alex, who have some personal similarities.

I think the action scenes in the episode were some of the best that we have seen in "Supergirl" ever. Probably because of the big set pieces and the scale of the action scenes. The scene in the church will be remembered as one of the most visually stunning action scenes in any of these shows, because it never wasted its running time and used every moment to give us some exciting fight sequence. There is also a fight in the beginning of the episode between two characters and I thought that fight was very well-choreographed and felt very gritty and realistic.

I am interested in seeing what they do with the antagonists. It's always easy to go with Nazis because their actions make them dispicable, but what they are doing with the doppelgängers are very cool. I assume that it'll be revealed that they are from Earth-10, as it would make the most sense given the Roman numeral for 10 is X. I also like the fact that Harrison Wells became the Reverse-Flash on that Earth, as it further explores the unlimited outcomes and timelines of the multiverse.

The episode was slightly incoherent, though. There is a scene in the beginning where we see Barry having a confrontation with King Shark. However, the last time we saw him, he was behind bars in an A.R.G.U.S. facility. It's always a possibility that he has escaped, but they didn't really address it, and while I understand why they didn't, I would have liked a little clarity, as it ultimately made the episode seem a bit inconsistent with former episodes.

Arrow: Thanksgiving
(2017)
Episode 7, Season 6

Well, That Was Pointless...
Now, I see myself as a huge fan of "Arrow." This is the show that has always had everything in front of it, and has always managed to come back from dire circumstances. It has become popular to hate on Seasons 3 and 4, and while I will agree that those seasons were weaker links to the series as a whole, I don't think that "Arrow" has ever had a season that sucked. It has always been a top-notch show or right in the middle. That said, the series has had some very questionable episodes that were either pointless or plain bad. Those episodes especially plagued the second half of Season 4, which is why I think that season became weaker and weaker as it went along. Season 6 has been a hit for me so far, so it was a shock that I found this week's episode to be completely pointless and uneven. It didn't further the plot in any particular way and it had no profound effect on our characters in a good way. This is the worst episode of "Arrow" that I have seen in a very long time.

I will start out with the bad things about the episodes, because there aren't that many good ones. First of all, I found the plot to be pointless. Everything that happened in the episode seemed weirdly out-of-place and the only thing the story needed to do was to make Oliver the Green Arrow again. It succeeded with doing that, even if it's only for a short time. It also managed to take to make the vote for the anti-vigilante law pointless, as the ultimate outcome was the original decision made by the council, which makes this a subplot that wasted time in the four previous episodes.

I found the moments to be very uneven. At first, it seems like the writers tried to come up with reasons for everyone to be angry at each other, but they quickly changed that to making every character feel sympathy for each other. That only ended up making the episode seem overly sentimental and made me very confused. The writers on these shows have always shied away from simply making some things go by normally. They always have to make a huge fuss about everything, even though it mostly ends up simply becoming a heel for the episode and overarching storyline.

I'm worried about the way they are going with Cayden James. His motivations weren't really clear in the last episode, but this episode the audience got to know some valuable details about him. His son was killed in something involving the Green Arrow. Sounds familiar? Maybe because it was the exact same motivation the writers gave Prometheus for going after Oliver. And while it worked very well with Prometheus and made him intriguing, the decision to do it again seems like a huge cop out. I hope the writers come up with something better for him, or else I'll be very disappointed. I will also say that Samanda Watson is becoming more and more a cliché, and I don't like that.

Now, one of the good things about this episode was the incredible action scenes. Especially the one-shot fight scene between Team Arrow and Cayden's henchmen. They have used that method a lot in this season, and I am liking the way it is turning out.

I am also happy to see Thea back. Her character has also been hit-and-miss for me, but I thought she found her right place in Season 5. Her character work as Oliver's chief of staff; it is when she goes out as Speedy that I tune off on her. I hope that she will resume her post in this season, as that's where she belongs. So, I'm excited to see what the writers will do with her, and I also like Willa Holland's presence in the show, as well as her chemistry with Stephen Amell.

Supergirl: Wake Up
(2017)
Episode 7, Season 3

Finally, Reign!!
So, the reason why this season has been very interesting up to this point, is because they are introducing Reign. A character that I am very excited to see because of the connection the character has with the Worldkillers. So far, this season has been quite the disappointment as they have presented depressing character arcs and weak villains. The one thing they have done well is how they have handled the character of Samantha Arias. They have done a good job of setting her up and to slowly show her journey to becoming Reign. She has begun to realize that she actually has superheroes, but the truth about where she comes from has not yet been revealed. Until now, where the writers have presented the best episode of the season this far. I was expecting to hate this character, because of the return of a character that I have always found useless, but it ended up becoming a marvelous and extremelymemorable episode.

One of the best storylines of this season is the progression in Samantha's arc. She finally learned where she came from by visiting her adoptive mother who showed her the pod that send her to Earth. This also confirms that she was the child who was send from Krypton by the end of Season 2. I am very happy that they waited this long to finally reveal everything about her, because with the great job they did with setting up her relationship with Ruby, it becomes so much more heartbreaking to see her transform into Reign by the end of this episode, opening up a lot of possibilities that I am so excited to see.

There is also a very sweet subplot with J'onn and his father. I liked to see how M'yrnn is slowly adapting to things on Earth, and I like that he finds it complicated to reunite with J'onn because of the high regard he has for his work. So, in many ways, this episode also featured a lot of great development for J'onn, as he slowly starts to realize that he misses having someone in his life. The decision to have them move in together was very sweet, and I think it will provide some great moments for upcoming episodes.

Now, this episode also features the return of Mon-El. I have never liked his character, as I have found him rather useless. However, in this episode he was anything but that. His storyline was the most intriguing and I love the way they are going with his character, as he is no longer just the guy running after Kara. He actually has a purpose this time around, and even though we don't know what it is yet, I suspect it has something to do with the Legion as Super-Heroes, as both Mon-El and the newly introduced Saturn Girl are parts of that team. I can't wait to see what they do with those characters, and how it will fit into the future of the show.

The only thing that I didn't really get was how the only thing that could stabilize the ship was at the D.E.O. The organization has never been down in that spaceship before, so how did they get that device from the ship to begin with. That bothered me a little bit, but ultimately, it didn't take that much away from this great episode.

Legends of Tomorrow: Helen Hunt
(2017)
Episode 6, Season 3

More of This, Legends!
If I have to choose one of the four shows in the Arrowverse that I found to be the most inconsistent, it would be "Legends of Tomorrow." It has always tried to combine humor with heavy subject matter (especially during their first season), but it has never helped the show in quality. While the two first seasons have been enjoyable, they have never reached the heights of the first season of "The Flash" or the first two seasons of "Arrow." And it doesn't have to. With the writers that are writing for this show, it will never manage to do what those shows did. The humoristic components of this show will never be removed from the show, so the more serious matters with never take the forefront. However, I think that "Legends of Tomorrow" has found its own structure and this season has been a positive surprise for me. I have found the majority of the episodes enjoyable, and this was another great one to the group, as it was set in a perfectly fitting time period: the 1930s.

This is one of my favorite episodes of the season, so far. I think they managed to do a lot of things really good, especially considering the setting. The setting of this episode was perfect, and it fit the tone of the show much better than setting it in World War II or something like that. The stereotypical view on this time period fit right into what the tone the writers have established for "Legends of Tomorrow" and so I found that it added so much more gravity to the humor. There were some great moments with historical figures at the time, including one specific moment with Ray meeting Cecil B. DeMille, and him commenting on the fact that Ray looks like a guy from the 1930s, which is something that I have thought ever since he was introduced.

The subplot where Jax and Dr. Stein switch bodies was also a very funny subplot, and provided some great development for the characters. Now that Jax has seen how it is like to be Stein he will have a bigger understanding to the fact that Stein doesn't really want to do this anymore. It also gave the show an opportunity to put Victor Garber in the Firestorm suit, which I thought was a cool moment and it had a fun vibe to it. The way they were switched back into their own bodies felt a bit easy, but in the end, it was nothing that took the episode down in any way.

It was also great to see Damien Darhk back in the game after he was resurrected during the last episode. I am interested in seeing what his goal is, because nothing has really been disclosed about that. And the revelation that the witch is actually his daughter was also pretty cool, and it made it more believable that she would be the one to bring him back. I also want to say that it is great seeing Darhk use his powers again. I missed that element of him so much during the second season, so it was a great surprise to see him back. He used his powers a bit in the last episode, but it was overshadowed a bit by the fact that we were introduced to Mallus.

There are some minor negatives in the episode. Kuasa is back and she is working with Darhk, but her motivations for doing so were not made clear. I also feel like they retconned her motivation during her first appearance, and I still don't know how to feel about that.

And even though the writing was mostly good this episode, there were some weak decisions made by the writers. I think the joke about the "free pass" was a bit too weird, especially coming from Stein, who is one of the most clean and straightforward characters in this show.

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