groovywagster
Lifetime Total
1+
IMDb Member
8 years
Reviews
House of Cards (2013)
Political Drama for Mouthbreathers
First, I admit that my score of 1 is a protest. There are moments of stellar drama, pretty good acting, and consistently excellent cinematography. I think a fair score would be 6 or 7. The show's fatal flaw is that the plot grows weaker as it progresses, and season 4 continues the trend. The show exists in an alternate reality that puts nearly no effort into building context to make its own setting plausible or the stakes of various conflicts meaningful.
For instance, America experiences a gas crisis with invisible origins by sending a Russian asylum seeker to China. Apparently, Russia doesn't trust China, a fact revealed by brief expository dialogue, and Russian president Petrov-- a ridiculous caricature of Vladimir Putin-- is forced to negotiate an $800 billion dollar bailout of the Russian economy. The wrecked state of the Russian economy is also revealed via brief expository dialogue. A condition of the bailout is that Russia grants the US and China oil drilling rights, instantly solving the American gas crisis faster than it emerged.
Don't forget that, in the middle of this, President Underwood is shot by a depressed ex-reporter who is on parole and in the witness protection system. Without explanation, the ex-reporter obtains a firearm and travels to a campaign rally, walks up, and pops the guy.
Back to the main plot . . . Now that Russia is subdued, it's time to face ICO, which is House of Cards' ISIS. Ripped from the headlines or too lazy to write an original story? You decide! Meanwhile, the DNC throws an open convention and the entire party decides it's a great idea to nominate Claire Underwood for vice president, but Frank and Claire are pulling all the strings in the background. I can't go on.
House of Cards is really great, unless you close your mouth, breathe through your nose, and think about what these writers are trying to feed you.
For instance, America experiences a gas crisis with invisible origins by sending a Russian asylum seeker to China. Apparently, Russia doesn't trust China, a fact revealed by brief expository dialogue, and Russian president Petrov-- a ridiculous caricature of Vladimir Putin-- is forced to negotiate an $800 billion dollar bailout of the Russian economy. The wrecked state of the Russian economy is also revealed via brief expository dialogue. A condition of the bailout is that Russia grants the US and China oil drilling rights, instantly solving the American gas crisis faster than it emerged.
Don't forget that, in the middle of this, President Underwood is shot by a depressed ex-reporter who is on parole and in the witness protection system. Without explanation, the ex-reporter obtains a firearm and travels to a campaign rally, walks up, and pops the guy.
Back to the main plot . . . Now that Russia is subdued, it's time to face ICO, which is House of Cards' ISIS. Ripped from the headlines or too lazy to write an original story? You decide! Meanwhile, the DNC throws an open convention and the entire party decides it's a great idea to nominate Claire Underwood for vice president, but Frank and Claire are pulling all the strings in the background. I can't go on.
House of Cards is really great, unless you close your mouth, breathe through your nose, and think about what these writers are trying to feed you.
The Muppets. (2015)
Don't be fooled! The muppets are in fine form!
The point of this show is that the muppets grew up with us. Sure, it's not as innocent as the original, but the content isn't vulgar or inappropriate in any way. These just aren't the muppets of 1976, and they shouldn't be. Even if the muppets are fuzzy and ridiculous, I need to relate to them or the comedy won't resonate. I don't want the muppets I loved as a kid. I want the muppets I can love now.
Regarding the controversy over the portrayal of Ms. Piggy, there's nothing inherently wrong with any character, male or female, having shortcomings, or even being betrayed in a negative light. Kermit isn't portrayed as a beacon of virtue either. By laughing at these grown up muppets with grown up problems who have to learn how to find peace with themselves and others, I get a good healthy laugh at myself.
Regarding the controversy over the portrayal of Ms. Piggy, there's nothing inherently wrong with any character, male or female, having shortcomings, or even being betrayed in a negative light. Kermit isn't portrayed as a beacon of virtue either. By laughing at these grown up muppets with grown up problems who have to learn how to find peace with themselves and others, I get a good healthy laugh at myself.