The Bear Season 2 | Review by: Benjamin Garrett

Season one of The Bear left me full. I was so entirely satisfied that I didn’t want any more. I didn’t need it. A second season couldn’t possibly reach the bar set by the first, right? Well… I’ve never been so happy to be wrong.

Season two expands on everything the first did so well, without ever losing sight of what made the show special to begin with. The series’ trademark chaos is cranked beyond the boiling point, but amidst that chaos is a group of beautifully complex and layered characters. Whether it’s the ones we’ve already come to know and love, series newcomers, or even single episode guest stars, every person in this show is exceptionally written and realized.

The performances, once again, are stellar. Jeremy Allen White shows us why he deserved that Golden Globe win last year, but every member of this ridiculously talented ensemble gets a chance to shine. The higher episode count and longer runtimes really allow us to dive deeper into these characters’ lives. In fact, some of the season’s best episodes are the ones focused on just one person.

This show truly excels when sh*t hits the fan, and there’s no finer example than episode six. This supersized, star-studded pressure cooker of an episode captures the chaos of big family gatherings perfectly. It’s not only the best episode of the series, but one of the best episodes of any show you’ll watch this year. Big name guest stars can often be distracting, but they’re utilized perfectly here, including a career best performance from Jamie Lee Curtis.

Stressful, inspiring, poignant and hilarious - The Bear takes all of these ingredients and serves up another exceptional season, cementing itself as one of the finest shows currently on TV. The way this series respects the culinary industry, as well as every one of its characters, make it a show you need to be watching.

5/5

Review by: Benjamin Garrett

#review #thebear #chicago #toronto #show #tv #series #drama

Rating all V/H/S/Halloween Segments

Like sorting through your candy after a night of trick-or-treating, V/H/S/ Halloween is a mixed bag. The eighth instalment in this cult-favourite horror anthology series comes up short of previous entries, but there are still a couple of treats in here that should satisfy your twisted cravings. A chilling still from V/H/S/ Halloween . Diet Phantasma This wraparound segment follows an R&D team testing a new low-calorie soda made with “real ghosts.” It’s silly fun, but gets a bit repetitive with each new test subject. The commercial playing during the end credits was a nice touch. Rating: ★★½☆ Coochie Coochie Coo This short feels like walking through a haunted house — but not in a good way. The plot is like something torn from a creepypasta thread. Everything is constantly being spelled out in a painfully obvious way. The practical effects and makeup are decent, and this is probably the only segment that comes close to being scary...

The Mandalorian Season 3 Review

Listen, I love Star Wars. I will always love Star Wars. The original and prequel trilogies were a big part of my childhood, and helped shape my love of cinema. While The Mandalorian isn’t among my favourites in the franchise, I thought it had a promising first season and a significantly stronger season two. Season three had so much potential, but a frustrating lack of focus held it back from greatness. This show’s always had a bit of an identity crisis, but it’s never been as clear as it is here. Does it want to be a procedural-style adventure of the week, or tell an epic, multi-season spanning arc? Season one leaned toward the former, while Season two found a satisfying balance of both. Season three tries to find that balance, but the overarching story it wants to tell is bigger than the few episodes allotted to do so. There are only 8 chapters, some barely over 30 min. That’s a fair...

Andor Season 1 Review

I’m going to make a bold statement here, but one I honestly believe to be true. Andor is the best Star Wars has been since the Original Trilogy. Fans in search of epic space battles, lightsaber duels, or a direct connection to the Skywalker Saga may walk away disappointed. However, those in search of a deeper, more mature entry in this long-standing franchise will bask in everything the show has to offer. Star Wars has always been more focused on telling a big, sweeping story filled with exciting action sequences. The galaxy always felt huge, but it never really felt full. Andor changes all of that, with a grounded and personal story unlike anything Star Wars has given us before. This is a thoughtfully constructed, character-driven series that adds depth and life to the galaxy in ways none of the movies or shows have been able to. With twelve episodes, this is the longest Disney Plus series yet, giving the story ample room to breathe and develop at a natural pace. It smartly avoids the...

1st Reviews

Search This Blog