xmasinswiss

I get it. Fincher was bitter about the studio enforcing "closure" on the "who killed Laura Palmer" mystery 25 years ago because it just went on and on. So he threw a fit, left the original show, and now came back to shoot 18 hours of bitter commentary on the movie industry, its viewers, and the misunderstood artists.

The issue is, this commentary is a massive chore to watch.

I "get" it. I understand the symbolism (in my own way). I sympathize with his frustration. I really do. I also like that it's a TV show which is self-aware and is sort of having a conversation with itself.

But I'm not going to sit through 18 hours of lifeless scenes telling me the original show is dead, and so the characters are lifeless and frankly stupid, and Season 3 is only here because the viewers wanted it but there's no life in the story.

I could stomach 3 episodes, after which I started to howl. Yes, it's arty, and raw, and emotional. It's also wooden, has intentionally bad special effects, and the dialogues between Lucy and Andy are an insult to anyone's intelligence.

And boy, do I not give a flying **** about what's going on here. We all live in a dream, we are all TV show characters, so let's all behave like the worst stereotypes out there.

And if I hear another coffee and cherry pie joke, I'll be physically sick.

Seriously.

Long, thoughtful stares. Constant silences. Mundane dialogues:

"hey, how are you today?"

"I'm good, and you?"

"Ahh, I'm well, well. He was a good quarterback, wasn't he?"

"Oh yeah, a great quarterback. Coming for the barbecue this weekend?"

Silence.

Long stare.

Sloooow, monotone music. Ohhhhmmmmm.

Forest.

Hills.

A lake.

Beautiful landscape. And slow, monotone ohhhmmmm.

If I wanted to meditate, I'll do this on my own. Without a Netflix subscription.

Season1 was fun.

Season 2, I'm watching as a background noise - relaxing music and nice landscapes. An occasional long stare.

I've done my expense reports, scheduled my meetings, walked my dog. Meanwhile, the protagonist is still trudging through the gloomy forest. He now limps - what a dramatic plot development.

Ohhhmmmm.

I'm really unsure about all the super bad reviews. What did they watch?

I'm putting a 10 to offset some 1s.

Really enjoyed the show and binged it on a slow Saturday with a bottle of red. The actors and the photography are second to none.

At first, I assumed the story would be over in 5 minutes if only the "frogs" had involved the police immediately. But slowly, it became clear to me why they behaved the way they did.

I actually liked the measured pace which keeps accelerating as the show progresses. The authors masterfully create a gloomy, heavy atmosphere. I had to stop and take a walk in my garden a few times because I needed to breathe.

The lack of open communication which has frustrated a few reviewers is very common to Japan and Korea. And believe me, it's way more maddening in the real life.

Overall, the series both entertaining and deep, heavy and thoughtful. I can totally understand how a psychopath can get obsessed with a location or a person to "play" while turning everyone's lives into hell.

Only one caveat... why do most Korean shows have to have this disgusting slurping and munching sound every time someone eats? *shudder*