ruhi-yaman

I am a retired academic. Those reviewers who thought that scientists are depicted erroneously in this series (watched the first season only) either never worked in a university or have such exalted expectations of researchers that have nothing to do with the reality. What is at stake in the plot is once in a lifetime innovation that would catapult the innovating team to the top of the heap instantly. "Researchers just research, everything they do is logical, rational or reasonable" would be an inane statement. They are human beings, just like the rest of us; perhaps more introverted, timid and jealous than most of us. As for the misogyny, misanthropy and predatory behaviour, they certainly match any fictional villain. I'd met many an Arthur Wilde in many countries - as convincingly acted by John Lynch.

It has some plot holes as all good thrillers do and the acting wavers between excellent and passable, which is common in international casting. But the story is not by any means too far-fetched, boring or unbelievable. It deserves 7/10. I added one star for the unusual setting which reminded me of John Carpenter's tour de force, The Thing.

The message is certainly right. I'll even go as far as the story is plausible. Those reviewers who thought that the satire concerning the President in particular and authority figures in general was overdone must have been in coma throughout the Trump years. Acting is as good as it can get with a script like this one, DiCaprio, Lawrence, and Streep shine in particular. Production values are high.

But it is neither as original nor as affecting as its producers seem to think it is. It is clearly made with an eye on commercial success and this reviewer couldn't shake the feeling of artifice from beginning to end. It is largely because that its broad and cheap satire does not sit well with its well-placed drama.

And the ending is sickeningly saccharine. Hold hands and pray? This viewer, for one, would go out on the streets and laugh and dance, or disappear into a bed with a lover, two bottles of single malt and some good weed and continue until we both pass out. Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

I watched the first two episodes. I don't think I'll go back. I made the mistake of grading it '5' but on the second episode took down to '5'. Production values alone deserves that. Btw, people who find propaganda in such a trivial fantasy make me laugh.

I would have watched it, although there isn't a single idea in the series that isn't derivative. You can trace each scene from Nikita to The Incredible Hulk and countless others. If we only consider "gorgeous heroine kicks serious ass" concept there were at least a dozen of them in the last few years. Atomic Blonde, Ava, The Old Guard, Maria, The Assassin - the list goes on.

Is there room for another one? Of course, there is. The lead actress, an ex-Russian acrobat, with just the right amount of Slavic melancholy in her eyes, is perfect for the role. But it is so badly written, neither the dialogue nor the action makes any sense. Shape shifting is one thing, shifting into a new person with just the right size of uniform is another. Within two episodes I have witnessed just about all the clichés of the genre and then some. There is a plethora of good series to watch nowadays. You need to be a true addict of the sub-genre to waste time on this one.