anchitbaishya2004

I put this on a lazy afternoon hoping to enjoy some good ol murder mystery. Safe to say I was pleased yet somewhat unsatisfied.

Speaking of the positives. The series is visually striking. The Yosemite National Park setting is breathtaking. Every frame feels like a nature documentary wrapped around a thriller. Eric Bana gives a nuanced performance as Agent Turner that holds the emotional core of the story. He's believable and grounded. The themes of grief, family, and inner conflict are earnest and handled with subtlety, even if not always deeply explored. Some of the emotional moments hit hard and it flows well across it's six episodes.

Now the series hits quite some rocky steps. The most noticeable issue is the predictable plot. You can likely guess the key twists an episode or two in advance. Some of the characters act more like plot devices than fully developed people. A lot of the subplots feel rushed or thin.

Overall, Untamed is a visually lush, emotionally restrained thriller that delivers a satisfying, if familiar, story wrapped in grief, secrets, and the stillness of the wilderness. It's not groundbreaking, but is still a decent watch.

James Gunn's Superman is a welcome return to optimism in superhero cinema but it doesn't soar as high as it wants to.

Let's talk about what works. David Corenswet brings charm to the role, delivering a sincere and grounded Superman who feels both alien and deeply human. He doesn't try to mimic Henry Cavill or Christopher Reeve, instead crafts his own character. Rachel Brosnahan shines as Lois Lane, bringing energy, wit, and emotional intelligence to the screen. Her dynamic with Clark is one of the film's strongest elements. Nicholas Hault as Lex Luthor is deliciously evil and cunning. The movie's hopeful tone replaces the usual gloominess of DC. The film feels lighter, vibrant and more comic-booky in spirit, something DC has needed for a while. The themes of identity, belonging, and moral responsibility are well-handled. It's thoughtful without being preachy.

Now let's talk about what doesn't work quite as well. The movie suffers from pacing issues especially in the middle act which drags the momentum down. Some scenes feel like filler, and the plot occasionally loses focus. The movie is overloaded with CGI, which is to be expected, but it makes the movie feel like it's trying to match Marvel-level spectacle instead of doing its own thing.

Overall, Superman has heart and sincerity, and it does a lot right, especially when it focuses on the humanity of Superman rather than trying to be epic. It's not the best Superman film, but it's a solid foundation for the new DC Universe.

Ginny & Georgia follows teenage Ginny Miller and her unpredictable, charismatic young mother Georgia as they try to settle down in a small New England town. Beneath the mother-daughter banter and high school drama, however, lie secrets, trauma, crime, and complex emotional wounds.

Let's start off with the positives. Georgia is one of the most layered female characters in modern teen drama. She's charming, manipulative, loving and dangerous with Brianne Howey bringing out the best in her performance of the character, stealing every scene she's in. Ginny, meanwhile, is a teenager wrestling with identity, race, mental health, and family loyalty with Antonia Gentry delivering a believable and grounded portrayal of a troubled teen. Then we have a great cast of supporting characters who adds comic relief and emotional depth to the show particularly Sara Waisglass as Maxine, Felix Mallard as Marcus and Raymond Ablack as Joe. The show explores Ginny's biracial identity and the confusion she faces. It's sometimes messy, but it's one of the more realistic attempts at depicting these struggles in a teen context.

One of the things I appreciate about the show is how it showcases mental health issues. Anxiety, self-harm, depression, and therapy are all addressed, especially through Ginny and Marcus's character. Another great aspect about the show is how it manages to keep a sense of suspense in it's plotline. From mysterious past crimes to shady relationships, there's always a sense that something is about to explode, making it addictive to watch.

However, the show also has it's fair share of issues. It often swings between light teen comedy and intense drama, making it tonally inconsistent. One moment it's a quirky high school scene, the next it's about murder or self-harm. This tonal whiplash can be jarring. Then there's the overstuffed plotlines. The series sometimes tries to juggle too many arcs: political campaigns, love triangles, crime, trauma, identity issues all at once resulting in a messy execution. Some of the characters feel underdeveloped. And the character of Ginny comes across as annoying and bratty most of the time making her unlikable. I know she's had to suffer a lot but it could've been handled a lot better. I blame the writing on this.

Speaking of the seasons, the first two were okay. There were a lot of cringey moments paired with inconsistent tone and pacing and lots of melodrama but the performances, themes and the mystery elements always work the best. However, the third season took me by surprise cause of how dark and emotionally mature it was compared to the previous seasons. Georgia faces consequences of her actions bringing in a whole lot of courtroom drama which was entertaining to watch. The stakes feel more real. The family bond deepens between Georgia and her kids. Every character is explored through an emotional lens. Though it still had some pacing issues, it was still the best season by far.

Overall, Ginny & Georgia is a mess and that's partly why it works. It's imperfect, emotionally intense, sometimes ridiculous, but deeply engaging, all of which makes it a thrilling show nonetheless.