Hey, look at that, we’re half way through 2022. Huzzah!
I obviously missed posting on the first Monday of July, mainly due to it being 4th of July weekend, which was quite busy. But we’re here now, and that’s all that matters.
I think I can swiftly summarize June as being more of the same as of late. Ashamed as I am to admit it, I haven’t really been getting too much writing work done as of late, mainly on account of me still trying to get acclimated to my new job. The nine to five is seriously not as easy to get used to as I thought it would be. So, some things are getting pushed back, unfortunately.
That said, my eyes are still keenly on the ball, and I think I’m still in line to accomplish most of short-term goals, in terms of finishing up stories and such. I will assuredly have updates on plenty of that stuff (short stories, mainly) in subsequent posts.
As for now, though, seeing as though June was mostly uneventful (you know, aside from half a dozen catastrophic nationwide social and/or political developments), I thought I’d instead use this post to do a brief review round up of a ton of shows and movies that have come out recently. Because for some reason, everyone decided to drop all the awesome stuff within the last month. So, let’s jump into some of that!
The Umbrella Academy Season 3
Boy, this one sure took forever to come out, huh? I suppose I can’t blame them, given the whole world had to shut down for two years. Putting that aside, though, I was beyond excited to jump back into this show. After binging the first two seasons in 2020, I was immediately hooked, largely on account of the stellar performances and near-flawless character work, and I couldn’t wait for more. Luckily, the wait was worth it.
Season three of The Umbrella Academy picks right up where season two left off, and it’s loads of fun, if at times a bit self-indulgent. The crux of what makes this season work, as with much of the rest of the show, is the characters. The character development in this series has always been top notch, and season three effortlessly continues that trend. In my honest opinion, this might be some of the best the series has to offer, with characters like Viktor and Allison, played by Elliot Page and Emmy Raver-Lampman respectfully, stealing the show.
As with the first two seasons, the main plot revolves around yet another doomsday scenario that the Umbrella Academy, now alongside the Sparrow Academy, have to stop. Somehow, this rather basic arc remains about as interesting it was in the previous seasons. It can be a bit dry at times, but it actually services the development of the characters quite well.
Despite all the characters being really fun, though, this season feels the most bloated in terms of how many people it has to actually deal with. In certain instances, it unfortunately feels like some characters exist just to pad out the narrative, because while all the various plot threads are largely entertaining, they’re not all necessarily the most interesting. Hell, in some cases, the opposite is true. Believe it or not, the two do not always go hand in hand. Still, this season was wildly enjoyable, overall, and it should definitely be on your binge list.
The Black Phone
Anyone who knows me knows I’m not the biggest fan of horror movies. But even still, every once in a while, something like The Black Phone will come along and pique my curiosity. And I’m pretty glad I took a chance on this one. This suspenseful horror flick demonstrates much of director Scott Derrickson’s creativity and talent for telling wild stories. Ethan Hawke absolutely steals the show as the villain of the story, the cynical and twisted Grabber, a man who embodies the age-old concept of, “Don’t talk to strangers.”
Above all else, I look at The Black Phone as a cautionary tale—a very twisted and entertaining one, but a cautionary tale, nonetheless. I vividly remember the days as a kid when my mother would wag a finger at me and ramble about not posting on social media or YouTube because people would find me and kidnap me. Of course, nowadays, it’s commonplace for people to make Instagram accounts for their babies, so, you know, “the times, they are a changing.” The film serves as a reminder that there are simply a lot of demented people out there, and that it still pays to be careful.
I will say, though, while I understand it’s not uncommon for horror films, and films in general, to leave certain plot elements open-ended, this film definitely tries to get away with that a little too much. I’m all for dramatic developments that are left open for interpretation or that the audience just has to figure out on their own, but this film gives us a psycho kidnapper, a girl who has strange visions, and a haunted basement/telephone, and explains literally none of it. I would’ve liked some elaboration on at least one of these elements. That said, this is still a vastly entertaining flick, and I definitely recommend it to the horror fanatics out there.
The Boys Season 3
Ho-ly shit.
I knew I was excited for the latest season of The Boys, but after a mixed season two, I went into it with reserved excitement. After the first three episodes dropped, though, all those reservations flew right out the window. And after watching the full season, I can confirm that this is what pitch perfect, powerhouse television looks like. This is superhero/political satire done right, to a tee.
Season three of The Boys is probably the best one so far. Picking up loosely where season two left off, the Boys themselves are balls deep in screwing over the lives of deadbeat supes that need to be taught a lesson or two. Of course, it doesn’t take long for things to start unraveling, particularly for Homelander, who’s continued descent into madness and chaos are nonstop fun to watch. Seriously, this guy is scary, and so is the flagrant manner in which he’s willing to tear everything down just to get some validation.
Aside from the stellar political intrigue and hilarious gags that are paramount to this show’s success, The Boys continues to boast some of the best performances in television to date. Characters like Hughie and Annie are carried effortlessly into new, uncharted territories, thanks largely in part to Jack Quaid and Erin Moriarty, respectively. Even characters like Black Noir are offered a surprising amount of depth here, and Jensen Ackles absolutely shines as Soldier Boy.
Seriously, anyone who’s a fan of superhero movies and shows should be watching this, no questions asked. Of course, provided they’re of the appropriate age. Although, even then, I say screw it. Kids, go nuts, defy the patriarchy, and watch this show!
Thor: Love and Thunder
God dammit, Marvel. I was so very excited for this one. I really was. But alas, it seems they’ve decided to take a big step backwards with Thor: Love and Thunder. In an era where Marvel have been trying to consistently break new ground with their characters, this is a serious misstep, and it’s probably the most basic MCU film since The Avengers.
As someone who has actually enjoyed most of Phase Four of the MCU, this simply doesn’t stack up with what has come before. This is especially true when you compare this movie to the one that immediately preceded it, Doctor Strange and the Multiverse of Madness, which wasn’t perfect, but it was far more enjoyable and consistent in its tone and direction. This, to me, feels like an excess of what director Taika Waititi loves doing. And, unfortunately, it doesn’t work terribly well.
I should note, Thor: Love and Thunder isn’t necessarily a bad movie. I wouldn’t qualify it as such, at least. Truly, it’s perfectly fine. It’s a fun rom-com with acceptable action sequences and outstanding performances. But goddamn, is it so drastically inconsistent and tone deaf. Perhaps the biggest sin this movie commits is wasting its villain, Gorr the God Butcher, played splendidly by Christian Bale. I just don’t get how you use such a notable bad guy, played by one of the greatest actors of our time, and give him less than 15 minutes of screen time. It boggles my mind. Like, why am I only hearing about all the gods Gorr is killing?! Show me something for fuck’s sake!
It’s also a shame to see Natalie Portman’s return to the character of Jane Foster be sort of bland and uninteresting. As someone who loves the Jane Foster Thor run from the comics, I was excited to see this adapted to film, but unfortunately, she comes off as about as one-note as the rest of the film’s heroes. Granted, her chemistry with Chris Hemsworth’s Thor is still outstanding, but I just wanted more from them. Overall, this film clearly needed to be longer, given how much it was trying to juggle.
I’m sure most Marvel fans will still find something to enjoy with this one, but again, it’s a bit of a blunder when compared to the rest of what the MCU has had to offer in recent years. Here’s hoping Marvel tries a little harder with their next one.
Stranger Things Season 4
Perhaps the only thing bigger than Marvel’s latest theatrical outing is the rockstar of a season Stranger Things had over the past month. As someone who enjoys the show but thinks it is often overhyped to shit, I was beyond thrilled to find that season four slaps in pretty much every regard.
Season four of Stranger Things reminds me of why I fell in love with this show in the first place. It goes back to everything it did so well in the first season, while still continuing to build off of many of the stronger developments from seasons two and three. Loveable characters, an unbreakable atmosphere, spectacular editing, and a truly gripping story make this a standout season for the show. It certainly rivals season one in my book.
This season has such an outstanding grasp on its tone, and the storytelling and character work as on point, as always. I was genuinely surprised to find myself actually scared by this show again, and not just because the monsters look big and scary. No, Vecna and his stupid obsession with clocks left me quite rattled, to say the least.
Also, I have to give a shoutout to Eddie Munson, portrayed flawlessly by Joseph Quinn. Hands down the best character of the season (other than my boy, Steve Harrington). I am also totally on board with the theory of Eddie returning in season five as Kas the Bloody-Handed, who, in D&D lore, is the scorned former lieutenant of Vecna who turns on his master and slays the lich lord.
I definitely agree with the critic consensus that season four can feel a bit bloated at times, with several episodes being over an hour long. However, the sharp pacing and constant excitement ensure that not much time is ever wasted on insignificant developments, so I can mostly forgive this. All in all, this season is a massive success, and I’m glad that I can actually be excited again for the future of this show.
What’s Next?
So, with all of those out of the way, what’s next? Well, provided I can get my act together this month, I’ll hopefully have some better news for you all come August. As for now, though, we continue trucking along as we always do. I hope June was more profitable for you all out there, and I hope to be reporting in higher spirits come next month. Or whenever I post next; I don’t know if July will actually have anything else for me to chat about. Guess we’ll find out.
Until then, peace!