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Showing posts with label tv show. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tv show. Show all posts

Monday, February 8, 2016

The X-Files Season 1 Review

The X-Files has returned to television with a new six-episode event, so it’s time to take a look back at the very first season of the legendary sci-fi television series.
For those unaware, The X-Files is the cult classic science fiction series that has spawned a thousand imitators, including recent fan favorites such as Warehouse 13, Fringe, and even Supernatural. 

The X-Files follows two FBI agents, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, who investigate unexplainable cases ranging from aliens, to the supernatural, to genetic mutation, which are referred to by the FBI as The X-Files. Essentially, The X-Files is about anything strange and unexplainable with each episode featuring a wide variety of different strange phenomenon. If you are interested in the paranormal, chances are at least one episode covers something that you will enjoy.

The Good: Realistic feel, Revolutionary concept, Thought-provoking and solvable mysteries, Strong character development, Endlessly intriguing sci-fi and supernatural concepts, Wide variety of mysteries, Using real life aspects, Iconic opening theme, Many notable guest stars,

The Bad: Occasionally weak writing,

Plot: 9.5/10- Despite an often episodic crime drama format, The X-Files' wide variety of different cases and concepts range from a creepy horror tone to mystery suspense to more familiar crime drama elements. Every episode introduces something intriguing which sends my mind racing to figure out what it could be. The series is not predictable, because not every case is sci-fi or supernatural. Unlike almost every other crime drama, however, each episode is often so unique that it never gets boring. The only common element is the "Monster-of-the week" format.

As someone who is interested in, and knows about the real life paranormal conspiracy theories about UFOs, ghosts, and bigfoot, X-Files’ way of expanding upon reality, yet still remaining subtle, is often executed with excellence. Of course, it is all fictional, but the basis in reality and the realistic tone gives The X-Files a sense of reality not found in many other sci-fi works.

The only weak element of The X-Files’ plot is the occasional smaller things in a few episodes that do not always make sense, but again, that is typical for most 24 episode series.

Characterization: 8.2/10- In the first episode, FBI agent Dana Scully is assigned to be Fox Mulder's parent to investigate the X-Files. When Muler was a child, his little sister was abducted, by what he believed were aliens. Years later, Mulder joined the FBI in order to pursue his life's goal of finding and exposing the truth behind extraterrestrials and other paranormal coverups. On the other hand, agent Dana Scully, who is a skeptic that often tries to explain things through science, is assigned to the determine whether or not the X-Files project is worth continuing. Being a skeptic, Scully clashes with Mulder, but not in an annoying or obstructive way. As the season continues, their working relationship develops well in a platonic way (at least so far, don't spoil it for anyone), which is nice to see, and I wish that would happen in more modern series. 

According to what I have read, Scully's role was somewhat revolutionary at the time in terms of roles on TV, which makes sense. She is one of my favorite types of heroine because the series rarely draws direct attention to the fact she is a woman working in the FBI, but rather just another agent in the bureau. Both Mulder and Scully receive a solid amount of develop, especially Mulder. While there are a few minor recurring characters, Mulder and Scully are the only ones that receive much time; however, each episode introduces new characters, most of which are interesting.  

Acting: 7.9/10- David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson take some time to grow into their roles, but once they do, their acting improves and remains quite good throughout the series. The first season alone of The X-Files features many guest stars, who would later become notable actors in other media including, Seth Green (Mass Effect, Robot Chicken, Family Guy), CCH Pounder (Warehouse 13, Avatar), and Roger Cross (Arrow, Continuum).

Special effects: 7.9/10- Despite being more than 20 years old, the special effects hold up relatively well overall. Being that most of the science fiction elements are obscured and mysterious, special effects are not often used, but rather mysterious things are briefly glimpsed.

Soundtrack: 7.5/10- Some of the tracks are effective at creating an eerie atmosphere, although most of them are not worth listening to on their own. On the other hand, the opening theme is iconic and perfectly fitting the series mysteriousness.

Humor: 7.3/10- The X-Files contains some good bits of humor throughout the interplay between Mulder and Scully, although the series is mostly serious.

Entertainment Value: 9.2/10- The X-Files is my type of TV series. It’s mysterious, intriguing, and dark, yet not overly dark, and containing enough wit and characterization to constantly hold my interest.

Overall: 8.9/10- The X-Files is an intriguing, entertaining, and unique twist on the standard crime drama that no other copy-cat has yet to best in terms of quality. Even today, season one of the X-Files is worthwhile viewing experience for fans of science fiction, supernatural, or crime drama. Nothing else is quite like it.

Closing comments: Remember everyone, "Trust no one," and "The Truth Is Out There."

Recommended for: Sci-fi fans, Crime drama fans, Anyone, Supernatural fans, Warehouse 13 fans, Fringe fans,

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Monday, January 25, 2016

Top 10 TV Comedies: Part 3

The Top 10 TV Comedies of All-Time comes to a close with the final three entries on the list!



3: Frasier
A spinoff of the popular Cheers TV series, Frasier might the most consistently high quality TV comedy ever made. Every TV series is bound to have moments of weak writing, and yet Frasier, despite 11 seasons and 264 episodes, rarely features a truly weak episode. Not every episode is the funniest thing ever, although many episodes are, even the weaker ones make you laugh several times. Honestly, Frasier is the type of comedy that everyone could at least get something out of and that everyone should watch because it is not especially crude, or at least no more so than Seinfeld. The series follows Frasier Crane, his brother Niles, their father, Martin, and the physiotherapist, Daphne Moon as they go about their everyday life, and even though it is a spinoff, having only seen a handful of Cheers episodes, you can watch Frasier without any prior knowledge.
Watch on: Netflix, Hulu

2: Seinfeld
If you haven't lived under a rock your entire life, chances are you have at least heard of Seinfeld, if not seen or heard it referenced at some points. Seinfeld, described as "a show about nothing," obviously did a lot of something to become probably the most popular and well known comedy of all-time, and for good reason, it is absolutely hysterical! The series follows a fictionalized version of Jerry Seinfeld and his friends in New York and all of the insane misadventures that the group gets themselves into. If you somehow have not seen Seinfeld, what the heck are you doing!? Watch it! It's beyond a classic!
Watch on: Hulu
1: Parks and Recreation
Parks and Recreation is very much a personal pick as it is a favorite of mine (obviously, hence its ranking). After watching Seinfeld and the old classic comedies, the new brand of comedies like The Office and Arrested Development never seemed to interest me enough to watch. However, after Guardians of the Galaxy, I desperately needed more of the hysterical Chris Pratt, which led me to Parks and Recreation, and thus my doorway to many modern comedies in the Single-Camera style. Parks and Recreation finds the perfect middle ground between character drama and humor, and while Seinfeld or Frasier might be funnier, Parks and Recreation's characters are incredibly likable and quirky. With that said, Parks and Rec being number one is much more of a biased subjective pick as any of the other comedies on this list could be number one depending on your taste in humor. Regardless, they are all worth watching!
Watch on: Netflix, Hulu

Honorable Mention: Psych
Psych is a crime mystery drama with a heavy dose of comedy blended throughout. Often times, it is funnier than the majority of comedies, yet smarter than the majority of drama crimes. Since Psych does not fall into the usual definition of a comedy sitcom, it does not qualify for the list. However, if it did, Psych would likely be number one thanks to its ingenious humor and mysteries.
Watch on: Netflix

What are your favorite comedies? What do you think of my picks? Please comment below and let me know!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Monday, January 11, 2016

Top 10 TV Comedies: Part 2

After far too long of a break, my Top 10 TV Comedies list is back on track with the second part of the list!





7: M*A*S*H
After growing up watching hilarious comedies like I Love Lucy and the Andy Griffith Show, M*A*S*H was the first comedy to show me how the genre could deliver character drama that was as entertaining as the comedy. Following a United States Army Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) during the Korean War, M*A*S*H became one of the first successful comedies with a darker, more serious type of humor. As a whole, other comedies might be funnier, but M*A*S*H's strong characterization and unforgettable character quirks makes it hold up just as well today as it did all those years ago.
Watch on: Netflix
6: Fawlty Towers
If you want to laugh and only have to watch 12 episodes, look no further than the British comedy classic, Fawlty Towers. Starring Monty Python veteran, John Cleese, it is possibly Cleese's best work, and considering how hysterical his other works are, that's saying something. Fawlty Towers' premise is simple. It follows Basil Fawlty, his wife, and the people that work at his hotel and all the hilarity that ensues! If you want a short and easy to watch example of the Brit's quick wit, look no further than Fawlty Towers.
Watch on: Netflix

5: The Office
Of all the many comedies that I have seen, no other comedy features characters with the level of development that The Office displays. Yes, The Office is hysterical, especially seasons 2-7, and it is full of jokes and quotes that left me in stitches. However, what sets it apart is how you care about the characters as they live their lives and the drama that follows, along with the great comedy. Unfortunately, after Steve Carell left, the series' writing took a massive drop in quality to the point where it was not even funny during the middle portion of the final season. Despite that, The Office is one of my favorite comedies with some of my favorite characters in television.
Watch on: Netflix, Hulu

4: The IT Crowd
A British comedy about the IT (Information Technologies) department at Reynholm Industries, a fictional corporation in London, The IT Crowd is one of the pure funniest TV shows ever made. With a zany style all its own, The IT Crowd is a unique comedy to be sure. Instead of going the route of quantity over quality, like many US sitcoms, The IT Crowd only features 24 episodes over 4 seasons. Each episode is a setup to several big jokes with the punchline at the end, with many smaller hilarious jokes intertwined. Describing how the series' humor works is difficult, but if you are up for some wacky and occasionally surreal comedy that defies conventions, watch The IT Crowd. 
Warning: The IT Crowd is intended for mature audiences. There are occasional uses of strong profanity, as well as potentially offensive humor (but what comedy doesn't have that?).
Watch on: Netflix, Hulu

What are your favorite comedies? What do you think of my picks? Please comment below and let me know! If you missed it, click here to read part 1.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Top 10 TV Comedies: Part 1

Comedy is arguably the most subjective form of entertainment. What makes one person laugh hysterically might offend another. Despite this, there are many TV comedies that many agree to be among the best, and today I rank my favorites. My taste in comedy is more or less a mix of classic multi-camera comedies, which I grew up watching, and the recent single-camera comedies, which I have been watching thanks to Netflix. For me, comedies are a perfect way to spend a short 20 minutes to sit back, relax, and just have fun. 

As with every list, there are still TV shows that I have not seen. Originally, I intended to write up this list a month ago, but after reader's poll results, I decided to watch one of the most popular comedies, Arrested Development, so that my list could be complete. And of course, the list is ranked how much I enjoyed each TV show, and how much it made me laugh.

10: 30 Rock
A TV show about making a TV show, 30 Rock never ceases to deliver the most weird and random moments of comedy on television. 30 Rock follows producer of a Saturday Night Live type variety show and the absurd situations that the crazy crew gets themselves into. Unlike comedies like The Office or M*A*S*H, 30 Rock's humor is not content to remain within the logical real world. Often times, absurd things happen, and the writers' ability to always come up with something new and random every week is rather impressive. With that said, the show gets off to a slow start and the characters are not as well developed as many of the other shows on the list. It is mostly just a funny and random show, but it certainly made me laugh.

8: I Love Lucy
One of the comedy classics that defined an era, I Love Lucy remains just as funny today as did it more than 60 years ago. In general, I do not rewatch episodes of television. However, the exception is classic comedies, and I Love Lucy is a classic that I have seen many, many times. Unforgettable episodes such as "Lucy and Superman" and "Job Switching" make me laugh every single time, no matter how times I have seen it. That right there is a sign of a true comedy classic, and if you have somehow never seen this legendary series, do yourself a favor and go watch it, right now!


7: Arrested Development
Do not misunderstand, Arrested Development is an excellent comedy. Many consider it to be the best of all-time, and if it is your favorite, that's great. It is said to have inspired the current wave of single-camera comedies like The Office, Parks and Rec, ect, and its impact on the genre is fairly obvious. Arrested Development's first three seasons are all around solid. It mixes random antics and dialogue humor to great effect. The characters are memorable, and the serialized storyline makes it an easy watch. With that said, the latest season 4 by Netflix is basically a disaster. Sure, it is not without its strong points, but it is nothing compared to the previous seasons. Focusing on one or two characters pre-episode, the season completely loses the great chemistry between the cast that made the previous seasons great. Thankfully, the those first three seasons are still a lot of fun!

What do think of my list thus far? Are any of these your favorites? Please comment below and let m know.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Top 10 TV Comedies - Voted by You

Your votes for the Top 10 TV Comedies are in, and the results are very divisive. Only two shows received more than 2 votes, and the rest are tied with 2. Not surprisingly, critical and fan favorites Seinfeld and Arrested Development top the list with three votes apiece followed by a mix of modern and classic comedies all tied for third. A quick question to Arrested Development fans: does the show get any better? I am currently 7 episodes into the first season, and while it is good, it is not great, at least not yet. On that note, once I finish the series, I will get started on my Top 10 Comedies list.
  1. Arrested Development
  2. Seinfeld
  3. Parks and Recreation
  4. The Office
  5. The Dick Van Dyke Show
  6. The Andy Griffith Show
  7. I Love Lucy
  8. The Simpsons
  9. Futurama
  10. Pysch


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Monday, September 7, 2015

Top 5 Characters from The Office - Happy Labor Day!

Happy Labor Day everyone! To celebrate, today I will rank my favorite characters from the most popular comedy about the workplace, The Office! The Office is one of the more popular comedies of recent years, and over the course of the last couple months or so I have been watching the series on Netflix. While not perfect, the series is great thus far with only one season left to watch. However, one thing about the series stood out more than anything about the series is the characters. The Office has some of the most likable, relatable, and all around entertaining to watch in a television comedy. So, let's get this list started! 

5: Creed Bratton
After the top four characters in the show, everyone else is essentially tied. So, it was really between Creed, Daryl, and Holly for the 5th spot, so I gave it to the weird, random, and mysterious Creed Bratton. You never know what this guy is thinking or what he will do next.
Quote: "Every week, I'm supposed to take four hours and do a quality spot-check at the paper mill. And of course the one year I blow it off, this happens."

4: Michael Scott
During first season and the early part of the second, Michael comes off as a complete jerk and an idiot. However, as the series continues, Michael is still an idiot, but actually grows as a character. By the end, you actually like and understand the character. Once he leaves, the series itself feels like it is missing something, and it never regains that same magic again.
Quote: "That's what she said,"

3: Pam Beesly
Now, we have reached the Top 3, and at this point, these characters could be in just about any order, so at number three goes Pam Beesly. For the first three seasons, Pam was my favorite character. During those early seasons, she is the most realistic character in the series and her rapport with Jim is so much fun to watch.

2: Dwight Schrute
Dwight K. Schrute, owner of Schrute farms, "Assistant to the Regional Manager," and the best salesman of the company. Constantly the target of Jim's pranks, Dwight's antics and absurd determination makes him one of the more unique characters in a comedy in recent years. 

1: Jim Halpert
Of the entire excellent cast, Jim Halpert stands out as my favorite. He is likable, relatable, and full of sarcasm and wit. At times, it seems as though Jim is the only sane person in the entire Office as he is usually the voice of reason, well, when he is not pull one of his legendary pranks on Dwight.

Who are your favorite characters from the Office? Please comment below and let me know! And have a Happy Labor everyone!

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Arrow Season 4 Poster

A new poster for Arrow season 4 of Oliver Queen in his new costume has been released. Ultimately, this poster is just the same picture of the season 4 teaser picture from earlier this year, but it does show what Oliver will look like in the new season. Considering the twists last season, it will be interesting to see where the series takes the character. Hopefully, it can improve the story from last season's missteps. Are you watching Arrow? And are you excited for the new season? Please comment below and let me know!


If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

What are Your Favorite TV Comedies?

What are Your Favorite TV Comedies? Please vote in the comments with your favorite TV comedies on are of all-time. Vote for about 5 TV series, but you can vote for a few more or less than 5. To qualify as a comedy, the series must be scripted and not a late night skit series. Examples of comedies include, Seinfeld, Parks and Recreation, MASH, I Love Lucy, ect. 

After the results of the poll, my next list of the Top 10 TV Comedies will begin! Thanks to Matthew Birkhofer for requesting more reader polls, please vote in the comments, and check back soon for the conclusion of the Top 25 Sci-Fi films.


If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Sunday, August 2, 2015

Humans Renewed for Season 2

Humans, a TV series co-produced by AMC, Channel 4, and Kudos, has been set to return with another season. The series is set in the not so distant future where androids, referred to as Synths, are used by virtually everyone from families to corporations. In this slightly sci-fi world, there are a few Synths that have been created with true artificial intelligence. Despite the clichéd premise, the result is surprisingly well executed, and the use of androids in a modern day setting has always interested me, so as a sci-fi fan, this is an entertaining exploration of how androids might affect the modern day economy and society. In America, the series is currently airing, so I recommend checking it out if the premise sounds interesting. Are you watching Humans? Please comment below and let me know!


If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Friday, July 24, 2015

New Muppets TV Show for Adults!?


That's right, The Muppets are returning to television on ABC with a TV Show that is "more adult." Honestly, this sounds like a bizarre idea for prime time television, but at the same time, it might actually be work. From the Comic-Con presentation, which you can watch above, the show is already poking fun at comedies like the Office, while also using its style. 

Despite the Muppets' popularity as a brand, almost anytime something originally aimed at children attempts to target an older audience, the results are complete failure or a small following by as an almost "cult classic." Animation is a perfect example since the mainstream never has been able to take any mature animated series seriously. However, maybe The Muppets can find the perfect balance of adult oriented humor that does not go too far. Either way, I will be sure to give it a shot when it airs on September 22th on ABC. Do you plan to watch it? And do you think it will succeed? Please comment below and let me know! Check back tomorrow for more movie news.


If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Star Wars Rebels - Season 1 Review

Season two of Star Wars Rebels just started airing, so let's take a look back at the surprisingly good first season.
Taking place five years before Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, Star Wars Rebels follows the crew of the Ghost as they make attacks against the Empire as they try to spark a Rebellion. 

Before its release, Star Wars Rebels appeared to be a rushed replacement for the superb Clone Wars series. The trailers for the series made it look even worse than we all feared. However, to everyone's surprise, Star Wars Rebels turned out far better than we could have hoped.

Plot 7.0/10- Star Wars Rebels started a bit shaky with several weak episodes that started to lean towards the younger audience with its tone and content. At times, during the early, the series was a slog to get through, as the more childish tone in the first three episodes was more apparent. Thankfully, by the midway part of the series, Rebels' storylines improved with a stronger tie-in to the larger Star Wars universe and surprise cameos by classic characters.

In terms of tone, Rebels remained generally lighthearted throughout. However, it managed to almost capture the feel of the Original Trilogy at times. As the series headed towards the finale, the episodes continued to improve until the superb final episodes. With that said, Rebels fails to live up to the Clone Wars' dark and complex stories, yet it still had its moments of darkness.

Characterization: 7.2/10- The crew of misfits actually had some development, and to a degree, they reminded me of Firefly's crew of likable characters. 

Ezra Bridger is the main protagonist, and he is easily the least interesting. His character seems to be more aimed at the younger audience, and even though he progresses as a character, he is just an average character.

Kanan Jarrus is a human Jedi that survived Order 66, and due to circumstances, is cavalier and cowboy-ish in his attitude. Hera Syndulla is the Twi'lek owner and pilot of the Ghost, the ship that the team flies, and she has a romantic relationship with Kanan, although it is only vaguely hinted throughout the series. Both characters are fairly interesting as they remind me of Wash and Zoe from Firefly to a small degree.

Sabine Wren is the graffiti artist and Mandalorian explosive expert and one of the more fun characters on the crew. Based on the original concept art for Chewbacca, Zeb Orrelios is the muscle of the crew and one of the last of his race after Empire slaughtered his people. His backstory is interesting, although, due to the content restrictions of the series, his seemingly tragic backstory cannot be shown.

Lastly, The Inquisitor is the main antagonist of the series. Thankfully, despite the content restrictions of the series, he is allowed to kill people mercilessly to demonstrate his villainy when needed. 

Animation: 5.5/10- My main issue with the series is the awful character designs. Ezra, the main protagonist, looks absolutely ridiculous with his giant nose, and while the female characters look fine, it is hard to take the series seriously when the protagonist looks like that. Overall, the background art is where the series shines, yet it is a far cry from The Clone Wars' last two seasons in terms of quality and atmosphere, unfortunately. 

Acting: 7.8/10- The cast's strength is how many classic actors, like Frank Oz (Yoda) and James Earl Jones (Darth Vader), return to create some amazing cameos. The main cast is okay, except for Jason Isaacs as The Inquisitor, who stands out as an impressive villain.

Entertainment Value: 7.3/10- The early episodes can be boring and the childish are annoying. However, towards the end, the classic Star Wars feel makes for an entertaining series to sit and enjoy.

Overall: 7.3/10- Star Wars Rebels is a fun and enjoyable series once you get past the slow start. It might not be nearly as dark or complex as we might have hoped, but with such an impressive season finale, it makes me excited to see what season two will deliver next and how it will tie-in to the overall Star Wars universe.

Watch if you like: Star Wars, Animation, 

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Most Popular TV Show Voted by You

Two weeks ago, I asked you what your favorite TV shows of the season were and here are the results! Now, drumroll please! And the winner is Game of Thrones! Followed by The Walking Dead. 

My rankings are based on votes from the blog post and various social media posts where I asked the same question. Of course, this voting is not perfect due to the sample size and that the audience consists of geeks and critics, but it is interesting to see what people are watching and which shows are their favorites. The Walking Dead is still near the top, which should not be surprising due to its high ratings. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D surprised me by how high it is in popularity since it ties with The Flash. Sherlock did receive 5 votes, but it does not count since it aired at the beginning of last year.

Below are the full results, so please let me know if you are surprised by the votes or did you expect Game of Thrones to be at the top? 
  • Game of Thrones - 8
  • The Walking Dead - 7
  • Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D - 5
  • The Flash - 5
  • Agent Carter - 4
  • Daredevil - 3
  • Arrow - 3
  • Penny Dreadful - 3
  • House of Cards - 3
  • Modern Family - 3
  • Hannibal - 3
  • True Detective - 2
  • Elementary - 2
  • Doctor Who - 2 
  • Better Call Saul - 2
  • Gotham - 2
  • Forever - 2
  • The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - 2
  • Person of Interest - 2


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Monday, June 8, 2015

Elementary - Season 3 Review

Elementary, the American adaptation of the classic Sherlock Holmes character.
Plot Summary: In the aftermath of season 2’s finale, Sherlock, Watson, and Sherlock’s new apprentice, Kitty Wilson, solve crimes for the NYPD. 

Plot: 6.7/10- Like most crime procedurals, Elementary maintains a relative status quo with a mystery every week. The standard mystery episodes range from surprisingly inventive to predictable. Several of the earlier episodes featured intriguing concepts, although the resolutions were nothing groundbreaking.

On the other hand, the series featured a few episodes that affected the season as a whole. The first half introduced a new character and her story arc was resolved by the mid-season mark. The mystery involved in that episode is nothing special, but it is fairly well written. Thankfully, the season finale itself offered a surprisingly satisfying conclusion. Maybe the series will find a way to change the status quo without compromising the Sherlock-Watson dynamic next season, but that incredibly unlikely.

Characterization: 6.8/10- After the events of the previous season, Sherlock and Watson's relationship is different than the earlier seasons. Sherlock now has a new apprentice named Kitty Winter, a young woman with a dark past. Kitty is an interesting character with a dynamic different than Watson, which worked for the series. However, the obligatory plot convenience to bring Sherlock and Watson back together often felt contrived, which made Kitty’s existence feel irrelevant at times. Thankfully, her story is resolved in a satisfying manner.

Sherlock is essentially the same eccentric detective that you know from the previous season. He does change slightly throughout the season thanks to his friendship with Watson. Despite certain things happening, Joan Watson is also essentially the same, which is really not a bad thing.

Captain Gregson is sidelined for the majority of the season, and considering that his character was always the least interesting, that was probably for the best. Detective Bell is entertaining as always, as his role is slightly expanded.

Acting: 7.0/10- Jonny Lee Miller's portrayal of the legendary detective, as before, does not take any risks, yet he is still very entertaining to watch. 

After three seasons, he knows how to play the character, and he continues to do so with the same energy of before. One strange thing is that sometimes Miller sounded as though he was sick due to the nasally sound of his voice. I wonder if Miller is prone to colds or has allergies. Either way, this is not a slight on the actor, because it happens to everyone.
Lucy Liu continues to be one of the best adaptations of the Watson character to date, and her performance is as consistent as ever. The supporting cast is reliable, and, as expected from the genre, the one-off characters are all acted well enough.

Humor: 7.5/10- Sherlock's rudeness and lack of reverence of social standards continues to be the mainstay of the comedy, and it is just as funny as ever. 

Entertainment Value: 7.2/10- Thanks to the character dynamic, Elementary is a fun series to watch, even when the mysteries are predictable and unremarkable.

Overall: 6.7/10- Elementary is a consistent procedural that delivers exactly what you expect each season, and season 3 is no exception. It might not be groundbreaking, but it is at least entertaining.

Closing comments: As a whole, Elementary is an above average crime drama that I plan to continue watching until its final episodes; there is not much more to say.

Recommended for: Procedural fans, Sherlock fan,

Click here to check out more of my movie reviews.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.
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