Speak Up Saturday

[feurioo]

Welcome to the weekly roundup post! What are you watching this week? What are you excited about?

Comments

[violateraindrop]

Change of plans. I caught up on my other currently airing shows (which are now over lol), but haven't started Poker Face. I still had a bit of Netflix time left. I went with The Residence and I'm halfway through the season. I love it! I don't think I've seen Uzo Aduba in anything so far, but she is so awesome in this and I love her wardrobe/suit. The whole cast is great. Apparently, the show is not doing as well internationally as it is in the US. Allegedly due to the setting, but it doesn't feel too America-centric at all? I mean, the setting is "state dinner" and that would be a big deal everywhere.

The second season of The Last of Us has ended. The season ends on a huge cliffhanger, but we all know that the show will continue. This season did not feel as consistent in quality as the first one, but definitely had some well-written, well-acted, and well-shot scenes/episodes. I don't want to complain, because it was still great. S1 just set the bar very high.

spoilers

I wouldn't say it was the lack of Joel, no matter how much I missed him. To me, everything regarding Ellie's and Dina's relationship felt a bit off.

Bella is a great actor. So I feel like they should be able to carry the show. The hate they get online though? Absolutely unreal.

The start of the upcoming season (as suggested by the very last scene) will probably be the three days in Seattle from Abby's POV. I'm kinda hoping that will only be one episode, probably without any of the other main characters. I'm not really looking forward to that, but maybe we'll get more Jeffrey Wright.
I hope we won't have to wait for too long since S3 should be a direct continuation of S2 (even partially runs parallel to it).

The Handmaid's Tale is over after six seasons. In a way I still can't believe that it went on for this long when only S1 covered the book. A lot of this final season felt a bit empty, like nothing really happened. Then everything happened at once during the last few episodes...

spoilers

I kind want to applaud them for not redeeming Nick and even running with him being just as bad as all the other Commanders as long as he is not doing things for June. The fact that he died on that plane while fulfilling some shitty duty when Lawrence sacrificed himself for Mayday was a bit poetic. They did a cheesy flashback in the finale, but I suppose June is allowed to have conflicting feelings about the father of her child dying.

I'm not too happy about June explicitly saying "I forgive you" to Serena. Yes, she was the bigger person, but Serena proved over and over again that she doesn't deserve it. She was always on the Gilead bullshit, even on the train at the beginning of the season when it nearly cost her her life and son. She was one of the few true believers. I mean, the Commanders obviously weren't. They just liked this system that was oppressing women and benefiting them. For me, she was always the worst character. Serena was one of the builders of Gilead (without getting any credit!) and had a couple of opportunities to break out, but never did. She was also portrayed as a very intelligent woman which in this religious context is another point against her imo.

I'm not sure I love how the show ended. There is so much left open, so many threats that still exist. I really would have liked it if the show ended with June hugging Hannah. I have no idea what will happen in The Testaments, so that's probably why that kind of ending wasn't possible or rather a completely closed ending wasn't possible anyway.

That said, the last 10-15 minutes were a bit strange with June returning to the Waterford house, her place of pure torture. It was a nice touch that they added the opening words (at least that's what I read in a recap^^) from episode 1.

I was very happy to see Emily again, even if it was just for a few scenes. Alexis Bledel was so good on the show.
June burning her awful red robe was also an awesome moment. But it was an odd choice to put her in teal for the scenes at the Waterford house when there are plenty of colors not associated with Gilead.

[feurioo]

Apparently, the show is not doing as well internationally as it is in the US. Allegedly due to the setting, but it doesn't feel too America-centric at all? I mean, the setting is "state dinner" and that would be a big deal everywhere.

That's really weird. I had assumed the show would appeal to the Netflix Knives Out audience. :/

[violateraindrop]

Same! I feel like Netflix isn't really trying either. I follow the German account on Instagram, I haven't seen that much about it. They post a lot about other US shows. Maybe Glass Onion also didn't do well here? So they figured a show with the same vibe also wouldn't work?

[shadowkat]

I think it has to do with it being set in The White House? I admittedly steered away from it a bit because of that - then tried it, and realized it wasn't really political at all? There is some light political satire mainly about congressional hearings, but it's minor. It's more of a satire/parody of detective parlor room mysteries.