Category Archives: Apple TV +

Shrinking S3 E3

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“D-Day”

Damn, this is such a great show.

Brian and Charlie’s baby is born in this episode with some of the most beautiful moments you could imagine. I had a tear when they handed the baby to Paul at the end.

The heavy part of the episode dealt with the pregnancy, as Ava, the baby momma, went into labor. She had yet to sign adoption papers and it brought a serious conflict for Brian. His friends circled the wagon and brought some wonderful advise.

Paul passed Alice’s bench therapy along to Gaby, as he realized that he would not be there forever.

Sean reunited with his ex-girlfriend Marisol in another strong scene.

We met Jimmy’s father, played by the one and only Jeff Daniels. The conflict between Jimmy and his dad is clearly going to be investigated this season.

Shrinking S3 E1, E2

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“My Bad”

“Happiness Mission”

I was unaware that the first two episodes of Shrinking season three were already out on Apple TV +. When I was on Amazon Prime, I saw Shrinking with a “New Episode” tag on it and I looked to see two episodes were out already. I was excited because I enjoyed the first two seasons very much.

About halfway through the first episode, I realized how sensational the writing of this show is. The characters are so witty, funny, quick. I was laughing throughout the entire show. Everyone is so brilliantly written and developed that I am constantly amazed with the show.

Michael J. Fox appeared in the first episode as, what we would later find out, a delusion that Paul was seeing because of the Parkinson’s Disease. While it is supposed to be a bad thing, it was so awesome to see him and I think he and Harrison Ford worked so well together. Parkinson’s is truly a horrible disease, but it is great to see this show address it straight forward.

Paul and Julie wind up getting married in the first episode and it was just perfect Shrinking storytelling. Everything was so wonderful that even the old curmudgeon Paul seemed to enjoy himself.

There are so many excellent story arcs kicking off here including Jimmy trying to move along into a new relationship with Sofi (played by Cobie Smulders), Paul’s Parkinson’s, Alice’s going to college, Brian’s trouble with the baby mom and so on.

Brett Goldstein came back for episode two and it felt like his story came to a conclusion. He had a nice goodbye with Jimmy and Alice and he shared a powerful scene with Gaby.

This show does such an amazing job of feeling like real life while being unbelievably funny and poignant at the same time. Every actor on the show delivers their lines perfectly and the chemistry of the cast is off the charts. I am so happy Shrinking is back for season three and has officially been renewed for seaosn four on Apple TV +.

Pluribus S1 E9

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“La Chica o El Mundo”

It really feels as if Pluribus has only just started its season. It’s hard to believe that the show is already up to its first season finale already, but that is the case. Apple TV + dropped the finale a couple of days early (before Christmas).

And what a finale this was. In some ways, it was smaller, quieter than I might have expected. But then again…

There was an A-Bomb!

Carol and Manousos come face to face in this episode and some of the early scenes between these two were truly hilarious. I loved the use of the umbrella to block out the chance of the drones spying on them, reading their lips.

The mistrust between Carol and Manousos was on display as they tried to communicate via cell phone translation programs. There was some high comedy with that translation program as well. When the phone was in the sewer, but still translating, well, that was the height of funny.

Carol seemed to believe that Manousos had taken it too far with his “experimentation” on the Others. Carol’s close relationship with Zosia was coloring her perspective and she joined Zosia on another isolation attempt. This time, however, it seemed clear that Manousos was not going to fold like Carol did. He seemed like a type of guy who does not mind some isolation.

Carol never really understood the relationship she shared with Zosia. Carol looked at it like it was a typical, normal relationship, but that was not the case. Carol looked to be in denial about a lot of what was going down. When Carol learned that The Others had her frozen eggs (that Carol and Helen had decided to harvest years ago) and that they could change that into stem cells, the same stem cells the Others needed to turn Carol into another member of the hivemind, things crashed around her. Carol had Zosia return her to her home and decided to join with Manousos after all.

And the atomic bomb reveal at the end was insane. Maybe it was not literally an A-bomb… though Carol had asked about it earlier in the season…

Pluribus’s first season was sensational. I know the series has been renewed for a second season. I hope we do not have to wait three years to get the next episodes.

Pluribus S1 E8

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“Charm Offensive”

Episode eight is the penultimate episode of season one of Pluribus. It feels as if I have only begun to watch it. Having the first season on the brink of being over is odd.

The episode started off with Manousos getting medical attention from his trouble in the jungle last week. He refused to stay to recover though, as he discovered that he was in Panama. There was not much from him this week, but it is clear that he is on the way to Carol’s soon.

Meanwhile, Carol has reunited with Zosia, which she seems very pleased about after her forced isolation by the hivemind. Carol was bonding with Zosia, though also picking her for information. Carol wrote on her dry erase board that the hivemind was planning on creating an antenna to send message (virus?) to other planets.

The show revealed an answer to a mystery. Specifically, are animals a part of the hivemind. We meet a nice dog at the hivemind’s sleepover that proved that animals are not a part of the hivemind.

Carol took her relationship with Zosia to another level after an emotional confrontation with her after a weird trip to a diner from Carol’s past. They had sex and Carol started to write afterwards again. She does feel like she is becoming more connected to Zosia. I wonder what will happen when Manousos gets there.

One more episode to go for Pluribus. It has been a wonderful show so far on Apple TV +. Vince Gilligan seems to have another hit on his hands.

Pluribus S1 E7

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“The Gap”

This was a fascinating episode of Pluribus, as there is very little dialogue from any of the characters. It had Carol humming and singing some classic songs as she went about her daily attempts to fill the time, isolated from everyone.

Then we saw Manousos in his attempt to make his way to find Carol.  Manousos is working on his English, repeating several simple phrases and eventually, “My name is Manousos Oviedo. I am not one of them. I wish to save the world.”

It is an episode about how a human being is not designed to be alone, and we see how Carol eventually breaks down, allowing a firework that she had set up, accidentally flipping right at her, to fire away. Carol had accepted death at that point, not willing to move or to stop the firework from going off. It missed her and is able to survive.

Meanwhile, Manousos is walking through the jungle, refusing any help from The Others, when he falls into a chunga palm tree and its bacteria-laden spines. He tried to save himself, but he collapsed in the jungle only to see a helicopter show up, I assume, to help him survive.

It was an interesting episode and these types of episodes standout as something different. Makes me think of episodes like Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s “Hush.”

Pluribus S1 E6

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“HDP”

John Cena???

The last thing I expected was to see John Cena on a TV screen during Pluribus, E6. I guess it makes sense since he was not one of the survivors. It gave me that Bill Murray in Zombieland vibe.

It was also weird when the shocking revelation from the end of last week’s episode, was wrapped up in just a few minutes.

It was human parts being stored in the warehouse that Carol found, but they were those who had already died, and we being used as HDP, Human-Derived Protein, something they need to survive.

All told to us by John Cena. That still blows my mind.

Carol heads off to Vegas with this shocking tape to find Koumba Diabaté. He showed her the Cena tape. He also tells her the only way they would be turned into the Hive-mind was via use of their individual stem cells and the would require permission to access them.

Big piece of info there, but the HDP reveal felt a touch flat for as wild as the ending to last week was. However, the John Cena cameo was awesome.

The guy from Paraguay found Carol’s tape and got into his car. I knew he would be playing a bigger role moving forward. I wonder if he plans on driving to New Mexico?

Pluribus S1 E5

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“Got Milk”

We are up to episode five already of Pluribus on Apple TV +. I have to say that number surprised me. It is moving right along.

Carol finds herself completely alone as the others in her city left, needing time apart from her. I guess even the hive mind grew tired of Carol’s shenanigans.

However, they were still available for things that Carol needed, though she had to leave a message on an answering machine to get any response. Then, she would have service from a drone.

Carol was making videos to send to the other survivors, and she had them delivered (and transcribed in whatever language the other survivors may speak) by the hive mind. I find it funny that she could send videos specifically designed to bring down the hivemind and they would just deliver it, no questions asked. Perhaps the nicest invading force ever.

However, Carol had other troubles, including hungry coyotes. Carol made a discovery of what the Others drink… some substance mixed together and placed in milk cartons like are served in schools. She also broadcast this info out to the other survivors via drone delivery.

This led her to a warehouse where she found something that made her gasp… leaving us with a very epic cliffhanger… one that was extremely annoying because I don’t want to have to wait until next week to know what it was.

This was a fun episode, with a lot of funny moments while Carol showed her capabilities for this investigation.

Pluribus S1 E4

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“Please, Carol”

Carol goes on the offensive in an attempt to discover what chance she has on finding a way to reverse the Joining. She comes up with a plan to inject Zosia with a truth serum (via heroin) but Zosia goes into cardiac arrest, which is where the episode ended.

This gives Carol the start of her investigation into what exactly is going on with the earthlings and their new hive mind.

Carol lists the things she knows on the board:

  1. Eager to please—would give me A BOMB?!
  2. Can’t kill, not a fly
  3. Don’t play faves, like all jerks same
  4. ***Trying to change me!***
  5. Weirdly honest?

Very funny. A little creepy.

The cold open of the episode returned us to the phone call Carol made on the airplane to the man in Paraguay. His name is Manousos and we get the conversation from his POV this time. I figured that character would return to the show and he is back just a couple of episodes later. He is fairly bizarre as he was licking the lids of pet food cans for remnants of remaining food. The cold open was mostly dialogue free and was just wild. He wrote down Carol’s name at the end of the scene so he is clearly on his way, one way or another.

This was a fun episode, though Carol’s desperation really has placed Zosia in jeopardy a couple of times.

Pluribus S1 E3

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“Grenade”

This show is trippy.

Carol is trying to maintain herself, but with so much taken away, she is finding the way of life to be tough. She does not want the “convenience” of being able to ask for anything and have the Others provide it.

Like a live hand grenade.

Carol asked about how long she had before they turned her into a mindless drone too. Their response: they were not sure. They were working on it.

Carol did get on the phone with one of the non-English speaking survivors. There was a contemptuous conversation there that will clearly come back later in the series.

There was more humor in this episode than in the previous ones, but it felt like a pause between major events. The series has been renewed for a season two already, but Vince Gilligan believed he had a four season story, so things may be on the slow burn for awhile.

Pluribus S1 E1, E2

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“We is Us”

“Pirate Lady”

I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it sure wasn’t this. I couldn’t believe what was happening.

Everybody in the world suddenly started spazzing out at the same time. Carol, one of the most miserable people in the world, was apparently immune, for some reason.

The entire planet, with the exception of 12 people, appeared to become of one mind, much like a hive mind. The transformation in episode one was creepy as can be.

Directed by Vince Gilligan who wrote, directed or produced episodes for The X-Files, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, this show is completely original and takes the idea of the dystopian future in a way that has never been seen before.

Apple TV + has been exceptional with the sci-fi genre. This is yet another fine option on the streamer. I have to say that these first two episodes have a great premise, some excellent execution of story and introduction of the characters with real issues.

Carol, an author, has a short fuse on her temper and that causes massive problems for the hive mind, which seems so far to be trying for nothing but happiness.

There are some conflicts in these two episodes that truly make you wonder what you would do if in their situations, but I do feel like something more is on its way. Gilligan has a history of complexities in his shows.

Good stuff so far.

Murderbot S1 E9, E10

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“All Systems Red”

“The Perimeter”

I loved this series. I did not expect to feel this way about this series. A sci-fi/action/comedy featuring a robot that goes rogue and becomes a murderer. And yet, I found this to be fully entertaining and I was enthralled with the entire series.

I will say that the final episode left me feeling sad as Sec Unit left the others, departing for a new adventure. I did not expect that to happen. Sec Unit choosing to leave behind the humans who he had done so much to protect and who had rescued him from being melted in acid.

I wonder if the group would have let Sec Unit put on his armor and resume his role as their bodyguard if he would have made a different decision.

Sec Unit got on a transport ship, posing as a servant bot and said that he did not want anyone telling him what he could do, even his favorite humans, meaning Mensah.

Murderbot has apparently been renewed for a second season and showrunner Chris Weitz suggested that the second season would be adapting the next three books. I have not read any of them, but I do hope that the cast that I have enjoyed so much this season would be able to join Alexander Skarsgård for season two. At first I was not much of a fan of David Dastmalchian’s Gurathin, but he did grow on me after he stopped being such an opposition to Sec Unit.

Could we get more The Rise and Fall of Sanctuary Moon next season? That was a real fun little show-within-a-show example and I love seeing Clark Gregg anytime I can.

Murderbot is on Apple TV + and is definitely worth it for any sci-fi fan.

Stick S1 E10

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“Déjà Vu All Over Again”

I finished up the first season of Stick on Apple TV + tonight with the finale, entitled “Déjà Vu All Over Again.”

The episode featured the final day of the ReadySafe Invitational golf tourney with Santi right in the race to win. Last episode, we meet Santi’s father for the first time who showed up with all the right words for his son. We would find out that, unfortunately, little had changed.

I am going to say this about the season finale of Stick. It was extremely satisfying and I liked how things worked themselves out. However, the episode was really predictable. It followed my expectations really tightly. Yet, predictable is not always a bad thing. The episode worked narratively and the result was an enjoyable final show.

Owen Wilson is a charming and engaging actor and he does a fantastic job in this show. he had great chemistry with Peter Dager, who played Santi. Their relationship was very real and went through a lot of different stages during the ten episode season. I believed everything that happened and I felt badly for Pryce when Santi asked him to step aside so his father could caddy for him. It was clear that the choice would turn out poorly, but Pryce allowed the kid the chance to find out for himself. Then, Pryce came back and helped Santi reclaim his mindset, giving him a chance to make an unbelievable shot, even in defeat.

I wonder if this is a series that will continue into a second season. I am not sure where the story will go, unless the hints at the end of Pryce getting back into shape and rejoining the tour is where they will go. No matter what, this first season was excellent and definitely worth the watch.

Murderbot S1 E6, E7, E8

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Murderbot is my new favorite program on Apple TV +.

I watched three episodes and I really wanted to keep watching, but I needed to pause and move along. There are two episodes left in this season and I will finish it off later this week or this weekend.

All the secrets are out. Sec Unit’s past came out as he was hooked up to Gurathin as they were operating on his leg. Gurathin had been shot in the leg by Leebeebee. Leebeebee was holding the crew hostage until she got what she wanted. As soon as Sec Unit returned with Mensah (after a scene where Mensah cut open Sec Unit’s spine to retrieve some wiring to fix their ship… it was tense for sure), Sec Unit blew Leebeebee’s head off.

That made the others a bit touchy, to say the least.

I still find the inner dialogue from Sec Unit to be hilarious. He provides questions that he does not understand from human behavior and, more often than not, he was right.

Everyone is still very much on edge with Sec Unit as they are unsure about his motives. When they all joined in to fight the other sec unit that arrived (after the two giant monsters had sex on top of the hopper, leaving an egg sac… weird, I know), it was clear that they were not going to be helpful in any way. Sec Unit had to fight despite them.

This is a fast watch and I really enjoy this show.

Stick S1 E5, E6, E7, E8, E9

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So I wanted to catch up on Stick, which is on Apple TV + and has episodes dropping on Wednesdays. I do believe the final episode of the season is this week, so I had five episodes to run through in order to get caught up.

Stick is such a great show and it is a easy watch as the episodes run around 30 minutes. It is also very well-written and compelling in a sport that does not truly entice me much.

Much like the F1: The Movie and auto racing, a film/show can be entertaining and engaging if it is intelligent and well-written, acted and smartly plotted out even if I am not a fan of the sport involved. I am not a fan of golf, but Stick is far more than just about golf.

The story of Pryce trying to help Santi to become the best he could be in the world of golf took a lot of turns, some that very not necessarily positive, but everything worked well.

That is, until Santi’s father showed up at the end of episode nine. That feels like one more major hurdle for the characters to overcome.

Some other cool highlights of the five episodes include:

  • The truth with Zero and Pryce’s deal coming out rocked Santi’s world. We knew that was going to happen when it first happened.
  • Santi and Zero have sex. This was surprising… especially with Santi looking for advice from Pryce. I really thought Pryce was going to respond differently and I liked the uncommon response he had.
  • Timothy Olyphant is always a welcome actor in any show I am watching.
  • Mitts and Elena’s relationship comes around. I like them together.
  • We get more with Pryce and his dead son. The dream of Pryce with his son, Jett, was really hard to watch.
  • The whole scam to try and get Santi into a pro PGA tournament was strange, but cool.

There was a lot of enjoyment in these episodes and I have grown to like these characters.

Smoke S1 E3

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Okay, I watched the next episode of the new drama on Apple TV + called Smoke with Taron Egerton. Last episode dropped a big bomb at the end of the show and I kind of expected more from this episode than what I got. Maybe something to explain why I saw what I saw, but that really did not happen.

We got more into the character of Detective Calderone and more about Freddy and his interview to be a manager.

A car got firebombed… seemingly by Dave?

Honestly, this was a slow burn (excuse the pun) episode that did not appeal too much to me. There was something with Michelle going to testify against her mother’s release from prison. It seemed as if the mother is the one who set the fire that Michelle had been caught in as a child. I’m not sure if we had known that before.

I was hoping for more from this show, but I do like the character development going on and I hope the big reveal last episode gets some more attention moving forward.