Trey_Trebuchet

Probably the best premiere for the season we could have asked for?

Like, some of it is merely set-up for what's to come, but it has a lot of good character moments and interactions, and there isn't a single drop in quality. In fact, I'm willing to bet the two seasons of this show will be treated as a single season, a 9-hour epic as opposed to two separate seasons.

The tone and pacing of the first season hasn't wavered at all, it really doesn't even feel like the writers left or took a break. And it's nice to read other reviews on here and see that the fans of League of Legends are really content and excited for what's to come.

I think this was a very entertaining, reliably bloody, beautifully animated season premiere. I honestly don't see how the writers could possibly rank this series. I loved every episode of the first season, and with this being the only other season they plan on doing, I'm positive they had it all planned out from the start. Obviously spin-offs are welcome though.

Also kind of like that this was just an episode of the aftermath taking place in Piltover. I'm only assuming Ep.2 is going to take place exclusively in the twin city.

Very, very excited for more.

Reading the reviews and background of Junji Ito, the failed Netflix adaptation and the years people have been waiting for this is very interesting. A friend and I were spending a night in a hotel this past weekend and had adult swim on for background noise. I kept seeing the teaser for this show and decided to stay up a bit longer to watch the premiere.

It's a very solid premiere too. I went in very blind and am really digging it. The animation is sublime, absolutely gorgeous. I love the black-and-white aesthetic, but you can just tell so much effort went in to this style. It's different from much of the other anime I've watched. You can tell they were trying to keep the look and feel of the manga accurate and spot-on.

The whole spiral thing is actually really cool and a bit creepy too. I was initially on the fence about a show about spirals, but this changed my mind. Sole very unnerving imagery (the spinning eyes were especially uncanny), and I think it has a very interesting set of characters to boot.

I may try to watch the rest of this, seeing as there are only a few episodes left. Am I going to get a Max subscription just to finish an anime I didn't even know existed until it premiered? I just might, I just might.

Mike Flanagan's shows always have amazing finales. He ties things up so, so well. Every time.

I don't mind my shows with detestable characters (Breaking Bad and Mad Men are my very favorites) so that wasn't an issue for me here. The acting is so good, and the characters mostly very compelling, that I was throughly entertained!

This is probably the best episode in the series. Just very riveting from beginning to end. We get an answer to the chilling jiggling sounds we've been hearing beyond the brick wall, which is a brutal reveal. I couldn't imagine going through that. It also showcases just goes to show how maniacal Madeline and Roderick both are. They both completely lost it.

Carla Gugino really raised the bar for a lot of the series for me, including this episode. She's so, so good. I don't imagine this role was easy to play at all, but she makes it look so effortless. Verna's conversation with Pym was an excellent character Moment for both of them.

And dang it... I guess I shouldn't be surprised Lenore had to go as well, but that was probably the only scene in the series that had me close to tears. She and her mom were the most generous people in the family along with Juno. By the way, really glad Juno got the ending she deserved.

But honestly, the writing on this finale (and this series) was awesome. I'd imagine people who don't like Flanagan's dialogue in other shows would probably hate this kind of dialogue and the addition of Poe's poems, but I thought it was all very fitting, especially here. I love the way they fleshed out this family and told the story of their fall.

The acting was all excellent, but the four leads in this (Greenwood, McDonnell, Gugino and Lumbly) were all stand-outs in this one.

I also just love the visuals and score of this series. It's a very tightly knit and made production. It was the perfect way to get in to the Halloween spirit.

Overall, loved the series. It wasn't perfect, but it's pretty close all things considered. I can't wait to see what series he'll make next of there is another one.

The first cause of death I was able to actually piece together before it happened. A very creative, clever way to recreate the whole pit and pendulum sequence. It's crazy how Fred seemed like one of the least detestable Ushers and ended up truly being one of the absolute worst. The dude just got worse and worse with each episode. I loved the final scene between him and Verna. Rest in pieces Fredrick.

The drama on 1979 was really well written. I wasn't expecting that twist, and we finally see a fully realized Madeline through this episode. Hard to pick which Usher is the worst, but she may be my most hated Usher. Morale, love, human decency and gratitude is just thrown out the window. Money, control and power is all she wanted. What an evil human being. Roderick isn't a saint either!

Admittedly, I have sort of been waiting for the series to end so I can move on to something else. But hey, it never felt like a chore to get through, the actors were all phenomenal, the scares genuine... It's a been a really good time.

Flanagan's shows have the best jump scares ever. I was looking around, WAITING for something to happen during Rodrick's conversation with Dupin, and I still yelled and jumped out of my seat when that freakin' wall blew up.

Solid episode all around. The humor in this series somehow feels earned and actually funny. Poor Juno. I feel awful for her, but Ruth Codd's acting is so earnest that I can't help but laugh at the jokes. Her getting that mic stand thrown at her had me RIOTING! That poor woman! But also...🤣

Tamerlane gets her comeuppance though. Samantha Sloyan is so, so good at playing detestable characters. Her (literal) fall was really well done and oddly beautiful. The use of greens in this episode was great.

Verna's taunting was creepy, kind of funny, and just brilliant. She's actually a scary character. Her interaction with Madeleine (if you can call it one) has me very excited to see what happened on that fateful New Hears Eve forty-three years ago too. The backstory with the Ushers in the past is just as enthralling as the present-day stuff.

Great episode.

It's kind of crazy how creative and creepy all of the deaths are in this series. I knew the beating, fleshly sound Victorine was hearing was likely something relating to a heart, but man... I wasn't prepared for the twist at the end! I wasn't expecting her to off-herself.

T'Nia Miller was fabulous. I bought all of her screen time. Verna (if that is her name) is also surprisingly creepy. I don't know how it was decided Carla Gugino would play her, but she's perfect in the multiple roles and outfits. I'm living for it.

We also get some pretty crucial background to Roderick and Madeleine's past. I'm anxious but excited!

Yet another really well executed episode and character's downward spiral. Brutal and emotional, but still unsettling and addictive all the same.

People who have a phobia of cats probably hated this one!

I thought all of the violence and plot with Leo and the cat was kind of hilarious, but also kind of creepy? This episode felt a lot like a poem. A cat leaving around a bunch of dead animals as a way to torment you and let you know that you're on the list too. I was not expecting this one to be so violent for so reason.

Verna(?) being the cat was a great twist. I've still yet to figure out what her role is in all of this, but I'm having so much fun that I'm not even trying to think too hard about it. Did she kill Leo? She did right? Or she at least lured him over the balcony. I wasn't so sure up to this pint if she was indeed the one killing the Ushers, but I'm further convinced at this point.

Either way, yet another really well written and paced episode. You can only carry out a lie so far. You cannot get away with something so big as covering up murdering a cat. Leo was one of the more tolerable Ushers and goodness, is Rahul Kohli funny or what?! I'll miss him.

Each episode has been better than the last. I'm kind of amped for the rest of this. By the way... why do all of Mike's shows have dead cats in them? What's up with that?

So good. Flanagan is one of the few voices in the horror industry anymore that weaves together shows (and movies) that are not only legitimately scary, but also have so much character depth and excellent dialogue. This series isn't his most outright scary one so far, but the patience has so far been worth it. The scene in the chimpanzee lab was really unsettling.

Carla Gugino is excellent. I didn't come around to really loving her until I watched The Haunting of Hill House, and each appearance in Mike's different shows just shows how versatile an actress she is. I love that he's able to pull this kind of acting from her. All of her different voices and mannerisms are very well acted and entertaining. I love spotting the different Carla's in this. The fact that I don't fully understand her character or what role she's playing here yet want more of her should say enough.

For a show that's essential centering each episode on a specific character and what ultimately brings them to their own personal fall, it's got a great variety of characters and different plots to keep things going and legitimately interesting and well written.

Kate Siegel's performance as Camile was really, really good. She's a character I loved to have and laugh at. I'm kind of going to miss her.

Very excited for more.

Alright. I'm locked in.

This is the kind of brutality and horror I've come to expect and love from Flanagan's shows. It's here that we get a more introspective look in to the Usher children, their disturbing behavior as well as their odd pleasures and lust, which I'm sure will be a part of each of their downfalls. The acting is all very good so far, and Carla Gugino's acting in just her one scene was fabulous and entrancing. I cannot wait to learn more about her character and what role she has to play in all of this.

Sauriyan Sapkota was very good. He was a little unsettling and perfectly cast as well. Perry was a real twerp and I'm not going to miss him!

And man, that final rave sequence was horrific, and rivals the chapel scene from Midnight Mass. And we're only two episodes in! Scary, sad and brutal.

I also am enjoying the flashbacks to Madeleine and Robert in the past. It's nice having that context for the present day storyline and I'm sure it'll all tie together rather snuggly by the end of the show.

It does feel odd going in to this knowing most of the characters are going to die, but there are still some nice twists and turns along the way regardless. So far so good!

A pretty solid premiere episode.

It was a bit lighter on scares than I had hoped, but Flanagan is so good at building up to those that I'm not really worried about it. This episode set in stone a a very interesting variety of characters, all played pretty dang well so far. Bruce Greenwood is kind of phenomenal already. I can only assume he'll get even better as the series goes on.

I am legitimately intrigued by the "diplomat" aspect and am very curious to find out how (or what) it is. I was also pleasantly surprised to hear some comedic relief that felt earned and actually funny. These characters are laughably despicable already and in all for it.

It's good to be back on Flanagan's wheelhouse and seeing all of his cast regulars again. The production and cinematography is pretty solid so far too.

And it all came down to this. Honestly, not a bad ending to this season. It was somewhat predictable. I figured Sol wouldn't make it out of this alive, and I had a feeling Osha would probably join the dark side.

I wasn't expecting her to kill off Sol though. I feel like that pretty much solidified her turn right then and there. I didn't mind that at all.

This episode (and this series) also expanded some of the lore of Star Wars as well, in particular, the ways of the force. Lucasfilm has been expanding on the force and getting weird with it for a long while, since the books in Legends, since Lucas's prequel trilogy, since The Clone Wars and Rebels shows.

I didn't mind what they did here I guess. The memory-erasing thing in particular was kind of weird though. I don't doubt it's a thing, maybe a Sith trick that's otherwise forbidden, but it also seems like something that would have helped in a lot of shows and movies up to this point.

The lightsaber changing colors doesn't NOT make sense. I always assumed lightsabers turned red after the murder of a Jedi or a final Sith test(?), so I'm fine with it. Weird, but I'm fine with it.

I kinda dug this Sith Lord honestly. The actor did a really good job, and honestly? I kind of liked him more than most of the Jedi characters in this series. He's clearly a sinister, mean dude, but also very level-headed and sharp.

I also liked Vernestra. If a second season happens I'll be curious to see what they end up doing with her character.

This series should have been much shorter though, either 5-6 episodes or maybe a feature-length Disney+ movie debut. It has a legitimately great premise, it's a decent change of pace from the standard Star Wars television, some of the way there expanded was cool (some of it wasn't lol) and the mystery was legitimately pretty interesting. I just feel like too much of this was filler. A handful of episodes could have been way shorter or tacked on to the next episode. I don't know, I'm still convinced this could have been a movie and or may have been better.

It was by no means a great series I guess. Some weird logic leaps, some poor acting here and there, some weak dialogue, and like I said, too long.

But I honestly enjoyed it. More than others it seems. It's not the worst series of the year and it's not the worst Star Wars content I've seen. I at least applaud the showrunners and creators for doing something different but not TOO far separated from the Galaxy far, far away.

I would watch more of this if they somehow get greenlit for more. It's a shame reviews are so negative. Like I get where some folks are coming from, but this so obviously needs at least one more season. It is a little cheap of them to think that the Yoda cameo at the end would get people excited😂

Now, Darth Plagueis on the other hand... THAT has me excited.

I have some thoughts.

Okay first off, unpopular opinion, but this was kinda good. The third episode makes much more sense now, and I suppose I don't blame them for building up to this one.

But I have to say, this series didn't need to be 8 episodes. I think they easily could have made this and the third episode in to one. Why not? A lot of shows have 80-90min episodes now. It just feels like we've been getting fed breadcrumbs for this cover-up and far too many episodes. I honestly don't blame some people for dropping this series at some point or losing interest. It hasn't been awful by any means, but either make a shorter season or why not a movie? I don't see any issues with dropping Star Wars TV movies to Disney+.

And the child actors just really aren't that good in this series. Not sure if it's a directing thing or if they're just so inexperienced, but it's obvious something is up.

But I do like how some things were tied up here. I totally understand why Mae decided to take revenge on these Jedi. Seeing it all come together here was semi-satisfying.

It's interesting to watch a Star Wars series where, for once, almost no one is thinking rationally or making wise decisions. Some of the nightsisters, the Jedi, the twins... More than anything, that's at least been refreshing.

Good episode overall, just a confusing way they went about it I guess.

I meannnnn it's kinda good...

The only thing I'm a bit uncertain about is Sol figuring out that Mae is pretending to be Osha. Editing seems to imply that the Bazil could have been the one to tell him. I think it's more interesting to think that Sol knew right away and just needed to lure Mae in to the ship to explain... stuff we won't find out until the next episode anyway... Like, he seems to be a pretty smart Jedi. The dude can sense peoples' feelings through the force. Surely he knew right away on Khofar that it was Mae.

Which has me sort of excited for the last episode or two.

I do like Qimir. He's an interesting character and all of his dialogue and questions for Osha regarding the force, the Jedi and the Sith was somewhat refreshing. He doesn't seem to be manipulating Osha, just speaking his thoughts and way of thinking.

If she does embrace her dark side, I'm not so sure it's totally unbelievable. We've known since the pilot episode that she's been holding a lot of fear and anger (but mostly fear) to herself. I'm not totally sure what Mae's plan is, but I won't knock any points against it until the next episodes.

Another good episode. Maybe this series will end up actually being pretty decent.

Might as well get my criticisms out of the way. It is still a bit bogged down by some strange editing and directing choices. Nothing as jarring as the other four episodes, but it just bothered me how they tried to throw in some wipe transitions during the fight scenes, just as some of them started getting interesting. It was a bit distracting.

I also thought there was a little too much standing around here and there. Again, easily could have been fixed with some editing.

Aside from that though, this was actually pretty good and easily the best episode of the season so far. The choreography was legitimately fun, and surprisingly intense. I was very surprised so many of the Jedi were legitimately offed this episode, even Jecki and Yord, two of the better characters and actors of the series. I'm not complaining of course, I was just surprised to watch an episode of this series that not only surprised me but may have turned the season up on its head. In a good way.

I also wasn't expecting the twins to swap places. I was initially annoyed with the last scene or two, but I'm not now having seen Ep. 6.

The reveal that the stranger ended up being the "Sith" wasn't a big shock, but it'll be interesting to see where they go with his character. I personally didn't mind his appearance or his attitude and set-up here. I just hope he isn't a character that's side-lined by the others.

Good episode.

The previous episode wasn't awful, it was interesting but a little disappointing. This one's a bit better. We're back to the present day.

But honestly, did this need to be 8 episodes long? Seems like we could have just had less episodes, and longer ones even. It's really the very end of the episode that has me intrigued to continue watching. The acting isn't as awful as others are saying, some of it's actually pretty good. I just want to actually care about some of the characters. I'm intrigued enough about the twins that I'm not totally losing interest.

And the story as a whole is legitimately interesting. I want to learn more about this particular timeline and characters, especially the stranger with the red lightsaber.

Not great, not bad. I don't get the review-bombing, but I can see why some don't necessarily like it.

Not sure how I felt about this one. Seems like one of those episodes that could potentially be better after having finished the whole season.

We learn that Osha and Mae simply didn't get along. Mae always wanted to stand against cultural norms and childhood norms as well.

Some of it feels a bit like filler. We already knew about the Jedi coming to take in Osha as a Padawan, and we already knew that Mae was allegedly "dead". That's the biggest event that happened here but we already learned that. There is clearly more under the surface that Sol and some others haven't said yet, but we didn't even see that. I'm guessing we still will, but it seems like a slightly wasted opportunity here.

It was interesting learning about the twins' upbringing and home planet. I didn't mind the witches angle. Witches have been on Star Wars media for a good while now so it didn't feel weird or anything. I didn't mind that they had two moms either. It in no way ruined the quality of the episode. Still really want to know how the twins came in to existence though. I'm guessing it has to do with the force idk...

Really though, the most distracting part of the whole episode was the child actors. They weren't very good in this. Just more poor line-delivery in a franchise full of, unfortunately, poor child performances (the younger Leia in Obi-Wan Kenobi was good though).

This was fine. I liked some of the new lore and weirdness of the Force, and the production is actually pretty decent, just a bit hampered by some poor acting and some sort of hesitance to reveal more to the audience I guess? I don't know... maybe I'll adjust my rating after I finish the season.

I thought this was a bit of a step up from the pilot. It still isn't great, but I didn't think the dialogue was as bad, the plot was more interesting, and some of the acting even improved a bit for me as well. I had no idea the Amandla would be playing separate characters either, so that was a pleasant surprised even if the whole evil twin thing is tropey at this point.

I will say that the de-aging make-up on Torbin wasn't very good at all. Bro just looked like a younger guy in de-aging make-up!

But honestly, this episode alone has me interested in finishing the season. I was expecting a murder mystery and am a little disappointed that we already know the motives and who the killer is, but I still really want to know how things went down all of those years ago. And I think it'll be very interesting to see a deeper dive into some Jedi who may have made horrible choices and tried to cover them up. They aren't always the good guys.

The production is fine. Nothing special, but I don't think it's inherently awful either. I'm glad we have another yellow lightsaber too, but I hope that isn't just fan-service. I hope we learn why Yord has that particular color.

This was actually kind of good.

It's hard for me to take a lot of the review-bombing and actual negative reception for Star Wars content seriously anymore. Why should I be avoiding a series because it has queer characters, POC characters or actors who are queer and POC?

I do think a lot of people just lost interest in Star Wars content somewhere around Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi, though. And I have finally got around to reading actual criticism for this series and so far, I can sort of understand some of it.

This pilot was a bit rough. I'm not sold on all of the acting, some of the logic doesn't make sense, and admittedly, some of the dialogue is very on-the-nose or just... not great.

In contrast, some of the acting is actually pretty good, and I am legitimately invested in this story. A Star Wars mystery? Hey, why not?

Star Wars space logic really is kind of silly. I still remember in Clone Wars when Anakin was jumping around in space as if gravity doesn't exist😂Makes you wonder why they don't bother with stuff like that.

But all-in-all, I don't hate it so far. The production isn't as bad as people led me to believe, nor is the plot. I will continue watching.

I have thoughts.

For starters, this wasn't filler and it wasn't just an 8-episode season to gap us to the final season (S5). Obviously this episode in particular will lead right in to that and MUST be seen, but I still thought the writers made some really effective use of the characters and story this season, more than some of these other reviewers are giving them credit for.

What a finale though. I was actually kind of hoping Neuman would be around for another season. I grew to like her character quite a bit. But it makes sense for her to be a scent for this next chapter in The Boys. What a BRUTAL scene.

Butchers powers reveal was... interesting. I guess be can stay alive so long as he can embrace his dark passenger and bottle up his hatred? If that's the case, what an insane thing to do to a character who just seemed to be coming around and finally letting some of this nonsense go. He really is becoming comic-book Butcher. I have a feeling Hughie is gonna have a hard time forgiving him for the stuff his did in this episode.

I'm glad Sage is gonna stick around for a while too. I figured she would, but I'm glad they didn't throw that character away, and that we'll eventually see her full plan for... whatever dark crap she has in store for us!

I WAS surprised we didn't get more Homelander in this finale, but it still has me anxious for the final season where he's gonna most likely perform the worst acts imaginable. Antony Starr... what a freakin' performance. He's so, so good in this season and this episode in particular. It's satisfying seeing him cry at the A-Train betrayal and the death of Neuman.

And poor Ryan... who knows what he'll be doing next. I doubt he'll go comfortably back to Homelander OR Butcher. I fear for him.

As for the season as a whole...

A-Train easily has one of the best arcs of the whole show and season so far. Of all of the supes to actually sort of turn their life around for the better, I like that it was him. I won't act like the dude's a saint or anything, but his escape felt earned and really well written. I'm surprised he'll likely make it to the next season, but I'm glad as well. Jesse's acting has never been better.

I personally liked Starlight quite a bit this season and don't at all see why so many are hating on the character or the performance. Erin Moriarty's acting was the best she's ever been in this whole show so far, and again, Annie's arc felt earned. Seeing her get so torn down, dragged in to the public eye in a violent nature, and then finally coming to terms with herself and her past was great. The whole Starlighters vs. Homelanders thing felt realistic and was rough to watch too. NOT a pointless character.

I also loved seeing Hughie reigniting a relationship with his mom and managing to finally come to terms with death on a healthy way. I feel like his grief he's carried for Robin the entire series, and now his dad, was great character-building.

And while I still feel like the writing for Frenchie and Kimiko was a bit thin this season, I'm more than content with where they end up. It's been a long time coming and, again, the events and choices of this season made the kiss worth it. I was so, so saddened when she finally spoke to him and he couldn't hear her!

Excellent ending too. I have no idea how the Boys are still alive and WHY they're still alive after this season in particular. I don't consider this a criticism of the series, but I hope the premiere for S5 makes more sense of this!

I still loved this finale though. I was constantly on my feet, wondering when Homelander would snap, where Butcher was, what was gonna happen to Ashley, what the doppelgänger was gonna do next, if Butcher was gonna convince Ryan to stay or not... excellent direction from Eric Kripke too!

I loved this season. I'm not sure where it sits with the others, but I throughly enjoyed it. I laughed, I cried, I was repulsed, I was ENTERTAINED. I'm just sad we have to wait more than a year for the next season. I need it NOW.

I give the creators of this show credit for still keeping up a (mostly) consistent narrative and tone even when the show gets gross and grisly and crude. Last week's episode was strange even by Boys standards, but this one was quite better.

This was very good. It closed some narratives and left plenty open enough to have me all giddy for the season finale. What's really going on with Butcher? Where is Annie? When will we see A-Train again? Will Ashley make it out of Vought? Will Homelander actually assassinate the man in the big chair?

A-Train's arc was definitely a highlight. I feel like this is something they've been hinting at since maybe even the first season of the series. Jesse T. Usher's acting in this season (and S3) was him at his best for sure. If this is the last we'll see of him this season, it's a bit too tidy given the circumstances, but it's also kind of satisfying. The fact that he willingly went all the way to Vought Tower to try to bring Ashley with him just shows how much he really has changed.

I was also glad to get some sort of closure with Kimiko and Frenchie for the time being. I feel like this whole plot was underutilized, which is understandable. These episodes are already 1hr+ each as is. But it was still well written catharsis.

Also glad MM is staying and not just leaving to be with his loved ones, even though that may have worked for a bit.

And Ryan having a brief change of heart and realization was a great moment. Still genuinely unsure of what will become of him this season. Will he end up helping Butcher in some way? Will he end up getting swayed (or held hostage) by Homelander? The show is shocking enough that I'm still unsure of what'll happen to him in particular.

Also have no idea what'll become of Butcher (before his passing anyway). I need the next episode STAT.

And good grief is Homelander is a really scary dude. His scene with Webweaver made me so uncomfortable and repulsed. This man is surely going to crack on the season finale. I'm looking forward to it but I'm also terrified.

Not sure what'll become of Sage. Her plan seems to have been completely abandoned... but maybe it hasn't? Also scared she left behind what appears to be Maeve's journal. They better NOT off Maeve!

This was a great episode in, in my opinion, a pretty great season. It has kept me on my feet, laughing, and even shedding some tears here and there. Seriously give that finale STAT.

Okay, I can kind of see why some are disappointed now. Those saying this feels like a bridge to the next season are kind of right. Not everything seems to be resolved;

Richie still hasn't RSVP'd...

Carmy hasn't talked to Claire...

Syd still hasn't decided where she'll be working soon...

And THEN the episode just ends with a cliffhanger and a "TO BE CONTINUED" title card... Like yeah obviously I'm gonna watch the next season regardless, but COME ON.

At the same time, I can't say this is a bad episode, or that any of the episodes were bad.

I actually loved this one. I loved seeing literally all of the guest appearances from S2 make a return and interacting again. I loved the callbacks to "Forks".

I wasn't at all expecting any confrontation between Carmy and Chef David. That was one of the best scenes in the episode and maybe the season. I have not worked in a kitchen before, but I'm also no stranger to the toxicity of a horrible, abusive boss. Or just an abuser in general. David is so remorseless for his treatment towards Carmy. It's almost like he sees him as an experiment gone right. It's horrendous and sad. It's a hard scene to sit through, but an honest one as well.

It also made me realize why Carmy himself is so loud, abrasive and angry all of the time toward his co-workers. He has become what he despised in David. And then you see how considerate ALL of the other chefs were to him. It's no wonder he feels so conflicted in the kitchen, but it really does only take one bad boss to ruin someone's self-esteem and work ethic.

It didn't make for as powerful a finale as the past two seasons in my opinion, but it is still a great one in my opinion. Just wish we had the other season own I guess. I could see S4 being the final season, but I wouldn't mind a couple more so long as they're good and have a reason for existing.

Overall, still dug this season. I still laughed a lot, felt for all of the characters at some point, felt the anxiety of the other seasons (here and there), and am obviously curious enough to keep watching. The acting was still excellent. None of the performances here should be downplayed. They all did so, so well.

I do wish we had gotten more of Marcus. He had one of the best episodes last season, and it seemed like his arc here was actually going somewhere but didn't.

Anyway, great season, just wish we could have had a liiiittle more closure. I hope we don't have to wait until June 2025 for the next season.

By no means amazing, by no means awful. This episode has some great moments. I like the conversation between Carmy and Syd. It shows how difficult it is for Carmy to truly get out of his rageful shell and actually act like a decent coworker and boss (although it's better highlighted in the finale imo).

Also loved the park scene with Richie and his family. It drew him in a bit of a different light for me. You really get his hesitance to go to the wedding, and you get why he takes certain remarks so personally.

The Faks are fine. I think they're funny guys and I still find myself laughing along with them. I'm not sure they need to be so prevalent this season. It was fine for like an episode, but why are we still getting so much of them and less of some of the others? At least the "Haunting" thing actually had some meaning here when they talked to Carmy about Claire.

The hospital scene felt weird. It was still funny and all, just felt like a weird occurrence. I don't know that it added or detracted from the episode.

Anyway, this was more good-not-great. Still some great acting and jokes and legitimately meaningful moments as well!

Yeah this was pretty great.

Donna is so much like my own mother that I can't help but count all of the parallels. I've been watching this series with my sister and she agrees. This particular episode was kind of cathartic viewing. The scene where Donna tells Natalie that she's trying to be a better person, that she's sorry for how she treated Natalie as a daughter, and basically admits how harsh of a person she is... I've never gotten that from my own mother. I yearn for the day she comes around and realizes the people she's also hurt and affected in her tirade and "hard love".

The scene felt totally earned though, and it wasn't nearly as cheesy as one would expect. I honestly wasn't even expecting to see Donna again in the series, and this was a very surprising and welcoming reintroduction. Carlo's writing for this was so good. I loved all of the laughs, tears and screams shared between these two. It felt very real, and Storer's direction was tender and focused throughout. It did feel a tad long, but the plot and acting kept my attention.

Curtis may actually be a national treasure. She's been so exceptional lately. Abby Elliot is legitimately great too though. I'll have a hard time seeing her as any other character in her other movies and shows.

A strange break from the kitchen and main cast, but a welcome departure and a really good episode as well.

Doesn't stand up against the other episodes in the season so far, but it's not bad by any means.

I think the conversation about legacy were actually quite good. It's a conversation that I don't think about often. I actually lied in bed with my eyes wide open for a little bit after watching this episode, just thinking about what I'd want my own legacy to be like. What do we want to be known for when all is said and done? When WE'RE said and done?

And it's a good conversation for these characters. You can just tell Syd is potentially on the brink of leaving The Bear and seeking an opportunity that just sounds like what she really wants out of her passion and occupation. Marcus's answer to her legacy question was so sweet!

I do hope this is something that's visited upon later. Carmy himself admits he doesn't think much about it, but he probably should. That would also give this episode some more heft, more reason for being in this season I guess.

Aside from this though, it's standard Bear. Some laughs here and there, some yelling, and some touching moments as well (Richie and Sugar's table talk, to name one scene). The acting is as great as always.

Good not great.

Okay so Storer really likes Nine Inch Nails. I'm not complaining. "The Start of Things" is likely in my top 100 songs on my Spotify for this year's wrapped, and that's before watching this episode. This series has such a killer soundtrack.

Anyway, music or no music, this is easily the best episode of the season so far. Was already excited going in knowing we'd be gifted with a Tina-centric episode, but it was still even better than I had expected. Liza is such an amazing actress, has been in every episode up to this point, but she's at her best here. I also loved seeing David, her real-life husband, acting along side her. You can just tell there's so much chemistry and love between them.

I also loved having Jon Bernthal back yet again. I love that Michael just keeps making random appearances. He's been in every season so far and I'm not mad at all about it. Bernthal is so freakin' good in the role too. You really get why he is so missed by his colleagues and family.

I wasn't at all expecting an episode about employment and job searching either. That stuff sucks. A lot of places will take whatever help they can get, but that's not always the case. Getting hired in this economy is such a struggle, but it's so, so hard and frustrating. Tina's conversation with the receptionist really resonated with me in particular. So infuriating and realistic. And getting laid off has to be one of the worst things to happen to an employed person one of these days. It was protested here really well.

Ayo Edebiri did an excellent job directing too. Rather it be more television gigs or a feature length film, I'm excited to see her direct more. She's such a huge cinephile too. I love reading her reviews on LB.

Anyway, enough fan-girling. This was a legitimately great episode. Thought-provoking, honest, really well shot and acted... what more could you want?