TLDR:
I fell asleep 15 mins into the last episode.
Plot overview:
6 episode series exploring a mega 1 minute multi-sector cyber attack which, downs planes, locks out banks and switches off everything killing thousands. An intersting idea so poorly executed it’s almost like they did it on purpose.
Commentary:
After an intriguing EP1, the plot unrolls rather than unravels. Like a loo-roll bouncing down the stairs it is somehow watchable while simultaneously boring you to death. The series achieves this primarily due to the super-strong but underused and poorly directed cast who are walking by numbers (literally shuffling Biden-like in De Niro’s case) through the often incoherent miasma of pointless sub-plots, none of which are integral to the main theme which is painfully underplayed, under-scripted and inevitably underwhelming. Endless pseudo-tense scenes play out with the promise of intrigue and reveal, but as episodes progress I was are increasingly left thinking “say what!?” Crowd scenes are reminiscent of late 70s TV and it’s clear that the budget was blown on the cast. Nothing more to add on cybersecurity as the topic is skimmed over like a pebble on a pond in each episode.
As De Niro’s first move into TV he will be disappointed both in his own performance and the show’s overall inability to grab hold of its own premise and make itself compelling. De Niro’s TDS (Trump Derangement Sydrome) is on full display and no doubt one of the screenplay allures for him. The delving into an ex-presidents mental decline and conflating it with neurological weaponry is as much an epic eye roll as the unexplained hop-footing from inspiring speech-maker to waterboarding dictator is incomprehensible. De Niro often seemed bored, bemused and yet also as committed as I was to persevere with it.
The screenplay is jumpy and yet the plot so obvious that the jumpy doesn’t throw you. When I say obvious, I don’t mean that you know what’s going on but are instead willingly caught up in what is ostensibly a massive nod to contemporary government overreach without any of the characters seemingly knowing what’s going on either. The direction is club-footed and amateurish and yet the sprinkling of stars do their best to hold your attention and the story limps along peppered with good individual moments; a bit like a Man City performance this season where you wonder if watching to the end might not be worth it.
Bottom line: Don't bother; but if you’re interested in the topic of civilisation threatening cyber attacks then Leave The World Behind is much better; that is if you like this sort of reality [slash] conspiracy hokum.
Prediction: De Niro will do a movie next and never touch a TV Series again.
Next: I’ll finish Ep 6 tomorrow if I can be bothered.
@A-Unique-Nickname saidI walked out somewhere in the middle of Pulp Fiction, thoroughly disgusted.
Watched the first 15 minutes and thought 'this is $hite' and turned it off.
Put Pulp Fiction on instead, one of the best movies ever.
@diver saidSo....
TLDR:
I fell asleep 15 mins into the last episode.
Plot overview:
6 episode series exploring a mega 1 minute multi-sector cyber attack which, downs planes, locks out banks and switches off everything killing thousands. An intersting idea so poorly executed it’s almost like they did it on purpose.
Commentary:
After an intriguing EP1, the plot unrolls rather than unra ...[text shortened]... ie next and never touch a TV Series again.
Next: I’ll finish Ep 6 tomorrow if I can be bothered.
1-star, Do Not Recommend?
By the way, I was meaning to ask you, is the submarine on your profile page one of the newer Astute-class boats being produced now? I can't rightly tell because of no id number that I can see.
@moonbus saidIt's a period piece. A picture of an America way before the whole fake-news thing.
I walked out somewhere in the middle of Pulp Fiction, thoroughly disgusted.
It makes more sense if you remember the kinds of film Tarentino is a fan of. I saw Pulp Fiction as an example of, well, pulp fiction. Jackie Brown is a member of the same genre (with a bit of 'blaxploitation' on the side). I was way more disgusted by Jackie Brown, especially Samuel L. Jackson's character. A bit 'over-the-top', but then, it was supposed to be.
I was far more entertained by Kill Bill (both episodes). The characters were much more memorable. Still fiction, of course, but that's why we watch them.
I just finished Reacher, season three. (Available here on Amazon Prime.)
Always good, with good action sequences (and that's what we're there for, right?). This season was a better storyline than seasons one and two, and as always, Alan Ritchson is as easy on the eyes as a tall, cool drink of water in the desert.
This is the Jack Reacher envisioned by Lee Child (certainly not the pitiful by comparison Tom Cruise).
@Suzianne saidThanks for asking Suzanne; there’s an explanation of the submarine and why it’s important to me in my profile.
By the way, I was meaning to ask you, is the submarine on your profile page one of the newer Astute-class boats being produced now? I can't rightly tell because of no id number that I can see.
@diver saidPlease continue! 😉
TLDR:
I fell asleep 15 mins into the last episode.
Plot overview:
6 episode series exploring a mega 1 minute multi-sector cyber attack which, downs planes, locks out banks and switches off everything killing thousands. An intersting idea so poorly executed it’s almost like they did it on purpose.
Commentary:
After an intriguing EP1, the plot unrolls rather than unra ...[text shortened]... ie next and never touch a TV Series again.
Next: I’ll finish Ep 6 tomorrow if I can be bothered.
-VR
@diver saidSorry about that, I hadn't even checked the text.
Thanks for asking Suzanne; there’s an explanation of the submarine and why it’s important to me in my profile.
Very good then. I saw it was out of the water and thought it might be new/still under construction. My dad was an officer in the USN & got his dolphins early on, so I am partial to subs.