I live on Twitter, or as I like to call it, “The Tweeter.” Do you know what I also love? Watching movies, which is what I did the other weekend when I streamed Extraction and Love Wedding Repeat. Put those two together and you have my next segment, One Tweet Reviews.
I once heard that if you can describe the plot of a movie or television show in one sentence, then that movie has a better chance to succeed. It’s not the be-all and end-all, but there’s some truth in it. In today’s age, people tend to gravitate to short, quick bits of information so if you can win the audience over with a one-sentence logline, that’s a good start.
I wanted to take that mindset and apply it to my reviews. Sometimes, I wish I had more words and more time to describe shows like Normal Peopleand Devs. On the other hand, for these two Netflix movies, a simple tweet will suffice. So that’s what I did. I reviewed these movies in 240 characters or less.
Without further ado, here are my One Tweet Reviews for Extraction and Love Wedding Repeat.
Extraction
Synopsis from Netflix: Tyler Rake (Chris Hemsworth) is a fearless black market mercenary who embarks on the deadliest mission of his career when he’s enlisted to rescue the kidnapped son of an international crime lord. Directed by Sam Hargrave, this action-packed, edge-of-your-seat thriller is produced by Joe and Anthony Russo, the visionary directors of Avengers: Endgame.
Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Rudhraksh Jaiswal, Randeep Hooda, Golshifteh Farahani, Pankaj Tripathi, and David Harbour
One Tweet Review: Extraction
I don’t have the exact numbers, but Chris Hemsworth shot and killed approximately 50,000 bad guys. The 12-minute tracking shot was an adrenaline rush. The perfect “Netflix movie.” I loved every second of it.
Love Wedding Repeat
Synopsis from Netflix: While trying to make his sister’s wedding day go smoothly, Jack (Sam Claflin) finds himself juggling an angry ex-girlfriend (Freida Pinto), an uninvited guest with a secret, a misplaced sleep sedative, and the girl that got away (Olivia Munn) in alternate versions of the same day.
Cast: Sam Claflin, Olivia Munn, Eleanor Tomlinson, Joel Fry, Tim Key, and Aisling Bea
One Tweet Review: Love Wedding Repeat
I’ll always make time for a Netflix rom-com. However, the storylines were confusing at times and a bit messy in the middle. However, a charming cast and strong ending were enough to keep me entertained. Main takeaway: If I don’t get married in Rome, I failed.
How’d we do? Agree or disagree? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
In the sixth episode of Normal People, Connell (Paul Mescal) and Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) spend the afternoon at a friend’s pool party. The duo had been exchanging heartfelt gazes at each other throughout the entire episode, but neither one wants to make a move. When Connell finally swims over to Marianne on the edge of the pool, his arm wraps around her side while he gently kisses her shoulder. For one brief moment, the world stops for Connell, who constantly struggles to express how he feels, and Marianne, who believes she’s not worthy of real love. No words are said, but their silent embrace speaks volumes.
These moments of love and affection are prevalent throughout Hulu’s Normal People, the terrific adaptation of Sally Rooney’s best-selling novel from 2018. Normal People depicts the relationship between Connell and Marianne from secondary school through college in Ireland. In the beginning, Connell is the popular star athlete from the blue-collar family that struggles to make ends meet. Marianne is the outspoken and opinionated social outcast from a wealthy family who fails to acknowledge her existence. The two strike up a relationship but decide to keep it a secret in order to preserve Connell’s popularity.
Although Connell and Marianne come from two different families and societal groups, the young lovers see each other in their purest form. Society perceives Connell as a dumb jock and Marianne as an entitled brat. However, Connell views Marianne as a beautiful, free-spirited thinker while Marianne views Connell as an intelligent, heartfelt gentleman. Time stands still when the lovers are together. Connell and Marianne look at each other like it’s the first time they’ve ever seen real beauty. They don’t see flaws; they see perfection.
Their strong, emotional connection strengthens in the bedroom thanks to the chemistry between Mescal and Edgar-Jones, two stars in the making. Their first sexual encounter starts out awkward since Marianne is a virgin while Connell has is not. However, the awkwardness turns to pure admiration as the two lock eyes and form a bond that cannot be broken. For the first time in their lives, they experience what true love is all about. Both try to find new sexual partners in their later years, but quickly learn that they can never truly lose themselves in the moment with other people. These tense, masterful sex scenes are works of art and make the audience question if they’ve ever experienced what it truly means to “make love.”
Like most relationships, things are never easy. When Connell and Marianne head to the same college, the roles reverse. Marianne becomes a social butterfly and while Connell elects to be the loner who struggles to find his place. However, their love never disappears even though they continue to be a victim of bad timing. Marianne spends time in Italy and Sweeden and experiments with new sexual partners while still feeling dissatisfied with her life, especially from her family. Connell struggles to fit in at college and battles a serious case of depression after tragedy strikes. Despite their arguments and differences, Connell’s and Marianne’s love for each other never disappears. They lean on each other in their darkest times which culminates in a heartbreaking scene involving physical and emotional abuse towards the end of the series.
Thanks to brilliant performances from Mescal and Edgar-Jones, Normal People stands out as one of the best shows of 2020. It’s one of the purest depictions of young, first love that you’ll ever see. Their love is complicated, but the show is perfect.
What did you think of Normal People? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow. All episodes of Normal People can be streamed on Hulu.
This past Friday night was business as usual in the Girolamo Apartment. Pizza at 8, ice cream at 10, and television/movies before, during, and after my meals. After watching Extraction, an entertaining action movie where Chris Hemsworth killed approximately 500,000 bad guys, I broke out the ice cream and fired up Netflix’s latest teen drama, Outer Banks. To be honest, I knew almost nothing about the premise going in. Outer Banks has only been out since April 15 so it’s a fairly new show. It’s been consistently sitting in Netflix’s Top 10 since it dropped so I gave it a shot.
I started watching the show at 10 PM on Friday night. By the next night, I binged the entire 10-episode first season, and folks, I’m addicted to “Pogue Life.” I’m going on the record saying that I’m officially obsessed with Outer Banks. I’m a sucker for a good teen drama. Give me a bunch of kids who like to hang out, drink, hook up, and get into trouble and I’ll watch. I promise you that.
So what’s it about? The basic storyline revolves around the lives of four teenagers: John B, JJ, Pope, and Kiara. These four friends make up “The Pogues.” The Pogues live on the blue-collar, working-class side of the Outer Banks called “The Cut”. Like any good story that deals with economic and social status, the Pogues need rich rivals. Enter “The Kooks,” the preppy, entitled elitists who live on the other side of the island called “Figure Eight.”
While battling with the Kooks, John B and the Pogues discover a legendary tale about a treasure in the Outer Banks worth over hundreds of millions of dollars. It turns out that John B’s father, who went missing a year prior, had been working on finding the treasure for twenty years and was on the brink of discovery before his disappearance. John B believes that if he finds the treasure, he’ll find his father. I’m attempting to not reveal any spoilers so I’ll stop with there. Watch the trailer below.
P.S. Obviously, there’s a Romeo and Juliet storyline with the princess of the Kooks, Sarah Cameron.
Outer Banks is a coming of age story that follows a tight-knit group of local teens (aka the Pogues) in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. When a hurricane kills the power for the summer season, it sets off a chain of illicit events that force the friends to make life-altering decisions. The search for their ringleader’s missing father, forbidden romances, a high-stakes treasure hunt, and the escalating conflict between the Pogues and their rivals turn their summer into one filled with mystery and adventure they’ll never forget.
If you love teen dramas and that synopsis doesn’t get you fired up, then something’s wrong with you. I’ve seen Outer Banks compared to The O.C.and Gossip Girl. If I’d say if those two shows had a baby with a murder mystery, Outer Banks would be the result. I appreciate how Outer Banks throws conventional storylines out the window. In no world could teens outsmart the local police on a daily basis, but in Outer Banks, the teens are geniuses and the police are dumber than rocks. That’s not a dig at the show, by the way. I appreciate how Outer Banks embraces its chaotic and crazy nature. In the final few episodes, the show becomes unhinged, and I loved every second of it.
Let’s be honest. There’s one main reason to watch the show and his name is John B.
John B, the legend himself and captain of The Pogues. This kid could not have more swag if he tried. He oozes coolness. I would follow John B into battle any day of the week. From his immaculate hair to charming persona, it’s so easy to believe in this kid. He’s what I like to call a “save some for the rest of us” guy. All the girls want him so he needs to save some for the regular shmucks like myself. I can’t get enough of this kid. Do you know what I did the other night? I bought bandanas. It’s been at least five years since I tied a bandana around my neck, but since John B wears bandanas, so will I. I’m ready to drop everything and move to the Outer Banks in order to become a Pogue. Do not even get me started on how he buttons his shirts. If you don’t see me like this at a beach bar in July, then I’m a fraud.
I’m an addict and Outer Banks is my drug. I’ve already formed my group of Pogues (shoutout Dan and Katie). I still have two spots open so if you think you’re worthy of joining my group, let me know. It will not be easy, but if you’re lucky enough to make my tribe, it will be the greatest accomplishment of your life.
Pogues for life.
What did you think of Outer Banks? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter, @unafraidshow.
Avengers, assemble. The year is 2020 and there have been zero movies released in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That’s such a weird sentence to read considering the Marvel films have been a staple in pop culture since 2008.
Since we miss our superhero and making lists is the go-to activity during quarantine, Entertainment Weekly tweeted this out the other day.
I understand that these exercises are supposed to spawn thousands of different combinations, but I can only think of two combinations that make sense. Here’s mine.
$15 – Build Your Own Avengers
$5 Captain America – For me, selecting Captain America was a no-brainer. I mean he has the word “captain” in his title. Steve Rogers is the guy you want to be in a foxhole with when shit hits the fan. With Cap, giving up is not an option. Besides his leadership and positive attitude, Cap also happens to be the strongest “human” on this list. It takes a special type of person to lift Mjolnir and what Cap did in Endgame was beyond special. My team won’t lose with Captain America leading us into battle.
$5 Thor – Instead of dropping down a slot, I’m choosing to spend the five dollars in the first category again to select Thor. First of all, on Earth, Thor is a God. That’s a good start when building a team of Avengers. Superhuman strength, speed, injury resistance, and endurance would have been enough of a selling point for me, but thanks to Mjolnir, Thor can control thunder and lightning. He’s the God of Thunder who can fly. How are you going to stop him? You can’t. Welcome to the team, Thor.
https://youtu.be/Z68MRjRpwdo
$2 Scarlet Witch – With these next three picks, it’s like I’m stealing. Their value is insane. My first value pick is Scarlet Witch. In Infinity War, besides Thor, Scarlet Witch went toe-to-toe with Thanos and held her own. She walked away with minimal injuries, which is almost impossible. Scarlet Witch can generate force fields, fly, and manipulate energy. Plus, she can invade your thoughts and plant ideas in your mind. I want someone with the powers of telepathy and telekinesis on my side.
Marvel
$1 Vision – Vision should NOT be $1. He’s an android! That should bump him up to $3 at the very least. Vision has superhuman speed, strength, and reflexes to go along with his ability to compute large data quantities and equations. His love for Scarlet Witch may blur his motives, but if she’s in trouble, no one is going to fight harder than Vision.
Marvel
$1 Bucky – Everyone needs a friend to fight with and Captain America’s best friend is Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier. However, Bucky is making the team not only for his friendship with Steve but for his skills as an assassin. Besides the superhuman strength and stamina, Bucky is a stone-cold killer with elite skills as a marksman and spy. Winter Soldier, welcome to the squad.
https://youtu.be/4JcSmCSgi24
Look at that, I didn’t even need the full $15. I did mention that there was only one other combination I was considering. If you wanted to sub in Dr. Strange for Thor or Captain America, I don’t hate it. However, my squad of Avengers will dominate. Good luck my squad.
What would be your picks for your team of Avengers? Leave your thoughts in the comments or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
Titanic is a masterpiece. That is an undeniable fact. There are only two sides of this coin. You love Titanic or you hate Titanic. There’s no middle ground. I’ve never heard someone say they “like” Titanic. You’re all in or all out, no grey area. For me, I’m as far in as you can possibly be. To be honest, when I first saw Titanic as a kid, I didn’t care for it. It was long, sad, and dark, but keep in mind, I was seven years old. However, as I grew older and watched the film more and more, I came to appreciate its brilliance. It’s a disaster film of epic proportions from arguably the greatest director of blockbusters, James Cameron. Titanic is full of romance, action, adventure, sadness, and hope. What more could you want in a movie?
April 15 was the 108th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic. Although tragic, the anniversary made me revisit the film that I have come to love and appreciate. Having seen the dozens of times, I decided to dip my pen and determine the five best and five worst characters in Titanic. Enjoy.
Also, Rose and Jack could NOT have shared the door together. I don’t want to hear your childish take on the matter. However, if you believe Rose should have switched off with Jack every 10 minutes on the door or Jack should have recovered lifejackets off of floating bodies or search for debris to lean on so his legs were out of the water, then I’m ready to listen to your argument.
Five Best Characters In Titanic
5. Tommy Ryan
Tommy Ryan is a first-round selection of people I’d want to hang out with. Who wouldn’t want to hang out with a cheerful Irish lad that loves to pound beers? Tommy is the type of guy who would own season tickets to the Cleveland Browns. He probably drinks way too much at the tailgate and by the time he gets into the stadium, he’s ready to fight the first person that cuts him off in line for the urinals. Unfortunately, Tommy also makes the top five for saddest deaths inthemovie.
4. Wallace Hartley And His Fellow Musicians
Gentlemen, it’s been a privilege playing with you tonight. When everyone panicked, Wallace and the boys brought out their violins and provided some sweet, soothing sounds on a ship going to hell. If I was on the Titanic in real life, I’m not sure if I would want “Nearer, My God, to Thee” playing in the background before I freeze in the Atlantic Ocean. That being said, it’s a bittersweet scene in the film.
https://youtu.be/tCS7ReJphu4
3. Chief Baker Charles Joughin
When in doubt, get a drink. That’s exactly what Chief Baker Charles Joughin did when things turned to shit. The baker provides a few laughs in the movie because he’s always seen with a flask in his hand, but it turns out, the real Charles Joughin was an absolute legend. Joughin actually survived and if you don’t know his story, I encourage you to read it here. Contrary to popular belief, Joughin did not survive because the alcohol kept his body warm. He survived because he stayed out of the water as long as humanly possible before the sinking. When Titanic finally sank, the alcohol in Joughin’s system gave him the “liquid courage” to tread water for more than 2 hours before finding an overturned lifeboat, which he stayed on before his eventual rescue. Next time you go out to sea, bring a flask.
2. Jack Dawson
Oh, Young Leo. The man needs no introduction. I could list all of the reasons why Jack Dawson is so great, but I have a deadline. Jack was charming, funny, and so damn handsome. He might have been a petty thief, but I wouldn’t mind starting a life in America with Jack. However, if he continued to paint nude women, I’d leave him in a heartbeat.
1. Molly Brown
Do you know those charts that rate if someone’s good or evil?
Molly Brown is one of the few characters to be in the “good” section. She’s the only member of the wealthy class to treat Jack with the respect and dignity he deserves. More importantly, Molly is the only person on her lifeboat to urge the crew to go back for survivors. Frankly, she’s the only rich person that’s likable in the movie! Molly is one, tough S.O.B. and gets my vote for the best character in Titanic.
Five Worst Characters In Titanic
5. Captain Edward John Smith
To quote Lewis Bodine aka the guy with the beard in Brock’s crew, “There’s Smith and he’s standing there and he’s got the iceberg warning in his ****ing hand, excuse me, his hand, and he ordering more speed.” Once the Captain says the ship is speeding up after receiving an iceberg warning, I scream. I understand that Captain Smith was under a lot of pressure from outside forces to reach America as fast as possible strictly for publicity. However, he’s the captain of the ship. When NFL teams lose games, the quarterback always takes the blame. The same can be said about Titanic. Even if it ultimately wasn’t his decision to speed up, I have to pin the majority of the blame on Captain Smith for the sinking ship.
4. Cal Hockley
This fucking guy. Cal is a bad dude, but he’s not as bad as you think. There is a small minority of fans who believe Cal is not the bad guy in Titanic. I agree to an extent. Cal is funding Rose and her mother’s trip to America with first-class tickets. Despite Rose’s brattiness, Cal still loved her. Jack tried to be “Mr. Steal Your Girl” and Cal fought back. I think most guys would do the same. Plus, when Cal ended up on the Carpathia, he went looking for Rose to see if she’s alive. Cal does have a heart, but it doesn’t make up for the fact that he’s the biggest asshole on the ship. He tried to kill Jack multiple times and if he ended up marrying Rose, there’s zero doubt in my mind that Cal would abuse his wife both physically and mentally. However, Cal can’t be the worst character in the film because of the hilarious “I have a child” speech.
3. First Officer William Murdoch
When I first saw Titanic, the scene that gave me nightmares was the death of Tommy Ryan followed by the suicide of First Officer William Murdoch. I will never be able to comprehend what happened on that ship when it was sinking. I picture it would be worse than Judgement Day. I have to cut some slack to the heroic officers aboard Titanic for doing their best to save the most amount of lives. Still, I’ll never be able to forgive Mr. Murdoch for shooting Tommy. It’s something I’ll never forget.
2. Rose DeWitt Bukate aka Young Rose
Where do I begin? If you like Rose more than Jack, square up and after that, get your head checked out. In Rose’s first scene, her entitled and bratty persona shined when she commented on the size of the Titanic and questioned what “all the fuss was about.” Oh, I’m sorry Rose, do you need a bigger ship to hold your thirty suitcases of clothing? From there, it was all downhill for Rose’s likability. Putting Jack’s life in danger by stepping over the railing, cheating on Cal, and jumping off the lifeboat (!!!) to go back onto the Titanic easily makes Rose one of the worst characters in the film.
1. Rose Dawson Calvert aka Old Rose
Let me preface this by saying Old Rose seemed like a delightful lady. Rose loved telling stories, making pots, and spending time with her granddaughter. When Rose shared her riveting tale about Jack Dawson and the Titanic, she had the entire room in the palm of her hand. With all that being said, nothing makes my blood boil more than the scene where Rose threw the Heart of the Ocean into the sea. How selfish can you be? I don’t care how attached you are to the necklace or how much you believe that the diamond belongs to the sea. Rose could have set up her family for generations to come. In the film, the necklace was valued well over $300 million. Why make sure your family never has to worry about money again when you can just throw it all away and leave them with nothing before you pass? If you want to become even angrier, watch the alternate ending.
https://youtu.be/Y8cnPNC3NsE
Who is the best and worst character in Titanic? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
(All images are taken from Titanic / Paramount Pictures)
When I think of a movie sequel, I automatically think of a film that’s bigger and raised the stakes from its predecessor. That doesn’t mean it works. In fact, I’d argue that most sequels fail because it can’t recreate the magic that made the first film successful. In turn, failed sequels usually don’t bring anything new to offer so the film can’t stand on its own. When a sequel is done right, it’s special. When a sequel outdoes the original, it’s legendary.
On the Unafraid Show’s Twitter, we asked which three sequels would you pick from a list of nine films.
— the Unafraid Show with George Wrighster (@UnafraidShow) April 9, 2020
The Choices
The Dark Knight
The Godfather Part II
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (T2)
Toy Story 2
Aliens
Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
Before Sunset
This lineup is the 1927 Yankees aka Murderers’ Row. Not only are they some of the best sequels ever made, but these movies are some of the most important films ever made. It’s like choosing between children (that I don’t have). One is by far your favorite, but all the others make compelling cases for spots two and three. You truly can’t make a bad decision when it comes to narrowing it down to three films, or can you?
By definition, a sequel is any movie that continues the story or expands upon the previous entry so, therefore, you could make a case that the third, fourth, and fifth films from a series are sequels. However, when I think of sequels, it’s the second movie that comes out after the original or the second film in a series of movies. It’s why films like Toy Story 3 or Mad Max: Fury Roadwere not included on the list.
Here are my picks.
The Dark Knight, Aliens, and in an upset, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers https://t.co/skM8XzTkfD
The Dark Knight – This is my favorite child out of the nine. The Dark Knight is one of my top five films of all time. I hold it near and dear to my heart. It changed how I thought critically about films. A superhero premise disguised as a neo-noir blew my mind. Christopher Nolan, one of my favorite filmmakers ever, opened up new doors for comic book adaptations and how these films could be massive events on a global scale. I haven’t even mentioned Heath Ledger yet, who gave the most memorable performance by any actor in the last forty years. Whenever The Dark Knight is on television, whatever I planned to do takes a backseat to the cat-and-mouse game between Batman and The Joker.
Aliens – Imagine looking at Alien and The Terminator (which Cameron wrote and directed) and thinking not only could you make a sequel, but you could make it better than the original? There’s a reason why James Cameron has two films on this list. T2 is a great movie, but Aliens kicks so much ass. It’s one of the greatest action films ever. Alien is more of a slow burn as the Xenomorph plays “hide and seek” as it takes out the crew one by one. On the other hand, Aliens is in-your-face, nonstop action as soon as Ellen Ripley and the crew land on LV-426. Aliens changed genre filmmaking forever. Aliens include edge-of-your-seat thrills along with being downright terrifying especially when the marines invade the nesting ground of the creatures. This movie was nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Actress for Sigourney Weaver. A female action star receiving a Best Actress nomination in a sci-fi epic is something that doesn’t happen today. That’s how important Aliens is to the history of moviemaking.
Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers– When making this list, I did not expect The Two Towers to crack the top 3 with the likes of Empire Strikes Back, Godfather Part II, and T2 still on the board. However, when I started to compare The Two Towers to its competitors in terms of rewatchability and enjoyment, The Two Towers stood taller than the rest. It starts and ends with The Battle of Helm’s Deep. Battle scenes were not a new thing in 2002. Just look at the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan and the fighting scenes in Braveheart. However, Helm’s Deep became the new standard for battle scenes thanks to its use of CGI. Before the Battle of Winterfell in Game of Thrones, The Two Towers had the title of the longest consecutive battle scene in movie and television history. The Battle of Helm’s Deep is a spectacular feat of filmmaking. However, the quieter moments behind the city walls and the scene-stealing Gollum are what make The Two Towers one of the best fantasy films ever made.
We took the discussion to Twitter and let’s just say people had some thoughts.
Have you ever struggled to explain something you like that’s considered weird? No matter how you try, there’s no way to put together a coherent series of thoughts to strengthen your position. For example, I enjoy watching pimple popping videos. I’m fully aware it’s super weird and I can’t describe why I continue to watch, but I like seeing blackheads removed from someone’s face. It’s satisfying and entertaining. Apply the same logic of “weird and enjoyable” to a television show and the result is Devs.
Welcome to the weird and compelling world of Alex Garland, the creator, writer, and director of Devs, which streams on Hulu. Garland, the genius mind behind Ex Machina and Annihilation, has once again created another sci-fi thriller that will blow your mind for all the right reasons. In typical Garland fashion, there are more questions than answers. It’s a show that not only challenges the viewer to think critically but to suspend disbelief in the process.
The initial premise of Devs revolves around Lily, played by Sonoya Mizuno, a computer programmer at the giant tech company, Amaya. When Lily’s coworker and boyfriend, Sergei (Karl Glusman), dies at the facility, she believes that Amaya and its CEO, Forrest (Nick Offerman), are responsible for his death. Lily begins to investigate Amaya and quickly learns that both Sergei and the Devs team are full of secrets. After the first episode, the show’s murder mystery premise acts as a launchpad for debates over free will, predestination, and determinism.
Much like the characters in the show, I, too, struggle to explain what Amaya does with the Devs team and how they do it. Quantum computing isn’t exactly my cup of tea. Don’t freak out. Devs isn’t a Harvard bar with equations and shit on the walls. It’s more interested in questioning powerful technology and what people will do to acquire and protect it. Can a group of computer programmers play God? Set in San Francisco, Devs is fucking beautiful to watch. With its funky style and emphasis on light, episodes are like watching the video to “Space Oddity” by David Bowie. The spectacular drone shots of San Francisco, the warm, illuminating lights at the Devs lab, and the giant statue of a little girl in a redwood forest at Amaya are just some of the fantastic images that make Devs so visually appealing.
Though Garland is the concertmaster, he’s nothing without his performers. Mizuno’s inquisitive performance perfectly represents the ideas of the audience, who look for answers after every turn. Offerman’s deadpan comedy on Parks and Recreation skyrocketed his popularity, but his dramatic turn as a powerful, godlike entrepreneur grieving the loss of his daughter is a revelation. However, Zach Grenier’s performance as Kenton, the head of security at Amaya, is one of the many reasons why I keep coming back to the show. Kenton is a cold-blooded and ruthless fixer that would make Mike Ehrmantraut from Breaking Bad nervous if the two ended up in the same room. Kenton’s monologue to open the show’s fourth episode was so damn evil and scary that it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
DEVS is on another level right now. When I think it will zig, it zags. I can’t get over the brilliance of Alex Garland. He’s playing three-dimensional chess and we’re all playing checkers. #Devs
Devs may be on the of the wilder shows out right now, but it’s by far one of the best on television. The confusion only adds to the suspense and amplifies the action. It’s fully ok to admit that Devs can be weird and still acknowledge it’s greatness. Embrace the unknown in Devs.
What are your thoughts on Devs? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @unafraidshow.
Devs streams on Hulu as part of FX on Hulu. As of 4/8/2020, six of eight episodes have been released. New episodes arrive every Thursday at midnight.
When you woke up this morning, did you say to yourself, “Today I’m gonna talk or today I’m gonna skate?” That question is at the very heart of the Disney Channel Orginal Movie, Brink! Disney+ is not just for kids. It’s not only saving parents thanks to Frozen 2, but it’s saving young adults like me who want to relive their favorite movies of their childhood since Disney+ carries Disney Channel Orginal Movies.
The Luck of the Irish, Smart House, Zenon, and Johnny Tsunami are all towards the top for me, but Brink! will always be in the number one spot. I’m assuming if you’re reading this (it’s too late) article, you’ve seen Brink! before, but just in case, here’s a simple summary. Erik Von Detten is Andy “Brink” Brinker, a high school inline skater whose system of beliefs revolves around “soul skating.” Brink and his three friends (Jordy, Peter, and Gabriella) believe in soul skating, which means they skate for enjoyment and for fun, not for money. When Brink’s family runs into financial trouble, Brink betrays his friends and joins their rivals, Team X-Bladz, a sponsored skating team where skaters receive payment for their performance. The team is led by Val, an egotistical, cheating douchebag who is a GREAT villain.
Last weekend, I revisited Brink! for the first time in years thanks to Disney+. Don’t worry, the movie still holds up over 20 years later. However, I had one huge takeaway and it’s something that 8-year-old me would hate.
My Take: Brink made the right move when he joined Team X-Bladz.
There, I said it. Brink had to do what was best for his family. The fact that Jordy, Peter, and Gabriella kicked Brink off his own team was mind-boggling. They never let him truly explain his actions. Brink could have committed murder and the trio would have stuck with him, but Brink decides to make some money for his family and he’s Benedict Arnold.
Did Brink betray his friends’ trust? Yes. Should Brink have been honest with his friends from the beginning? Of course. Did he make the wrong decision by joining Team X-Bladz? Absolutely not. Brink’s family was in financial trouble. His mom, a real estate agent, was struggling to sell houses and his dad, a construction worker, was on disability and there’s no guarantee he’d get his job back. Brink did not join Team X-Bladz to bond with Val. He joined because he wanted to make some money for his family. If you ask me, that’s very admirable for a high school student.
Brink didn’t join Team X-Bladz for free. He was making $200 a week. TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS A WEEK. Find me a better paying job for a high schooler who inline skates. I don’t even think inline skaters make that much in 2020. Who the hell was sponsoring Team X-Bladz? Bill Gates? Who thought it was a good idea to pay teenagers money to skate for a living? Regardless, $200 a week is not going to pay the mortgage, but it can supply Brink’s family with groceries and other small purchases. $200 a week leads to $800 a month, which leads to $2400 every three months and $9,600 per year. That’s pretty damn good for a teenager in 1998.
A lot of kids want to be professional athletes when they grow up. What’s better than getting paid to play a sport? Using that mindset, wouldn’t Brink want to be paid to continue his inline skating career? I doubt that he was going to study biology in college. What Peter and the gang didn’t understand was when Brink went to Team X-Bladz, it opened the door for their entry as well. Brink would eventually become the leader since Val sucks and would have run into trouble with the law. I’d bet my life savings that Val would get lost in a pyramid scheme or a pump-and-dump security fraud. Once that happened, Andy could have made an ultimatum to Team X-Bladz. His friends are allowed to join or Brink walks away. Do you think X-Bladx would let the Tony Hawk of inline skating walk away from their team? Not a chance. Imagine Team Pup n Suds joined Team X-Bladz to form one super team. They would never lose a competition. In this scenario, everyone in Brink’s crew would get paid to skate. The soul skating mantra would still be alive, but they’d be making money doing what they love.
Brink made the right decision to join Team X-Bladz. However, he didn’t execute his plan properly. Once Peter, Jordy, and Gabriella joined Team X-Bladz, all would have been well with the world. Don’t hate Andy for making money. Soul skating doesn’t pay the bills.
Did Andy Brinker make the right decision by joining Team X-Bladz? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us, @danny_giro.
I was born in the early 1990s so I apologize in advance to the older crowd for missing theme songs from the 1950s-1990s. I respect Happy Days, The Jeffersons, The Brady Bunch, M*A*S*H, and Cheers (which could be #1 on a lot of lists), but I rarely watched those shows so therefore, I never made a connection to their theme songs.
With so many theme songs, I’m going to forget many of the great themes so please take hit me up on Twitter, @danny_giro, and let me know what song should be added to the list.
Honorable Mention
Full House
Whatever happened to predictability?
Law & Order
DUN DUN.
One Tree Hill
Gavin DeGraw has a sneaky-good discography and this anthem will live on in the lives of many teenagers.
Gilmore Girls
Whenever I think of the Gilmore Girls theme song, the word, “delightful,” comes to mind.
The Wire
This might ruffle some feathers. The Wire is one of the greatest television shows of all time. However, I view the theme as an experience, not as a song. Most of the songs on this list were made to be catchy. The Wire‘s theme was made to tell a story about what to expect in the upcoming season. It served a purpose and didn’t care about making the Billboard Hot 100. Every season has a different recording of “Way Down in the Hole.” My rankings for each recording by Season: 1, 4, 2, 5, 3.
Friends
Even if the opening theme for Friends is allowed on the list, it misses my top 5 by a hair. It’s still a jam at any ’90s bar.
The Golden Girls
An instant smile on my face whenever I hear “Thank You for Being a Friend.”
My Top 5
5a/5b. Game Of Thrones/The Office
I wanted to include at least one instrumental theme song on the list, but I cheated and named two. The Game of Thronestheme opening song is a long, intricate masterpiece. The graphics are superb, highlighting the regions that would be covered in the episode. When that cello hit on a Sunday night at 9 PM, you knew it was time to visit Westeros. On the flip side, The Office theme is a short, uplifting tune that’s a head-bopper.When a theme is good enough to be remixed by Lil Wayne, then it’s a flat out winner.
4. The O.C.
I fully expect to be in the minority on this one. First of all, The O.C. Season 1 is as close to perfection as you can get. The pilot is top 10 in my book. Without The O.C., there are no MTV reality shows like Laguna Beach. There’s no Real Housewives of any city, and “The Californians” on SNL ceases to exits. When the drums start to build and you’re about to belt out “California” as loud as you can, that’s when you know it’s special.
3. The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air
Finish the lyric: “Now this is a story all about how…” I’m a betting man by nature so I’d venture to say that if you walked up to 10 strangers under the age of 50, seven of them would be able to finish the lyric with “my life got flipped-turned upside down.” You’re a true Fresh Prince fan if you can rap the longer version with “First class, yo this is bad, drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass.”
2. Family Matters
https://youtu.be/kYvNiKwWvhk
This is my favorite piano opening to a television theme. It makes me want to pull out my keyboard and tickle some keys. (I’m not good at playing the piano.) Fun fact: Steve Urkel was not featured in the original opening credits. Urkel appeared midway through the first season as a one-time appearance. However, Urkel was so beloved that he eventually became a main cast member and the show’s most memorable character.
1. Growing Pains
The reigning, defending, undisputed television theme song champion of the world is Growing Pains. Once “show me that smile again” hits my ears, without hesitation, I reply with “show me that smile.” Everything about this theme song is perfect. The show’s premise revolves around growing up so adding pictures of the cast at various stages of their lives was a genius move. “As Long As We Got Each Other” is a beautiful duet that will always hold a special place in my heart.
What is the greatest television theme song? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us your answers, @unafraidshow.
The story of the Pearson family came one step closer to the ending after the Season 4 finale. Overall, this was probably my second favorite season in the entire series (behind Season 1). Kevin, the MVP of Season 4, went from the dumb, good-looking brother to a smart, charismatic character that’s layered with emotion and depth. That’s character growth at its finest. Randall still did his thing, Kate grew as a mother, and Jack and Rebecca remain perfect.
Going into last night’s episode, I made four predictions.
1) Kevin will wish Randall was never adopted. 2) Rebecca knew about her future memory issues early on. (Dr. K told her) 3) Jack D will name his daughter, Rebecca. 4) Kevin’s fiancée is a complete stranger that will be introduced tonight.
One out of four isn’t bad, but it’s not good. I would’ve bet my life savings that the baby’s name would be Rebecca. Since more babies are on the way (more on that later), there’s still time to name one of them Rebecca. To recap, these were the major components revealed in last night’s episode.
Kevin said the worst day of his life was when Randall came home for the first time, causing the schism in the family.
Both Nicky and Kevin wear a wedding ring in the flash-forward.
Rebecca is going to St. Louis for the clinical trial with Miguel.
It’s time to look ahead to Season 5. If you haven’t done so already, read Dan Fogelman’s interview where he discusses the Season 4 finale and gives some hints for future seasons. There are two seasons left, but a lot of unanswered questions. Here are three predictions for Season 5 of This Is Us.
*This post will contain major spoilers from the Season 4 finale of This Is Us. You’ve been warned.
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This Is US / NBC
Kevin Will Name His Daughter After His Mother
Someone is going to name their child, Rebecca, in honor of the matriarch of the Pearson family. It has to happen. Kate honored her father by naming her son, Jack. Randall has no more kids so Kevin is one of the last lines of defense. We know that Kevin will have a son and a daughter. This is his chance to name his daughter, Rebecca. It’s only fitting that Jack and Rebecca’s legacies live on through their grandchildren. Also, don’t be surprised if Kevin names his son, Nicky, after his uncle.
Miguel Will Die
This may not happen in Season 5, but this is coming. Miguel is going to die before Rebecca eventually passes. With Rebecca going to St. Louis for the trial, Fogelman mentioned that the writers have planned a big storyline for Rebecca which includes a deeper look into her relationship with Miguel over the decades.
Bonus Note: Is Kate going to die? The Internet seems to believe she’s dead due to her lack of involvement in the flash-forwards. There are only three options: Kate dies, she divorces Toby, or she’s still married to Toby. I came out swinging from the beginning of Season 3, saying that Kateis doomed. My tune has changed a bit because if Rebecca dies at the end of the show, I don’t see that moment happening without all members of the Big Three. For reference, this is what I wrote in September 2018.
The Birth Of Twins Will End The Fight Between Kevin And Randall
Fogelman also stated that the theme of Season 5 was “rebirth” and a lot of new beginnings are on the horizon. In the flash-forward from the Season 4 finale, Kevin and Randall embrace, which means their feud most likely ended years ago. If that’s the case, when did the Pearson brothers bury the hatchet? My money is at the birth of Kevin’s children. Major events seem to happen at the hospital. Randall was adopted when Kevin and Kate were born and Kevin stopped drinking when Jack Damon arrived. I can’t think of a better place for Kevin and Randall to forgive each other than at the hospital after the birth of Kevin’s children.
What are your predictions for Season 5 of This Is Us? Leave your thoughts in the comments below or tweet us @unafraidshow.
