Review Day

There are no major spoilers in these reviews.

Bodies:
This limited series about similar events occurring in different time periods has serious Dark vibes but struggles to carve out its own space in the first few episodes. It gets better around episode 4 as the characters and relationships start to deepen and has a few actual surprises in its worthwhile conclusion. The final tag diminishes the impact of the conclusion, as if the writers wanted to lay the groundwork for another season, just in case. On Netflix.

Final Grade: B-

House of the Dragon, Season One:
After the cafeteria meatloaf that passed as the final season of Game of Thrones, it's a pretty ballsy HBO executive who would green light a prequel series in the same universe. Everything about the way this show is presented (down to the reuse of the music over the main credits) wants to remind you about Game of Thrones, but the show is surprisingly good in spite of that connection. Although there are dragons everywhere, the show focuses closely on the politics and interplay within the Targaryen family as they rule over Westeros. There are a few episodes where the momentum is arrested by long brooding reaction shots, but these epsiodes always culminate in an exciting conclusion (so the brooding shots were likely necessary to optimize the special effects budgets).

Final Grade: B

Cobra Kai, Season Two:
This season gets a little more serious, and the middle episodes lose some of the show's cheesy charm. However, the last two episodes tie everything back together and bring back some of what made the first season worth watching. The return of one more specific character from the Karate Kid movies felt a little obligatory and unnecessary fan service, but perhaps that angle will improve in the next season. On Netflix.

Final Grade: B

Rockland by Katzenjammer:
The third and final Katzenjammer album is polished and mature -- less quirky and fewer catchy hooks but overall higher quality. It kind of reminds me of The Cardigans releasing their country-music-inspired Long Gone Before Daylight album. Curvaceous Needs is a good representative track.

Final Grade: B