AvidBards
Reflections

February Netflix List

It’s winter time, which means that I look forward to every time Netflix puts out new releases for viewers to enjoy. Here’s a list of some shows and films that are at the top of my list to watch next! Carmen Sandiego (2019) As a kid, I was an avid player of the Carmen Sandiego CD-ROM games. The mystique of the world-renowned, red-suited thief always excited me. So, you can imagine how excited I was to hear the announcement of a Carmen Sandiego animated series – and even more excited to hear that Gina Rodriguez, who plays Jane in Jane…

View Post
Reviews

Dirk Gently: It’s All Connected

It took some persuading, but I have finally jumped aboard the Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (2016-2018) train. I’m not entirely sure why I didn’t give it a chance before. However, I have a feeling that the mouthful of a title had something to do with my deterrence. Essentially, the title makes zero sense until you’ve actually watched the show. While it may sound silly, I think a lot of us actually place preconceived notions about a show, book, or film based solely on its title. Dirk Gently didn’t give me any indicators, though, so I had to jump into the waters completely…

View Post
Reviews

Best Release 2018: Television

Black Mirror: Bandersnatch and the Future of TV This year, one of the most interesting and innovative mediums came right at the end of 2018. The highly coveted interactive film, presented under the Black Mirror brand, came Bandersnatch. Written by Black Mirror creator Charlie Brooker, viewers couldn’t wait to try out the shiny new thing – an episode that acts as a video game, a choose-your-own-adventure, and a live-action film. An ambitious piece, to say the least, I can honestly say that it was an experience to remember. Now, you might be confused as to why I’ve classified this as “television”, and there are a…

View Post
Reflections

Is Originality Dead?

Remakes, Franchises and Sequels: Are they worth it? We live in the era of franchise films, sequels, and remakes upon remakes (here’s looking at you, Spider-Man). While some of these sequels and remakes can be awesome, much of the time it leaves me wondering: is originality not a goal anymore? Here’s where that concept gets tricky, though. We live in a time where virtually no idea is legitimately “original” anymore. There’s so much material out there – books, films, television, and art. We are technically always using past models and structures to help us create fresh material. If you think…

View Post
Reflections

The Family Complex: “This Is Us”

If you know anything about the NBC show This Is Us, you’ll know that it’s an acclaimed tearjerker. I’m slightly embarrassed that even I, who rarely cries during a movie or show, cry constantly when I watch this show. Somehow, it surpasses the level of corniness often associated with emotional dramas and actually touches something real, coming from a genuine place no matter how far-fetched the premise might be. Because ultimately, yes, it is about a specific family (hence the title) – exceedingly unique, and yet, surprisingly relatable. The fact of the matter is that all families are flawed, and…

View Post
Reflections

5 Best Guilty Pleasure Shows

As much as I love to watch shows and films that are considered truly artful and thought-provoking, I love just as much to sit down and mindlessly watch what might be considered “bad” television. Of course, the term “bad” is completely subjective, so I should really be saying that some shows are perhaps not of the best quality in terms of content, continuity, and let’s just throw it out there, acting. There’s something incredibly relaxing about not having to focus too much on the details of a show, though, which make these “guilty pleasure” shows so great. Here are five…

View Post