Stars: 5/5 ⭐️ Season two of The Real O'Neals is way better than season one. Possibly because you have gotten to know these characters for some time, or the writing got better, or something, because the second season is great. So The Real O'Neals follows the O'Neal family, after the family reveals their secrets. The parents, Eileen and Pat, played by Martha Plimpton and Jay R. Ferguson, are getting divorced, the oldest son, Jimmy, played by Matt Shively, is anorexic, the middle child, younger brother, and main character of the show, Kenny, played by Noah Galvin, is gay, and the youngest child, Shannon, played by Bebe Wood, is a thief. And season two starts with the new school year, and right from the get go there is a lot of positive lgbtq+ representation. The first episode is about how Kenny wants to start a lgbtq+ club at his school, and he does so, getting only one person to join, but I think the character, Allison, is great in showing that it only takes one person (Kenny) to help you be open about yourself. Also, this season Kenny gets a boyfriend, and the relationship is treated like any straight relationship on tv with Kenny dealing with the same problems that straight character deal with when it comes to relationships. Also, the character V.P. Murray gets great character improvement in the second season, as in the first he's a little annoying, but when he starts dating Eileen, he gets so much character development, and he turns into a really great character. And while the show is throwing all these comedic plots and jokes at you, there is a lot of heart in the second season as well, and so when it's not totally funny, the show is still engaging. The show even tackles some big issues like parents not being accepting of their kids sexuality, and what life is like post-divorce but still living with your ex. So the second season is great, and amazing, and I think it has one of the best opening gags for the start of a season.
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Stars: 5/5 ⭐️ I was going to review Santa Inc. but then it got a 1.7 or something starts on IMDb, so here we are. Happy Holidays. The Real O'Neals is that show that was great, but it was cancelled two early. With only 29 episodes spanning the two seasons, it's a quick watch, but it's a hell of a ride. Following the O'Neal family, after the family reveals their secrets. The parents, Eileen and Pat, played by Martha Plimpton and Jay R. Ferguson, are getting divorced, the oldest son, Jimmy, played by Matt Shively, is anorexic, the middle child, younger brother, and main character of the show, Kenny, played by Noah Galvin, is gay, and the youngest child, Shannon, played by Bebe Wood, is a thief. And that's where the show kicks off, as it's the push and pull of the imperfections of the family, while also being "good Catholics" and trying to figure out what that means for them, and how to move on in life, especially with Kenny being gay and the parents getting divorced, while still being good standing Catholics. And the show isn't afraid to shy away from the nuances of new family life. Can you be friends with the person that you are divorcing, and how are you going to do it? The feelings and loneliness that comes from being the only out gay kid at your school, and how are you going to fix that? What does it meant to be a good catholic? And the show always is moving with jokes, and you will be sure laughing your ass off. What is great about this show as well is having Kenny, a teenage lgbtq+ character who's treated like every other character, and he has a lot of growth and development in the show. He's also not a stereotype, like he enjoys things that stereotypically gay men do, but he also is actively engages in student government, and is a great camper in a sense beating out his father and brother when the three go on a camping trip. So, this is a show similar to Don't Trust the B in Apt. 3, it's a knockout show that's a quick and fun watch, and fun for the whole family;. Stars: 4/5 ⭐️ I'm happy critics and audiences like this show, because it's a show with true queer representation. Following Sabi, played by Bilal Baig (who also created, writes for, and executive produces the show) it follow their journey as they move through the world as a non-binary Pakistani, nannying for a family, who's mother got in a horrible accident, putting her in a coma. Similar to Q-Force, having actual queer people behind the show, makes the show hilarious, and kinda like an inside joke for the community, even though there aren't that many queer specific jokes. There is also a lot of heart in this show, since a prominent character is Sabi's mom, who is trying to understand Sabi, and she goes on this journey where she opens up her accepts, being more accepting of her child, and realizing that she wants more out of life. Each episode is hilarious, and it always straddles between hilarity, but also heart, as the central story is about Sabi deciding if they should stay with the family, as they know the mom, and the two are friends, or if Sabi should break free, because at the beginning of the show, they're offered a trip, and a place to live in Berlin, with their friend 7ven, played bu Amanda Cordner, who is Sabi's confidant, and pusher. The first season of the show is less than 3 hours, and it's a great investment in time, as it's a great laugh. Stars: 4.5/5 ⭐️ So since this is an anthology show, I feel that I can review each season by itself. So... Love Life season 2 is better. Facts. Like, unlike season 1, there feels like an end goal, where you have an emotional investment in not only our main character but also the person they end up with. Season two follows Marcus Watkins, played by William Jackson Harper, from about 2016 to a little into 2022. Everything about this season is better. The writing, the characters, the concepts, I wouldn't say the acting, because the acting in season one is also top-notch, but Love Life season two slams it out of the park. I think what makes this a really good season is that our main character is pretty flawed, and unlike in season one, where Darby, played by Anna Kendrick, is kinda quirky, Marcus feels like a real person with real flaws, which brings his relatability up so much. He also just has more personality to him. Another great thing is that the show only focuses on one side character one time, and it's Mia Hines, played by Jessica Williams, who is the main love interest throughout season two, and there is one episode that follows her when she has to go back home to help her mom. But just because they don't focus on the side character, doesn't mean that they're not fleshed out as people, because they most definitely are, but focusing all the time on Marcus allows us to understand him more. Also, the way that they handle the pandemic is good, where it's not a massive thing that's in the show, and honestly, it's used well to propel the story forward, seeing Marcus in isolation and how he comes to some hard truths, and also has great breakthroughs. I feel like I can't really get into too much of the show, because in a sense the episodes are derivative. Marcus meets someone, they have sexual relations for a certain time, and then they break up. Obviously, that's not all the episodes, but it's most of them, but what keeps you coming back for more is the character development in Marcus and the complexities that he has as well. It's a show that I feel anyone can relate to as well, because even though it's from a heterosexual male's perspective, the stories and characters feel universal and that most people could relate to one or two characters in the show. And I would also like to give a quick shoutout to the narrator because personally, I think it's one of the best narrations in a show. (Besides Kristen Bell's iconic Gossip Girl, obviously) |
AuthorRyan Jones is an aspiring screenwriting, and an environmental enthusiast and activist. Archives
December 2021
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