Tag: Television

The Bear

One of the most worthwhile television shows of late has been The Bear, an incredibly intense and beautiful series that follows an ensemble cast of people who try to turn a simple, neighbourhood restaurant in Chicago into a world class establishment. Central to the story is Carmine “Carmy” Berzatto, a world renowned chef who, in the wake of his brother’s suicide, inherits the restaurant together with his sister. Carmine is a complex character, and his relationship with his brother was complex too. As the show progresses, it dives into the complexities of relationships, as well as the human experience, in a beautiful way.

Despite this beauty, the show tends to be quite raw. Carmy comes from a dysfunctional and self-destructive family who bring out the best and worst in each other. When I watch an episode, I do so with a mixture of fascination, revulsion and recognition. I know all of these people because I grew up around them. Each character on the show represents someone in my family. Each event has a parallel in mine. Each triumph, each celebration, and each failure and disappointment. Each barely controlled fear and anxiety which results in a fight or argument. I recognise them all.

There is a flashback episode in season two, which shows a Christmas celebration, which features a few characters that are not on the show in the main timeline. Jamie Lee Curtis plays Carmy’s mother, and Jon Bernthal plays Carmy’s older brother. They deserve all the accolades. I both hate and love these characters, as much as I hate and love who they represent(ed) in my own life.

What a beautiful show. A beautiful, beautiful, ugly show. I get emotional just thinking about it.

Archer Vice

God, the latest season of Archer (or Archer Vice as this season has been dubbed) is fantastic! In the last episode, Archer, Cyrill and Ray are in Bolivia trying to find La Madrina, the godmother of the Cali Cartel in order to sell their “shit-tonne” of cocaine before Pam uses it all (and turns into a slender woman with massive breasts.)

Archer Vice

Here Archer befriends a bunch of locals in his attempt to make contact with El Madrina. It looks to be somewhat successful as they attract the necessary attention. The greatest exchange of the episode:

Cyrill: I have a question; since we’re now essentially captives of the Cali cartel and being dragged off to god knows what terrible fate, WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SMILING!?
Archer: a) We’re not their captives, we’re about to be their business partners, b) I bet there’s a pretty descent chance La Madrina owns a tiger, and c) guapo means handsome.

Of the inevitable sex scene between Archer and La Madrina, we only see the conclusion:

Archer Vice

I can’t wait for next week’s episode. :)

Person of Interest s03e10 – The Devil’s Share

The opening scene to episode 10 of season 3 of Person of Interest, titled The Devil’s Share, is probably the show’s highlight so far. The mid-season climax was devastating, to say the least, and the fallout is summed up nicely in the first scene while Johnny Cash is doing his famous cover of Nine Inch Nails’ Hurt.

I thought The Walking Dead’s mid-season climax was hardcore — and it certainly was hardcore — but this just strummed all the right emotional snares.