#The TV Show Trials

[constantviewings]

The TV Show Trials - Black Mirror

Black Mirror is a British anthology television series created by Charlie Brooker. Individual episodes explore a diversity of genres, but most are set in near-future dystopias with sci-fi technology.

Is this weeks late? Yes. Do I care? No. Is it even finished? Also, no; but I will update this as I watch what’s left. For this review I decided to switch it up a little bit, I’ve watched the majority of Black Mirror before so instead of just reviewing every episode; I’m ranking them from worst to best.

The Waldo Moment

A failed comedian who voices a popular cartoon bear named Waldo finds himself mixing in politics when TV executives want Waldo to run for office.

It’s very difficult to make audiences care about fictional, local bi-elections and this episode is definitive proof of that. This episode is a major let-down not only as a season finale but being in-between the powerhouses of White Bear and White Christmas. Overall, it’s just a bad episode...

The Entire History of You

In the near future, everyone has access to a memory implant that records everything they do, see and hear. You need never forget a face again - but is that always a good thing?

While the concept is solid, and provides the baseline of technology going forward, the episode itself is too slow to justify its 50 minute runtime. While the stakes feel high, I’m not invested enough in the relationship to feel bad at its demise. Also, I think Charlie Brookers takeaway is bullshit, he thinks it’s Liam’s fault for looking for information that will upset him and that Claire just has ‘secrets’ and ‘still loves him’… she cheated on him while they were trying to have a baby! She’s just as bad as he is.

Men Against Fire

Future soldiers Stripe and Raiman must protect frightened villagers from an infestation of vicious feral mutants.

While not boring, I don’t really care for action and war heavy narratives, the message redeems this episode a lot for me. The idea of war propaganda dehumanising the ‘enemy’ to make it easier to kill them or wish for their death is portrayed to its extreme here.

Be Right Back

After learning about a new service that lets people stay in touch with the deceased, a lonely, grieving Martha reconnects with her late lover.

Another slow episode, but this is better than The Entire History of You because it focuses solely on the relationship and the aftermath of Ash’s death. Hayley Atwell and Domhnall Gleeson absolutely kill it as Martha and Ash; but can we expect any less from them?

Arkangel

After nearly losing her daughter, a mother invests in a new technology that allows her to keep track of her.

I know this episode is pretty divisive and, while I don’t find it particularly entertaining, the concept and discussion that it prompts is worth having. Like, is the Arkangel moral, does some of the footage count as CP, if giving someone emergency contraception against their will a human rights violation? It’s just unfortunate that the discussion surrounding the episode is more entertaining than the episode itself.

Playtest

An American traveler short on cash signs up to test a revolutionary new gaming system, but soon can't tell where the hot game ends and reality begins.

I feel like my reviews are already getting bad, and we’re only six episodes deep… Anyway, this episode is pretty scary, so it does its job as the sole horror episode of the series.

Fifteen Million Merits

In a world where people's lives consist of riding exercise bikes to gain credits, Bing tries to help a woman get on to a singing competition show.

Okay, time to get a little controversial. I think this episode is good, but not great. Daniel Kaluuya is phenomenal, and you can really see how far he’s come while also retaining those trademarks of his performances; especially with his eyes. My problem mainly lies in that it’s only really entertaining in the last half; but I don’t know what I would cut to make it shorter…

Hated in the Nation

In near-future London, police detective Karin Parke, and her tech-savvy sidekick Blue, investigate a string of mysterious deaths with a sinister link to social media.

Once again, another good episode, it’s just too long. I think it’s done a massive disservice by simply being known as ‘the killer bee episode’ because it’s so much more than the bees; but not much more to impress me.

Hang the DJ

Paired up by a dating program that puts an expiration date on all relationships, Frank and Amy soon begin to question the system's logic.

This episode and the next one are pretty evenly matched, I just like this one slightly less. This is mostly because the episode lags in the middle compared to the beginning and end.

San Junipero

When Yorkie and Kelly visit San Junipero, a fun-loving beach town full of surf, sun and sex, their lives are changed.

It’s just a good episode… can you tell I’m getting sick of writing these reviews?

Nosedive

A woman desperate to boost her social media score hits the jackpot when she's invited to a swanky wedding, but the trip doesn't go as planned.

I think this episode is great, especially as the introduction to this ‘new’ phase of Black Mirror on Netflix. Bryce Dallas Howard knocks it out of the park and the concept is great; espacially because it isn’t too dissimilar to how we currently live.

Crocodile

An insurance agent investigates a minor traffic incident using a device that manifests peoples' memories, but one of her witnesses has something to hide.

This is just fucking grim, isn’t it? While this episode is insanely devistating, that’s one of the reasons I rank it so highly, especially because it isn’t afraid for it’s main character to just be an awful and selfish person with no redemption. It’s really great to see.

Black Museum

A woman enters the Black Museum, where the proprietor tells his stories relating to the artifacts.

Where this episode’s strength is in the way they tie each story to each other. It could come across as a slap-dash clip show to fill out the season but those connections in the form of Rolo Hayes takes it beyond into being a great episode.

USS Callister

Capt. Robert Daly presides over his crew with wisdom and courage. But a new recruit will soon discover nothing on this spaceship is what it seems.

I’m going to be completely honest and admit that I was dreading re-watching this episode as I didn’t like it the first time around; but I can confindently say my opinion has changed. It’s way funnier than I had remembered it and Cristin Milioti does a phenomenal job, a stand out scene being the one in the lake.

The National Anthem

Prime Minister Michael Callow faces a shocking dilemma when Princess Susannah, a much-loved member of the Royal Family, is kidnapped.

We all knew this was coming but I bet you weren’t expecting to see it in my top five, were you? I could go on for eons about how this (and the rest of my top five) perfectly encapsulate the soul of Black Mirror as commentary on technology, polotics, and interpersonal conflicts; but you don’t want to hear that, you want to hear my defence. I think this episode is the perfect episode to start the show with, it’s shocking and a bit gross but it hooks you so quickly that you can’t help but watch ‘til the end. And let’s be honest, it’s exactly how society would react to this situation...

White Bear

Victoria wakes up and cannot remember anything about her life. Everyone she encounters refuses to communicate with her, and they all seem to know something she doesn't. But what?

You don’t need me to tell you how good this episode is, the rest of the internet can do that for me...

White Christmas

Three interconnected tales of technology run amok during the Christmas season are told by two men at a remote outpost in a frozen wilderness.

This is another episode where the internet can tell you how great it is, so I want to focus on something different. Like The Entire History of You, I don’t agree with Brooker’s interpretation of the conflict, sure Joe doesn’t seem like the best guy but his partner cheated on him and had another man’s child while blocking him and refusing to work things out like an adult. And while he may be an unreliable narrator, when you don’t give me anything to hint at the reality, I’ve got no choice but to believe the narrator...

Shut Up and Dance

When withdrawn Kenny stumbles headlong into an online trap, he is quickly forced into an uneasy alliance with shifty Hector, both at the mercy of persons unknown.

I’m sure you saw this coming after seeing where I put The National Anthem... I love this episode and and the way it draws you in to care about Kenny until you start thinking ‘the video’s pretty bad, but surely it’s not wirth all this right?’ all the way up to dropping the bombshell on what he was actually doing. And, even on rewatch, that reveal still makes me unbeleivably nauseous.

[annabethchase06]

Jason Grace was needed by the fandom because among all the troublemakers, sarcastic frats, dyslexic students and hyperactive kids who related with Percy, Leo and other demigods, there were some of us who loved discipline, studying and who constantly worked under the growing weight of people's expectations just because they were good at something.

There were some of us who excelled at academics, some who liked being organized instead of messy, and some who liked discipline over casual behaviour. And just when we thought that maybe we couldn't relate to any demigod – Jason emerged as our ray of sunshine.

Jason taught us it's as okay and cool to be disciplined and perfect as it is to be messy and lacky. Let's give our boy all the love he deserves because he made a huge difference in so many people's lives.

JASON GRACE YOU'RE LOVED

[aceofspades1208]

Reading trials of Apollo and Hermes being played by Lin Manuel Miranda makes this line so much funnier

[emiraee]

post-tlo percabeth 🩵

[guardianspirits13]

Annabeth wearing shells that Percy gave her in her braids? More likely than you think

[sweetnnaivete]

"trios don't work" ok so rip to percy annabeth and grover ig.

[starbats13]

I’ve literally been drawing Thalia for 12 years now 😭 She’s the reason I started listening to Green Day in elementary school. So I kinda owe my entire personality to a fictional character, but I digress. I’m so excited to see her on screen (the 3 seconds we got of her in the movies does not exist to me)!

Close ups and alt versions <3

[screenshotsonpinterest]

I wanna hear everything you keep and cut from cannon and where the specific lines are so pls comment or reblog :)

(E.g. I sort of ignore everything after house of hades but include Jason’s death and Leo and calypso breaking up)

[seagull9111]

okay here me out... jason might be in these flashbacks

[constantviewings]

The TV Show Trials - Criminal Minds (Encore)

 Criminal Minds is a police procedural crime drama televisions series that aired on CBS from 2005 to 2020. Criminal Minds revolves around an elite team of FBI profilers who analyse the country’s most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next movies before they strike again. As the team evolves together, the Behavioural Analysis Unit continues its dedication to using their expertise to pinpoint predators’ motivations and identify their emotional triggers in the attempt to stop them.

Sex, Birth, Death

A vigilante starts killing prostitutes when he feels that his efforts to clean up the city aren't being appreciated. Meanwhile, a young man seeks out Reid to help him understand the murderous urges he has had his whole life and fix them.

This episode is fine, I’m shocked that it’s this high on the list; compared to so many of the other episodes I wathced. My issue is that the reveal of the unsub (who isn’t the boy who reached out to Reid) feels tacked-on and disconnected from the rest of the episode. Apart from that, it’s just a standard episode.

Rating: 3

Lauren

When Prentiss confronts her nemesis, Ian Doyle, and goes missing, JJ is asked by the BAU to help find her and capture Doyle before it is too late.

This is a great episode, what a twist! It’s great to see more of Emilys backstory as one of the more mysterious members of the BAU. My only wish is that she was absent from the show for more than six episodes to really cement her immportance and presence in the team.

Rating: 4

Date Night

A former foe of the BAU returns with very specific demands for Dr. Reid after a father and daughter are kidnapped.

I love the episodes with Cat Adams, and this is no different; the dynamic between Cat and Reid is so great to watch. The scene between Spencer, Cat and Juliette is really good. Also, this is the only episode I’ve watched without Hotch and I will say, the team doesn’t feel complete without him.

Rating: 5

L.D.S.K.

The BAU travels to Des Plaines, Illinois, to assist the search for a sniper before he shoots more people. Meanwhile, Reid fails his firearms qualification exam and is forced to work without a gun, which only makes things worse for him when he and Hotch are both caught up in a life-threatening situation.

This wasn’t my first time watching this episode, but it’s just as satisfying upon rewatch. This episode is similar to Sex, Birth, Death where the unsub feels tacked on after suspecting another person the entire episode, but because the unsub is similar enough it doesn’t feel as egregious.

Rating: 4

The Uncanny Valley

The BAU is called to Atlantic City to profile a suspect with an unusual personal obsession who is abducting certain types of women.

This episode is decent, nothing much else to say. 

Rating: 3

Memoriam

As Reid's investigation of a young boy's murder in Las Vegas continues, he discovers possible connections to his own past, including his parents.

Time for a Reid-centric episode featuring Morgan and Rossi! I like the dynamic of the smaller group and getting more of Reid’s childhood. But, like some other episodes, the ending feels disconnected from the episodes natural conclusion.

Rating: 3

Minimal Loss

After Prentiss and Reid go undercover to investigate alleged child abuse at the compound of an underground cult in La Plata County, Colorado, they are taken hostage by the cult leader, Benjamin Cyrus, when a state police raid on the fortress goes disastrously wrong.

First of all, Luke Perry!? Second of all, this episode is great. The tension of Emily and Spencer being inside the compound is sustained through the entire episode, keeping you on edge. 

Rating: 4

True Genius

The BAU travels to San Francisco when a series of murders leads the team to believe the possibility that the elusive "Zodiac Killer" might have returned. Meanwhile, Reid contemplates his own genius capabilities after he and Prentiss attend a seminar on violent crime hosted by the crime novelist Patricia Cornwell.

I’m going to be completely honest and tell you that this episode is so forgettable. It’s not a bad episode, just insignificant.

Rating: 3

Mayhem

After a bomb explodes an SUV in New York City that might be carrying a BAU member, the team goes into high gear to determine who might have been injured in the explosion and to apprehend the terrorists responsible for the mayhem.

This episode is exactly what it says on the tin; it is non-stop tension. The episode flows really well and comes to a satisfying conclusion. This is one of the best episodes I wathced this month.

Rating: 5

To Hell/And Back

After a man in Detroit reveals evidence to several suspected disappearances that may be connected, the BAU is called to help track down the serial killer who is responsible. During the investigation, they are forced into Canada to catch him.

From one great episode, to a pair of great episodes. I have no clue how these managed to rank lower than a lot of the episodes above them but, in my opinion, they deserve to be much higher. They are definitely a tough watch, but well worth it for the quality.

Rating: 5

The Lesson

The BAU investigates a serial killer who oddly disposes his victims in Arizona. Also, Reid gets anxious when faced with the possibility of meeting his mystery woman.

This is another episode that’s a little hard to watch, but is well worth it. Brad Dourif is a welcome addition as the unsub and the actors who played the ‘puppets’ have amazing physicality.

Rating: 4

Pleasure is my Business

The BAU is called to Dallas to investigate when a serial killer lures and kills high-powered executives by posing as a high-class call girl.

I don’t really remember much from this episode, it’s pretty standard.

Rating: 2

Elephant’s Memory

The BAU is called to West Bune, a small town located in Texas, to investigate what appears to be increasingly violent spree killings that involve a teenage boy. As the team continues investigating, Reid finds himself personally and emotionally involved in the case.

While this is a pretty standard episode, what sets it apart is the dynamic between Morgan and Reid where they both relate to the unsub in one way or another; with Reid stepping in to save the unsub at the last minute.

Rating: 3

The Replicator

The Replicator zeroes in on the BAU when the killer targets one of the team as the next victim. The team must now struggle against his endgame as the stakes grow higher.

While I lacked context for the story arc of the Replicator, this is still a pretty good episode with Mark Hamill, of all people, playing the Replicator.

Rating: 3 (I’m sure it’s much better with context)

Derek

When Morgan is abducted, the BAU scrambles to find him and save his life.

It’s about time I watched a Derek centered episode! This made me cry so much it’s not funny. A great episode all-round.

Rating: 5

[milomilesmib]

There's a bunch of new fans who have never read the books, looking at posts by people who have read the books absolutely DYING over every Percabeth interaction, followed by "he's going to give up immortality for her." Us who have read the books are like "hell fucking YES he is" but those who haven't read the books are like "ah yes a hyperbole/theory about their relationship" because THEY DON'T KNOW. I'm so excited to watch these new fans experience all the heartbreak and love throughout the series.

[thecabinsixwitch]

fr like that’s my percabeth i know that’s right…

🔱🦉🌊⚔️

(via leah on instagram)

[lokiwiiiiiii]

still fighting with art block but Leo illustration 👍 (and mini festus)

[834k]

Teo: Since when were you an expert on bird anatomy?

Aurelio, who watched the annual Quetzlan bird show every year since he met Teo just to see him judging it until it went from hyperfixation to special interest: I saw it on TV

[jaronxlordashcombe]

IF THEY DON'T MAKE THESE 3 PERFECT I SWEAR!!!

Apollo must be very, very, very handsome in the shows or else

Nico must be very, very, very cute or I will go into the studios and demand a cute Nico.

Will must be Will. I WANT HIM IN THE 5 SEASON AND IF HE ISN'T

[wtaffy]

Mpreg is canon in the riordanverse.