All Forms of Art

  Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5) Lena Dunham’s latest Netflix series Too Much arrives with a bold voice, an eccentric lead, and a lot of emotional baggage.  Created by Dunham and starring comedian Meg Stalter as the erratic, heartbroken New Yorker Jessica, the show attempts to blend offbeat comedy with a cross-cultural romance in London. Unfortunately, while the premise holds promise, the execution feels flat. A Rom-Com That Struggles to Engage From the first episode, Too Much sets itself up as a quirky, self-aware romantic comedy. Jessica, reeling from a breakup and an over-the-top life in New York, relocates to London and falls into a whirlwind connection with the reserved and emotionally withdrawn Felix (Will Sharpe). It’s a classic opposites-attract setup—but instead of sparking excitement, the pacing feels sluggish, and the story never quite takes off. As a viewer, I found it difficult to stay engaged. The stakes feel low, the emotional shifts abrupt, and while the dialogu...

  10 Inch Hero is a charming mix of comedy and drama that celebrates the value of friendship, love, and being unapologetically yourself. Set in a cozy sandwich shop, the film introduces us to a quirky cast of characters, each navigating their own challenges and desires.  From romantic pursuits to personal growth, every storyline is woven with warmth and humor, creating a delightful viewing experience.  It’s not just a movie about relationships; it’s about finding where you belong. Discovering Gems I stumbled across this film while exploring Jensen Ackles' work, and his role as Priestly is a standout. His comic timing and quirky persona bring both hilarity and heart to the film.  Whenever I appreciate an actor, writer, or director, I love diving into their other projects, and this movie was an absolute treat. The Beauty in Simplicity What makes 10 Inch Hero truly special is its simplicity. It doesn't try to be overly dramatic or groundbreaking but excels in deliveri...

  The third season of Bridgerton has received mixed reviews from critics and fans. Some are not as happy as they were with the first two seasons, while others were positively surprised. I belong to the second group. I thought the second season was just "one more" and that the show would probably get too repetitive. Yet, the first four episodes of the new season have revived some of my interest. Great Performance from Nicola Coughlan Nicola Coughlan , our sweet Penelope Featherington, gave us a great performance. A former secondary character, Nicola brought depth and charm to the role. She made her transition from a supporting role to the main protagonist quite successful.  Now, she and Colin finally have the place they deserve—the central romance of the story. Instead of bringing a new character to the spotlight, the writers gave more screen time to these two well-known (and beloved) characters. Sure, it might not have the steamy excitement of previous seasons, but the relat...

  Heartstopper is a beautiful British teen show about love and discovery. The main characters are Charlie and Nick. Charlie is a gay boy who was deeply bullied, and Nick is discovering his sexuality with a mist of fear and curiosity with all the naivety and sweetness of the teen years. It is a comedy-drama show, so you'll have moments when tears come to your eyes, but you'll also give good laughs. And that's life, isn't it? Sweet and Real One of the main problems with teen shows, especially American ones, is that teens are portrayed as adults with no consequences. What they do and how they behave is closer to a young adult than to a 16-year-old (And the actors are never teens, are they?). That always bothered me as a teen and as an adult. They pass terrible expectations of what your life should look like, and sometimes, that generates some negative feelings and confusion. Heartstopper is different, and I liked it. These teens' behavior is closer to real teens'...

  Queen Charlotte is a story from the Bridgerton series, where the main character is the queen.  It is not exactly a surprise because of all polemics surrounding the fact that a black woman represented the queen. The authors used that in their favor, and in a good way if you ask me - they created another successful series. Queen Charlotte is not brilliant, but it is a sweet story. Irreverence and Strong Female Characters Bridgerton already got us used to strong female characters that are not exactly aligned with the historical era they represent. Queen Charlotte wasn’t different. The impetuosity and bravery of the young queen are evident in the first scene. She is a fantastic character, and despite seeming so “badly behaved” for the time, she showed to have the biggest heart. It also focuses on the needs and intimacy of older women, which is rarely approached, especially in such a sensitive way as this.  Love Lesson Love is capable of everything, and you should do ev...

  The third season of Emily in Paris got a lot of hate and love among the viewers. People can’t decide if it was the best season or the worst of all. And I understand why. We start the season with Emily’s life in perfect chaos, and she doesn’t seem to know what she wants. She never does… Is this good for the plot? Maybe. Is this annoying? Sometimes. So… why can’t we stop watching it? Are you feeling frustrated? Me too. She doesn’t know what she wants. She can’t make a decision, not in her love life, not in her job… And it is not because she wants it all. She is not mature enough to say no and own her decision and its consequences. Emily comes across as a spoiled little girl. The problem is that she is the main character, yet, Mindy starts to feel way more interesting than her. Also, any other character on the show is funnier than Emily, namely her co-workers, who apparently are very bad at their jobs and need her to save them with every single client… How did they keep the company...

  Although it was a very emotional and beautiful one, season 6 is the end of the Pearsons’ story, and it was very moving in many ways. This season was about learning how to move on and accept things. These things are the divorce, the disease, or death itself, and keep living and being resilient. Time Jump While it was, without a doubt, a very beautiful finale, something about that time jump bothers me. It was too sudden, and it felt like its only purpose was to end the story. They just wanted to get over it and move on. I felt like this because the whole show was so detailed. It was all about the little things, those little things that make us… us. The little things that tell our story! When you look back on your life, the memories you value the most are usually about these little things, and the show was able to recreate that so perfectly. So why this rush to finish it? Life in its different moments This show was able to make us care about this family. We met them in different mom...

  Indian Matchmaking appeared as a suggestion on my Netflix account. I initially ignored it, but eventually, I decided to check it out. It is a weird show, I felt like they were going on sales to find a spouse, but I had some fun. I watched the two seasons, and I must say that the first clients were more fun. But, unfortunately, the second season was boring.  Indian culture For someone like me, who knows very little of the Indian culture, this show gives us some perspective on what it is like. And you end up hoping for them to find a good match. However, especially in the second season, things get a bit… wild—horoscopes, curses… way out of line for someone like me. Besides, I'm afraid I have to disagree with Sima on many things… The bachelors are not so good, only because they have money or dated a lot (what?). That last one says something very different, aunty ! Since it is a show, and we all know that people act in reality shows, I have one question: is it realistic? I'm n...

  As a fan of Neil Patrick Harris , I couldn’t ignore this show, so I decided to take a look. The story is quite simple. Michael is a gay man in his 40s, and after a relationship of almost 20 years, he is single again in New York City, and… the world has changed a lot! The disbelief and rage Michael’s partner leaves him with no explanation. This situation raises a lot of questions that are unanswered and leave Michael mad. What happened? Why me? He can’t deal with this. Michael is a bit self-centered and slightly emotional, and I don’t know if that’s the reason he’s such a fun character. However, I must admit that I wanted to hit Colin myself. What the hell? And we are never given an explanation! Even the viewer doesn’t know what actually happened. Gay Sex and the City ?  All over the place, you can find people saying that Uncoupled is the gay version of Sex and the City . I understand why, but I didn’t see it that way. We are talking about different characters and very diffe...

  I just finished watching the first season of This is Us , and I was surprised about how hooked it left me.  I wouldn’t say I liked the first episodes. They were too slow, almost boring, but after you know the characters, you can’t turn away anymore. This is Us is about real dramas that can occur in everyone’s lives and which we all can relate to in one way or the other. Except that all these things happen to one single family.  Life is hard This Is Us doesn’t try to make you believe that you can do anything or that everything is possible. Life is hard, and nothing comes to you simply because you deserve it. It is hard work. It shows how difficult it can be to care for a family and still be a person with wishes and dreams. There is no right answer, and you eventually feel guilty about something.  You can be a mother of 3 who wants to be a singer as well. You can be a successful man who disrupts your whole life for a stranger (who happens to be your father). Randal...

  The White Queen is a historical British show about the war between the Lancaster and the York families for the throne of England. The story is told from the women's point of view. It is an interesting show, and I would advise you not to give up on the first episode. It isn’t very exciting, but it aims to put us into the story, introduce the characters, and understand the political atmosphere of the time. The show gets better with each episode. Witchcraft The white queen is a bit dark, isn’t she? She and her mother know some spells and magic arts which they use with few concerns on various occasions. Unfortunately, the fact seems to be known by most characters, creating even more distrust. The result is some paranoia on both sides and the consequent problems that come with it.  Ruling time Being a king was a strange occupation in these times. And I wonder: did they have time to rule?  In this show, all you see the king involved in is war. He goes to war. He comes back f...

  While I enjoyed the first season, I never understood the fuss about this show. It is not that special. It is not that creative or innovative. I really didn’t get it. Now, this second season… has the exact same story with different characters! It is the same old cliche . A girl and boy hate each other when they first meet. But it is all sexual energy contained, and they are secretly in love. The. Exact. Same. Story. Where’s the Duke? We already know that the actor was leaving the show. What we didn’t know was how they would deal with this absence. The couple could disappear, and we would only have news of them by letter or so. No! Daphne becomes a sort of extra with a couple of lines, and he is never there! She spends quite a significant amount of time with her family but alone with the kid. Her husband wasn’t even present at her brother’s wedding, that was, by the way, his friend! The Sharmas The new characters have potential. Secrets and half-told stories are always good in this...

  Pamela Anderson's sex tape - we all heard of it. At least people from my generation. This show is about how and why the video suddenly becomes so infamously famous. The show didn't disappoint. The first episode was a bit slow. It was clearly to give us some context. In some way, to help us understand the thief's (Rand Gauthier) motivations. In a certain way, this episode gives us his perspective. Tommy Lee appears as this arrogant idiot. He is disrespectful, and a horrible human being, while Pamela is like an extra. You barely see her during this episode. This was what Rand saw. Their story After giving us his perspective and, in a way, his version of the story, we travel in time. We go to the moment Pam and Tommy meet each other, following their romance. We follow their story, and here is when your perspective can change.  They really loved each other. While watching those first scenes, you start to feel bad for what is about to happen. More than a tape The show's ce...

  It took me a long time to give Emily in Paris a shot because I thought it would be a silly, shallow comedy about some sort of influencer. Well, it is a silly, shallow comedy about some sort of influencer, but to be honest, I liked it.  Emily is a young talent in a marketing career and has the opportunity of her life: working in Paris for a year! And since her boyfriend is an idiot, she can try the full experience of being a single woman in the city of love.  Unfortunately, she is not as good at managing her personal life as she is at work. In fact, she is frankly terrible at making decisions outside work. Cultural Differences Everyone who has been in a foreign country knows that sometimes we get ourselves into awkward situations due to cultural differences. So watching someone else go through the same is quite funny. I must admit that seeing an American trying to speak French is hilarious. Of course, I’m not French (and French people who hear me trying to speak French ...

  Through my window (in the original: A través de mi Ventana ) is a Spanish teen movie about a romantic love story between two neighbors. And it is full of cliches . All Cliches in One Movie This is a movie where everything seems to be coming out of the most typical cliche. You have love between two people from very different social environments; a best friend madly in love, but definitely in the friend zone, no chance; a bad guy that is bad because no one loves or understands him; the good girl that turns him into a good guy. You name it! I’m sure that every cliche you can think of is there somewhere. And obviously, love always wins in the end. Sometimes the cliches work. That’s why they become cliches because they work and they are used repeatedly. Well, not this time. Then, hoping to make it more interesting, they decided to throw some (random) sex scenes in the middle. Sorry, it didn’t work either.  Boring Maybe I’m too old, but I have no patience for this kind of story a...

  Little Women is a classic of literature that everyone should know, and this movie gave us a lovely version of it. Jo, the protagonist, is an aspirant writer struggling to earn her place. The story is passed in two different timelines - the present moment and Jo's memories of her sisters. Family The center of this story is the concept of family and relationship. The protagonist is, in my opinion, the strong bond these four sisters created among themselves.  We follow their domestic struggles, dreams, frustrations. And the whole connection is beautiful and truthful.  Following Jo’s perspective, we realize what changed throughout the years. How did each one of them grow up? What were their dreams? Do they still have the same dreams? Do they look at life the same way they did in those teenage years?  Feminism The movie is about family and relationships as it is about feminism. These four little women fight hard to achieve their goals in a world of men - made by men, f...

  This third season brings an interesting and new dynamic. Near Love's impulsiveness, Joe doesn't seem that bad now, which is, per se , scary. How does a serial killer cope with everyday life problems? Joe is now a married man with a little kid to take care of. He is an intelligent adult. He knows what he is supposed to do, how he is supposed to behave, but… can he? His compulsions didn't disappear, and the surrounding environment was not exactly healthy. The introvert and shy Joe lives in the suburbs now, with nosy neighbors. He can't possibly fit in.   Oh, and don't forget, there is a baby in the middle of it! Connection The connection between him, Love, and baby isn't compatible with his fantasy of a perfect dad. Things aren't what they suppose to be, and Joe realizes that. He quickly starts to question himself about his ability to connect.  Once more, deep thoughts and reflections. Hearing his thoughts, we have true insight into what is going on inside h...

  Sex, Love & Goop is a reality show from Netflix where Gwyneth Paltrow is the host. It involves couples with sexual issues and sexual therapists of many kinds and different techniques to help them. Is this a weird reality show about sex? Well, yes and no. The sexual component is vital for the show, but, in the end, it is about relationships and connections. I wouldn't say that it is a show for everyone; not all people are used to talk about sex and pleasure in such an open way. Yet, if you keep your mind open, you can learn a thing or two. The couples The couples they present us in the show are very normal - whatever 'normal' means. They are like you and me, and their problems are common and easy to relate to. One of the things I thought was very positive in the show is the fact that they gather very different couples - different ages, stages in life, or sexual orientation. So it can give you some different perspectives. I think those couples were brave to take part...

  Young Royals is a Swedish show about a prince being integrated into an elite boarding school. He is sent there, after a viral video on the Internet creates a scandal. A teenager in the middle of an identity crisis, as any other teen. Yet, he has responsibilities. He is a Prince.     Good Characters One thing that I’d like to highlight about this show is the quality of the characters. There are no shallow characters. Each one of them has a personal story, their pains, and their struggles. Everyone has good and bad sides. All of them need understanding. August, the Prince’s cousin, is one of the main characters, and he is absolutely hateful. However, his complicated life story makes him more human to the viewer. I also feel the need to reinforce the fact that the teen characters in the show are really teens. Instead of the 20’s years old actors American TV put on as teen characters, these kids are very young, with acne and all the “flaws” an average teenager has. Th...

  The way I see it, Bridgerton is a story about a market of young girls available for men. Their future depends on how well they can attract a male.  The main characters are the Bridgerton family. Daphne reached the age to marry. Her wedding will influence the whole family, including her sisters’ future. Yet, Daphne’s father died, and she depends on her older brother - an arrogant idiot. Well, in his defense, most of the characters are annoying. Appearances are everything and don’t even make me talk about the Duke’s father.  So, what did I hate the most about this show? 1. Predictability The whole thing was predictable. That arrangement between Daphne and Duke? Wasn’t it obvious how it would end?  The Duke is a slightly arrogant fool, with daddy issues, but quite fun nonetheless. Daphne was desperate for attention. So, their falling in love was painfully obvious from the first minute. The happy ending! Yes, they had a baby, and they will now be happily ever after. C...