Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 109

Dune: Part Two Review

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“We need all the Fremen to believe in the prophecy. We must convert the non-believers one by one. We need to start with the weaker ones, the vulnerable ones, the ones who fear us.”

Rebecca Ferguson’s Jessica remains one of the strongest characters in the Dune universe—a formidable figure who propels her son towards his destiny as the potential “messiah” of the Fremen, seeking vengeance against the emperor. For those in need of a refresher, “Dune: Part Two” opens with a significant recap of events from “Dune: Part One” before seamlessly continuing the story. Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) joins the Fremen after defeating one of their own in a fair fight, but he must still earn the trust of the rest of the clan to solidify his place among them. With Stilgar’s (Javier Barden) support, Paul steadily wins over the citizens of Arrakis and takes the name of Muad’Dib to become one of them.

Among the new faces in “Dune: Part Two” is Florence Pugh, who plays Princess Irulan, the emperor’s (Christopher Walken) daughter, a young woman wise beyond her years, who like most royalty, is mentored by a member of the Bene Gesserit. Dave Bautista reprises his role as Beast Rabban, who takes over the spice trade in Arrakis, but is constantly thwarted by the Fremen, so Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) directs his nephew Feyd-Rautha (Austin Butler) to take over.

Austin Butler looks evil personified as Feyd-Rautha, and gets a “Gladiator”-like introduction scene where he must battle three men in a packed arena, with thousands of spectators cheering for him. However, despite the creators’ intentions to portray the battle scene as fantastic, it is rather underwhelming. The scene is meant to establish Feyd-Rautha’s strength, ruthlessness, and brute force, but the fight is rigged. Three of his opponents are drugged, undermining the authenticity of his victory. In a surprise twist, one of his opponents isn’t drugged, forcing Feyd-Rautha to engage in a genuine fight. However, even this opponent appears near death, diminishing the intensity of the battle and making it less compelling to watch.

Much like “Dune: Part One,” the world-building and special effects in “Dune: Part Two” continue to be quite spectacular. However, the creators’ decision to depict Giedi Prime (the planet inhabited by the House of Harkonnen) in black-and-white tones seems a bit of an overkill, a too-literal metaphor to depict them as one-dimensional beings who are cruel without cause. Although some viewers might appreciate the color scheme and its metaphorical implications.

“This is exactly like Avatar!” my movie partner exclaimed loudly in the hall at a scene where Paul tries to ride a Shai-Hulud, one of those giant sand-worms of the desert that are revered by the Fremen. And of-course, once you start to think about it, “Dune: Part Two” really does feel a lot like James Cameron’s “Avatar” (although the Dune books were written much before). But it was a hilarious comment which made me think of the similarities between the two stories – both of them are about an outsider winning over the people of a different planet and helping them take down their oppressors. Although Dune is much more epic in scale, lot less colorful, with significant religious elements and Paul Atreides has a personal beef with the villains.

Javier Barden as Stilgar emerges as the most entertaining character in “Dune: Part Two”, from being introduced as a stoic, formidable figure who doesn’t trust the Atreides line, he becomes Paul’s hype-man, who firmly believes Paul is indeed the “Mahdi”, the prophetic savior of the Fremen in Arrakis. Timothy Chalamet embodies Paul Atreides with skill, yet his portrayal lacks the elusive “X factor” that propels a lead role into greatness. While he delivers a solid performance, it falls short of capturing the essence of a prophetic messiah and inter-galactic hero. Zendaya on the other hand had the same expression throughout the movie, she just a made a miffed face in every scene and rarely expressed different emotions.

Despite its extensive runtime of 2 hours and 46 minutes, “Dune: Part Two” struggles to allocate sufficient screen time to its numerous characters. With its visionary scope, ample resources, and stunning special effects, director Denis Villeneuve and his team could have opted to transform this cinematic experience into a grandiose series. The film concludes with a gripping confrontation between Paul and the primary antagonist. Unfortunately, the choreography of their one-on-one battle feels lackluster, failing to deliver the climactic intensity expected. Nevertheless, a significant plot twist unfolds, promising an intriguing future for both Paul and the fate of Arrakis. It will leave audience eagerly anticipating the next chapter of the Dune universe.

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Players Movie Review – Familiar Game Plays

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

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Mack and her group of friends have different “plays” to score a date at pubs, bars, or wherever it is they are hanging out. They are serial daters who rarely get serious with anybody, but when Mack decides she wants to stop with the flings and woo a successful journalist called Nick, her friends go to hilarious lengths to “trap” nick.

Directed by Trish Sie and written by Whit Anderson, “Players” is a typical romantic comedy, with some fun and raunchy moments, with a very predictable plot, but some of the cast make it entertaining. It’s the kind of flick you can watch with friends, when you don’t want all your attention on the screen, and have the space to speak, laugh and maybe even pause or switch it off entirely.

Gina Rodriguez plays protagonist Mack, a sports reporter, who pursues the elusive, suave, Nick , portrayed by Tom Ellis. So it could be a double treat for those who are fans of both “Jane the Virgin” and “Lucifer”. Damon Wayans Jr., Augustus Prew, and Joel Courtney play Mack’s close friends Adam, Brannagan, and Little, respectively—all of whom are players, going from one fling to another. Augustus Prew and Joel Courtney are convincingly comedic as brothers who hang out together and play each other’s wing-men.

Tom Ellis is an awkward combination of charming and forgettable as war correspondent Nick, an eligible bachelor who doesn’t seem to be very interested in Mack until her friends start helping her with funny little tactics to make him interested. Gina Rodriguez pulls off Mack’s “player” persona with charm; she is clever, confident, and always spouting sporting references when talking with her friends. However, she switches personalities to reel in Nick. It’s funny how all the characters have full-time jobs but seem to have enough time on their hands to make elaborate presentations on Nick’s likes and dislikes to help Mack plan her “play” to win him over. The writers also pack in too many pop culture references that go beyond the point of being relatable or amusing and become boring.

At 1 hour 45 minutes, “Players” is at least fifteen minutes too long, with the kind of climax most viewers can see within the first half hour of the film.

You can stream the film on Netflix.

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Doctor Slump Series Review – For K-Drama RomCom Fans

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Director: Oh Hyun-Jong

Writer: Baek Seon-woo

What would you do if you ran into your high-school nemesis? Among a bunch of possible answers, we bet bunking up with them wouldn’t even be an option. But sometimes, fate can play cruel jokes. Netflix’s K-drama “Doctor Slump” follows the lives of overworked doctor Nam Ha-neul (Park Shin-hye) and renowned plastic surgeon Yeo Jeong-woo (Park Hyung-sik). Former high school rivals, their paths unexpectedly intersect once again, serving up an “enemies to lovers” tale to the audience.

Ha-neul grapples with the physical and emotional toll of pursuing a professorship under an abusive mentor, while Jeong-woo faces a career crisis after a patient’s tragic death tarnishes his reputation. Circumstances force them into each other life once again, leading to a rekindling of their rivalry. However, as the two spend more time with each other, warmer feelings replace their disdain for each other.

Despite its promising premise, “Doctor Slump” struggles to find its footing in the early episodes. While delving into themes of depression and burnout with sincerity, it falls into clichéd storytelling traps. The first episode, laden with exposition and erratic pacing, serves as a stumbling block for viewers seeking immediate engagement.

However, perseverance reveals glimpses of entertainment as the series progresses. Moments of genuine emotional depth emerge, particularly in Ha-neul’s exploration of depression. The chemistry between the leads occasionally sparks, but the overall narrative suffers from repetitive storylines and sluggish pacing. The series’ elongated runtime and meandering plotlines will test the patience of viewers seeking a more tightly woven narrative. On a positive note, the cinematography is engaging and colorful, with Korean food occupying significant screen time in each episode. Almost every second minute, character is either eating or drinking in “Doctor Slump”.

Park Shin-hye’s portrayal of Ha-neul exhibits depth, while Park Hyung-sik’s character, Jeong-woo, often comes across as too childish and inconsistent, with the actor occasionally overacting. The romantic dynamic between the leads, while charming in some scenes, often feels contrived and juvenile, failing to resonate with the maturity expected of professional adults. The supporting cast, however, delivers decent performances, with the secondary couple portrayed by Yoon Park and Kong Seong-Ha adding a touch of sweetness to the series. A lot of the comedy is generated by the Ha-neul’s family, which includes a slacker brother (Yoong Sang-Hyeon), a hilariously endearing mom (Jang Hye-jin), and a hippie-looking uncle (Hyun Bong-sik).

Despite its shortcomings, “Doctor Slump” offers moments of levity and warmth. However, its uneven execution and reliance on formulaic storytelling prevent it from reaching its full potential. With a more focused narrative and refined character development, the series could have transcended its clichés to deliver a more satisfying viewing experience. The climactic episode presents one last twist: Ha-neul is presented with an exciting career opportunity, only to have it snatched away from her. Despite introducing a progressive sub-plot emphasizing the importance of allowing couples room for professional growth, the writers don’t really follow through.

Spanning 16 episodes, “Doctor Slump” feels at least 4 episodes too long, struggling to balance its exploration of mental health with its derivative plotlines and uneven pacing. While it may appeal to fans of Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik, others may find themselves disappointed by its failure to break free from the constraints of conventional K-drama tropes. But for those who are looking to watch a light-hearted romantic comedy, it can prove to be very entertaining. Maybe.

Stream “Doctor Slump” on Netflix.

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Doctor Slump Series Review – For The K-Drama RomCom Fans

Follow us on Twitter | Instagram

Director: Oh Hyun-Jong

Writer: Baek Seon-woo

What would you do if you ran into your high-school nemesis? Among a bunch of possible answers, we bet bunking up with them wouldn’t even be an option. But sometimes, fate can play cruel jokes. Netflix’s K-drama “Doctor Slump” follows the lives of overworked doctor Nam Ha-neul (Park Shin-hye) and renowned plastic surgeon Yeo Jeong-woo (Park Hyung-sik). Former high school rivals, their paths unexpectedly intersect once again, serving up an “enemies to lovers” tale to the audience.

Ha-neul grapples with the physical and emotional toll of pursuing a professorship under an abusive mentor, while Jeong-woo faces a career crisis after a patient’s tragic death tarnishes his reputation. Circumstances force them into each other life once again, leading to a rekindling of their rivalry. However, as the two spend more time with each other, warmer feelings replace their disdain for each other.

Despite its promising premise, “Doctor Slump” struggles to find its footing in the early episodes. While delving into themes of depression and burnout with sincerity, it falls into clichéd storytelling traps. The first episode, laden with exposition and erratic pacing, serves as a stumbling block for viewers seeking immediate engagement.

However, perseverance reveals glimpses of entertainment as the series progresses. Moments of genuine emotional depth emerge, particularly in Ha-neul’s exploration of depression. The chemistry between the leads occasionally sparks, but the overall narrative suffers from repetitive storylines and sluggish pacing. The series’ elongated runtime and meandering plotlines will test the patience of viewers seeking a more tightly woven narrative. On a positive note, the cinematography is engaging and colorful, with Korean food occupying significant screen time in each episode. Almost every second minute, character is either eating or drinking in “Doctor Slump”.

Park Shin-hye’s portrayal of Ha-neul exhibits depth, while Park Hyung-sik’s character, Jeong-woo, often comes across as too childish and inconsistent, with the actor occasionally overacting. The romantic dynamic between the leads, while charming in some scenes, often feels contrived and juvenile, failing to resonate with the maturity expected of professional adults. The supporting cast, however, delivers decent performances, with the secondary couple portrayed by Yoon Park and Kong Seong-Ha adding a touch of sweetness to the series. A lot of the comedy is generated by the Ha-neul’s family, which includes a slacker brother (Yoong Sang-Hyeon), a hilariously endearing mom (Jang Hye-jin), and a hippie-looking uncle (Hyun Bong-sik).

Despite its shortcomings, “Doctor Slump” offers moments of levity and warmth. However, its uneven execution and reliance on formulaic storytelling prevent it from reaching its full potential. With a more focused narrative and refined character development, the series could have transcended its clichés to deliver a more satisfying viewing experience. The climactic episode presents one last twist: Ha-neul is presented with an exciting career opportunity, only to have it snatched away from her. Despite introducing a progressive sub-plot emphasizing the importance of allowing couples room for professional growth, the writers don’t really follow through.

Spanning 16 episodes, “Doctor Slump” feels at least 4 episodes too long, struggling to balance its exploration of mental health with its derivative plotlines and uneven pacing. While it may appeal to fans of Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik, others may find themselves disappointed by its failure to break free from the constraints of conventional K-drama tropes. But for those who are looking to watch a light-hearted romantic comedy, it can prove to be very entertaining. Maybe.

Stream “Doctor Slump” on Netflix.

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Luck Review – Mis(s)fortune Meets Magic

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Sam is an ‘unlucky’, clumsy orphan who is aging out of the foster system – at eighteen, she must start living on her own, even though she doesn’t want to leave. With constant misfortune on her side, it takes a lucky penny and a talking cat to change her life forever.

Directed by Peggy Holmes and Javier Abad, and written by Kiel Murray, Jonathan Aibel, and Glenn Berger, “Luck” is a animated film that takes viewers on a colorful fantasy ride to a world where “good luck” is manufactured by Leprechauns, with their overlord being a beautiful pink dragon. “Bad Luck” is produced a few floors below by “monsters,” and a machine helps spread the various kinds of luck randomly in the human world. Sam (Eva Noblezada) discovers this magical world of luck by following a black cat named Bob (Simon Pegg) after he leaves her a lucky penny, which brings her incredible luck, but she loses it within a day. Sam is desperate to get another one of those pennies to help out a little girl from her orphanage so that she can find her “forever home”.

The animation by Skydance Animation studio is very Disney-like, with colorful-catchy settings and characters that have big puppy-like eyes. So Sam resembles a modern day Disney princess, who is largely in a green uniform in the film. The world-building is fascinating, with some of its elements reminiscent of movies like “Zootopia”, “Minions”, and “Sing”. For example, the pigs in “Luck” immediately reminded me of the characters Rosita and Gunter from “Sing”.

I wasn’t a big fan of Sam’s character – even though she is supposed to be an “unlucky” orphan, her character is surprisingly entitled. She stalks Bob, a talking cat, and demands that he lend her another lucky penny. Why should he? He doesn’t owe her anything. But since Sam loses Bob’s penny, the two strike a deal to help each other steal another one. Thanks to Sam’s clumsiness, she causes a lot of problems and a pretty big crisis in the ‘luck’ world, but fortunately, her new friends help her out. One of the funniest characters in the film was Jeff, a talkative unicorn, who is German, and is voiced by Flula Borg. Jane Fonda lends her voice to the Dragon, another likable creature, who envisions a world where nobody suffers from any misfortune.

With a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes, “Luck” is quite entertaining in the first half, but the last twenty minutes are dragged out. The ultimate message of the movie is well-intentioned but harebrained: good luck is good, but bad luck can be good too. The creators want to show that unlucky incidents can lead to happy outcomes, like Sam’s constant misfortunes eventually leading her to incredible new friends and experiences. However, the climactic execution of this message doesn’t pack a punch.

Overall, “Luck” is a fun family-friendly film and is worth a one-time watch.

Rating: 6 on 10. Stream it on Apple TV+

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Jujutsu Kaisen 0 Review – Curse-tastic Prequel

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Director: Sunghoo Park

Writers: Gege Akutami, Hiroshi Seko

The very first thing you’ll notice about “Jujutsu Kaisen 0” the movie, is the difference between the animation style and musical score from season one of the anime series – it’s better. Based on the manga series by Gege Akutami, the 2021 film is a prequel and follows the story of Yuta Okkotsu, a high-school student who is in possession of a powerful cursed spirit and is asked to join the Jujutsu High School in Tokyo by Satoru Gojo. However, there are others who are interested in gaining control of the young Yuta.

If you’ve seen season one of “Jujutsu Kaisen”, you’d remember the Annual Kyoto Sister-School Goodwill Event that takes place in the second-half, where the second year students mention their classmate Yuta missing in action. Aoi Todo from the Kyoto School, who makes Yuji Itadori his “best friend” also inquires about Yuta before the competition begins. After dropping subtle hints at the importance of the character in the first season, “Jujutsu Kaisen 0” charts Yuta’s journey from being a small kid bound by a cursed spirit, to a teenager on the path of becoming a formidable jujutsu sorcerer. He starts his journey by becoming a first year student, along with Maki Zenin, Panda and Toge Inumaki.

Yuta’s origin story is dark, tragic, and, to those with a twisted sense of humor, ironically hilarious. His initiation into the jujutsu world is quite similar to that of Yuji Itadori (the primary character in season one). Both Yuji and Yuta are considered dangerous by the older order, courtesy their association with powerful cursed spirits, and both young men find themselves under the patronage of Satoru Gojo, the strongest sorcerer. But unlike Yuji’s rather random entry into the spirit world (he eats Sukuna’s finger out of curiosity and becomes a cursed vessel), Yuta has a longer and more personal connection to Rika – the fierce spirit attached to him.

“Jujutsu Kaisen 0” serves as a fantastic bridge between “Jujutsu Kaisen” season one and two. Watching the film will help viewers better understand the context of events that take place during the Shibuya Arc. Apart from exploring Yuta’s story, it also sheds further light on antagonist Suguru Geto’s motives, and his fraught relationship with Satoru Gojo. The climax is emotionally charged, with major revelations about the primary characters. It lays some solid groundwork and strongly foreshadows future events that will diabolically divide the Jujutsu Kaisen universe.

You can watch “Jujutsu Kaisen 0” on Prime Video.

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“The New Look” Episode 9 Review

Episode eight of “The New Look” concludes with a tragic turn of events as Christian Dior’s father passes away. So, amidst the hustle and bustle of preparing his new atelier for its debut, Christian (Ben Mendelsohn) is also faced with the task of attending his father’s funeral and coping with this new loss. Meanwhile, Coco Chanel (Juliette Binoche) struggles to handle her friend Elsa Lombardi (Emily Mortimer), whose drug addiction spirals out of control. The arrival of Spatz further complicates matters for her.

Titled “Will You Return,” episode nine begins with a flashback to 1905, introducing a young Coco (Marine Arena) and Elsa (Emma Canning) during their days as dancers. Coco expresses her aspirations to become a designer in Paris. This flashback serves to establish their history, adding an extra layer of sentiment to their long-standing but volatile friendship. In the present, Coco must contend with Hans Von Dincklage, also known as Spatz. His presence, coupled with Elsa’s unrestrained behavior, poses a threat to expose Coco’s secret – that she had collaborated with the Nazis during the war.

This episode was a slow-burn, serious installment, marking the first time all of Christian Dior’s siblings gathered together for their father’s funeral. Despite the show of strength by the Dior family during their time of grief, a tense dinner conversation unfolds over Christian’s new venture. His elder brother expresses stark displeasure at Christian starting his own business, citing their father’s failure and the subsequent hardships the family endured over the years.

Despite the doubts, criticism, and work-related challenges, Christian continues to place faith in his new project. Consistently displaying a rather meek attitude towards running a business, his character experiences growth in his outlook. “Do whatever it takes,” he tells Madame Zehnacker (Zabou Breitman), when she expresses concern that the new collection would be impossible to display on time without solving their current logistical problems

The themes of family, friendships and fraught relationships take center-stage in this edition and the slow pace and somber tone is befitting of the episode’s content, even though some viewers might find it challenging.

You can watch “The New Look” on Apple TV+

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Belzebubs Comic Book Review

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“Belzebubs” by J.P. Ahonen focuses on the daily adventures of a quirky Satanic family deeply immersed in black metal music and eager to descend into hell. Naturally, death holds a prominent place in their lives. The family is led by Sløth, the frontman of the black metal band Belzebubs, and he is married to the fiery and protective Lucy. Together, they have two children – Lilith, their angst-ridden teenage daughter with a hopeless crush on a nerdy classmate, and Leviathan, her younger brother whom she often has to babysit. Essentially, they resemble a modern, musical rendition of the Addams Family, albeit poorer, but with an abundance of black Goth face makeup.

The artwork for “Belzebubs” is black-and-white, well more black thanks to the black-metal theme, and I think it’s really cute, funny and expressive. Although, it was quite confusing to differentiate between some of the characters due to similar character illustrations and face-paint. Sometimes I’d even get confused between the husband and wife!

While “Belzebubs” isn’t uproariously hilarious, it’s undeniably quite silly and amusing at times. Some of the dark humor is quite literal and comedic, such as the scene where Lilith asks her grandmother to move on from her deceased grandfather and stop setting an extra place at the dining table, and the panel flips to show a corpse sitting in one of the chairs. “Till death do us part” is for quitters,” the grandmother says in the latter half of the book when her daughter asks her to stop digging up her husband’s corpse.

“Belzebubs” tends to feel fragmented and random because it’s just a collection of comic strips, and not a coherent graphic novel. However, two major subplots do run through this collected edition: one follows Sløth’s misadventures with his death-metal band, who are struggling to remain afloat, and the other follows Lilith’s creepy-comedic stalking of her ‘cute’ classmate Max. In between, it’s all just daily madness of this family that’s obsessed with satan, hell, death and gory stuff.

Rating: 3 on 5. Belzebubs is also on Kindle Unlimited.

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3 Body Problem Review – Epic Vision, Sputtered Execution

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Creators: David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Alexander Woo

“In your physics course, did you teach the theory of relativity”

“Relativity is one of the fundamental theories of physics. How can a basic survey course not teach it?”

“You lie! Einstein went to the American imperialists and helped them build the atomic bomb!”

Based on the bestselling science-fiction novels by Cixin Liu, the 2024 Netflix series “3 Body Problem” begins with an ostentatious flashback scene set in 1960s Beijing, China, where a professor is brutally beaten to death by a mob of Red Guards in front of his young scientist daughter. It’s an expansive, brutal scene that establishes the background of the series’ key character – Ye Wenjie, the young scientist who loses faith in humanity after watching her father die for standing by his ideals.

The China flashback is subtly tied to present day, where British officer Da Shi (Benedict Wong) is investigating the mysterious and gory deaths of some top scientists around the world. When another brilliant scientist called Vera Ye kills herself by diving into a Cherenkov tank, Da Shi’s focus shifts to her group of scientist friends, dubbed “the Oxford Five”. So, the primary plot of “3 Body Problem” is set in present-day Britain, and it’s about a potential extraterrestrial threat to human life on Earth.

‘3 Body Problem’ takes its own sweet time to get interesting, with one of the most compelling twists in the series taking place at the end of episode two. Viewers who were lured by the “from the makers of Game of Thrones” branding for the series might want to tap out by the second episode because things get incredibly interesting only by episode three. It’s in episode three where the ‘3 Body Problem’ is finally explained, along with the inherent reason behind all the weird incidents happening around the world. So, if you could hold on tight until episode 3, you might just enjoy the rest of the series, which does get a little slow now and then.

Among the primary cast, “the Oxford Five” comprises Auggie Salazar (Eiza González), a nanotech developer who begins to see strange numbers everywhere, a strange symptom witnessed by other scientists who are found dead. Saul Durand (Jovan Adepo) is Auggie’s love interest and a research expert who was working with Vera Ye. Jin Cheng (Jess Hong) is a brilliant theoretical physicist who becomes obsessed with playing a scarily realistic VR game on a strange headset given to her by Vera’s mother Ye (Rosalind Chao), who claims Vera was playing it a lot before she died. Jack Rooney (John Bradley), an Oxford dropout and multi-millionaire entrepreneur, also plays the same VR game with Jin, only to learn an unbelievable truth about its stunning futuristic tech. And Alex Sharp rounds off “the Oxford Five” as Will Downing, a physics teacher who is unrequitedly in love with Jin, but he holds is feelings back as she is seriously dating Raj Verma, a handsome navy officer.

Each friend has a distinct personality. On one hand, you have Jin, earnestly portrayed by Jess Hong, a character who is ambitious, empathetic, flexible, and genuinely passionate about solving humanity’s problems with science, while on the other hand, you have Jovan Adepo’s Saul Durand, who believes in laying back, getting high, and ignoring anything that’s going wrong. Benedict Wong, however, is the most relatable character as Da Shi, a tired, exhausted investigator who juggles between being a disappointed widowed dad to a young son and a normie trying to untangle the complex world of scientists. Liam Cunningham is subtly sharp as Wade, the man in charge of solving humanity’s problems in the show.

One of the strongest suits of ‘3 Body Problem’ is the cinematography and special effects; most of the sets are a visual treat, especially due to a subplot involving Jack and Jin playing a VR game, where they find themselves in different historical eras and are expected to solve complex science riddles to save the planet from destruction. A rather diabolical scene set in the real world, involving the annihilation of a ship carrying several passengers considered dangerous, is excellently and chillingly executed. The flashback scenes also recreate a visually striking world, like the labor brigade Ye Wenjie is forced to work at in Inner Mongolia in the 60s or the secretive military base where she is offered to use her knowledge as a scientist to help with a covert operation.

Zine Tseng and Rosalind Chao take turns in the series to play the young and older versions of Ye Wenjie, respectively. Both actors look like they really are the same person, so brownie points to the casting team for that. Ye Wenjie emerges as one of the most complex and important characters of “3 Body Problem”. A bright young scientist, she is irrevocably altered by China’s cultural revolution, having witnessed first-hand the barbaric treatment of intellectuals by communists, her own father bludgeoned to death as she watched helplessly. How the most brilliant minds can get waylaid, misguided by the trials and tribulations of life is expertly shown through the experiences of a young Wenjie.

Even though the ultimate theme of “3 Body Problem” is survival of the fittest, or to be more accurate, survival of the brightest (intellectually), I think the series serves as a pretty amusing metaphor on the power of religion or cults and how humans are easily swayed into putting their faith in a higher/unknown power when they are resentful of their current circumstances.

At eight episodes, the pacing of “3 Body Problem” isn’t the best, and the romantic subplot about Jin and Will gets far more screen time than needed. The final episode features a fascinating and overambitious space program, and the story ends with a cliffhanger – the primary protagonists haven’t solved the “3 Body Problem”. “We’ve got work to do” is the closing dialogue of the season finale, and viewers will have to wait for a next season to see how things actually end.

I feel like the creators should’ve just made a ten or twelve-part episode and ended the story with one season instead of ending the story halfway. But since I haven’t read the books, I don’t know how much more potential there is for more seasons in the future, and I can only hope things get more exciting. This eight-episode season fluctuates between exciting and boring, but overall, it’s worth a watch for science-fiction enthusiasts.

You can stream “3 Body Problem” on Netflix.

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The Sign Review – Two Plots Smashed in One

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Thai drama “The Sign” starts off with an intense rescue mission for trainees looking to become special investigators. There’s guns, goons, fights, violence, rivalry, bad-blood and even bombs, so episode one immediately pulls viewers into its well-woven world powered by ambitious young men and adrenaline. But at its core, it’s a grand love story, one that ties the lead couple through several past lives, with tragedy tearing them apart in each one.

Based on the novel “Premonition” by I-Rain-Yia, “The Sign” is directed by A Natthaphong Wongkaweepairod and comprises 12 episodes. Babe Tanatat Phanviriyakool makes his acting debut in this series, portraying protagonist Tharn Wansa Raksil, a sensitive young man with an uncanny ability to foresee the future accurately. Tharn becomes entangled with fellow officer Phaya Kamolwipak (Billy Patchanon Ounsa-ard), who frequently dreams of a mythical creature resembling Tharn. As the story unfolds, it reveals that the two are star-crossed lovers from warring factions, with a formidable adversary determined to harm Phaya and keep him away from Tharn. Alternatively, the two also become special investigative officers, working on a complex drug case, which poses them a lot of danger.

“The Sign” delves deeply into Thai culture and folklore, weaving a narrative rich with mythological elements. It explores the age-old rivalry between the Nagas, divine beings of half-human, half-snake lineage dwelling in water, and the Garuda, a revered winged creature of myth. Phaya is depicted as Naga royalty in his previous life, entangled in a forbidden love affair that triggers cataclysmic repercussions. In the present day, Phaya and Tharn navigate the complexities of both their past lives and their current investigative responsibilities. However, the series struggles to find a compelling balance between the allure of mythological connections and the demands of their professional lives.

Billy Patchanon Ounsa-ard delivers an entertaining performance as the confident and dashing Tharn, who boldly pursues Phaya romantically. However, Babe Tanatat Phanviriyakool’s portrayal of Phaya is inconsistent, often breaking during scenes which require emotional heft. One scene in particular, where one of them hits the other (no spoilers here), is unsettling. Thai creatives should understand that depicting violence between a couple, regardless of gender, is not acceptable.

The rest of the cast support the main lead well, and Phaya’s friend group serves up some of the most fun scenes in the show. Gap Jakarin Puribhat endearingly plays Phaya’s childhood best friend Yai, who is always there for his buddy. Tack Phongsakorn Sukiang and Poom Nuttapart Tuntistinchai play the secondary couple Khem and Thongtai, who are quite clingy, and their subplot ranges between cute and cringey. Heng Asavarid Pinitkanjanapun as the primary antagonist Chalothon is often reduced to a caricature villain from a children’s comic book, who huffs and puffs and doesn’t get to be more than the one-dimensional baddie scheming to kill the hero.

Visually, “The Sign” is often riveting, although some of the special effects were sub-par. Given its modest budget, I didn’t have any major complaints with the fantasy scenes; they were adequate for a show of this scale. The background music works to complement the plot for most parts, often helping maintain suspense in key scenes.

However, for a 12-episode series, “The Sign” quickly becomes challenging to watch due to its fragmented focus. The series should have either been a straightforward story about star-crossed lovers fighting evil or about romance blossoming between two special investigators as they solve dangerous cases together. Mixing fantasy-romance with action-thriller elements makes the series an awkward, messy mash that ultimately becomes both too boring and predictable to follow. It’s not like genre-bending shows don’t work, they do, just not in this case.

Rating: 5.5 on 10.

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