Sneha Jaiswal's Blog, page 147

Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 2 Review

Did we want a Minato Shouji Coin Laundry season two? Hell, yeah! Did it turn out to be what fans expected? That’s highly debatable. While leads Minato and Shin are still quite adorable around each other, their relationship is stuck in an agonizing limbo due to Minato’s low self-esteem issues and weirdness about their age gap. Why agree to date someone if you going to continue treating them like a friend or even worse – a child? Sure, Minato and Shin’s interactions are often funny and cute as the creators intend them to be, but oftentimes Minato is unintentionally cruel and unreasonably self-preserving.

Read: Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 1 Review for recap.

Directed by Kawasaki Ryo, Kitagawa Hitomi, season two of “Minato Shouji Coin Laundry” sees Kusakawa Takuya and Nishikagi Sho reprise their roles as the insecure but cute Minato and persuasive younger Shintaro respectively. This new season comprising 12 episodes follows slow developments in their love story, while Minato is still running his grandfather’s laundry shop and Shin is now a first year medical student. There’s also the continued sub-plot about Shin’s friend Asuka (Oku Tomoya) facing his own relationship troubles with the older Hiiragi (Inaba Yu).

While the Asuka-Hiiragi sub-plot wasn’t amusing enough in the first season, Oku Tomoya as the enthusiastic and playful Asuka was my favorite character this edition. The actor endearingly captures Asuka’s boyish charm, and it’s his scenes that really light up this otherwise slow season. Despite his mock jealousy over Minato and Shin’s relationship, Asuka is also their biggest cheerleader, always encouraging the couple to fight for each other. He is an more dedicated lovestruck youngster, burning the midnight oil to study because the nerdy Hiiragi agrees to go on a date with him only if he scores “A” grades in his entrance exams.

The cinematography is just as cozy and warm as season one, and the ambient-heavy background music blends well with the laid-back storytelling. For example, most episodes begin with the chirping of birds and a character doing something domestic, like Minato sweeping his shop or getting back from buying groceries. The piano interludes throughout the runtime continue to add a comical and light-hearted tone to the series.

Kusakawa Takuya is entertaining as Minato, but the character can be frustrating. While Minato’s initial reluctance to date a much younger Shin made sense, his continued mawkish attitude after agreeing to be in a relationship stopped being funny. For example, the couple starts to live together, but Minato refuses to share a room with Shin and even draws up a line at one point and asks him to stay on his side. The creators should’ve either tweaked the script or provided viewers with a better reason for Minato’s distant behavior instead of a simple “I love him too much” excuse. If it weren’t for Shin’s incredible patience, the relationship wouldn’t have lasted for more than a few months.

Despite its exaggerated characters, “Minato Shouji Coin Laundry Season 2” maintains a realistic “slice of life” feel, offering an enjoyable viewing experience until a ludicrous twist in episode 10. Shin has an accident, resulting in partial memory loss, and the romantic-comedy tone takes a downturn in the final two episodes. This plot twist may remind viewers of the Japanese series “Jack O’Frost,” which had memory loss as a crucial trope and had far more romantic moments in its six episodes than “Minato Shouji Coin Laundry” does in 24!

The season finale only focuses on how Minato and Shin iron out their relationship problems and all other characters are virtually forgotten. While the series ends on a positive emotional note and also leaves a lot of scope for another season, it was far too long for the little story it had to offer. Regardless, it’s still a decent watch for those who enjoyed season one.

Rating: 6 on 10.

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No Hard Feelings Movie Review

“I know you were looking for someone early to mid-20s. I’m slightly older.”

“Right. How old?”

“I just turned 29.”

“Recently?”

“Last year.”

“So you are 29?”

“Last year.”

“And how old are you, like, right now?”

“One more year older.”

“So 30?”

“Yeah. 32.”

This is one of the most hilarious interactions from the 2023 comedy movie ‘No Hard Feelings,’ in which Jennifer Lawrence’s character casually tries to hide her age during an interview with a wealthy couple who have placed an ad seeking someone to ‘date’ their 19-year-old son and ‘bring him out of his shell’.

Directed by Gene Stupnitsky, who co-wrote the script with John Phillips, ‘No Hard Feelings’ delivers what it promised in its trailer and posters – a pretty awkward but fun comedy where both its 32-year-old and 19-year-old protagonists come of age. Obviously, the plot is far-fetched and silly – Maddie (Jennifer Lawrence) is broke, so she makes a secret deal with a wealthy couple to make a man out of their inexperienced, asocial son before he goes off to college, in exchange for a Buick Regal as payment. But wooing 19-year-old Percy Becker (Andrew Barth Feldman) turns out to be harder than Maddie expects!

Jennifer Lawrence has great comic-timing as the confident, go-getter Maddie, who practically scares the shit out of the shy Percy when she hit on him at a pet shelter he volunteers. From causing a traffic jam while commuting on skates, beating delinquents while naked, to giving an awkward Percy a lap dance, Jennifer Lawrence makes scenes that might have been cringe-worthy to watch quite funny for viewers. There’s very little chemistry between Maddie and Percy, which only makes “No Hard Feelings” more humorous than it would’ve been. The two of them are extremely different individuals, with a big age gap, a bigger social/class divide and a lasting romance does seem close to impossible between them.

Andrew Barth Feldman, as Percy, gets his moment to shine halfway through the runtime when Maddie forces him to play the piano at a restaurant. The boy impresses everybody with a stunning cover of “Maneater” by Hall and Oates. The song is beautifully directed. Percy is barely audible in the first few seconds as he nervously starts to sing, but he slowly gains more confidence, and his initial anxiousness vanishes beneath a more satisfied smile. Meanwhile, Maddie watches on, a myriad of emotions running through her mind as the lyrics strike a chord with her. It’s a striking tender few minutes in an otherwise non-sensical comedy. While the original is an upbeat dance-pop number, Percy’s version of “Maneater” is a moodier ballad tribute to the hit song, and stands out from the rest of the film’s soundtrack.

Laura Benanti and Matthew Broderick are amusing in their small cameos as Percy’s helicopter parents, Allison and Laird. The film takes a witty dig at the unhealthy involvement of many modern parents in their children’s lives and how technology has made it disturbingly easier for people to be manipulative and controlling. “No Hard Feelings” makes you wonder if Percy’s inability to make friends and have a social life is a result of his own elusiveness, or is it a result of his overprotective, wealthy parents who do not give him the space to grow into his own person. Thanks to the unconventional plot, Jennifer Lawrence and Andrew Barth Feldman make an odd yet entertaining pair.

Even though “No Hard Feelings” doesn’t have many “laugh out loud” kind of moments, it is evenly paced, with scenes that are just funny enough to not make you lose complete interest. The climactic twist is predictable, but the final few minutes of “No Hard Feelings” steer clear of being cheesy or clichéd and provide viewers with a sweet, believable ending to Maddie and Percy’s otherwise ludicrous relationship.

Rating: 7 on 10. You can stream the film on Netflix.

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Spy Kids: Armageddon Review – Kitschy Cute

Like most little kids who loved playing pretend in video games and fighting ‘bad guys,’ I enjoyed watching the 2001 film ‘Spy Kids’. It centered around pre-teen siblings Carmen and Juni Cortez, equipped with fancy gadgets, as they rescued their spy parents, played by Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino. Director Robert Rodriguez is back with a 2023 reboot titled ‘Spy Kids: Armageddon’ that stars Zachary Levi and Gina Rodriguez as the spy parents of child actors Connor Esterson and Everly Carganilla.

Much like the older films, ‘Spy Kids: Armageddon’ follows siblings Tony Tango-Torrez (Connor Esterson) and Patty Tango-Torrez (Everly Carganilla), who must rescue their parents from the clutches of an evil villain. This after the kids accidentally helped the bad guys obtain a powerful virus called “Armageddon,” which can hack and control all electronic devices around the world. Billy Magnussen plays antagonist Rey Kingston, who runs a successful gaming empire and manipulates little Tony into getting access to the virus by means of a new game called Hyskor.

Thanks to the gaming theme, ‘Spy Kids: Armageddon’ looks a lot like watching a live-action PC game, with characters and robots inspired from popular franchises. Rey Kington’s Aztec-style lair reminded me of a show called “The Legend Of The Hidden Temple” that we used to watch as kids. The CGI is quite good for most part, but looks slightly chunky and outdated towards the climax, since the ending involves the Spy Kids fighting Rey Kingston in an elaborate virtual game. Tony and Patty use various new gadgets as they gear up to confront their adversaries, and some of the technology is simply amusing. For instance, Patty finds a cube adorned with different emojis. By selecting a specific mood and hurling it at their foes, the cube induces the same emotion in them, so if she selects ‘hunger,’ her enemies will suddenly feel famished.

Zachary Levi and Gina Rodriguez make a very interesting on-screen pair, they do look like a fun couple with a bunch of kids, however, the child actors were a little awkward in their parts. Regardless, ‘Spy Kids: Armageddon’ is an entertaining film to watch with children. It’s exaggerated, colorful, filled with unreal but action-packed moments, which includes the kids flying a plane across the country without adult supervision and fighting giant robots! Amid all the “trying to save the world” madness the makers also try to sneak in a little message – you can win games without lying and cheating.

Rating: 6 on 10. Stream the film on Netflix.

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Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 Episode 9 Review

Hope you are here after Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2 episode 8 . Minor spoilers ahead.

“Why do you think of Satoru Gojo?”

Jujutsu Kaisen season 2 episode 9 begins with this seemingly simple question, and his juniors and fellow Jujutsu sorcerers take turns to answer. Kugisaki responds with the most hilarious remark, “I don’t know much about him, but I can guarantee that he is an idiot.” But it’s the enthusiastic Itadori who has the last word, as he smiles and reminds you that his mentor is also the strongest sorcerer alive.

The humorous opening scene soon shifts to the darkly cast Shibuya, where Gojo is locked in a tense bloody battle with Jogo and the other special grade spirits. Titled “Gate Open”, this episode was ONE HECK OF AN EPIC edition, which magnifies the series’ dark intense storytelling and keeps viewers glued to their screens. Satoru Gojo is captured in all his glory and moods – calm, collected, crazy, cunning, and even confusingly shaken when he finally meets his former friend Suguru Geto and immediately senses something off about him.

There are numerous maniacal, gory action scenes interspersed with brief, slower non-fighting moments in this Jujustsu Kaisen segment. For instance, immediately after Gojo smashes a crucial villain to a pulp, and the station is filled with smoke and blood, the scene shifts to the past, where Geto and the squad leisurely play Mahjong while strategizing on how to annihilate their enemy. These quick contrasting changes in mood only serve to heighten the Shibuya showdown.

The stakes get higher when the notorious Mahito arrives on the scene with several transfigured humans, while pseudo Geto waits on the sidelines to unleash his diabolical gamble to seal the invincible Gojo. No cursed spirit amuses me as much as Mahito; he always brings with him an unhinged energy to the show, which is absolutely thrilling to watch. As soon as he appears on this episode, he smiles like a little kid, takes a deep breath, and then exclaims, “the air is so fresh, it’s full of fear.” His casual sadistic villainy is on another level.

The animation remains top-notch, capturing all the gruesome details of the violence that ensues in this grim chapter. The blood splatters sometimes look like pen ink, but the artwork largely paints a terrifying picture and is backed up by some fantastic background music. A dramatic, drum-heavy piece accompanies a frenzied Gojo as he slashes through a whole host of transfigured humans.

Overall, this edition of Jujutsu Kaisen was hellishly good, offering a charged chapter that will leave fans eagerly anticipating what comes next.

You can stream Jujutsu Kaisen on Netflix.

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Jaane Jaan Review – Math, Murder & Aftermath

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

“For any given problem, we should either find the solution ourselves or accept a solution presented by someone else.” This dialogue from the 2023 movie “Jaane Jaan” encapsulates the essence of the film, compelling the viewers to start questioning everything presented to them. While most conventional thrillers focus on figuring out the murderer, this Bollywood film directed by Sujoy Ghosh revolves around the cover-up rather than the discovery of the crime.

The story is based on Keigo Higashino’s bestselling novel “The Devotion of Suspect X” and is set against the foggy hill town Kalimpong in West Bengal. The plot follows a genius Math teacher (Jaideep Ahlawat), who is infatuated with his beautiful neighbour, a single mother called Maya D’Souza (Kareena Kapoor), who runs a café. When Maya kills a man while trying to protect her daughter, the teacher helps cover her tracks, all while a relentless cop named Karan (Vijay Varma) pursues Maya as the principal suspect in the case. To make things more complicated, Karan and the teacher turn out to be college buddies.

“Jaane Jaan” might not be as amusing, colorful, and comical as Vasan Bala’s thriller ‘Monica, O My Darling,’ another Bollywood adaptation of a Keigo Higashino murder mystery novel. Still, Sujoy Ghosh and his team immediately draw you into their world, introducing all their principal players within the first fifteen minutes. Except for one small song sequence set in a karaoke bar, the film has no songs, but gritty racy background tracks keep thrumming through the runtime, maintaining a steady sense of intrigue and suspense until the end.   

Jaideep Ahlawat’s character is simply known as “Teacher” by everybody in town, his personality already lost under the layers of being nothing but the math teacher, as if he isn’t human at all. There’s this Frankenstein-like touch to his character’s appearance, making his presence ominous, creepy, and unpredictable throughout the runtime. While Kareena Kapoor is sombre as the anxious single mom trying to outwit the police, but she doesn’t blend well in this broody gothic looking noir. Saurabh Sachdeva impressed viewers with villainy in “Haddi” and does so gain in “Jaane Jaan” too. Even though he has a small cameo, he is sinister and despicable as the man who prompts Maya into murdering him. Their history is quickly unveiled in flashbacks and brief conversations for viewers to grasp the significance or rather the necessity of his death.

Vijay Varma has a surprisingly heroic introductory sequence as the spirited cop Karan, engaging in a martial arts face-off with a colleague before being deployed to Kalimpong. Viewers finally get to know the math teacher as Naroo AKA Naren, after Karan instantly recognises him as his old friend. In-fact, the limited interactions between Karan and Naren are the most entertaining bits in “Jaane Jaan”. The odd friendship between the balding asocial math genius and the friendly smart cop has a certain allure to it. In this equation, Kareena Kapoor appears somewhat on the periphery, standing out just a tad.

Sujoy Ghosh conjures up a bleak, dreary world of murder, obsession and a cat-mouse chase between the cops and the suspects. Naren devotedly builds up a strong alibi for Maya and the cover-up story will remind some fans of “Drishyam”, which has a slightly similar premise. The incorporation of local cuisine and the inclusion of North-Eastern actors in key supporting roles in the film were excellent decisions by the creative team, given that the story is set in Kalimpong. There’s a comical scene where Karan takes Maya to a restaurant to ask questions, and she orders in Nepali, requesting a dangerously spicy local dish for the cop as a way to punish him for causing her discomfort.

The pace slows down a bit in the last 30 minutes or so, particularly because Karan’s brief infatuation with Maya during the investigation lacks conviction. While I appreciated the minimal presence of romantic elements in “Jaane Jaan,” some viewers might find this disappointing. Nevertheless, the thriller concludes with a few subtle twists, cleverly foreshadowed from the beginning. Depending on your perspective, it can be seen as either a happy or tragic ending.

Rating: 7 on 10. Stream “Jaane Jaan” on Netflix if you are looking to watch a thriller.  

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Five Supernatural Poems For Horror Readers

Poetry can be about anything and yet, it’s usually the ones about love and heartbreak that usually captures the reader’s heart. But in the dimly lit corridors of literature’s haunted mansion, there exists a hidden chamber where verses of eerie beauty and spectral melancholy reside, seldom visited by bibliophiles. Here’s a list of five poems that explore the spectral realms of human imagination, where the line between the living and the departed blurs.

“The Listeners” by Walter de la MareThis haunting poem tells the story of a traveler who arrives at a deserted house in the woods, only to find it occupied by spectral listeners who do not respond to his calls. Set during a moonlit night, it leaves the reader with a sense of unease. While Walter de la Mare started publishing his works in the early 1900s, “The Listeners” is a haunting poems that would perfectly into horror classic “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”, an 1820 short story by Washington Irving. “The Haunted Palace” by Edgar Allan PoeWhile Poe is well-known for his macabre tales, this poem often gets overshadowed by his other works. “The Haunted Palace” describes the decay and corruption of a once-beautiful palace, serving as a metaphor for the human mind’s descent into madness.“The Phantom-Wooer” by Thomas Lovell BeddoesBeddoes was a 19th-century poet who delved into dark and supernatural themes. “The Phantom-Wooer” is a mysterious poem that tells the story of a ghostly lover who visits a young maiden in her dreams. He takes the theme of romance, then transforms it into something morbid and nightmarish through this poem. “The Ballad of Tam Lin” (Traditional Scottish Ballad)This traditional Scottish ballad is filled with supernatural elements, including a young woman’s encounter with a man who has been captured by the Fairy Queen. It’s a tale of love, bravery, and enchantment. The Ballad also inspired the 1970 British horror film “Tam Lin” starring the stunning Ava Gardner. “The Little Ghost” by Edna St. Vincent MillayA short, playful poem that presents the idea of a child’s ghost visiting the living, with a touch of whimsy and spookiness. The poet describes a child’s spirit with great enthusiasm, but it’s also a poignant and somber reflection on those who depart from us too soon. It highlights how those dealing with such losses might conjure their own perceptions of a deceptive presence.

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Love Again Review – The Heart Does Go On

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)

Was “Love Again” cute, cheesy, and romantic? Yes. Would I recommend it to friends? I am not sure. It’s definitely not the kind of flick that would prompt you to send a “hey, I saw this nice romance film, you should check it out” text to someone. And yes, I do that with friends and family; just a few days ago, I recommended Netflix’s “Love at First Sight” to two different people.

If you were to meet a bunch of Indians who grew up in the 90s, didn’t listen to English songs, and knew only a handful of hits, I bet ‘My Heart Will Go On’ by Celine Dion from ‘Titanic’ would be one of them. Celine is an icon, there’s no argument there, but the necessity of her role in the 2023 romantic movie “Love Again” as herself is very debatable. The film is about two heartbroken strangers falling in love with each other, and Celine’s songs in the background would’ve been enough. But instead, she plays a singer plus therapist/matchmaker to journalist Rob Burns (Sam Heughan), who becomes attracted to a woman continually sending personal messages to his new work number, which once belonged to her deceased boyfriend.

“Director Jim Strouse co-wrote the script for ‘Love Again’ with Sofie Cramer and Andrea Willson. It’s amusing that despite at least three people sharing credit for the script, they couldn’t find a better way to incorporate Celine Dion into the film. Priyanka Chopra plays protagonist Mira Ray and she is quite endearing as a children’s author struggling to cope with her boyfriend’s demise. Sam Heughan on the other hand was charming as Rob Burns, the journalist who crushes hard on a woman he hasn’t even met yet.

While the whole premise about a young woman sending text to her dead fiance’s phone number and forming a connection with the man who has been reassigned the number is a nice plot for a sweet sentimental romance, it was very random to have a singing sensation play cupid for the two of them. I just cannot get over how random Celine’s role in “Love Again” was, even though I am a huge fan of the singer. To Celine’s credit, she is fantastic and diva-like in the film, and teaches Rob Burns a thing or two about love and even opens up about her relationship about her late husband René Angélil. If the writers could’ve just tweaked the script a little and made Rob Burns as journalist friend of Celine, the story might have felt more believable. Although, I am sure there are a lot of viewers who would love this film for its fictitious grandness.

The primary theme of the film revolves around giving love a second chance, poignantly expressed through the stories of both protagonists. While Mira is taking time to grieve an irreplaceable loss, Rob Burns isn’t over the breakup with his ex, who dumped him a week before their wedding. Watching two people who have experienced crushing heartbreak find love again is inspiring, even if it’s just a fictional tale. ‘Love Again’ has a warm and engaging first half but begins to feel a little slow in the second half, mostly due to some of the ornamental dialogues that lack conversational nature. Some of Mira and Rob’s conversations are overly bookish and lack the spontaneous charm of easygoing banter. While the ending conflict is predictable, the resolution is delivered in true Hollywood romance style—through a grand gesture. The key take away from this Priyanka Chopra, Sam Heughan and (weirdly) Celine Dion film? The heart does go on!

Rating: 6 on 10. Stream “Love Again” on Netflix if you want to watch a soft, sentimental romantic movie.

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Miseducation Review: Lights, Camera & Scheming Students

Rating: 3 out of 5.

You need to be on board with the idea of wanting to watch a rich, privileged, self-centered brat trying to gain popularity in her new college and winning over a guy who already has a girlfriend if you want to enjoy ‘Miseducation’. If that sounds like something you can deal with, welcome to the life of 19-year-old Mbali Hadebe, a complete wannabe who is quite entertaining to watch due to her ridiculous antics, such as throwing an over-the-top party without telling her mum, complete with personalized fireworks that light up as #Mbali19 and ‘blessing’ her Cartier bracelet with champagne.

Created by Katleho and Rethablile Ramaphakela, the 2023 Netflix series “Miseducation” stars Buntu Petse as the protagonist Mbali, who runs off to a small-town university in Makhanda (it’s a real place, nothing to do with Wakanda) to save face after her corrupt politician mom, Brenda Hadebe (Baby Cele), faces arrest for embezzling student funds. But, attention-hungry as always, the teenager runs the campaign for a college presidential candidate and makes the most ironic promise of all – a reduction in student fees! Can Mbali make new friends, regain her popularity and win the hot new guy? “Miseducation” answers these questions in the course of six episodes.

Lunga Shabalala plays Sivu Levine, a third-year student who is also an Olympian and catches Mbali’s eye on her very first day. Sivu is running for the presidential election, and his strongest contender is Caesar (Mpho Sebeng), a student in his late twenties who’s been studying at the university for years and has been President multiple times. While Caesar has a clear political agenda and his campaign is race-driven, Sivu is all over the place and Mbali decides to help him as a way to win him over. To get close to Sivu, she befriends his sister Natalie Levine (Micaela Jade Tucker) with the help of her only friend on campus – Jay (Prev Reddy), an enterprising tech student with multiple side-hustles. While Mbali’s new little clique with African-Indian Jay and Natalie have an almost cliched campus experience, the writers offer some contrast in the story through Mbali’s roommate, Aphiwe, who comes from a poor family and is struggling with part-time jobs to cover her student loans.

It took me a few minutes to realize that this is a South African show because “Miseducation” is like most light American teen shows these days, featuring popularity-hungry teens, partying, backstabbing, romance, positive LGBTQ+ representation, and the controversial “cancel culture”. What does set apart this series slightly apart from the usual romantic teen comedies is the amount of screen-time dedicated to campus politics. Characters sometimes switch to speaking in Zulu, Xhosa, and other regional South African languages, but these brief language deviations aren’t distracting at all; instead, they add a cultural dimension to the plot. The cinematography is straightforward, featuring bright and colorful visuals that exude a summery aesthetic. Mbali often hangs out at a bar with Jay in the evenings, so those scenes are bathed in neon tints, which effectively shift the mood from the daytime settings.

The theme of a colonial hangover and how many South African students still feel the shadow of white supremacists looming over them was quite intriguing to me as an Indian viewer. For example, Mbali’s university is known as Grahamstown University, and one of Caesar’s biggest election promises is to rename their institution as Makhanda University, shedding its colonial nomenclature. In India, entire cities have been renamed to discard either colonial or Mughal legacies. Although “Miseducation” doesn’t deep dive into some of the political issues taken up by its student protagonists, it does provide a lot of food for thought with the small sub-plots involving ideological conflicts between students. And the writing is often funny and clever. For instance, when Caesar campaigns by shouting his slogan, ‘vote for change,’ a student humorously remarks, ‘You’ve been on the student council for nine years; the only change we need is for you to graduate.’ In a standout ‘Gen Z’ moment, two characters in the series choose to embrace their first intimate encounter, sealing the deal with a detailed consent form outlining their ‘DOs & DON’Ts’

Buntu Petse is amusing as protagonist Mbali, although, Prev Reddy and Micaela Jade Tucker are more entertaining as supporting characters Jay and Natalie, both of whom are trying to navigate their romantic lives while trying to have fulfilling friendships. Mbali does prove to be a reliable friend to the two of them a few times but her intrinsic selfishness always overpowers her. And because Mbali isn’t very likable, the emotional notes in “Miseducation” never hit a chord. So when Mbali is reduced to tears for biting her friends in the back, you’d probably say “you deserve it girl” in your head while watching the show.

The last episode culminates with the aftermath of the student elections and Mbali faces the music for all the scheming, cheating and manipulating she does for making things go her way. Will she solider through another year at the University, or will she run away again? The sixth episode ends with a character exclaiming “What the F…” and the end credits roll in before they can finish that sentence. It’s a hilarious twist that definitely makes me want to watch a season two.

You can stream “Miseducation” on Netflix.

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I Was Their American Dream – Graphic Memoir Review

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Sneha Jaiswal (X | Instagram | GoodReads)

Juggling between Church communions and Quran recitations is a unique life experience, and Malaka Gharib lived through precisely that, courtesy of her Christian mother and Muslim father. I found out about Malaka’s graphic novel memoir “I Was Their American Dream” after reading her second work “It Won’t Always Be Like This” and had to pick it up. Both books are memoirs and if you have read neither, it’s probably better to read them in the order of their publication date.

Born to an Egyptian father and a Filipino mother, Malaka Gharib is a unique first-generation mixed American. She barely knew anybody with the same ancestry as hers while she was growing up. However, living in a locality filled with immigrant families like hers and attending a school where there were almost no White people, Malaka how she grew up in protected bubble. This bubble bursts when she finally enters the adult world as a university student and then as a working individual. But Malaka’s struggle to “fit in” will resonate with many readers.

“I Was Their American Dream” condenses most of Malaka’s life and explores what it is like to have two parents who not only came from different countries and cultures but also from different faiths. Malaka’s doodle-style simple illustrations are cute, but I enjoyed the style more in her second novel as it focused more on her childhood memories. This graphic novel is also in color, though it’s mostly composed of reds and blues, so it often appears as if Malaka simply drew everything freestyle with a marker pen, which might very well be the case. The illustrations are engaging enough for school students, but older graphic novel enthusiasts like me would’ve preferred to see more detailed artwork.

Less than 200 pages long, the graphic novel begins with an adorable family tree introducing almost a dozen of Malaka’s kin. However, the quick pace makes it difficult to develop a connection with any character apart from maybe Malaka herself. You meet Malaka as a baby in the first few pages, but soon she is a teen going through her rebellious phase. Then, suddenly, she is a young woman who has already found the man of her dreams and is ready to marry. The author crams a lot of story into this little memoir, so each section feels like a recap of a certain part of her life. If there’s one character that manages to leave a mark, it’s Malaka’s mother, who does her best to provide for her kids while struggling to juggle her work and personal life as a divorced mother. The opening chapter describes how Malaka’s mom would often tell her, “You have to do better than us,” a quote encapsulating what most parents around the world hope for their children.

While this was an interesting book for me as a non-American, I am not sure how interesting it would be for American readers, since there are already tonnes of books exploring multi-racial experiences.

Rating: 3.5 on 5.

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Be Mine Superstar Review – First & Ja Could Use Another Showcase

Punn is a third-year film student who has a gigantic, hopeless crush on TV star Ashi, so when he lands an internship to work on the sets of Ashi’s ongoing television show, Punn has the chance of a lifetime to get close to his idol.

Directed by David Bigander, the 2023 Thai romantic-comedy “Be Mine Superstar” re-unites actors Ja Phachara Suansri and First Chalongrat Novsamrong who were last seen together as pen-friends in “Remember Me”. While Ja plays the bumbling immature college student Punn, First is the graceful actor Ashi, who is sincere at work, has a hit soap show called “Prince of Love”, leaving him little time for romance. Bosston Suphadach Wilairat plays Ashi’s co-star and close friend Mingmueang, who sees through Punn’s feelings for Ashi and decides to play cupid between the two. Spread over 12 episodes, the story explores if a love story is possible between a simple intern and a sophisticated star.

While the primary plot is somewhat realistic, it does provide entertaining material for a romantic comedy, at least for the first few episodes. Ja Phachara Suansri portrays the character of Punn, a love-struck and somewhat childish individual. On the other hand, First Chalongrat Novsamrong shines as Ashi, portraying a calm and collected character who remains the most stable presence throughout the series. However, a notable deviation occurs in episode eleven, where the creators suddenly steer his character toward eccentric behavior following heartbreak, rather than allowing him to gracefully grieve as the mature individual he had been portrayed as earlier in the series. Noon Sutthipha Kongnawdee was hilarious as Ashi’s co-star Worra, who is theatrical in her performance when the two are working on their television show “Prince of Love”, and is a total brat off air. Despite her small supporting role, Noon made a fun comical addition to the tale.

Ashi secures the lead role in a Japanese film, and as a result, the series shifts its focus to picturesque Japanese locations in the second half. The cinematography in these new settings is undeniably striking. From traditional wooden houses to steaming onsens (hot springs), the creators incorporate numerous scenic shots in the final few episodes, including some beautiful snowy romantic scenes between Punn and Ashi. Even otherwise, the series is visually engaging, as much of the story unfolds during the shooting of Ashi’s TV series, “Prince of Love.” This periodic soap opera humorously pokes fun at cliche tropes found in Thai dramas, although, ironically, even “Be Mine Superstar” relies on many tried-and-tested formulas. Regardless, the “series within a series” premise provides the creators with ample opportunities to incorporate beautiful historical set designs and pretty looking costumes. The color palette throughout the runtime is bright, bubbly, and summer-themed, while the Japanese segment offers a pleasant winter wonderland interlude.

There are two major sub-plots in “Be Mine Superstar.” One follows Mingmueang’s unexpected romance with a doctor named Namning (Jo Kavinpat Thanahiransilp), while the second sub-plot revolves around the fierce rivalry between Mingmeuang and Ashi’s manager, Somwan (Dada Warinda Damrongphol), and their former exploitative manager, Sompriao (Thongthong Mokjok). Sompriao manages the actor Title (Wayo Peerawat Sareewong), who is also in love with Ashi, and the duo are constantly scheming throughout the series. Some of their actions make no sense; for example, in an attempt to keep Punn away from Ashi, Sompriao offers to become his artist manager and secure modeling and acting gigs for him. Huh? It’s the silliest villainy in the history of television villains, where the antagonist offers a struggling college student an opportunity to become an actor and even pays for their modeling portfolio. Anyway…

Ja Phachara Suansri and First Chalongrat Novsamrong look incredibly great as an onscreen couple, a fact that creators obviously recognize, which is why “Be Mine Superstar” is the fourth time they are being paired romantically with each other. While there were still traces of awkwardness between the two in the 2021 romantic drama “Don’t Say No”, the two have come a long way since then and their chemistry has vastly improved. But unfortunately, the muddled script for “Be Mine Superstar” fails to fully harness their romantic potential. A lot more time is spent on other supporting characters and conflicts instead of developing a convincing relationship between the leads. It would be interesting to see how these actors fare with a better-written script and direction.

This series could have been wrapped up in 10 episodes or even less, but instead, it is overstretched to 12 episodes, with a completely pointless twist in the eleventh episode. Punn practically worships Ashi, but due to a misunderstanding, the two briefly drift apart. Punn behaves completely out of character and doesn’t even give the love of his life a chance to explain. But well, the romance between the two of them made little sense from the start. Watch “Be Mine Superstar” if you are fine with weak plots, as long as the series features some great-looking actors.

Rating: 5.5 on 10.

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