Shivoncarla

V WARS - SEASON ONE

It does not aspire to be a good show, which is good, because it is not. It's basically Generic Redbox Vampire Movie: The Series.

THE WITCHER - SEASON ONE

Who was that character? Which group do they belong to again? What timeline are we in? The whirlwind of scarcely explained backstory turns you into your hopelessly lost parent who just can't seem to figure out how to DVR Criminal Minds.

DERRY GIRLS - SEASON ONE

The specific setting gives Derry Girls its extra layer of complexity, as well as some of its funniest lines. The big appeal of this show is that these characters' self-centered concerns feel so real. There are bombs in the streets, but they're more upset when a nun confiscates a lipstick that's been discontinued.

RHYTHM & FLOW - SEASON ONE:

STREAM IT. Even if you’re not a fan of rap or hip-hop, Rhythm + Flow is going to keep you interested, given how high the stakes are for some of the contestants. Also, it’s the only competition where a judge talks about “getting fucked.” Top that, Blake Shelton!

LOST IN SPACE - SEASON ONE

An attempt to resurrect camp - without the camp. The resulting show has lost all of its fun quirkiness but doesn't offer viewers a new reason to watch instead.

For a show with such a large assortment of bright spots, its dimmer parts become all the more irritating.

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY - SEASON ONE

It has flaws and excesses, but the series, whose first season is available on Friday, nonetheless lands in the sweet spot between comedy and drama, and between a plot-and-action-driven narrative and character exploration. By the time Mary J. Blige and Cameron Britton show up as time-traveling assassins named Cha-Cha and Hazel, respectively, I was fully onboard, at least for this one season.

ATLANTA - SEASON TWO

In some scenes, the weight of community ties seems suffocating; in others, it's evident that none of the characters would survive without one another. The distance between those two points is what Atlanta mines, and what resonates most powerfully.

HOMELAND - SEASON FOUR

When the show first started, I couldn't recommend the series highly enough, particularly for the phenomenal performances by Lewis and Danes.

However, since season 4, I have a hit a wall. There is a flatness to the supporting characters, many of the tin-eared elements would more or less tolerable if I were still intrigued by Carrie Mathison.

NO GOOD DEED - SEASON ONE

No Good Deed has no such force to mitigate the glib jokes and exhausting, seemingly random left turns. It was pure obligation, not enjoyment or even curiosity, that kept me watching past the premiere.

HOUSE OF DRAGON - SEASON ONE

While the first season is about setting up the chess board and introducing the players, it is also slow and a bit disorienting as it jumps ahead in time on several occasions. However,with a strong, talented cast, fans of the original show will more than likely find this to be a worthy successor -- by season two, at least.. I hope.