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Post by mizbizsav on Mar 22, 2018 22:02:56 GMT -5
3/29 NOTE: The show premieres in 10 hours and there have yet to be the major reviews I expected at this point! I'm guessing the bulk of the reviews will be up tomorrow, after the show has premiered. I will be avoiding the Internet until I finish my watch of season 2, so it might take a few days to get the list updated. However, if you find new reviews and want to share in the comments, that's totally cool and I'll get around to updating as soon as I'm back! Last year I created a thread compiling reviews for season 1. (If you're feeling nostalgic, it's right here.) With season 2 just a week away and some reviews already starting to trickle in, I decided it was time to start one up again! I'm including reviews of any kind, no matter how big the publication. I'll keep this up until the show is released - when undoubtedly everyone will have something to say. If you find any new reviews, please share so I can add them to the list! Recently added reviews marked with a *. Current Rotten Tomatoes score: 100% Current Metacritic score: N/A Empire - 4/5 Den of Geek - positive * Metro - 4/5 * The Telegraph - 4/5 * IndieWire - 91/100 The Independent - 4/5 The Iris - 4/5 The Fandom - 3/5 CGMagazine - 7/10 Gadgets 360 - mixed-to-positive Brockstar Gaming - very positive Sydney Morning Herald - 4/5 IGN - first four eps: TAA - neutral; TEE - positive Digital Spy - very positive Cabanadoleitor - 9.7/10 FilmWerk - very positive Inverse - very positive (more of a focused piece on Olaf's character than a full review, but still a good read) ReelAdvice - 3.5/5 NerdMovieProductions - positive Vodzilla - 8/10 SciFiNow - 4/5 Idobi - 6/10 NY Daily News - positive (review/interview) WhatCulture - positive (article breaks down 7 pros and 3 cons of the season) Vogue - very positive Tampa Bay Times - very positive * Paste - 9/10 * Hindustan Times - 4/5 Early YouTube Reviews The Ruby Tuesday - very positive Skycaptin5 - 9.5/10
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Post by gothicarchiesfan on Mar 22, 2018 22:12:56 GMT -5
I'm guessing that tomorrow and the weekend are when some of the reviews from bigger publications will drop.
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Post by gothicarchiesfan on Mar 22, 2018 23:16:45 GMT -5
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Post by gothicarchiesfan on Mar 22, 2018 23:25:36 GMT -5
A common theme I'm noticing in these reviews is the reviewers feel like there isn't a lot of resolution. While this is in part true to the books, I would also guess this is also partially due to the fact that none of the reviewers thus far have been allowed to watch the season finale.
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Post by mizbizsav on Mar 22, 2018 23:27:46 GMT -5
Their grade is tucked away at the very end - 7/10. Honestly, if a reviewer's main gripe with the season is the repetition, then I am fine with that. I worry that it will turn away casual fans, but as for us... we know what to expect. The guardian plot will continue to book 7 and there will continue to be disguises and people too inept to see through them. I do find it interesting that these (couple of) reviewers nitpick the repetition in these books/episodes, whereas the first few are largely seen as the most formulaic. Perhaps it's because they come later on in the series where the device can wear thin. These stories have a lot more weight to them, though, so I do hope that is not lost. EDIT: I agree about the cohesiveness of the season being lost in viewings without the final two episodes. Especially with this particular viewer, who missed an additional 2 episodes without the guardian plot. It will be interesting to see how reviewers handle the lack of resolution to many plot threads. (Particularly in the final season, if they stick to the books.) I actually find that endearing - it is crucial to the themes of the story, plus it wouldn't be near as fun discussing the books. (As much as it drives us crazy, I never want Daniel Handler to tell us what's really in the sugar bowl - these theories keep the story alive.) It all depends on the person, though. Some people find the lack of "answers" frustrating, as this reviewer did. Will be interesting...
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Post by gothicarchiesfan on Mar 22, 2018 23:32:03 GMT -5
I'm going to place a little bit of the blame for the repetitive feeling on the fact that the critics had to binge watch all the episodes in order to write the reviews on time. As much as I like the show, I'll be the first to admit that the odd look/acting/writing can get a bit exhausting if you watch it for 8 hrs straight.
:Edit: Personally, I'm planning on watching season 2 the same way I re-watched season one. Namely, one or two episodes every couple of days.
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Post by mizbizsav on Mar 22, 2018 23:44:00 GMT -5
I'm going to place a little bit of the blame for the repetitive feeling on the fact that the critics had to binge watch all the episodes in order to write the reviews on time. As much as I like the show, I'll be the first to admit that the odd look/acting/writing can get a bit offputting if you watch it for 8 hrs straight. :Edit: Personally, I'm planning on watching season 2 the same way I re-watched season one. Namely, one or two episodes every couple of days. That's very true. My family wanted to rewatch the first season before season 2, so we've been doing that, but I hope I don't wear them out... That's a good plan! Last year, I managed to space it out to two episodes a day. I'm definitely not bingeing through it, but we'll see how well my willpower holds up this year. If I can make it through the weekend and still have episodes left, I'll consider it an admirable display of self-control!
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Post by countadrian on Mar 23, 2018 1:12:18 GMT -5
The fandom article annoys me like hell... Vile Village is one of my favorites, and calling it “tedious” or “boring” is a direct insult to my person!! I’m worried now... Really crossing my fingers for S2 to be certified fresh at RT
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Post by ryantrimble457 on Mar 23, 2018 1:13:08 GMT -5
I know we'll find out in a week (ugh what an amazing sentence) but what I would really like to know right now is if the season ends ends in another musical number like Daniel Handler said it might.
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Post by mizbizsav on Mar 23, 2018 1:23:35 GMT -5
I know we'll find out in a week (ugh what an amazing sentence) but what I would really like to know right now is if the season ends ends in another musical number like Daniel Handler said it might. Same. At the moment all I can picture is the caravan plummeting down the mountain and the kids stopping in the middle of the chaos to do a musical number. Items around them are falling and shattering, they are struggling to stand, and yet they sing. Strangely, I kinda want this to be true. EDIT: Even better - Violet and Klaus pull a Lemony Snicket and move around the caravan like it's not about to careen off a cliff. EDIT Again: As we discuss musical numbers, I now realize how much I surprisingly enjoy their wackiness at this point in the story and how much I do NOT want any in the final season. Maybe if Widdershins has a little chantey he likes, but the tone gets so much more serious in the last few books. I really don't want the last thing I see of the Baudelaires to be them singing in The End.
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Post by gothicarchiesfan on Mar 23, 2018 1:29:17 GMT -5
Really crossing my fingers for S2 to be certified fresh at RT I wouldn't worry about that. Unless most of the other reviews are incredibly negative, I can't see this going below a 70%-80%. (I'm still a bit surprised that the critical reception for s1 was as warm as it was, odd, eccentric TV shows don't normally get such mass acclaim.)
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Post by zinthaniel on Mar 23, 2018 1:36:08 GMT -5
The show will be fresh. It's receiving the same criticism the books got for repetition and that is not something the show can not avoid since changing that would require dropping a few guardians, something that would have made since with the maybe only two of the first guardians and then some serious reworking of everything.
That of course wouldn't work since the rage that it would induce from the fans would probably kill the series before it could go anywhere.
Even if it does, by some rare chance, get a rotten score we are still getting 3 seasons. No matter what we get all the books adapted.
Also RT is an aggregated score, not of pure quality, but recommendation. The scores above would constitute as recommended viewing which would count as a fresh rating.
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Post by gothicarchiesfan on Mar 23, 2018 2:25:59 GMT -5
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Post by countadrian on Mar 23, 2018 2:52:28 GMT -5
The fact that the critics state that “the series is repetitive” bugs me... like, things shouldn’t feel too repetitive this season, more like climatic at book 7 and bumping into chaos... I loved that the first review said it was “intense”. Truly hoping for much more reviews that way...!
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Post by Grace on Mar 23, 2018 6:34:01 GMT -5
Iris has upped their score by half a star since last season!
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