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Greta Gerwig’s new movie, based on the 1868 novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott, tells the story of the March sisters, Josephine "Jo" March (Saoirse Ronan), Margaret "Meg" March (Emma Watson), Amy March (Florence Pugh) and Elizabeth "Beth" March (Eliza Scanlen) - four young women each determined to live life on their own terms. The cast also includes: Laura Dern (Marmie March), Timothee Chalamet (Theodore “Laurie” Laurence), Meryl Streep (Aunt March), Tracy Letts (Mr. Dashwood), Bob Odenkirk (Father March), James Norton (John Brooke), Louis Garrel (Friedrich Bhaer), Chris Cooper (Mr. Laurence) and Jayne Houdyshell (Hannah).

Gerwig intelligently keeps the main plot of the movie intact and adds new and modern aspects, while maintaining sensitivity and affection for the original material. Gerwig’s direction and screenplay puts the March sisters on the center of attention, as it should, although Amy’s storyline sometimes overshadows Meg and Beth’s. 

The performances of the ensemble cast is fantastic, with Ronan, Pugh and Chalamet standing out. Ronan shines as Jo March, a powerful and independent woman. Her expressions and acting skills bring more depth and empathy to the character of Jo, while her romantic chemistry with Chalamet pours out of the screen in their scenes together. Pugh’s Amy March is a scene stealer, she successfully brings all of Amy’s emotions to life with warmth and sensibility, transforming from a spoiled little girl to a strong woman, who struggles to make a career for herself.

Starting off, Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) is struggling to recover from the psychological repercussions of her brutal imprisonment in Russia. Claire Danes, one of the best actresses working on television today, continues to deliver a stellar performance as Carrie, whose memory is deteriorated and is now treated as a compromised officer from the Bureau, just like Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) back in season 1. After seven seasons of Carrie protecting the US, this seams like a fitting main plot for the series’ final season, the central protagonist being treated as a traitor.

Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin), Carrie’s former boss and mentor, now National Security Advisor for newly inaugurated President Ralph Warner (Beau Bridges) travels to Afghanistan to negotiate peace with the Taliban and takes Carrie with him. Maury Sterling, who potrays Max Piotrowski, also returns and is joined by Costa Ronin, who potrays Yevgeny Gromov, a mysterious figure from Carrie’s time in captivity, Nimrat Kaur as Tanseem Qureishi, the head of the Pakistani intelligence agency, Numan Acar as Haissam Haqqani, the head of the Taliban and Linus Roache as David Wellington, the White House Chief of Staff.

The writing of the final season has improved significantly from the past seasons, with twists and turns that may be predictable, but keep the viewers at the edge of their seats and raise the stakes for the upcoming episodes.

Takeshi Kovacs finds a new face and body (literally) at Anthony Mackie, who doesn’t give his best performance in the show and that’s because he doesn’t have the same material to work on as Joel Kinnaman did back in season 1. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not bad, but the role of season 1′s Kovacs was more challenging than season 2′s Kovacs, resulting in Kinnaman pushing himself and his acting skills more than Mackie did. As a result, Kovacs takes a step back as the main protagonist of the series.

Renée Elise Goldsberry returns as Quellcrist "Quell" Falconer and is joined by Simone Missick (Trepp) and Lela Loren (Danica Harlan). The series acknowledges the power of its female characters and the acting skills of its female cast, so it gives them more screen time and more space to grow and develop. Missick is undoubtedly the best addition to the cast (You’ll love Trepp, I personally did), while Loren’s Danica Harlan makes a decent villain.

Poe (Chris Conner), our beloved robot, returns and is joined by Dig 301 (Dina Shihabi), who helps him on his own quest. Also, Torben Liebrecht joins the cast as Colonel Ivan Carrera, a mysterious figure from Kovacs’ past, while Dichen Lachman (Reileen Kawahara), Martha Higareda (Kristin Ortega), Ato Essandoh (Vernon Elliot), Hayley Law (Lizzie Elliot) and Will Yun Lee (Original Takeshi Kovacs/Kovacs Prime) return as guests.

The visual effects and stunt coordination are top notch, just like in season 1, and continue to overshadow the series’ bland plot, which sometimes makes the series worth watching just for its visuals and its action sequences.