#initial reactions

And I think this is the strongest outing of Knives Out so much. I think also Daniel Craig really feels like he’s fully inhabited the role of Benoit Blanc.

The mystery and theme is so strong in this movie. But also the actor who played Father Jud was so strong and charismatic.

Honestly, this whole cast was so strong.

Weirdly, I couldn’t help but think of Midnight Mass. IMO the Catholicism is portrayed more familiar than in MM.

Rian Johnson really thrives in murder mysteries.

Also! Cinematography wise this was so BEAUTIFUL. The use of light and how each shot is framed. WE COULD SEE DURING NIGHT SCENES.

The beautiful use of light.

This should have been in theaters for longer because it deserves the big screen treatment.

First, I'm really glad I finally got to enjoy the first part of Season 2. I didn't have Internet when it was released.

I feel as though some explanation as to why Starscream decided to stop co-operating with the Maltos would have been good – was he running a long con from the beginning? Was he merely angry that they continue to be so friendly and forgiving with Megatron? Is he simply unable to trust and feel safe around humans after Mandroid and Croft? Is it a combination? It feels as though it was glossed over.

On the whole, I enjoyed it very much. I love G1 and that has a lot happen for ~ missing missing reasons ~ too. This is a kids' show – cut it some slack. I do and it means I get to have a lot of fun without worrying too much.

At the moment, the new house is undergoing building work. Lots of building work. The TV is disconnected and buried under a dust sheet, as are the Sky box, PC, router, etc. – when I can, I plan to sit down with a notebook and go over the episodes, this time recording what I think and feel. Right now, I don't have that luxury and binged them quick while I had the chance.

I loved JBAM though. Haha! Jawbreaker can be annoying, but he is also very cute. I'm also glad that the episode involving a rampaging mutant bear in the previous series was addressed – I disliked that one because of the lack of explanation and context. It had felt to me as though it had been randomly tossed in there. Now that it makes more sense, I'll enjoy it better.

The episode with the contest, which gave some insight into Cybertronian history and traditions was awesome too – I love that Megatron went easy on the Maltos because they're humans and kids, while Optimus seemed unhappy that it wasn't the traditional contest to the death.

The build-up to the action went a little bit wrong on my end, because Paramount+ put the episode about OP's trailer up as episode 10. If that hadn't happened, it would have been much more effective.

Coming back to the trailer episode... I enjoyed the humour. Jawbreaker's endless stream of questions and the foot massage, Robby's constant worrying about the extra work inflicted on him by the Decepticons' antics and Optimus's sneeze, which set his horn off. The mischief that a tiny bit of pine sap can cause...

Well, considering the pandemic (and I know you are all staying inside, yes?), how about a classic song you may or may not know as “We Didn’t Start The Fire” by good old Billy Joel? 

It’s not easy being a Rainbow in a black and white world. From executive producers of black-ish and grown-ish, mixed-ish is coming to ABC.

In “mixed-ish,” Rainbow Johnson recounts her experience growing up in a mixed-race family in the ‘80s and the constant dilemmas they had to face over whether to assimilate or stay true to themselves. Bow’s parents Paul and Alicia decide to move from a hippie commune to the suburbs to better provide for their family. As her parents struggle with the challenges of their new life, Bow and her siblings navigate a mainstream school in which they’re perceived as neither black nor white. This family’s experiences illuminate the challenges of finding one’s own identity when the rest of the world can’t decide where you belong.

Initial Reactions:

Talk about if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.

I am worried that this show is going to demonize monoracial Black people in order to tell biracial children how they are ‘better’. 

They did a wonderful job casting young Bow and her siblings. And compared to the Black-ish kids in season one, this new batch seems to have a bit more acting classes under their belt. You can also see that the little one is supposed to be the Diane and the boy is supposed to be the Junior. Young Bow looks weirdly like Yara Shahidi. Let’s hope she isn’t also the weak link.

Terrible casting of Alicia. I am all for casting dark-skinned Black women but I feel just as strongly about continuity. So are we to believe that when Tika Sumpter gets older she is going to turn into Anna Deveare Smith? But I guess it’s an easy way to really highlight having a white parent and a Black parent.

that was SO GOOD and SO INTENSE

*Spoilers*

And am totally happy I gave the show a chance!!! I legit giggled all the way through the show and am so looking forward to watching more episodes and hoping they hold up to the first!

Here’s some random thoughts I had and what I really enjoyed about the show:

Raph’s beastly, but he doesn’t seem to ridiculously overly large in the action of the show as he did in preview stills.

The more I look at the guys in the show, the more I like their looks, surprisingly enough.

April is PRECIOUS and I LOVE how close she and the guys are, even though we have no idea how or when they met.

I really like most all of the voices, including the villain (Baron Draxon) we meet in episode one. I’m a bit off and on for Don’s voice, but I’m not positive why. I think it might just be because it’s so different from what we’re used to.

Donnie’s right. Oddly enough, he is the funniest one. xD

Not a fan of Splinter yet. While I liked that they brought back his love of certain TV shows, overall, his personality and looks are both awful. We’ll see if this develops in further episodes.

I love how even though Raph is the leader, he still struggles under pressure and his brothers are absolutely aware of this. I have to wonder if him being leader wasn’t specifically chosen at this point in time to help him function better as a ninja. I still have hopes him being leader could change. XD

Omg, Leo is like totally cool under pressure and quick to recover (like after the vine/tentacles drop them, he’s the first one to sit up and back and forth with the villain). And the fact that he’s got mad ninja skills is actually commented on a few times by other characters. I really didn’t think ANY of my precious Leo was going to shine through in this version but... he’s there. He’s there.

The magical weapons are HILARIOUS i died

Leo, Donnie, and Mikey correct Raph’s speech to the villain as April gets frustrated and upset that they’re not doing anything, lmaooooooo Good brotherly moment

THEIR NERD VOICES

“Donnie, you have got to make it to rehearsal.”

“That was my real voice. What’s wrong with my real voice?”

Some of the fast fighting animation was a little hard to follow for its speed and jerky animation movements, but overall, I could really get used to this style.

I am digging the setup that this villain somehow has something to do with the turtle’s creation and that they don’t know their creation origin/story yet.

“Mikey, ninja mode!” *are in plain sight* “...Okay, there’s a chance he can still see us.” LMAOOOOOOOO

This show starts right in with the weird, and I dig that. No pretending that they aren’t anything but mutants and will deal with a lot of weird foes.

RAPH’S BABY VOICE TO THE CAT. No matter the verse, our Raph is a big ol’ softie.

“Maybe Mutant Turtle Ninja Teens or something... we’ll work on it” lol

April gets sucked into an alternate universe/underground world and only cares about saving this demon kitty lmaoooo

April biting everything to destroy or fight it omgggg this girl xD

Really dig the villain look and voice, gotta say. I can’t wait to learn more about him.

“Leon’s got it” 

HE CALLED HIMSELF LEON

BUT ALSO HE TOTALLY HAD IT

Raph overthinking his plans and Leo just slipping right in. Aces.

Their teasing of each other!!!

Um, a ton more things I think I’ve already forgotten.