#reservationdogs

countdown to reservation dogs season 3! (13/36)

What a year! Some might complain we had more choices (too much?!) than ever but if this means we have the opportunity to watch a wide range of projects representing a diversity of people and genres, who are we to whine about something that does no wrong? Well, I guess this was also the year of FOMO and goodbyes since so many shows ended or got canceled… So we might as well enjoy the abundance of choices of series, miniseries, and other “made-for-TV” while we can as the future might look a little less generous.

So let’s celebrate and reminisce about some of those we liked this past year that brought us unadulterated joy when we needed it, got us SO emotionally invested and EMOTIONAL, pleasantly occupied our time in the background while maybe-doing-some-light-activity;), they were perfect for when we were bored/sick/relaxing/avoiding “extreme weather events” inside, they were here for us when we needed some fun cheering or a change of perspective, taught us a thing a two, and definitely entertained us to the max - and pluses and beyond!

BEST OF THE BEST

*best of 2022 out of around 150 selected shows…

ANDOR

10/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Well, this is definitely one of those rare flawless shows.

Sure it helps that this was one of this year's STAR WARS series and prequel to *The best* film ROGUE ONE and manage to keep the same unsettling, exhilarating, grounded yet powerful same vibe, and that intensity hitting at the perfect moment.

And of course, it was visual marvel bringing multiple Best episodes of the year(the end of that first Adani blinding bringing us to the sky, the INTENSE final, to the escape from Alcatraz Narkina 5... )

This show excelled in every aspect from banging sound and score (they introduced house music, and a marching band with RE-INVENTED INSTRUMENTS so people could lose losing their minds on Twitter accordingly) We also had as expected incredible special and practical effects, grandiose scenes, and a production design that makes you want to go back to some scene to appreciate all the little details and easter-egg in the background. On top of that, the costumes were probably some of the best ever seen in the series, from the space-chic cocktail dresses to the fashionable impeccable authoritarian uniform, or the creative outfit with wild fabrics and edgy elements, the out-of-this-world yet looking realistic and practical enough that we can just picture ourselves casually wearing them... Enough to say that every single cast member, including extras, was making some serious fashion statement!

ANDOR got it all but obviously the storytelling and direction thanks to CREATOR Tony Gilroy back from ROGUE ONE and all other formidable collaborators and crews, but last but not least the pitch-perfect cast - including the secondary characters - delivered “Oscar-winning” monologues after monologues from the like of Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O'Reilly, Fiona Shaw, Andy Serkis... With so many quotable lines combo best deliveries… and timing... “Never more than 12”... 

HOUSE OF DRAGONS

9.5/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Ah yes, the BIGGEST show of the year that hopefully, everyone watched religiously every year.

This GAME OF THRONE prequel might have outdone itself despite being focused on fewer (non-male) characters, stories, and locations. Yet the feeling of returning to something we all cherished was incomparable. Much virtual ink has been spilled on this one so we do not need to tell you how everyone in the cast deserves laurels for best performance, or how some DRAMATIC scenes (mostly involving swords and/or blood) stayed with us long after the episodes aired, or how the tales transported us to Westorosi lands and made us google way too many nonsenses about GOT “history” or fam-theories and so forth... 

But part of its charm was also undoubtedly the post-watch parties on social media with all the reactions and memes - so many memes - for years to come!

ATLANTA

9.75/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

What a time to be alive indeed! This is what we told ourselves at the end of each episode (scenes!) of this last season of ATLANTA. The show we will definitely miss the most forever.

Sure last season was…A TRIP (to casually racist EUROPE lol!) but each entry of season 4 was wild wild rides unlike anything else out there and switched between styles, genres, and storylines...

But most importantly ATLANTA not only brought us the most incredible episode of the year but maybe the best ever with 'The Goof Who Sat by the Door'!

To talk about it would be to spoil the reason why it is so perfect but let's say every intrigued viewer was bewildered from the first second, jaws dropped to the floor, and we kept asking ourselves "WTF I am watching right now!"

(then probably followed by multiple “Oh Sh!!!!!iiittttt”!)

This was simply the most genuinely hilarious Brilliant and perfectly executed mockumentary or anything we had the pleasure to screen in 2022. So was ATLANTA as a whole.

It was a little touch of magic, fun, nostalgia, and philosophy every week, making us think and rethink various concepts and ourselves and we will now forever wonder if it was all real or a dream, and we are left with memories AND so many questions left unanswered ...

BETTER CALL SAUL

9/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Another show we had to bid a sad sad farewell to... and this one hurts really bad since it was so bittersweet and many of us “grew up”(at any stage of life!) with those characters for more than 10 years…

This show, although using formulas from its sequel/prequel BREAKING BAD reinvented the wheel and was groundbreaking in its own way, with perfect editing, musical cue, props and costumes, entertaining writing, menacing characters, relatable deeply flawed (murderous/criminal) individuals topped by shenanigans and mindblowing plotting with accompanied montages that will forever be seared in our brain. 

We will miss Saul and all the beautifully executed scams by some of the most oddly bonkerz characters and we will miss the underrated Rhea Seehorn and all the other actors with their tour-de-force performances...

EUPHORIA

8.5/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

Ha yes, it had to be here as not only was it a grandiose season but it was definitely one of the buzziest show/pop culture events of the year (with HOD) Returning for a second season even more unbelievable in every way than its predecessor. The show managed to be even CRAZIER and more bold, with incredible chases (mostly while high), tense dramatic scenes worthy of the most dramatic drama, uncomfortable yet powerful meltdowns, and crises, and important moments appropriate for teens, YA, and adults of all ages alike, hilarious youngster shenanigans (also while high), but also a full-on high-school Broadway production basically recapping the show…Very meta!

EUPHORIA aesthetic is surely here to stay representing a very distinct period of our era but its appeal is wider as it is equally style and substance. It is the sort of immersive show that makes you want to tune in every week! (Yes it would have been the most binged show if it was avail in full tho!)

Now, not sure how they can top all the coming-of-age/adulting foolish beguiling nonsense, and that rebellious teenage spirit attitude next!

RESERVATION DOGS

8.75/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

We talked about this show last year but this is another case of sophomore season topping it up while staying authentic and fresh. 

RESERVATION DOGS is one of those rare shows managing to be a true dramedy, with scenes that will make you chuckle non-stop and others that will make you want to ball out... Sadly, it took so long for this sort of show to be on our screens but anyone can see that the uniqueness of the narratives offered has such a universal appeal.

Powerful scenes delivered by a cast that “live “ their characters, bleeding facts into great storytelling sublimed by the perfect wicked sense of humor and a heavy dose of surrealism, this is our kind of show!

*Although we had a few projects with a strong indigenous presence this year we can only hope this will become the norm.

PACHINKO

8.75/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

An epic tale about a Korean family fighting for its survival and success generation after generation. This series spanning decades set in Korea during the Japanese occupation, then in Japan, is a feat of cinematography and certainly a masterpiece.

Every episode looked like an Oscar-winning best picture, it was crafted with so much care and all actors elevated the already sweeping and potent material to new heights.

PACHINKO was a cinephile treat like no other...

THE BEAR

7.5/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Imagine the intensity of BOILING POINT in a series that you can binge in one go because you did not know any better!

THE BEAR made everyone who worked in the restaurant/hospitality industry justice, but also made some of us so glad we are not part of this special gratifying yet hellish work environment!

Despite being low-key and quite short it manages to bring the heat and make a mighty impact.

PEAKY BLINDERS

8/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Another show we wish we did not have to say goodbye to but hey at least we got a movie coming our way!

The aesthetic, the mood, the brooding, the FACKING AMAZING cast, the costume, the scenery, the sets, the darkness of it all... It haunted our screen masterfully 

FIVE DAYS AT MEMORIAL

8.25/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A mini-series not for the faint-of-heart but of the utmost importance. Some might say it was too soon, but we can appreciate it even more now, particularly after these few years of pandemic and climate-change-related catastrophes. This show about helpers and all its heartbreaking complications is not one to overlook.

(Also not to overlook the incredible FX work and chaos of the set recreation of flooding) 

THIS IS GOING TO HURT

7.75/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Would make for the most miserable double-watch if coupled with the previous, but this show is indeed one that'll hurt you if you care about the state of the healthcare system, may it be in the UK or elsewhere as it says a lot about societies and nowadays life at large. 

FOR ALL MANKIND 7.4/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

We slept on this show for wayyy too long but for every space fan, history fan out there this will be the most fascinating show.

WESTWORLD 7.5/10⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I guess we also have to say goodbye to WESTWORLD. Despite the many changes and twists no other show will ever be able to replicate the viewing experience and effect, it had on so many...

Other must-watch and honorable series:

FLEISHMAN IS IN TROUBLE

ONLY MURDER IN THE BUILDING

UNDER THE BANNER OF HEAVEN 

LITTLE AMERICA

INDUSTRY

OBI-WAN KENOBI

IRMA VEP 

THE CROWN

RAMY

MO

THE ENGLISH

SEVERANCE

HANDMAID'S TALE

RINGS OF POWER

MOON KNIGHT

THE WHITE LOTUS

WE OWN THIS CITY

SHINING GIRLS

BLACK BIRD

DARK WIND

DHAMER

WEDNESDAY 

RUSSIAN DOLL

ARCHIVE 81

SHANTARAM

(with special mentions to the entertaining and must-watch show about the villainous “visionaries” and such disturbed individual

WE CRASHED

THE DROPOUT

INVENTING ANNA

PAM & TOMMY

SUPER PUMPED

CHIPPENDALES

PHYSICAL

SERPENT QUEEN

THE OFFER

*BONUS soundtrack of the series year

Reservation Dogs S2 premieres today

The second season of Reservation Dogs, the TV series from Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, is out today.