Necrotongue

So, we're in the supposed steam-powered century, right? But blink and there's a computer – no steam in sight. The episode didn't exactly set my world on fire, and there was a bit too much romance for my liking. But somehow, it all came together quite nicely in the end.

The season opener wasn't flawless, but considering how much I enjoyed the first season, I'd say it comfortably earns a solid four stars. My only gripe was how they balanced the drama in Afghanistan with the cook's subplot – felt a bit off.

I often approach highly-rated films and series with caution because it’s happened to me more than once that my opinion completely differed from the majority. With Chernobyl, all my concerns quickly went away. Craig Mazin did an excellent job with the screenplay, the series was imbued with a fantastic atmosphere from start to finish, there was surprisingly little melodrama and an excellent cast as a bonus. Plus, the authors managed to make me remember the total brainwash by the media and school. The propaganda at the time must have broken all records for downplaying the actual events.

In the last episode, two things stood out for me. Firstly, the way they reconstructed the events leading up to the explosion was top-notch and thoroughly enjoyable. Secondly, Comrade Legasov's detailed explanation of how the nuclear reactor functions and the reasons behind the RBMK reactor explosion made me understand it better.

The fourth episode struck me as the weakest (up until now). Sure, showcasing the extensive efforts and scale of the task at hand makes sense. But delving too much into the political races and the final truth debate grated on me. It somehow broke the illusion of witnessing real events that the series had so skillfully built up. Instead, I found myself irritated by the all-too-familiar rhetoric that seems to saturate our present-day discourse.

I've been singing praises for the past two episodes, but the third one was even better. Once again, hats off to the creators for crafting an atmosphere that's downright chilling. While today's horror movies often leave me chuckling, Chernobyl sends shivers down my spine. And that funeral scene with the concrete mixer? That's the stuff nightmares are made of.

Apart from the slightly weird Gorbachev, I don't have any complaints about this episode. This series had me hooked right from the start, and I can't fathom what the creators would have to do to make me stop enjoying it. So far, I'm thoroughly satisfied.

I'm not sure if I've ever encountered such a gripping opening episode in a series before. Seriously, I'm racking my brain, but nothing comes close. Regardless of how much artistic license the filmmakers took, the atmosphere they created in the first episode was absolutely mesmerizing. The sense of fear, hopelessness, and despair was almost palpable — it was a truly intense experience.

I must admit that Netflix rarely disappoints me, but season 4 of Lucifer was unfortunately a step in the wrong direction. The relaxing and hilarious series turned into a dull story about relationships, going around every issue in circles because otherwise there would be nothing left to shoot next time. When I heard last year that the third season was going to be the last, I wasn’t happy. But it might not have been such a bad idea after all.

It seems I'm in the minority with my take, but hey, that's nothing new. I'm not one to be swayed by the crowd anyway. As much as I wanted to be swept away, it felt like I was watching a soap opera set in a rather unconventional backdrop. That old cliché, "I love you, but I have to go," popped up not once, but twice (even if it was more subtle with Eve), and cramming it into fifty-six minutes felt a bit overdone.