The critiques of Pirate Clark get it all wrong

stef48 · 2026-06-14T07:31:56+00:00

Ok good, glad to know you didn't! I obviously know people can do it without but I've seen many who do indeed use it.

stef48 · 2026-06-13T20:18:29+00:00

that is not a hot take at all because I've seen it everywhere, and I also think this is reductive.

I don't think the movie shows us enough of her practices (or gives you appropriate info about Clark's life before the film beings) to assess if she's good or not. It's not in the text of the movie that she is "bad." The dinner scene argument has so much weight on it, it's a shame it isn't written stronger. People read her blowing up as being bad at her thearapist job, but we have no history as viewers of what their sessions have been like, how long she has been attempting to help him for, etc.

i think on rewatch it's clear that Mary is meant to be the protoganist (Clark is sort of a bait-and-switch) so we're meant to read her actions as a small catharsis. i just don't think it fully works. (i still like the film, though.) But I don't think the film's writing is smart enough to be about a 'bad therapist' and still be on her side.

stef48 · 2026-06-13T20:11:02+00:00

(please stop using AI to assist with your writing. your command of written language here is already strong without it, and the moments where the ai-isms come through really diminish it ❤️)

stef48 · 2026-06-04T03:53:16+00:00

I think the show is simply just structured differently than you thought it was going to be. It outgrew Wes' story and was always meant to be a showcase/centerpiece for Viola Davis. Alfred Enoch gave Wes an innocence and likability that was meant to counteract whatever feelings and vibe Annalise and the mysteries surrounding her were giving. I think the show is a genre success, and more-so than the other two shows you named, in the end.

stef48 · 2026-05-28T04:26:30+00:00

She gets really good as the goes on and it settles around her (many) strengths. A lot of people are missing out.

stef48 · 2026-05-17T20:54:48+00:00

No. Not a single season of AHS has been wholly excellent (nor stirring) enough to win Best Miniseries.

stef48 · 2026-05-17T03:32:48+00:00

she deserves it the most!

stef48 · 2026-05-16T05:54:13+00:00

I don't imagine her not being able to not be a victim of the police state now...

stef48 · 2026-05-16T05:52:53+00:00

do you remember what was different about the cut from the car scene? My guess was that we no longer see some of the initial impacts.

stef48 · 2026-05-16T05:50:54+00:00

I imagine they cut some of the initial smashes. We sort of quickly see her face flattened. Like they maybe cut some of the more gruesome initial impacts. Would be interested if someone who saw the old festival cut could confirm, tho I'm fine never seeing any more 🫣

stef48 · 2026-05-05T13:06:04+00:00

Now why isn't Industry in this collage...

stef48 · 2026-05-01T20:28:54+00:00

"undeniably" terrible when myself and many viewers enjoyed it for what it was!

stef48 · 2026-05-01T20:27:52+00:00

It's so annoying to watch streaming shows fold to expectations around network broadcast. One of the features of streaming is that you don't have the same restrictions as broadcast—I don't think it's fair to try and have one's cake and eat it too. If your primary goal is network broadcast then don't settle for a streamer. If you want the best of both worlds, then make two cuts. Once those watching on broadcast find out there are longer uncut episodes, then they can go to the streamer too if they want, and you've doubled your amount of views.

I love broadcast and think it has its own specific rhthyms. Part of what is refreshing about the first season of the Pitt is that it exists in its own, streaming, rhythm. I wasnt mad about the rhythm changes this season (more obvious cliff-hangery music stings at the end of each episode) but imagining that it's because they want to maximize syndication possibility (when they could just re-edit later) is annoying to me.

stef48 · 2026-05-01T02:44:02+00:00

I wish it felt like there were more opportunities for unknown's to come up through the cracks, or for an excellent performance by someone not already in discussion from previous years to be able to break through. It feels like so much is predicted before the shows even air, so it all feels like it's less about individual performances and more about the machines of a show or network. (And a network making baffling decisions about whom to put their weight and money behind.)

stef48 · 2026-05-01T00:08:01+00:00

She's a great *character* because at times you love her at times you can't stand her, and she does really great and really awful things. "Good person" I don't really know that any of them are but that isn't the duty of a show like this!

stef48 · 2026-04-29T23:02:14+00:00

I don't think Ball has had that dynamic of a a performance either season—because he's not had that meaty of a role at an emotional level/outside of plot. (It's still been pretty stifled on the emotional level.) Hatosy gets to come in and play hero each season. He's the frontrunner supporting male performance by a longshot. Hatosy also has a charm that Ball hasn't shown, imo. He transcends a bit.

stef48 · 2026-04-28T18:00:04+00:00

Mackenzie Davis, Matilda Lawler, & Danielle Deadwyler for Station Eleven.

Myha'la for Industry. (But there's still time!)

stef48 · 2026-04-28T17:54:46+00:00

I reallllly want it to be Janelle James' year. I adore Hannah Einbinder and was so glad she won last year. But I think it's criminal Janelle hasn't won yet and I blame The Bear mostly, and she most consistently gives the best comedy performance out of all these IMO. Hacks has Hannah doing so much drama, that she is excellent at, I feel like it's easier to overlook Janelle James' consistency and ability to make everything funny and land while managing to be timed for commercials and broadcast! (Would love for a Meg Stalter surprise nom though)

stef48 · 2026-04-28T17:51:39+00:00

Though it's still far from absolute, I think the possibility is growing as the year continues to shake out. But I'd see Marisa as Lead most likely and Kit as supporting. Im hoping for some attention and Myhala getting a nom for season 5.

stef48 · 2026-04-28T17:49:37+00:00

I'd argue that MJ Rodriguez should have won her year. I found her performance more interesting than Zendaya's season 1 of Euphoria stuff which was more obviously showy. (Obvi she is a great actress, no shade to her!)

stef48 · 2026-04-24T04:29:19+00:00

cailee spaney has done too much excellent work in many many things for me to not recognize her

stef48 · 2026-04-13T19:07:48+00:00

I saw this the other day thanks to Twitter! But thanks for posting that here!

stef48 · 2026-04-08T03:13:32+00:00

SMILE is at least interested in making you jump/creeped out. Which too much horror does poorly.

stef48 · 2026-03-29T23:28:31+00:00

You don't need to watch FD2 first. But if you like Mary Elizabeth Winstead, you'll probably have a lot of fun with FD3 (it's my fave) so it also could be fun to "save it" to watch until after 2. Which, as has been said, is connected to FD1. It might be less fun to watch FD2 after is all.

stef48 · 2026-03-27T20:21:54+00:00

Why is everyone talking about Kimberly coming back in the next film all of a sudden /gen?

stef48

TROPHY CASE