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‘The Pitt’ Season 2 TV show review

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By: Calvin Westin

*Warning: This review contains minor spoilers

‘The Pitt’ is a medical drama TV show created by Scott Gemmill and starring Noah Wyle. Each season of the show is one whole day and follows the emergency department staff’s 15 hour work shift at the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center; each episode is 1 hour of their work shift totaling 15 episodes.

Season 2 takes place on the 4th of July holiday, where Dr. Robby (played by Noah Wyle) starts his last shift before his 3 month break. Dr. Langdon returns from rehab, and a new character, Dr. Baran Al-Hashimi, is introduced to step in during high pressure.

I think that season 2 of ‘The Pitt’ so far has its pros and its cons. To start with the cons, I wish that Dr. McKay (played by Fiona Dourif) would get more screen time. I noticed that whenever she would come back into the scene, I had completely forgotten about her because the show would have long scenes without her. She also almost never interacts with other staff, which brings me to my next con. I don’t like the creative choices of not putting main actors into scenes together or making them avoid a relationship. I understand that this could happen in real life, but I want to see more doctors with each other, such as Dr. Samira and Javadi, who have a close relationship outside of the show but not inside the show, as they never share one scene.

My last con is how this season feels slower paced and repetitive. One reason I liked and continued to watch season 1 was because of the chaos and how everything was messy in a way, just like season 1 of the restaurant drama show ‘The Bear,’ but just like this show, the later seasons became slower. I understand why some shows do this to show the growing maturity, but one season is only one day, and I think if this show continues, they need to have the following seasons be as fast as the first one, and then they can slow it down when it comes to an end.

This season also seems to keep showing the main characters’ past problems, which already took up a substantial amount of time in the first season, which I don’t appreciate because characters like Samira (played by Supriya Ganesh) are either not getting a good plot or becoming less featured or both. One thing I really appreciated from the first season was how Dr. Samira advocated for more empathetic patient care; the way she focuses on healthcare inequality, race, and systemic barriers was very important because racism in healthcare is still very prevalent, and many people don’t know that. But now in season 2, they have given her less success in these barriers being fixed, and it feels to me they are trying to make her an annoying character.

Now to talk about the pros of this season. My first pro is that they keep up with the times, for example, Dr. Al-Hashimi introduced an AI system for the hospital, and other doctors were criticizing it just like people today. And what I like is that it’s not in a cringey way like how other shows mock Gen Z with the most stereotypical phrases, but instead in a more realistic way, which brings me to my second pro about this show, which is realism. One of the main things this show is known for is how realistic it is; even doctors and ER workers have said how accurate the protocols and procedures are. This is probably the biggest reason I like and continue watching this show because of the realness this show has vs. others like ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ which is famously known as the most inaccurate medical TV show.

Overall, I would give Season 2 of ‘The Pitt’ a rating of 8.1/10 and would recommend this show to many, but it is rated TV-MA and often shows open wounds, so watch at your own discretion. You can watch ‘The Pitt’ on HBO Max

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Dexter’ TV show review

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By: Abreham Debele

*Warning: This review contains minor spoilers

‘Dexter’ is a television show about psychological thriller created by Jeff Lindsay in 2004. The show revolves around a man who is a forensic blood spatter analyst for the Miami police department. Throughout the show we see the main character struggle with violent urges, following a moral code, and living a double life.

Dexter Morgan is a forensic blood spatter analyst for the Miami police department, helping solve murder cases. However, he secretly lives the double life as a serial killer who targets murderers. He follows a strict moral code that was instilled within him from a very young age. This is supposed to keep Dexter in check so he doesn’t harm innocent people. Growing up, he experienced severe traumatic events such as his mother getting murdered right in front of his own eyes. After the incident, he was adopted by a Miami police officer. His adoptive father tried but failed to break Dexter out these weird behaviors, but nonetheless it didn’t lead anywhere. Throughout the show we see Dexter change from someone who thinks he is a pure monster to recognizing his humanity.

Throughout the show Dexter works as a forensic blood spatter analyst while also hiding his secret. Throughout the show, we see Dexter use Miami metro database information to track potential targets. In each episode of Dexter, he does his job as a blood analyst and uses his lunch breaks to look for potential killings. Throughout the show we see Dexter face villains every season while also keeping his identity in check. This gets evermore difficult as the show progresses. His friends become suspicious because of his activity and actions. This leads to multiple climactic endings that keeps the viewer invested.

Dexter has multiple relationships with female characters through the course of the series. Characters such as Rita Bennett, Lila West, and Debra Morgan play a major role in his life. He first dates Rita Bennett, who he initially sees as a safe cover for his double life, but he gradually develops genuine feelings as the show progresses. Lila West was important for Dexter’s character because she taught him to accept the monster he is rather than running away from it. As she teaches him to bring out his darker impulses. Lastly Debra Morgan, Dexter’s sister remains a central character throughout the series, she helps Dexter throughout the show in the more emotional parts of the series. Throughout the show we see how Dexter grow and learns from every female cast character he meets and connects with.

You can watch ‘Dexter’ on Paramount+ or other streaming services with a subscription.

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Suits’ TV show review

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By: Amir Salaad

Warning: This review contains minor spoilers

‘Suits’ is a television drama about lawyers created by Aaron Korsh (executive producer) in 2011. This television drama revolves around two attorneys who work together with their colleagues at a law firm in New York City. The rating of this television drama is TV-14, and it is characterized by the use of smart intellect, heavy office drama, and the occasional strong language in each of the episodes.

Mike Ross is a college graduate with a photographic memory and a genius level IQ, and was able to avoid going to jail after being caught with drugs during a raid of a drug house. He accidentally walks into the law offices of the top law firm in New York City where he meets Harvey Specter, one of the top attorneys in the city. Although Mike has no formal education or license to practice law, Harvey believes Mike’s knowledge and confidence are exceptional enough to hire him on the spot. However, Mike and Harvey know that Mike will have to remain under the radar at the law firm, particularly since Mike has no official documentation to prove his qualifications to be hired as an attorney at the law firm. The firm’s managing partner Jessica Pearson, and Harvey’s rival at the law firm, Louis Litt are people they particularly have to be cautious of.

As each episode of the television drama progresses, Harvey and Mike continue to represent clients in high stakes cases, all while attempting to maintain the secret surrounding Mike’s background. The closer the television drama gets to the end, the more serious the cases become, the more powerful the clients become, and the more severe the consequences become for both the client and the attorneys representing them.

The relationship aspect of the television drama is what sets ‘Suits’ apart from other legal dramas. At first glance, it would appear that Harvey is arrogant. However, as the television drama progresses, it is shown that Harvey is very dedicated to the concepts of loyalty and trust. Mike, on the other hand, has feelings of guilt knowing he does not deserve to be an attorney and works hard to keep up with his peers. Also, Rachel Zane (played by Meghan Markle) develops her character by becoming more confident and determined, and Donna Paulsen (played by Sarah Rafferty) develops her character by continuing to demonstrate she is a sharp, loyal, and intelligent individual who consistently thinks ahead of the game.

I think ‘Suits’ is a very interesting show and its complexity keeps you interested. At first you don’t really know what you’re getting into, but as you keep watching you get to know more and more about the characters and their emotions. Sean Cahill (played by Neil McDonough) is my favorite character as he starts off as sort of a bad guy, but later he and Harvey become friends.

I would give ‘Suits’ a 9.5/10. You can watch it on Netflix and other streaming services.

Movies/TV/Theaters

Review of Part 2 of the Hit Netflix TV Show ‘Lupin’

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By: Karl Salkowski

(Image credit: Unsplash)

‘Lupin’ is a crime drama directed by Louis Leterrier set in modern-day Paris, France. After the first part reached widespread critical acclaim and popularity, a second part soon followed. Released on June 11, 2021, part two continued the story of brilliant criminal Assane Diop while significantly expanding the scope.

Part 2 uses a similar formula but shifts its focus away from the past and instead towards the present day. This season focused on developing Assane Diop’s familial relationships, contrasting with the revenge driven focus of the first season. This season highlights Assane’s sacrifice and the life he gives up for his family and friends.

The lead actor who plays Assane Diop, Omar Cy, gives an incredible performance throughout this follow up season. Overall, he acts very convincingly, adding lots of additional depth to the character of Assane Diop. However, most of the writing for the side characters in this season felt rushed and unnatural.

Personally, the character writing in the second half of the season frustrated me, and the cliffhanger at the end left a lot to be desired. This season is an excellent follow up to the first season, but it struggles to find its footing. The story sometimes feels choppy, but overall it does tell a consistent narrative filled with many twists and turns.

The second part often struggles with its quick pacing and overcomplexity, but it is still able to deliver a very interesting and enjoyable experience. I would definitely recommend this show to anyone interested in crime dramas or the heist genre in general. Although my rating has been fairly harsh, I did thoroughly enjoy this show and would definitely recommend it. If I had to rate this season, I would give it an 8 out of 10. It is a great follow up to season 1, excellently expanding the narrative and the life of Assane Diop.

Movies/TV/Theaters

My review of ‘You’

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By: Kendra Shanklin

*Warning: this review contains spoilers

‘You’ is a psychological thriller about a guy named Joe Goldberg who is a charming but dangerous obsessive man who becomes obsessed with women and goes to the highest standards to insert himself into their lives. The show is rated TV-MA for its murdering, violence, and sexual content.

Recap:

In the first season Joe works at a book store and a customer comes in named Beck who is looking for a good book and asks Joe if they had it and they have a conversation. After that conversation ended Joe instantly fell in love and knew that Beck “was the one for him” and knew he needed to become close with her. After that day Joe would think about her on a daily basis.

Once Joe got home he opened his laptop and started typing Beck’s name on social media looking at her pictures and even looking in the background of her photos to find her address .

The next morning, he walks to her place and sees her through the window and watches her while she’s getting ready. After that he finds her schedule and gets his day ready at the same exact time as hers, and starts stalking her throughout the day. Once Joe finds out Beck has a boyfriend he gets angry and wants that obstacle removed immediately because he doesn’t want anything blocking his chance of getting with Beck.

After that day, Joe heads back to Beck’s and sees the door open. He doesn’t want to be suspicious so he acts like Beck’s boyfriend so he wouldn’t have people second guessing about his behavior.

He then snuck into Beck’s house and went through all of her stuff to see what he could find and went on her computer and through all her pictures.

After snooping he hears the door open and gets scared and he jumps in her shower trying to hide so Beck won’t see him. He then hears Beck on the phone saying how she’s going to a bar and he has the idea to also go to the bar so he can see her.

He then goes to the bar and stalks her for awhile until he sees Beck get drunk. When he notices she’s taking a subway home he follows her. While trying not to get noticed he sees Beck stumbling by the train tracks and falls. He runs towards her and helps her up and notices she drops her phone but doesn’t say anything.

My rating:

In my opinion I love this show. It’s really mysterious and you never really know what is gonna happen next. I love how there’s like the inner voice of his thoughts. Lastly, I like how it shows flash backs from when he was a child to show the reasoning behind his behavior.

If you like shows that have crime and psychological thrillers I recommend that you watch this show. I rate it a 9.5/10

Thank you for reading my review. I hope you enjoyed my review and are willing to watch this show after seeing it.

‘You’ is available to watch on Netflix and Amazon video.

Movies/TV/Theaters

The curse of reboots

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By: Hermekay Dehaney

Image made with ChatGPT

We live in a time when Hollywood is fueled by trying to replicate nostalgic content to relive popular and beloved films and shows with reboots and sequels. While some Hollywood directors and producers hit the mark with shows and movies such as ‘Cobra Kai’ and ‘Spider-Man: Homecoming,’  which are high-grossing reboots, the majority fade away, either getting canceled after one season or becoming box office flops. 

There is a popular quote that says, “You either die a hero, or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain,” I think that quote indirectly applies to movies/shows as well.  A key factor in good shows is that they know when to end effectively, which leaves a lasting impression on critics and viewers at home. For example, shows like ‘Breaking Bad’, and ‘The Good Place’ are often praised for ending their show successfully. When shows continue past their prime, it leads to low viewer rates and creative decline, a perfect example is the show, ‘Riverdale.’ There are obvious exceptions to this rule, shows like ‘Modern Family,’ ‘The Office,’ and ‘Friends’ are often regarded as some of the best TV shows that have run for more than 9 seasons. 

Reboots might seem safe on paper. When executives try to reboot popular shows and movies that nobody asked for, it feels like a quick money grab from executives and actors who starred in the original. They believed that since people enjoyed the original and a beloved original actor is returning to star in it, viewers will enjoy the reboot, which is not true. It only works if the execution is right. If it doesn’t have the creative magic and storyline that the original show captures, it’s bound to fail. 

Examples include  ‘Gossip Girl (2021), which is a reboot of the original ‘Gossip Girl’ that was first released in 2007; ‘Fuller House’, a reboot of ‘Full House’;  ‘That 90’s Show’, a reboot of ‘That 70’s Show’; and ‘Gilmore Girl: A Year In The Life’, which is a reboot of ‘Gilmore Girls’. All of them were betting on brand recognition to be successful, but ultimately flopped, some canceled after only 1 season. 

I’ve noticed that when reboots don’t evolve with their original audience, the reboot falls flat. I remember in 2019, Disney+ announced a ‘Lizzie McGuire’ reboot, but it was later shelved before it was filmed due to creative differences between the executives and Hilary Duff, who plays the main character. Hilary Duff wanted it to be a more “mature” show because the original audience of the show has grown up, which means their tastes have evolved. She also wanted her character who would’ve been in her 30s to be in a more realistic real-life adult situation. Disney+ disagreed and wanted it to be more of a family-friendly show approach. This disagreement ultimately led to a cancellation of production. I think it was the right choice because if they had let Disney+ win,  the show would’ve been added to the list of canceled reboots after 1 season due to it failing to connect with the original audience for being too juvenile. 

Rebooting cartoons to live-action also always fails. Animated shows have different rules compared to live action, cartoons operate on a totally different scale, and their visuals and tone are totally different. What might look good in 2D sometimes looks awkward In live action. These projects struggle to have the features that only animation can capture.

Reboots are just a lack of creativity, they fail to understand what audiences want. It’s not always just the familiar face and nostalgia that pulls viewers in, it’s the creative vision that involves mixing something old with something new without trying to completely change the storyline from the original. Viewers want a new perspective but a similar style. So, if Hollywood wants to keep on revisiting classics, they need to start creating something worth watching.

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Prison Break’ review

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By: Sasha Deans

*Warning: This review contains minor spoilers

I think ‘Prison Break’ is a great series that is definitely meant for people who enjoy more serious and intense shows. It’s not at all a fun and games type of show like something you’d see on Disney. Instead, it’s very realistic and maybe even scary realistic at times. There are also a lot of very sad and heartbreaking scenes that make you think about what really happens in high-security prisons.

The show does a good job of portraying the range of criminals in prison. Of course, the two brothers, Michael and Lincoln, have a unique story. But aside from them, you see inmates who have committed serious crimes like rape, murder, assassinations, and high-level theft. However, there are also people in there for lesser crimes, like carjackers. This variety makes the show very interesting because you get to learn each criminal’s backstory and why they ended up in prison.

One of the things I really love about Prison Break is how it shows the harsh reality of the American prison system. It makes you wonder what’s really going on in our government that we may not even know about. The show subtly reveals the dark side of the system, and it really opened my eyes to what could be happening behind closed doors.

Another huge theme in the show is the relationships between the characters. One of my favorites is the friendship between Michael and Sucre. They started off as cellmates in Season 1 but ended up becoming lifelong best friends who would do anything for each other. Their bond is really heartwarming to watch, especially considering the dark environment they’re in.

But the most powerful theme in the show is definitely family love. Michael spent most of his life resenting his brother Lincoln, but the moment Lincoln was sentenced to death, Michael did not hesitate to risk his entire life, career, and freedom to break his brother out of prison. It’s a perfect example of family over everything. You also see a similar bond between Lincoln and his son, LJ, who would do anything for each other.

I also really enjoyed the love stories in the show, like Sucre and Maricruz. Sucre literally escaped prison just to be with Maricruz and their daughter. Another powerful love story is Michael and Sara’s. Michael had to make extremely dangerous and life-threatening decisions just to protect Sara, showing how strong their love was.

The acting in Prison Break is absolutely amazing. It feels very realistic, and the suspense is heart-stopping. The show has a lot of action—like gunfights, car chases, aircraft escapes, bombs, and more. So, if you love high-action, intense shows, this is definitely one you need to watch.

Final Verdict:

I would give Prison Break a 5/5. It has everything—action, suspense, drama, romance, and shocking plot twists. It’s definitely not a lighthearted show, but if you enjoy a deep, serious, and realistic series, this is absolutely worth watching. It will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. Highly recommended!

You can watch on Netflix!

Getting To Know/History, Movies/TV/Theaters

How ‘Sesame Street’ changed education

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By: Kara Fini

In 1969 ‘Sesame Street’ was aired on television. It was the first time that there was an educational show for all children and its impact showed.

Before ‘Sesame Street’ was created most children were exposed to cruel shows meant for adults. A study done by the University of Michigan showed that the average American child had seen 16,000 deaths on TV before they turned 18.

Although there were children shows on TV like ‘Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood’, they were meant for middle class children and gave an advantage to middle class children who knew more before they started school. The founder, Joan Ganz Cooney, observed that and wanted there to be a show where children of every class would be able to start school on a more even playing field.

When ‘Sesame Street’ first aired, it was an almost immediate success. Children who watched the show were seen to have higher knowledge in math, reading and writing before they started kindergarten. The impact was so big in some parts of the US that districts had to change their elementary school curriculums because too many kids had already learned what they were trying to teach them. It wasn’t only educational learning, but social and emotional skills too.

‘Sesame Street’ gained some backlash for its diverse cast and hard topics that it covered. It took a very long time for it to be aired on TV, but ‘Sesame Street’ never backed down from this backlash. They wanted to have a television show that all kids would be able to see someone like them in. They introduced more puppets that came from different backgrounds and continued to cover heavy topics like childhood poverty, natural disasters, death and racism.

‘Sesame Street’ paved the way for tons more educational shows and showed us how you can turn a harmful thing like television into something beneficial.

If you want to hear a more detailed explanation on how ‘Sesame Street’ changed education, a history day project made by Maeve Callahan-Schreiber is available on YouTube from the YouTube channel ‘The Better Angels Society’ with the title “Sunny Days: A Turning Point In Children’s Television”. Maeve is currently a 9th grader at Como Park Senior High School, and represented SPPS at the National History Day in June getting second for Junior Individual Documentary.  

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Gilmore Girls’ season one review

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By: Priya Anderson & Ruby Anderson

Source: Screenshot from Ruby’s IPhone, Gilmore Girls opening credits

The 2000s TV show ‘Gilmore Girls’, created by Amy Sherman-Palladio, is a comedic drama set in the fictional Connecticut town Stars Hollow that is centered around the relationship between single mother Lorelei Gilmore and her teenage daughter Rory Gilmore.

Season one of Gilmore Girls introduces many important characters such as Lorelei and Rory. This mother-daughter duo sets the stage for this show as they have a quirky and loving relationship bringing together themes of family, relationships, and friendship. Lorelei, who is played by Lauren Graham, is the hard working single mother of Rory. Throughout the season Lorelei navigates the hardships of single motherhood, relationships, and the tough expectations of her wealthy parents. Rory, played by Alexis Bledel, is an intelligent and ambitious 16-year-old girl with dreams of going to Harvard. During season one we follow Rory’s journey after being accepted into the prestigious school, Chilton Academy.

Stars Hollow is the perfect setting for Gilmore Girls. With its eccentric but charming characters, the small New England town is full of personality and factors into the show’s comforting feel. Stars Hollow includes a variety of businesses and shops from Luke’s Diner to Ms. Patty’s dance studio. Residents of Stars Hollow are a big part of what makes the town so perfect. Luke Danes (Scott Patterson), the owner of Luke’s Diner, is a grumpy but lovable character we see often throughout the show. His diner is the town’s hangout spot and Lorelai and Rory’s favorite place to eat and relax. There is also the towns dance instructor, Ms. Patty (Liz Torres) who loves to gossip and involve herself in town events. Lorelai’s workplace, The Independence Inn, introduces us to her best friend Sookie St. James (Melissa McCarthy) who is a talented chef and an important character to the show. The many more amusing characters in this community help add a comedic relief to more serious aspects of Lorelai and Rory’s hectic lives.

The complex relationship between Lorelai, Rory, and Lorelai’s parents Emily (Kelly Bishop) and Richard Gilmore (Edward Herrmann) creates an important narrative throughout the show. After Lorelai seeks help from her parents to pay for Rory’s tuition she is, in return, forced to have dinner with her parents and Rory every week. Tension between Lorelai and her parents is common throughout the season from their wildly different lifestyles and lack of understanding of each other. Emily and Richard show what life was like for Lorelai before she became pregnant with Rory and left home to take care of her on her own. Lorelai’s difficult relationship with her parents is shown in conflict and are some of the most important moments throughout the season.

While ‘Gilmore Girls’ is mostly about family, the theme of love and romance also plays a big role. During season one we follow the love story between Rory and her first boyfriend, Dean Forester (Jared Padalecki). Early in the season the two meet at Stars Hollow High School shortly after Dean transfers there from Chicago. The two quickly start dating after Dean finds interest in Rory and they begin to get to know each other. The brief yet serious relationship between Lorelai and Max Medina (Scott Cohen) begins when Lorelai meets the Chilton teacher at a parent teacher meeting not long after Rory begins school there. The relationship between the two starts off slow as Lorelai is hesitant due to Max being her daughter’s teacher but quickly becomes serious throughout the season.

Rory’s acceptance into Chilton Academy created many new difficulties. The elite school is a big difference to the public school she attended with her best friend, Lane Kim (Keiko Ageno) who is a recurring character throughout the series, and is known for her love for rock music and her struggles with her strict mother. Chilton being a great way for Rory to be accepted into Harvard, is an academic challenge in Rory’s life bringing her piles of school work and introduces her intense classmate Paris Geller (Liza Weil) who quickly becomes a rival to Rory as she sees her as a student who wants to take her spot as top student in her class.

‘Gilmore Girls’ season one sets off the series to a great start introducing loveable and relatable characters, as well as offering a great atmosphere for a show that will be loved by many for years to come.

Movies/TV/Theaters

‘Heartstopper’ Season 3 review

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By: Persephone Pond

‘Heartstopper’ is a Netflix original series based on the Webcomic written by Alice Oseman. Directed by Andy Newbery, season 3 of this show released all 8 episodes on Thursday, October 3rd, and received overwhelmingly positive reviews. This article is a quick, spoiler free review from the perspective of a long time fan.

Seasons 1 and 2 focused largely on building foundations of relationships between characters and expanding on the experiences of coming out as queer, while season 3 dives deeper into mental health issues that teens deal with and the experiences of moving further into a relationship. From the perspective of a queer teen who has been through much of the same things these characters in the show have, the writing deals with these heavier themes incredibly well.

Good representation of the lived experience of queer people is not an easy thing to find, luckily more and more writers have been incorporating these sorts of themes into media nowadays. In contrast, representation of mental health issues, especially eating disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder, are still largely stigmatized in today’s society. Charlie Spring, the protagonist of ‘Heartstopper’, deals with these issues in season 3, which changes the atmosphere of the show from lighthearted to kind of depressing. Although these heavy themes make the season more sad, it’s so important to spread awareness, especially in today’s society where these problems are not uncommon, they’re just repressed.

Charlie and Nick, the protagonists of the show, deal with the stress of mental illness, while side characters still get enough attention to grow an attachment to them. Season 3 also brings up more controversy about binary transgender teens, non-binary gender exploration, and asexuality, which weren’t elaborated much on the past 2 seasons.

Overall, these characters have a way of pulling on anyone and everyone’s heartstrings, and season 3 of this show is so powerful. I highly recommend sticking with ‘Heartstopper’, or starting from the beginning.