For the longest time that film held my personal title of “Worst film I’ve ever seen”.
It’s three different films shoved together.
A sci-fi comedy, a hard hitting drama, and a conversation about the environment.
Any of those films individually could have worked, but together was just a mess.
I’m surprised, but glad, that at least someone liked it.
So it’s difficult to discuss this show as you’ve only seen the first two episodes and I’ve watched all nine episodes twice.
However even from the first two episodes, I’m not sure you and I watched the same show.
I think it’s fine to wish for a show to be something, but you can’t fault a show for not being something it never tried to be. You can’t watch Shakespeare and complain that it lacked a big car chase scene.
I think you’ve picked up on some of the themes of Pluribus, but you haven’t caught them all, and you may be wrong about others.
Another thing to consider is that we’re seeing the film through the eyes of Rose Byrne’s character. Major events of the film definitely happened, and characters acted generally the way they did, but she’s not necessarily seeing the events as they actually are happening.
Conan’s character is absolutely ignoring her in a moment of need, but her own anxiety may be making it appear worse than it actually was. That doesn’t make it right, just a reminder of how we’re viewing the events of the film.
Take for example the role of the husband. Throughout the film we view him as a jerk who is clearly not supporting the main character. He’s always dismissive and unhelpful. Then late in the film we learn he is in the Navy and off on a ship. His actions of not being there for Rose Byrne are suddenly much more understandable. Should he have left his wife alone? Probably not. Was he likely doing it for the family and daughter specifically, probably yes. Once he arrived home he immediately got to solving the issue with the hole. He genuinely seemed like a nice guy. But importantly, this story isn’t about the husband, it’s about Rose Byrne’s character. Her anxieties are real to her and valid, however they do consume her, which is where the problem comes from.
Many years ago I heard a comedian tell a joke, “I come from a long line of people who had kids.”
He was a funny guy, with a funny set, but that line always stuck with me.
The first episode of season 3 was absolutely amazing. It was like a season finale as a season opener. If this is the last project Harrison Ford does I’ll be bummed, but it’s a hell of a high note to go out on. (And if course that could still be several years from now.)
I had no idea about Chance Perdomo. I really enjoyed his performance in season 1, and thought that season 2 had an abrupt start because his character was missing (understandable given that he had passed). Perhaps, in a world where he was cut, season 2 would have had a rough start regardless.
My main issue with season 2 is that it only worked as an in-between season of The Boys season 4 and 5. It was a great in-between, but Gen V setup a great story line for The Boys season 4, but that show just ignored Gen V.
Either Gen V needed lower stakes, or Gen V needed to play a major role in The Boys and The Boys needed to continue that story.
I’m excited for the finale of The Boys, but I’m also excited that once it’s over Gen V will get the freedom to control the larger narrative of the universe.
I’ll probably get hate for it but I’m not even sure 4K is worth it. I bought a 4K TV a few years ago and while I can pull up specific 4K content or find specific shows from time to time, I’m only getting 1080p a majority of the time, but unless I really stare at it, I can’t tell the difference.
Sure, find me a 1080p vs 4K content clip and ask me to watch them side by side, and I can see the difference. But ask me to watch them back to back with a quick break between… And it’s the same show.
I’ll pick the highest quality when it’s available… But I’m happy with whatever I’ve got.
Have you watched Gen V? I really enjoyed it, but it had a weird off screen arc between season one and two since we had a season of The Boys, which shifted where the universe was.
I rewatched Pluribus with a friend this past weekend after watching it week to week originally. It was a totally different show, but also the same ultimate conclusion.
Week to week I was left with so many questions and not fully expecting what would come next. Watching it in a binge the season felt so fast paced. Whenever the current time would come up it was almost impossible to really understand how little time had actually passed.
Some episodes only a few hours would pass, but what an hour. Other episodes weeks would pass, but it felt like an hour.
By the last episode ~75 days have passed, but it feels like forever.
I binged the series this past year, so while there were ups and downs during the five season run, I felt it was fairly consistent overall. I’m looking forward to the next season, especially catching it as it airs.
The original cut of the film is rumored to be about 4 hours, more recently cut down to 3½ hours.
While not advertised as such there are also rumors that the film will be released in two halves or possibly stop at a certain point and depending on how well the first film does get a sequel using footage mostly already shot.
The film also isn’t allowed to bring up the 1993 child abuse allegations. (Or are at least restricted about what they can say about the allegations.)
Which is all to say if you go until the mid 90s (up to the album HIStory), and gloss over things until about 2001 (the album Invincible) which you call the end… You can maybe get this into two films.
But yeah, it should be a series.
So… Next summer at the earliest. Bummer, but understood.
Season 1 was fantastic and I enjoyed season 2, so I’m looking forward to season 3.
and Melania will be… In prison, I guess?
Has Melania committed any crimes? With Trump the list of crimes is endless. For his children, the list of crimes is endless. But are there any known (technically, suspected) crimes that belong to Melania?
I ask because I assume in 5-10 years she’ll be putting out books and giving interviews about all the crazy shit she witnessed, but didn’t participate in.
By all accounts she’s a terrible person, but would she be in jail?
I’ve also not read the full story, although have read all of GRRMs “Beware the Butterflies”, which contains spoilers.
Perhaps pacing issues is the best way to look at it, but I also forgave a lot of Game of Thrones season 6 & 7 for their pacing issues, with the assumptions that the pace was off I ordered to tell the final story properly. (As we all know, it wasn’t just pacing… Or pacing issues so extreme that it ruined actual issues.)
The biggest individual scene that comes to mind in season 2 is Rhaenys & Meleys bursting through the floor. It was a cool scene, but it just seemed so out of character and reckless. It’s overall minor and I can rationalize it, but apart from the shock it felt odd.
The second big thing is Daemon. I’m not sure what he was doing all season. Part of that might just be we need to use Matt Smith since we’re paying him, but after season one his season two story just seemed so strange and weak.
I’m far from writing the show off, but season 2 was definitely weaker than season 1, and with an especially weak ending. I fully expect season 3 to win me back, especially with season four being a planned ending. But if GRRM is worried, I’m worried. He might be wrong, and I hope that for the overall story he is.
That’s not too surprising. He already retired once and was brought back to save things. I don’t see him putting up a fight to continue until the end of 2026, but I’m sure he’ll get the full payout once whomever is taking over, takes over.
To add these types of shows also have an infinite possibility of problems that characters can deal with.
Crimes be happening.
Disease be happening.
Laws be happening, see also crimes be happening.
Every week something is happening.
Ongoing HBO shows?
The Pitt stands out first. White Lotus. We have Euphoria and The Last of Us, although I expect them to be over (finished production or far enough along) before Netflix has fully acquired them.
Dune: Prophecy will probably get cancelled, but it’s getting lucky with a second season already.
IT: Welcome to Derry will probably keep going.
The Rehearsal will continue in some form, someone will pay Nathan for his high grades at a Canadian university.
The Chair company, once acquired, probably but could go either way.
John Oliver will continue to get full creative freedom, otherwise he’ll find somewhere else to go.
Hacks will probably continue, or come to an end before the acquisition is over.
And then you have DC Studios as a whole, I can’t predict that, but it’s got legs.
And that’s just shows I’m familiar with.
like a treasure vault
You mean a biiiig chest, a chest so big I can walk in.
Because that’s how the show gets made. Based on my read of the article the intention definitely seems to be a new story set in Faerun. Sure we’ll have some familiar characters pop in from time to time, but it definitely sounds like a new story.
I expect the first season will lean more heavily on the story of characters post BG3, but if it’s successful I could see them traveling the world.