Odyssey & Nosh

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The newest anthology by Mike Flanagan goes back to basics which is a beautiful thing. While I did like Bly Manor it seemed a bit lackluster compared to Hill House. Midnight Mass is predictable, yes, but makes up for its predictability in beautiful storytelling. I guessed where it was going on the first episode as there are heavy hints. What I love most about Flanagan's series is that at the centre of each horror plot is actually a message of love. We see it here in the form of familial love. Between a father and son, a mother and son, a mother and daughter, even a town drunk and his furry companion. As we continue with the episodes, it's also about the sacrifices we make for our children, the secrets we keep, and even the love of faith- and how that can be corrupted. There is a monologue in the last episode reminiscent of Nell's "confetti" monologue in Hill House that is just so emotionally compelling. Midnight Mass is a beautiful story that evokes our connection to each other and to the universe.

As a fan of the Shatter Me series I was completely surprised and saddened that this is the ending we received as readers from Tahereh Mafi. Overall, the story was rushed and incomplete. While there were fantastic moments in Imagine me - mainly, the interactions between Warner and Kenji, and later the Aaron and Juliette/Reunion - Mafi did little to actually develop the plot and provide satisfying conclusions for characters. She focuses more on poetic writing (which is beautiful and she should one day write a book of her own poems) rather than actually guiding the reader through a cohesive plot and solid ending. The writing, I'm afraid to say, to a downhill turn in Imagine me. Mafi references things which occurred in Reveal Me (the companion novella before Imagine Me) without actually summarising what happened and instead assumes the reader has read that novella (I did not and was left confused). Furthermore, instead of expanding on the plot she glosses over the end and jumps to an unsatisfactory epilogue from Warner's perspective. We didn't even get a Wedding scene?! The ending was jarring, confusing, and incomplete. There was absolutely no time spend on what occurred directly after the Reestablishment's destruction. No scenes as to what happened directly after Oceania, and unfortunately no expansion on how the story ends for other characters: James, Kenji, Adam, Castle, Nazeera and the rest of the "Super" kids. "And then we carry my sister home" seems to be all we need before jumping to an epilogue. The story was so incomplete it was almost painful and barely worth the read.

[Spoilers Ahead book and film] While the overall cast is great in this anticipated sequel, and Holland Taylor is a delightful addition, I felt that the overall film was lacklustre and underwhelming. The first film did a fantastic job in choosing what to adapt and what not to adapt from Jenny Han's book. The main critiques I have with this film are from a production and writing standpoint. Of course, I am not saying everything needs to be exactly like the book - that would be ridiculous. But why make changes that end up making the film underwhelming? Would not the logic behind John Ambrose being at Bellevue be better served by keeping the fact that his grandmother, Stormy, resides there (as it is in the book)? Why not expand on Peter and Gen's friendship in this film that would further provide a foundation for Lara Jean's insecurities. There were incredibly emotional moments in Han's sequel that provided character development for both Lara Jean and Peter Kavinsky that were just not present in this film. Lastly, when there's already so little exposure and opportunities for women directors, what was the reasoning for replacing Susan Johnson with the film's cinematographer, Michael Fimognari, and partnering Sofia Alvarez with J. Mills Goodloe? The Susan Johnson-Sofia Alvarez partnership was much better and obviously successful so I'm not sure what prompted the changes. It feels as if the studio execs were so excited about the success of the first film that they made the decision to then hand over the reins to these two men. Not sure if that's what happened, but that's how it reads.