Damian Ali

I'm not suggesting that you should or shouldn't; only that it is an acquired taste. For those who love Christmas year-round, it's probably money well spent; for everyone else, it will probably fall under made-for-TV movie. This is not a unique issue; some directors think their product is good enough for a theatrical release, like the Road House remake, but in reality, these films are like the cinematic equivalent of fast fashion: barely fun, very flashy, but lacking any real substance or staying power.

I remember watching Betty White’s Off Their Rockers and later seeing her in Hot in Cleveland. I thought, the older she gets, the funnier she becomes. I can’t imagine ever saying the same about Pitt or Clooney. With theater prices being what they are, Wolfs certainly wasn’t worth the laugh.

With its rich storytelling, complex characters, and stunning visuals, The Acolyte provides a thrilling and thought-provoking addition to the Star Wars saga.This series has me questioning the Jedi Order's recruiting practices, something I never thought to question-another reason it makes for good storytelling. The acting is fantastic, particularly Amandla Stenberg as Verosha Osha and Lee Jung-jae as Sol. Their performances bring depth and emotion to the story, making you care deeply about their character's relationship as master and student. The Acolyte has made me a fan of Star Wars again.

Sigourney Weaver was able to display a vulnerable and empathetic June Hart, while at the same time giving off some serious Olivia Foxworth vibes with her commanding presence. Alyla Browne's performance breathes life into young Alice, amidst an enchanting backdrop. Director Glendyn Ivin masterfully unveils a tapestry of fantasy and farm life. Subtle dialogues and concealed emotions raise questions, adding layers of intrigue. A talented ensemble, led by Sigourney Weaver, crafts exciting, mysterious characters. I can't wait to make my way back to Thornfield. There's so much to uncover about each character's history, and I'm eager to see how they all develop throughout the series. Thanks for reading, Damian TalkTeaV

The FX series Class Of '09 smartly layers the past, present, and future in telling this story. Introducing viewers to only two-time frames in the first five minutes made everything that happened in these first two episodes easier to absorb. Kate Mara's performance as Poet is so good that you are (easily) pulled into the third time frame (Present 2023) without it feeling disruptive. You could argue that this story could have been just as good without the time jump. But it feels more attractive told this way and complements the dystopian part of the story set in 2034. The showrunners, writers, and actors did a great job showing the good in 2009 and the ugly in 2034 offering only a glimpse of the bad that's about to happen in 2023 with a great cliffhanger at the end of episode two. This direction made it thrilling and fun to watch. Structuring a series like this is difficult and often loses focus with all the back and forth, but this new limited series from FX may be the exception. I look forward to seeing how this story plays out. Thanks for making it this far, and if you watch this series, comment below, and let me know your thoughts. Keep It Interesting and Stay Channel Surfing Damian Ali Visit TalkTeaV

The minute you hear the hooves clopping and see the Baker Street sign, you know the case is about to begin. I love hearing the orchestral theme music play as I get glimpses of the period. I like to go all in when I watch any mystery, which means a variety of tea and little pastries. The period is romantic, with each scene displaying beautiful costumes and the perfect interior and exterior backdrops. This version of 'A Scandal In Bohemia' made me want to see more from these two actors. It will take less than fifty-two minutes for the director and actors to connect you to a classic story and its famous characters. In my opinion, as Holmes would put it when describing Irene Adler, Gale Hunnicutt is "The Woman." I have seen Batman movies where there is no Robin, but David Burke proved in this first episode that there is no Sherlock Holmes without Dr. Watson. Jeremy Brett offers the viewer a realistic version of Holmes. I could read the book now and see Brett as Holmes in each chapter. I have watched many versions of Sherlock Holmes on television and in the movies, but out of all of them, Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes is the one I always come back to every year since I was twelve. Each scene is the turn of a page while I sit back, sipping on my tea with the feeling of excitement at what happens next. As always, if you made it this far, thanks for reading, and if you watch this series, let me know what you think. Keep it interesting, Stay Channel Surfing! Damian at TalkTeaV

Maggie feels like an original idea trapped within an outdated, overused template. A cookie-cutter series, with each scene feeling repetitive to past shows I have already seen, like a thirty-minute deja vu. Why watch reruns of Modern Family when you have Black-ish, why miss Pivoting when you have Maggie. Disney, Hulu, and ABC shows, always have these great ideas that end up playing out in the same mirrored fashion. The main character is written in a way where she is such a sad person that laughing at a funny topic about her made me feel like a bully. The other characters are lovable, with a few funny moments in each episode that helped to keep the show somewhat entertaining. Maggie is a show that I like, but don't love, which is disappointing because it could and should be so much more. As always, if you made it this far, thanks for reading, and if you watch this series, let me know what you think. Keep it interesting, Stay Channel Surfing! Damian at TalkTeaV

The Terminal List: Chris Pratt's Action-Drama based on the novel by Jack Carr: 3 Episode Review Pratt's thousand-yard-stare is perfect, I honestly believe and feel that Reece is unstable. Kaitie Buranek (Constance Wu) and Ben Edwards (Taylor Kitsch) work well as counterweights to the question of the main character's mental stability. The series so far is reminiscent of Vin Diesel's A Man Apart or Denzel Washington's Man On Fire, combined with Homeland or 24. The showrunners did a great job making everyone look suspect, including the main character. The Terminal List, based on the novel by Jack Carr, is well written, and the talented cast performance elevates the story from action-drama to mystery-thriller. I am now far enough down the rabbit hole and need to see how this plays out because my suspicions need answers. That, to me, is an indication that this is shaping up to be a great story. As always, if you made it this far, thanks for reading, and if you watch this series, let me know what you think. Keep it interesting, Stay Channel Surfing! Damian at TalkTeaV

Ignore the rating on this one, (Not All) but some comments and reviews about this show are based on bitter ignorance of LGBTQ and Wealth status. Some of the comments have been dark. I watched three episodes about a person living in someone else's shadow, who when she freed herself had no sense of direction. Loot has a great story to tell if we look past the one percent wealth topic, which seems to be the second topic distracting some from what I think are very relatable messages. Rudolph and the rest of the ensemble deliver heartwarming scenes while also using comedy to point out moments where we can all seem a little tone-deaf to what is happening in front of us. What I like is that it’s relatable regardless of how much money is in a person's pocket. Showrunners also do a great job at pointing out how easy it can be to lose your individuality once in a relationship. Loot succeeds at being a light-hearted, feel-good comedy equivalent to watching shows like The Office, Parks-And-Recreation, or The Mindy Project. I look forward to seeing how the characters and story develop over time. As always, if you made it this far, thanks for reading, and if you watch this series, let me know what you think. Keep it interesting, Stay Channel Surfing! Damian at TalkTeaV