Necrotongue

Even I, a seasoned viewer, was taken aback by the level of brutality depicted. But hey, life isn't a fairy tale or a Marvel comic, right? If you hit someone with an axe or a blunt object, it's not going to be pretty. A sensitive soul might have serious issues with this film, but the reality is, as long as there are people who take pleasure in hurting others, we should get used to such scenes. The laws are pretty lenient towards such scum. I thoroughly enjoyed this gritty dive into Trójmiasto, although it left a little to be desired to earn those five stars.

Who would have thought the key to winning horse races is betting on the underdogs? I just finished the third season and, to my surprise, the creators still have plenty to offer. I wasn't bored for a second during any of the six episodes. Even though logic occasionally took a backseat, it didn't bother me much because it was incredibly entertaining. It had everything: romance, tension, action, drama, intrigue, and a fantastic atmosphere. Plus, the dry and black humor was spot on. Gary Oldman was the proverbial cherry on top. After finishing each season, I find myself wishing for more immediately. / Lesson learned: Well, it might not be the best takeaway, but after watching the last two episodes, I've learned that cocaine can turn even the slowest horse into a thoroughbred racehorse.

Episodes five and six have been the most thrilling yet. The death count was so dramatic it could revive even a struggling funeral service company. What I really appreciate is that the creators didn't just turn it into a blood-soaked action fest. Instead, the cold, concrete corridors drenched in blood were often warmed by a generous dose of intelligent, dark humor. A great finale. / Lesson learned: Flash drives have clearly won over CDs, but there are times in life when you might just regret it.

I'd love to be able to say I had a great time, but John Mulaney didn’t quite win me over. The final segment with the GQ interview reading didn’t really hit the mark for me. I enjoyed the intervention part a lot more, but I can't say I was rolling on the floor laughing. To be fair, I don't think it's entirely Mulaney's fault — maybe I just wasn't in the best mood. / Lesson learned: I finally know how to make a quick buck, just need to find a Rolex store nearby!

There's probably no need to nitpick all the quirks surrounding the intervention in the warehouse. Sure, it was a pretty action-packed episode, but the action wasn't the main event. The real fun happened elsewhere, particularly with the "honest" banter between Tearney and Taverner. I love how the creators effortlessly inject humor into even the most tense situations. Douglas's "You shall not pass!" nearly had me in stitches! / Lesson learned: Silence is golden. In some situations more than others.

Movies featuring an indestructible deep-sea monster stomping through Tokyo never really grabbed my interest. I've seen all the classics like Gappa, the American-Japanese Godzilla from the eighties, and Clash of the Titans with the Kraken — essentially, the sedate, ancient Greek version of the Japanese radioactive, perpetually pissed-off monster. I only watched this movie because it was the main offer on Netflix, and the post-war setting intrigued me. Surprisingly, I found myself enjoying the new story of this angry lizard. The oversized reptile with a reactor for a liver wasn't the main draw for me, though. What fascinated me more were the Japanese attempts to grapple with their role in World War II and the realistic depiction of their war technology. Unlike Michael Bay, the Japanese creators brought in truly capable consultants, making their warships like the Takao and Shinden look absolutely top-notch. I found myself more drawn to these peripheral aspects of the film, without which I might not have paid it much attention. / Lesson learned: Don't go launching nuclear warheads, bombs, or reactors into the Pacific Ocean — you never know what you might awaken.

An intriguing Korean show. After six episodes, my average rating hit four stars, but honestly, a strong three might've sufficed. If Jun Seo-ha is the main character (and I'm still not entirely sure about that), she didn’t really win me over—she didn’t exactly stand out in the sharp thinking department. Surprisingly, the distributor left out the comedy tag. I found myself laughing out loud at some scenes, mostly involving the cops. The Asian approach is just different from ours. While I think the creators could have tackled the subject a bit differently, I still got what I expected. / Lesson learned: Inheritance often comes with problems. 4*-

Turns out my worries about the lack of tension were totally misplaced. The Korean creators saved most of the action for the finale and packed in plenty of suspense. The family dynamics didn’t really move me, though. Even in Europe, you sometimes see a mother who is also a sister to her child (not always by choice, as evidenced by some of those secret cellar stories from Austria). At least here, it was out of love. The conclusion was solid, I enjoyed it, and it’s a shame the Koreans didn’t keep this level of quality throughout the series. / Lesson learned: The heart wants what it wants. 4*+

For a change, this episode showed some improvement as the Korean creators finally let the story progress, bringing in better entertainment. Sure, there were moments where I couldn't quite believe what Sang-ho Yeon came up with, but overall, I had a good time. Plum Blossom isn’t exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer, but hey, you can’t have it all. With all the major reveals out of the way, I'm curious to see how the creators will keep up the tension in the final episode. Guess I'll find out tomorrow!

I was hoping the Koreans would give me the same thrill as the last episode, but this one just didn’t hit the mark. It felt like the creators tried to trick me into thinking it was packed with interesting events, but honestly, the story just stagnated. It was more like treading water than moving forward. / Lesson learned: If you don’t want to scare people, work on your appearance and manners. First impressions are hard to erase.