Necrotongue

I'm not sure if it was because of the longer runtime or if I just wasn't fully tuned in, but the plot felt like it dragged on. It wasn't exactly a thrill ride before, but this time, I caught myself getting bored more than once. The series still maintains that creepy atmosphere, but it's not bringing much else to the table. This episode was the most well-developed I've seen so far, but the pace was painfully slow. With Jeffrey Dahmer being so widely known, I wasn't expecting any groundbreaking revelations, but I did hope the creators would find a way to keep me more engaged. / Lesson learned: Party like you're in Egypt. Only drink what you've opened yourself.

The wonder what the creators were trying to convey with this episode. Over the course of those nine seasons, they've delved into so many details that I can practically picture the color of Ted's stool after each meal. Then out of nowhere, a character pops up, and everyone seems to have some history with them, but I'm left wondering, "Who the heck is this?" Gary Blauman seems to be the go-to for any struggling or burnt-out screenwriter desperately trying to hit their deadline. / Lesson learned: Writer's block hitting hard? Throw in some Blauman.

After a string of pretty decent to downright good experiences, here comes another letdown. This episode didn't bring any fresh ideas or laughs. The creators just went heavy on recycling their older and more recent material — another fight, Ted playing detective again, the Captain making a return, and yet another pregnancy. Oh well... / Lesson learned: Don't want to stumble upon someone else's waste? Don't go digging for it in the dirt.

My hunch about the story's development has been spot-on, and I must say I'm digging the way the plot is unfolding. On the flip side, the creators seem to be piling on more reasons for the transformation of a once-promising guy into a serial killer. I mean, I grew up under a totalitarian regime, always preferred books over sports, and was kind of a loner. I even dealt with some intense stuff like killing, skinning, gutting, and butchering animals (my family raised them for meat, you know), but I'm not seeing any tendencies towards offing and sampling random folks myself. I genuinely hope the series doesn't devolve into some sort of defense for another scumbag. / Lesson learned: "Wanna dissect roadkill with me?" probably won't score you any points as a pick-up line.

The second episode took a different approach compared to the first one. The creators offered a quick glimpse into Dahmer's life, covering his childhood to his last year being free. Judging by what I've seen, it looks like the upcoming episodes will fill in the gaps, which is probably why this overview was so concise. As of now, the series isn't action-packed (and I wasn't really expecting that), but it has great atmosphere and it's pretty well-handled. The role fits Evan Peters perfectly. / Lesson learned: When dealing with dead animals, hygiene is key.

The creators opted to kick things off almost at the end, starting with Dahmer's arrest, and that clicks with me. In this case, doing the classic crime drama build-up wouldn't make much sense since you would already know the outcome. Dahmer, being a well-known serial killer, grabs attention. Occasionally dining on your victims' parts is a surefire way to get public notice. I'm just hoping this doesn't turn into some weird celebration of his life's work, like the vibe I got from the last Ted Bundy film. / Lesson learned: Social conventions can baffle me sometimes, but I have my limits.

The pre-opening credits scene was great. Overall, the episode felt quite similar to the previous one (hence the same rating), and the little monster's tantrums didn't spoil it for me. When I watched the show years ago, I dropped it at the end of the sixth season, so for me, the seventh one is kind of like a fresh start. However, after this episode's ending, the creators seem to have some shady plans up their sleeves. We'll see but I've got my suspicions. / Lesson learned: Don't impose your feelings on others.

The last episode was a letdown, but this one hit the mark. I definitely found the present more enjoyable than the quick glimpses into the future. Plus, it turns out that Neil Patrick Harris could pull off even playing a dead person. / Lesson learned: If you party till you drop, better schedule the next day off for your resurrection.

Talk about ups and downs! Good thing I'm mentally geared up for these kinds of swings. Initially, I thought this episode might be saved by Barney's storyline, but it wasn't enough to outweigh the negative vibes from Marshall and Lily and even being disgusted by Ted. I'm just not a fan of those self-pitying types. / Lesson learned: Struggling with the dating game? Time for some training.

The creators are clearly trying to convince me I've been too harsh on them, but I'm not falling for it anymore. That being said, I did like this episode. Even though it was a bit light on humor, the new perspective worked for me, the drama made sense, and I was already a fan of Cristin Milioti. / Lesson learned: Life can sometimes make fun of you. Openly. 4*-