05 Oct 2018 00:05:28
Anyone managed to get through Maniac yet? I'm 4 episodes in and haven't a clue.

{Ed001's Note - I haven't. Looked at it and it didn't grab me so started on the Gifted instead.}


1.) 13 Oct 2018
13 Oct 2018 06:12:37
Yeah I lost interest completely, when an entire episode seems to be a hallucination, going back to the 90s. It's so confusing.

I might give the one you mentioned a look, is it any good?

{Ed001's Note - it's ok, the blurb I read mentioned the X-Men, so I thought they might pop up during it, but all you get is passing references to them. It is mutants stuff, but it is more like a resistance v overlords TV show than a superheroes thing.

I am finding it difficult to give a toss though as most of the characters are a bit bland. None of them have been developed, so you just have a snot-nosed brat who is annoying and revelling in his power because you completely forget the fact he was being bullied at school, before his powers appeared as you only saw one quick moment of that. Even that was only to show how his powers manifested and to launch his family into joining the underground, rather than to develop him as a character. So, instead of understanding him, you just want to slap him.

The back stories are given such poor treatment that you can't really identify with the characters like you should be able to. They do the flashback thing to show a time before they joined the resistance movement, but it is little more than flashes and hints, not enough to really know any of the characters.

It doesn't help that they have so many different characters who just have short cameos and flit in and out. In time it could build into something, there is plenty of potential there. Right now though, it is a bit meh, not something you would turn over because it came on, but neither is it something you would go looking for imo.}


2.) 13 Oct 2018
13 Oct 2018 07:34:27
Fair point ed, you think it would be worth looking to at around season 3 or something? Assuming it gets that far of course.

{Ed001's Note - as you are a binge watcher (if I remember correctly) I would say it is probably best to leave it, yes.}


3.) 13 Oct 2018
13 Oct 2018 18:53:42
Yeah I binge watch lol, I tend not to watch new shows until they've hit season 2/3 for this very reason. I find myself wanting more if I enjoyed the show, it's a struggle to remain patient sometimes!! For example, I'm itching for The Expanse season 3 and Stranger Thing season 3!!

{Ed001's Note - I can see why, they were both really good shows.}


4.) 15 Oct 2018
15 Oct 2018 07:27:27
Where do you think they'll go with Stranger Things?

Personally, I'd like to see more of the Dustin and Steve friendship. I felt that their scenes later on the season 2 were one of the major things stopping the show from being too dark, as what happened to Will was horrible and the incredible acting from Winona Ryder, made it almost believable. So because of that, Steve and Dustin need to keep some screen time!

I'd also like to see some more history brought into play, with perhaps some flashbacks to the other previous experiments 001-007, 009 and 010. Maybe more will come out from the shadows and help 011 defeat the shadow monster?

{Ed001's Note - I am defo with you on Steve and Dustin. That has a real potential for nostalgia and comedy, as well as providing some genuine likeability for the show. It offers something to draw in those who would otherwise dismiss this because of its darkness, horror elements or fantasy stuff. Balance is important, that provides the balance to stop it being too dark.

I am not sure where else they could go apart from into the history of the project really. Anything else could seem a bit samey to any other show, where another similar experiment is always attempted by someone who was involved etc.

It just has to be careful not to become too reliant on nostalgia, the video arcades, D&D etc.}


5.) 07 Nov 2018
07 Nov 2018 11:27:56
Interesting point regards back stories. Often there not really handled well. How would you do them?