TV Show Reviews

Criminal Minds Review

By: Mekeyas Mekuria

I started watching Criminal Minds due to the positive views I had heard about it. I also had nothing better to do because we are under quarantine, and I am home all day every day. It’s first episode aired in 2005. The show can be found on Netflix with all 14 seasons available. The show stars a six-person FBI team that goes around investigating murder cases all around the country. Matthew Gubler plays Spencer, while A.J. Cook plays JJ, Thomas Gibson plays Aaron Hotch, Shemar Moore plays Derek Morgan, Kirsten Vangsness plays Penelope, and Joe Mantegna plays David Rossi.

In my honest opinion, this is a show viewers should most definitely try. My favorite character so far in the show would have to be Spencer, just because of how intelligent he is and how he carries himself. Spencer seems to be the brains of the group and has three PhDs. He always seems to be the person to figure out who the culprit is. My runner-up for my favorite character would have to be Rossi, just because of his sense of humor and his ability to make everyone feel like they’re safe and secure. In Season 11 episode seven, Rossi helped his daughter find her missing friend and made his daughter feel safe that she had a father that could come to her rescue when she needed it. I also enjoy watching Morgan and Spencer team up, just because of the dynamic duo of strength and smarts they have. In season eight episode eight, Morgan and Spencer took the lead in a case involving a missing school bus with students inside. They worked together efficiently to take down the culprit with minor casualties. I recommend that you make good use of this time, and binge watch Criminal Minds.

Review of Merlin

By: Elise Economou

Do you ever look at regular tv shows and think “Gee, these shows have too much budget” or “Gee, I wish no one in this show could act”? Well, do I have a solution. This solution comes to us in the form of the BBC show (or programme) Merlin. Spanning five seasons, the show follows the adventures of a young Merlin and his gaggle of royal friends. Merlin has magic, which has been banned under the rule of the leather-jacket wearing King Uther Pendragon. Merlin is assigned or told or destined (it’s not very clear) to protect the royal brat Prince Arthur (yes that one), who he soon develops a friendship with. Other characters include Lady Morgana, the ward of the king, and her maidservant Guinevere (or Gwen), as well as the court physician Gaius. Coincidentally, none of these characters can display competent emotions. Merlin is perpetually smirking. Something weird happens? Maybe he’ll look slightly confused. Something sad happens? Maybe he’ll look slightly sad. But for 90% of the episode, Merlin smirks. Same with Morgana. She has this weird look of disgust, like she can’t believe the show she’s in. Gaius stumbles around the entire time in a raggedy cloak with one eyebrow raised like he’s perpetually surprised. Arthur just acts like a pretentious douche, even when he’s not supposed to. Gwen is the only one who seems to be able to show some sort of emotion, and even she’s limited. Is it the director? Who knows.

The script isn’t doing them any favors. I have burst into laughter multiple times while watching the show. One bizarre example is in the first episode, when Merlin enters the room of the court physician Gaius. Merlin calls out “Hello?” and Gaius turns around and seemingly deliberately falls off the balcony he is standing on. Merlin has to use some quick magic to teleport a bed under Gaius, who then remarks “Did you do that? Do you have magic?” The ease with which this happens makes you wonder if this is a test, or at least a regular occurance. Not to mention that the plot basically does not advance for the first two seasons.

The show is astoundingly low-budget. Every shot is out of focus. The backgrounds look like a set in a middle school play. Costumes are reused. So are extras. The same shots are reused. At least the castle set looks good. The CGI dragon (yes, really) looks so astoundingly stupid that it’s kind of unbelievable, and its mouth is terrifying. Every episode has the same basic plot.

This list of negatives is so long, you may be wondering how it succeeded for five seasons. Well, I don’t know. Amid all the production problems and bad acting, there is an undeniable charm. You can’t help but root for these characters, somehow. It’s got heart. You feel that the cast and crew are passionate for the show. It’s one of those so-bad-it’s-good shows. At first, you laugh at the production, but then you start to enjoy the show. You start to like the characters, you appreciate the low-budget feel. There’s something about it. It’s inherently funny, but sweet at the same time. No wonder it developed a cult following. The episodes are 40-50 minutes, and there’s 65 episodes, so you have plenty to last you through quarantine. Merlin is on Netflix. Go for it.