Necrotongue

Just like the last episode, I got the vibe that the creators gave up on involving the entire group in the plot and instead zeroed in on individual characters. Yeah, in the second episode, they were all in the mix, but most of them didn't get much screen time. The spotlight was heavily on Annie (not that I mind, because I'm a big Alison Brie fan) and Jeff. Oh, and let's not forget Britta and Chang, though I kinda wish I could. / Lesson learned: Don't be overly competitive.

The third season kicked off in a pretty weird way. The main gripe with the first episode, at least for me, was that the core group got pushed to the sidelines, and Chang stole the spotlight with his hilariously absurd monkey gas inhalation. John Goodman delivered an outstanding performance and looked impressively terrifying. / Lesson learned: Do not inhale toxic gas.

The second season took a bit of a nosedive in terms of quality. The individual episode ratings were less erratic than the previous season, but sadly, they stayed pretty low. I even gave zero stars to some of them, which says a lot about how disappointed I was with the creators' effort — or, lack of it, to be precise. It's baffling because the characters and setting had the potential for the writers to go all out. / Lesson learned: Keep your expectations in check.

The only five-star rating from me this season, and it was well-deserved because the creators knocked it out of the park with the second paintball episode. The western vibe transformed into a Star Wars showdown, and even though I was disappointed at first, I ended up enjoying this unexpected twist. This was exactly my kind of thing. / Lesson learned: Keep your cool in battle.

Back in the day, I rated this movie highly, and after revisiting it today, I wouldn't change a thing about it. Many genres come to mind, but at its core, it's essentially a chamber movie. With almost all the characters (except one cop in uniform) falling on the negative spectrum, I didn't really have anyone to root for. Yet, it gave me the freedom to mentally pick what kind of ending I wanted for each bastard. Mr. Blonde, being a murderous psychopath, would have gotten the worst from me because I've got zero sympathy for that type. It seems Tarantino's films don't lose their appeal for me over time, and a big part of that is thanks to the stellar cast. In this movie, it really clicked, and I thoroughly enjoyed all the dialogue and the performances of the star-studded cast. / Lesson learned: If you enter a slippery slope, don't act surprised when you start slipping.

The last episode didn't really grab me. The plot felt lackluster at times, and those slow walks underground were just plain dull. I wasn't exactly pumped for what came next. However, the second episode felt completely different The slow pace actually worked, creating this eerie vibe that oozed with a sense of despair, or hidden threat. It was a whole different experience, and if the show can keep up this vibe, count me in. The subject matter intrigued me, and I'm curious to see where it goes. / Lesson learned: If you're going to sleep at work, at least be subtle about it.

It's a shame that the creators didn't dish out more episodes like this one. My favorite paintball was back, donning a fetching western poncho. Unlike the misfire of the claymation episode, this one hit the mark, serving up humor, western references, and even a touch of drama. I won't go all-in, though, because the paintball antics from the first season had me laughing a bit more. / Lesson learned: Always be ready for a bit of treachery.

"Push, push, push, push!!!" Man, that was a bit too much for my taste. The "humor" in this episode revolved around childbirth, and it just didn't land for me. The only saving grace, as always, was the final scene with Troy and Abed. I'd gladly do without the entire preceding plot because it was annoying and unfunny. / Lesson learned: Don't sell yourself short. At least not too short.

The pilot episode played out like your standard series opener — setting the stage, and introducing the characters, but not throwing in anything too extraordinary. Those never-ending walks through the maze of corridors didn't really do it for me. On the flip side, the creators hooked me with the notion of crafting artificial schizophrenics who'd be a dream for any employer. Let's be real, having an employee who's all about the job has to give every ambitious manager a hard-on. / Lesson learned: Sometimes, you just need to spend some hard-earned cash on alcohol or drugs to drown out the noise... 3*-

The jokes are still forced and unfunny, but this time it's got an extra layer of paradox. During the episode, I realized something. If the creators actually shot the episodes based on the montage of imaginary memories, I bet I'd be giving the second season a higher star count. I'd probably have way more fun. / Lesson learned: If you're about to fight a monkey, don't let it pick the battleground.