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She-Hulk: Attorney At Law Episodes 4 and 5 (Disney+): Unlike the other Marvel Studios shows on Disney+, She-Hulk: Attorney At Law is not as committed to showing main continuity because it operates more closely on sitcom rules than on serialized drama rules. That cognitive reframing that the viewer has to do should have been more adequately communicated to the viewer before the show started, however once the viewer understands that shift the show becomes much more enjoyable. The show is more of a workplace comedy than the initial trailers would have indicated but it is still fun to watch. For those who are looking for the continuity, the tease at the end of episode five should set up what’s happening in the final three episodes.
House of the Dragon Episodes 4 and 5 (HBOMax): The book that House of the Dragon is based on is very much written like a textbook that spans centuries. It is worth noting that because that does sort of explain the multiple time jumps that have occurred over the course of the show so far. That said, considering that the book is written in a very sterile way designed to almost just provide context (think Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them or Quidditch Through The Ages which were released as physical standalone books), it makes sense in those books. It is kind of the polar opposite of The Rings of Power (see below) which is shifting and adjusting the timeline for adaptation, however in this case it is not exactly working as well as it could have because it leaves the show feeling almost anthological instead of it being a true series.
The Rings of Power Episodes 3 and 4 (Amazon Prime): This show continues to be the strongest fantasy show on streaming, which is saying a lot since it is competing with a Game of Thrones-prequel and Wheel of Time coming later this year. The scale feels massive, and the show looks fantastic all around. The idea of compressing the timeline down here instead of doing like House of the Dragon works for the sake of the narrative flow of the show and makes everything feel a little closer and more intimate.
Harley Quinn Episodes 9 and 10 (HBOMax): This season went on one episode too long, specifically the episode that served as the finale felt like it should have been the first episode of season four. In a world where this season was all about Harley and Ivy’s new relationship and how that may bump into Harley’s evolution as a person and their conflicting career paths, ending the show on Ivy’s plan failing at the hands of Harley, not even passively interfering and ruining it but actively working against her, would have left good narrative fodder going into season four. The final episode dealing with where Harley goes after this and Ivy’s latest career choice being at odds with each other does not feel like a great place to end off the season when that would have been excellent to start a season.
Lightyear (Disney+): Lightyear has all the pieces in place to have been an interesting movie, but it manages to just fall short in its execution. It is presented as the movie that Andy watched in 1993 that made him become obsessed with Buzz Lightyear but it does not feel like a movie that came out in 1993. The biggest sin that the movie makes is that it is forgettable but it will probably be mildly entertaining for the child of a viewer who wants something to watch for two hours or so.
Thor: Love and Thunder (Disney+): Thor: Love and Thunder is the weakest of the Phase 4 entries, following Thor in the aftermath of the events of Avengers: Endgame as he faces off against Gorr the God-Butcher. The biggest problem with the movie is that Gorr’s mission is only tangentially related to Thor’s when there is a clear way to tie the two directly and inexorably. The movie also follows most of the narrative beats of Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, which may impact the viewer’s enjoyment. Taika Waititi’s comedic sensibilities are all over the movie, however there is a case to be made that he should probably have been reigned in a little bit because some jokes can be repetitive.
Elvis (HBOMax): Elvis is one of the strongest movies to come out this year, even if it is a little on the long side. Austin Butler makes a very strong case for a Best Actor nomination and Baz Luhrmann’s direction and decision to frame the life of Elvis Presley like a superhero origin story benefits the movie greatly. Tom Hanks is also fantastic as Tom Parker and plays an interesting villain opposite Elvis.
A quick note for viewers, while She-Hulk: Attorney at Law premiered on Thursday, this week’s new Star Wars series Andor will be returning to the standard Wednesday release day, starting with the first three episodes dropping on September 21st. She-Hulk will remain on Thursday for the remainder of the season.
