Necrotongue

Like in the game I just witnessed, this episode was a misstep. Don't get me wrong, the tension of the competition was palpable (for the players, at least), and it once again delved into the tough choices contestants make when their lives are on the line. Up to this point, my satisfaction level was riding high. But those VIP characters... what were the creators thinking? It's pretty obvious from the get-go that this is all a sick form of entertainment for bored, wealthy folks. No need to hammer it in with those over-the-top characters. The animals were annoying, adding nothing substantial and only dragging out the runtime. / Lesson learned: Always have at least two marbles. And watch out for ticks.

Just watched the sixth episode, and wow, did it play with my emotions. Surprisingly, I found myself not minding it so much. Odd, right? This time around, all the bloodshed and drama seemed to take a backseat, focusing on something entirely different. The creators really nailed it, highlighting this shift brilliantly. So, a five-star rating from me, even though I'm still seeing through tears :-) Back in the day, when I was a little kid (before video games ruled the world), losing a marble in a game was a personal tragedy. I can't even decide which threat would have stressed me out more: losing a marble and being ridiculed, or getting a bullet to the head? Who knows? Kids have a different way of thinking. / Lesson learned: If you're a jerk, own it; even if you change, no one will buy it.

I went into this episode expecting another round of deadly children's games, but what I got was more like a mix of the May uprising and a Bond film. Let me break it down for you. Barricades were going up, patrols were on high alert, and all the while, a stealthy solo search was underway. Well, stealthy might be stretching it... The whole array of activities happening in the monitored corridors of the complex struck me as bizarre, raising some obvious questions. If one person is in charge of all the internal cameras, what are the other twenty people doing in front of their monitors? Playing some kind of online game? It's a head-scratcher. / Lesson learned: An overly ambitious Korean surgeon can be more dangerous than Ebola. And apparently, in Korea, necrophilia is more socially acceptable than homosexuality. Who knew?

The fourth episode was undeniably intriguing. The creators really drove home the point that with the right motivation, the selfish beast within many of us awakens (myself included, just so no one thinks I'm preaching). However, the night survival game didn't quite do it for me. Watching nearly two hundred people trying to kill each other in the dark wasn't exactly riveting, and the Korean creators definitely didn't help by potentially inducing an epileptic seizure. On the flip side, I was quite into the final competition. If you're going to go out, it might as well be according to clear rules. But the biggest mystery remained unsolved: How on earth do you put a note in an egg without breaking the shell? There must be a corrupt chicken out there. / Lesson learned: I never did like shared dormitories, and it turns out my instincts were spot on. While it's nice to hear about the triumph of spirit over matter, when a two-hundred-pound guy is charging at you with a hammer, you'd better run. You can think later. That is if you run fast enough.

The third episode is my favorite so far. As I hinted earlier, there's some twisted part of me that oddly enjoys these death games, so I was thrilled to see the story return to the island. With fewer contestants this time and a lower prize, the characters are starting to come into their own. I can't help but wonder who is sponsoring this competition, though. That entire complex, down to the geometrical staff, must have cost a fortune. I wouldn't even want to foot the bill for all the ammunition they're burning through.

I had to give this episode a lower rating, mainly because the creators took almost an hour to explain to me why we're treading the same river (but it's different now - we get it, time flies and so does water), and I wasn't exactly thrilled by it. Don't get me wrong, the plot wasn't entirely terrible, but there were moments when the emotional manipulation didn't quite hit the mark for me. I guess I'm just not one to get teary-eyed over the fate of humanity; life's worn me down enough that I've toughened up. / Lesson learned: A square is more than a triangle. And a triangle is more dangerous than a circle. Oh, and never swear on your mother's life, unless you want her to get diabetes.

Initially, the first episode didn't quite blow me away as I had expected. It felt like I was just watching another pathetic loser, a perfect illustration of madness. At that point, I couldn't fathom why so many people were urging me to watch the series. It wasn't until the last third of the episode that it finally clicked for me. Sure, the story isn't exactly groundbreaking; I've read it before in King's (well, actually Bachman's) books "The Long Walk" (1979) and "The Running Man" (1982). Then there's Battle Royale, and The Hunger Games. But you know what? I didn't mind that at all. There's something about this series that my inner sadist is quite taken with — it's crawled out of the darkness it thrives in and seems to be eagerly licking its lips for more. / Lesson learned: A square is more than a circle. And I'll be more careful about what I put my thumbprint on from now on.

After the first season, I was a bit hesitant, but I held onto hope. Now, after the second season, that hope has vanished. It's similar to what happened to Game of Thrones, just a bit earlier on. I get it, the script can't always perfectly match the source material, but in this case, it feels like only the name remains from the original. It baffles me why some filmmakers think they can cover up script and casting flaws with a massive CGI spectacle. Instead, we're left with more and more side storylines that often lead to dead ends. Meanwhile, digital creatures roam around, looking like they've wandered in from Evolution (2001). Then there are the new questions. Why is Geralt called the White Wolf when his hair color reminds me more of Gandalf pre-Balrog encounter? Did the series creators use the Nilfgaardian invasion to divert attention from the Afro-Indian hordes infiltrating Slavic fantasy? Who knows. Undoubtedly, the upcoming seasons of this "masterpiece" will have some explaining to do. To put it in aviation terms, this series is in a descending spiral, and if this keeps up, it's heading into a tailspin. 2*-

Any semblance of the book adaptation is completely lost, and if Professor Sapkowski truly approves of this series, well, he's either gone senile or struck an incredible deal. My bet is on the latter. The plot made absolutely no sense to me. It seemed like the creators were more focused on showcasing their CGI creatures than actually telling a coherent story. The big revelation of his imperial majesty's identity would've only shocked me if I'd never touched The Witcher books.

The seventh episode was a bit of a mixed bag - partly amusing (though probably unintentionally) and partly just downright illogical. I couldn't help but wonder, what's the politically correct term for a black elf? Afroelf? Seems unlikely, especially since it feels like the show's creators conveniently left Africa out of the equation. At least, I hope that's the case... Imagine being a different race and also a minority within your own race. That's a minority within a minority. I have this sneaking suspicion that Netflix won't pass up the chance to introduce a character who's a black, gay elf. Killing three birds with one stone, right?