[S1E2] A Smashing Good Time
Upon release, it received positive reviews by critics, who praised the direction, cinematography, action sequences and the performances, especially Thusi, Dabula and Kubeka, and referred to it as a "smashing good time." On April 28, 2020, Netflix renewed the series for a second season.[5] However, on November 26, 2020, it was reported that Netflix had cancelled the series because of the production challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
[S1E2] A Smashing Good Time
The first season received positive reviews upon its release. The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 91% approval rating with an average rating of 7/10 based on 11 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Queen Sono's twisty, taut thrills are matched with epic action sequences and soapy delights, making Netflix's first South African series a smashing good time."[24] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the first season a score of 70 out of 100 based on 5 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[25]
Rumplestiltskin is in his cell, when he realizes that one of the mice outside his cell is the Evil Queen and tells her she can show herself. She transforms to her human form and tells him that the Dark Curse he gave her is not working. Rumplestiltskin says that Snow White and Prince Charming visited him and that he told them that only their unborn child can stop the darkness. She asks what she did wrong, and Rumplestiltskin says that he will tell her, in return for a good life in her new future and also says that she must agree that she will heed his every request, as long as he says "please". The Evil Queen notes that he will not remember anything, if the curse succeeds, and so she agrees. He then tells her that she needs to sacrifice the heart of something precious. When she states that she used the heart of her most prized steed, Rumplestiltskin hisses that what she requires is more than just a horse's heart, for the curse to work. The Evil Queen asks what will suffice, and he says the heart of what she loves most. When she says that what she loved most died, because of Snow White, Rumplestiltskin says that there must be something else and tells her to consider how far she's willing to go. The Evil Queen says that she will go as far as it takes, and he tells her to stop wasting time and go kill it.
But the twist is, those calls were placed about 12 years ago. "There was a lot of talk during production about going back in time and watching episodes from season 1," explains executive producer and director Greg Nicotero. "And in season 1, episode 2, when they're in the department store with T-Dog and Andrea, there are walkers up against the wall, and one of them is kind of smashing the window with a rock. That came right out of Night of The Living Dead. That was right out of Barbara in the car with the first-ever zombie, Bill Hinzman, using a rock."
Behind Dolores, Maeve clears her throat, then 'requests' that Dolores move on from standing in the street in front of the Mariposa, as she doesn't want anyone thinking. that girl next door, Dolores, is "representative of the goods inside." Dolores turns her head slowly, to stare that same hard stare at her, and almost whispers "These violent delights have violent ends." Maeve scoffs at the same time as looking both perplexed and vaguely taken aback, not expecting that from Dolores of all people. A moment later, Dolores closes, then opens, her eyes, smiles politely at Maeve, and moves on her way, leaving Maeve to turn and stare after her slightly unsettled.
Maeve, returned to the saloon, is coming to the culmination of her previously interrupted 'voice in her head' speech, this time to a new, female, guest, This time Maeve is significantly more sexually aggressive, pushing the woman up against wall, telling her the voice told her that in this world she can be whoever the **** she wants to be...groping her. All of which makes the already not particularly attracted woman, even more uncomfortable. Excusing herself with a 'maybe another time', she escapes rapidly. Maeve, vaguely disappointed, is still cheery enough as she walks to the bar, ordering a glass of sherry from a different bartender than the one assigned to play the new Peter Abernathy. Telling him the good stuff "not that 'horse piss you strain through your old curtains". Beside her, leaning on the bar, Clementine yawns loudly and broadly, and informs Maeve she didn't sleep much the previous night. Maeve softens a little, asking her if she's having nightmares again? Sometimes, Clementine confesses. And that sometimes they are real bad.
[Stella storms out of the room, shouting angrily the entire time, and smashing more potted plants. Stolas sighs in exhausted exasperation before he notices his daughter has entered the kitchen.]
The interesting thing about this last section of the episode is that it comes from a much longer sequence in the original feature length version of the pilot - in the event that the show did not get picked up to be a series, so that it could be screened theatrically in Europe instead. It would have conveniently wrapped things up with Bob being named the killer, though its a good thing that didn't happen as it would have resulted in the loss of a great series. 'Zen, or the Skill to Catch a Killer' is a phenomenal and integral episode of Twin Peaks, as it really sets in stone the strange thoroughline of the series, while also giving us some great character moments and some new ones to boot. It's arguably one of, if not the best episode of the first season, and one that will assuredly hook first-time viewers who may be on the fence with continuing.
[S18, E1] Peter goes on a yacht rock cruise with his family and friends and are having a good time until a rogue wave capsizes the ship. Everyone make their way towards the bottom of the ship where the hull is the thinnest but reach a dead end when a door is block by too much water pushing from the other side. Just then, musician Michael McDonald appears and says he can use the tambour in his voice to communicate with whales and sends a message of help in the form of a whale song to tip the ship up which reaches three humpback whales swimming by. One of the whales named Terry says he gotta save the day again, just like he did in Star Trek 4.
Julian Roman has been with Movieweb for nearly twenty years. An avid film buff, he feels lucky to have interviewed and written extensively about Hollywood's greatest talents. In his spare time he plays guitar, treasures good company, and always seeks new adventures. 041b061a72