Back in the ’90s, a sitcom called That ’70s Show appeared on TV screens worldwide. At that time, I didn’t watch the show regularly, but rather sporadically. I found it amusing, yet not entirely convincing. It wasn’t until the 2000s that I eventually started watching the show in English, and it was so much better than in German. Don’t get me wrong—the German voice actors usually do an outstanding job, but when it comes to sitcoms, where there are plenty of puns and wordplay, it’s difficult to find suitable translations. I loved the first few seasons, but I’m not sure if I even finished the last one. The quality dropped over time. However, a funny constant throughout the seasons was Red and Kitty. Also, the ’90s were the golden age of sitcoms, and over time, I grew to become a fan of the show.

I was really skeptical when Netflix announced a sequel set in the ’90s, logically named That ’90s Show. Of course, the first episode brought back the familiar faces from the original show to get it off to a good start. That helped a lot in warming up to the new characters. However, there was no long transition from old to new, and the new cast had to prove they could carry the legacy on their own and evolve into something fresh. After watching the 10 episodes of the first season, I wasn’t entirely convinced, but I was curious to see how the story would continue.

So, I was happy when the second and third seasons were announced, with 8 episodes each. Although That ’90s Show will never reach the quality of That ’70s Show, it manages to create its own world, which I can relate to as a ’90s kid. I wonder if ’70s kids felt the same way about That ’70s Show in the ’90s?

Red and Kitty still have their spirit, but of course, the actors have aged—going from old to even older. It’s been almost 20 years between the last episode of the original and the first episode of the sequel. As a fan of the original show, I struggle with the new cast, but I think that’s for two reasons:

1. The new cast is young, as all the characters are meant to be teenagers. Maybe I’m just too old to relate to the “dumbasses,” as Red would say.
2. The new cast isn’t just targeting people like me; it also has to reach a younger audience, which I’m no longer part of.

Nevertheless, That ’90s Show isn’t a must-watch, but rather a nice-to-watch. The 20-minute episodes are easy-to-digest, entertaining snacks. If you liked That ’70s Show and are a ’90s kid like me, you might enjoy this one too.

When “Obliterated” showed up in my Netflix recommended content, I was highly skeptical. The cover shot gave me Adam Sandler vibes: it looked so incredibly stupid, it’s something I didn’t want to watch. Now, it’s been a few weeks since I finished watching the show, and I still feel well-entertained when I look back. And yes, if you like Adam Sandler movies, you’re most likely to like this series, too. For me, as I really hate Adam Sandler movies, this was a huge hurdle I had to overcome. But after watching the trailer, I was like, yeah, let’s give it a try. And I wasn’t disappointed.

The first episode sets the frame for the plot, which is as generic as it could be – Russians bad, Americans good, a hidden bomb, and a limited amount of time to save millions of people. This could be straight from any 1980s action movie, but with a funny little twist: the squad is absolutely hungover. Unfortunately, the show can’t maintain that condition throughout, but that was to be expected. When comparing the 1980s to the 2020s in a sociocultural and geopolitical context, some parallels come to mind:

• The world is fucked.
• It’s a gun-rattling standoff between the USA and Russia.
• The world of mass media is expanding.
• New technologies, such as home computers, have entered people’s lives.
• Life seems more complicated and complex than ever, and people crave simple solutions (that don’t exist).
• The necessity of environmental protection measures is significant.
• Sexuality is breaking free – it’s the age of coming out and recognizing transsexuality.

But what does all this have to do with an entertaining TV show? A lot. These factors shaped the art, culture, and society of the 1980s and early 1990s. And it’s happening again. As mentioned above, the plot is not new. Also, the characters are nothing more than a bunch of stereotypical clichés. But there are some things that were changed to meet a contemporary audience:

• Diversity is real.
• The leader of the pack is female.
• Nerds can be naughty and badass too.
• Homosexuality (and LGBTQ+ in general) is normal.
• The super-soldiers are people like you and me, with strengths, weaknesses, and families.
• Pretty women can make good villains.

And as much as I appreciate these contemporary additions, there’s a downside to almost each one of them:

• Although the team is diverse, in the end, they are still just a bunch of stereotypes. Diversity feels like a must-have.
• The leader is always questioned or even attacked by men who seem to have a problem with a female boss. This reflects reality, yes, but I think filmmakers should rather show the way it should be, depicting a reality where men don’t behave like assholes and accept stepping back behind a woman.
• The Nerd is an Asian girl. Well, at least it’s a female. Of course, someone has to take that role, but a less stereotypical approach would be nice. Why not the black or white full-body muscle?
• LGBTQ+ is normal. So why still make a fuss about it when one friend finds out about another? Even worse, when a man finds out about his best friend, there needs to be a talk. But it’s totally normal when a woman “accidentally” turns a bride on her bachelorette party.

Yet, I found the series highly entertaining. It has all the stuff I liked in the movies I grew up with in the 80s/90s. I know I might be way too critical for such a no-brainer entertaining show, but the subtext defines a frame. However, I really enjoyed watching it. If you don’t overthink it, it’s fun. The world’s not only black and white, right or wrong. There are a lot of assholes in the USA, and not only assholes in Russia. And so this series is neither good nor bad but very entertaining.

And yet, I found the series highly entertaining. It has all of the stuff I liked in the movies I grew up with in the 80s/90s. I know, I am maybe way too critical for such an no-brainer entertaining show, but the subtext defines a frame. However, I really enjoyed watching it. If you don‘t overthink it, it‘s fun. The World‘s not only black and white, right or wrong. There are a lot of assholes in the USA, and not only assholes in Russia. And so this series is neither good nor bad, but very entertaining.

Jerry Seinfeld is a comedian I deeply respect, though I’ve never been a fan of him or his self-titled sitcom. Despite this, I recognize that Seinfeld has touched many people worldwide with his work, which is an outstanding achievement.

Now, Seinfeld returns on Netflix with “Unfrosted,” a 90-minute comedy that is just the right length for a movie like that. This presumably Kellogg’s co-financed story about Pop-Tarts is colorful and a bit over the top, reminiscent of “Who Framed Roger Rabbit“, “Lemony Snicket,” or “Barbie.”

While the story is fairly predictable and unsurprising, the jokes and puns span from 1980s and early 1990s knee-slappers (Level: Dad Joke) to moments of absolute genius. This blend is what I’d expect from Jerry Seinfeld, and perhaps also the reason why I never became a fan him. Yet, Seinfeld delivers his signature style, and that’s noteworthy.

The movie’s best feature, without a doubt, is the cast. When a Jerry Seinfeld calls for a casting, it seems everyone in Hollywood wants to be involved, no matter how small the role. I won’t list everyone here because the list is far too long, but Hugh Grant, and the Mad Men Jon Hammand John Slattery stood out, making me laugh the hardest. Their performances, coupled with the jokes around their roles, highlight Seinfeld’s brilliance.

Someone else might have made more out of the story, but I had fun watching the movie. It’s not a piece of art or an innovative flick; it’s just perfect entertainment for a Sunday evening.

After watching Season 1, I was really enthusiastic about Resident Alien. But now, after having watched Season 2, it’s time for disenchantment. I still find this show highly entertaining, but it seems to have lost its ease.

Season 1 consists of ten episodes, which seems to be a perfect length for shows with an average episode duration of about 45 minutes. However, Season 2 comes with 16 episodes, requiring more dramatic composition. It feels like the writers couldn’t decide on one direction. Instead of building up to a tense climax, the show creates numerous loose ends which, fortunately, are eventually resolved. Most of them. There’s still room for a cliffhanger. There are many events happening in Patience, Colorado, but only a few of them significantly drive the plot. I am both glad and sad that Season 3 will only consist of 8 episodes.

But the humor remains on point and serves as good compensation for the tedious, lengthy parts. Once again, there are plenty of Easter eggs that make me smile, many of which others may not understand. I’m pretty sure I didn’t catch every reference.

Resident Alien Season 2 is fun to watch, but if it had been the first season, it wouldn’t have made me a fan.

Update: When I wrote that post, I had only seen the first season. Meanwhile, I finished season 2, and now I’m waiting for season 3 to come to Germany. So the following review only applies to season 1.

I hadn’t heard of the series before Netflix recommended it to me. With the familiar face of Alan Tudyk, it caught my attention. I know him from “A Knight’s Tale,” “Firefly”, and “Tucker and Dale vs. Evil.” He’s one of the less commonly known actors, I guess, but I really like the roles he chooses, and I love how he brings life to his characters with little funny or absurd details that make the usual unusual.

The same goes for Resident Alien. The plot is pretty trivial: an alien crashes in the boring city of Patience (the name…) in Colorado (why do aliens always land in the USA?), disguises himself as a local outsider, lives undercover in a small-town community, and gets unwillingly to know the people. The alien replaces Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle, who happens to have the bad luck to meet the alien after the crash, and moves into his lonely cabin at a lake. Coincidentally, the local town doctor dies, and Harry gets called to the crime scene. And so the climax begins.

As the higher-developed aliens seem to know everything about the human species, they don’t understand why humans do human things. Again, this is not new: the super-intelligent, highly logical, and non-emotional alien 🖖🏻, but Tudyk just fills the role in his very own manner.

Also, not new: the aliens want to eradicate mankind from the surface of the Earth because humans behave like assholes and destroy their own home planet. Again. They’ve done that already multiple times, e.g., with the Mayas. As I mentioned previously: humans doing human things.

But then again, there is this thing with the feelings and emotions that are unknown to the alien species, but through Harry’s body copy, the alien suddenly is confronted with being human not only from the outside but also from the inside. That leads to questioning his mission.

Besides Alan Tudyk, the other members of the cast also form a great ensemble: Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, Levi Fiehler, Judah Prehn, Elizabeth Bowen, and many more.

And it’s the subtle details that make me smile, like the names “Patience” or “Mayor Hawthorne”, and that make Resident Alien a lovable show.