The Umbrella Academy (Netflix, Season 2) - 1/5

This season is an unmitigated disaster. The first several episodes are great and set the show up with a lot of potential; unfortunately, the rest of the episodes just get dumber and dumber. Where the first season explained why the main characters made their bad decisions, here all of the main characters make bad decisions randomly, often directly contradicting previously established character traits with no explanation. By the middle of the season everything becomes drama for drama’s sake, dumb for tension’s sake, and needlessly obtuse. By the final few episodes the show drops all pretense of internal consistency, destroying all of the beautiful potential and adding layers upon layers of insult to injury. It’s not worth watching for anyone, especially fans of the show.

Closest comparison: It’s like Heroes Season 2, but so much worse.

Setting: Super Hero
Plot: Adventure
Tone: Family Drama

The Umbrella Academy (Netflix) - 4/5

This show is primarily about family drama, which I don’t usually appreciate, but here all the characters are not only vivid but intriguing. Their idiosyncrasies relate directly to the plot in crystal clear ways so their actions are always believable, even when completely inadvisable. Any political messages are toned down to the particulars and come naturally out of the characters and situations, where a lesser show would generalize. Netflix flexes its wallet by getting top-tier music in every episode and excellent tv-quality special effects when needed. The ending was good but not great, and even though it left me wanting another season it could have wrapped some things up better. Disclaimer: It’s a weird show, but watch the second episode before deciding whether to continue; that’s where things really kick off.

Closest Comparison: It’s like Heroes Season 1 (2006) by way of Watchmen (2009)

Setting: Family Drama
Plot: Sci-Fi
Tone: Drama/Action

Mortal Engines - 2/5

This is a young adult book turned into a movie, and it is a mess. The story is poorly written, leaving many plot points confused with unsatisfactory explanations. The acting is passable but bland, better only than the writing which is equally dull. The only interesting parts of the movie were one single character, and the visuals. The costuming and vehicle design did a great job of building a world for the charactes to inhabit, if only there were a story and three-dimensional characters to go with them.