Tag: The Walking Dead: World Beyond

Spoiler-Free Review of “Resident Evil” (2022) on Netflix: Jam-packed but Entertaining!

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“The world ended a long time ago…”

Resident Evil premiered on Netflix on July 14th 2022. All eight episodes are available to stream now. The action horror series (based on the popular video game franchise) stars Lance Reddick, Ella Balinska, Tamara Smart, Siena Agudong, and Paola Núñez. Each episode runs for approximately 48-50 minutes.

Fourteen years after a deadly virus caused the apocalypse, Jade Wesker fights back to find a way to make a difference, revealing what happened to her father and sister back in the year 2022.

Here is the trailer:

Resident Evil brings us an intriguing story for one of the franchise’s most notorious villains while introducing us to a new timeline filled with plenty of Easter Eggs for fans of the franchise. Is this series worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

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Images courtesy of Netflix

All hail Lance Reddick!

I was already a huge fan of his. I loved him on Fringe and LOST, but wow was he fantastic as Albert Wesker. He brought so much to his character and performance and was the best part of the series for me!

There were some other standout characters as well, including young Jade and Billie. I thought both actresses did a really great job with what they were given and they were very believable as sisters.

Paola Núñez dominated in this series! I wanted her to get even more screen time because she was a scene stealer for sure!

For those of you concerned that you won’t be seeing the regular players featured in this new series, there are plenty of new characters to be excited about so don’t worry!

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Images courtesy of Netflix

A layered story with plenty of reveals worth sticking around for.

I appreciated that this series actually took the time to flesh out a well layered story. We even got some character development, which was sometimes missing from the films that favored the action scenes. In a way, this show felt like a mashup between zombie teen series like The Walking Dead: World Beyond (but better) and the previous Resident Evil films.

There were some really great reveals and if you feel confused at first, most things will be explained by the time you get to the end of the series.

There were also plenty of Easter Eggs for fans. I really liked that this series payed respect to the games while creating a new world of its own in the process.

The Cons:

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Images courtesy of Netflix

One timeline was a lot stronger than the other…

The series jumped back and forth between the 2022 and 2036 timelines, but I much preferred the 2022 one. I was fully invested in this timeline and every single time we jumped back to the 2036 one, it didn’t have the same impact and it interrupted the natural flow of the story.

I think this improved as the series went on and the connections to the future started to make more sense, but it severely slowed down the pacing in the earlier episodes, which was frustrating at times.

Most of the action took place in the 2036 timeline so it does have its moments, but I really enjoyed the story-line in the past a lot more.

So am I in or out?

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Images courtesy of Netflix

I’m in!!!

This series was far from perfect, but it was really entertaining and I LOVED the new characters. As long as you manage your expectations accordingly, you will find a lot to be excited about and I truly hope it gets picked up for a second season!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on Resident Evil (2022) in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

Scream Hunt is available here!

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Spoiler-Free Review of “The Walking Dead: World Beyond” on AMC: Walkers are now Empties

**This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!**

“We’re monuments to the past…but we are the future.”

The Walking Dead: World Beyond is the latest series in TWD universe. It will run for a limited time with two seasons, featuring 20 episodes in total. World Beyond stars Aliyah Royale, Nico Tortorella, and Alexa Mansour.

This series centers around a live-in compound where two sisters decide to explore life outside the walls in order to track down their long lost father, introducing them to threats and reveals along the way.

Here is the trailer:

If you are a fan of TWD, then you may be super excited to get another series added to the lineup of TWD (now approaching its 11th final season) and Fear TWD, which just started its sixth season, but we also know that there is a Rick Grimes film series coming our way and apparently a Daryl and Carol spin-off, so it may seem like the zombie apocalypse is never-ending.

The Walking Dead: World Beyond presents us with a young-adult centered cast, but does it do enough to keep you coming back for more? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

 

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Images courtesy of AMC

Connection to the three circles.

If you have been watching TWD, then you know there are a lot of questions and theories surrounding the mysterious three circle symbol. We get this talk about someone being an “A” or a “B” on TWD and Fear TWD has also featured a full episode devoted to this symbol so it is coming up again in World Beyond, which might give us more information and reveals to connect the dots.

Compelling flashbacks.

The flashbacks we witness are violent, raw, and emotional. I thought that they had the most action and deserved even more screen time. Sometimes you can learn everything you need to know about a character from them and we also get this somewhat interesting link between two of the main characters.

The Cons:

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Images courtesy of AMC

Having a young-adult focus is not enough.

There are certain shows that have really nailed the young adult vibe. Teenagers are thrown into the apocalypse and have to deal with this threat while handling their own issues. Shows that have done this well are Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Stranger Things.

But why were they so successful? It’s because they balanced the far-fetched supernatural components with everyday problems while allowing us to see all sides of the characters. The characters were far from perfect, but it worked and it gave the premise an authentic quality even in the midst of fantasy.

While this show has the set-up to follow this same formula, it is not connecting. Sending a group of teens on a mission needs more. Think of classic films like The Goonies and Stand by Me. There is humor and incredible bonds that form along the journey.

I’m not saying that World Beyond can’t get there, but it’s off to a slow start…

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Images courtesy of AMC

Uninspiring characters.

The acting isn’t bad on this show. In fact, I’m a big fan of Nico Tortorella (Younger, Scream 4, The Following). However, the characters are just kind of blah. The sister bond isn’t grabbing me the way it should and even when Nico’s character starts having an emotional dialogue during episode 2, it was a snooze fest. 

If I don’t care about the characters, I don’t care if the “empties” snack on them.

There’s still room for character growth, but I am losing interest.

So am I in or out?

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Images courtesy of AMC

Unfortunately I’m out on this one.

I am a long-time devoted fan of TWD franchise and I have watched every single season of TWD and Fear TWD even through its ups and downs, but I don’t want this to feel like a chore and so far it has felt that way.

Connecting the three circle mystery is not enough to keep this show going. While I appreciate that it will only run for a limited amount of time, there just isn’t enough going on to bring me in.

When I think back to the earlier seasons and even the pilot episodes of both TWD and Fear TWD, I remember being on the edge of my seat and completely shocked. That didn’t happen here. I think that perhaps the show should have started off with the earlier flashback to lure the viewer in, but there was not enough going on in either of the first two episodes to hold my attention.

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Walking Dead: World Beyond in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

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PLAY BY THE RULES…STAY ALIVE…

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A harmless night of fun turns deadly for six college friends but the game has only just begun. Take a mystery thrill ride right from your own living room. Dash and Seek is out now! I hope you enjoy!

READ IF YOU DARE…

Dash and Seek is available here!

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