Sharp Objects

Excellent cast and acting, especially from Amy Adams. For most of this Series the writers and director were dramatic hacks. I was not amused by the numerous pointless camera cuts and flash scenes. The end was telegraphed many times. The overall story was engaging, but too many details are just shameless and pointless misdirections. Many scenes served little to no purpose other than to frustrate the viewer. The ending was entirely out of character for everyone.

not so good

This was sooo good! The characters, the writing, but also the brilliant directing, editing and diegetic music that created this really visceral, build-up oriented emotional and affecting storytelling. Yeah, it's also hardcore and brutal, but women are seldom allowed to be that BAD. Great show all around.

The "confront the demons of the past" trope has been with us for twenty years and is mucho sucko because it is lazy writing. Instead of character, everyone has a sad backstory. This series instead is about the confused role of women in society, whether they become tyrants or doormats, and how this affects everyone else. I didn't like the anti-rural and anti-southern bigotry, but thought Patricia Clarkson has invented the most terrifying narcissistic mother character ever. Adams is good too.

Another HBO miniseries that was nearly good. It started REALLY slow, which almost made me stop watching it. Add to that the predictable unoriginal bleakness of police/crime shows... It somehow got better, halfway, thanks to Amy's performance of a broken human being. The editing was... interesting. The psychological abuse was very well portrayed by the great Patricia Clarkson. The ending was a bit unexpected but it's was too little too late. Eliza Scanlen is a rising star, she's incredible.

Rollergirls: constantly annoying since 1997

Great acting and mood creation all the way through till the second half of the 7th episode. The whole series as far as tempo, style and logic falls apart for the finale (during the last 1.5 episode). The ending is frustratingly stupid.

Mother-daughter relationships can be so fun. Just like Gillian's Gone Girl, this really 'goes there', uncompromising and not sunshiney about how the inhabitants of this sleepy small town relate to each other. Expressive editing and a snap twist at the very end also add to this dreamy and unforgettable experience.

Meandering series has some interesting directorial choices to its credit (at its best showing vividly how we navigate fragmented memories, with different elements tripping over each other); the competing murder subplot which is dealt with far more literally is at loggerheads with the fragmented style; the constant push-pull is disorienting. It also doesn't help that the seedy, overwrought world it evokes is not a pleasant place to spend 8 hours. Adams' reliably solid anchor is another highlight.

??ADULT Slow ??TV: Dark & subtly unsettling as book & as good as can imagine. Growing unease ?d + sick truths hinted by quick cuts (sorry!), flicking flashbacks, memories, hallucinations, etc | ?: Difficult role of Ama's queasy 2 watch 'mommy's spoilt little angel/overly-sexualized alpha mean-girl' is V smartly portrayed by actress; who hope 2 hell is not only 13! | Shades of True D. S1 | Whole cast: V Fine, partic 3 lady leads. Amy A??: Great casting & performance