TV REVIEW: STRANGER THINGS 5

4/5

Inside Out

8 Episodes. Starring: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Brett Gelman, Priah Ferguson, Nell Fisher, Cara Buono, Linda Hamilton & Jamie Campbell Bower. Created By: The Duffer Brothers. On: Netflix. 

1.3.2.4.5. All things must pass, and after nine years, Netflix's most famous and successful show, 'Stranger Things', is all grown up with its fifth and final season coming to a close to conclude the calendar. One volume of these epic, eight wonder episodes came in the fall of November. Another unwrapped on Boxing Day after Christmas. And the final, mammoth, movie like, two-hour, last episode ever came with the countdown at 0.00 on New Year's Day. Way to bring in 2026 with a mic and ball drop. Your eyes will be streaming tears, like your nose, blood. 'Squid Game', 'Ozark', 'The Crown'. No Netflix original series has it quite like The Duffer Brothers (to the Russ Brothers what the Safdie's are to the Cohen's) coming of age series (assisted by 'Deadpool and Wolverine's' Shawn Levy), nuanced in 80s nostalgia. Not even 'Wednesday'. Dialled up to Eleven, even the 'never press skip intro' theme tune is the best in show, as the marvel of this book of closing credits will illustrate your inspiration for one last time. We hope these heroes have had the time of their lives. But it's never really over, now, is it? This year, the animated 'Stranger Things: Tales From '85' will do for the Upside Down what 'Squid Game US' will for the South Korean phenomenon. 

The Goonie gang is all here. All being pseudo parented by the legendary Winona Ryder, on fine form, and fan favourite David Harbour, licking his wounds after the Lily Allen album, but still drinking cop coffee out of a 'Father of the Year' mug. Stopping the hate, and turning into an X-Men like superhero in a jumpsuit, 'Enola Holmes' and the new member of the Bon Jovi family, Millie Bobby Brown is amazing as El, AKA, Eleven. Super powered and charged up for a formidable finale, as big and bloated as it is, bold and beautiful. All with the love of new 'Ghostbusters' and 'IT' franchise face Finn Wolfhard, taking charge, and telling us he's about to be welcomed back to Derry. The Dungeons and Dragons friends of Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin honouring Hellfire (EDDIE!) and their love's (sensational Sadie Sink about to show 'Spider-Man' a 'Brand New Day' and love?) love of Kate Bush respectively. Running up the hill and through Vecna's red room hellscape. Yet it's the sensitive, sweet soul of Noah Schnapp's wise Will that really finds himself, in more ways than one.

Triangles of love elsewhere keep this generational science fiction horror drama relating to the whole family...and all those they bring home. Natalia Dyer ('Velvet Buzzsaw') is still number one with an Emily Blunt in 'A Quiet Place' shotgun. In a house of wax with unsung hero Charlie Heaton, and still some sort of candle for Joe Keery (Steve "The Hair" Harrington being the new "Rachel"). Making music in his spare time, like Uma and Ethan's own Maya Hawke, all moxie, no nepo. You still suck if you think differently, baby! Yet it's the new kids on the block who are alright. Scene-stealer Priah Ferguson, really coming into her own. Or another little sister, Nell Fisher's Wheeler, makes her mark, with Red Riding Hood aesthetics, on this season, much more than most. And whilst we're here, let's give it up for the real 11 of 'Stranger Things', Cara Buono. Billy! We understand. 'Fleabag' favourite Brett Gelman is also on fire, snookums! And, the most famous new face, 'Terminator' icon Linda Hamilton, commands, albeit if a little underutilized. Even Prince's music keeps up with appearances for a show that sounds so good, even Frank Darabont came out of retirement.

Yet the cult favourite, and new Hollywood heartthrob, Jamie Campbell Bower is the one pinning up and possessing hearts. Albeit, not in his burnt spaghetti and worms form. I'm still of the ilk that thinks the Demogorgon, and those damn, dirty Demodogs, are iconic enough, even if they do look like, you know. Still, Vecna and that voice that have been haunting the penultimate, and this, the one last dance of 'Stranger Things 5', do make for something straight out of the John Carpenter like 1980s, like these chapter's type. Honestly, I can't stand that "noseless bastard", but isn't that makes for the perfect boo and hiss bad guy? Sure, there are other problems here. At times, this last season, finally showing signs of running out of steam, can be a slog. There's only so many times you can hear enhanced sound on literally everything. Opening a door. Putting something on the table. And what's with the murder of so many military men? Yet 'Stranger Things' is so iconic, the WSQK radio, and 'The Squak' (that you can actually listen to) is about to be, too, like those old vintage sweaters. And a massive, monumental monster end has even more legs in the meaning that follows. Still the best thing. Strange days forever. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Stranger Things: Tales From '85', 'Squid Game', 'IT: Welcome To Derry'.

STAND-UP REVIEW: RICKY GERVAIS - MORTALITY

3/5

Dead Funny 

59 Mins. Starring: Ricky Gervais. Director: John L Spencer. On: Netflix.

Morality may be missing in Ricky Gervais' new Netflix special, 'Mortality', but it's still a jolly good show. Even if we aren't always willing to be bloody good sports. Released after Christmas, just in time for the New Year, and in-between all those final 'Stranger Things' volumes, Ricky Gervais' 'Mortality' doesn't make any resolutions to tone down its darkest of dark humour and discriminatory subjects. Just like 'The Unstoppable...' surprise from fellow comedian of the type, Dave Chappelle, a week earlier and a few days before December 25th. As a matter of fact, Ricky resolves to go even harder against his harshest critics and communities he rubs up, on and off (ooo-err) the wrong way. Not to mention the comics who are calling him out.

Interchangeable with his 'Armageddon (2023)' and 'Supernature (2022)' specials before. Much like Ricky's cupboard of Primani, nondescript coffee shop worker, black t-shirts. The man, with dirty angel wings that Natalie Portman's 'Black Swan' would be proud of, is back to his old tricks. So much so, you could almost copy and paste a previous review, like you could use a promotional photograph from a past performance. But we're not saying that's a bad thing. If it ain't broke and all that. And this multimillionaire, like Chappelle, is far from that. This old dog knows new tricks, mind you. Especially as he discusses his own mortality, to hell with his place in the entertainment world. Similar to how Sebastian Maniscalo, who recently made the Netflix jump to Disney Plus, talks about walking past the mirror, past 50, in his new special. 'It Ain't Right'. And we all got it to come. But Gervais is staring into the abyss of what could be it. Life (he's not ready for the hereafter just yet, thank God) and legacy.

One that's being taken to task by cancel culture and all those offended. I mean, there are jokes about Anne Frank, Stephen Hawking and Jimmy Saville. The first two, are done in good jest, and not directly about them. The latter, can rot. The same can be said for his bit about Harold Shipman, which really reminds us of true evil and what a terrible place this world can be. A stand-up comedian just joking, one whose made sweet, sombre and soulful pieces of comedy art (like 'Afterlife'), truly pales in comparison to this devil red. Come for his response to all those comments (even if you might not like what he has to say). Stay for his behind the scenes look at the last, infamous Golden Globe's monologue that torched Hollywood. Not to mention anybody who ever took a trip to that infamous island. Face it, that James Cordon 'Cats' joke was absolutely hilarious, and Ricky will tell you how he got away with it here. No other mortal man could pull off quite a feat like this against 'I' dotting and 'T' crossing lawyers. No other, except this one. Call Gervais a disgrace if you must, but Ricky's reality check comedy is something we all need in a world gone mad. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: Dave Chappelle - 'The Unstoppable...', Ricky Gervais - 'Armageddon', Ricky Gervais - 'Supernature'.

TV REVIEW: STAR WARS - VISIONS (Season 3)

4/5

スター・ウォーズ.

9 Episodes. Starring: Masaki Terasoma, Daisuke Namikawa, Takako Honda, Manaka Iwami, Aki Toyosaki, Anna Sawai, Ronny Chieng, Karen Fukuhara, Freddie Highmore, George Takei, Harvey Guillén, Jodie Turner-Smith, Judith Light, Simu Liu, Stephanie Hsu & Steve Buscemi. Created By: Kanako Shirasaki. On: Disney +.

The anime anthology of Kanako Shirasaki's 'Star Wars-Visions' finds the high ground once again, in its third season, by returning to the format of being solely produced by Japanese anime studios. The second season was varied and fun, but this third time is the charm of taking us back to the outstanding origins. Culture and animation meet like two lightsabres striking each other, just like in the return of 'The Duel', in groundbreaking, grainy black and white, for some perfect 'Payback' you never saw coming. One that will add some more 'Star Wars' lore to these calligraphy like brushstrokes of our Ronin, a samurai without a master, but with a couple of Jedi in his corner. A new classic with a worthy sequel. Then, on 'The Song Of Four Wings', a princess, who could give Studio Ghibli's Laputa a run for her rebelliousness, takes you through a terrific, tundra trip, ripped with some video game soundtrack and some cute companions. Not to mention her own X-Wing jetpack and the best look at AT-ATs since they were lassoed up like Spider-Man. This is how anime can even take Star Wars to strange new worlds...wait, wrong franchise.

And if you thought she was heroic, and those androids, adorable, then just you wait for the force of 'The Ninth Jedi' to be with you, and its own saga beginning. All for more parts and spin-offs for this amazing anthology of separate storytelling with strands of plot longer than soba in this soup. To be continued with the next part's episode, but not before there's an even bigger bounty to have and be hunted in an epic episode voiced internationally by 'Shogun' star Anna Sawai and classic comedian Ronny Chieng. Making for a compelling pairing, we'd love to see in live action. Hey, Disney are doing it with everything and everyone else. 'Yuko's Treasure' is a real, fond find which shows you what it would be like if 'Star Wars' met 'Ghibli', like Grogu and those Dust Bunnies, and starred a 'SpyxFamily' like Anya. And we even have a neighbouring character, cuter than Totoro. This will really move you in the only hope of the end. Voiced by Masaki Terasoma, Daisuke Namikawa, Takako Honda, Manaka Iwami, Aki Toyosaki, and the likes of Freddie Highmore, George Takei, Harvey Guillén, Jodie Turner-Smith, Judith Light, Simu Liu, Stephanie Hsu and Steve Buscemi internationally, these Japanese roots reach to galaxies far, far away.

Now, if you're feeling like 'The Lost Ones', then the outstretched hand of a real hero will help you, in this atmospheric animation from Kinema Citrus Co. Especially when it peels back the layers to find the fruit of the past. As perfect as the poster, this episode between 'Revenge' and 'Hope', internationally stars Karen Fukuhara of 'The Boys' and 'Bullet Train' fame, and focuses on mentor and apprentice relationships that will cut you more times than Anakin. A worthy sequel in matrimony to 'The Village Bride'. Smuggling more on the seventh episode, like an awakening force, for the shortest part of the set, but one that could hold so much more in its series future. Produced by Studio Trigger and first announced during the Star Wars Celebration in Japan in April, this one rescuing a fugitive is a runaway hit. Fighting and taking flight through Star Wars history and its own visionary legacy. Then, the penultimate part, 'The Bird Of Paradise', shows you real sight through the third eye of a Jedi Padawan blinded in battle. These trails and parts will take you through yours, with proverb affirmation, as we head into the New Year of the Fire Horse. All before 'BLACK' fades to anything but. A psychedelic, fever dream devoid of dialogue, but one that speaks volumes as one of the most visionary yet. And now we have 'The Ninth Jedi' ('Star Wars Visions Presents') anime to look forward to. Sound and vision. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'Star Wars: The Bad Batch', 'Love, Death + Robots', 'What If...?'.