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TV Stock: Summer shows off to great start with 'Master of None,' 'Samurai Jack' and 'Twin Peaks'
Associated Press Producer Sabrina S. Sutherland, second left, Emily Stofle, director David Lynch actor Kyle MacLachlan, and Desiree Gruber, left, pose for photographers upon arrival at the screening of the TV show "Twin Peaks" at the 70th international film festival, Cannes, France, Thursday, May 25, 2017.
GUS HUNNINGHAKE @gushunninghake
Well, folks, it's time. My reprieve from the Stock couldn't be stifled for long, and luckily for all of us TV watchers, the content being released has yet to slow down in quality.
"MASTER OF NONE". TRENDING UP
Whenever a show as acclaimed as this one gets picked up for another season, my nerves almost always kick in. Shows, like films, almost never hold their value or improve upon what them made, especially if the narrative formula is unique or different, like "Master of None." With season two however, creators Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang took almost two years to create another season, indicating time and care were taken to ensure a story worth telling.
The series kicks right off of where season one left viewers, with Dev in Italy learning how to make pasta and trying to sort out personal life struggles.
His eventual move back to New York leads Dev on a path that opens up discussions about religion, Thanksgiving, first dates, working with all kinds of different people and falling in love with a woman who's already taken.
Ansari has honed in on his craft as a storyteller, once again delivering a batch of 10 short stories that all share small connections in one way or another. His ability to write season-long character arcs is unparalleled, and each episode delivers an emotionally resonant story that puts "Master of None" into a level of quality all its own.
"SAMURAI JACK:
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Perhaps one of the finest examples of how well animation can deeply reflect human themes, "Samurai Jack" concluded its final season just a couple of weeks ago.
I last talked about this show after its premiere a couple of months back, and my surprise and awe with the season's track continued all the way to the series finale. Jack's adventure in the future devastated by Aku feels lived in and dirty, and every time the end looks obvious, various twists occur that keep viewers guessing. Jack is a truly lonely man, and each episode reflects the pain he endures while dredging through the hand he was dealt in life. New characters affect his view on the world, but the series' end still finds a way to tug at viewers' heart strings and lets us know that even
in good times, Jack will always find struggle, which feels oddly reflective of the world we live in now.
It's sad to see sucn a good show end, but on the flip side of that, it's good to see a show know its limits and end on as high of a note as possible.
Damn, I forgot how absolutely insane this series was. For those
"TWIN PEAKS."
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who've never seen the original seasons of "Twin Peaks," I do highly recommend watching them before the new episodes. That said, don't go in expecting anything. Don't read up on the show, don't learn about characters — just go in blind. It's the only way to truly appreciate the genre-bending mystery series. Spoilers ahead.
Premiere episode "Part 1" reveals that Dale Cooper is still trapped in
the Black Lodge. His evil doppelganger is traveling through South Dakota, picking up Ray and Darya, associates of an unknown connection. Sam Colby is in New York, watching a glass box for unknown reasons and the Log Lady tells Deputy Chief Hawk that something relating to Cooper has gone missing.
If this sounds confusing, don't worry. I've seen the original seasons, and I'm no less lost than anyone else who
just read my attempted summary. That said, the show's continued mystical elements have returned in fine fashion. Creator David Lynch's direction is on point throughout the episode, the overarching mysteries of past seasons have come back in full swing and the series looks to continue being its weird, self-absorbed, auteurfocused self for its limited Showtime run.