Welcome

Welcome to my ever-evolving blog. It started out as a blog on Beachbody workouts and products, mainly when I was a Beachbody coach. I no longer coach, not because I don't believe in Beachbody's programs (I subscribe to Beachbody on Demand and use their workouts every day), I am just not a salesperson and hated that aspect of it. I am more than willing to answer questions about my experiences with their products and the various workouts, and I feel freer to do so without the appearance of giving a biased review of something.

I have also started adding reviews for various things I have purchased like movies, books, CDs, and other products. This was brought about by a fight with Amazon in which all of my reviews were removed over a completely bullshit allegation that I posted a review that violated their terms of service. After going back and forth with the morons in the community-reviews department (even after they admitted that my posts did not violate their guidelines) they restored my account (which took them six months to do), but I have been posting my reviews on my blog to have them preserved in case something like that happens again. And here, I will post uncensored reviews so I will swear from time to time and post reviews that may be longer than Amazon's character limit. Everything I post here on any topic or product is my personal opinion, and I take no compensation for any product reviews I post. I am a member of Amazon's vine program and because I get those products for free, I keep those reviews on Amazon only, but everything I have purchased with my own money, whether from Amazon or some other store/website/outlet, I will post here.  

I also plan to do some longer blog posts on various topics, such as how to learn physics, how to get through calculus, and longer reviews of workout programs as I do them. Basically, whatever strikes me as interesting at the time.  As you can see if you navigate around the blog, I had many years in between postings. During that time I was going back to school to get an engineering degree, and learning material that I avoided my first time through college was a different experience and one that gave me a lot of insight into how to do well in those classes, which I will try to impart here for those who are looking to get a science or engineering degree. 

Monday, May 2, 2022

Blu-Ray/TV Series Review: Dollhouse: Season 2

 


The second season of Dollhouse almost feels like two different shows. For part of the season, it is much the same story of the week kind of show that it was in the first. Then, once the announcement was made that the show would be canceled, it rushed to tell the "rest" of the story that would have been dragged out more over at least a couple more seasons had they got the chance to make them. The show was on thin ice after season one and it was brought back for a second season with a much-reduced budget so more of the show was shot on the set of the dollhouse and they rotated which of the series regulars appeared in which episodes. This season also saw other alums from Whedon's shows appear in recurring roles, specifically Summer Glau and Alexis Denisof. Dichen Lachman and Enver Gjokaj are really the standouts this season, and Alan Tudyk was great as Alpha in a couple of episodes he returned for.

For those who get the Blu-Ray set, there are commentary tracks on selected episodes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and a couple of making-of featurettes. Of course, the show was made before Whedon's fall from grace due to his awful treatment of (some) of the cast and crew on his various projects, so he is featured heavily in the extras. Whether that lessens your enjoyment of them or would make you avoid watching them is something you have to consider. But, in general, if you like watching the extras, there is a lot there.

Overall, the season was good, but because it was yet another show that was canceled before the story could really be told, felt rushed. You do get a good sense of how the show would have been wrapped up if it had been given a 4-5 season run, but it is not as satisfying because they had just a few episodes in which to end the series.

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