Disclaimer: There may be spoilers below, so if any of the content pictured below is of interest, proceed with caution.
This series is loosely based on the novels of the same name, following a mage, her warder, and a group of reluctant adventures that might be destined for greater things. A world of magic and combat, the series does well in portraying the casting of a magic spell. Through the first season we are introduced to several key players, groups, politics, and races. We learn that women can channel magic and for a man to do so is just not a good thing. Like the books, parts are slow and get bogged down leaving you desiring a bit more of the 'Dungeons & Dragons' aspect; combat, monsters, and adventure. Like many fantasy book series of that era, season one essentially leaves us with a "the princess is in another castle" vibe to set up season two.
This is a surprisingly compelling series that gives us what many dub a messiah that may represent a second coming of a higher power. Perhaps the best aspect is how the show does a wonderful job keeping you guessing; back and forth, wondering if the show will portray Al-Masih as a messiah or if he is a con man. Investigated and followed by a CIA officer, wonderfuly played by Michelle Moanaghan, the story takes us around the world as Al-Masih (masterfully played by Mehdi Dehbi) appears to perform miracles. Quickly finding himself on the radar of the CIA, FBI, and Mossad, Al-Masih also finds many allies including a faith-shaken pastor from a tiny town in Texas. This was a rare show that had me eagerly looking forward to the next episode to see where it would go.
It seems like this movie is trying to invoke a sense of Bladerunner to me, but falling short. The entire location of the movie is suggested to be this big zone where AI robots built for pleasure are legal, but it feels like the movie happens in five sets. The entire plot could have been wrapped up in 10 minutes but it is drawn out with a lot of extraneous scenes. Ones that were intended to add gravity to the plot, but simply didn't. Matilda Anna Ingrid Lutz does a nice job portraying an AI robot that feels emotions and wants something better. If you are into the dystopian / AI genre, might be worth a watch.
A high-end robbery crew in France find themselves in the middle of a turf war between rival drug organizations. In addition to the war, the leader of the group (Mehdi) must work with a group of amateur criminal kids to save loved ones. Family dynamics and positioning plague one family organization while there are trust issues between the two criminal groups stuck in the drug empires. Unlike many U.S. series that keep everyone around, this show isn't afraid to unexpectedly kill people off. For those who enjoy the heist/crime drama genre, this is an enjoyable show. Note that the show is out of France, so subtitles are likely needed.
