RANDOM ACTS OF FLYNESS

Part comedy/documentary/art/musical and so much more, Random Acts of Flyness represents the colorful thoughts of Terence Nance and his opinion on the widely spread black fear in America. Nance films himself riding his bike peacefully through town, giving a brief introduction to the show when he gets chased down by a white cop and the screen turns black. There’s a situation shown in which a black man, completely lost in his own reverie, fails to distinguish between his car and another white lady’s car, promptly entering hers before realizing that the woman standing outside had called the cops. “Everybody Dies!” a children’s show in which a woman sneers at the camera as she sings sweetly tuned songs about how the never ending fear of death is justified.

None of these situations end positively. Why? Because Random Acts of Flyness wants to bring awareness to things like this and wants its white viewers to somehow empathize with them. It’s also because scenarios like these never end up positively in reality either. At the same time, the show does not desire becoming an educational platform or something like that, instead it pauses in the middle of scenes and says, “Address whiteness less, affirm blackness more.” It’s my favorite part, actually. Not only that, but it is so visually aesthetic and pleasing, having so much to look at and focus on.

Random Acts of Flyness intends to stand out and I believe that that is exactly what it is doing; surpassing all categories and making one of its own.

Rating: 3.5 Stars

QUEEN AMERICA

Vicki (Zeta-Jones) is a coach for beauty pageants, famously known for her brutal tactics and behavior in the industry. However, it is this characteristic of hers that turns these beautiful women into global winners. Due to the close timing of their release and similar genres, it is difficult not to compare it to Insatiable. With Insatiable being a complete disaster from beginning to end, Queen America is evidently way better regardless of how boring it is.

Once Hayley (Victoria Justice) enters the scene, Vicki is constantly breathing down her neck, reminding her to avoid eating as much as possible and to work out until she passes out. Obviously, the series does not shy away from stereotypes and clichés. Poor Vicki gets stressed more often than not and her way of coping is through binge-eating. Not to mention, she has a hostile relationship with Bella (Isabella Amara), her niece whom she secretly wishes to leave an impression on, and Katie (Molly Price), her sister.

What I do like about Queen America is that it does not only focus on the neative pointers of the pageant industry (body shaming, etc.), but it also provides many positive opportunities. This positivity comes in the form of Samantha (Belle Shouse), a naïve but self-aware, new-to-the-game beauty pageant. Her goal isn’t the crown, but the scholarship that comes with it.

With stereotypes comes predictability, like Vicki’s best friend being gay. Is it some sort of trend now? Another thing I genuinely appreciated about the show is that it proved that these beauty pageants aren’t only about being the prettiest or winning a crown, they serve as a platform for several other things – like Samantha trying to prove herself as smart. Zeta-Jones is also a great actor and her talent is visible in scenes of fury.

With only three episodes out till now, the third grasping more of my attention with the appearance of Judith Light, I believe Queen America can truly make something out of itself.

Rating: 2.5 Stars

THE KOMINSKY METHOD

The Kominsky Method is a comedy show, taking place in LA and focusing on two elderly men, Michael Douglas as Sandy Kominsky, a popular acting teacher and actor, and Norman Newlander (Alan Arkin) works as Sandy’s agent as well as best friend. There’s a certain complexity about the understanding of the world, it’s believed to be foolish, but at the same time one would appreciate more participation in it. With the constant nagging in voice in their brain telling them that time would not wait for them and their quickly approaching death, Norman and Sandy have way too many frustrations to keep hidden inside.

The young ones are thought to have too many problems to count, not an inch of their body appreciates true art, they are in need of constant appreciation and so much more. Sandy is quite concerned about the fact that the only thing that’s failing isn’t his body, but his life too. Majority of the students he teaches are imbeciles and he still has not gotten married. Norman, on the other hand, has lost all hope for survival. After the death of his wife, he’s been contemplating his existence and the reason behind it. Together, the two merge their inconveniences with dry humor, cracking jokes about how shitty their life is.

For some reason, Phoebe (Lisa Edelstein, shown as Norman’s daughter) has been created in such a way that she’s a complete wreck. She’s not some teenager to be straggling into her mother’s funeral and causing problems for her already miserable father. It seems as though the show has no idea on what to do with her existence.

There’s so much against Norman in the series, it’s sad. Isn’t The Kominsky Method supposed to be about two old men and their growing problems? So why was the inclusion of Phoebe even made? Norman’s already at his worst, maybe he should’ve been created as at least better than Phoebe.

As much as I loved the show, it was nearly impossible not to notice how self absorbed the characters were becoming and how worldly affairs were constantly providing a hindrance to Norman and Sandy’s lifestyle. Maybe it’s time for The Kominsky Method to introduce something new.

Rating: 3 Stars