Necrotongue

The sixth episode marks a bit of a creative hiccup. It kicked off with a bang - action galore, and a plot that had me on the edge of my seat. But then, things took a nosedive. I've given props before for avoiding those filler episodes, but the whole graveyard camping scene felt like exactly that. And don't even get me started on the missed opportunity with Storri...

It’s clear the creators are determined to keep my spirits high throughout the third season. This episode had everything: an engaging plot, a brisk pace, plenty of intrigue and strategizing, and an excellent atmosphere. And just when I thought it couldn’t get any better, the ending hit, leaving me wanting to punch my fists into the mattress.

It feels like I'm repeating myself, but how could I dock a star when this episode was so packed with action? The previous one was more talk than anything else, but this time the creators went all in on the medieval action, really bringing the period to life. The ending even managed to surprise me.

Third episode in, and I'm still totally satisfied. Usually, I dock points for endless, pointless chatter, but this episode was all dialogue and somehow still nailed it. Every conversation felt essential, keeping things clear and interesting. No boredom here = 5*.

The second episode ramped up the action and intrigue, just as I hoped. While die-hard action fans might not be totally blown away, I loved every bit of the constant deception, manipulations, and scheming that feel so true to the medieval setting. The creators really know how to play this game, and it’s a thrill to watch.

"I am Uhtred, son of Uhtred..."—almost as iconic as "I'll be back!" Uhtred is back after a year, and he's not messing around. I thought the episode would be heavy on dialogue, but the creators dove straight into the action. The pacing was spot on, the medieval vibe was fantastic, and I had a blast watching it.

Like the previous season, I'm giving this one four stars, although it is considerably weaker. It lacks the excellent atmosphere that I liked so much at the beginning of the series. Instead, it is filled with humor which didn't amuse me much and made me dislike Sheriff Jim Hopper. The creators turned him into a comic character, which I don’t think was a step in the right direction.

I was really put off by the attempt to tug at my heartstrings. That kind of stuff always gets to me. I was ready to give it just three stars, but Suzie and Dustin's cover of Limahl's hit song turned things around for me.

The episode was actually pretty solid, but Sheriff Hopper's character development really let me down. It's a shame to see him reduced to a second-rate comedian/masochist.

What was that all about? The episode is supposed to be Drama/Fantasy/Horror/Mystery/Thriller, but it felt more like a bad comedy. There was no atmosphere, no tension, and the evil Soviets were practically a joke. A pretty disappointing watch overall. 3*-