Maniac (TV mini-series 2018) — Books, Films & Other Superheroes

OLGA’S NOTES:

Note1: By now you’ve probably realised by now that this blog is not about reviewing, as such. There are plenty enough people out there who are already doing a great job critiquing other people’s work; this blog is more about conveying the emotional responses and thought processes triggered into being by the story itself, stream-of-consciousness style.

In that vein, Maniac reminded me of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. Could it really be that all I believe myself and my life to be about is based on a mere memory? My likes, my hates, my scars, my believes, even the love I feel for my children, could all of it be taken away by the simple act of forgetting? On the other hand, what deeply buried feelings and memories may be pulling my strings from the shadows, forcing my choices and generally compelling me to act in a certain way, as I go about my daily business, convinced that I’m practicing the power of free-will?

Guess this is where the concept of Soul comes in. Guess I will never know for sure.

Note2: The sheer number of TV shows the Netflix Machine churns out is pretty damn flabbergasting. Some of it is so bad, it makes Helena puke and slam the laptop shut thirty seconds in. Most of it is mediocre, made for and watched by most people, which in turn makes for the most successful of Netflix offerings (Stanger Things, You, 13 Reasons Why). But some of them – a handful, I’d say, are perfect examples of storytelling. Maniac is one of them.

HELENA’S NOTES:

Note1: The only sci-fi I like is the Alien franchise (coz of Ripley, who’s totally my hero, and also coz another hero of mine, Joss Whedon, wrote the script for Alien: Resurrection), Back to the Future (I was only nine, and extremely gullible, to the point of kind of full on believing that time-travel portals existed, and that if only I could find one, I’d be able to go back and persuade my dad not to marry my mum, coz she’s so annoying), and Firefly/ Serenity, coz, well, if you know you know, and if you don’t, then literally shame on you.

Note2: I find the rest of sci-fi world pretty much as dull and soulless as that black hole the “scientists” claim to have captured through their they wish huge lens the other day. Robots: thank you next. Flying saucers: thank you next. General dystopia: THANK YOU NEXT.

Note3: Oh, I did like the original Blade Runner. And A Quiet Place. Loved Bird Box. And What Happened to Monday with Noomi Rapace. And I totally adored Maniac. To the point I think I’m now a little bit in love with both Emma Stone and Jonah Hill. I mean – Jonah Hill! Never thought I’d say that name out loud, let alone feel praise it. But now I suspect he’s probably the cleverest, tenderest, not to mention sexiest man in the world.

Otherwise, I despise sci-fi. Really. I’d rather eat my own snot than watch it.