The First Half of 2023: a Review of Everything

July 2, 2023

It's been a hot minute since my [last post]({{< ref "posts/witcher-world-map" >}} "Witcher World Map"), hasn't it? Since July 2nd marks the halfway point of the year, I thought it interesting to go through every piece of media I enjoyed over these last 6 months. I organize them by type (movies, series, books, and games), ordered in roughly chronological order. It is not perfect, since some of these might have taken me months to go through, while some others were finished in a couple of hours. Alas.

Movies

I haven't watched that many movies this year, much to my chagrin, but the ones I have were either highly enjoyable or old favourites:

The Hobbit Trilogy: while generally regarded as being bad movies and a bad adaptation (not without merit), I have to admit I love these movies. Maybe because it was because they came out during my formative years. I will never forget going to the theatre to watch Battle of the Five Armies, and back then I thought I was experiencing history: the last Tolkien movie we would ever see in cinemas. 8 years later, that is no longer so certain, as while we have no new movie adaptations, we do have Rings of Power (a show I did not like, but that is a discussion for another time). Last year I wasn't feeling very well over the New Year's, and I stumbled upon a video explaining speeduns of the Hobbit game from 2003. That video made me want to rewatch the trilogy, which I did over the New Year's, and that helped me so much that I thought to try the same this year again - a tradition I think will be upheld going forward. Anyway, not much to say about this one. They're bad movies that I absolutely love, and that's alright in my book.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy: this follows the same exact pattern: back in '22 I watched them 2 weeks after the Hobbit, and this year I did the same thing again. Yet another yearly tradition was born. If I hadn't much to say about the Hobbit movies, then I have really nothing to add about LotR. You know they're good, and watching them is a medicine for the soul.
Arrival: a fantastic sci-fi movie that starts off as deceitfully by-the-book, but then provides an incredible twist that you can unravel yourself as you go along - all while looking absolutely stunning. You cannot go wrong with Dennis Villeneuve. It is based on Ted Chiang's short story Story of Your Life, which I actually started reading but then sort of forgot about. Either way, I'm told it's even better than the movie, which is a tall order.
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: I'm pretty much done with superhero movies, and I don't really know why I decided to watch this in the first place. I must have been profoundly bored, I guess. Regardless, I did not enjoy this. Bloated with tie-ins to future Marvel content (the Iron-Man wannabe girl), a cast of characters that is unconvincing and a by-the-book story. And, worst of all, it's just not memorable in the slightest, so much so that I am struggling to remember enough to base this mini-review on. Between this and the Multiverse of Madness, I don't know what Marvel is doing. I did enjoy Thor: Love and Thunder a lot, though, so I guess I'm not exactly looking for quality either. I just want a fun popcorn movie to entertain me for a couple of hours, and Marvel has been sorely lacking in that as of late.
Avatar 2: The Way of Water: I watched the first Avatar back in December, when this one came out. I waited almost 3 months to see it in theatres, and... It's fine. I'm fully convinced Avatar is purely meant to be a feast for the eyes, as the story doesn't seem to be going anywhere particularly clever, despite being way too long. This applies to both the original and the new movie.
Star Trek 2, 3 and 4: I'm joining these up in the same review because they form a trilogy of sorts. I haven't watched them since I first did so, 10 years ago, and after having rewatched - and greatly enjoyed - The Motion Picture late last year, I decided to keep it going. Sadly, I did not enjoy Wrath of Khan that much. Maybe it's because I watched the first half when I was extremely sleepy, and only resumed it some 2 months later; or maybe it just didn't connect with me as much as it did originally. Honestly, though, I can't quite recall the plot that well, so I'll attribute it to the former, and abstain from more comments. The Search For Spock was an interesting one: back in the day I thought it was a desperate case of course-correction (today we'd call it a "somehow, Palpatine returned" moment), but the journey more than makes up for it. Them killing Kirk's son so nonchalantly is also an underrated case of course correction, and a hilarious one at that. And then you have The Voyage Home, which is pure, unmitigated fun. A classic by any measure.
The Super Mario Bros. Movie: I never liked Mario that much. In fact, I've always seen the franchise as nothing more than cynical corporate mascots, that could be shoehorned into just about any kind of game to make them sell better. I have sampled some of those games over the years (particularly the platformers), and while they're well made, I've never bothered finishing them because I did not care about the world. As such, it came as a great surprise to me how much I enjoyed this movie. They took many tidbits from Mario games over the years, and built a cohesive world for those bits to inhabit - all while looking absolutely stunning. I'm not a fan of the isekai element (i.e., Mario and Luigi being transported from Earth to the Mushroom Kingdom), but that's a creative choice, and not a fault of the movie per se. I'd definitely be back for the inevitable sequel.
Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves: we end on another high note: this movie was pretty much made for me. A high fidelity, extremely fun romp through the Forgotten Realms? Sign me up. My experience with DnD comes mostly from Baldur's Gate and other CRPGs, and that was enough to make me fall in love with this movie. We need more standalone, relatively low stakes fantasy movies, and I hope this is the first of many, Forgotten Realms or otherwise.

And I think that's all. Not that many movies at all, but alas. I've been busy. In terms of new releases, I'm looking forward to the new Indiana Jones movie (which is already out at the time of writing) and Dune Part 2. In terms of catching up with my backlog, I plan on continuing my Star Trek movie rewatch, and also add in the TNG movies, which I never saw. I also want to watch Alien 3 and Resurrection, plus whatever else comes my way. I'm in a sci-fi mood!

TV Series

Similarly to the movies, not much to report here:

The Last of Us: a brilliant adaptation, that shows exactly how a story should change to fit the medium. I really loved this one, in part due to having played the games alongside it for the first time (something that was a bit of a coincidence, as I started playing TLOU 1 around the same time, as I had found TLOU 2 for really cheap. I was unbeknownst that the series was coming out at the same time!). More on that in the games section, but I am extremely curious to see how they'll adapt the second game.
Chernobyl: off the heat of TLOU, I decided to check out Craig Mazin's other work, and Chernobyl was the obvious choice. Not much to report here: it blends fact with fiction in a way that is as entertaining as informative. A blueprint for other docuseries to follow.
The Legend of Vox Machina (season 2): I was extremely impressed by TLoVM last year, when it debuted, so much so I started watching Critical Role (which lasted for a whole 8 episodes). I was a bit too mentally busy at the time the second season came out, though, and took me a while to get on the groove, and watch the episodes as they were coming out... but eventually I did, and I loved it as much as the previous season. Similarly to the DnD movie, it's great to see these straightforward, but extremely compelling fantasy stories be put on screen, with brilliant characters and beautiful visuals. I also decided to go down the CR rabbit hole again, and restarted Campaign 3... only to give up again some 11 episodes in. I've recently resumed it, though, as I came to see it as the perfect background noise track. Reading the recap after each episode really helps solidify it!
The Expanse (seasons 2 and 3): I started the expanse in January last year, when I got sick (remember the Hobbit movies?). I watched season 1 back then, but then when I got better I just couldn't go back - it reminded me of being sick, and I didn't want none of it. With enough distance, though, I decided to finally go back to it, and I am so glad I did: this is pure sci-fi television. There's a running theme here of me praising the visuals, and that applies to the Expanse too. I even read the Origin comic, and bought the other comic that is set between seasons 4 and 5. I haven't continued with the series yet due to a self-inflicted hiatus, as it was somehow feeling like too much of a good thing. But I'll get there someday.
Star Trek: Picard (season 3): isn't it incredible how a series can make you nostalgic for a 30 year old series you've never watched? That's how Picard made me feel. In a way, it's baffling how it took them 2 seasons of doing absolutely nothing of interest to get to this point. There's a lot of nostalgia bait going on recently, but I hazard this is how you should do it. I could feel how momentous it was, even though I only know most of these characters from reading Wiki entries. I'm glad this series was salvaged in its last season. It gives me hope for others in the same situation.
The Mandalorian (season 3): I'm very dissapointed in this one. I don't think it did much wrong, but after waiting over 2 years for this, I am left with a sour taste in my mouth. It's incredible how this season spent so many episodes doing absolutely nothing, only to resolve one of its major premises in the last 2 episodes or so. See it in this way: back in seasons 1 and 2, I could remember exactly what happened in each of the episodes. They were unique enough for me to differentiate them. This season, though? I can barely remember what happened in the first half of the season, and much less what happened in each of the episodes. Is the one where the pirates attack Nevarro the 4th or the 5th? No idea. Not that it matters much, that seems to be setup for another Disney+ series (the same problem as Marvel, incidentally). The series ended with Mando and the little guy retired in Nevarro, which seems sort of definitive - but not earned. Mandalore was taken back in two episodes, and just like that, most plot points of the series are resolved. I complained about Dave Filoni's Star Wars [in the past]({{< ref "posts/star-wars-tales-jedi-review" >}} "TOTJ Review"), and I am quite weary of what is coming out of his little corner of the universe, with the upcoming film and whatnot. But at the same time, I am crazy excited for Ahsoka, so who is the greater fool?
The Witcher (season 3): technically only the first half (5 episodes) are out at the time of writing, having released just a few days ago. I have finished watching them, and I quite liked it. I think it felt way too short, which is obviously due to the missing 3 episodes, but I think a better stopping point would have been to leave the 5th episode for the second half. The season matches the book it is adapting, Time of Contempt, much more closely than season 2 did, and I am happy with that. There is, of course, a lot of added and expanded plotlines and scenes, but I am not bothered by any of those so far. Full review coming upon the release of the second half.

And I think that's it. I technically finished watching Breaking Bad this year, but most of it I watched in December, so I won't count it. I'm currently making my way through Shadow and Bone season 2, which is another fun romp, as well as Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, as one episode comes out each week. I also need to finish season 2 of Star Wars Visions, and I am already extremely impressed by the episodes I saw (Screecher's Reach might be one of my favourite Star Wars things ever). I also have watched the first episode of Carnival Row, and while I did enjoy it, it didn't grab me enough to return. I won't rule it out, but it's definitely one of those series I'll only touch if I have time to kill and nothing else better to do. As for the future? Besides finishing these series, The Expanse, I am thinking about doing a Wheel of Time season 1 rewatch in preparation for season 2. [That season]({{< ref "posts/wot-season-1-review" >}} "WOT S1 Review") and [The Witcher season 2]({{< ref "posts/witcher-season-2-review" >}} "Witcher S2 Review") kickstarted this blog, and it is only fitting if I devote some time to that. I'm also considering yet another rewatch of the Witcher before the second half of season 3 drops, though that is a large time investment (and I rewatched season 2 late last year, so it's still relatively fresh in my mind). We'll see, but I'm definitely in a Witcher mood right now.

Books

My biggest shame. I'm still struggling with resurrecting my reading habit, and I've read one measly book this first half of 2023:

The Hobbit: yes, of course it was this one. I started after my trilogy rewatch over the New Year's, and finished it midway through June. Shambolic. I don't even have anything to say about it, other than that it's fine, and I like the prose and tone, which are clearly very much geared at (smart) children. The only remark that jumps to my mind is how detailed Tolkien is with his geography, always describing where X is in relation to Y and to the cardinal points. If the book didn't come with a map, you'd be able to piece one together fairly well based on his descriptions.

Currently I am reading Season of Storms, the standalone Witcher book, and the only one I haven't read yet. Obviously, I've been put in the mood by the recent Witcher season, but I'm also tying it back to my big (and failed) Witcher venture late last year, when I finished Lady of the Lake and started a playthrough of the games - I finished Witcher 1, but abandoned Witcher 2 around Christmas. More about that in the videogame section.

As for other books, I've had a false start with Brandon Sanderson's Tress of the Emerald Sea, but I'll get on that soon enough. Sanderson is a great summer read.

Videogames

Ah, this is the big one. After growing increasingly dissapointed and fed up with PC gaming, I focused my attention on consoles, and on my love of hunting for achievements - or, in this case, trophies, since I mostly stuck to PlayStation. You can even see my trophies here! I'm going to be brief with these, and skip some of the smaller games I went through, as well as those where the majority of the playthrough happened in years prior. I'm organizing them by platform:

PS3

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: I loved this game back in the day, when I was a Potterhead, and already back then I wanted to get the achievements (which I couldn't, because I had the PC version). It just so happened that Hogwarts Legacy released this year, and while I have zero interest in giving money to JK Rowling, seeing all of the buzz surrounding the game put me in the mood for checking out an old favourite.

Telltale's Game of Thrones: this was my first Telltale game, and what a great experience it was. I just wish I had played this when I was doing my [Game of Thrones rewatch]({{< ref "posts/game-of-thrones-rewatch" >}} "GoT Rewatch") last year.
Just Cause 2: I'm still coming back to this one in the future because I want the 100%, but replaying this brought me back to my younger days. Panau is still impressive to this day, and I have no idea how they could pull this off in 2010.

PS4

The Last of Us Remastered: I ignored - and outright dismissed - this game as yet another zombie story for the longest time, but giving it a chance now I see how wrong I was. The ending of the game is beautiful, and I really like that they didn't present this as a choice to the player.
The Last of Us Part II: I remember how divisive this game was when it came out, but I am firmly in the positive side. I'm a sucker for symmetry in stories, and this game has that in abundance. It is also a treat for the eyes, and that is something I will always value: derelict Seattle is a setting I will never forget.
Grand Theft Auto Vice City (Definitive Edition): technically this was just cleaning up the trophies, but there is something inherently decadent about returning to these foundational games. I will never get tired of the 3D era of GTA.
Grand Theft Auto 3 (Definitive Edition): this one I played through from (near the) start to the finish line, getting every trophy, in the span of a weekend - and what a weekend it was. Despite being the first in the 3D era, it might genuinely be my favourite. I want to live in Liberty City.
Star Wars Episode I: Racer: now this is podracing!
Mafia (Definitive Edition): I went through this game on Steam last year, and mirrored it perfectly this year as well: finished the story on the same day, and got every trophy on the same day as well. And the cherry on top is that I was listening to Critical Role on both times. It's a fantastic game, with a beautifully realized historical world. Notice a trend here? I like good worldbuilding.
Abzû: a short, hour-long experience where you dive through underwater ruins, and try to piece together what happened to the world. Just up my alley.
Sonic Origins: I've been playing these Sonic games since I can remember, and I think this is the definitive way of playing them. The 3D recreation of the islands on the main screen is the cherry on top.
Fallout Shelter: I went down this rabbit hole again after doing it in 2017. An addicting game that I hated towards the "end".
Star Wars Republic Commando: I didn't like this one that much when I played it on the PC back in 2019, but now, playing with a controller on the hardest difficulty, I found myself enjoying it from start to finish. To hell with that confrontation in the bridge of the separatist ship, though. I hate time-sensitive objectives so much...
Uncharted: Drake's Fortune: I finally finished the playthrough I started almost 3 years ago, and I frankly cannot see why this game was considered incredible back then. Was it the graphics? Because the gameplay downright sucks, and the story is nothing to write home about. I do know the sequels vastly improve on this, though, so I'll see for myself soon enough.
Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons: this was an old favourite, and I was shocked I did not remember how it ended. I guess I suppressed that memory, because oh boy, is it sad.
Hot Wheels Unleashed: pure, unmitigated arcade racing fun. What else is there to say?
Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time: I love Crash, and I love how I was able to stop playing this before going down the 100% rabbit hole. This game is easy to finish, but impossible to complete. I would have burst a vessel.
The Crew 2: a mindless vehicle game that I got some trophies a while ago, and since it's an always online game, I wanted to get the 100% before the servers went offline. To my surprise, I ended up loving it!

PS5

Spider-Man: Miles Morales: did a NG+ playthrough for the trophies. Despite my general distaste for Spider-Man, I can't deny how good these games are.
Saints Row: the much maligned Saints Row reboot ended up being quite up my alley! I like the characters. There, I said it. The missions and the story are a bit sparse, but the gameplay is decent and the characters are great. This is a hill I will die on.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor: the first new release in this list. I got it on release day, and had the platinum within a week. I don't like some of the decisions made in this game's design, but if I exhausted it in so little time, then that is a clear sign that I still loved it. It merits more thoughts than I can put in such a short review, so maybe I'll expand them into a full post. We'll see if I have the patience.

Nintendo Wii

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword: 9 years after I first got the game, and 2 years after I started my current playthrough, I finally finished this beast. An origin story done right, with a beautiful artstyle and... interesting combat. Would want to revisit again sometime in the future through the HD version.

Nintendo Switch

Pokémon Sword: to be pedantic, most of this playthrough happened in late 2021, but I still wanted to mention it in acknowledgement. This was the first Pokémon game I finished, and the first I played since Emerald, on my old phone of 10 years ago. I like Pokémon, and I like that I don't obsess over it: I can enjoy these games for what they are, and then move on. No worries about going after shinies or IVs or whatever (I was, however, big into Pokémon GO a few years back, and that was not very healthy).
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild DLCs: in preparation for the release of the new Zelda game, I went back and did every side quest in BotW, as well as most of the DLC. And oh boy, am I so glad I did, because all of that information paid for itself when I started the next game...
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom: there's a lot I can say about this game, which to me was like crack. Completely took my life away for 4 weeks or so, so much that I stopped earning trophies on PlayStation for that duration. However, I did not enjoy the story that much, but I'll leave that to another post.

WHEW. That's it. A lot of games, and those are only the ones I have finished to some extent (100% or otherwise). I'm currently working my way through the Prince of Persia game from 2008, some LEGO Star Wars games, the platinum on TLOU 2, Pokémon Legends Arceus, and also Super Mario Odyssey, which I got due to having liked the Mario movie. And, of course, I'm still doing my Witcher 2 playthrough that I started last December. I made some progress the other day, and I think my mindset is aligning back in that direction.

My mindset is also aligning towards CRPGs, such as Pathfinder, Divinity and Pillars of Eternity. Critical Role, the DnD movie, and just the general need for a large and sprawling story have put me into gear to finally go through one of those again (the last one was Planescape Torment, last year). There's a lot of good stuff out there.

To Conclude

That's a lot of videogames, and not so much other stuff. It's been one of those years, but I think I'll try to balance things out a bit more in the second half of 2023. So many good things to experience, and not so much time. Alas, it is our eternal struggle. Still, I am not dissatisfied.