BONDING - SEASON ONE 🤮

It was inevitable that we would get a TV series about BDSM and this low budget Netflix series offers up a comedic take that unfortunately misses the mark. Zoe Levin plays Tiff, who plays Dominatrix Mistress May, who reconnects with her high school BFF Peter, played by Brendan Scannell, who ends up playing her assistant, Carter. I thought that the dominating woman (literally) and the wimpy gay sidekick were stereotypes long gone but apparently not. But the core issue I have with this show is the tone – it swings wildly and even though this is a comedy, it just isn’t funny.

To make matters worse, the productions values are amateurish, particularly the lighting, which makes the entire show appear as if filmed in fluorescent light, making all the scenes flat and the otherwise attractive actors, less than flattering. Showrunner, writer and director Rightor Doyle clearly has total control over this project, but with the Mistress not particularly dominating, BONDING isn’t whip-smart.

BONDING Season One on Netflix is, sadly, a flaccid look at the world of BDSM.

COUNTRY COMFORT SEASON REVIEW🤮

COUNTRY COMFORT is a total waste of your time. Katharine McPhee is miscast as the bungling character, Bailey. She is not believable as a nanny, nor is her country twang.

Yes, Katharine can sing, and she proves this in every episode, but singing and playing the guitar does not make up for bad acting. The COUNTRY COMFORT ensemble is also guilty of this too. Singing cannot erase the over-the-top lack of authentic acting skills. Just because you have five child actors in the show does not give the director license to over-do the cuteness factor in every scene.

COUNTRY COMFORT’s script are also questionable. Who would ever hire Bailey with all of her poor life choices and then keep her around to help guide the struggling family after the loss of their mother? Did I mention, Katharine McPhee can sing?

COUNTRY COMFORT is available to stream for the singing on Netflix.

THIS IS US S5 E11 ONE SMALL STEP 🤮

Just when the plot starts to move forward with huge life steps for Kevin, Randall and Kate, we take ONE SMALL STEP backwards with an episode focusing on Jack’s brother. The infamous uncle, Nicky (Griffin Dunne) arrived last week unannounced on Kevin’s doorstep to greet his new niece and nephew.

We pick up right where things left off with a minor flashback story subbing for the main plot about Nicky and his struggles with leaving home for 50 years. The Vietnam theme is simple - keep it away from the people you love and the life you are building. A lot of people who fought in the war returned home, but their minds were still over there. This is true for Nicky, who was struggling even before he fought in the war.

You know you have a bad episode of THIS IS US when there’s no Randall. He’s the glue that holds the Piersons together. Even though Griffin Dunne turns in a masterful performance as he discovers that the new family members are his “moon,” it’s not enough.

Instead of watching it on NBC / Peacock, save time and watch the “previously on” next week to get all the plot you’ll need.