Tuesday, October 8, 2013


Jake Haman

Amy Bolaski

English 100

Oct 07 2013

 

BLOG POST #3

1. http://www.tvfanatic.com/2013/09/how-i-met-your-mother-review-mouth-words-memories-times/

2.  I chose this particular review because it is a review on a television series, single episode, like the one I am doing.  It was written by Chris O'Hara and posted on the link above.  The show he is reviewing is comedic in nature as the one I am doing and what really draws me in is how the critic has a comedic tone himself throughout his review.  It is also very simple, short, and to the point. Chris uses multiple quotes from the episode and writes his review around these quotes, which I like.  In his opening he uses imagery from a scene with two of the main characters looking for a place to have sex.  He knows his audience and writes his opening sentence in such a way that you must read on.  It's the little things in this review that catch my attention and make me want to follow his style of writing. Things like; how he hides his bias, how he gives you glimpses of the show without ruining anything, how he is very subtle with his recommendation, and how he leaves you wondering and on the edge with his closing paragraph.

 

3.   

SEASON FINALE…OR PILOT?

     “I feel like all my kids grew up, and then married each other” (Michael Scott). Yet another awkward quote from previous regional manager at Dunder Mifflin paper company in the two part season finale of the Office, which airs on NBC.  It might be possible the only reason this was the highest rated episode of the series was the return of Michael Scott (Steve Carrel).  The season finale takes place one year after the film crew from PBS releases the documentary on the employees from Dunder Mifflin.   The creator, Greg Daniels tries to end this once successful series by jumping from scene to scene trying to rapidly answer questions from past seasons.  Pam Beasley (Jena Fischer) and Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) are moving to Austin, Andy Bernard (Ed Helms) is working for Cornell, Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) and Angela (Angela Kinsey) are getting married!  So try to keep up through this fast pace two part (maybe should have been three part) season finale.        

4 comments:

kailyn said...

I never watched the show. Although I heard great things about it.

You're intro is a little confusing to me, but that could just be because I have no knowledge of what the show is about or from what I think I get from it, because the finale was just as confusing?

Amy Bolaski said...



Jake, like Kailyn, I never watched the show. I'm a serious drama girl (hence my "Breaking Bad" and "The Walking Dead" obsessions). That said, my brother watched it for years and has good taste, so I imagine it's a clever show. ☺

The "single episode" review is a tough one - an ambitious project. Glad to see someone's chosen it. The voice lecture I'm posting covers the single episode review. Hopefully it will be useful for you.

The beginning of your model review uses a technique called “in media res” (“in the middle”), which means, literally, to begin “in the middle”. No exposition to set things up, provide background information, etc. – just an immediate foray into a plot line (I would assume a major one?) Given the opening, I imagine this review is geared toward those already well acquainted with the show. Will yours be as well?

You note that the review is “simple, short, and to the point.” As written, you imply that these characteristics are strong features of the review. They can be, depending upon context, target audience, etc. What appeals to you about “short”, for instance?

And yes, using dialogue is almost always a good idea.

You say you like these things about the piece: “Things like; how he hides his bias, how he gives you glimpses of the show without ruining anything, how he is very subtle with his recommendation, and how he leaves you wondering and on the edge with his closing paragraph.” A few examples here would be nice. Lots of reviews DO offer spoilers (again, depending upon publication and audience); I tend to prefer ones that don’t offer major spoilers, just as you seem to.

YOUR INTRO:

You’re on the right track, but I don’t really see the connection between the quote and the rest of the paragraph, which is really about concluding the series. I don’t see a clear connection between awkward commentary/Michael and conclusion of series/need for more development/clarity of conclusion. Make sense?



Amy Bolaski said...



Jake, like Kailyn, I never watched the show. I'm a serious drama girl (hence my "Breaking Bad" and "The Walking Dead" obsessions). That said, my brother watched it for years and has good taste, so I imagine it's a clever show. ☺

The "single episode" review is a tough one - an ambitious project. Glad to see someone's chosen it. The voice lecture I'm posting covers the single episode review. Hopefully it will be useful for you.

The beginning of your model review uses a technique called “in media res” (“in the middle”), which means, literally, to begin “in the middle”. No exposition to set things up, provide background information, etc. – just an immediate foray into a plot line (I would assume a major one?) Given the opening, I imagine this review is geared toward those already well acquainted with the show. Will yours be as well?

You note that the review is “simple, short, and to the point.” As written, you imply that these characteristics are strong features of the review. They can be, depending upon context, target audience, etc. What appeals to you about “short”, for instance?

And yes, using dialogue is almost always a good idea.

You say you like these things about the piece: “Things like; how he hides his bias, how he gives you glimpses of the show without ruining anything, how he is very subtle with his recommendation, and how he leaves you wondering and on the edge with his closing paragraph.” A few examples here would be nice. Lots of reviews DO offer spoilers (again, depending upon publication and audience); I tend to prefer ones that don’t offer major spoilers, just as you seem to.

YOUR INTRO:

You’re on the right track, but I don’t really see the connection between the quote and the rest of the paragraph, which is really about concluding the series. I don’t see a clear connection between awkward commentary/Michael and conclusion of series/need for more development/clarity of conclusion. Make sense?

Amy Bolaski said...



Jake, like Kailyn, I never watched the show. I'm a serious drama girl (hence my "Breaking Bad" and "The Walking Dead" obsessions). That said, my brother watched it for years and has good taste, so I imagine it's a clever show. ☺

The "single episode" review is a tough one - an ambitious project. Glad to see someone's chosen it. The voice lecture I'm posting covers the single episode review. Hopefully it will be useful for you.

The beginning of your model review uses a technique called “in media res” (“in the middle”), which means, literally, to begin “in the middle”. No exposition to set things up, provide background information, etc. – just an immediate foray into a plot line (I would assume a major one?) Given the opening, I imagine this review is geared toward those already well acquainted with the show. Will yours be as well?

You note that the review is “simple, short, and to the point.” As written, you imply that these characteristics are strong features of the review. They can be, depending upon context, target audience, etc. What appeals to you about “short”, for instance?

And yes, using dialogue is almost always a good idea.

You say you like these things about the piece: “Things like; how he hides his bias, how he gives you glimpses of the show without ruining anything, how he is very subtle with his recommendation, and how he leaves you wondering and on the edge with his closing paragraph.” A few examples here would be nice. Lots of reviews DO offer spoilers (again, depending upon publication and audience); I tend to prefer ones that don’t offer major spoilers, just as you seem to.

YOUR INTRO:

You’re on the right track, but I don’t really see the connection between the quote and the rest of the paragraph, which is really about concluding the series. I don’t see a clear connection between awkward commentary/Michael and conclusion of series/need for more development/clarity of conclusion. Make sense?