Orange Juice in Bishops Garden S01E01 “Orange Crush” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Drama Web Series

5 Swirlies

“I like you like I like my orange juice.” – Lyric from “Midnight Joyride (Concentrated)

Okay, the song hooked me right from the first scene, but OMG y’all! This is an amazingly fun little series that is really strong on characters and little moments. While there’s one or two scenes where the production is not great, the writing is sharp and clean without taking itself too seriously. This show reminds me of the first season of the U.K. TV show Skins (which I loved) and Juno (which I did not – but those who did should like this series anyway).

There was one commentator on YouTube who ripped into this episode for a number of reasons, but I couldn’t disagree more. Maybe it is the teenage girl inside of me, I think this show creates vivid characters that we instantly understand and brings them to life in ways that feel at once larger than life and totally believable. We very quickly get inside these girls’ heads and know what they’re thinking, which is one of every writer’s goals.

I like the shooting, it doesn’t give it a documentary feel, quite, but the natural lighting and the simple camera angles work with the script and the acting to make it feel real. The sound is good, too, especially given the fact that they claim to have made this episode with no money. They use some music which they clearly did not own, and probably didn’t pay for, but from what I can tell the theme song was written for this show. Now that alone is pretty cool; even cooler is how amazing the song is – I can’t stop playing it. It reminds me of the cereal song written for the movie Ping Pong Playa, not so much in sound or style but in the subject matter and being written for something else.

I kinda stumbled on this series, and I’m so glad I did. There’s four seasons already, and I can’t wait to watch the next one!

From YouTube Description:

See where it all begins… It’s the start of the summer of 1994, and Kris prods best friend Sarah to finally make a move on her long-time crush Jake (before Maggie does it instead). Meanwhile Beth finds herself in a different love triangle with her best friend Rox and the older bike messenger: Adrian. After a trip to the liquor store (where the owner couple puts their 8 y.o. behind the counter), the gang all meets up in Bishop’s Garden, where the fun really starts. But more fun means more drama…

—

“Orange Juice in Bishop’s Garden” (OJBG) is a fiercely local and independent web series set in Washington, D.C. about the lives of a group of teenagers in the summer of 1994.

Make sure to visit us at http://www.OJinBG.com/ to check out our episodes, blog, news updates, character bios, and more!

Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/OJBishopsGarden/

“The bad things we do. The things we get caught for–and how they are never the same.”

French Subtitles by: http://www.univers-l.com/

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Happy Tree Friends Ka-Pow! Ep.1 “Ka-Pow! Alpha”| A Web Series Review on the Watch List

A Cartoon Comedy Web Series

3 Swirlies

Interesting.

It looks like the animation studio that does Happy Tree Friends is trying to branch out into something new. This 10 minute video features three shorter videos; “Weaponized Animal Regiment”, “Buddhist Monkey” and “Mole in the City.” They are all very different, but still have that blood and guts and violence Happy Tree Friends style of comedy. It feels more like a programming block than a series.

I wonder if they felt they were running out of ideas for Happy Tree Friends, and they wanted to move on to other concepts? This one’s called “Alpha” and the next one is called “Beta” which makes me wonder if these are only test episodes to see how the internet audience would react. Maybe the three different series will change based on feedback, or maybe “Beta” will feature different characters. We’ll have to watch the next one to find out.

I kinda feel the same way about these cartoons as I do about Happy Tree Friends, they’re really well done and super polished but the gags are all just blood and violence. I have nothing against blood and violence, but for me the jokes feel repetitive.

The first one, Weaponized Animal Regiment, reminded me most of Happy Tree Friends. I feel like they were trying to give it a formula, with Flippy ruining the mission and getting everyone killed and then his split personality taking over and giving everyone around him a beat down. I didn’t really understand Buddhist Monkey, and I’m not sure I was supposed to. It is essentially a parody of martial arts films. There’s a shadowy bad guy, and an assassin sent to kill Buddhist Monkey and they fight. All that I get. But then the Pig Assassin’s wicker bowl/hat turns into a crab monster? I’m confused. And finally, Mole in the City made me think of spy vs. spy, maybe just because the bad guy’s a rat. I felt like it was the least like Happy Tree Friends, in that there was less violence and more caper type fun.

All in all, I guess my sense of humour just isn’t the same as the guys behind Happy Tree Friends. I’m more of a Moolt guy, I suppose. But I am interested in this experiment in new shows, so we’ll check into Ka-Pow Beta when we get a chance here on The Watch List.

From YouTube Description:

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Out With Dad Ep1. “Rose with Vanessa” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Family Drama Web Series

4 Swirlies

“Maybe we should. Just to… you know… see.”

A wonderfully awkward portrayal of a young girl trying to figure herself out.

I should come right out and say I know the people behind this series, and actually quite a bit about the history of it. But this is my first time watching it.

What I like about it is that it has a nice shape to it, while still being about the internal lives of the characters, specifically Rose. It tells a story that has a beginning, middle and end, but still leaves you wondering what’s gonna happen next? It is a nice length, too, despite having longish (but very effective) opening and long closing credits.

For some reason, it seems that lesbians have really taken to web series. Maybe because men are too busy watching porn - gay or straight. There’s a large community of lesbian web series watchers, but I haven’t noticed a similar web series communities for gay men.

The story told in this show still couldn’t be told on mainstream TV. I guess that’s why its audience seeks it out. And the aftermath of the “lets see” moment really rings true - when it comes to teens and love and sex, nothing ever ends up the way you imagine, does it?

From YouTube Description:

The premiere episode of Out With Dad. 15 year old Rose (Kate Conway) and her best friend Vanessa (Lindsey Middleton), find out that sometimes first kisses don’t turn out exactly how we expect.

Please tell us what you think! Your comments will be appreciated!

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31 The Series “Transmission 1″ | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Horror Web Series

5 Swirlies

“No. NO!”

The concept behind this new horror web series is 31 episode over 31 days, each of which is 31 seconds long.

There’s not a whole heck of a lot you can do over 31 seconds, and this first episode wisely doesn’t try. I remember Prom Queen which tried to do episodes that were each 1 minute long, which made it feel choppy and repetitive. Here they make it part of their gimmick to get you to watch.

There’s almost nothing to this episode - you don’t even get to see the character, but it works. They want you to be scared - and that’s it. I wonder if the next episode will pick up right where this one ends off? I guess we’ll have to see.

I’m going to try to bring you all along for the ride. I’m going to do my best to watch and post an episode every day until the end of it’s run. Unless I start to hate it midway, or something… then you just might find it suddenly cease to be posted.

But so far, 1 ep in, I’m digging it.

From YouTube Description:

31 the series: 31 episodes. 31 seconds. 31 days. Transmissions begin 3/31 3:31pm ET.
31 web series: 1st daily Internet Horror Serial combining best of film, tv, and the Internet.
Follow at www.twitter.com/31theseries
Subscribe at www.youtube.com/user/31webseries
Like at www.facebook.com/31theseries
www.31theseries.com

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The Cell Ep.1 l A Web Series on The Watch List

http://www.cellthewebseries.com
@CELLwebseries

A man wakes up in a cell after a night on the town. It doesn’t take long for him to realize he’s not in jail and he’s not alone.

A psychological thriller from writer/director Mark Gardner.

3 Swirlies

“You have two lessons to lean right now.”

Nice start, good first episode. We don’t really get too far into things, but  it is just the one episode. This is just the set up. I feel like what will really decide things for me is episode 2.

This series seems to be setting itself up as a psychological thriller. That means it is all about character. Can the writer, actor and director create a compelling character that thrills us as we learn more about their dark personality?

You know, I think the hardest thing in making a web series is the acting. Everything else can be handled to at least a competent level be a passionate amateur. But being a good actor… I mean combining psychological nuance, a sense of life and history, charisma and presence, and even just saying all those lines… that’s something that must be nurtured.

It’s really hard. People devote their lifetime to it. I’m not saying other jobs on film sets aren’t equally as challenging or worthy of a lifetime of devotion. I’m saying the difference between a competent camera operator and an excellent camera operator may never be noticed in a  low budget web series production.  But actors… an actor you’ll notice no matter how big or small the budget. Or more likely not notice. Good actors can take the most benign of scenes and make it compelling with the choices they make about why they’re saying what they’re saying. Not so good actors don’t even realize there are choices to be made.

Will the creative team behind The Cell be able to create a strong, compelling character? Let’s keep watching and find out.

Take Me Back Ep.1

Al’s life turns upside down when he’s kidnapped by a masked vigilante after an unusual day in his otherwise mundane life.

This is the first of 10 chapters written, directed and edited by Joe and Seth in a brand spankin’ new web series that promises to knock your socks off, or at least ruffle them up a little bit.

For more exciting info and to watch the series in it’s proper home, visit TMBtheseries.com

5 Swirlies

Take Me Back – Chapter 1 from Joe and Seth on Vimeo.

Can’t see the video? Click here to watch!

“I gotta head out and meet with Sheena and the lawyer again. I think she’s gonna press charges this time.”

Now this is how you make a first episode.

This is the third of the new series I have come across this week. New to the Watch List, that is. I just noticed that this series is three years old. I didn’t know what it was going to be like, the website and Vimeo channel don’t really give much info.

It’s incredibly well produced. The acting is top notch. The writing is sharp and interesting – right from the first scene.

At first, while I was enjoying it, I kinda thought that it was one of those self indulgent things that was being weird just to be weird. And then I started getting a Wes Anderson kinda vibe. But while the episode has lots of fun character moments (a couple of them a little forced, like the scene with the girl on the stairs, but only a little), it was the ending that really get me. There’s a perfect book end that gives shape to the episode, and it is one of those endings that adds context to what went on earlier, giving you a satisfying end to the episode while still leaving you wondering what’s gonna happen next.

The tone of it isn’t really my favourite (I’m not a giant Wes Anderson fan) but that’s a taste thing. There’s very little in this episode that could be improved upon.

It’s always nice to find a new series to get excited about.

Blood and Bone China Ep.1 “The Man in Black”

Chapter 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0I3sEaaV8xI

http://www.bloodandbonechina.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bloodandbonechina
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bloodbonechina

Theme music by Birthrite: http://www.birthrite.eu

3 Swirlies

Can’t see the video? Click here to watch!

Here at The Watch List, we try not to poach web series from other web series blogs. But we also like to keep an eye on what they’re up to. So when I saw that Slebisodes posted this new web series, the description of it hooked me so much that I had to check it out. So, thanks Slebisodes!

First of all, it looks great. The period elements are well done, the costumed and props are great. I love a good Victorian horror piece, so I really wanted to like it. Unfortunately, the best I can say about the actual episode is that… it’s fine.

The episode suffers from a bit of pilot-itis, which refers to a first episode that spends more time telling you stuff instead of letting the characters be characters, but they mostly get around that by making the first half of the episode a (slightly overlong) life and death chase scene and making sure that episode two is posted at almost the same time as this first one. Smart, that last bit.

While the creators obviously put a lot of effort into the period elements, and the lighting and camera, the final effort feels technically competent (except the sound, one of my pet peeves is lack of polished sound recording and editing) but somewhat flat. The writing feels like an after-thought, as in “We’re gonna do this cool period vampire show! Okay… er… what happens in it?” And the dramatic reveal at the end isn’t much of a surprise to the audience.

It has the tone and feel of an afternoon soap opera. Like I said, it’s not bad. Just… fine. As we always try to do with new series, we’ll make sure to check out at least the second episode before we make up our minds whether we like it or not.

Tyranny Ep.1 “The Beginning of the End”

Episode 1 of Tyranny the Web Series:
“The Beginning of the End”
The date is November 22, 2011 and Daniel McCarthy is journeying deep into his subconscious during one of many sensory deprivation experiments in his lab. A flash of a memory of his long lost wife brings a fresh connection to his previous vision of the future – an ongoing mystery he has yet to solve.

5 Swirlies

“What did you see?”

Whoa! Where did this come from?

A startlingly nicely produced science fiction series that brings to mind 12 Monkeys, this series is long on style and short on story – but what style! The set design and art direction is amazing. The use of tension is just as impressive. And this episode is not like many first episodes – this one is almost no set up, and almost all character – someone who is clearly struggling.

I was going to skip this series. You can only watch so many opaque, pretentious science fiction web series before getting gun shy. But I’m glad that I’m not so jaded yet that I didn’t give it a chance.

You should, too.

Best Laid Plans Ep.1 “Dashboard Confessions”

Boys will be boys as John and Alex try to coach Tom and Skip out of their respective life crises.

Watch the entire series NOW at http://www.webserials.com

2 Swirlies

“Laser beams… I understand, that part of it is crazy. But the… metaphor. That’s what’s important.”

I totally forgot about this show, I liked the episode I saw before. And another one from WebSerials.com – I guess this is WebSerials.com catch up week.

Four guys discuss love while waiting for the comic book store to open.

Hmm… I really liked the first one I reviewed (which I now realize was episode 7) but this one didn’t grab me. It’s essentially one long joke with a reveal at the end which, considering the subject matter of the dialogue, isn’t all that surprising.

If you like comics, you’ll probably get a chuckle or two out their shout outs to super heroes.

Radiance Ep.1

Ten friends in Los Angeles experience an unusual event together- and try to survive.
Starring:
Brian Gattas
Jade Gordon
Tom Lenk
Chad Lindsey
Alisa Mcronald
Sam Pancake
Jack Plotnick
Christos Prevezanos
Chris Shea
Doug Stockstill
and
Rachel Stolte

Written and directed by Jim Hansen

4 Swirlies

“Did you feel that?”

Weird.

Okay, pros; Fun dialogue. Interesting characters. Snappy editing. Super short.

Cons; flat, natural lighting makes everything look grey. It ends right when things start.

Something happens.

This series is about a group of friends that have a shared experience. Whatever that experience is, it happens right at the end of this first episode.

Normally, that sort of thing would set me off. But the rest of the short episode was entertaining enough that I was along for the ride. I liked the argument of “I didn’t know they were coming” and I liked the bit about the peanut coleslaw.

Here’s someone who knows how to make us like characters.Even if the story itself doesn’t really start until the last frame, at least these characters’ goals and conflicts are clear. Although there was so many characters in such a short time I wasn’t really sure who was who.

I’m going to err on the generous side and give it 4 Swirlies. It doesn’t look like there’s many episodes. (Or parts.) I wonder what’s going to happen next?