Best Laid Plans Ep.2 “Breaking & Entering” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

An Improvised Comedy Web Series

3 Swirlies

“We only need to look to episode 42 of Star Commanders”

I’m following this series because I accidentally watched an episode from later on, and now I’m going back posting them from the beginning.

I really liked the episode Tom’s Big Date. I kinda liked the dialogue and structure of the first episode, Dashboard Confessions. This episode is very well done, but in the end, its wackiness is its undoing.

There’s so much wacky over the top antics and plot going on that there’s not much in the way of character. At least in this episode, all these guys seem the same. The stories aren’t character driven, they are plot driven, which explains the long opening scene where the improvisers have to work in order to set up and motivate the actual story.

And for many people, the high energy plot and the funny one liners (“It’s cancer spray for dogs.”) will be enough for the three minutes or so that this episode runs for. There certainly doesn’t feel like there’s much in the way of down time - the episode is packed full of stuff going on. But as soon as the break in was set up, I knew where they were going with it. Plus, I didn’t really care. What was at stake was someone’s computer getting a virus in a way that would never be traced back to our guys. They could have simply gone to Dirk and said, “Sorry, my computer has a virus and it got on the disc.” Sure, it is fiction and we’re supposed to accept what the characters do, not scoff because its not what we think we would do. All I’m saying is, I didn’t care if they got the disc, and I didn’t care if they got caught. That doesn’t make for a very engaging episode.

Still, like I said, it is a very well produced series. If you’re looking for a way to mindlessly kill five minutes giggling at something on the internet you could do a lot worse.

From YouTube Description:

Felonies and misdemeanors are nothing when compared to rescuing a fair damsel’s computer from imminent viral doom.

Watch the entire series NOW at http://www.webserials.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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The Cell Ep. 3 | A Web Series Review on the Watch List

A Psychological Thriller Web Series

3 Swirlies

“I learned my place.”

There are things I like and admire about The Cell. One of them is the slow, deliberate, unhurried pace - it shows a confidence in the editing. Sometimes in post production, you watch your footage over and over and you really feel the slow moments and the pauses and it can be hard to resist the urge to tighten the pacing beyond what the mood of the scene requires. As an editor, no matter how many times you watch some footage, you have to put yourself in the pace of a viewer watching it for the first time. And that’s one of the many reasons why I could never be a picture editor. I get bored way before the thing is done.

And the production quality is high, the sound is nice, the music is great. The acting on the part of the woman is great. What I can’t get past is that I don’t buy how easily Brian seems to give up trying to resist or escape. I know - it is fiction, it’s a character thing. It’s not real and it’s not me there, but still… I spend the whole time thinking to myself, “Scream, shout, resist!” And I kinda can’t buy into the whole series - I can’t suspend my disbelief.

And that girl creeps me out. I know she’s supposed to - it is artfully done. But it is just not for me, in the same way the torture porn of the Saw movie series isn’t for me.

I think the ideas behind this series could be great - it raises the question, “How fragile is our sense of self?” But I feel like this series has already skipped over that, that Brian isn’t struggling to maintain his sense of self or fighting back against his captor. Again, that’s just me and it doesn’t really effect how successful this series is at meeting its goal. I guess maybe it comes down to how optimistic you are about the nature of our sense of self.

If you like being creeped out, you’ll probably like this series more than I do.

I did notice it is moving on to Chapter 2. I wonder how the mythology of it will evolve? Will there be a new person in the cage?

From YouTube Description:

Cracks appear in Brian’s defenses as the pressure of the situation reaches its breaking point.

Join the community and follow the latest news on our site at http://www.cellthewebseries.com

The award winning original series continues as Brian searches for more answers while the truth of his situation bears down on him.

Make sure to check us out on Facebook as well http://www.facebook.com/CELLwebseries

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Passenger Ep.3 | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Drama Web Series

3 Swirlies

“You look thin. Have you been remembering to eat?”

Okay, 3 episodes in and were finally getting a hint as to what this web series is all about.

I think this show was written and shot as a feature and edited as a web series. The episode fades out at the end, seemingly in the middle of a line of dialogue.

Passenger is really slick – the lighting looks great. And there’s nothing really wrong with it… I’m a total jerk for saying this but it just isn’t that entertaining. The first two episodes were sustained bu nothing but mood, this one packs in a whole lot of exposition in very little story and tries to put all the weight of the scene on a hot chick who wants to sleep with the main guy (who happens to be the writer, director, producer, executive producer… you get the idea). Not that there’s anything inherently wrong with that, working on a web series budget you have to where a lot of hats.

The question becomes; are you doing it for your ego? Or are you doing it because that’s the only way you can get the damned thing done?

From KoldKast Description:

Michael meets his contact, Cherub Zoon, regarding orders for the termination of a ‘Slayer.’ The relationship between Michael and this superior agent is a long and strained one, as Zoon taunts and tempts Michael, before finally revealing the details of his mission.

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Non-Essential Personnel Ep.3 “Leaks” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Family Drama Web Series

3 Swirlies

NON-ESSENTIAL PERSONNEL Episode 3: Leaks from grammar school on Vimeo.

“Next press release there’s gonna be men fucking all over it.”

In episode 3 of Non-Essential Personnel, we finally get to meet some of Jonathon’s office mates, who up until now have had a couple of lines. And these are long episodes, too. At the end of this one we’re more than half an hour in.

Much like earlier episodes, most of what happens in this ep is just stalling for the abrupt ending. The episode, like the series, is fine… there’s a couple of chuckles and despite the fact that much of the sets are bland gray, the production is pretty good. I think the pacing could be sped up, quite a bit in fact, but that’s just me.

It is just that I’m kinda not sure what this show is trying to do. Is it trying to be a satire? Is it trying to be a broad comedy? Is it trying to be a dramedy? The scene with Jonathon’s wife certainly didn’t have much in the way of laughs in it, even though the scene before was about as broad as you get. It almost feels like it is trying to be something different in each scene, but that makes the whole show feel muddy.

Yeah, I’m being kinda hard on it. Sorry guys. I do really like the title design.

From Website Description:

Jonathan struggles to maintain control of his rapidly expanding plot against Mercury.

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Throwing Stones Ep.5 “Pawn Stars” | A Web Series on The Watch List

A Teen Horror Web Series.

3 Swirlies

“Friday night lights. I’m the reason they come.”

Writing for this blog, I have to watch a lot of web series. Like any reviewer, there are times when if I didn’t have to be watching a web series I’d be doing something else. So I think sometimes I can be a little impatient with some episodes. Episodes like this one.

I like this series. I was looking forward to seeing it. I was waiting to see what happened to the girl that got thrown out of the room last episode. Instead, what we got in this episode is a back story to the three remaining characters in the room, back story that could have been delivered with a little less exposition.

I’m beginning to chaff at the fact that I don’t really know what these kids are scared of. What happened to them? Who attacked them? How did it start? I thought that the series would cut between the present and the beginning of the assault, but it hasn’t. At least, not yet. So while I get that they are scared, and I get why they are scared I have a hard time being scared for them. I like them, and I want to see them come out okay - kudos to the script writers - but I don’t feel the jeopardy. Is someone looking for them? Has the killer gone home? Are they being attacked with a knife or a gun or what? All of that matters to make me care if they stay in that room or not.

From YouTube Description:

Throwing Stones is a horror story about a group of high schoolers who have to attend Saturday School and find they must work together to overcome their differences in over to survive when students end up missing. As if, high school wasn’t scary enough! The series stars Lindsay Seidel (Lionsgate hit The Final), Cherami Leigh (The Mist, Fast Food Nation, HBO’s Temple Grandin), Rebekah Kennedy (upcoming horror features Blood is Blood, House Hunting, and Season of the Witch w/ Nic Cage), Chad Cox (Powder, ER, Spin City, The Good Guys), and Kayla Carlyle (From the Dark), Lynn Andrews III (MTV’s: High School Stories). Writers Bart D. Van Bemmel and Jason A. Wheeler have five feature-length screenplays in production including their dark comedies BUTTERSCOTCH, SWISHER, ANGELS AND DUST, their teen comedy RUSHED, and their teen horror THROWING STONES (which this web series if based on).

Watch this web series at KoldKast.TV or Mingle Media TV.

To find out more about “Throwing Stones” visit: http://www.throwingstoneswebseries.com.
Follow on Twitter @StonesWebSeries or LIKE us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/throwingstoneswebseries

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Hard Drive 13 Ep.3 “Classified Steganography” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Conspiracy Thriller Web Series

3 Swirlies

“Classified. Yeah, that’s what Dad always used to say.”

This is one series that gets right to the action. You gotta admire that. And I finally get to see some of the shooting guns out of moving cars clips that we were teased with at the beginning of the series.

If you like your web series with lots of on the run, it is all a conspiracy, ‘watched the Matrix again last night’, you’ll love Hard Drive 13. If you’re looking for something nuanced and character driven, you should probably stick with something else.

Another Vancouver series, and this is very well made. Those green screen shots are hard to pull off - and while they’re not perfect, they are pretty good. And having guns on set, well… that’s either expensive (as far as web series are concerned) and you gotta call in a lot of favours. If you want to find a load of talented people looking for a fun side project to stretch their creative skills, I doubt there’s a better place for it in the world than Vancouver right now.

Where I think this series loses me is the story. I know, I’m watching some very interconnected episodes months apart, but I’m still not really sure about what it is about. I’m sure we’re meant to be intrigued by the mystery, and I’m not saying that I don’t want to discover things about the series as it develops, but I do want to know why I am watching. What makes this hacker so special? Is he looking for his father, or is he on the run from the government goons? The motivations of the characters are pretty vague.

And can I just say, what paranoid hacker on the run keeps using his cell phone?

From YouTube Description:

Nomad receives a cryptic message from an old friend; a strained reunion is abruptly cut short.

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Naomi The Show Ep.4 | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Comedy Web Series

3 Swirlies

“Don’t make eye contact.”

Naomi the Show follows a predictable formula, but it is always guaranteed to have a laugh at the end.

This one featuring a gross homeless guy feels, surprisingly, more cartoony than the episode featuring the giant raccoon trying to cop a feel. I did like the shout out to working Vancouver actors, “I did a spot on Stargate Atlantis.” I wonder if that’s true?

What really makes these episode work, all of them, is that Naomi is just too polite to get up and walk away. It works in a short format, where the comedic weight is on the zany characters and Naomi’s reactions to them. I’m not so sure this same character would work in a longer format. Which is actually a compliment; the show’s creators, Naomi Dayneswood and Jennica Harper, did a nice job picking a set up for their show that works for the medium.

I do feel that the only really funny bit is at the end, with the reveal of how the guy “knows” her, and the last coda line. But that’s still pretty funny - and you couldn’t show that on TV!

One of my favourite parts of the show is the music; simple but effective, it conjures just the right mood for the series. Many series, even some well done series, put on a high energy rock track that they like for their credits, not really setting up exactly the same mood as their show itself does.

I do think this is a well done show, and I think it is paying off for the creators. Their show is playing at the Sharpcuts Festival, in Guelph, in three separate web series blocks. Good luck, Naomi!

From YouTube Description:

In Episode 4, Naomi meets her biggest fan.

Find out more about Naomi: The Show at http://www.naomitheshow.com

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Vampire Zombie Werewolf Ep.7 “The Great Vampsby” | A Web Series Review on The Watch List

A Comedy Horror Web Series

3 Swirlies

“Just because some asshole bit me, I gotta like blood?”

This show is picking up nicely.

The main body of the episode had a nice pacing, with the Vampire/Zombie/Werewolf darting in and out of the scene and the producer having a chat with an old buddy. And then the ending had the turn that I was waiting for, that should really push the story through the rest of the series.

I haven’t had a chance to watch this series in a while, and what struck me was how well lit it is. It has always been a well produced series; the opening and closing titles are nicely done. My favourite character so far was the vampire hating vampire that the producer meets. He comes across as earthy, but he’s still talking about vampire myths - debunking them with total disdain.

Oh, I’m starting to think they had me fooled - the character Balthazane the vampire has his own blog reviewing vampire web series. I thought he was a real reviewer who focused on vampire shows, and they hired him to be in their show. Now I’m starting to think that he was a character and they made his blog up as a promotional platform for the show. If that’s true, it is kinda brilliant. Not only to help increase the show’s discoverability, but as a marketing gimmick. I’ve written about it twice now. It’s Lonely Girl 15 all over again!

From YouTube Description:

Watch ALL of our Episodes HERE: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=E259CBF1BECE072A

With the vampire-impressing party in full swing, Tad and Bunny learn that people can change when you least expect them to.

Watch Vampire Zombie Werewolf at http://www.vampirezombiewerewolf.com/

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31: The Series Ep.12 “Transmission 12″ | A Web Series Review on the Watch List

A Horror Web Series

3 Swirlies

“They’ll come anyway.”

Looks like we’re getting somewhere.

The two trapped people finally make some sort of real attempt to get themselves out.

Having good thumbnails for your episodes is very important, and for a show like this that can be a problem. Most of the thumbnails are just largely black screens. It an be tough to construct your video to capture the best possible thumbnails. YouTube picks three at more or less random parts from the beginning, middle and end of your episodes, to avoid people placing a misleading image at the one frame they know YouTube grabs the thumbnail from. But it means that legitimate users have a harder time getting a thumbnail that best promotes their show.

It can be especially tough for a web series like this one, where every episode looks pretty much like the one before. I’m not sure that is in and of itself a bad thing, but it does make it difficult to convince someone who sees your thumbnails in the “related videos” sidebar to click on your video and watch it. Especially if more than one of your video shows up but they all look the same.

This series relied heavily on the audio - there’s almost no visual information. We’re still inside that box.

This isn’t actually a poorly done web series. My biggest complaint is that the format, the 31 second length, seems to be a drag on the story. I mentioned earlier, I feel like the same creative team telling the same story, but in five minute chucks instead of 31 second chunks, more would happen in the same time.

Or maybe it wouldn’t.

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

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