Yes, i spent my Christmas Eve watching TV and movies, as usual.

6) Let The Right one In (Paramount Plus)

English Audio Description?: No

This is part of Paramount Plus’s campaign to make sure that all Showtime content on their service remain inaccessible to the blind and visually impaired community, simply because you chose to merge your subscriptions. If you want audio description, subscribe directly to Showtime, since Paramount Plus (which has the same corporate entity and owner) cannot be bothered. I was really only somewhat looking forward to this anyway, if I’m behind honest. I was mainly interested in Demian Bichir starring here, but for me, there is only one adaptation of this, and that is it’s original screen adaptation. I didn’t love Let Me in, and while this show is less concerned with being a faithful adaptation, and more concerned with running for multiple seasons, what I could understand of it I had a lot of trepidation about. I’m not sure this does anything new or better, nor do I think these actors are necessarily better. They are actually perhaps more talkative, and relatable. I was able to follow this about as well as American Gigolo, which is to say there are scenes with dialogue, and scenes where you have no idea what’s going on. Actually, a more fair comparison would be Interview With A Vampire, but with that AMC Plus presentation, I’m convinced I would love it if I could understand it. Let The Right One In very much has me on the fence, should I even have audio description. Though if Paramount Plus did add audio description, I’d be willing to rewatch the pilot. I’m just such a huge fan of the original, that a series adaptation doesn’t really have me a hyped as you might think.

Episode Grade: C

5) Who Killed Santa? A Murderville Mystery (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: Yes

I hope by them filming a Christmas special version of this show, it means more Murderville at some point. I was less enthused by them restructuring the plot, and also the celebrity cameos, which don’t happen in a normal Murderville episode, but do happen in other Christmas episodes. Oddly, my least favorite Murderville, and it had Maya Rudolph and Jason Bateman.

Episode Grade: B

4)4) Tales Of The Jedi (Disney Plus)

English Audio Description?: Yes

This anthology spin-off started with a rather uneventful backstory for an existing Jedi. The problem with some of these projects we get now, is that they look back in time, and we know at least one character can’t die. That character is also the one in mortal danger in the first episode. So there’s a lack of suspense, or actual stakes. Otherwise, I think this is well done.

Episode Grade: B

3) Titans (HBo MAX)

English Audio Description?: Yes

I’ll say that after watching the season premiere, I have no idea what the fuck if going on. That could be a good thing, but this was a bit nuts. I can’t actually wait to see the payoff. I think perhaps, it felt almost like it was trying too hard to keep us in the dark, and separate story elements so that it could pull off it’s WTF ending, which also meant the episode doesn’t make sense. I’m waiting for them to make it make sense, but it’s also possible they never do.

Episode Grade: B+

2) The peripheral (Amazon)

English Audio Description?: Yes

I’m enjoying this enough. Considering Jonathan Nolan devised Westworld, I think my expectations are higher, but he’s doing nice work. That bee attack was so unexpected. It was kind of brilliant. That poor woman, but wow. Creativity at its finest.

Episode Grade: A-

1) Cobra Kai (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: Yes

I think this topped its rankings last week too. We’re back, and Miyagi Do/Eagle Fang is trying to get into this super rare competition that Cobra Kai is also trying to get into. This time around, the dojos have to battle it out, but Cobra Kai has a different set of representatives. Once again though, the same problems arise, and someone needs to start importing referees that can’t be bought. Tori’s story arc is interesting, and I’m hoping Hawk doesn’t have long term damage. Once again, I love that the kids are the focus again.

Episode Grade: A