Necrotongue

The creators opted to kick things off almost at the end, starting with Dahmer's arrest, and that clicks with me. In this case, doing the classic crime drama build-up wouldn't make much sense since you would already know the outcome. Dahmer, being a well-known serial killer, grabs attention. Occasionally dining on your victims' parts is a surefire way to get public notice. I'm just hoping this doesn't turn into some weird celebration of his life's work, like the vibe I got from the last Ted Bundy film. / Lesson learned: Social conventions can baffle me sometimes, but I have my limits.

The pre-opening credits scene was great. Overall, the episode felt quite similar to the previous one (hence the same rating), and the little monster's tantrums didn't spoil it for me. When I watched the show years ago, I dropped it at the end of the sixth season, so for me, the seventh one is kind of like a fresh start. However, after this episode's ending, the creators seem to have some shady plans up their sleeves. We'll see but I've got my suspicions. / Lesson learned: Don't impose your feelings on others.

The last episode was a letdown, but this one hit the mark. I definitely found the present more enjoyable than the quick glimpses into the future. Plus, it turns out that Neil Patrick Harris could pull off even playing a dead person. / Lesson learned: If you party till you drop, better schedule the next day off for your resurrection.

Talk about ups and downs! Good thing I'm mentally geared up for these kinds of swings. Initially, I thought this episode might be saved by Barney's storyline, but it wasn't enough to outweigh the negative vibes from Marshall and Lily and even being disgusted by Ted. I'm just not a fan of those self-pitying types. / Lesson learned: Struggling with the dating game? Time for some training.

The creators are clearly trying to convince me I've been too harsh on them, but I'm not falling for it anymore. That being said, I did like this episode. Even though it was a bit light on humor, the new perspective worked for me, the drama made sense, and I was already a fan of Cristin Milioti. / Lesson learned: Life can sometimes make fun of you. Openly. 4*-

I initially wanted to criticize the fifteenth episode, but I couldn't because truth-serum-drunk Barney was too great. This time, surprisingly, I didn't mind the more serious tone of some scenes and I enjoyed myself decently. / Lesson learned: The devil is in the details. 4*-

I knew a dip in quality was coming, but the extent of it caught me off guard. The episode revisited the long-standing slap bet, something I usually dig, only to turn it into a complete debacle. Honestly, both the content and the execution rubbed me the wrong way this time. / Lesson learned: Before a pub brawl, make sure to go on a one-year internship in Shanghai first.

The creators managed to shock me for the second time in the ninth season by pulling off an episode that wasn't entirely dumb. I even found myself chuckling. I did miss the reassurance at the end that no whisky bottles were harmed during filming. / Lesson learned: Don't be afraid to stand up for your opinion; no one else is gonna do it for you.

I treated myself to another viewing of a film I saw years ago when my world was still all right. It only confirmed my belief that Terry Gilliam is a true visual artist. Admittedly, I wasn't looking forward to rewatching it, remembering that the story went slightly over my head. It turns out that I just needed to age for it like fine liquor. Nothing threw me off, confused me, or annoyed me this time, and I could enjoy this fantastic, wild ex-Python ride to the fullest without being distracted by a lot of unanswered questions. If the casting of four actors as Tony hadn't been a bare necessity and a last-ditch move, it would still have been a great idea, perfectly suited for this wacky film. My personal favorite was Tom Waits as Mr. Nick. It was a weird film, no question about it, but if you know Terry Gilliam's work, you know that it could have been a lot more bizarre. I simply had to increase my rating after all these years. / Lesson learned: I strongly don't recommend gambling with the Devil.

I'm kinda torn on this episode. The plot was to the point, so no complaints there, but the humor wasn't exactly legendary. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was a lot more juice to squeeze from this storyline if the creators didn't get too fixated on the little monster, and if the big romantic moment didn't feel completely illogical. I'm not questioning the idea; it was solid, just not thrilled about its placement. / Lesson learned: When you're into Laser Tag, don't forget to bring your skates.