10 Thoughts on Cobra Kai Season 3

2021 is off to a fantastic start thanks to Cobra Kai Season 3. Going into the new season, I was mildly concerned since some of the reviews were more negative than critiques of the first two seasons. I was afraid that the third season of Cobra Kai would be as bad as the third Karate Kid movie. Thankfully, the concern was unwarranted.

Cobra Kai Season 3 was just as entertaining as the previous seasons. It’s certainly not award-winning television by any means, but the show absolutely succeeds in delivering big, dumb, and nostalgic fun. The hooks are clever enough to keep you interested, while the overall tone is ridiculous and fluffy enough to make the show infinitely rewatchable. If you enjoyed the first two seasons of the show then it’s highly likely that you’ll enjoy the third.

After watching each episode twice, here are ten random thoughts on Cobra Kai Season 3 using the tried and true RPadTV binary system. Warning: spoiler punches will be fast and furious.

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The Best TV Show of 2020

2019 was an amazing year for nerd television. It had the debut of The Mandalorian and The Boys, as well as all-new series of The Dark Crystal and Watchmen. Could 2020 match up to such an incredible year? Of course not, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t fantastic shows. As for me, one series stood out as the best TV show of 2020: Ted Lasso.

For the uninitiated, Ted Lasso is a sitcom about an American football coach that goes to England to coach real football. It was based on a pair of NBC Sports sketches starring Jason Sudeikis. Bill Lawrence (Scrubs), Sudeikis, Joe Kelly, and Brendan Hunt made some significant changes to the character and created something magical. Not only was Ted Lasso the best TV show of 2020 for me, it was also one of the biggest surprises of the year. Here’s why.

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Coffee Talk #676: Streaming Services and Social Layers

I’ve been wishing for the confluence of streaming services and social layers for a long time. With new services like Scener and Netflix Party, it’s finally happening. Although it’s not quite what I was looking for, these services are a welcome addition to the streaming video experience.

Netflix Party, Scener, and You

Netflix Party and Scener are extensions that work on top of streaming video services. Both add video and text chat windows to video. Netflix Party works with Netflix (duh), while Scener works with a number of streaming video services. Scener also has the added distinction of being officially supported by HBO Go and HBO Now.

These services aim to offer an experience that’s akin to watching a movie or television show with friends, sans physical presence. This is especially welcomed during a global pandemic, when social distancing and stay-at-home practices are strongly encouraged. Video calls through Facetime, Zoom, etc. are great, but watching movies and TV with your nearest and dearest takes it to another level.

If you’ve ever dreamed of starring in your own version of Mystery Science Theater 3000 or you simply miss watching TV with your friends, Netflix Party and Scener are worth checking out.

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Coffee Talk #675: How Much Time Should Elapse Before it’s Okay to Reveal Spoilers?

Last week I caught a bunch of heat on N4G. This article on Final Fantasy VII Remake discussed a major event from the original FFVII. The kids accused me of being the “spoilers!” guy. Initially, I dismissed it as Internet people being Internet people. Then RPadholic G-Iceman asked an interesting question in the RPadTV Slack:

“What is the appropriate amount of time that should pass before you can blurt out spoilers?”

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The Best Game of Thrones Battle

One of the most outstanding aspects of Game of Thrones is its battles. The show set a new standard for television action sequences by blending superior choreography, effective storytelling, and riveting drama. With the final season of Game of Thrones just days away, it’s a fine time to bust out the retroscope and pick the best Game of Thrones battle.

This was a tough decision for me. I adore “The Battle of Blackwater Bay” from season two. After being conditioned to heavy use of CGI in swords-and-sorcery combat by The Lord of the Rings films, I was amazed by the heavy use of practical effects in “Blackwater.” It was also the first epic battle in Game of Thrones and despite what Prince said, the first time can be the greatest. While “Blackwater” will always be one of my favorite Game of Thrones moments, there’s one battle that’s undeniably greater.

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The Best Game of Thrones Season

With the final season of Game of Thrones nearly here, I’ve been rewatching the first seven as a refresher. It’s been fun examining how characters have developed, remembering departed heroes and villains, seeing glorious battles, and chuckling at comedic lines. Out of the first seven seasons, one stood out as my favorite — season four.

Sure, the battle at Castle Black wasn’t as grand as Blackwater or The Battle of the Bastards, but it was still pretty damn entertaining. More importantly, Game of Thrones season four had some of the best moments in the show — both comedic and dramatic — and introduced one of my favorite characters.

Out of curiosity, I’d love to learn which Game of Thrones season is your favorite and why. Kindly share your thoughts in the comments section. Below are three reasons why Game of Thrones season four is my favorite.

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Your Game of Thrones Season 8 Predictions

The latest trailer for Game of Thrones season 8 has dropped. It’s full of excitement, drama, intrigue, and (pending) death. RPadholic smartguy suggested that it would be a great time for us to make our predictions on the final season of Game of Thrones. As you’d expected from him, that’s a fine idea.

Below are the trailer and a bunch of questions about Game of Thrones season 8. Kindly answer the questions when you have a chance, but don’t let them limit your thoughts. If you have any theories and musings that aren’t covered by the questions, I’d love to hear them.

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Random Thoughts on Iron Fist Season Two

Iron Fist season two reminded me of how we used to make fun of the “Most Improved” award in high-school sports. My friends and I would joke, “Most improved just means that you used to suck.” The first season of Iron Fist was easily the worst show in the Marvel Netflix universe, but the sophomore season is worth watching. It’s not among the best Marvel Netflix shows and it still has the same core problem that the first season had, but numerous improvements have taken Iron Fist from “used to suck” to “reasonably enjoyable.”

Here’s a breakdown of Iron Fist season two in the traditional RPadTV binary style. Be sure to summon your chi and make a spoiler shield fist.

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Coffee Talk #674: Should Netflix Be More Social?

Did you ever wish that Netflix had more social features? It’s something that I think about often. In many ways, it seems like a great opportunity; adding a social layer to Netflix would give it stickiness, increase the amount of time people use the service, and help the company retain subscribers. In my head, social features on Netflix would be fun and useful for several reasons.

  • You could get recommendations based on what your friends are watching.
  • You could see when friends are done binge-watching new shows and see who you can have spoiler-free discussions with.
  • You could see what your friends are watching and make fun of anyone that watches Maid in Manhattan.

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Poll: Immortal Iron Fist vs. Three Eyed Raven

Danny Rand (The Defenders) and Brandon Stark (Game of Thrones) tell everyone that they’re the Immortal Iron Fist and the Three Eyed Raven, respectively. It doesn’t matter if the person listening to them is interested or not. They’re happy to share their exalted titles with anyone that will listen…and several people that don’t give a damn.

Now let’s play a game! Imagine that these two suave (not really) heroes are in a bar. Imagine that they share their fancy titles with the ladies they chat with. Which one is more pathetic as a pickup line? Saying, “Hi, I’m the Immortal Iron Fist,” or, “Hey there, I’m the Three Eyed Raven.” Kindly make your choice in the poll below.

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