“See.” “Super Pumped.”

“See.” (Apple TV+) Three Seasons. Science fiction drama, set in a post-apocalyptic dystopia in the distant future where humanity's descendants have lost their sense of sight, and the ability to see is considered to be a myth. The plot is set in motion by the birth of twin-sighted children in a mountain tribe. 

       First to notice in this futuristic albeit tribal epic is the swashbuckling set and the astounding photography. Shot in several areas in Vancouver Island, British Columbia in Canada, production costs for “See” rivaled that of HBO's “Game of Thrones.” Rumors had it that the budget for the first two seasons was $240 million, or $15 million per episode. Not hard to believe the numbers, really. 

       Second to notice: As Baba Voss, a fearless warrior and the leader of the Alkenny Tribe, Jason Momoa actually acted here, for real. In a limited role, Dave Bautista as Edo, the vengeful younger brother of Baba, acted as well. LOL! I am seriously saying these hunks aren’t simply their mumbling muscled selves here. They are actors. And don’t forget the amazing swordplay and kickass fight choreography. Ninjas! 

       Except with Sylvia Hoeks as Queen Sibeth Kane, and her irksome sing-song delivery, acting overall is fine. Hera Hilmar as Maghra Kane is both wounded soul and fierce conviction. Christian Camargo as Tamacti Jun is solid as a rock and piercing as lightning rod. And Alfre Woodard, a wise elder, dabs some life into the process whenever the vibe gets languid and dull, which is often.  

       Yet the problem of “See” is its convoluted narrative that gets muddled amidst the project’s gigantic vision. As we approached Season 2, the pace got tired and hackneyed, and so by Season 3, it’s all breathtaking visuals, credits to Caroline Hanania and Dean D. O’Dell. 🎥📺📹

“Super Pumped.” (Netflix) drama miniseries. Based on Mike Isaac’s book, the series dramatizes the foundation of the ride-hailing company Uber from the perspective of the company's CEO Travis Kalanick, who is ultimately ousted in a boardroom coup. Super-pumped, super-charged Joseph Gordon-Levitt is Mr Kalanick. 

        Energy, that’s what “Super Pumped” has in abundance. And 99.9 percent of that adrenaline overkill exudes from Mr Gordon-Levitt. But that’s also what we got from similar unicorn-fueled bios. Jared Leto as WeWork founder Adam Neumann in “WeCrashed” and Amanda Seyfried as Elizabeth Holmes of the disgraced Theranos in “The Dropout.” But Joseph out-Al Pacino them all (LOL!) with this series. Problem is, midway in the 7-episode rideshare, I felt like I was stuck in a New York City yellow taxi with a hyper, super-talky cabbie. But I simply gotta finish the trip, you dig? 

       “Super Pumped,” however, manages to chill somehow with its stellar support cast, notably the ever-cool Kyle Chandler as Bill Gurley. And although Uma Thurman as Arianna Huffington, with all the misplaced accent, can be annoying, her “energy” (pun included) slowed down Travis-alias. Still, the lure of “Super Pumped” is the story of Travis Kalanick. Because of that, the series is worth your while. 🎥📺📹

GAVE UP.

“Django” (Netflix) Italian-French series, an English-language reimagining of the 1966 Italian film of the same name by Sergio Corbucci. Takes place in the Old West of the 1860s–1870s. Django finds his way to New Babylon, where all manner of outcasts are welcome regardless of their background or beliefs.