Bottom Line: This is one of the most well written dramatic comedies I’ve had the pleasure of seeing, and on top of that it manages to bulldoze its way through the topic of sex and sexuality without pulling any punches nor being exploitative.

A cross between The Breakfast Club and Sex and the City, Sex Ed: The Series is a dramedy that follows the personal lives of eight very different college students who enroll in a general education course called “Sexuality Today.” What seems to be a cake course turns into something unusual in the hands of Professor Alison Trevase, starting with her first assignment: to pair up and make clay sculptures of each other’s genitals.

With each lesson, the students are forced into intimate situations where they discover things about themselves that they’d rather not admit publicly.

Not everyone will pass. But everyone will be exposed.

Details

Website: Sex Ed

Ratings

Style 4

Pacing 4

I can’t get over the energy that just oozes from this show.
(Storytelling 5)

Polish 5

Get past the fact that this show is about sex. Seriously. The moment that you do what you’ll find is that it’s utterly fantastic, combining a entertaining cast with strong dialogue and a storyline that will leave you thinking. (Watchability 5)

Novelty 5

Overall Rating: 4.66 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: This is probably the most well balanced, story-driven series I’ve had the pleasure to review. Where many web series suffer from uneven presentation, writing or pacing, STBD manages to be consistently good across its entire run.

Something to Be Desired is a web sitcom (or web series, or web video series,webcom, webisodes, or whatever imprecise descriptor you’d choose to explain us to your friends) about life after college. Created and produced in Pittsburgh, PA, we’ve been online since the summer of 2003. In that time, we’ve developed over seven hours of original content, all of which can be seen here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and entirely free.

STBD films with a local cast and crew. We shoot our web series on mini-DV (the Panasonic DVX-100A model, to be exact), edit in Final Cut Pro, and distribute on multiple platforms, including Blip TV and iTunes.

We here at STBD are torn between our hatred of corporate monoliths and our need to feed, clothe and provide shelter for ourselves, so while you may see the occasional ad or bit of merch, we’re doing all we can to avoid plugging into the system. Therefore, if you like what you see, spread the word! (We need all the help we can get…)

Details

Cast: Heather Beschizza, Laura Lee Brautigam, Josh Hansen, Ann Turiano, Shaun Hall, Lacey Fleming, Rick Hertzig, Teresa Trich, Matthew Preston, Will Guffey, Jennifer Koegler, Trent Wolfred, Erik Schark, Shaun Starke, Courtney Jenkins, Ryan Ben
Blip.tv Channel: Something To Be Desired
Website: Something To Be Desired
Support the Show: Visit The STBD Store

Subscribe

Feed: Feed
Twitter Page Something To Be Desired

Ratings

Style 3.5

Pacing 4 (Each episode covers a a lot of ground. They come in at about 10 minutes a piece but none of it is derivative. It’s one of those shows that once you start it you’ll have to see it through to the end. The character development is solid if not a bit uneven, it takes a little while to really get into the supporting cast’s head but once you’re there the series gets even better.)

A compelling, meaty story that takes a while to unravel. This is one of those series that will do you absolutely no good to watch as an one off, if you’re going to start with Something to Be Desired you need to be willing to commit yourself to at least a few episodes to get a feeling for the characters and to understand the arc. (Storytelling 4.5)

Polish 3.5

Rock solid writing, directing and acting make this an easy to enjoy series. The fact that it has been going for as long as it has deserves a nod as well. Web series typically have a short shelf life, either the writers can’t hold the story together or the talent moves on to other projects, but STBD has been on air for six seasons and still seems fresh. (Watchability 4.5)

Novelty 3.5

Overall Rating: 3.91 out of 5 stars

Oh the wonders of torture-porn. This one comes with a nice big dollop of Troma on the side. The Morning After is the story of a woman who wakes up to find herself in a rather awkward situation after a less than fortuitous sexual romp.

To make matters worse, she soon finds that her arm is stuck under a man sporting just a little too much leather.

What is a girl to do? Saw of your arm, of course! What follows is several minutes of hilariously gruesome dismemberment comedy that will give the squeamish reason to close their eyes and the rest of us a few good belly laughs.

Is the story deep and meaningful? Well, I guess it really depends on how you look at it but what I will say is that this is incredibly entertaining and well worth the time it will take to watch it.

Creator’s Description

Emily has just awoken to discover that last nights activities, have – by far – exceeded her usual exploits in sexual depravity. So much so in fact, she’s now going to have to sever her right arm which happens to be firmly wedged under the slumbering behemoth beside her.

Will she escape without disturbing her sleeping captive? Will she discover the true meaning of sacrifice? And will she find a means of tearing off the last remnants of muscle from her splintering arm bone? All is answered in this latest art-house entry, into the splatter / comedy / torture-porn genre.

Details

Cast: Aldiana Sterjova, Ange Galati, Michael Traurig
Vimeo Channel: The Morning After
Website: Snowgum Films

Ratings

Fake blood, fake bone, fake shattered muscle tissue, this is a makeup artists dream and for something so over the top the effects are actually pretty solid. (Style 5)

Pacing 4

Like I said before, this movie falls deeply into the Troma territory. If you are expecting to understand the mayhem you are looking in the wrong place. You would be much better off just sitting back and enjoying the carnage.(Storytelling 3.5)

Polish 4

This is not for the squemish, if you have never been a big fan of dismemberment then you should probably look elsewhere. (Watchability 4)

Novelty 4

Overall Rating: 4.08 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: Condition:Human is one of the most visually stunning and well executed Sci Fi dramas I’ve seen on the web. Once you get over how beautiful it is, you’ll still be drawn in by a story that strays away from the camp that marks many science fiction series’ on the web.

In the near future, man has begun to address the economic and environmental issues plaguing the early 21st century. Rapid technological advancements have changed life dramatically, especially the creation of advanced humanoid robots who have begun to play an integral part in everyday life. Takumi Kenji, the reclusive CEO of Kenji Electronics, and father of all things A.I. has announced the first ever ‘companion’ bots. A model of humanoid who’s interactive capabilities are remarkably natural. As robots continue to evolve their place amongst us we must evolve as well, and as we do society carries the responsibility of answering moral questions that come.

Details

Cast: Kristian Bakstad, Leah Tassey, Arnica Skulstad-Brown, Kasey Ryne Mazak, Josephine Savoldelli, Lloyd Davis, Lani Claxton, Pat Barker, Raymond Wey-Ming Ho, Rob Carpenter
Vimeo Channel: Condition:Human
Website: Condition:Human
Support the Show: Join The Facebook Page

Subscribe

Twitter Feed: Condition Human
Facebook Page Condition Human

Ratings

I really can’t get over how beautifully the effects are done in this show. They are dark, crisp and absolutely seamless. I don’t know what type of budget they had for this show but I haven’t seen a more fully realized world. If you plan to shoot a web series even partially on green screen, you should take notes from Condition:Human. (Style 5)

Pacing 4

Storytelling 4.5

The video quality and effects are absolutely top notch for a web series, however, the audio was a little low and muffled. Considering how interesting the show concept is, it’s frustrating to have to strain to hear it. Let me point out that none of this detracts from the fact that this is one of the most visually stunning web shows I have ever seen. The physical sets are fantastic and the digital ones are close to seamless. I wouldn’t ask for more if this was on network television. (Polish 4.5)

This is a deeply philosophical exploration of humanities obsession with technology and what it means to be human. It moves at a slow, deliberate pace and for some people that might make it difficult to sit through especially since each episode clocks in at over 10 minutes in length. That being the case, if you are looking for some tasty SciFi in the vein of Gattaca this is for you. (Watchability 4)

Novelty 4.5

Overall Rating: 4.41 out of 5 stars

This is the story of a failed sexual encounter between two men. While watching it I felt like the writer (Sanjay Sooknanan) wasn’t entirely certain where he wanted to go with narrative. There were issues available to explore, and he touched on several of them – repressed sexuality, shame, the awkwardness of first meetings – he touched on them but by the end I still wasn’t clear what he was trying to say.

The direction and acting were good and while they did play around with chronology they did so in a pretty reasonable way. The biggest failing of this movie is that it’s too dark to be a “slice of life” and the story isn’t deep enough to make good drama.

It is worth watching if you are a fan of the genre, but there isn’t enough here to draw in a wider audience.

Creator’s Description

A sexual encounter raises doubts and questions from both sides involved.

Details

Cast: Baruch Porras, Jean Franco, Elise Garza, Santiago Dunbar
Vimeo Channel: The Meeting
Website: The Pegasus Company

Ratings

Style 2.5

It moves well and they used the chronology jumps well. (Pacing 4)

Storytelling 3

Polish 3

There just isn’t enough here to really draw you in and at almost 12 minutes this one is for genre fans. (Watchability 2.5)

Novelty 2.5

Overall Rating: 2.91 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: It’s still early in the series and it feels like the writers are looking for their groove, but with a gleefully neurotic main character and a great eye for awkward date setups it’s on the path to being great.

Seeking Simone is a new lesbian web series about online dating. Follow the adventures of Simone Selkin as she dates her way through gay Toronto!

“What’s so great about meeting ‘in real life’ first anyway? That’s how Ava Braun met Hitler and look how that turned out.”

Simone Selkin is single and in no way ready to mingle. Her excuses? Well, she’s new to Toronto, she’s trying to make the most of her big break on CSIS:ForensicSWAT and, if she’s honest, she’s still getting over her ex, Rebecca, who was a total skank. But back in Vancouver, Simone’s best friend Audrey has a plan to get Simone back on the horse. And that plan is “online dating”.

Don’t fret, hets – Seeking Simone is not just for homos. It’s a comedy for anyone who’s ever dared to date – and lived to cringe forever over the tale.

Details

Cast: Renee Olbert, Anna Chatterton, Michelle Girouard, Liz Pounsett, David Bronfman, Kiran Friesen, Zoie Palmer, Jennifer Brown, Eli Mcilveen Julian Sark
Blip.tv Channel: Seeking Simone
Website: Seeking Simone
Support the Show: Write A Review About Seeking Simone

Subscribe

RSS Feed: Feed
Facebook Page Seeking Simone

Ratings

Style 3.5

It’s a dating story which means that a lot of episodes revolve around Simone on dates and the wacky, interesting, embarrassing stuff that evolves from it. For the most part, the setup is gold but sometimes the awkward moments are dragged out a little too long. You might be saying, “Well, that’s what makes them awkward,” but I found myself waiting for the joke in places. It’s still early in the series and they seem to be feeling it out but a faster buildup might really help to push the story along. (Pacing 3)

Storytelling 3.5

Polish 3

This is really, really fun to watch. They have managed to set Simone up on wildly different dates from episode to episode and it’s a pleasure to see what comes next. If you watch one lesbian dating series that takes place in Canada this season, this should be it. (Watchability 4.5)

Much of the action of the story is told second hand via webcam. This is a fun premise and adds a touch of reality to the series. If there is any complaint at all it is that Simone is sometimes too honest, a little embellishment for comic effect might be entertaining. (Novelty 3.5)

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: It’s not too often that you get a dramatic web series that manages to touch on complex social issues without devolving into a heavy-handed mess. Anyone But Me is surprisingly sharp and intensely engaging, easily one of my favorite dramatic series.

When 16 year old Vivian McMillan has to move from New York City to the suburbs, her relationships, past and present, are tested. And her identity goes through seismic changes. The daughter of a NYC firefighter, Vivian has no choice but to leave the city with her dad after health problems he suffered trying to save people on September 11th force him to retire. This moving, funny, and relevant new drama speaks to all ages and hearts as it follows the journey of six teenagers and the adults who try to understand them.

Details

Cast: Rachael Hip-Flores, Nicole Pacent, Joshua Holland, Alexis Slade, Jessy Hodges, Mitchell Adams, Dan Via, Barbara Pitts
Strike.tv Channel: Anyone But Me
Website: Anyone But Me
Support the Show: Visit The Anyone But Me Store

Subscribe

RSS Feed: Feed
Facebook Page Anyone But Me

Ratings

Style 4

Pacing 4

Anyone But Me tackles issues of displacement, sexuality and growing up at a steady pace and with an even hand. It’s one of the most profoundly interesting web series dramas I’ve come across and this is coming from someone who loves to hate the genre. The characters are believable, the directing is solid and Rachel Hip-Flores and Nicole Pacent sells their roles (Vivian and Aster) beautifully. (Storytelling 5)

Polish 4.5

This show has built on controversy. The main character is a teenage lesbian trying to come to terms with her identity. As such, it’s not for everyone. That being said, the writers of this series manage to cover a lot of complex social issues without the heavy-handed moralizing that might otherwise alienate wider audiences. If you can keep an open mind, this show will get you thinking. (Watchability 5)

They manage to take the tired old teen “coming of age” story and add enough twists to it to make it watchable again. (Novelty 4)

Overall Rating: 4.41 out of 5 stars

Bottom Line: The first episode is the best by far, but the series manages to stay entertaining enough throughout its short run (4 episodes) to keep you coming back.

It’s the first day at school and Jude wants to get his homosexuality off his chest. Meanwhile his ex-girlfriend Christa tries to get revenge on him, and the new kid Ben is getting used to the jocks bullying him.

Details

Cast: Tyler Mann, Itay Gofman, Rachel Lenchner, Eden Mader, Lauren Soul, Riven Uchiwa, Adina Yoselevsky
Deviant Art Channel: First Period
Website: Tyler Mann – Deviant Art
Support the Show: Watch More Of Tyler’s Films

Ratings

Sometimes the sheer number of cuts distracts from the scene. (Style 2.5)

Pacing 3.5

The script is solid but there are some points where you can tell that the actors can “see” the camera. It adds to the quirkiness of the entire enterprise but it can distract from the immersion. (Storytelling 3)

Polish 3.5

Viewer discretion is advised, there are a lot of sexual references and a lot of vulgarity, if you are particularly sensitive to either you might want to take a pass on this one. However, if you can get past that you are in for a thoroughly entertaining series. (Watchability 3)

Novelty 3.5

Overall Rating: 3.16 out of 5 stars