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Reviews
A Man Called Otto (2022)
Safe hands Hanks
I am totally fed up with most modern TV and film which seem to have an agenda against men and white men in particular it seems but here is a feel good film despite the main topic casting a white man in the central role and offering us a positive role model to look up to.
The writing is brilliant and the acting executed so well giving us characters to care about.
Yes, one character is transgender and another is in a wheelchair which seems a common occurrence in modern film but their difference to the norm is irrelevant and their difference isn't damned down the throat of the viewer.
A heart warming end leaves you sad but happy. If only other 2 hour films went so quickly.
Generation Z: Episode #1.1 (2024)
Dead beat comedy
The closing titles open with the phrase "You have been watching" which is synonymous with great classic British comedies written by Croft/Perry/Lloyd.
Unfortunately, despite some recognisable faces, this falls well short of the standards of Dad's Army, Hi-De-Hi, It Ain't 'Alf Hot Mum, Are You Being Served,' Allo 'Allo and many more from the same stable.
I am surprised thd phrase hadn't been copyrighted.
Anyway, I managed to get through this. It was good to see Robert Lindsay so soon after his bad guy told in Sherwood series 2 and nice that Anita Robson is still alive after Eastenders.
I didn't laugh once.
Rivals: Episode #1.7 (2024)
A bit dull
Maybe it's just me but I found this episode just a bit long and rather slow.
Yes, I guess it is building up for a big finale which no doubt David Tennant will lose because he didn't stand up for his team member that was raped in episode 5 (Where's has she been since then? We have hardly seen her after such a big storyline) but a lot of it just seemed pointless to me but, unlike episode 5 there was still some humour in the show and it was on point with the previous episodes.
It just seems so obvious to me how the series is going to end with Venturer signing up so many influential people from their rival consortium.
Rivals: Episode #1.6 (2024)
Normal transmission resumed.
After an out of place episode 5, thd show returns to its bawdy sex comedy self with lashings of good fun sex simulation and a storyline which isn't over taxing.
The first part of the show leaves the rustic laid back west country and moves to Spain where sun, sea, sex and shenanigans move to somewhere nearer.
The 80s is still well represented and, being of that age, I love the nostalgia of it all somewhat more than that currently being shown in ITV's 80s drama Joan.
The flaws of thd characters are reminiscent of Midsomer Murders before it went politically correct.
Great work. Hope they can keep it up.
Ridley: The Hollow Tree, Part 2 (2024)
Me too, me 3, me 4, me 5
TV shows just can't help themselves can they?
Yes, I probably do watch more tv than most but nearly every show you watch now has to have a narcissistic male (white of course because those of other persuasion can do no wrong in tv land these days) and a woman that either overcomes him herself or one of ger sisters of female kind comes to her rescue (OK, it wasn't a real sister here but it's all relative).
It seems like another life since Blue Murder did the story about a narcissistic woman that controlled men. These days such a show would make a refreshing change.
The most criminal thing about this 2 parter us that Adrian Dunbar sang in this half of the show too.
Change the record.
Ridley: The Hollow Tree, Part 1 (2024)
Groundhog Day
Starting off with Adrian Dunbar crooning a song in his jazz night club isn't as good start. It's reminiscent of The Singing Detective and, as the story progresses, it seems that other parts of the storyline are going to take this in the same direction of dad too many recent TV dramas.
Kevin Doyle has been in many dramas over thd years but these days he just seems to play the same narcissistic control freak or a weak character that no-one much cares for.
It's seems a bit incredulous that a top ex-detective like Jean would even tolerate such behaviour but that is what we are led to believe here.
I don't know if u dare to watch pet 2 as I fear it's going to feel like Groundhog Day for regular TV drama watchers.
Ridley: A Sleeping Tiger, Part 2 (2024)
From the horse's mouth
After a good start this did seem to slip a bit in the second half which I assume will be shown as one whole episode in the UK but it have taken to showing one hour crime dramas in thd Sunday night slot this previously held.
The story is still a good one but it does seem to go off tangent in order to reach its conclusion.
Typically, someone has their past catching up with them and someone with a big role here has to leave and will probably never be heard of again if this type of show is anything to go by.
Adrian Dunbar's dulcet tone in the club lowers the standard on what was a good opening story.
Ridley: A Sleeping Tiger, Part 1 (2024)
A gem of a start
A great return to the series with the retired detective that has come back to help his protege.
There is a strong cast here with Bronagh Waugh, John Henshaw playing a John Henshaw, Julie Graham looking very different to Ms from The Hardacres (also worth a watch if the first episode is anything to go by) and my old school pal's brother Toby Hadoke looking a lot like his recent role where he played the traffic warden in Coronation Street.
The story seems to be a good one starting with a robbery similar to the one recently shown in another itv drama, Joan.
The town is a tight knit community where people worry about grassing but Ridley has contacts which ease the release of information.
Being in two parts, we didn't have to endure Ridley singing here but no doubt it will happen in part 2.
Slow Horses: Hello Goodbye (2024)
Strange conclusion
After all the waiting for the series for a year and the week by week release of episodes, I just found this to be a bit of a let down but the series as a whole was better than series 3.
Its reassuring to know that show will return but this episode just didn't seem to go anywhere.
Anyone who knows someone with dementia or has been reluctantly placed in a care home will appreciate the role played by Jonathan Pryce nearly as much as the rest of thd audience appreciates the acerbic brilliance of Gary Oldman as Lamb who wins the final scene as always (no ice creams this year).
A good cast but the story just lacks a little something.
The Hardacres: Episode #1.1 (2024)
Good introduction
I have to say that i was impressed with this especially Channel 5 but I am sure coming from the All Creatures Great And Small stable helps.
OK, it all looks very comfy and the groping boss and thieving boys get what's coming to them as well as the woman who turns them away from thd big house when they were seeking work.
It just seems strange to have this on a Monday night Sunday afternoon might have been a better option) but I guess a week night is when the main channels put out their weaker programmes.
To have the taking over the hall so soon is a bit much but let's hope the writing stays as strong.
Just a shame it was filmed in Ireland. There must have been plenty of aces in Britain that could have benefitted from the TV money but makes a change from all the dramas Channel 5 make in Malta.
Looking forward to next week but hopefully not too cosy.
Van der Valk: Safe in Amsterdam (2024)
Dutch courage
I have to say I wasn't nt looking forward to this as previous series had been all that good.
Yes my usual gripes are three such as why the cast are speaking English and why set in in The Netherlands at all.
On top of that, last year's new recruit, Citri Li has gone on holiday to The Med (the actress actually went to the Caribbean to do an episode of Death In Paradise) to add to the ever changing support cast (sending her on holiday keeps the role open for her should she be able return to the ethnic and sexual minority role) but, hey presto!, an ex of Van Der Valk's turns up despite having never been mentioned before.
Having said that, the views and the one liners are great to see and hear even if the plot goes AWOL at times.
A good start to the new series. Hope thry keep it up.
Return to Paradise: Dead Last (2024)
On yer bike
It's very hard not to compare this to Death In Paradise as the DNA is all over it.
The disappointing thing for me is that it already feels old, tired and at the same stage as the other show because it doesn't seem to offer anything new.
It might have been better if the DI had been British so that the Aussies could send them up but thd BBC has had input here so you can't have the Brits being made to look a fool (OK, the assistant is a Brit and has been struggling to find a bike for some time) so thry have a socially awkward expat returning home to be made a fool of instead.
A bog standard Death In Paradise story with not as quite so sunny skies as Guadeloupe.
Slow Horses: Grave Danger (2024)
Cartwright gets the boot.
An interesting close to the episode leaving viewers on the edge of their seats.
The weekly release of episodes probably adds to the gravitas of the show and brings excitement to something that is supposed to be about a bunch of rejects but it is all building up nicely for the finale.
I haven't seen many shows from Apple+ but none have been a let down (Ted Lasso and Hijack) and this is proving to be no exception but is, slower than previous seasons. It's written so that you are routing for the underdog even if it is not always clear what is happening.
The writing and the acting is good. It's just a shame about the goofs with continuity regularly crossing from autumn to spring when it is supposed to be early January.
A good watch.
Slow Horses: A Stranger Comes to Town (2024)
ooh la la
I want quite as keen with this one as much as I enjoyed the series opening episode.
There seemed to be quite a lot of filler here which wasn't as much to my liking.
There wasn't as much humour as the previous episode had but it is still quality compared to thd humdrum dramas being churned out on terrestrial television at the moment.
Jonathan Pryce does seem to have a bigger role this series which is great to see probably as much for being a recognisable face to American audiences as for his acting prowess but he plays a man with dementia very well.
Hopefully, the series will continue to keep it's high standard.
Slow Horses: Identity Theft (2024)
Dead lucky
It had been 12 months since I had seen the previous series so was pleased to have a recap but, by the time the titles came up in the 14th minute complete with the Mick Jagger them tune (which was sadly missing from the closing titles), it was as if the team hadn't been away.
I hadn't been happy with the close of the previous series seemingly somewhat contrived but Lamb and the team are back on form here and there even seems to be a good story to go along with Lamb's acerbic Tomfoolery.
Grandad Cartwright seems to have a bigger role here, lost and bewildered with Altzheimers and we are to believe her has killed his grandson River. Not seeing his arrival or corpse does lead viewers to question whether that is thd case.
A great set up to the new series without all the woke nonsense tv generally serves up these days.
Joan (2024)
Not quite top of the pops
I am writing this after series 1. The story is left open.
This had been hyped in advance for many weeks so I just had to bingewatch it.
Perhaps the hype was greater than thd show but, for those of us of a certs in age, there was plenty of nostalgia to see. The clothes, the music, the styles and the vehicles brought back there era so well.
I am not sure why The Wicked Game by Chris Izaak from 1989 was featured in a early 80s drama but it's not my biggest gripe.
Despite all the dressing up the show, the story is very modern being full of feminism, me too and all men are either weak or evil while it's OK for a woman to do illegal things as long as it is in a honourable cause.
Sophie Turner throws herself into the story well and there are some great songs but did we really need Bucks Fizz twice?
They could have included ELO and Ticket To The Moon which starts with the lines "Remember the good old 1980s when things were so uncomplicated? ... I wish I could go back there and everything could be the same"
Ludwig (2024)
Cam-tastic
I am writing this after Bingewatching series 1.
I wasn't overly-impressed with thd first episode but the show grew on me with some great actors making guest appearances (Felicity Kendal and Derek Jacobi shine while underrated Karl Pulkington also appears) along the way.
Yes, it is supposed to be clunky (Henry looks very tall for a 15 year old) and that's what makes it become endearing after a while.
The series did seem to have trouble on knowing how to end with a big secret coming out which we will wait to see (should there be a second series) as to whether the reveal should have been made just yet. The closing scene does leave it open for an intriguing second series.
My only gripe is that is set in Cambridge like the British version of Professor T. Is it really a big enough city to have two crime shows? I know much of Professor T is filmed in Belgium but surely there could have been another university town that could have been the setting for this (OK, Inspector Morse has flogged Oxford to death but there are always places such as York, Durham, Reading, Leeds, Loughborough, Bristol etc.).
A great watch with some fine humour but not quite the ten some suggest.
What did you think Sleepin_dragon?
A Very Royal Scandal: Episode #1.1 (2024)
Unbelievable Jeff
Having watched the original interview as well as the Netflix drama Scoop, I wondered whether we needed another take on this.
Ruth Wilson and Michael Sheen put on the mannerisms of the characters very well but at first it was hard to recognise them as being the real people.
Although Michael Sheen is renowned for paying real people, this, apart from maybe Brian Clough, if the least like the real person he has looked in a role.
The story is good though and with Emily's own input we get to see behind the TV presenter we know but, unlike Scoop, this does show the lead character's frailties. The downside for me is that I don't watch amazon prime often so the ad breaks they now have lose some rhythm but this episode is a great build up except for so many familiar acting faces distracting from the story.
Ludwig: Episode #1.2 (2024)
A great team effort
Part 2 of a police drama set in Cambridge and still no sign of Rabbit, Dinckers, Winters or even Professor T. Is Cambridge really big enough to have more than one police station?
One thing this episode had was a national treasure in Felicity Kendal (can a rear of theed year be a national treasure?).
Again thd story wasn't too taxing but possibly stronger than the opener.
David Mitchell and Anna Maxwell Martin work well together, almost like a husband and wife time except they are in laws.
Still no sign of his brother but j a sure it will happen making for uneasy view NG seeing thd same actor playing 2 people in one shot and a lot of behind camera angles.
Worth watching.
Ludwig: Episode #1.1 (2024)
Double take
This should have been good with a top actress and a comedy star but it just doesn't quite hit the mark.
Maybe it will take time for the characters to bed in but it isn't there yet.
Yes there are some good funny lines but why does it have to be set in Cambridge?
The UK version of Professor T is set there (OK, in reality, much of that show is filmed in Belgium) so surely a different backdrop could gave been found.
David Mitchell is good and Anna Maxwell Martin is most different from the character I saw her most recently play I Until I Kill You but there is just something that is slightly off with the murder being solved but it takes a confession to explain why.
Stick with it as theed is an ongoing theme.
Nightsleeper (2024)
Off the rails
I bingewatched this over a couple of nights.
There are some great edge of the seat monents but there is so much which isn't plausible.
There are two great leads in the show but, like the train, the story does tend to be diverted, going off in all directions.
It's no wonder it is available in other countries already. Unlike itv, Channel 4 and Channel 5, you don't see bbc shows abroad beforehand but other countries weren't far behind the iplayer release.
There are some compelling moments but thd last episode really went off the rails, the writers seemingly not knowing his to end it but worth watching.
Return to Paradise: R.I.P. Tide (2024)
Samson needs to let her hair down
Obviously, it is very hard not to compare this tothe sister shows Death In Paradise and Beyond Paradise but this was a good opener once it managed to get going.
Of course the characters and the setting had to be introduced so it took a while to settle in to the storyline.
Compared to the other two shows, it have a big of a twist in characters with an English comedic actor only playing settle fiddle but I guess the Aussies are funding this one.
To be honest the story is a bit run of the mill but the scenery is enjoyable even if it doesn't quite show the blazing sun of The Caribbean.
A old favourite (no, not Harry the lizard) can be seen in a scene to soothe you into the new show but he does seem a lot more tense than when we last saw him.
Worth sticking with.
Piglets: Change of Heart (2024)
Squealing in agony
OK, maybe this shouldn't be bingewatched and us probably best not watched at all.
The series rounds off as badly as it started and continued - a complete unfunny mess.
Throwing a big team of writers at a project in the vain hope that someone will come up with something remotely funny really doesn't work.
I managed a smile at the end as Callie Cooke showed off her thighs for one last time but I failed to laugh at all.
It might be alright for thd kids on BBC 3 or ITV 2 but this is not mainstream Saturday night comedy.
The worst thing is it might tamper viewing figures for Changing Ends that is on before it.
Hopefully, this is the end. 2 stars for each of Callie's thighs.
Piglets: Questioning (2024)
Dummy joke
Julie says we have had enough twinging of Stephanie's minge but I suspect that the show hasn't or there would be nothing left of the show to enjoy.
Again, Sarah Parish is wasted here and her laughing about good cop bad cop goes on far too long.
The first rule of humour is comedic timing rather than trying to fill in 23 minutes by making an average joke stretch out for half a minute.
There is no depth here, the characters are as wooden as the sets and the script feels as though it has been written by a group of repressed fifth formers.
There should be questioning. Asking the it execs how they commissioned such rubbish. I suspect this is the best of a bad lot that thry needed to make a comedy hour to go alongside the brilliant Changing Ends.
Piglets: Tests (2024)
Out on my elbow.... Arse!
Sorry, I have told you this episode's joke in the title.
This episode had 9 credited writers but they still couldn't find a laugh out loud joke in 23 minutes.
With all the supposed sexual tension going on, there doesn't seem to be a camp
or a lesbian character which is a refreshing change for modern TV but why does it have to be such an awful show to be like it?
This really is poor. A typical run of the mill itv comedy. Thankfully, most don't return for a second series and hopefully this will follow the same path.
There is no depth or warmth to the characters that seem as wooden as the sets.