If you’re like me, then you’ve probably never really had a lot of time for TV “keep-fit” experts. The reason? Time and time again, they ALWAYS expect too much from you. It is either too long or too enduring for anyone who is trying to follow them at home. Always!
So it was a welcome surprise, for me to accidentally switch Workout the Wright Way on two times the last week, and to finally see an expert, who had low expectations of any participants.
Wright constantly stressed that it was up to you, as to how much energy to expend, or how many repetitions to do. You want to do the 3×6; fine. Less? That was fine as well. His philosophy was to so SOMETHING.
As I am not really a fan of many recent crime dramas for a variety of reasons, I did see a very quick episode of Unforgotten the last year and thought that it was slightly different than many series nowadays.
For one thing, there was a human element to it; a degree of empathy and relation to modern day UK life. This may be down to the cast’s performances, or scripts.
The series concerns two cops, a DCI Cassie Stuart (Nicola Walker) and DI Sunny Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar), who follow up cold cases. For this episode, number 1 of the new season, they were investigating a headless body that was found, and naturally, just what happens concerning its identification, etc.
Sanjeev Bhaskar
Yes, once again, and one of my pet peeves, is the over use of blue / brown colour correction! Why do they do this! It adds NOTHING to the story, and if anything, detracts from the drama. OTOH, the empathy and relation to modern Britain, I liked the joke about Crystal Palace supporters (!), is much better than, for example Marcella, The Bay and Vera.
With all the time spent in the house the last year, I decided to watch past series, that whilst I didn’t watch at the time, always thought would be quality – Lewis (2006-2015) came to mind.
As everyone should know, this was a continuation of the sidekick character from the InspectorMorse series (1987 – 2000), with Kevin Whately reprising his role as DI Robbie Lewis, along with Lawrence Fox as his able sidekick now, DS James Hathaway.
As a fan of Morse, I wondered why I’d never watched before, though I may have seen the odd episode. So the past year, it was no problem getting back into the vibe by consuming all 9 seasons, finishing this week. The surprise of the whole thing, was the Morse like, boy-wonder Hathaway; often times consumed with guilt, remorse and confusion, after witnessing the many different murders and evil, deep in the county of Oxfordshire.
Lewis finale, “What lies Tangled” – DI Robert Lewis (Kevin Whately), Elizabeth Capstone (Zoë Tapper) DI James Hathaway (Laurence Fox, r.)
Equally, the Lewis character had that easy-going feel, that continued with his graduation to be the lead detective, that is pulled off quite easily. At times, Morse is mentioned, but only rarely.
On another note, towards the end of the series, it seemed that the “dark” themes were exaggerated; anything from alchemy, voodoo’ishness, myths & legends, etc, that we’ve seen a preponderance of the last ten years or so; as all crime series have become “dark” – complete with blue / brown colouring and mumbled dialogues.
The surprise? That there was no sequel, to the sequel, with a Hathaway series. Intriguing, as there could be a myriad of ways that this could go? As a detective, as a supervisor, or even as an academic, say, back at his beloved Cambridge (a pilot on this is readily available from moi!).
This is one of those series, that I know, but for some reason have never actually watched a full show of, until this week (Naturally, the BBC wishes this to tie in with Season 6 that will air shortly).
Starring Adrian Dunbar (as a head of a police Internal Affairs department), who I’ve always thought was either iffy, or in over his head with many roles (His cameo in Death in Paradise a few years ago, should have had him finding a new agent!), along with Martin Compston (A Glasgow ned – look it up!) with an English accent, as his number 2.
I’d heard rave reviews about this, but until watching a recent Gogglebox episode, that reviewed the last series; when two of the reviewers not only had to watch the final show of Season 5, but also looked genuinely shocked at the ending (I thought it was when Compston didn’t know that someone had followed him up the stairs?) – I felt I had to give it a go, and I’m glad that I did, watching episode 1 on the Beeb, and finishing the rest on iPlayer.
As for the series, let it be known that there is NO character development whatsoever! None! And in particular, Compston’s character either screws anything he gets his hands on, or makes mistake after mistake – and still somehow manages to keep his job.
Equally, none of the characters have any redeeming characteristics of any kind, and there are literally, holes everywhere in the plot. Hey, I can accept this, but for this series, even after six episodes, I was STILL not sure who did what by the end. And I was not alone, as I’ve read an interview with Jed Mercurio (writer), where he had to answer something like fifteen questions about just what exactly happened.
Why did I love it then? I’ve NEVER seen anything on television, with only one thing on its mind like this – that thing being Suspense. The entire series is set up to do suspense, and NOTHING else! Nothing! From the endings of each episode, to the many plot points during the episode, like one when there were two delivery drivers who somehow were allowed to enter the control room of the police division, complete with their helmets in place! I thought this runs counter to standard procedure? In this particular scene, nothing of importance actually occurred, but it still had me thinking as to whether something WAS going to happen; a hit, a gun fight; something.
This is a winner and I can’t wait for Season 6 to begin.
When I were a tot, I saw this on the big screen; it amazed me then and still does. Every trick that they could do and find, was done. Split screen, zooms (in and out), wide angle, slo-mo, etc, and to me, is the go to film for this type of style. Pity that Robbie Williams butchered it years later, for a pop video.
As so much slow-motion has been used the last few years, mostly poorly, please go to this film and see how it SHOULD be done. Not as a gimmick, but as something to augment emotion, action, and in this case – sheer terror; the scene when the driver knows he has to flee the car prior to an explosion, is outstanding. – A+
Death in Paradise, Season 10, Episodes 5 & 6, BBC1, Thursday / Friday:
It seems that after the initial two seasons, it lapsed, however enjoyably into what it thought it does best; pure escapism, hammed up acting, fun, nice people and during the winter, why not. But . . . someone decided to do a two-parter, and all of a sudden, it matured.
Gone were DI Neville Parker’s irritating allergies, scratching and other OTT mannerisms, and in came a genuine drama, suspense and even mystery. And with the return of the brilliant Detective Camille Bordey, from France to look after her attacked mother, Catherine, what more would anyone want. The touching scene where she imagines herself talking to the late, DI Poole (Ben Miller), the one love of her life, who she still imagines is here on Earth conversing with her, was wonderfully done and touching.
I am trying to have this as a regular feature, but we do cook and drink(!) just so much, it’s hard to choose! One of the pet likes of mine, is to follow the myriad of TV chefs as they concoct, their often preposterous creations. We digress, as many of these, even if followed “loosely” can still be marvellous, but first, the BOTW:
This is a feature, at times, in a local Polish shop that I frequent. Whilst my Polish skills are non-existent, I can still gather from the label (and my taste) that there is some honey involved here somewhere. The beer’s name Miodne, actually means, you guessed it, “Honey”. The taste was of a non-overbearing honey beer, that was not too sickly with a full flavour. Will buy again.
As for the ROTW, a Broccoli Slaw; it comes from Sam Evans and Shauna Guinn, they of The Big Cookout on the BBC, and was featured on Saturday Kitchen, which is on BBC1 most Saturdays.
Whilst being a huge fan of broccoli, for both the cheapness and superfood benefits, I’d never before had or even thought of having it in its raw form? It was deliciously crunchy and blended in with the cranberries and honied yoghurt. One to make again!
It was a very untypical Hogmanay for us, as whilst normally, we’ve friends around for dinner, and then depart for a ceilidh; this year we could only stay in and watch telly.
As the link states, they simply don’t really know where the word comes from, and I’m never really surprised when people don’t know the term, when I mention it to them – but believe me, virtually no one here in Scotland that I’ve met, will use the term “New Year’s Eve”!
As for the television, this year, as most years, was a mix of Scottish music, and the inevitable countdown, which usually showcases some canon in Edinburgh, at Edinburgh castle.
From 2011 to its recently finished season nine on BBC1, UK, Death in Paradise has become one of the most popular UK shows, consistently being in the Top 10 for its broadcast week, with it normally being the highest rated show for the day that it’s televised (1). With its sunny climes (filmed in Guadalupe, in the Caribbean) and a jovial, formulaic plot, that always results in the murderer being nicked; it’s easy to watch and still, at times, difficult to guess just who the culprit is.
As for the specifics, the team consists of a British Detective, who runs a small office in the mythical town of Honore’, St Marie, in the Caribbean Sea. The three officers below him always bring their own skill set to the game; be it ambition to be a higher rank, street smarts, or outright zaniness. It never fails to hit the spot.
Poole and Fidel
But as with many shows, I’ve always felt since I started watching it from mid-season in 2011, the first series was the best (Isn’t this always the case?). Season 1 also had the pilot, and concerned DI Richard Poole, beautifully played by Ben Miller (2), just over from Croydon, in order to solve the murder of the then existing head of department. From the start to the end of the season, this was the classic “fish out of water” type of character. Poole being staid, eccentric, disheveled and with a hatred of all things “tropical island”; though why he continued to wear suits in the tropical heat was anyone’s guess.
Poole drinking his fave cuppa
What was always better then, was the interplay between the four cops, and in particular, the banter / flirting between Poole and his second in charge, Camille Bordey, played delightfully by Sara Martins (3). The flirting was always from her towards him, like a lifelong couple who knew each other just SO well.
But at the same time, nothing ever came to fruition for the two, which was a good thing. In so many other shows, it would have resulted in some form of workplace romance, but this just made the exchanges between them even the better. I think this not so obviousness was a key, and would like this, somehow, to return to the next series, season 10, in 2021.
Anyone who has been watching TV the last few years, particularly the last few years, has noticed many trends, notably the complete (many people would say “completely exaggerated) use of digital effects in almost every series – most not necessary. Equally, most recently there’s been a reliance on various colour filters (of course done digitally); with their favourites, or ONLY colours, being a brown / blue, green hinge. In my opinion, it is over the top and only hinders the state of the story, plot, and characters development.
This brings us to Endeavour, the prequel to the Inspector Morse series of the 80s and 90s. The acting is rock solid, particularly the male lead played by Shaun Evans. Whilst the plotting is deep enough to give sufficient background, but never a chore to follow.
I was pleasantly surprised that at a two hour length, it rather galloped, and while there is still an element of rolling story lines, the drama was still entirely episodic.
Anyone who was awake during the last month, should have been aware of the various programs on the life of Billy Connolly (Billy Connolly: Life, Death and Laughter – BBC2, 10 & 23 January). I watched at least two, the above and an ITV production (Billy Connolly: The Ultimate World Tour – ITV4, 8 January), and noticed that I simply could not stop from watching his physical deterioration. For those who do not know, he has been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for a few years now, but still maintains an unbelievable and uncontrived optimism that is positively infectious. While there was the accompanying sentimentality, at the same time, I felt that he is still living a viable and enviable life – whether here in the UK or in the state of Florida. May he have many more years remaining.
Curious Bystander 