The Killing Series 2 – Episode 2 “My Lucky Day”
So here we have the second episode of series 2 and just as i had anticipated the story has already started to become even more mixed up. (more…)
Awake – Preview
So imagine that you’ve come up with a great concept for a TV show, and that a big television network has heard your idea, loved it and wants to make the show. You’d be pretty excited wouldn’t you? Now imagine the show gets made, but when the pilot episode airs, viewing figures are not as good as expected, and then the figures for episode two are even worse. You’d be worried, but hope that the network sticks with it and your show finds an audience. (more…)
The Killing (US) Series 2 – Episode 1 ‘’Reflections’’ Review
Follow @vulturehound
I could barely contain my anticipation as i sat, eyes fixed on the television screen, watching as the familiar scene played out of a woman splashing her face with water, looking thoughtfully at her reflection. This image could signify one thing only; Detective Sarah Linden is back again with the new season of ‘The Killing’. (more…)
Homeland Series 1 Episode 12 “Marine One”
While I have really enjoyed Homeland so far, I have some concerns going into the final episode of series 1. The show is based on an Israeli series called Hatufim, but that show only had 10 episodes over 1 series. Homeland has already been renewed by Showtime for a second series in America, and I assume that Claire Danes, Damien Lewis and most of the rest of the cast will return for it, so will it be a case of a show being stretched out too long because of its success, or will it continue to be thrilling and compelling over multiple seasons? (more…)
Homeland Episode 11 “The Vest”
Carrie, Saul and the CIA thought they were finally getting somewhere with the turning of Mansour Al-Zahrani, believing he could lead them to Tom Walker. But somehow Walker was tipped off, and was able to send in a decoy to meet Al-Zahrani, before setting off a bomb in a crowded park, killing and injuring many, including Carrie. (more…)
Veep Preview
In 2007, American network ABC produced a pilot for their version of The Thick Of It. Amongst the people who developed the show was Mitch Hurwitz (the man behind the brilliant Arrested Development), and included actors like Oliver Platt and Michael McKean (aka Spinal Tap’s David St. Hubbins). It was directed by Christopher Guest (another Tap alumni), but despite the list of talent involved, the show was not picked up. Armando Iannucci, who created The Thick Of It, was ultimately happy that it didn’t make it to television, saying ‘….It was terrible…they took the idea and chucked out all the style’. (more…)
Smash – Pilot Review
“Smash”, the new TV series that debuted on American NBC in February, has been highly praised and received great ratings overseas. Considering its subject matter, broadcasting it in the UK was the next natural step. The show hit our screens last week with its smash-ing pilot and will continue to do so every Saturday on Sky Atlantic. (more…)
Homeland – Episode 10 “Representative Brody” (Review)
Follow @vulturehound
Last week’s episode of Homeland revealed the depth of the relationship between US Marine Nicholas Brody and Al-Qaeda leader Abu Nazir, and why Brody is now following Nazir’s orders. Nazir has told Brody that the vice-president will ask him to run for office, and if he does so, Nazir will know that Brody is still with him, and will continue to carry out Nazir’s orders. So the question now is, which side will Brody choose? (more…)
Touch Episode 4 “Kite Strings” (Review)
Writer Tim Kring has me settled into my sofa once again ready to be taught a few valuable lessons about the meaning of life, learn how being willing to answer to the call of the universe will always lead you to the right place where the right person’s always waiting for you. This week Kring brings Sarah Bohm back into the mix and we’re invited to explore further the indelible mark she left on the hearts of the people she touched and the manner in which she continues to influence their movements. Martin’s wounds for his wife are reopened when he receives word that the government have not found her remains from the 9/11 bombings and that they are stopping the search. (more…)
What to Watch – Week Commencing 19th April
On Saturday Sky Atlantic will screen a new US musical drama. Given the huge success Fox has had with Glee it’s no surprise that another US network would jump on board with their own take on the genre. Smash (which was billed as a Glee for grownups) focuses on the behind the scenes workings of a fictional musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe. As musical dramas go (and I don’t rate them highly) this is quite a good series. You must understand that “quite good” is high praise from me when it comes to this sort of show. The characters don’t spontaneously burst into song as much as those hideously precocious Glee lot. The cast is rather impressive and if you’re need of a non-taxing easy on the brain series this does the job nicely. (more…)
Touch Episode 3 Review – “Safety in Numbers”
In episode 3 of Touch, Tim Kring opens by throwing questions at his audience. We’re asked what we would do if we “were the one who knew what needed to be done”, only we “had no words”? How on earth would you “make the others understand”, would you be able to “call for help”? For the last two episodes Jake has been communicating with his father to ease the pains of those suffering around the world via mathematical divine intervention. Unfortunately it seems to not only be running his father Martin Bohm ragged but has him questioning his role in the grand scheme of things. (more…)
Homeland Episode 9 Review – “Crossfire”
Believe it or not, it’s actually quite difficult to review Homeland on an episode-by-episode basis. It’s difficult because the show is so good that I end up just saying ‘It’s really really good’ in every review. But I say that because it’s true. The acting is terrific, it’s well scripted and the plot is engaging, realistic and filled with new twists and turns every week. (more…)
Derek (Review)
When Ricky Gervais returned to Twitter last year, he did so by posting a series of photos of himself posing as what he described as a ‘mong’. It wasn’t big and it wasn’t clever, and he soon found himself in a bit of bother, as many people objected to his use of the word and its connotations with regards to people with learning difficulties. Although he at first tried to bat away any criticism, he eventually apologised and appeared to move on. (more…)
Touch Episode 2 Review 1+1=3
Last week I chewed my nails down to stubs as I watched the pilot episode of Touch. The tension had me on the edge of my seat but at the end of the show I was left wondering where Tim Kring could go with the show, if he could sustain the suspense considering we already know it’s all going to work out nicely in the end? Thankfully after watching the second episode I’m still in love with how the show explores the infinite amount of ways we connect with one another. Last week we watched a mobile phone connect the lives of many across the globe; this week we get to see how a baseball, Lyov the Lassie imitating pooch and a smashed urn does the same. (more…)
2 Broke Girls “The Pilot” (Review)
Brought to you by the award-winning writer of Sex and the City, Michael Patrick King, 2 Broke Girls is an American sitcom set mainly in and around a Brooklyn diner. The two main protagonists of the show Max and Caroline share very different backgrounds and life stories. (more…)
Dexter Series 6 – Episode 1 (Review)
As soon as the eerily captivating theme music floated from the speakers to my eagerly-awaiting self, curled in a corner of the sofa with a pillow covering my eyes, I knew that could only mean one thing – Dexter is back. (more…)
Homeland Episode 8 Review “Achilles Heel”
Last week’s episode of Homeland ended with the shock revelation that Tom Walker was still alive, and it was him, and not Nick Brody, that had been turned by Al-Qaeda. The house that Raqim and Aileen were living in was set to be the location for the assassination of the president, giving Walker, an expert sniper a clear line of sight to the Marine One landing zone. (more…)
Homeland Episode 7 Review “The Weekend”
After last weeks Jeremy Kyle inspired episode (Surely he has done a show about having an affair with someone you suspect is a terrorist?) Carrie is still suspicious about Brody after he lied when she planted a question into his Polygraph (more Kyle!) test. (more…)
What to Watch – Week Commencing 1st April
Sunday sees the welcome return of Silent Witness. It’s actually series 15 of the forensic crime drama which is a huge achievement for any BBC drama. The opening episode which starts on Sunday and concludes Monday, is a little confusing to begin with but has an opening sequence that will see you drop your cup of tea all over the dog. It’s a tense and dark episode that keeps up the standard that was set by the series a few years ago. It’s a gruesome start but that’s what we’ve come to expect from the series and I personally love the chemistry between all three of our criminal pathologists. (more…)
Being Human – Series Finale
So once again we face the cold Sunday nights without our favourite bunch of supernatural house mates. It appears as though the BBC anticipated this and they have already commissioned a fifth series, so it’s not all bad news. (more…)
The Walking Dead Series 2 Recap
Series 2 of The Walking Dead began with the group of survivors barely getting away as Dr. Jenner (Noah Emmerich) gave up the CDC headquarters and destroyed them. They had decided to head for Fort Benning, an army base where they hoped they could find refuge from the walkers. They didn’t get far before getting stuck on a road blocked by dozens of abandoned cars. (more…)
Homeland Episode 6 – “The Good Soldier”
In the wake of Afsal Hamid killing himself, it seemed that Carrie had destroyed her career after a blazing row with Saul. But the next day, the snowstorm over Hamid’s death has made their row redundant. Carrie suggests a polygraph of all 11 people involved in bringing Hamid into the country and interrogating them, feeling certain that forcing Brody to take a polygraph will finally expose him as a terrorist in waiting. (more…)
Touch – Pilot
Tim Kring’s latest show Touch is all about the invisible connections we share and the weird and wonderful ways in which they unfold; do we all have a pre-planned destiny, is your soul mate out there just waiting for you to walk into their lives, if I wear my lucky pants will I get the job? Who knows, but it seems fate needs a helping hand nudging us in the right direction because lets face it, left to our own devices we’ll probably carrying on wallowing, reading all about it instead of striving to BE all about it. Destiny’s assistant comes in the form of 11-year-old autistic Jake Bohm (David Mazouz), who silently sorts through the science he sees in the world around him; and after appreciating the patterns he sees he plots to make them known, starting of course with his father. (more…)
Being Human – Series 4 – Episode 7
The penultimate episode of this revamped series sees our heroes face some tough choices. (more…)
