TV Blurbs...
Thoughts about what I’m currently watching.
Hjerson
Men padding around their homes in dressing gowns appears to be a theme.
Hjerson
Good old Agatha Christie, this time in Sweden. It took an episode to convince me to stick with it. Enjoying the sets and styling.
Slow Horses
Spoiler alert!
The rogue agent was Standish's former boss, not the elder Cartwright. Forgot that bit from the first series ender that made him the front-runner. Nice touch that the terror attack was all ultimately a FSB redirect to take out a potential political competitor, and kind of hilarious that the cicada was a Cotswold mom. Looking forward to the next series.
Slow Horses
My money is on River's Grandpa setting up Lamb with the forged signature on Katinsky's papers.
Slow Horses
All the bickering reminds a bit of Homeland, is spy bickering a thing? Also, an early wager on Sid being a cicada.
Slow Horses
Silly me, I always think the best thing about crime drama is the crime drama, but always find myself enjoying character-driven shows. Ending the first series with more detail on Lamb's backstory was a thumbs up.
Slow Horses
Love that the A-team at Regent's Park are top notch careerist and only so-so spies.
Slow Horses
OK, it's won me over. Especially enjoying the careerist one-upmanship and petty bickering.
Slow Horses
Not a fan Apple TV productions, but this one's in my wheelhouse so I'll give it a shot. Good cast, just OK so far.
Silent Witness
Spoiler alert!
Nice touch to have the privacy invading, data-hungry billionaire asshole and his PMC (professional managerial class) hencher/enabler be the bad doers.
Silent Witness
The moment of truth is almost upon us! Is Sam a shitbag or trying to do the right thing? The son is definitely involved, but there's always a twist. Think the jerk cop could be involved, and Mr. Number 10 Special Advisor is also a contender.
Silent Witness
Spoiler alert!
I like where this is going. Bold move to reprise the original lead character and make them a (potential!) villain. I heart crime soap operas!
Silent Witness
Back to the Pathology Department Soap. Enjoyed how the fancy police AI sent them in the wrong direction, and the tech shitbag grifter privacy invasion angle.
Seven Kings Must Die
Spoiler alert that's not really a spoiler alert: Uhtred fixes it. Missing a few major characters but otherwise a nice wrap up on the story.
Seven Kings Must Die
Nice to see campy old Uhtred and gang one more time, now with a forbidden gay love twist. The "Oh no! How is Uhtred going to fix it?" plot is inline with the series.
The Bay
Nice twist at the end that tied all the disparate seeming storylines together.
The Bay
My money is still on the senior McGregor using the Goodfellas theory of "we gotta get it outta there".
The Bay
Currently feels like it's more about the reoccurring characters than the series/seasonal story, but my money is on the "let me know if you need me to take over any of your work" friend/former colleague guy.
The Bay
Nursing my Dead Ringers rollercoaster ride hangover with this predictable standby. Which one of the family members will end up being responsible, indirectly or otherwise?
Dead Ringers
I don't typically enjoy shows about rich Manhattan sociopaths, but this was dark, clever, and funny. Also, there's no way Genevieve doesn't know.
Dead Ringers
So that's what Greta was up to. Clever twist that adds a new dimension to the character and the entire story.
Dead Ringers
A lot of enjoyable physical comedy moments. The blood covered tantrum hitting the rental car with the overnight bag might be one of my favorite parts so far, along with Greta's goth dance party.
Dead Ringers
Michael McKean’s character almost makes the Mantles seem not creepy by comparison.
Dead Ringers
Strong opener with It's My House by Diana Ross as the backdrop for the party entry lap.
Dead Ringers
It's not hard to imagine VC dickheads playing that game.
Dead Ringers
Enjoyed the dinner party Sackler-esque ghouls getting excited over the Frankenstein pitch.
Dead Ringers
Hoping this is a good Midwife chaser and palate cleanser.
Call the Midwife
Despite the cloying theme music and breathy intro/outro, the show continues to do a good job with many topics such as mental health, poverty, racism, aging (and others). Even if it is occasionally schmaltzy.
Call the Midwife
Hope the cute little dog becomes a regular character.
Call the Midwife
Trixie and Matthew had vanilla, safe-for-TV, 1968 phone sex.
Call the Midwife
I still can't believe I like a show about nuns and babies. 1968 kicks off with lesbians, xenophobic racists, and a possibly annoying new sister.
Silent Witness
Siân Philips is always an enjoyable addition to any episode. Going to come back to season 25 when I need a filler.
Silent Witness
Spoiler alert!
Not a fan of co-workers becoming romantically involved, but at least they waited 10 years.
Silent Witness
Lesbian drama and the Tina Turner Night career advice dispensing relative are a welcome soapy addition.
Silent Witness
This show is really a soap set in a pathology department, but the whodunit twists and turns until the very end.
Silent Witness
I don't love this show, but I'm biding my time until a couple of others on my watchlist are available.
DI Ray
Saw a review that characterized the show as "Line of Duty but with more racism", spot on.
DI Ray
Gemma Whelan is quite good as the asshole unsupportive boss.
DI Ray
In true Line of Duty fashion there are bent coppers afoot and it could be any of them.
DI Ray
Parminder Nagra sets the tone perfectly with DI Rachita Ray's world weariness.
The Last Panthers
A lot of visual parallel construction going on in general, but enjoyed the transition of Zlatko watching cartoons with his son to Khalil eating cereal and watching cartoons alone.
The Last Panthers
I didn’t like the Bowie intro song at first but it’s growing on me.
The Last Panthers
Off to a “you can never go home again” start.
Bullets
Spoiler alert!
As it turns out, Madina and Mari were perhaps the biggest bullets of all.
Bullets
Even Dragomir gets a sad backstory.
Bullets
Sibel Kekilli is so amazing as Madina. Balancing her fierce yet understated ruthlessness and utter emotional upheaval. Really spectacular.
Bullets
Can't believe I'm rooting for Timo, but Pustola is such a dirtbag.
Bullets
Mari's backstory has shades of Peter Quinn's in Homeland.
Bullets
Love the slow unwinding of Madina and Mari's respective backstories.
Bullets
Not convinced the "you dropped your wallet" guy is on the up and up.
Bullets
This show has been on my watch list for a couple of years, happy to finally watch it. Scene prior to intro and credits makes a good first impression.
Der Ireland-Krimi / Irish Crime
Overall I'm liking this show, but what I like the most about it is that I fall asleep within 20-30 mins of turning it on.
Der Ireland-Krimi / Irish Crime
Also not loving how Cathrin, the main character, is constantly belittling Emma, the junior Garda.
Der Ireland-Krimi / Irish Crime
Scratch that, everyone is speaking German even though it's mostly set in Ireland. Even the Garda! The signs are in Gaelic and English though.
Der Ireland-Krimi / Irish Crime
Was hoping since it's set in two countries that there would be some English spoken, but the German main character speaks Gaelic.
Vera
Spoiler alert!
No queer storylines or characters, but also no queer killers.
Vera
In addition to the queer storyline, this episode includes a trans character played by a trans actress (Mary Malone).
Vera
Two for two episodes that include a queer storyline.
Totenfrau / Woman of the Dead
Spoiler alert!
Seems like it's a similar storyline to the first season of True Detective where the town rich people are part of a weirdo mask wearing sex cult and the murdered husband was trying to rescue a girl out of the cult. Going to put in on the shelf for the moment, like the main character and the scenery is breathtaking but not feeling the story at the moment.
Totenfrau / Woman of the Dead
Not loving the quasi-scifi talking to the dead angle but seems like it could be a good tale of corruption so I'll give it a shot.
Kosta / The Paradise
Really enjoying the camaraderie, mentoring and support Hilkka is giving Luisa. Very understated, non-smarmy and respectful.
Kosta / The Paradise
I feel like Miriam is struggling and her conscience might get the best of her. Also, interesting twist with Toni (Hilkka's boyfriend).
Kosta / The Paradise
Third series of the year, a trifecta of good music. And you know Hilkka’s doctor boyfriend with the condo in Fuengirola is going to be involved
Kosta / The Paradise
Mancuso should've apologized to Salinas, not the other way around.
Kosta / The Paradise
Previous show ends with Rubin's dance party, new show begins with Hilkka's dance party. No awkward sex scene though, but almost!
Tatort: Streets of Berlin
Wow this episode is depressing, with the exception of Rubin's home dance party and impromptu comical, awkward, quick (!) sex scene.
Tatort: Streets of Berlin
Spoiler alert!
I bet the pretty boy Karow brought home planted the gun.
Tatort: Streets of Berlin
Even the supposed not nice apartments are great.
Tatort: Streets of Berlin
Rubin's apartment, wow.
Sherwood
Spoiler alert!
Now Neel will never know what a bitch his wife was.
Sherwood
Great orchestral bumper music.
Downton Abbey: A New Era
The cuts between scenes feel abrupt compared to the series. The production value of the series felt more like a film and this film feels more like a series than the series.
Transport
Shaping up to be a good one so far, telling a complex story through many different people/angles. All the women have to deal with men who are controlling/manipulative, less intelligent and in a position of power.
Karen Pirie
Opening scene has excellent mid-90’s hair. Seriously hoping the main character does not turn out to be the adopted daughter of the murder victim.