TV – RickMcCharles.com

Doors Open by Ian Rankin (2008)

October 19, 2021October 15, 2021 Rick Mc

I’ve read all 23 of Rankin‘s Rebus novels.

Doors Open is a stand-alone thriller. No Rebus or Fox.

The plot is good.

With a vast collection but limited wall space, the National Gallery (on the TV adaptation, a Scottish bank) has many more valuable works of art in storage than it could ever display.
The plan is to stage a heist at the Granton storage depot on “Doors Open Day” during which a selected group of paintings will be “stolen”.
The gang will then give the appearance of having panicked and fled without the works of art, but will have switched the real paintings with high quality forgeries good enough to convince anyone investigating the matter that no theft has been committed. …

Like many Rebus fans, I found the book lacking.

The screen version looks to be more entertaining.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Only Murders in the Building

October 14, 2021October 14, 2021 Rick Mc

A fan of by Steve Martin & Martin Short, I was bound to enjoy Only Murders.

Selena Gomez? … Who? I’m not her demographic.

But having the old comedians team up with a young female singer was smart. She’s the right age to make fun of both.

As I’ve come to expect, Steve plays the straight man. Martin the comic.

And we can all make fun of true crime obsessives listening to podcasts. 😀

I’m already looking forward to the second season.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Mare of Easttown – fantastic

October 6, 2021October 4, 2021 Rick Mc

Wow.

We’re living in the golden age of television.

Complex story telling. Superb acting. Realistic dialogue.

All the acting is good. I particularly liked Chief Carter played by John Douglas Thompson.

Give Kate Winslet ALL the Emmys.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Loki – season 1

September 24, 2021September 18, 2021 Rick Mc

I’m no particular fan of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU).

BUT I do like Tom Hiddleston. And I do like Owen Wilson, though he’s only capable of playing Owen Wilson.

First 5 of 6 episodes of season 1 are entertaining. The visuals and special effects well done.

The best super hero movies make fun of super hero movies. Self-parody. I’d say that’s true with this TV series too.

There’s a female version of Loki called “Sylvie”. That storyline didn’t work for me.

Also … the ending. Is that the best they could do?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Line of Duty – season 6

September 22, 2021September 18, 2021 Rick Mc

Excellent, as always.

Season 6 might be the best yet.

Police corruption officers Ted Hastings (Adrian Dunbar) and DI Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) investigate DCI Joanne Davidson (Kelly Macdonald) and her team.

That team now includes former corrutption officer DI Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure).

Wikipedia

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

books, TV

Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

September 18, 2021September 14, 2021 Rick Mc

I was surprised how much I enjoyed this book.

It’s not historical fiction, however. The olde English dialogue is anachronistic.

But for some reason, the story works.

Anticipate an adaptation for the screen.

Two time frames:

Late 1700s London. An apothecary who sells poisons only to kill misbehaving men. And her curious 12-year-old assistant.

Modern day London. An American woman who’s whose marriage is disintegrating — by chance — decides to investigate the apothecary.

Amazon

The Mandalorian – season 1

September 16, 2021September 14, 2021 Rick Mc

With a new subscription to Disney+ , I finally got the chance to watch Mandalorian.

Though not a big Star Wars franchise fan, I did enjoy season 1.

It’s silly, escapist Western space cowboy TV — but with excellent production values. Entertaining — as was Firefly.

Beginning five years after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983) and the fall of the Galactic Empire,The Mandalorian follows Din Djarin, a lone Mandalorian bounty hunter in the outer reaches of the galaxy.
He is hired by remnant Imperial forces to retrieve the child Grogu (Baby Yoda), but instead goes on the run to protect the infant …

Nick Nolte was a good choice for the voice of Kuiil. An interesting character.

Gina Carano as Cara Dune, a former Rebel shock trooper-turned-mercenary is good too.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Only Murders in the Building

September 14, 2021September 13, 2021 Rick Mc

Damn.

I subscribed to Disney+ STAR Canada.

Another CAD $12 / month on my pandemic long list of monthly recurring bills.

As HULU is not available in Canada, to watch Only Murders in the Building I was forced to sign-up.

I’ll unsubscribe from Netflix for a while.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

books, TV

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

September 4, 2021September 3, 2021 Rick Mc

Of the books, TV shows and films I’ve seen about Bletchley Park, I’d say Rose Code was the most entertaining for me.

1940.
As England prepares to fight the Nazis, three very different women answer the call to mysterious country estate Bletchley Park, where the best minds in Britain train to break German military codes.
Vivacious debutante Osla is the girl who has everything—beauty, wealth, and the dashing Prince Philip of Greece sending her roses—but she burns to prove herself as more than a society girl, and puts her fluent German to use as a translator of decoded enemy secrets.
Imperious self-made Mab, product of east-end London poverty, works the legendary codebreaking machines as she conceals old wounds and looks for a socially advantageous husband.
Both Osla and Mab are quick to see the potential in local village spinster Beth, whose shyness conceals a brilliant facility with puzzles, and soon Beth spreads her wings as one of the Park’s few female cryptanalysts.
But war, loss, and the impossible pressure of secrecy will tear the three apart. …
Kate Quinn Author