Category: TV

The Morning Show – season 2

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

I liked season 1 more than most. And I had mixed feelings about season 1.

Billy Crudup as Cory Ellison is excellent. My favourite character. And there’s a lot more Cory Ellison in season 2. You are rooting for him.

But this show is mostly annoying rich, entitled people complaining about how miserable they are. Whiners.

Season 2 has even more moaning. Again, too much drama. Not enough action. Guardian called it the messiest show on TV.

But Steve Carell as Mitch Kessler is quite believable in season 2. You almost start to like him in the mansion on Lake Como.

Guilty pleasure ~ Reese Witherspoon as Bradley Jackson. Reese really can do no wrong for me. Even with the over-the-top writing of this show. I just like her.

On the other hand, I really appreciated season 2 being realistically depicted over the start of pandemic early 2020. It was a blast from the past to see those first news stories again.

The timeline works up to the point where Tom Hanks gets Covid.

Recall season 1 was about the #MeToo movement.

There are some good moments in season 2. Bradley’s interview with Maggie Brener was awesome.

It’s almost worth watching.

But with all the Apple money, all the talent, I expected better.

… Should I watch season 3?

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Acapulco – season 1

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Acapulco is a Spanish / English comedy hit. 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Nothing amazing. But I do love the look of the 1980s Mexican resort.

And it’s charming. And silly.

A likeable poor kid from the neighbourhood gets his dream job as the  Las Colinas Resort as a pool boy.

His buddy Memo is entertaining, too.

Camila Perez as Julia Gonzalez, a receptionist, is the potential love interest. Gorgeous.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Whitechapel (TV series)

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Whitechapel (TV series) detectives in London’s Whitechapel district deal with murders which replicated historical crimes.

The first series was broadcast in the UK on 2 February 2009 and depicted the search for a modern copycat killer replicating the murders of Jack the Ripper.

Phil Davis as D.S. Ray Miles (far left) is good.

But my favourite character is Steve Pemberton as Edward Buchan. He’s a student of famous London killers and consultant to the police.

There’s much to criticize. Especially the gawd awful video editing. Film students should study this show to see how NOT to do transitions from one scene to the next.

They should watch Benedict Cumberbatch in Sherlock Holmes to see that done well.

But there’s something entertaining about Whitechapel. … But I can’t explain what it is. 😀

SAS: Rogue Heroes – season 1

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Very entertaining. Rotten Tomatoes 100%.

An over the top war story — with modern rock soundtrack.

… a  British television historical drama series which depicts the origins of the British Army Special Air Service (SAS) during the Western Desert Campaign of World War II.

The storyline is a broadly accurate representation of real events, as described by Ben Macintyre in his book of the same name. …

SAS: Rogue Heroes was the sixth most-watched UK drama series of 2022, and the fourth most popular of the year on the BBC.

It’s been renewed for another year.

The cast is great — though by far the most compelling role is Jack O’Connell as Paddy Mayne.

In the TV adaptation he’s an Irish poet / philosopher / drunk brawler.

In real life, his family says he was “a very caring, loving man”.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

The Last Kingdom by Bernard Cornwell

On By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

The Last Kingdom is the first book in the Saxon Stories, a historical novel series written by Bernard Cornwell about the birth of England in the ninth and tenth centuries. …

The first book is excellent — but I doubt I’ll continue as I don’t like the gore and ultra violence.

The books have been adapted to a successful TV series, also called The Last Kingdom.

It reminds me of the TV series Vikings — which I quit due to excessive violence.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

His Dark Materials – 3 seasons

On By Rick McIn books, movies, TVLeave a comment

Somehow I managed to get through most of 3 seasons of His Dark Materials.

It really isn’t very good.

The books are much better – His Dark Materials Trilogy (The Golden Compass; The Subtle Knife; The Amber Spyglass)

And the big budget 2007 film is better – The Golden Compass. GREAT cast.

My favourite character on the TV adaptation might be Ruth Wilson as Mrs Coulter. That’s a tough role when you know you’ll be compared with Nicole Kidman who’s perfect in the film version.

The show follows the orphan Lyra, played by Dafne Keen, as she searches for a missing friend and discovers a kidnapping plot related to an invisible cosmic substance called Dust.

Ultimately, I didn’t care much about the plot. The prophecy. The Magisterium. Nor many of the characters. Dust. Angels. I really didn’t care about anything in this show.

Most interesting are the animal companions called daemons.

And there are some interesting special effects and speculative fiction touches.

Read the books. Watch the movie. Skip the TV series.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Little America – seasons 1&2

On By Rick McIn government, human rights, TVLeave a comment

What a great idea. Short vignettes of the funny, romantic, heartfelt, inspiring and unexpected lives of immigrants in America. Based on true stories.

In an era where ReTrumplican Americans are against immigrants, this show is timely.

In fact, filming of episode 8 had to be moved to Canada when Trump placed a 90-day restriction on entry to the U.S. by nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

Shaun Toub as Faraz was maybe my favourite character in the season one 8 different episodes.

Little America is a series produced for Apple TV+.

Season 1 launched January, 2020. Season 2 December 2022.

Rotten Tomatoes 95%.

I found season 2 not as compelling, though still worth watching.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Benedict Cumberbatch IS Sherlock Holmes

On By Rick McIn TV, video1 Comment

I rarely go back and rewatch TV or movies.

But the 2010 to 2017 modern-day London adaptation of Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and Martin Freeman as Watson has stayed on my mind.

It was the first major television series I can recall that used YouTube editing techniques to tell the story.

It’s even more impressive considering how poor the digital video software was over those years. They used Avid Media Composer.

Today the most popular software packages are:

Fast paced, irreverent, funny. Cumberbatch is perfect as the brilliant high functioning sociopath.

Amanda Abbington, Freeman’s then-real life partner, plays Mary Morstan, Watson’s girlfriend and eventual wife. A nice touch. They have 2 children together.

First time around I was a bit disappointed in his archenemy Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott) — but that weird performance seemed better to me on second watching.

Of course everyone would love to see more episodes, but it seems unlikely.

For one thing, the season 4 was good, but inferior to all the preceding episodes.

Here’s a montage on Vimeo of some of the video editing techniques.

Somebody Somewhere – season 1

On By Rick McIn humour, TV1 Comment

Somebody Somewhere is funny.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds a 100% approval rating.

It’s charmingly real-to-life. The cast does not look Hollywood.

I’d never heard of comedian Bridget Everett before seeing this show, based on her life in hometown Manhattan, Kansas.

… The ReTrumplicans of Kansas must hate this series. 😀

… You think you’re Pinterest. But you’re actually Hobby Lobby.

Bridget worked in the restaurant business for 25 years before finally able to quit around the beginning of 2015.

Amy Schumer brought Bridget on to tours as an opening comedy act.

Drag King Murray Hill as Fred Rococo is entertaining.

But easily my favourite character is Jeff Hiller as Joel, Sam’s co-worker and friend. He was cast instantly. Perfect.

Somebody Somewhere has been renewed.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Slow Horses – season 2

On By Rick McIn TV1 Comment

I really enjoyed season 1 of Slow Horses. 95% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, the head of Slough House, is one of the most interesting characters on TV.

Slough House is an administrative purgatory for MI5 service rejects who have bungled their job but somehow have not been outright fired.

Those consigned there are known as “Slow Horses”.

Season 2 of Slow Horses – Dead Lions is very good, as well. Rotten Tomatoes reports a 100% approval rating.

Though the outrageousness of Jackson Lamb begins to wear off — the plot of season 2 is complex and entertaining. Surprising twists.

This show is a hit. I’ll be watching seasons 3 & 4 as they are released over the next two years.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.