It’s very good. One of my favourite TV series of 2022.
Of course there are many things that fans of the books will criticize, especially the cast.
Too few francophones for a village in Quebec.
Most miscast was Tamara Brown as Myrna Landers. Myrna should be bigger, happier, and older.
Initially, I was disappointed in British-American actor Alfred Molina as Chief Inspector Armand Gamache. Too anglo. And he doesn’t look how I picture Gamache — BUT I was wrong.
Molina really does convey the unique philosophical approach to solving murders that we read in the books. Warmth and gravitas.
Yes this TV series has absurd, ridiculous plot lines. There are no grizzly bears in Quebec — but that’s my main complaint with the books, as well. The book plots are absurd. The show consistent with that.
If you are generous, you could say there are traces of magic realism.
Of 150,000 children placed in those by the Canadian government over 100 years, estimates range from 3200 to over 30,000 who died there.
Many more lived having been abused. During a penitential pilgrimage to Canada in July 2022, Pope Francis reiterated the apologies of the Catholic Church who administered many of them, including the fictional one in Three Pines, Quebec.
First Nations Canadians are still suffering from that evil legacy. And that’s spelled out in this show.
It’s based on the book Slow Horses (2010) by Mick Herron, which I read, as well.
The TV show has already been green-lit for 3 more seasons.
Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb, the head of Slough House, is one of the most interesting characters on TV.
Slovenly, farting and apparently drunk most of the time. There’s a super experienced intelligence officer under the rumpled facade — with a lot of baggage.
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”.
They are expected to endure dull, paper pushing tasks, along with occasional mental abuse from their miserable boss, Jackson Lamb, who expects them to quit out of boredom or frustration. …
Set roughly a decade in the future, with some new technology that has changed society in subtle ways, a VR gamer is delivered a connection to an alternate reality, as well as a dark future of her own. …
As a person of wealth and power, Rowling’s inevitably punching down when she engages with critics.
Rowling does a lot of charity work. Is a good person. And should simply stay quiet online — like MacKenzie Scott.
As a big fan of Rowling’s books, this one wastes too much time describing the good and bad of online fandom. Not enough on the painful but entertaining relationship between lovely Robin Ellacott and gruff, unlovable Cormoran Strike.
My best guess is that her mind was not on Robin & Cormoran while writing — but on personal grievance.
And after all this — I still don’t understand her position on those few individuals (0.1% to 0.6% of the population) born with gender identity or gender expression that does not correspond with their sex assigned at birth.
Personally, I don’t care if you are trans, from Transylvania, or choose to medically transition to another sex.
Everyone should have equal opportunity.
OF COURSE when it comes to what sport to play there should be rules. And each sport should set those to be as fair as possible to all participants.
Rick McCharles 