Category: TV

Broadchurch – season 2

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

A.I. overview:

Broadchurch season two divides viewers. Some find it a compelling continuation of the story, with strong performances and new mysteries, while others feel it lacks the impact of the first season, particularly due to the courtroom drama and the introduction of the Sandbrook case.  Many critics and viewers found the courtroom scenes less engaging and the Sandbrook case less compelling than the initial murder. 

That’s fair.

Great TV — but not as brilliant as season 1.

On the other hand, the cast is even better in season 2 (2015).

Phoebe Waller-Bridge has a bigger role.

Charlotte Rampling was fantastic as Jocelyn Knight Q.C., the prosecutor. The role was written specifically for her.

Still — highly recommended TV.


Ballard – season 1

On By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

Ballard is an American police procedural television series Spinoff of Bosch (2014–2021) and Bosch: Legacy (2022–2025).

Maggie Q was a brilliant choice as LAPD Detective Renée Ballard, something of a younger, female Bosch.

She’s got the gravitas to pull off this role.

I’m happy they stayed true to her surfer girl backstory from the books.

Ballard has been relegated to lead the cold case unit with a underfunded misfit staff of reserves and volunteers.

My favourite character is John Carroll Lynch as Thomas Laffont, a retired former police partner.

Rebecca Field as Colleen Hatteras, is terrific, too, as an enthusiastic volunteer.

Titus Welliver does show up as Harry Bosch. As do some of the other characters from the Bosch universe.

Critics like the show. But it’s only 69% on Rotten Tomatoes with viewers. A good show — but not measuring up to Bosch.

Personally, I prefer the gritty Bosch vibe. Police procedural.

Ballard seems to focus more on the interpersonal dramas of the cast.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

That said. It will be renewed. And I’ll be watching.

Murderbot – season 1

On By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

A surprise hit. 96% with critics on Rotten tomatoes.

It works because the cast and dialogue is so quirky.

I laughed out loud at every episode.

In a high-tech future, a rogue security robot secretly gains free will; to stay hidden, it reluctantly joins a new mission protecting scientists on a dangerous planet even though it just wants to binge soap operas.

I wasn’t particularly impressed with the book on which this show was adapted.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Hacks – season 4

On By Rick McIn humour, TVLeave a comment

I got sick of Ava and Deborah fighting at the start of this season. Too much negativity.

I’m finally tiring of the drama in this comedy.

Michaela Watkins as Stacey, the HR representative is great, however.

And there are some laughs in every episode.

Dance Mom is fantastic.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Broadchurch – season 1

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Very intense. Very good.

Great cast.

The eight-episode series began with the murder of an 11-year-old boy in the fictional, close-knit coastal town of Broadchurch in Dorset, United Kingdom. The series depicted the impact that suspicion and media attention have on the community. …

Broadchurch series one received widespread critical acclaim and high viewership ratings. …

I was impressed with the originality of how the killer was revealed.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Somebody Somewhere – season 2

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

I loved season 1.

Season 2 is not nearly as good.

My favourite character for sure is Jeff Hiller as Joel, Sam’s co-worker and friend. He gets a romantic interest this season.  

The show is original. It’s still a relief to watch normal people in normal situations in a normal small town.

In each of its roughly half-hour episodes, people talk, drive, go home. It is a series of small character studies, set in a sleepy town in Kansas, and whatever plot rears its head tends to gently nudge the drama forward in ever-so-gentle increments. Yet, just as it did in its superlative first season, it stuffs every subtle scene with emotion, poignancy and a great sense of humour. …

Guardian Review – Somebody Somewhere season two review – even this uplifting comedy’s quietest moments are dazzling

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – Somebody Somewhere‘s Jeff Hiller Is More Than Ready to Play a Romantic Lead

I mean, obviously no one’s going to cast me as the romantic lead. But I loved playing that tenderness, I loved playing that romance, and I loved thinking about it for Joel and how specific he has laid out what type of relationship he wants. It was sweet, it was tender, I liked it.

Red Queen – TV and Book

On By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

Red Queen (Spanish: Reina Roja) is a thriller TV series based on the novel of the same name by Juan Gómez-Jurado.

The world’s most intelligent person, Antonia Scott, is coaxed out of her hermit-like retreat to be partnered with gay Basque police agent Jon Gutiérrez after the killing of the son of a wealthy family and the kidnapping of a wealthy heiress.

The book is good, not great. Perhaps something is lost in translation from Spanish.

The TV show is not as good, I’d say. Confusing. Poor acting.

I only made it through a few episodes.

For the world’s smartest person, Antonia is not that bright.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Hacks – season 3

On By Rick McIn hiking, TV1 Comment

Still very funny.

Perhaps the best season, so far.

Both Jean Smart as Deborah Vance, a legendary (aging) Las Vegas comic, and Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels, her young comedy writer, are hilarious.

They are the world’s worst hikers, though. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Dune: Prophecy – season 1

On By Rick McIn books, movies, TVLeave a comment

Worth watching. But not essential unless you a Dune nutcase.

Too much palace intrigue. Too dark. Too confusing.

There are some beautiful visuals, of course.

A big Dune fan, I was sceptical whether I’d enjoy the TV spinoff on one of the universe’s most appealing elements: the Bene Gesserit.

Dune: Prophecy is a prequel to the Denis Villeneuve films Dune and Dune: Part Two, taking place approximately 10,000 years earlier.

It draws upon, but is set after, the Great Schools of Dune novel trilogy (2012–2016) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. 

The show was met with mixed reviews, with a 70% on Rotten Tomatoes and an even lower 66% Audience Score. ..,

… it “lacks the spice of Denis Villeneuve’s films,” …

What Went Wrong With Dune: Prophecy

I wasn’t really cheering any of the characters. But Travis Fimmel as Desmond Hart is intriguing.

Perhaps more humour would have helped. The dialogue is dry.

I expect season 2 to be much stronger. This epic TV series has potential.

The Last of Us – season 2

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The Last of Us — season 1 — was by far my favourite TV show of 2023.

Season 2 is not as ground breaking, but still fantastic.

Intense. Very intense.

Bella Ramsey is a genius choice to play the critical role of Ellie. Quirky and potentially violent.

Her love interest in this season is up to the role. Isabela Merced as Dina has enough gravitas to share the screen. They have chemistry.

Season 2 picks up 5 years after the events of Season 1.

Joel and Ellie’s collective past catches up to them, drawing them into conflict with each other and a world even more dangerous and unpredictable than the one they left behind.

They live in stable, democratic Jackson, Wyoming.

We learn of other surviving human factions, stupid enough to kill each other rather than work together to rid the earth of the infected zombi-like creatures.

For some reason the timeline jumping forward and backward works in this dystopian show.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

It was filmed in Alberta and B.C., including Nanaimo.