The Alienist – season 1

On March 27, 2021March 22, 2021 By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

The Alienist is an American period drama television series …
… an ad hoc team assembled in mid-1890s New York City to investigate a serial killer who is murdering street children.
The series incorporates fact with fiction by including the characters that are historical figures, such as Theodore Roosevelt, who held the post of police commissioner from 1895 to 1897. …

Dakota Fanning is good as Sara Howard, Roosevelt’s secretary and first woman employed by the NYPD.

The cast is believable aside from Luke Evans as John Schuyler Moore.

The plot didn’t work for me.

But I loved the setting and seeing technology of that day.

In fact, an Alienist in NY City in that era is what we’d today call a psychiatrist.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Cardinal – seasons 3-4

On March 21, 2021March 21, 2021 By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Watching the Canadian TV series Coroner reminded me of the even better series Cardinal.

Excellent.

Season 3 was my favourite.

The suspicious death of Cardinal’s wife Catherine coincides with a double murder, and Delorme is ordered to take the lead in the murder investigation.
Reluctant to believe that Catherine committed suicide, Cardinal begins investigating other possibilities, whilst dealing with a succession of anonymous letters blaming him for the event.
Noelle Dyson, recovering from the death of her sister, tries to reason with another prospective suicide and is devastated when she fails to prevent him killing himself.

Season 4 was not as good, in my opinion. Still good, but not as good.

And there will be no season 5.

There have been rumours of a spin-off for Cardinal’s detective partner, Lise Delorme.

Persepolis Rising – Expanse book #7

On March 20, 2021March 17, 2021 By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

Persepolis Rising (2017) is surprisingly set 28 years after book 6.

Aging gunship Rocinante still has our core crew — but they are 28-years-older. In their 60s-70?

James Holden & Naomi Nagata just deciding to finally retire.

Bobbie will take over as captain.

There are now 1300 new inhabited planets on the other side of the Rings.

Needless to say, a NEW THREAT arrives. Holden and crew called back to save the day.

I’m not a big fan of the story telling in these books, actually. BUT I liked this one best so far.

… WHO do you think would win if Bobbie and Amos had a fight?

In fact, I’m actually looking forward to what happens next.

Coroner seasons 1-2

On March 18, 2021March 15, 2021 By Rick McIn TV1 Comment

Much less cheesy than the usual Canadian TV fare.

A bit too weird for my liking, but I’ll probably watch season 3 when it’s released this year.

Coroner is a Canadian police procedural crime drama …
The series stars Serinda Swan as Jenny Cooper, a recently widowed coroner in Toronto who investigates suspicious deaths.

Some of the supporting cast are my favourites.

Tamara Podemski, Jenny’s assistant.

Teenage son Ehren Kassam.

The odd love interest, Éric Bruneau. At least in season 1.

AND the great Nicholas Campbell (Da Vinci’s Inquest) as Jenny’s father suffering from dementia.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Babylon’s Ashes – Expanse book 6

On March 6, 2021March 6, 2021 By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

The Expanse on TV is better than the books.

For some reason I just can’t get hooked on the story telling of of Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck, who publish as S. A. Corey.

Too long. Too many characters. Too much talk. Not enough action.

Also — why the weird book titles?

I was happy to see James Holden and crew back together again. With Bobbie Draper.

It’s now a combined fleet of ships from Earth, Mars, and the Outer Planets Alliance fighting the Free Navy, run by BAD GUY Marco Inaros.

I’m looking forward to sixth and supposedly final season of The Expanse on Prime which should be based on this book.

Cas Anvar as Alex Kamal will be gone. Charged with multiple allegations of sexual harassment and assault.

https://www.facebook.com/JamesSACorey/?ref=page_internal

Red Rock – season 1

On February 28, 2021February 27, 2021 By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Red Rock is an Irish crime drama set in the fictional seaside town of Red Rock near Dublin …

Very good.

I’ve watched the first 28 episodes of 176.

Boyko Krastanov as Garda Adrijan Kosos is my favourite character.

But the entire ensemble cast is great.

If I had to AWARD anyone, however, it would be the BAD GUY — Sean Mahon as Garda Sergeant Brian McGonigle.

Click PLAY or watch a TV ad for the show on YouTube.

A Painted House by John Grisham

On February 16, 2021February 13, 2021 By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

Certainly Grisham is an excellent story teller.

I was charmed by the simplicity of this tale. It reminded me more of something that might be written by John Steinbeck.

Inspired by his childhood in Arkansas, A Painted House (2001) is Grisham’s first major work outside the legal thriller genre in which he established himself.

Set in the late summer and early fall of 1952, its story is told through the eyes of seven-year-old Luke Chandler, the youngest in a family of cotton farmers struggling to harvest their crop and earn enough to settle their debts. …

It was made into a television film in 2003, starring Scott Glenn and Logan Lerman.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.