Category: TV

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer

On By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

Meyer is best known for her vampire romance series Twilight, which has sold over 100 million copies. They made her a multi-millionaire.

Thought they are YA, I kinda enjoyed those books.

The Chemist (2006) is her second adult book. As a Mormon, there is no no drinking, smoking, or explicit sex scenes in her work. So this one reads something like a YA novel.

For me there was too much time dedicated to romance, as well.

Mormons have no aversion to violence, it seems. This bloody book has a super competent female protagonist called Alex – she’s a medic and an interrogator who worked for a shadowy branch of the US government torturing terrorists before her bosses turned on her.

Known as the Chemist, because she used to squeeze the truth out of her suspects with excruciatingly painful drug concoctions

Now she is a fugitive.

There are some new-to-me plot twists and surprises that makes me recommend the read to those who enjoy thrillers.

Meyer said she was inspired by the Jason Bourne character while writing this book.

A television series based on The Chemist is planned. 

related – The Guardian review 

 

Ozark – season 2

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Season 2 is not as good as season 1 in my opinion.

Laura Linney is more the most important lead as the complex story line gets increasingly unbelievable.

Evan George Vourazeris is excellent as Tuck. I wish he appeared more often.

And veteran actor Harris Yulin is superb as Buddy Dyker.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

 

 

 

Ozark – season 1

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

An original, creative and surprising television series.

I recommend Ozark.

Though it’s no Breaking Bad, that’s the nearest comparison.

Ozark is an American crime drama …

Economic advisor Martin “Marty” Byrde suddenly relocates the family from the Chicago suburb of Naperville to the summer resort community of Osage Beach, Missouri, after a money laundering scheme goes wrong, and he must make amends to a Mexican drug cartel by setting up a bigger laundering operation in the Ozarks.

When the Byrdes arrive in Missouri, they become entangled with local criminals including the Langmores and Snells …

The show is set at a modest waterfront resort at Lake of the Ozarks …

Click PLAY or watch a trailer on YouTube.

The Good Place – season 1

On By Rick McIn philosophy, TVLeave a comment

I heard so much buzz about The Good Place that I finally watched season 1.

It’s pretty good.

The series focuses on Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), who wakes up in the afterlife and is introduced by Michael (Ted Danson) to “the Good Place”, a highly selective Heaven-like utopia he designed, as a reward for her righteous life.

However, she realizes that she was sent there by mistake and must hide her morally imperfect behavior while trying to become a better and more ethical person. …

… the show’s exploration and creative use of ethics and philosophy have been positively received …

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

The OA – season 2

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

I’d assumed much of the confusion about what was happening in season 1 would be made clear in season 2.

It was still too bizarre for me though the score on Rotten Tomatoes went up to 92%.

Weird and non-cliche. Critics loved it.

But Netflix cancelled after two seasons. And I’m OK with that.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

 

 

 

 

The OA – season 1

On By Rick McIn TV1 Comment

Weird. Original. Ambitious.

The OA is everything GOOD about the NEW Golden Age of streaming TV.

I have to give Brit Marling credit, both producing and staring.

The OA (Original Angel) is an American mystery drama web television series with science fiction, supernatural and fantasy elements.

Click PLAY or watch a trailer on YouTube.

Rotten Tomatoes is 77% critical approval. But the series finished after season 2.

Trans actor Ian Alexander plays Michelle. A quiet, yet groundbreaking performance, I thought.

The interdimensional sci-fi Netflix series The OA from Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij is, like many of their projects, unapologetic when it comes to having a complex narrative that would make your brain bleed.

Deadline

Mr. Mercedes, Finders Keepers, End of Watch by Stephen King

On By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment

Stephen King is an excellent writer — but I’m often scared off from his horror books.

I generally don’t like horror.

But he called Mr. Mercedes (2014) his first hard-boiled detective book. It’s non-supernatural, but still scary.

Many jobless people are standing in line for a job fair, but then a Mercedes plows into the crowd killing 8 people and severely injuring many.

Bill Hodges, a recently retired detective from the local police department living the life of a retiree, receives a letter from an individual claiming to be the person responsible for the job fair incident, referring to himself as “Mr. Mercedes.”

Hodges is divorced, lonely and fed up with his life, occasionally considering suicide. …

Bill Hodges is age-62 in the book.

Brendan Gleeson, about the same age, played him on the 2017 TV series. Perfect casting. (Gleeson played Alastor Moody in Harry Potter. He’s going to be playing Trump in an upcoming miniseries.)

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

It’s a trilogy. I’ll keep reading.

End of Watch was a terrific conclusion to the Bill Hodges story. 

Stephen King is as good a story teller as anyone working today.

I particularly like the character of his sidekick Holy Hodges.

 

I love Derry Girls 1 & 2

On By Rick McIn humour, TV1 Comment

Derry Girls is a Northern Irish sitcom about students at Our Lady Immaculate College (girls school) in Derry, Northern Ireland, during the 1990s, the final decade of The Troubles. …

Of the five awkward, hilarious friends, Orla McCool is my favourite. She might be undiagnosed autistic, perhaps Asperger’s. She might simply be charmingly odd. 

Siobhán McSweeney is brilliant too as Sister Michael, the principal of the school.

Click PLAY or watch watch Orla’s STEP AEROBICS talent show performance on YouTube.

On Rotten Tomatoes, the first series holds an approval rating of 100%  …

Derry Girls was the most watched series in Northern Ireland since modern records began in 2002 …

 

You – season 1

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

The first season of the American psychological thriller television series You, based on the novel of the same name by Caroline Kepnes, should be fantastic.

It’s very smart. Tech-savvy. Well written. Well cast.

93% on Rotten Tomatoes.

But I may not continue to season 2 as I simply don’t like psychopath Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg.

Elizabeth Lail as Guinevere Beck is more engaging. But not enough.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I really DO like sidekick Ethan Russell. His girlfriend Blythe, played by the openly transgender actor Hari Nef, is intriguing too.

Stranger Things – season 2

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Like most people, I loved season 1.

Season 2 is good as well, but not as good.

The cast is great. The setting very entertaining.

Plot and storyline, silly and lame. I’m not sure I’ll continue to season 3.

The second season has been recognized by Parrot Analytics as the most in-demand digital original series of the world in 2017 …

On Rotten Tomatoes, the second season has an approval rating of 94% …

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.