Category: TV

The Witcher – season 1

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Violence. Sex. Some exotic, brilliant visuals. … A bit of comic relief.

So much potential.

The Game of Thrones TV series took a complicated story with hundreds of characters … and made it easy to follow.

Season 1 of The Witcher on Netflix is FAR more confusing, by comparison. Deliberately confusing. It’s told in a non-linear manner so you have no idea of the time frame of each episode. 

Rotten Tomatoes 56% approval. Critics are mixed.

However, 3 main personalities are fascinating: 

  1. Yennefer of Vengerberg (Anya Chalotra)
  2. Princess Cirilla / Ciri, (Freya Allan)
  3. Geralt of Rivia — The Witcher — (Henry Cavill)

The first season explores formative events that shaped the three lead characters, leading up to their first encounters with each other.

So — Witcher is no Game of Thrones. 

But is it worth watching?

Everyone is expecting season 2 to be easier to follow. I’ll give it a try.

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 historical novel in The Saxon Stories by Bernard Cornwell, published in 2004.

It’s set 866 – 876.

The story is fiction — but historical characters are included.

It’s very violent.

Vikings are raiding England. In fact they want to keep control of as much land as possible by installing vassal leaders in each Kingdom.

This story introduces Uhtred Ragnarson, born a Saxon then kidnapped by raiding Danes who raise him from age 11, teaching him how to be a warrior. …

Uhtred is captured by the Danish Earl, Ragnar the Fearless. Ragnar, intrigued and amused by the boy’s attempted attack on him during the battle, retains him in his household as a thrall. …

 

I might continue to book 2 in the long series. The character of Uhtred Ragnarson is entertaining.

For me the Ken Follett books starting with The Pillars of the Earth are better British historical fiction. I read all of those.

BBC announced that production would begin in autumn 2014 on a television adaptation, to be titled The Last Kingdom.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

I watched the start of season 1.

But I’d say the TV series Vikings is better.

Black Mirror – seasons 4 / 5

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

Black Mirror is a British science fiction anthology television series …

It examines modern society, particularly with regard to the unanticipated consequences of new technologies. Episodes are standalone, usually set in an alternative present or the near future, often with a dark and satirical tone, although some are more experimental and lighter.

Black Mirror was inspired by older anthology series, such as The Twilight Zone, …

Very intense. Some bits of dystopia are hard to watch.

Of the six episodes in series 4, I liked Metalhead best. Truly terrifying. Very unique.

… filmed entirely in black and white, and follows the plight of Bella (Maxine Peake) trying to flee from robotic “dogs” after the unexplained collapse of human society. The dogs were influenced by Boston Dynamics‘ robots such as BigDog.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

 

 

Born Standing Up – Steve Martin

On By Rick McIn books, humour, movies, TVLeave a comment

With friends in Idaho, summer 2019 I saw Martin Short and Steve Martin LIVE in An Evening You Will Forget for the Rest of Your Life.

It was hilarious.

That was Steve’s return to stand-up after decades.

Steve is age-74 now. Everyone of my generation loved his comedy. Indeed, I thought he was an overnight success — like Robin Williams.

Not so as I learned in his 2007 memoir Born Standing Up. Steve Martin paid his dues. He had many, many very hard years breaking into the business.

It chronicles his early life, his days working for Disneyland, working at low tier coffee shops and clubs as a comedy act … and the reason why he quit stand-up comedy altogether at the height of his fame in 1981. …

The audiobook is read by Steve. I recommend it.

This Is Us – season 2

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

One of the most important shows on TV. 

So many life issues addressed.

Casting director Tiffany Little Canfield did an amazing job finding younger versions of the family. I find them very believable.

No other entertainment I can recall has done such a good job switching between multiple timelines.

Season 2 is 92% on Rotten Tomatoes. I’d say it’s even better than season 1.

This Is Us continues to follow the lives and connections of the Pearson family across several time periods …

The ensemble cast is all good. Perhaps Chris Sullivan as Toby Damon is my favourite.

Milo Ventimiglia as Jack Pearson is fantastic too.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

 

 

 

Walking Dead – seasons 1/2

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

I’d tried Walking Dead in the past. Too gory.

But I finally got past the guts, and found it’s a well-written and nuanced cautionary tale.

Norman Mark Reedus is my favourite actor of many of the ensemble cast.

He plays Daryl Dixon,  an ill tempered and volatile southern redneck. The kind of guy I want to dislike at first impression.

He’s a bow hunter and expert tracker, efficient in killing walkers.

He becomes the series’ main protagonist starting season 9.

Click PLAY or watch a trailer on YouTube.

 

BBC TV – To the Ends of the Earth

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A young Benedict Cumberbatch stars as an important passenger on a voyage England to Australia in the early 1880s.

Not all that much happens over the 3 films that premiered July 2005, but you get an excellent feel for just how horrific ship travel was at that time. Life below deck: stench, flies, rotted food, rashes, injuries. Being constantly wet.

I enjoyed every minute.

The actor that impressed me most was Jared Harris, son of actor Richard Harris, in his role as Captain Anderson.

Based on To the Ends of the Earth, a trilogy of novels by William Golding, published from 1980 to 1989.

Thanks Warren.

Doc Martin – season 1

On By Rick McIn humour, movies, TVLeave a comment

Warren got me started watching.

Doc Martin is a British television medical comedy drama series starring Martin Clunes in the title role. …

The programme is set in the fictional seaside village of Portwenn and filmed on location in the village of Port Isaac, Cornwall, United Kingdom, …

Eight series aired between 2004 and 2017 …

The actor, Martin Clunes, is unusual and unusual looking. A touch of Mr. Bean.

The real star is the Cornish village of Port Isaac.

Click PLAY or watch a trailer on YouTube.

The actress playing receptionist Elaine, Lucy Punch, is brilliant in the role. In fact the eclectic villagers are all entertaining.

But no racial diversity in Cornwall?

Before I started on the TV show I watched the 2001 movie called Doc Martin. Similar premiss. But Doc Martin is a much warmer and more charming character in the film.

Click PLAY or watch a movie trailer on YouTube.

Strike – BBC TV seasons 2 & 3

On By Rick McIn books, TVLeave a comment
  1. Book 1 – The Cuckoo’s Calling
  2. Book 2 – The Silkworm
  3. Book 3 – Career of Evil

JK Rowling has written 4 books so far featuring one-legged detective Cormoran Strike and his (now) partner Robin Ellacott.

Season 2 of Strike is The Silkworm.

The TV series sticks closely to the books. Excellent.

Watch the Silkworm trailer on Daily Motion.

Season 3 of Strike is Career of Evil, the best of the three, I’d say.

Click PLAY or watch a trailer on Facebook.

Season 4 is anticipated for 2020.

Jack Ryan on Amazon – season 1

On By Rick McIn TVLeave a comment

I’m surprised to report that the newest Jack Ryan TV series is very good. Important. Themes included the risk of terrorist attack by sarin, nuclear radiation and Ebola.

Good acting. Believable characters. Exotic locations. Big budget.

Rotten Tomatoes is only 74%, however.

You probably heard that Jack Ryan is played by Jim Halpert from the NBC sitcom The Office. That’s John Krasinski. He’s very good, actually. Likeable. Relatable.

The role was previously played by Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine.

Click PLAY or watch the trailer on YouTube.

Season 2 premieres in November.