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Reviews
Beyond Paradise (2023)
Here's hoping this gets better, because it's pretty bad!
So the second season just started and I recently re-watched the first season. It wasn't any better the second time around. I'll hold off on season 2 until I've seen it all. As for the first season, the story is so wrapped up around Hump and Martha's problems, it has none of the charm of Death in Paradise and also none of the fun of trying to figure out the crimes. As far as the couple's relationship, the premise is exhausting. Hump and Martha, when we last saw them, blissfully together London, in her dream of a restaurant. (Which is why they are NOT in St Marie - remember she didn't want to give up her dreams of her own restaurant in London!). Now, several years later - and Kris Marshall clearly showing the years - are still not married, and have left London to live with Martha's absolute monster of an obnoxious and controlling mother, and in the shadow of Martha's gorgeous ex, the always welcome Jamie Bamber (completely wasted talent!!) Rather than a side story while the show brings those clever crimes to solve, the relationship is front and center - and completely boring!! This couple, who cannot even set a wedding date, are completely involved with trying to have a baby through IVF. What the heck???? (I don't care that they aren't married, but it shows a strange arrangement of priorities - as it it was planned that they would not get married unless she bore him a child...very strange premise.) Then Martha, oh how surprisingly, chooses to shut down the relationship, with this guy who left Paradise for her, because said IVF failed! This first season was so depressing, boring and disappointing! The other cast members are just filler, although it was great to see Dylan Llewellyn from "Derry Girls" again. I could do without the grumpy office aid, and the other detective could be played by anyone, her role is so bland. I hope they've come up with a better game plan for S2.
Deadloch (2023)
I would not even give one star!
This is beyond horrible! Ok, Amazon definitely has it described incorrectly as a murder mystery. I have read it is supposed to be a comedy - maybe a parody of police work/detective shows. That may be so, but even now knowing that, I can't adequately describe how bad this show is - acting, dialogue, story elements - it's ALL BAD!! I wonder, as others have too, how this ever made it to production. It probably could have been better with a slightly less farcical script. It seems as though it is trying to be something like "Hot Fuzz", showing a small town and it's odd people, strange behaviors, questionable police tactics, mixed with murder. But this falls far short.
Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022)
What? What was this movie?
I honestly can't even begin to describe this movie except as a complete mess. I love Michelle Yeoh and she certainly showed her superb acting chops in this movie. I just wish I understood the movie. It is a complete mish-mash of confusion, under the timely guise of the very popular notion of multi-verses. I am a fan of sci-fi, comedy, action, martial arts and acrobatics, bullet-time, slow-mo fight scenes - but geez, all in one scene!? And, what's with the raccoon? A nod to Rocket? I son't know. All I know is that Michelle Yeoh's character comes out of it ok.
Sorry, it's just waaaayyyyy over-rated.
Doctor Who: Legend of the Sea Devils (2022)
Stop! Just Stop! Please!
I am so sorry for Jodie Whittaker, because I like her and I think with a decent script she could be pretty good as the Doctor. But from the beginning they made her so ditzy and seemingly incompetent until the last miraculous minute where she saves the day.
I gave up on The Flux, and I am so sick of the Daleks - how many times does the Doctor have to "vanquish" them before we can stop seeing them. So I had hope for this one being something new (having no idea of the sea devils from the "old" Doctor Who shows). I guess I was hoping for the impossible. This special is BORING, the writing is ridiculous, the action cartoonish (yes, more-so than usual!), and really so much re-tread of old themes. I happen to recently read something about the "golden era" of Tennant, Piper, Barrowman, (and even the later success of Matt Smith, not to mention the other great companions). Yes, those were so good!
This is a sad, sad, can't-come-quickly-enough end to this Doctor, and maybe the whole series.
The Nevers (2021)
Don't pay any attention to the naysayers!!
Ye gads, the critics really came down on this series because of Joss Whedon's involvement. But give it a chance. It's got an interesting storyline, steampunk influences, and a really great cast. Yes, the storyline is mostly about women, but they are all shapes, sizes, ages, etc. There are male and female heroes and villains. People with unnatural abilities, yes, that's been done before. And will be done again and again. There's nothing wrong with using that as a base. The show is great!
Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators: O Thou Invisible Spirit of Wine (2020)
Not their best. Could have been a little better with a little sound editing.
I found the plot a bit boring and it could not hold my interest. It did not have any help in the choice of the guest actress, whose performance was grating, to say the least. I routinely use "closed captions" for TV shows set in places with accents with which I am not overly familiar. So it was easy enough for me to understand the character played by Rosie Jones. I was interested enough to look up her background and saw that she does have a form of cerebral palsy. What put me off was not so much the cadence of her speech, but the volume of it. Perhaps it is a carry-over from her comedy stage work, as in the need to "project" out to an audience. I simply found it irritating, and ruining the performance. I'm sure she is a fine comedienne, and has many fans, and perhaps she shines in other acting work. But not this one.
My Life Is Murder (2019)
A breath of fresh air! Funny, with a great cast!
I watch lots of murder mystery shows; some are played straight and serious, and some funny or campy. My Life is Murder is a bit of both.The stories so far have been good mysteries, that I've had fun trying to solve. I do believe that at least one storyline was almost identical to one of another show, but it was still played out well. The cast is great and make a good
mix. Lucy Lawless is always a pleasure to watch. I don't know if it has been renewed for a second season, but I hope it is!
Shetland (2013)
Love Shetland- the show, the actors, the islands.
I've watched all the other seasons of Shetland and love this show. I've been waiting and waiting for the new season. Britbox is a tease, promising the series in April 2019 - yes, starting 30 April and running one episode a week. There are often a lot of characters and plot threads to follow and this is the first series I have not been able to watch at least 2-3 episodes one right after the other. Waiting a week in between episodes is awful, Britbox, and I'm paying for this access. Perhaps that is why I find this season's plot line to be a bit boring. I don't care about the plot characters, and I find at least one of them to be so annoying, and honestly so unnecessary to the story, I wonder why she is included. Shetland's regular cast is perfect, as usual!!