fgerryts Reviews

Recipes for Love and Murder (2022– )

An unusual setting in the company of enjoyable characters

[7/10 · 7 October 2022]

This series is charming in many ways. Like other cozy mysteries there is a cast of characters, most of whom are enjoyable company, and some of whom have quirks that you may find annoying. Personally, I enjoyed all the characters and some I found very pleasant company. The location is another plus for the series. South Africa is certainly a different setting and one I'd like to see more often.

From the trailer I'd expected a new mystery with each episode but there is basically one case for the whole ten episodes. That was okay with me, especially as there is more than one mystery to be unraveled in that time. I do hope there's a second season in which we can get to know more about the main character, played by Maria Doyle Kennedy (excellent) and the other characters.

DI Ray (2022– )

Racism that is shown up throughout this story

[7/10 · 20 May 2022]

I liked this series because of the way it showed up everyday racism and prejudice in society and the police force. I'm not Asian so the fact that I sympathized with DI Ray's struggles as a British Asian woman says a lot for the acting and writing. Parminder Nagra brought her character to life with an understated performance that showed how she dealt with everyday prejudice starting in the grocery store and onto her work colleagues.

Magpie Murders (2022– )

An immensely enjoyable multi-layered mystery

[9/10 · 16 February 2022]

This was one of the best series I've seen in a long time. The story is told in several layers. The central mystery follows the book editor's investigation into the death of the best selling author and the missing final chapter of his last book. In parallel we follow the fictional detective, Atticus Pund, as the story in the last novel unfolds. The use of the same actors in both the present day and the novel adds another dimension to the story telling. The acting is superb, with Lesley Manville as the editor leading a strong cast. Seek this series out. It deserves to be seen more widely.

Rules of the Game (2022)

An engaging story which doesn't deserve the negative reviews

[7/10 · 17 January 2022]

I enjoyed this series and can't understand why there are so many negative reviews. It used a common device of starting off with a death and using flashbacks to fill in the backstory. It was unusual in that the deceased wasn't revealed at first. There's a strong message about sexual harassment of women, which seems to have provoked some of the negative reviews, but I didn't find it detracted from the story. If you want a well acted, intriguing story that will keep you engaged then I can recommend Rules of the Game.

Vigil (2021– )

A gripping thriller

[9/10 · 29 September 2021]

I am not a submariner so I can't comment on the accuracy of the portrayal of the Navy or life on a submarine. That's hardly the point though. I'm not a detective, spy, forensic pathologist or any of the other professions featured in dramas. I really enjoyed this drama because it was well acted throughout and above all the story was unusual as was the setting. There was tension and it kept you guessing all along. I'm glad I binged the series as a weeks wait between episodes would've been unbearable. Highly recommended.

The Great British Photography Challenge (2021– )

A winning series to inspire

[8/10 · 15 June 2021]

There's a wealth of programs where people compete for a prize. This one is different as each week no one is eliminated. Instead all the photographers are challenged to take photos that stretch them. They use their smartphones as cameras in some challenges or work with models on a fashion shoot, try street photography or action shots. In the process they have mentoring from Rankin and other photographers. You can watch them improve. But the best thing is that you'll probably be inspired to pick up your camera or phone and have a go yourself. (Dear Reader, I know because I did!)

The show ends with the participants putting on a show of their work to be judged. You can see the quality of their work and also how supportive the judges and other participants are of each other. They are all winners.

Manifest (2018–2023)

Woeful rubbish

[4/10 · 13 June 2021]

Such a stupid idea, stretched out interminably and full of over emotional interchanges. Is there something I'm missing?

Bregus (2021– )

Welsh language drama is slow

[4/10 · 14 May 2021]

This is a drama that was a hard watch, not because of the subject matter, but because of the slow pace and unrealistic dialogue. There is an interesting story in there if you have the patience to persevere through the agonizingly slow pace of so much of this. I would have given up but my wife is learning Welsh and any Welsh language drama is better than none. But there are so many good ones out there that this pales by comparison. I'd recommend: Y Gwyll (Hinterland), Craith (Hidden), Un Bore Mercher (Keeping Faith), Bang.

Enola Holmes (2020)

An enjoyable romp

[8/10 · 24 September 2020]

If you're not captivated by Millie Bobby Brown in the first few minutes then you will probably not enjoy this film. For me, her first appearance and talking directly to the audience, had me won over. She is excellent and her performance carries the film. It may not be a "real" Sherlock Holmes style mystery and, yes, she is very modern but that is part of the charm of both the movie and her performance.

I'd love to see a sequel. Which is a ringing endorsement from me!

Outlaw King (2018)

A dull disappointment

[6/10 · 13 November 2018]

The script was terrible. There's a good story in there struggling to get out but you are left unmoved by the characters because you learn so little about them. The scenery is wonderful and didn't need to be chewed by the actors. The action scenes were ok but lacked real jeopardy since I didn't care for any of the characters.