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Grace (2021)
Sudden absurdities late in the episodes of an otherwise promising show
Both episodes available to date start off very well and they pulled me in right away- the acting, the cinematography, pacing, characterization, and suspense-building were all brilliant. However, something strange happened in the last quarter or third of each episode: the detectives and/or characters start taking ridiculous and implausible risks and general foolishness ensues. I truly don't understand how this happened- but in one episode t the hero Detective Superintended Grace puts himself absurdly in danger, even turning his back on a lethal suspect; in the other he shows complete ineptitude in failing to deliver protection he'd promised to a witness. It makes no sense that an otherwise brilliant officer would suddenly become asinine. That brilliant officer is badly treated by the higher ups (a familiar trope in shows from the UK) but the later folly for which he *should* have been reprimanded barely raises a brow. The ending of the first episode had a few holes and resorted to cliches. I haven't seen the ending of the second yet because I got frustrated I had to stop watching a couple of times. I haven't read the novels, so maybe it's a problem in the original plot- or maybe it's something in the execution but either way it's a disappointment. The show is so promising in other ways- it doesn't set out to break the mold but does a good job with some suspense formulae, and that's usually good enough for me because I do like the formulae, but here there are sudden let-downs later. Hope they fix these in future and keep going- I could watch this show with pleasure for many seasons if it improves in this respect.
All Creatures Great & Small: The New World (1989)
An utter delight- the show at its best
This episode made me smile and chuckle all the way- wonderful, gentle, humor; adorable animals (impossible not to fall in love with Tich the dog and the monkey and the frog); small but perfect glimpses into local traditions, such as the Mayor's regalia; the reappearance of beloved characters such as Sister Rose; the parade of other endearing and/or maddening characters such as Len, Vernon (and his blushing bride and stepson), Lady Hutton, the Mayor....this episode has it all. The individual stories in it are engaging, quick-moving and wrapped up nicely. It's fun to get some sense of how Lady Hutton must regard the practice- and the true "entertainment" it provides. Even the subtitles are entertaining- transcribed by someone overly familiar with the vernacular or British English or the show. So "she abuses him unmercifully" becomes "she abuses him immersively" (fortunately the abuse is not real btw; just a figure of speech) and "gallant effort" becomes "Gallup effort." Darrowby is consistently transcribed as "Derby." I always love the dynamic between Siegfried and James in the surgery, and here we see quite a bit of it. The show can do so so much when it isn't forcing itself to serving up dollops of unconvincing, trite romance. I continue to be grateful that Calum and Deirdre are gone (may it be for good)- all episodes without them have been superior to ones with them. And still missing Tristan greatly. Hope he returns at some point. But I must admit there's no dearth of rich material even without him.
All Creatures Great & Small: The Course of True Love (1989)
Some fine moments, almost ruined by the tritest arc of all
I'm so sick of the Calum and Deirdre arc which seems to drag on episode to episode with one flimsily manufactured crisis after another. Everything else takes a back seat to it. For example, the Mr. Potts story was beautiful as was the glorious scene with Shep the dog finding his vocation again. And these stories, as well as the always interesting dynamic between James and Siegfried and to a point Helen, deserved a lot more focus than the romance which makes me want to fast forward every time. I will be so relieved when those two are gone if even temporarily- and thrilled to boots when/if Tristan returns for good.
All Creatures Great & Small: Blood and Water (1989)
So glad to be done with the Deirdre-Calum romance
Thank goodness that with the departure of Calum and Deirdre as I expected, the show is coming back to what makes it great: local characters, glimpses into Yorkshire culture and history, a focus on truly rounded out engaging, primary characters and relationships with animals. The romance between those two dragged on and on and on with one trite and predictable obstacle to their love after another. And it took up so much time and space. I suppose those two were meant to replace Tristan and Peter Davison on the one hand, and the earlier romance between Helen and James, now pegged as middle-aged and dull. If so it was a spectacular fail. I understand Callum was based on a real life vet assistant to Alf Wright's practice, and while the ingredients were there to make him an interesting character, they rarely amounted to anything but a list of individual eccentricities that were never developed and always abandoned in favor of the awful boring and depressingly un-creative romance. Nothing against the actors: it was the imbalance and the thin scriptwriting around the two characters that I found frustrating. I'm very glad to have Willie Bannister return and replace Calum and I truly hope we will see Peter Davison/Tristan, who is irreplaceable, return at some point from Ireland. In the meantime, though, episodes like this are a delicious treat- as was the previous episode, also blessedly free of the dreary Deirdre and Calum romance.
All Creatures Great & Small: 1983 Special (1983)
Moving and convincing in showing big transitions to the new era
Beautifully done. This 1983 special (and the 1985 special after it) have the subtlety and complexity one would expect of this show when depicting the transition from the world of war to a new and sometimes awkward peace. And for those who like Carol Drinkwater as Helen, the specials are the last two more episodes with her and she is delightful in both.
It's sad but realistic to see how much has changed and how difficult it is for James to go back to the "even temperament" he used to have, to quote Helen. Tristan is refreshing and in his element and there is the faintest trace of a new maturity in him though he still gets into escapade after escapade. It was nice to see Mrs Pumphrey and her gardener. And Mr Biggins! Carol Drinkwater in the second last episode she did for the series shines in her role- showing strength and an ability to center everything around her, her beauty growing with the passage of time. It was lovely to see James' father at the start of the episode- I don't remember him making an appearance before. I thoroughly enjoyed this episode- especially because I had been misled by the Britbox lineup (which places the two specials after Season 4 instead of after Season 3 where they belong) and watched this out of order. This is exactly the backstory we needed before launching into Season 4 as many will watching it now I imagine- because the sequencing is messed up on Britbox.
All Creatures Great & Small: One of Nature's Little Miracles (1988)
Watch the 2 Christmas Specials (1983 & 1985) before this first episode of Season 4.
I liked the episode well enough, but it felt very abrupt to be plunged into the thick of their post-war lives and be left to deal with the changes...the new living arrangements, the two Herriot kids, Tristan's new job, and Mrs Greenlaw. Not to mention a switch in actor for Helen. So much seems to change and apparently we're just supposed to orient ourselves.
Well, that's not the actual chronology of the episodes. Bertween Season Three and Season Four were two episodes, Christmas Special 1983 and Christmas Special 1985, which actually need to be seen before Season 4. Unfortunately in the Britbox lineup, where I am watching the show in June 2021, the Christmas specials are placed after Season 4 in the line up when they should be placed after Season 3. The Specials show the transition- James returning from war, the explanation of what happened to Mrs Hall, James trying to establish a relationship with his son Jimmy (born during the war) and with his new role in the post-war world. And Carol Drinkwater still playing Helen. Aside from their overall excellence the Christmas specials are must-sees so as to avoid the abrupt shifts that hit us if we go straight from the final episode of 3 to the first episode of season 4.
Without them the first episode is watchable but it takes a little effort to feel connected to new characters and new situations. Personalities and appearances have changed too- everyone seems a little wearier and a little worn. It makes sense in terms of the story: the terrible war and time have had their impact. But as the season progresses the story picks up and so does the energy. I only wish we'd had episodes for the interim period.
Detectives: My Killer Case (2018)
Well made true crime show from a key perspective
This is a strong show: understated and solid. It promises what it delivers and takes a substantive and unassuming stance. I found it refreshing to be shown the crime from the perspective of the chief investigative officer solving it- and very interesting to see the real life detectives in the UK whose fictional counterparts many of us have come to treasure. The detectives tell of their cases straightforwardly, without bragging or self-promotion, but they do convey the emotional impact the crimes had on them. The crimes themselves are free of the fictional twists and turns we might find in a fictional show but more than engrossing given the impact on real human lives. More compelling than most true crime shows because it is free of gimmicks and silly dramatic flourishes. Only Season One (with 4 episodes) seems to be available on Amazon Prime- I don't know if other episodes were made but I hope they were and continue to be.
Rojst (2018)
Beautifully done
This is top notch- not to be faulted on any front. Beautifully shot, wonderfully acted and directed. The storytelling is utterly impressive: each scene builds anticipation and you end up watching actively, with many mysteries, small and large, to solve. What is told and not told, what must be revealed and when- these are the crucial questions that only the best writers know how to convey. And aside from that, the revelation of a moment, a cultural ethos, is outstanding. At this point in tv watching we are spoiled by easy access to fanatstic tv and drama- but this then has ended up raising standards and expectations. There are a lot of very good shows out there - few that are excellent and outstanding. This is one of the outstanding ones.