stephen_wild Reviews

Dark River (2017)

Bleak tragedy.

[8/10 · 27 June 2018]

Life on the moors is far bleaker than ever Heathcliffe and Cathy's trials and tribulations would have us believe as a doomed romance.

It is presented here as a Tragedy wherein everyone is trapped mentally and physically in a hellish life into which they have been born with no escape possible.

A thoughtful take on existentialism. And most definitely not for Americans or those that favour Hollywood cartoon acting and violence.

Doctor Who: Love & Monsters (2006) Season 2, Episode 10

Boring.

[4/10 · 25 June 2018]

The story and presentation and the narrating actor is so boring and soporific. What were they thinking of? The only saving grace about this episode is the wonderful Shirley Henderson who at 38 years of age convincingly plays a student of half her age.

Missions (2017– )

Intelligent SF

[9/10 · 8 June 2018]

A great serial which keeps one hooked from one short episode to another. A great change from the US derivative-seen-it -all-before-adventure-of-the-week-drivel.

Reverie (2018)

Cliched exposition to set up a tired trope.

[2/10 · 4 June 2018]

Reconstructing a "person" from their online presence has been done before and much better. I am thinking of an episode of Black Mirror but I wouldn't be surprised if it hadn't been done even earlier.

Usual formulaic US writing and acting and directing drivel where they all have perfect teeth and great hair and bodies to kill for and the stilted "what?" type dialogue and facial expressions and body language. Nobody dies and they all live happily ever after.

Home from Home (2016– )

Series better than the pilot.

[7/10 · 27 May 2018]

I watched the pilot and thought that this is like those unfunny comedy shows that used to be on ITV. But I watched the first episode of the series because Emilia Fox was in it. The writing seems to be better and the gorgeous Niky Wardley is always worth watching. I would have given the pilot a so-so average 5 but now I give it a 7.

Steptoe and Son (1962–1974)

Comedy and tragedy have never been so portrayed in the same play.

[10/10 · 30 September 2017]

Comedy and tragedy have never been so portrayed in the same way in a sitcom before this.

Some of these episodes are so close to home that I weep with both laughter and sadness every time that I watch them.

It helps if you have been part of the post war life in the UK to understand the bitter sweetness of life in the 1950s and early 60s

Shakespeare and Aristophanes would have been proud of these plays.

Doctor Foster: A Woman Scorned: Episode #2.1 (2017) Season 2, Episode 1

Suranne Jones gurns unconvincingly.

[7/10 · 27 September 2017]

I'm on ep 4 now and what an absolutely fine performance from Ms Comer. The other characters were but cardboard clichés compared to her and the actors just conformed to those clichés (albeit being driven by the writing and direction). Ms Comer was so believable and convincing being both steely determined and slightly vulnerable .

And let's face it any bloke given the choice between the two characters/actresses would go for Ms Comer. Let's be honest Suranne Jones is not really attractive at all. "Face like a bag o' spanners" as my grandad would have said.

Liar (2017–2020)

Another misandrist soap posing as drama.

[5/10 · 26 September 2017]

Another misandrist soap posing as drama. Another feminist drama where all men are rapists. It's only worth watching for Joanna Froggatt and for the whodunnit factor, but they've revealed the liar halfway through its six episode run. I've given this a score of 5, and 4 of those are for Ms Froggatt's performance.

If I Had You (2006 TV Movie)

This "TV Movie" is actually a cut to pieces mini series.

[7/10 · 23 September 2017]

This was originally shown in the UK as a 3 part mini series. So those of you watching it as a "TV Movie" should realise that it has been crudely edited down. This is probably the reason that some of you found it dis-jointed. Incidentally one of the boys who found the body in the lake went on to become a member of the boyband One Direction.