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robbiscargill
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Great Coastal Railway Journeys (2022)
TOP QUALITY TRAVEL DOCUMENTARY
I was born in England, although I have lived in South Africa since I was a kid. However, I have always felt that my umbilical cord was never cut when I was born, and no matter how long I have lived in South Africa, so much of me remains in the UK.
Michael Portillo does an absolutely wonderful job of drawing me into his journeys, sharing information and imparting knowledge, and the scenery of the old country leaves me enthralled and, if truth be told, rather emotional.
I have watched most of Michael Portillo's railway documentaries, and the quality never drops. He is so enthusiastic, which ups the level of enjoyment a good few notches. A travel documentary out of the very top drawer.
The Cuckoo (2024)
DOESN'T QUITE MAKE IT
The Cuckoo is an entertaining, albeit rather clichéd series, and although some big names star, it somehow just doesn't quite make it to be a top series.
I did enjoy the performances of Lee Ingleby and Claire Goose, and I thought that Freya Hannan-Mills was good as Alice Heynes, but, in my opinion, Jill Halfpenny was miscast in the role of Sian Gregson, and I didn't find her character all that convincing.
I also felt that the script occasionally veered towards the silly, and some scenarios left me shaking my head, particularly in the fourth and final episode, but all in all, it was pretty good, and worth a watch.
Death in Paradise (2011)
BORING, ONE PACED, PREDICTABLE
Never having watched Death in Paradise before, and noting that it is now in its 12th Season, and 70% of reviewers have rated it 8/10 or more, I figured that I must be missing out on something, and so I got hold of Seasons 1 and 2.
I don't know whether the show gets better as it progresses, but what a disappointment Seasons 1 and 2 were. I am not sure what Death in Paradise sees itself as, but it leans more towards Midsomer Murders (of which I am not a fan) rather than the excellent gritty police procedural dramas that the Brits seem so good at producing.
Sure, the location is lovely, and the characters become familiar after a while, but the storylines are pretty weak, and the novelty of DI Richard Poole bringing all of the suspects together and revealing the murderer, Poirot like, at the end of each episode, wears off pretty quickly.
I am not going to move on to Season 3: there are so many more shows out there on which my time will be better spent.
Mr Bates vs. The Post Office (2024)
THE BEST POSSIBLE WAY TO HIGHLIGHT THE POST OFFICE COVER UP
From start to finish, this is totally enthralling. And the fact that it is based on a true story adds more power to an already powerful drama.
All of the actors are top class in their respective roles: the story moves along effortlessly, all the while highlighting the way that the Post Office ruined, and is continuing to ruin, so many innocent people's lives.
The series obviously leans to the side of the wronged, but even so, it is impossible to find any sympathy whatsoever with Paula Vennells and those who were so implicitly and willingly involved in the cover up.
A bittersweet mix between entertainment and tragedy, and a must-watch for the British population, as well as those who think that the law will always protect them, and that their government is looking after them, always having their best interests at heart.
Van der Valk (2020)
VAN DER VALK: SEASON 2
I watched Season 1 quite a while ago, and I quite enjoyed it, but I found Season 2, which I only watched this week, to be a good deal less enjoyable.
I am not sure how the writers and producers of the show wanted the series to be classified, but I felt it was extremely lightweight, and to be taken with a very small pinch of salt.
It was entertaining enough, and I certainly wasn't bored, although Mark Warren really doesn't bring much to his portrayal of Van Der Valk, and the supporting cast were nothing special either. Whoever designed the outfits worn by Maimie McCoy needs sacking, and Maimie herself needs to decide on an accent to use and stick to it. It comes across as a combination of northern and southern, with a slight Dutch twang, and her clothes and accent provide a distraction.
In my opinion the stories in the three 90 minute episodes had quite a few holes, but as long as you suspend your belief, and don't expect very much from the series, it may be worth a few hours of your time.
Bloodlands (2021)
SERIES 1: GREAT IRISH POLICE DRAMA
I thought that Bloodlands Season 1 was a great watch: there are only four 55 minute episodes, but so much is packed into those four episodes that it feels bigger than it actually is.
I have never been James Nesbitt's biggest fan, but he shines in his role as DCI Tom Brannick and he is extremely well supported by Lorcan Cranitch, who plays Brannick's boss, DCS Jackie Twomey, Charlene McKenna as Niamh McGovern, Ian McElhinney as the infirm Adam Corry, and Lisa Dwan who plays Dr Tori Matthews.
The story centres around the search for a killer nicknamed Goliath, who was suspected of a number of politically motivated murders more than twenty years previously, and just when you think you have a pretty good idea of who Goliath is, the series takes a massive turn, and you are left rethinking your theory.
A great watch, highly recommended.
Broken (2017)
A Cut Above
Brilliantly acted and thoroughly believable, Broken is one of the best TV series that I have seen. Sean Bean is absolutely wonderful in his role as Father Michael Kerrigan, a humble Catholic priest, trying to do the best that he can for his parishioners, whilst fighting his own personal demons. The script is strong, gritty and emotional, with very few light moments, but I was totally engrossed from start to finish. Very highly recommended.