Shivoncarla

TOP BOY - SEASON THREE

It has been six years since Top Boy was last on our screens. Like Black Mirror, it enjoyed cult success for two series when it originally aired on Channel 4, before having to be rescued by Netflix – in this instance with the help of Drake, who was enough of a fan to push for its return and has executive-produced its new incarnation.

It is not a flattering portrait of our times, but as a TV drama, it is up there with the best – tense, gripping and relentless. By the end of the first four episodes, the characters have been manoeuvred into place. The war, Top Boy tells us, is about to begin.

On the whole this was a well-made, convincing drama, with an excellent ensemble cast. Well-acted, well-written television like this don't come round that often.

WEIRD CITY - SEASON ONE

What matters is that the world-building is fast and funny; jokes about this dystopian culture pop up in the background or get tucked into spare seconds of dialogue, but they’re never ignored. Weird City is very funny, but it puts story and characters above commentary all the way through.

ON MY BLOCK - SEASON ONE

On My Block is ambitious and working to take risks in youth sitcom and drama. It is an accurate depiction of the emotionality in friendships and how it affects our decisions, sense of urgency and direction.

GRIMM - SEASON SIX

Over time, it's turned into a much better example of the show it wants to be. Grimm is an example of how untethered fantasy can be successfully mixed in with TV's clay.

THIS IS US - SEASON THREE

Please take this as a warning. One moment you could be chuckling with joyful abandon. The next sucker punched in the left ventricle with some heart-wrenching scene. And it bloody hurts.

ACKLEY BRIDGE - SEASON TWO

Ackley Bridge is Waterloo Road meets Shameless. The parallel-communities thing gives it something else, as well as ringing true about Britain today, asking questions about whether total integration is possible, even necessary, both in school and out of school. That side of things is handled carefully and sensitively. Real issues aren’t avoided, cultural differences aren’t denied; at the same time, obvious and boring stereotypes are avoided. As well as boobs, Ackley Bridge has balls. And a heart.

INSATIABLE - SEASON ONE

Insatiable is a harsh example of the best intentions yielding the worst results. ... Insatiable is unforgivably inelegant as satire. It fails not only to land its purportedly progressive message about body image and weight, but also its storylines tackling sexuality, sexual agency, classism, race, and transgender acceptance.

ZOO - SEASON ONE

Stupid conventional TV writing and even worse acting bring down this promising premise. Still it's fun to watch animals go amok. The concept is so big and so good as an epic cautionary tale that you have to be at least curious.

GRAHAM NORTON - SEASON TWENTY

The making of a national treasure. Time after time, Graham Norton is the one who asks the questions that no other chat show host would dare dream up. On his red sofa sit the world’s most sought-after celebrities: recent guests have included Tom Cruise, Gwyneth Paltrow, Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Will Smith, David Beckham, Brad Pitt, Hugh Jackman, the list is endless... Recent polls put Norton top of the list of Britain’s funniest comedians and of celebrities that members of the public would like to invite home for dinner. Not bad for a man who once asked a female guest to fire ping-pong balls from between her legs. As a British Citizen, it's nice to have a chat show host from our side of the water. So what other chat-show is competing with Graham in the UK? Exactly.

THE ALIENS - SEASON ONE

Just watched episode one. So far? Fintan Ryan’s science-fiction comedy-drama plunged straight into the action, without giving us much in the way of backstory. It is more fun that way: the inevitable confusion makes it more of a rollercoaster ride. There will be plenty of time to find out what the aliens are doing here, how they manage to be so like us (they also come in black, white, gay, straight etc), and why they are so despised. Any further physiological and neurological differences will be furnished on a need-to-know basis. The Aliens comes from the same producers who brought you Misfits, and it is made with the same verve and eye for down-at-heel chic. The Troy ghetto, while grubby, is also cool and vibrant-looking, even a little continental; the human side of the UK is exceedingly drab in comparison. Kinda makes you wish you were a 'Mork', I wonder if that was Ryan's intention?! We will see...