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Shivoncarla
Reviews
11/22/63 - SEASON ONE
Pretty much all of the success in 11.22.63 comes from Franco being able to take the concept from bizarre to believable, with a major assist from Cooper, who combines with Franco in the early episodes (and flashbacks) to give this series its much-needed dramatic believability.
TERRA NOVA - SEASON ONE
The idea that in the long-ago past there were differing versions of how to reinvent humanity's future could make for compelling drama, and those kind of story lines are more likely to be more intriguing than what will transpire among the Shannons, unless this bland family's character development takes a great leap forward very quickly.
THE STORY OF TRACY BEAKER - SEASON FIVE
Another British Classic. Having no experience whatsoever of foster care, orphan-hood, or anything other than the two-parent family, I was fascinated by Tracy's story. Fifteen years on, I still have a lot of respect for Jacqueline Wilson, and found myself swept along with Tracy's fast-paced, but problematic life.
THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE - SEASON ONE
Yes, this is chilling stuff. And provocative. It makes you ponder just how precious freedom really is and what kind of sacrifices you would make to maintain it.
DATES - SEASON ONE
Dates is perfectly scripted half-hours, it tells the oldest story there is – boy meets girl (or girl meets girl) – without ever retreading old ground. By shooting its episodes in mostly real time, it brings drama to the minuscule ticks of conversation while drawing you into the complexity and preposterousness of the dating game.
FEAR THE WALKING DEAD - SEASON ONE
I, like many others, can't help but compare 'Fear the Walking Dead' with 'The Walking Dead' and while I really hoped it would either surpass or offer an alternative to the same ol' zombie stereotype. It did not. In fact, I was begging for SOMETHING in the first episode. Excitement maybe? Suspense? Better Acting? Something other than... well, boredom.
THE SIMPSONS - SEASON FOURTEEN
Groening has created a group of characters whose personalities and motives are more vivid and detailed than the vast majority of sitcoms featuring flesh-and-blood actors.
HUNTED - SEASON ONE
First and foremost, I would like to say that Hunted had a very good concept. However, Strip everything back, though, and it’s just a game show, an updated version of ITV’s Interceptor.
Spoiler Alert: Channel 4’s elaborate game of hide and seek finally fell apart, and example of what I mean are the two fugitives Freddie and Jacqui that the Hunters totally lost all trace of. Until, while searching for a completely different team attempting to stay on the run for 28 days, the show’s Cagney & Lacey, Thorn and Brook, stumbled on the pair’s hideout, in a Caister-on-Sea caravan park in Norfolk. Completely by chance. Just the latest example why Hunted is the biggest TV joke of the year.
It talks the talk, claiming it’s a social experiment exploring the balance between privacy and security and it’s inherently flawed for one MAHOOSIVE reason. About half of what it says is happening actually isn’t, from its disclaimer: “For the purposes of this series, some powers of state have been replicated, including CCTV and ANPR (automatic number plate recognition).” Now, that’s pretty vague. Replicated how, exactly? They don’t say. But clearly the elite investigators aren’t allowed to use those two key surveillance weapons they seem to be relying on so heavily to follow the fugitives. It means you question everything you see.
Narrator: “HQ have obtained CCTV from the premises. (They haven’t.)
“It gives them the registration of Ricky’s car. (It doesn’t.)
“The hunters can track it using a network of ANPR cameras.” (They can’t.)
So how in the name of Edward Snowden are they finding them?
Until Channel 4 comes clean, I can only presume the cameraman shadowing each contestant is texting in their movements.
This review contains spoilers. Click the text to reveal.
INDIAN SUMMERS - SEASON TWO
If I'm honest, it wasn't as good as I thought it was going to be. The first season ended abruptly (...and I don't mean that they left it as a cliff hanger), the abrupt ending made the show seem messy. It could have made for a very rich and intriguing show but I felt that it focused on the British Empire more than the experiences and growth of Indian within that period. Disappointing.
HUMANS - SEASON ONE
Utterly beautiful.
And yet, given how derivative it is, Humans turns out far better than you'd think possible. The performances, pacing and direction are that compellingly good - can't wait for season two.