The Idiot Box
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
I last wrote a blog post in this series back in February 2022. Then for various reasons, I stopped. Possibly because my relationship with TV has changed in recent years. It’s fair to say at present that viewers are spoilt for choice. There are lots of very good shows around. Conversely, there is also a lot of bland, generic, filler as well. I appreciate that not every television series has to be an industry milestone and there are times when I’m content to watch undemanding content. However, I am very protective of how I spend my leisure time at present. I am not prepared to sink 6 or 8 hours into a show that is just “okay”. Hence I’m becoming very particular about what I watch. If something isn’t working for me in any fashion then I just abandon it and am happy to do so.
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
I last wrote a blog post in this series back in February 2022. Then for various reasons, I stopped. Possibly because my relationship with TV has changed in recent years. It’s fair to say at present that viewers are spoilt for choice. There are lots of very good shows around. Conversely, there is also a lot of bland, generic, filler as well. I appreciate that not every television series has to be an industry milestone and there are times when I’m content to watch undemanding content. However, I am very protective of how I spend my leisure time at present. I am not prepared to sink 6 or 8 hours into a show that is just “okay”. Hence I’m becoming very particular about what I watch. If something isn’t working for me in any fashion then I just abandon it and am happy to do so.
NCIS: Origins. The first season of this prequel to NCIS has been a proverbial breath of fresh air. Where NCIS has become a cartoonish caricature of itself, NCIS: Origins is the polar opposite. The characters are well defined, plausible and interesting. The cast is good and the stories are centred around everyday cases, rather than hyperbolic “let’s save the world” scenarios. It really is a case of less is more. Mercifully, CBS have had the sense to renew the show for a second season. As for NCIS, it continues its slow decline, as it gradually morphs from a military police procedural drama into something akin to Murder She Wrote.
Teacup. Loosely based upon the novel Stinger by Robert R. McCammon, Teacup centres around a group of neighbours in rural Georgia who are trapped on a farm and forced to confront a mysterious and deadly threat. As they struggle to survive, they must overcome rising tensions and uncover the truth behind the strange occurrences. Teacup has a strong start and then continues the pace over its subsequent 8 episodes. The shorter 30 minute episode format works to the show’s advantage. There are some solid jump scares and a fair amount of gore. I like the idea of a horror film turned into an episodic TV show but commissioning network Peacock obviously didn’t and cancelled the show.
Dept. Q. Every now and then, someone makes a police procedural drama which takes a different approach to the genre. Based on a series of books by Danish writer Jussi Adler-Olsen, Dept. Q relocates the stories from Copenhagen to Edinburgh. Detective Chief Inspector Carl Morck (Matthew Goode), a disliked but talented detective, returns to police work after being shot and is given a cold case unit to run. It is naturally a “poison chalice”, set up for political reasons. He is assisted by enigmatic, civilian employee Akram (Alexej Manvelov) who may have worked for the Syrian Police prior to moving to Scotland. This nine part Netflix drama is well written, with an involving plot and compelling characters. It doesn’t pull its punches and the language is ripe. Its inherent differences to standard genre fodder is what makes it such good viewing. Akram is also one of the most enigmatic characters I’ve seen in a drama for a while.
Bookish. Set in London after WWII, Bookish is a beautiful distillation of the classic detective and whodunnit genres. Blending Sherlock Holmes, Poirot and Miss Marple (and much more) Bookish is written and stars Mark Gatiss. In lesser hands this could have ended up a rather self congratulatory fan service but, here it is a multifaceted drama that blends the cosy, with the classic detective tropes. It also alludes to wider social commentary, with the lead character, Gabriel Book, being in "lavender marriage” with his wife Trottie. Beautifully shot in both the UK and Belgium and sporting an interesting modern take on period music, Bookish has all the hallmarks of a genuine hit show.
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. I am very pleased to see this iteration of Star Trek return for a third season. It’s nearly been two years since the last episode was broadcast. Despite being set in a time period where large swathes of the existing, canonical lore can potentially hem the show in, it still manages to innovate and expand in a very creative way. Furthermore it does this without crossing too many lines with its retconning. There are several standout characters, especially Doctor M’Benga, played by the superb Babs Olusanmokun. I am also happy with the return of classic crew members such as Spock and Scotty and the opportunity to explore their past more. I feel this show totally eclipsed Star Trek: Discovery, from which it was a spinoff. I look forward to watching the remainder of the season.
The Idiot Box
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits
Last November, CBS chose not to make season 4 of Star Trek Discovery available on Netflix. Netflix has been the home of this show outside of the US, for the past four years. This is due to Paramount + being launched in Europe sometime in 2022 and CBS wants to keep such a popular franchise on their own streaming platform. Naturally fans were unhappy. Then to add insult to injury CBS pulled all prior seasons of Star Trek Discovery from Netflix. However, due to the negative feedback, a last minute deal was made with Pluto TV; a streaming service which offers 110+ live TV channels on its UK platform and hundreds of on-demand films and TV episodes. It’s a free service supported by adverts and it lacks the polish and presentation of Netflix. I don’t consider it an optimal way to watch a show such as Star Trek Discovery. This is a timely reminder how licensed content can “vanish” from your platform of choice.
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits
Last November, CBS chose not to make season 4 of Star Trek Discovery available on Netflix. Netflix has been the home of this show outside of the US, for the past four years. This is due to Paramount + being launched in Europe sometime in 2022 and CBS wants to keep such a popular franchise on their own streaming platform. Naturally fans were unhappy. Then to add insult to injury CBS pulled all prior seasons of Star Trek Discovery from Netflix. However, due to the negative feedback, a last minute deal was made with Pluto TV; a streaming service which offers 110+ live TV channels on its UK platform and hundreds of on-demand films and TV episodes. It’s a free service supported by adverts and it lacks the polish and presentation of Netflix. I don’t consider it an optimal way to watch a show such as Star Trek Discovery. This is a timely reminder how licensed content can “vanish” from your platform of choice.
So much for what I haven’t been watching. Here’s a summary of the shows that I have managed to watch in the last three months.
Stay Close is a British mystery drama miniseries based on the 2012 novel by Harlan Coben. The story has been relocated from the US to the UK and I was quite surprised how well this change works. Megan Pierce (Cush Jumbo) is a suburban mum living in the suburb, harbouring a secret. Michael Broome (James Nesbitt) is a detective still haunted by a cold case from seventeen years ago. Their paths cross when a new missing person's case impacts upon both their pasts. Stay Close is involving, convoluted and entertaining although I doubt real life crime is ever this complex.
Four Lives. This three part drama follows the true story of the families of four young gay men. Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth and Jack Taylor were murdered by Stephen Port between in 2014 and 2015. There deaths were not initially treated as murders or connected and the police investigation was a litany of incompetence and institutional prejudice. Sheridan Smith stars as Sarah Sak, the mother of Anthony Walgate who campaigned tirelessly to get justice for her son. There’s also a compelling performance by comedian and writer Stephen Merchant as the killer Stephen Port.
Universe. Professor Brian Cox tries to make the complexities of the universe accessible to the general public in this four part series. It treads a difficult path, trying to make the impenetrable and at times abstract science understandable to the layman. It takes time to dwell on the majesty of the universe but in doing so comes across as ponderous at times. Perhaps a shorter running time for each episode would have helped. It’s always a pleasure to see the BBC producing science content but this worthy show does fall between two stools.
After Life. Season 3 of Ricky Gervais’s black comedy drama was a necessary codicil to the story arc. There was a need for closure regarding the fate of specific characters such as Postman Pat (Joe Wilkinson) and Kath (Diane Morgan). I personally still found it funny and applaud the realities of life that Gervais does not shy away from. I believe it played better with viewers than it did with the critics who seem at times too focused on analysis, context and intent rather than just experiencing the show.
Reacher. I’ve not read any of the Jack Reacher books but was aware that a lot of fans were not happy with the casting of Tom Cruise in the two feature films. This eight part television adaptation of the first Jack Reacher novel, Killing Floor, does exactly what it’s supposed to. Ex-Military Policemen, Jack Racher, visits the town of Margrave, Georgia, and becomes embroiled in a murderous conspiracy by a gang of counterfeiters. Reacher is deadpan, the dialogue is hard boiled and the action scenes are gritty. Alan Ritchson looks the part and is very likeable. The show doesn’t reinvent the wheel but delivers on its promise. It’s all very binge watchable, which is what everyone I know who’s watched it has done. I’d happily watch another season.
The Idiot Box
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
The last instalment of The Idiot Box was back in March. Since then Mrs P and I have watched several new shows and tried to diversify our viewing. She has had better luck than I. The issue for me is one of narrative complexity and genre saturation. Some popular shows are very straightforward in both their structure and their intellectual scope. A great deal of “police procedurals” fall into this category. The weekly stories essentially come down to “who is the murderer” with a side helping of the protagonist's ongoing “personal life”. I am currently watching the latest season of NCIS and it struck me how little credible investigative work the team now does. In the last episode that I watched, one of the central character’s mother-in-law was witness to a murder on a cruise ship. The plot was contrived, convoluted and more like that of a soap opera. Such content can be fun but it’s somewhat unsatisfying if viewed to excess.
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
The last instalment of The Idiot Box was back in March. Since then Mrs P and I have watched several new shows and tried to diversify our viewing. She has had better luck than I. The issue for me is one of narrative complexity and genre saturation. Some popular shows are very straightforward in both their structure and their intellectual scope. A great deal of “police procedurals” fall into this category. The weekly stories essentially come down to “who is the murderer” with a side helping of the protagonist's ongoing “personal life”. I am currently watching the latest season of NCIS and it struck me how little credible investigative work the team now does. In the last episode that I watched, one of the central character’s mother-in-law was witness to a murder on a cruise ship. The plot was contrived, convoluted and more like that of a soap opera. Such content can be fun but it’s somewhat unsatisfying if viewed to excess.
And at the other end of the spectrum we have shows that revel in their adult themes and mature content. The Alienist falls into this category. For those unfamiliar with this drama it is set in the late 19th century in New York. Newly appointed police commissioner Teddy Roosevelt calls upon Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Bruhl), a criminal psychiatrist, and John Moore (Luke Evans), a newspaper illustrator, to conduct a secret investigation into a child prostitute serial killer. Joining them in the probe is Sara Howard, Roosevelt's headstrong secretary (Dakota Fanning). It is superbly written, with a solid cast and great production values. The stories are very interesting due to the historical setting and the emerging science, technology and social changes. But due to the nature of the investigation, the story explores poverty, sexual abuse and other human failings. Hence it is very bleak and a little bit squalid. Although thought provoking and dramatic, it is a challenging watch.
All of which raises the question, where are the shows that fall between these two extremes? Well they are out there. You just have to do quite a bit of searching and be prepared to try a variety of content on the understanding that you may not like it and end up abandoning it. I also think that a lot of UK and European TV shows occupy this middle ground due to budget and audience demographics. UK “police procedurals” tend to be a lot less hyperbolic and frenetic, compared to their US counterparts. The focus is far more on narrative depth to compensate for other potential constraints upon the production.
All things considered, I did manage to find some interesting new shows to watch. Some are quite cerebral and a couple I would categorise as the viewing equivalent of comfort eating. Here is a brief summary of what I’ve been watching since Easter to the present.
The Equalizer: This reboot of the eighties TV show is more akin to the two recent movies, than the original source material. It is in many ways utterly preposterous, with its flamboyant hero Robyn McCall (Queen Latifah) using her ex-CIA experience to right wrongs, along with her convenient team of skilled helpers. The show is certainly not afraid of addressing social issues and the realities of being an African-American. Yet it is quite sincere, easy entertainment, carried by the personality of its lead actor.
Clarice: This was a very interesting tangential sequel to The Silence of the Lambs, in which the subsequent career of Clarice Starling was explored. Starling, who is struggling to come to terms with her encounter with Buffalo Bill, finds herself part of a new Federal Taskforce that specialises in dealing with violent criminals. A subsequent investigation uncovers a high level conspiracy in which a major pharmaceutical corporation is committing murders under the pretence that they’re the work of a serial killer. This was a clever show with some interesting socio-political points to make. Sadly it was not renewed for a second season.
Unforgotten Season 4: There is obviously a great deal of mental and emotional strain involved in investigating murders, especially “cold cases”. Unforgotten depicts this intelligently and honestly. Season 4 had another harrowing story arc, outstanding performances and a hard hitting ending. Police work is not databases, car chases and eleventh hour psychological interrogations and last minute confessions. It’s foot work, lateral thinking and compassion. Unforgotten has all these in spades.
Debris: This was one of the smartest science fiction TV shows to come along for a while. It worked best when it’s internal lore was vague; the moment you clarify things it can undermine some of the inherent mystery. Sadly, this intriguing concept by J. H. Wyman (Fringe) about debris from an alien vessel and its strange powers, was cancelled, once again due to the TV network not understanding and having any faith in the show. The same thing happened with Wyman’s previous TV series, Almost Human.
The War: The military and tactical aspects of World War II has been thoroughly explored over the years, with The World at War possibly being the definitive TV documentary. Ken Burns’ takes a different approach examining events from the perspective of four US towns and how WWII impacted upon their economy, lives and world view. It is the personal stories of soldiers and their families that make this show so interesting. The recollections of Daniel Inouye (who won the Medal of Honor and went on to be a US Senator) are particularly poignant and stand out.
Endeavour: Season 8 appears to be the last in this prequel series to Inspector Morse. Morse is dangerously close to becoming an alcoholic and destroying his career. Fred Thursday’s son goes AWOL in Northern Ireland causing domestic strife. Oxford continues to have complicated murders and showrunner Russel Lewis still litters his scripts with niche market pop culture references, which are a delight. After three episodes the season reaches a definitive crossroads clearly linking one show with the other. It’s been a tremendous journey but all things must end.
Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol: This TV show plays out just like the three big screen adaptations of Dan Brown’s other books. There’s lots of frenetic running between historic locations and pseudo-academia flying about to solve arcane clues. Ashley Zukerman plays a young Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks in the movies). It’s all a bit silly but if you want entertainment that isn’t too taxing, it’s a pleasant enough way to spend 42 minutes.
The Idiot Box
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
Things have not returned to normal here in the UK. The first lockdown ended last July but restrictions remained in place. Then we had lockdown 2.0 in November and are currently enduring a third which started in December. Hence I have watched a great deal more TV than usual and not at the expense of any other leisure activity. Mrs P even went so far as to catch up with 11 seasons of NCIS: Los Angeles. A prodigious feat. As ever there is a great deal of quality TV available to choose from. Thankfully, I am now perfectly comfortable in abandoning any show that doesn't keep me engaged. Hence what I’ve listed are shows that I’ve enjoyed and found entertaining. Furthermore, the extra viewing time I’ve had available has also allowed me to give a few shows a second chance.
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
Things have not returned to normal here in the UK. The first lockdown ended last July but restrictions remained in place. Then we had lockdown 2.0 in November and are currently enduring a third which started in December. Hence I have watched a great deal more TV than usual and not at the expense of any other leisure activity. Mrs P even went so far as to catch up with 11 seasons of NCIS: Los Angeles. A prodigious feat. As ever there is a great deal of quality TV available to choose from. Thankfully, I am now perfectly comfortable in abandoning any show that doesn't keep me engaged. Hence what I’ve listed are shows that I’ve enjoyed and found entertaining. Furthermore, the extra viewing time I’ve had available has also allowed me to give a few shows a second chance.
Evil: I briefly touched on this show in September 2019. I watched the first episode which I found intriguing but then waited too long to continue and so it got kicked into the proverbial long grass. However, we resumed watching the show and found it to be quirky, different, genuinely unsettling and absorbing. It touches on many contemporary social concerns such as social media, “incels” and spree killings. All viewed through the prism of an investigative team that works for the Catholic Church. It’s also great to see Michael Emerson playing a bad guy once again.
Des: This drama about the UK serial killer Dennis Nilsen, based on Killing for Company by Brian Masters, eschews the graphic and the grisly, choosing to focus on character and dialogue. The lead performances by David Tennant as Dennis Nilsen, Daniel Mays as Detective Chief Inspector Peter Jay and Jason Watkins as biographer Brian Masters are exemplary. This is another TV show that highlights the administrative nature of old school detective work and the time involved in conducting interviews. There are some interesting facts regarding a political dimension that was brought to bear upon the case, when a foreign national was killed. Des is compelling viewing especially when Tennant quietly recounts his abhorrent crimes and motives.
The Haunting of Bly Manor: I think a lot of people were expecting a comparable experience to The Haunting of Hill House and were therefore somewhat nonplussed by the pace and scope of The Haunting of Bly Manor. Essentially a modern retelling of The Turn of the Screw by Henry James, this character driven drama focuses more upon the uncanny, rather than jumps cares. Set in England during the 1980s the story follows a young American governess who moves into a stately home to care for two orphaned children. The ensemble cast deliver a slow burn, dialogue driven drama which makes a few concessions to modern sensibilities and social politics. I enjoyed its leisurely pace and delighted in the characters but not everyone felt the same way.
Ghosts: I am not a major fan of sitcoms anymore as I believe they have had their heyday (which is a blog post in itself). However, I’ve made an exception with Ghosts as it manages to achieve many things. Not only is it gently funny, it is also genuinely touching at times and handles pathos with maturity. The story centres around a young couple, Alison and Mike Cooper, who inherit a dilapidated property from a distant relative. Alison soon discovers that only she can see the ghostly former residents and hence finds herself as a go-between. It is greater than the sum of its parts, which on paper seem very formulaic, and it’s all very British (in the nicest possible way). Simon Farnaby is especially good as deceased Conservative MP Julian Fawcett. Destined to forever walk the earth without trousers as he died during a sex scandal.
The Crown Season 4: The longer The Crown runs, the more it drops the pretense that it’s docudrama and in fact just a big budget soap opera. Season 4 was especially relevant to me and Mrs P as it covered a period of history that we lived through as adults and have vivid memories of. Covering the election of Margaret Thatcher in 1979 to the end of her Prime Ministership in 1990, The Crown focuses upon her relationship with the Queen and also revels in the tumultuous marriage between Prince Charles and Diana Spencer. It’s all very glossy, stylised and at times melodramatic. If you want historical authority and accuracy, look elsewhere. If your after entertainment and eighties nostalgia, then The Crown Season 4 has it in spades.
TV To Do List:
Star Trek: Discovery Season 3: Frankly, the departure of Captain Pike and Spock from this iteration of Star Trek, greatly diminished my interest in the show. There are some great characters that help sustain my interest, such as Saru and Georgiou, but frankly Michael Burnham is exceedingly wearing. There’s a fine line between passionate and self indulgent and sadly the Discovery’s First Officer is on the wrong side of it. I’ve always liked the strong sense of equality and the tackling of social issues that is inherent in the Trek franchise but it’s becoming so contrived in ST:D that it’s almost becoming a caricature of itself. Star Trek? More like Hug Trek. However, there are still some good ideas to keep me engaged with the remaining 8 episodes I need to watch, plus David Cronenberg turning up in a rare acting role was a welcome surprise.
The Prisoner: There is a growing consensus that this classic TV show from the sixties has become relevant again. Something about how both sides of the tedious but ongoing culture war are fostering a “group think” mentality at the expense of the individual. Irrespective of whether that is the case or not, this is still a great show that makes you think. McGoohan pounds tables and declares he’s a “free man” etc. Superb score as well. The newly remastered prints also look damn good.
The Idiot Box
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
The last instalment of The Idiot Box was back in February, just before the lockdown started here in the UK. Since then, like so many people, my leisure time has increased dramatically due to being confined at home and the constraints placed upon my real world activities. Hence our household has watched a lot more TV than usual as a means of occupying ourselves. In some respects this has been a boon, being presented with an opportunity to catch up with our viewing. All those miscellaneous programmes that you record on your DVR “for some particular reason” and swear blind that “you’ll get round to watching”, have finally been cleared. I’ve also started working my way through my “to do” list of movies and TV shows that I’m supposed to be reviewing. But there have also been some curious downsides as a result of the quarantine restrictions.
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
The last instalment of The Idiot Box was back in February, just before the lockdown started here in the UK. Since then, like so many people, my leisure time has increased dramatically due to being confined at home and the constraints placed upon my real world activities. Hence our household has watched a lot more TV than usual as a means of occupying ourselves. In some respects this has been a boon, being presented with an opportunity to catch up with our viewing. All those miscellaneous programmes that you record on your DVR “for some particular reason” and swear blind that “you’ll get round to watching”, have finally been cleared. I’ve also started working my way through my “to do” list of movies and TV shows that I’m supposed to be reviewing. But there have also been some curious downsides as a result of the quarantine restrictions.
Many of the ongoing TV shows that were approaching the end of their seasons in March and April, ended somewhat prematurely. NCIS usually finishes on a cliffhanger or features a story arc that will be continued in Autumn. That did not happen this time round. In fact many shows were two or three episodes short of a full season. Apparently the lockdown impacted upon post production and some episodes could not be completed. As mass gatherings have been prohibited, many TV (and radio) shows have not been recorded in front of “live audiences”. This does have an impact. Take for example the popular UK satirical news panel show, Have I Got News For You. This usually is recorded in a studio in front of several hundred people. This season the panel members interacted via videoconferencing (and the show was edited using Final Cut Pro X). The quality of material was just as good as usual but the lack of audience laughter altered the dynamic of the show. It oddly seemed less funny, which upon reflection wasn’t the case.
As I’m not a sports enthusiast, its conspicuous absence from TV has not been an issue. But I do appreciate that this is a major source of entertainment for many people and hence a major inconvenience. I cannot say for certain whether repeating classic content has been an adequate substitute or not but from those I have spoken with it has been a lacklustre replacement. Another issue stemming from the lockdown is the closure of ongoing TV and film productions. There’s a good chance that many eagerly awaited TV shows will not be ready on time and we have already seen the release date of numerous high profile movies postponed. Subsequently, there’s a real chance that there may be a shortage of new content on many of the major streaming services in Autumn. As for cinemas reopening, irrespective of whether this happens sooner or later, it will take a lot to convince me that it is safe to return to these air conditioned germ incubators.
In times of crisis, there are always winners and losers. Streaming TV subscription services have certainly been in the former group over the last four months. I already subscribe to Netflix and Amazon Prime which offers a broad range of material but with the increase in leisure time I decided to try a few others. My son has access to Disney+ so I got to check out what it has on offer recently. I can see why he has it, having twin five year old daughters who have totally bought into the “Disney Princess” concept. However, as I’m done with the MCU and my love affair with Star Wars is rapidly waning (apart for The Mandalorian), there’s not much for me or Mrs P. I also don’t care for the way that some films have been “tinkered” with to make them more family friendly, such as the adding of digital hair to hide Daryl Hannah’s minor nudity in Splash. And the withdrawal of the 30 day free trial just prior to the release of Hamilton on the platform was hardly good PR.
However BritBox has proven to be far more beneficial. If you like in depth and character driven dramas such as Broadchurch, Unforgotten and Call the Midwife then there’s plenty of such content. There’s also a wealth of classic British sitcoms and a good selection of classic movies. The main selling point for me is the extensive collection of Doctor Who episodes spanning all incarnations of the timelord. This has given me a great opportunity to re-evaluate material I previously watched when I was 5 years old and has proven quite a revelation. The other major selling point of BritBox is that they’ve recently added most of Gerry Anderson’s Supermarionation shows, so I’ve been revisiting Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet yet again. I suspect that once the free 30 day trial has expired I shall continue subscribing for the immediate future.
So has there been any standout viewing in the Peril household over the last 4 months? Yes there has. Mrs P is a very social creature (yes that’s very ironic considering my temperament) and has found the lockdown very frustrating as it has curtailed her regular meetings with friends. However, one particular show which she binged watched (twice) on Netflix and found great enjoyment in is Schitt's Creek. She feels it takes a couple of episodes for the show to hit its stride but when it does the characters come to life and it is both equally touching and extremely funny. I’ll vouch for the fact then while she’s been watching it, you can hear constant uproarious laughter. For myself, my highlight of lockdown viewing has been Nebula-75 which is produced by a 3 man crew in self isolation. It’s available on YouTube. However, I shall dedicate a future blog post to this creative endeavour.
The Idiot Box
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
The last instalment of Idiot Box was back in September 2019. Despite the Christmas holidays and being very busy in general, I have managed to watch some good TV shows over the last five month. As ever, there has been plenty of quality material to choose from and I still have an ever growing “watchlist” for all the content I cannot currently accommodate. It is interesting to note that most of the shows I watch are via streaming services. Out of the various titles I discuss in this post, only one was viewed via digital terrestrial network television. Furthermore, we started watching an hour after the broadcast commenced, so that we could bypass the commercial breaks. Watching anything in this fashion is my least favourite means of viewing television and because it happens so infrequently, it is quite jarring when it occurs.
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
The last instalment of Idiot Box was back in September 2019. Despite the Christmas holidays and being very busy in general, I have managed to watch some good TV shows over the last five month. As ever, there has been plenty of quality material to choose from and I still have an ever growing “watchlist” for all the content I cannot currently accommodate. It is interesting to note that most of the shows I watch are via streaming services. Out of the various titles I discuss in this post, only one was viewed via digital terrestrial network television. Furthermore, we started watching an hour after the broadcast commenced, so that we could bypass the commercial breaks. Watching anything in this fashion is my least favourite means of viewing television and because it happens so infrequently, it is quite jarring when it occurs.
The Crown: The third season of this prestigious Netflix show covers historical events from 1964 to 1977 and the role the UK Monarchy had to play in them. These begin with Harold Wilson's election as prime minister and ending with the Queens Silver Jubilee. The Aberfan disaster was a standout episode and explored how the precedence of Royal visits in such situations, was established. There was a greater focus on Prince Charles and family interferences in both his investiture as Prince of Wales and his personal relationship with Camila Shand. The change of cast to more mature actors was seamless and the standard of writing remained high and insightful. I find myself oddly invested in this show mainly because it covers a period of time during which I was growing up. Many of the historical events that are depicted, I was aware of as a child but had little interest or understanding of their significance. To see them in a wider context now is most illuminating.
The Witcher: My initial point of contact with this franchise was via their video game adaptations. However as television is an entirely different medium, I adjusted my expectations accordingly. Broadly I enjoyed the first season of The Witcher, although I was initially confused by its non-linear timeline. The character development was more in depth than I was expecting and rather than being given swathes of exposition about the “Continent” and its history and customs, the viewer was simply exposed to elements of these as the story unfolded. There was a lot of sexual content in the show but it is entirely relevant to the proceedings. Witchcraft is often entwined with human sexuality and free from the restrictive dogma of traditional religions. By the last episode I was left with my interests piqued and clearly wanting more. And as for casting Henry Cavill, it worked out fine as far as I’m concerned.
COBRA: This UK set drama proved to be far better than the sum of its parts. The initial premise set out in the first episode appeared to frame the narrative as a disaster story with borderline science fiction elements (the calamity afflicting the UK in the story being a solar storm). However, it quickly changed into a political thriller about civil unrest brought about by power outages. It touched upon many “hot topics” such as migrant detentions, anti-establishment sentiments and the economic and social divide between London and other parts of the UK. It was odd and vaguely compelling to see Robert Carlyle as a Conservative Prime Minister and David Haig was excellent as duplicitous and scheming Home Secretary. There were also some rather good low key CGI visual effects that worked very well. As I said, it was all unexpectedly entertaining.
Star Trek Picard: Star Trek has always reflected the world in which we live. During the sixties TOS channeled many optimistic, inclusive and progressive narratives which were still prevalent in the post Kennedy years. TNG was broadcast while such events as the fall of The Berlin Wall took place. Thus the show often explored concepts of reunification and forging uneasy truces. For me, what I like about STP is not only the central character, who is still multifaceted and engaging but the bold storyline in which the Federation has lost it ways due to an excess of “politics”. It is a world weary show, where social contracts have failed and the future has lost its utopian status. It isn’t to everyone's taste and it is clear that a lot of people just wanted more TNG in an identical idiom. However, that is not what Patrick Stewart wanted to do, so that is not what they got. I like it and am interested to see where it goes and whether any optimism will manifest itself.
Endeavour: The latest season of Endeavour sees the arrival of the seventies and a serial murderer prowling the towpath of the local canal. Is this one brutal muder to many for DI Fred Thursday? The cumulative effect of investigating violent crime seems to be taking its toll and also causing division between Thursday and Morse. Season seven covers a lot of ground in just three episodes and strays into rather bleak and unhappy territory, especially for Chief Inspector Bright. As ever, it is smart with lots of pop culture references and superb performances. I suspect that next year’s season will be the last of this period police drama.
Unforgotten: Because Endeavour came and went so quickly, Mrs P and I decided to revisit the first series of Unforgotten. We subsequently watched all available seasons and eagerly await the series four which is currently being filmed. What make’s this show so different from others is that the actual solving of the crime is only half of the narrative. The other 50% of the story is the “emotional splash damage” and “fallout” caused by investigating these cold cases. The level of technical accuracy in depicting real policing is outstanding and the acting is always top drawer. The central characters of Detectives Cassie Stuart and Sunil "Sunny" Khan (played by Nichola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar) are both credible and likeable. Over 18 episodes we get an insight into their very normal personal lives and an understanding of the emotional stress that solving historical cases causes to all involved. Often the subjects explored are incredibly sad and disturbing but the writing is so measured and intelligent that events never spills into melodrama, nor denigrate the difficult subjects.
As an addendum to this post, we abandoned a couple of shows that we were watching previously. We stopped watching Instinct as it really didn’t have anything new to say. I suspect that is why it was cancelled by the network. We also stopped viewing Evil, mainly because of time constraints. We may return to it later on in the year. I decided not to proceed with season 2 of Project Blue Book. Despite a good cast and fine production values, the show just seemed to be retreading familiar ground and not offering anything different within the confines of the “alien conspiracy” sub genre. Time is always precious therefore I strongly advocate dispensing with shows you’re not enjoying.
The Idiot Box
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
In August Elementary finally came to an end after seven years. The last season spanned a tighter than usual 13 episodes and introduced a new and very contemporary archnemesis; tech giant Odin Reichenbach (James Frain). Although it can be argued that the story arc was very formulaic, it also drew upon many elements of Conan Doyle’s original stories. Holmes realises that he may have to sacrifice himself to take down a foe and protect those nearest to him. Then there is the issues of his “death”. For many viewers such as myself, the final season wasn’t so much about a clever narrative but simply seeing what happened to all the major cast members. Broadly, it was all very satisfactory. Spoiler Alert. Captain Gregson retired and Marcus remained at the NYPD instead of taking his position with the US Marshal service. Joan finally adopted a child and Morland was killed while trying to broker one of his high-level deals. All story lines were brought to a neat and acceptable end. Furthermore the door was clearly left open for a future revival of the show if required.
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
In August Elementary finally came to an end after seven years. The last season spanned a tighter than usual 13 episodes and introduced a new and very contemporary archnemesis; tech giant Odin Reichenbach (James Frain). Although it can be argued that the story arc was very formulaic, it also drew upon many elements of Conan Doyle’s original stories. Holmes realises that he may have to sacrifice himself to take down a foe and protect those nearest to him. Then there is the issues of his “death”. For many viewers such as myself, the final season wasn’t so much about a clever narrative but simply seeing what happened to all the major cast members. Broadly, it was all very satisfactory. Spoiler Alert. Captain Gregson retired and Marcus remained at the NYPD instead of taking his position with the US Marshal service. Joan finally adopted a child and Morland was killed while trying to broker one of his high-level deals. All story lines were brought to a neat and acceptable end. Furthermore the door was clearly left open for a future revival of the show if required.
Mindhunter Season 2 has proved to be an improvement over the first series. The focus has moved away from FBI Special Agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and now Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) and Professor Wendy Carr (Anna Torv) have been given more scope to develop. Bill’s young son was inadvertently involved in the killing of another child which has put his marriage under a lot of strain. Wendy continues to navigate the male dominated corridors of power and struggles with her own closeted sexuality. As with the first season the interviews with the various serial killers prove absolutely hair raising, with much of the dialogue coming from original FBI transcripts. Season 2 also benefitted from a continuous story arc exploring the Atlanta child murders. It was both harrowing and depressing to see countless children’s deaths ignored by the authorities due to entrenched racism and the way in which politics and business colluded to sweep matters under the carpet once a potential culprit was found.
Although there has been plenty to watch over the last four months since I last wrote an instalment of The Idiot Box, I am getting a little tired at the way that successful genres quickly become popular band wagons. After years of the fantasy genre being underrepresented, we now find a glut of such material. I was briefly interested in Carnival Row as I initially thought it was simply going to be a period set, police procedural like Ripper Street. But then it became clear that it was just another “fantasy” based drama with little originality. I’m also completely over anything about superheroes, so have given The Boys a wide berth, despite it getting good reviews. The basic premise is just so uninspiring. However, I am looking forward to Star Trek: Picard when it’s released in early 2020 because it is part of a long-established franchise. I’m curiously optimistic about The Witcher series which looks more promising than expected.
Here’s a summary of what else I’ve been watching:
Dead Pixels. A UK sitcom about a fictitious MMORPG called Kingdom Scrolls and an eclectic group of players. After years of perpetuating stereotypes about gamers, Dead Pixels is possibly the first major comedy that successfully captures some of the quirky foibles of the gaming community. It’s funny and honest as it’s not afraid to show some of the less positive attributes associated with gamers.
The Shining (1997). A two-part miniseries directed by Mick Garris, that follows Stephen Kings source text a lot more closely than the Kubrick movie. It is functional and adequate but suffers from a low budget and some poor CGI. The grandeur of the 1980 version is lost. There’s a nice performance from Steven Weber who has a far more measured decent into insanity than Jack Nicholson. I enjoyed the cameo from Melvin Van Peebles as Dick Hallorann.
Chernobyl. This is an utterly compelling docudrama that just reeks of authenticity. The science is chilling, as is the myopic nature of the Soviet authorities’ response to the unfolding crisis. The performances are measured and the tone is tragic. However, it’s a difficult watch as it quickly becomes apparent that many of the cast have doomed themselves to a singularly unpleasant demise.
The Twilight Zone Season 5. I started watching the first season of The Twilight Zone April 2018 and over recent months have slowly worked my way through the entire back catalogue. The first three seasons certainly have the best episodes. Season 4 moved from a 25-minute format to 50 minutes and some of the stories cannot sustain that running time and are ponderous. Season 5 saw a return to the original duration but the stories are not so strong. Still, I am glad that I’ve taken the time to fully acquaint myself with this iconic show. It may be a cliché but this was ahead of its time and although various other shows have tried to replicate its success, few have succeeded.
The Terror: Infamy. The first season of The Terror was the big television surprise of 2018. A curious blend of fact, historical conjecture and mysticism. It was a delightful slow burn drama and a solid analysis of mental disintegration in adverse conditions. Season 2 is a radically different beast but no less fascinating. Set during the internment of Japanese Americans citizens during World War II, this is another measured foray into horror. The ghost story being told is relatively straight forward but it is the cultural trappings that make it quite different and compelling. Plus its always a pleasure to see George Takei in anything.
Instinct. I was most surprised this show got a second season. It’s a curious hybrid of police procedural, forensic psychology with Alan Cumming starring as Dr. Dylan Reinhart; an author, university professor and former CIA operative who now consults for the NYPD. The show also focuses on Reinhart’s relationship with his husband Andy (Daniel Ings), a lawyer-turned-bar owner who still uses his law skills to help their mutual friends when needed. It’s all somewhat contrived and tries to cover a little too much ground but I watch it mainly because of Cummings, who holds it all together and sports some wonderfully flamboyant suits.
TV To Do List:
Evil. I stumbled across this show while looking for reviews of another. The plot sounded intriguing; a sceptical forensic psychologist allies with a priest and a contractor to investigate purported supernatural incidents. So I’ve decided to give it a go. Robert and Michelle King who created the show have an established pedigree with titles such as The Good Wife and The good Fight. And I'm a sucker for anything with Michael Emerson in. So let’s see how it pans out.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. I really want to catch up with this show. The Dark Crystal is a grossly underrated movie. The sort of experimental film making that thrived briefly during the post Star Wars period. Plus anything with puppets and animatronics caters to my tastes. I suspect I’ll binge this show over a couple of nights in October.
The Idiot Box
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
Our Planet is the first major wildlife documentary to be made by Netflix. Presented and narrated by David Attenborough the series is produced by Silverback Films, who also created BBC documentary series Planet Earth, Frozen Planet and The Blue Planet. As you would expect with such outstanding credentials, Our Planet is a visually impressive, thought provoking exploration of our world’s respective ecosystems and a damning indictment of how we as a species are causing immense damage. If you watch this show and are still in denial afterwards about climate change, then “you need your bumps felt”. The show doesn’t shy away from showing the reality of nature. Something that some viewers struggle to come to terms, due to the ongoing infantilization of our relationship with pets and wild life. Netflix went so far as to produce a list of scenes to skip for the feint hearted. However, the sight of the Walruses plummeting to their death from a cliff was genuinely shocking. However given the nature of the show and its underlying message, this was totally justified.
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
Our Planet is the first major wildlife documentary to be made by Netflix. Presented and narrated by David Attenborough the series is produced by Silverback Films, who also created BBC documentary series Planet Earth, Frozen Planet and The Blue Planet. As you would expect with such outstanding credentials, Our Planet is a visually impressive, thought provoking exploration of our world’s respective ecosystems and a damning indictment of how we as a species are causing immense damage. If you watch this show and are still in denial afterwards about climate change, then “you need your bumps felt”. The show doesn’t shy away from showing the reality of nature. Something that some viewers struggle to come to terms, due to the ongoing infantilization of our relationship with pets and wild life. Netflix went so far as to produce a list of scenes to skip for the feint hearted. However, the sight of the Walruses plummeting to their death from a cliff was genuinely shocking. However given the nature of the show and its underlying message, this was totally justified.
I recently managed to catch up with Elementary Season 6 as I somehow fell behind in my viewing of this show. Elementary continues to maintain its high standard with regard to odd and off kilter cases. Many of Holmes and Watson’s investigations have parallels with contemporary news stories. The robotic sex doll with it’s always listening AI, was a wry exploration of current technology versus privacy fears. The show also continues to sensitively explore the nature of addiction and has story threads regarding adoption and Alzheimer’s. But the foundation of this show is the relationship between Holmes (Johnny Lee Miller) and Watson (Lucy Lui) and their platonic love for each other. The denouement of the season saw the pair relocating to London, although I suspect that the show will contrive a reason to return to New York. With Season 7 due to on 23rd May, it will be interesting to see if this is the final season. There is already the possibility of Detective Bell (Jon Michael Hill) taking a job with the US Marshalls service. Will Holmes also repair his relationship with Captain Gregson (Aidan Quinn). I look forward to watching more of this quirky variation on the police procedural.
Here’s a summary of what else I’ve been watching:
I finally got around to watching the 2004 version of Salem’s Lot. Made by TNT this two-part miniseries broadly mirrors the 1979 adaptation but updates the proceeding to current times and adds several contemporary themes and interpretations of events. I was led to believe that this version of Stephen King’s weighty novel was a disaster, but it certainly wasn’t as bad as that. Rob Lowe is relatively sympathetic as traumatised novelist Ben Mears. There are some good soliloquys about the iniquities of small towns and their hidden depth. Sadly, Rutger Hauer is not given a lot to do as the Master Vampire Kurt Barlow and is subsequently not really a threat. It’s also a somewhat restrained affair, with the production going for jump scares, rather than graphic violence. Overall, I found this a mildly engaging curiosity. However Tobe Hooper’s adaptation remains the one to beat.
As for my planned viewing during the month of March, the docudrama Chernobyl appears to be very interesting. This authentic account of the 1986 disaster addresses not only the technical causes of the reactor fire, but the long-term health and environmental ramifications for the region. It also delves into the political machinations of the Soviet Union as they first struggle to accept the magnitude of the crisis and then falter over managing the political consequences of the situation. Bolstered by a cast of quality character actors I suspect this will be most illuminating and enthralling.
Finally, I want to briefly mention the Japanese game show Takeshi’s Castle. I won’t get bogged down in a lengthy account of the show’s history, as I’m considering writing a much longer post on the matter. To summarise the show was first broadcast in Japan between 1986-90. In the early 2000’s other countries re-edited the content and condensed the hour-long show into a shorter thirty-minute format. Often humorous commentary was added. In the UK the show was shown on the Challenge TV channel and narration was supplied by actor and comedian, Craig Charles. Being regionalised to UK tastes, there was a lot of innuendo and double-entendres. Much of the banter and quips may not survive a PC sniff test these days. I used to watch this show with my son and enjoy it for what is was. I recently managed to “find” copies of all 120 episodes and now watch these late at night when I want some easy viewing to relax and unwind.
The Idiot Box
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
Broadly speaking I think season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery has been an improvement on season1, and I didn’t think that was a dog’s dinner. There were some very good ideas in the first series but it did stray a little too far canonically speaking in both some major and minor aspects of the production. The second season seems to be reining some of these issues in and I love the continuity the writers have shown with Captain Christopher Pike’s back story. There are times when the need to expedite the narrative comes at the expense of character development. For example it would have it would have been nice to have had an extra episode of two to get to know Airiam (Hannah Cheesman) a little better. It would have heightened the emotional impact of her death a little more. But this propensity to rush is hardly unique to Star Trek: Discovery. I am curious to see where the story is going as I like many other viewers suspect this may be an origin story for a major Federation nemesis. We shall have to see. I’m always cautious about plot devices that explain away an “enigma”. There is the risk that you rob it of its narrative potency.
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
Broadly speaking I think season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery has been an improvement on season1, and I didn’t think that was a dog’s dinner. There were some very good ideas in the first series but it did stray a little too far canonically speaking in both some major and minor aspects of the production. The second season seems to be reining some of these issues in and I love the continuity the writers have shown with Captain Christopher Pike’s back story. There are times when the need to expedite the narrative comes at the expense of character development. For example it would have it would have been nice to have had an extra episode of two to get to know Airiam (Hannah Cheesman) a little better. It would have heightened the emotional impact of her death a little more. But this propensity to rush is hardly unique to Star Trek: Discovery. I am curious to see where the story is going as I like many other viewers suspect this may be an origin story for a major Federation nemesis. We shall have to see. I’m always cautious about plot devices that explain away an “enigma”. There is the risk that you rob it of its narrative potency.
I recently had the opportunity to see the first two episodes in the latest revival of The Twilight Zone. The first instalment, The Comedian, was an interesting and well-intentioned exploration of the disposable nature of modern comedy and celebrity culture. Humour is a powerful tool and writer Alex Rubens (Rick and Morty, Key & Peele) focuses on the perennial choice of whether a successful exponent should punch up or down. However, this episode was 55 minutes long and couldn’t adequately fill that running time. With some judicious editing it could have achieved a lot more powerful. However the second story, Nightmare at 30,000 Feet, totally hit the mark, containing all the beats you’d expect from the show. This clever, contemporary re-working of the classic 1963-episode Nightmare at 20,000 Feet starring Bill Shatner, was tense, well written and had a double sting in the tail. There were also some very subtle visual homages to the original show. Overall, I think this is going to be a very modern interpretation of The Twilight Zone and show runner Jordan Peele is certainly not going to shy away from hot topics. For those already decrying this, I suggest they revisit the original five seasons of the show. Rod Serling was no stranger to taking on the big social issues of his time.
Here’s a summary of what else I’ve been watching:
It would be remiss of me not to mention After Life, which I said I was going to watch in the previous instalment of The Idiot Box. This was an extremely well observed, moving exploration of bereavement and grief from Ricky Gervais. As ever the humour was stark and pushed a few boundaries but the laughs were genuine as was the sentiment. The supporting cast was outstanding as they always are in his productions. Hopefully the success of this show will contribute to a wider, more candid public discourse about death.
The ever dependable NCIS reaches the final three episodes of season 16. As ever there have been some weekly instalments that have been just “filler” but there’s also been some quite strong stories. Will we get a resolution to the potential “will they, won’t they” romance between agents Torres and Bishop? Is Ziva David really alive or is it some sort of ruse? Will Doctor Mallard please just retire! (Nope he’s now the NCIS Historian). Unlike other shows, NCIS weathers cast changes well. It certainly has a high mortality rate among its lead characters. I wonder if anyone is going to die this season?
Finally, series 57 of the popular BBC satirical comedy panel show, Have I Got News for You, has just started in the UK. Although still an amusing diversion, HIGNFY has lost its impact and has in many ways simply become part of the “establishment” landscape. The show that started off being merciless to its political guests now seems to indirectly facilitate them. Even TV viewing has now become a partisan activity, so the shows message is very much a case of “preaching to the choir”.
The Idiot Box
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
Tonight’s season finale of Endeavour was possibly the best episode to date. All the outstanding plot lines were resolved and despite my concerns that a tragedy may occur with regards to one of the central characters, the ending saw the prevailing status quo of previous seasons restored. This series has been exceedingly creative with regard to the subjects and themes it has explored and there have been some exceptional performances from Anton Lesser and Roger Allam. Writer Russell Lewis (a very interesting person in his own right) continues to embellish the proceeding with “metatextuality” which is always a source of joy for me. Recent references to Gordon Murray’s Trumpton, Camberwick Green and Chigley were exceeding droll, yet if the causal viewer missed them, there is still plenty of practical story and historical referencesfor all to get their teeth into. I also thought that the final episodes exploration of a tower block collapse was particularly brave and relevant, considering that the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is still proceeding.
Thoughts on TV shows and my current viewing habits.
Tonight’s season finale of Endeavour was possibly the best episode to date. All the outstanding plot lines were resolved and despite my concerns that a tragedy may occur with regards to one of the central characters, the ending saw the prevailing status quo of previous seasons restored. This series has been exceedingly creative with regard to the subjects and themes it has explored and there have been some exceptional performances from Anton Lesser and Roger Allam. Writer Russell Lewis (a very interesting person in his own right) continues to embellish the proceeding with “metatextuality” which is always a source of joy for me. Recent references to Gordon Murray’s Trumpton, Camberwick Green and Chigley were exceeding droll, yet if the causal viewer missed them, there is still plenty of practical story and historical referencesfor all to get their teeth into. I also thought that the final episodes exploration of a tower block collapse was particularly brave and relevant, considering that the Grenfell Tower Inquiry is still proceeding.
Ricky Gervais is a controversial figure and opinions surrounding him are often binary. His work is often challenging, and I fully understand why some find it such difficult viewing. However, comedy and satire can be incredibly astute vehicles for analysis and criticism of the human condition, and I believe that is something Mr Gervais does well when his work hits the mark. So having seen the various trailers for his new show After Life, I am cautiously optimistic. After Life follows Tony, who enjoys a good life until his wife suddenly dies. After considering suicide, he subsequently decides to live long enough to punish the world for his wife's death by literally saying and doing whatever he wants to. His behaviour has unexpected results. I suspect that this show will touch upon numerous subjects close to my heart, such as the superficial nature of modern life, social etiquette and pointlessness of many contemporary jobs. The entire season of eight episodes is released on Netflix on 8th March.
In between my other viewing commitments, when ever I have a spare hour, I try to catch up with Star Trek: Voyager. It is one of the few Trek shows I neglected upon release as I only watched the first season. Like other shows in the franchise, it took a few seasons to get going and find its feet but by late season three, it started to reach its potential. I am currently watching this via Netflix (UK) which has the rights to all Star Trek shows. Sadly, unlike TOS and TNG, Star Trek: Voyager has not been remastered and is not available at present in High Definition (The same is true for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine). Therefore the image does look a little “soft” at times which is especially noticeable in some of the FX shots. Like TNG, although the live action was shot on film, the show was edited via video and so there are no trational master negatives of each episode. A full restoration means remastering the live action and recombining it with the FX elements and credits, making it a very costly endeavour. I suspect that the right holders will have to think long and hard before financing such a project. In the meantime, what is available on Netflix will have to suffice.
Finally, as a grandparent I end up watching a lot of children’s TV either directly, or by being around when it is on in the background. Surprisingly enough, a lot of it is inoffensive and usually has some lesson to impart to its young audience. I do find the associated toy marketing a nuisance as I have spent about a year now having to endure Paw Patrol both on and off the screen. However, one show I do admit to enjoying is Hey Duggee. This animated program is set in The Squirrel Club, an activity group for children, similar to The Scouts. The children take part in all kinds of activities, have adventures and earn badges for their accomplishments. The novelty lies in the fact that the children are an Octopus, Rhino, Crocodile, Mouse and Hippo. Duggee, the leader of The Squirrel Club, is a big floppy eared dog who communicates via the onomatopoeia "Woof". Yet everybody understands him perfectly. This is another show that smuggles a great deal of pop culture references into the short seven-minute stories. A simple journey in a river boat to find a missing sheep quickly alludes to both Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and Coppola’s Apocalypse Now. Who would have thought that children’s TV could become so “meta” and clever.
The Idiot Box
There are many aspects of TV and film that I wish to discuss here on Contains Moderate Peril, but they don’t all require and in-depth post or detailed review. Therefore, it seems practical to create a recurring editorial piece in which I can address these more concise and conversational pieces. Hence you are reading “The Idiot Box” which is my new means to quickly summarise and touch upon what I’m currently watching. Because I do the bulk of my film viewing at home now via VOD and no longer that much at the cinema, this recurring post will deal with movies as well as television. I’ll still be producing long form reviews because I enjoy doing so and they also constitutes a substantial percentage of traffic to this site. This virtual column is more of a “friendly chat” about my viewing habits as well as what’s popular, as you would have with your friends down the pub. So, let us begin with a few thoughts about some of the shows I’m currently enjoying.
There are many aspects of TV and film that I wish to discuss here on Contains Moderate Peril, but they don’t all require and in-depth post or detailed review. Therefore, it seems practical to create a recurring editorial piece in which I can address these more concise and conversational pieces. Hence you are reading “The Idiot Box” which is my new means to quickly summarise and touch upon what I’m currently watching. Because I do the bulk of my film viewing at home now via VOD and no longer that much at the cinema, this recurring post will deal with movies as well as television. I’ll still be producing long form reviews because I enjoy doing so and they also constitutes a substantial percentage of traffic to this site. This virtual column is more of a “friendly chat” about my viewing habits as well as what’s popular, as you would have with your friends down the pub. So, let us begin with a few thoughts about some of the shows I’m currently enjoying.
Season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery is proving very entertaining and certainly seems to be pulling the show back towards what I’d broadly describe as classic Trek territory. And by classic, I mean the broader themes and idiom of TNG, DS9 and Voyager. There is sufficient information in the public domain to show that there was a lot of creative differences behind the scenes during the production of season one. All things considered it’s surprising that the first 15 episodes came out as well as they did. Now that the show appears to be enjoying a more stable environment, it seems to be returning to the fold with regard to narrative and intent, while maintaining its aesthetic differences. And I like it. I like it a lot. I also managed to catch up with Star Trek: Short Treks and found these to be entertaining and informative. “The Brightest Star” episode was particularly poignant, exploring how Saru made first contact with Starfleet and the ramifications that act had upon his own future.
The Punisher is also enjoying its second season and once again it is proving that the key to successfully exploring vigilantism is to focus on character, motive and consequences. Some episodes are deliberately slow but that’s fine with me. I like knowing the backstory of key characters such as Krista Dumont, Billy Russo's Therapist and John Pilgrim, the shows new antagonist. The show also maintains it’s hard hitting action scenes, with Castle meeting out a particularly vicious beating to a Russian thug, using gym weights. It really made me wince. I am, however, curious to see if there will be a third season and if so whether it can sustain the quality of the narrative. There have been doubts of late as to whether Disney will claw back the rights from Netflix (along with others) and seek to develop them for their own pending VOD service.
Finally, I wanted to reference Amazon prime’s Homecoming with Julia Roberts, as I found this such a fascinating show. I especially liked they way the production used different aspect ratios to denote separate timelines in the plot. It was a very clever device that further embellished the ending of the story. Another facet of the show that was unusual was the varying lengths of each episode. Some ran for an hour, where others only half that time. Yet the plot was demonstrably advanced forward in each instalment. Rather than compose an original score for the entire season, the showrunners decided to used cues from classic films to suit the mood of each episode. For me, a consummate fan of film soundtracks, it was a delight to try and workout each episode where the music came from. Homecoming was a well written, thought provoking production bolstered by solid performances. It was also a self-contained story, so I find it odd that there is talk of a further season, unless it is a tangential sequel.