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Unforgotten: Episode #4.6 (2021)
Sometimes I really dislike British dramas
Just once I'd like a British police drama to end in one of the non clichéd ways I've come to expect all too often. That's not to take anything away from the writing or performances, which were fantastic. But I'm personally just worn out by this trope.
Cobra Kai: December 19 (2021)
The txt I sent my mate after S3E10
That's the whole season done. Bring on 2022. They just keep hitting us middle-agers with nostalgia inducing endorphin rushes. They should selling this s**t on street corners! 🤣
Legends of Tomorrow: The Great British Fake Off (2020)
Overall continuing the decline with the DC shows these past few years.
Already mentioned in the goofs. But it's a real shame that show centred around time travel can't get a very simple fact about a historical figure correct.
Doctor Who: The Timeless Children (2020)
What did any of that gain.
I feel so apathetic about this ending to this series, I can't even find the energy to write a scathing review. Oh what's the point anymore.
Doctor Who: Ascension of the Cybermen (2020)
One of the better Cyberman treatments in a long while.
Going to reserve a proper critique until the next part. But a positive has to be the Cyberman treatment. They actually seem quite menacing. Which lets face it has been hard to pull off from previous stories. We will see if they can pull together a finale worthy of the Doctor Who name after the final part.
Doctor Who: The Haunting of Villa Diodati (2020)
Bored by the first 60%, sudden improvement by some intrigue and a good Doc speech near the end.
I'm honestly not sure what to make of this episode. During the first half I just felt quite bored. Then little over half way the plot picked up a bit and my interest levels were raised a tad. Some good stuff from the Doctor near the end. Over all just felt like a set up for the final two parter finale. I feel that parts of this narrative could have been threaded through the second part of the series and not saved for it's own episode. Hopefully it will contribute to a payoff for the end of the series.
Doctor Who: Can You Hear Me? (2020)
I hope this episode speaks to some people. Too important not to.
The issue of the week and this monster of the week are very important and an interesting concept. But again for me personally falls so very short on the delivery. This frustrates me more than any other episode these past two seasons as I can identify particularly. I could see the clumsy delivery as a reflection of the issue which historically has been hard to talk about. If it weren't for that fact that we have seen this trait too often of late. Just comes down to the writing style again. Which is not at all engaging, disjointed and clunky. The character interactions are at times devoid of chemistry. I'd say 80% of that is script. But at times it is the a few actors who do not meet the historical standard I expect from the show. The imaginative narrative unimaginatively delivered is a constant complaint I've had.
This episode felt like a room full of different people drafted their individual parts of the script and it was stitched together to produce something absent of any identifiable rhythm.
One praise. Finally I had a moment where I began to feel more drawn to Yaz's character. Shame it was in this episode which I don't imagine I will ever watch again with the exception of a Whovian reaction.
Doctor Who: Orphan 55 (2020)
Another episode where something just doesn't feel right. (OK not just something)
To begin with, just a little too on the nose.
I'm of the mind set that the only ones left watching are the fans who keep watching week for week hoping for that great episode we used to have. Now this group is divided into three but let's not get bogged down in defining those. I know where I fit in.
Not sure we are the best audience for a lecture on climate change. I doubt there are many if any deniers among us. Ironic that they should use a plot that you can see coming as clear as the inevitable cataclysm.
A weak week for casting, performances and script. Please don't tell me we blew the budget on Fry and Henry and we have to trudge through some performances that just do about enough to get by till another episode raises the standard back up a little till later in the series.
There's a line in nearly every episode that failed to hit the cutting room floor. This week it had Crayons and spam in it. I'm mean what in the hell does that line even mean. I don't blame Jodie, it just wouldn't be fair to. But close your eyes and imagine one of the previous Doctors saying that.
🤞 for next week.
Supergirl: In Plain Sight (2019)
Just put my brain into idle for most of the episode.
Aside from a couple of good character exchanges not really a great episode. Even the reveal of William Dey's supposedly true intentions coupled with a rather nauseating real opinion of Kara, lost a lot of the potential "drama". The delivery had more ham and cheese than a plate full of toasties. Frankly at the best of times the scripts for these shows are incredibly paint by numbers. But it never helps when they are delivered with little to no originality.
A what's with camera prop? If Jimmy's dad really was supposed to have given him that semi modern digital camera, then he must of had a time machine in the basement. Photography props coupled with retro sound effects always annoy me in tv shows. But this was just lazy from the props department.
Simon Amstell: Set Free (2019)
Brilliantly honest.
Didn't know I was a Simon Amstell fan till watching this. He seems to see the world much like I do. Not the snarky host of Never Mind the Buzzcocks I'd been used to in the past. As irreverent as usual but with a deeper self awareness as he opens up about his life.
The Office: Pilot (2005)
Needed a whole new script for the US version.
There was absolutely no way they were going to be able to match the UK first episode by doing pretty much the same script. The actors don't fit as well into the original roles as they were written. Krasinski is no Freeman, he misses the beats in between the lines most of the time. Carell is closer. But his part works better when the character works to include the audience at home as he searches to he discovered. He doesn't come over quite as desperate. It's good they have tried to make it different but this opening pales when we've seen it done better.
The Mountain Between Us (2017)
Over all I liked it but I'm conflicted by that decision.
I found myself bonding to the characters as they did to each other. There was a point towards the end when I felt it was moving toward a Graduate ending with Ben banging
on a window in the church. That was only because they referenced the film and that very moment at the beginning. I would be very surprised if there wasn't a plan for that scene that had quickly got abandoned because it would of been more cheese than most could of managed. I was quiet disappointed when I called it wrong, I love me some cheese, and some Kate Winslet. 😋
Ideal Home (2018)
So awful it's good
I laughted so I guess I like it. Not the most sophisticated comedy but Coogan and Rudd play off each other brilliantly.
The Orville: Home (2019)
That moment when you exclaim at your TV "Whoa @#$% just got dark real quick!"
I really liked this episode by the end. It was feeling a little formulaic at the midway point. But then with a unsuspecting twist I was audibly re-engaged. Add in what felt like a meaningful delivery from a sci-fi veteran. A little recall of what it was like to lose Tasha Yar albeit not as finito. Topped off which a last joke which admittedly took a couple if seconds for the penny to drop as I metaphorically scratched my head whilst verbalising what I was seeing. "A jar of pickles?" Clunk then a settling rattle as the coin levels on the floor. "Ah nice touch." Wipes away tear in corner of eye.
Doctor Who: Vincent and the Doctor (2010)
Such tragedy and beauty wound together with with witt, charm, whimsey and a blind invisible chicken monster which naffness some how doesn't taint this sublime episode.
One of the best episodes of the Smith / Gillan partnership and one of the best episodes full stop. I am basing that statement largely on the last 10 minutes. But what a 10 minutes. Some beautiful writing and captivating delivery. If series 11 had 10% of this episode's quality then.... Oh I only seem to get more disappointed with that series the more I rewatch old episodes. :(
Doctor Who: The Beast Below (2010)
This episode never fails to make me cry.
I've seen this episode quite a few times before but after this umpteenth re-watching I'm reminded again what I've really missed in 2018. After the lastest disappointing series has run to a close. I can pinpoint with absolute clarity that it's the shows emotional intensity that has been left out of almost every script of series 11.
For this episode, the moment the reveal of that two button choice depicts the worst of humanity. The comparison of the Doctor and the space whale is gently building. Added in is the Doctor's outrage at Amy and his disappointment that he might have misjudged her character. Which very quickly spins into his selection of that heartbreaking three pronged worst of the worst choice. Which he has just made in seconds and then bursts with rage at everyone in the room for forcing this decision upon him and destroying how he sees himself. All of that in less than a few minutes. Tears in my eyes as we are reminded again how tragically beautiful the the Doctor's character is. The fabulous juxtaposition of the ugliness of our self-serving nature against the anonymous giving of a stranger. The show I used to know was either making me laugh or making me cry. I've not come even close to either during any of the 2018 episodes. Nothing to do with the Doctor being a woman or the story ideas or subject matter. Simply it's the writing and some of the acting.
Doctor Who: Resolution (2019)
Best of the series, could of done without the hammy narration but welcomed some of the cheese that had been missing this year.
In my opinion the best of a below average series this year.
Not a bad story, the dialogue felt better on the whole. I warmed to the Doctor a little more too.
This finale doesn't make up for the extremely slow burning series. I've missed the whimsy which has been replaced with the Dad joke humour. Case in point. Oh no the Wi-Fi is down, we'll have to talk to one another. (Roll eyes hard and place head in hands.) OH COME ON! We deserve better than this PLEASE!
But it does help the show to finish on a stronger episode. This episode ranks reasonably high in the specials category with have been very hit and miss over the years. So points there.
I like to be fair. I actually think this was the strongest Darlek story for quite some years. Brought some new ideas and an interesting approach that renewed the classic nemesis which has been funny not scary at times.
Happy the show is taking a year break. Hopefully they will take that time to improve on the scripts for series 12. (Crossing fingers hard but not holding my breath.)
Doctor Who: The Battle of Ranskoor Av Kolos (2018)
Three times I've written a well thought out review but it keeps beening deleted before posting, so....
The episode joins the list of a whole less than par season.
Not returning till 2020?
Take the time and work on the writing. It has to be better than this.
Don't listen to reviews couched in non PC ideology and not so closeted bigotry. The only real important thing that let this series down was the poor quality of writing. All other issue stemed from this.
Sadly I won't miss Doctor Who next year. 😞
Doctor Who: It Takes You Away (2018)
Another good idea. Just wish the writing was better.
Another good idea for this episode but like form for this series it fails to completely win me over.
Some better performances from the "friends" of this Doc and a little monologue for Jodie to sink her acting chops into. Just wasn't up to the standard I'd come to expect.
One of the better ones this week. But this Doctor Who series still feels like a pale imitation to me. I think there are plenty that disagree, which is good as this show must survive.
I think the show needs one solid writer, maybe that's not always possible.
Doctor Who: The Witchfinders (2018)
Not as bad this week, I can actually say I enjoyed this one.
Not too shabby this week. For most part this series has been shockingly less than average. But this week's episode took a few tiny steps closer to the standard I had come to expect from Doctor Who.
I hope the remainder of the series a few more of these.
Doctor Who: Kerblam! (2018)
The ideas are still good but again the execution falls short.
If you are enjoying this season then I am very happy that Doctor Who still speaks to an audience. It's very important that this show still goes on.
But if you believe the quality of the writing and delivery is as good as the show deserves then personally I think you are quiet mistaken.
Doctor Who periodically changes and that is the very core essence of the show. This is what I love the most about the show. It's just a shame that I can't enjoy the changes this time.
I'll be the first to admit that a great annoyance I have (other than some regular bouts of very dry passionless dialogue) is very petty. But I've come to recoil at the repetitive nature of Jodie's use of the sonic screwdriver. It feels like every time she needs to use it, she swings it into action like she's challenging for a duel. Its ludicrous nature works when the device is that over used extension of the Doctor's hand. But she wealds it again and again in that repetitive fashion. It's stupid I know but it makes my teeth itch. lol
Doctor Who: Demons of the Punjab (2018)
Six episodes in and I'm just waiting for the show to change hands again.
Another episode that is just entertaining enough. But I would like the show back that moved me to tears, made me laugh and surprised me with the odd twist or unexpected moment. This dry and humorless version leaves me hugely disappointed every week. 😒
Doctor Who: The Tsuranga Conundrum (2018)
Quite good this week, but still missing humour.
The show is very very slowly easing into itself. But The core aspects are still lacking for my tastes. The relationships between this Doctor and her companions or her "friends". Which ever way you wish to frame those relationships they are still very lacking. The humour is just about always of key. Most of the time it feels like the clichè of a Dad trying to be funny with his kids friends. The dialogue is blander under this new show runner. Some of the delivery doesn't help matters either.
I will say there are some good performances from Doc Brown and Brett Goldstein this week.
At least I have the all old episodes to watch while I wait for someone else to possibly bring back the show I had so very much grown in love with.
Doctor Who: Arachnids in the UK (2018)
A tad stronger and scarier this week. But not hard to do with giant spiders.
The writing is still very lacking and the acting is very tired and wooden a times. More creepy this week but it shows a real lack of imagination to scutter towards giant spiders. Hardly holds up against episodes like Blink.
The new Doctor slowly builds and a small glimmer of a the possible relationships with her new "fam." Doctor Who now feels like it's written by the cliché of a dad trying to be cool.
Better this week. But fallen very far from what I had come to expect.
Doctor Who: Rosa (2018)
Another poor script talking down to its audience.
I wanted really to love this new series but we are now three episodes in and the quality is just not there.
I'm not a fan of Jodie as The Doctor so far, but that is just a subjective thing. I appreciate other people will love her and I think that's great. But I personally think she's not been given the material to shine in the role.
I haven't minded the story ideas so much. I'm most disappointed with the quality of the story telling, the script and the "after school special" acting which feels like it's talking down to the audience most of the time.
I hope the show makes it through this period. Sci-fi fans are very discerning and have gotten used to seeing a better standard than this from Doctor Who.