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Reviews
The Grand Tour: The Grand Tour: One For The Road (2024)
The end of a significant era that had its ups and downs
Being the same age as May I can recognise and identify with so much of TG & GT. It's been part of our TV lives for such a long time but all good things come to an end.
Is this a great episode? Overall yes but it's not perfect. That's a common thread to some but far from all episodes over the years.
I quite understand the principle behind this one , it's leisurely, it's not too arduous, there's no oops I nearly died parts. I get that, but for the first half adjusting to and watching that change wasn't the most gripping of TV. Would I watch that first half again like I have Skandia Flik? Probably not, it was more of a Loch Down episode. It was carried by the chat and charisma of the three plus the excellent photography and editing. I did feel a little that the format was struggling.
But, the second half. Woo hoo. Bang on form. No tasks but the gentler pace combined with elements of the original and it was superb. I loved the ongoing theme of complain if you want but we don't care, we won't be here just like anyone leaving a job, Clarkson ruefully commented on blowing it with the BBC and had a good swipe at electric cars. All accompanied by gentle tomfoolery. Barges across the Croc infested lake, all fairly drunk and Hammond sinking. The old car on a railway trick very well done with Clarkson getting by, Mays excellent engineering propelling him along with ease and Hammond travelling backwards 😂
Lots of great laughs and lots of good chat. Every pun and comment tied in with a previous incident and even if not laugh out loud, definitely chuckle worthy. Anyone from a fan boy to an occasional viewer needs to watch this, it is a classic with a soundtrack to match .
I have missed my "top gear beer" ( watching this on a Sunday and having one last weekend beer before early bed and work the next day was a tradition) and I will miss GT but it was absolutely the right decision to call a halt.
After the poignant and superbly presented arrival at "their tree" Clarkson showed how to call time on it perfectly by disconnecting his mic then handshakes all round in the dying moments . Beats any speech any day.
Freddie Flintoff's Field of Dreams (2022)
Has to be an award winner. Heartwarming and entertaining.
I'll be straight up. I can't stand cricket and don't really understand it but whilst the game is pivotal to this program it's not what the bigger picture is all about. Freddie Flintoff backed up by Kyle Hogg deserve knighthoods for their efforts and services. That's because the program shows what decent human beings can do for others. You see Freddie bashed up laid up recovering and what's he worried about? The lads missing the tour. He tackled his own demons to make it work abley assisted by Kyle. No significant spoilers so not too many details but examples of how they manage to put their point across is via the lads changing attitude. They go from " who plays cricket round here" to working hard and throwing themselves without reservation to get their first victory. Others go from wearing their whites for the first time with words like " what has he got us wearing " to at least one of them making the white floppy hat his headgear of choice wandering the Indian markets. Inspiring and heartening, quite unmissable tbh and easily deserves ten stars.
Douglas Is Cancelled (2024)
Enjoyable but not a classic
This was a pleasant show. By that I mean although you had to pay attention to get some of the very witty lines as they were delivered and fully follow the ups and downs of the plot, it remained pretty easy watching. The premise and how it played out was good. It was well cast and played but I felt the plot and script didn't make full use of some actors involved and with the content could easily have been a two or three parter not four.
Some parts just didn't work 100% such as Joe Wilkinsons appearance. That ranged from the brilliant "why are you asking me, I'm your driver" scenario with repeat examples of how his boss really didn't pay him any attention. But then Joe's musings at the end of each episode were a big miss, they really didn't have a strong context and weren't particularly funny or poignant. He was an example of an actor not being used to their full potential.
One clever thing was the way you were led along wondering who out of the two presenters were the worst characters. Was their boss a good guy or not. Who was the most supercilious, who was the most ruthless. The only conclusion can be that in their own ways they were as bad as each other so it simply came down to who could out manoeuvre or stitch up the other first.
Have to say though the ending created by that was superb. The final reveal was simple, effective totally conclusive and a massive lesson to those who see themselves as invulnerable.
Slow Horses (2022)
Entertaining and engrossing
There's some real cynics reviewing this one with the "it wouldn't happen" or "implausible" type comments. The fact of the matter is it's an entertainment series not a documentary. In any case the vast proportion of the general population have no idea what actually goes on in the world of MI whatever and anyone who is is highly unlikely to post a review! Therfore we have to take things at face value. Do that and youre in for a great ride.
Once the cast are established they start developing and their history disclosed. It's an excellent cast brilliantly led by the obnoxious Jackson Lamb (Gary Oldman). No big spoilers but he has some brilliant lines, most delivered blunt and dry. One classic being as one of his team, standing over a dead body protests "I didn't mean to kill him", "I know" replies Lamb "if you had he'd still be alive".
As the characters are developed you start wondering which one the plot will be killing next or wether they will suss what's happening as they're all deemed to be sidelined failures.
The plots in the first 3 series are very good with plenty of twists and turns. The 4th is shaping up very nicely too with humour at all levels along with a great storyline that has you thinking, trying to work out what's what whilst maintaing a great pace.
Well worth a watch.
The Responder (2022)
Engrossing but flawed
Both series of The Responder have been a good entertaining and engrossing watch. All parts are superbly played and the script carries it along nicely. So many ouch and what the whatever moments along with superb observations of human nature.
However it manages to carry one significant flaw although that flaw does let it down badly. That is the very way he works. I realise it's a drama and not a documentary but even leaving aside the nature of his work no one would be able to sustain his level of activity on his permanent nights no daytime sleeping routine underpinned with incredible stress. That's also leaving aside that how you see him disappearing off the work radar for hours at a time just wouldn't happen.
Overall though on balance a flawed but entertaining and well played story.
Bay of Fires (2023)
Overall very entertaining just as a TV series should be
Absolute cracker of a series although anyone who judges it on episodes 1 & 2 may not think so, it only really starts to pick up in 3 and after that, great going.
It's another of those dramas that is a mix of things. Dark at times, tense at others and brutal at others. Sprinkled along the way with some great flashes of humour and some great characters ( once they develop ep 3 onwards as they and the plot start running properly) .
Whilst I liked that mix it can always be a bit of a showstopper for some who are looking for maybe 100% reservoir dogs or 100% dark humour.
Yes it is clichéd in parts but it is a story after all and it is overall very entertaining.
I've knocked one of the review because of the slow start, I did almost give up, and of course those clichés. Maybe a few too many.
No spoilers here so sorry some descriptions are a bit vague but stick with it and you may enjoy it.
Spacey Unmasked (2024)
Dull
If the accounts are correct and to be believed it would apear that Spacey may well have sexually harassed individuals . However the problem with this documenttary isn't that it hasn't been well researched nor is it lacking apparently credible victims and witnesses , its more the fact that its the same old same old . By that I mean it doesn't provide anything new , I feel heartily sorry for the alleged victims but it's the same "news" repeated over and over. Cathartic for them.
But for the viewer it plods along and doesn't do much more than support theories and ideas about Spacey we've heard before and and accepted .
To be fair the insight of his childhood was interesting as was the interview with his brother although that was a little inconclusive.
Clarkson's Farm (2021)
Humorous , uplifting , emotional , sad , engrossing , informative and more . Isn't that what good TV is about ?
It's very interesting that a lot of the negative reviews hark back to the Clarkson of old or the reviewer just doesn't like him. They're wrong , those days have gone and they're missing a whole load of relevant points. The third series is continuing the trait of Clarkson stripped back. Yes the humour and daftness can be there but the body language and the facial expressions show the real man. He cares , he worries and more to the point he's trying hard. Warts and all we see him and his team trying to make good. A clear indicator or example of the new Clarkson comes with the birth of the piglets. Would the old character have sat wet and muddy (covered in pig whatever) on the leather in his range rover wearing his expensive jacket trying to feed a dribbling new born piglet with his sole concern being that it survives , then the clear upset when it doesn't survive ? I think not.
Fine he bought the farm and land as an investment and took over the running upon the managers retirement for whatever reason . But what an ongoing expensive investment it's become as he cheerfully describes how if he didn't have additional income streams it would fold. That's a strong message for everyone regarding the state of the UKs farming industry and its easy to see how he's become an award winning high profile voice for UK farmers. He is lucky to have money to throw into producing crops that sell for less than it costs him to produce on the day . Others are not so lucky and that's when they go under and the much maligned London emigrants , which he is not , move in and play laird of the Manor.
Brilliant screenplay backing up what I say isn't hard to find . He's out all times of the day and night in mud and rain as well as sunshine . The emotions run high Series 2 ending with "you've got a pet cow" . Series three first half ending with tears from all at the death of the piglets and sow. Charlie and Kaleb as always keeping him right as well intentioned errors threaten to cause problems such as jam making or dam fixing / potential flooding . All the while his rebel wife who won't accept authority from the council keeps the shop going amongst other things. The ongoing saga of the well trained dogs provide a smile. Some parts clearly staged such as the new Farm Manager competition and done very well, other parts however you couldn't make it up let alone write the script a good example being the daily beaurocray they're forced to submit to.
An absolute gem . It deserves a lot more than 10 stars. As for the local council , a new phrase should be remembered. " fight them and hammer them into the ground like a tentpeg". I wish the Clarkson team all the best.
Scoop (2024)
Interesting and well paced.
This was a very watchable drama , not least to watch Gillian Anderson , on this occasion in English mode".
The program itself could have flopped big time with people wondering "so what" because its usually the story and not getting the story thays entertaining. However this one carried it off .
In some ways it was a plod along and clearly predictable because we all know the result and how Maytlis got the glory and Andrew was vilified for the absolute car crash he thought went well.
The characters are well cast and well played but quite one dimensional , they're all simply turning up and doing the job even though the producers rousing speech was meant to motivate everyone .
Good but not great.
Red Eye (2024)
Entertaining , good storyline but what a shambles
This was an entertaining series that left you wanting to know what happens even though so much of it was totally implausible. In fact the first ten minutes and the last ten minutes contained laughable rubbish that just wouldn't happen .
At the start for example the doc is detained by border force and told he has no rights as he hasnt entered the country whilst they're busy ripping the sticking plaster off his stab wound. Wrong about representation and the sticking plaster just wouldn't happen . At the end , the CIA chief pursues and shoots a Brit in the Chinese embassy garden without realising where he is . Again utter tosh.
There's so much more as our hero wanders through the story quite forgetting most of the time that he has a debilitating wound that would floor most of us, as he tackles a US mercenary hiding in the cargo hold or dealing with the second American mercenary pretending to be a Chinese sky marshall having smuggled a pistol in a shoulder holster on board . I can't even "smuggle " a can of Coke onto long haul lol.
If you watch you will also see the world's worst sniper and the worst prepared MI6 agent ever being shot at. You'll see what I mean when you watch it, it's hilarious.
Those and more oversights and innacuracies along with the implausible story nuances they cause , show sloppy or indifferent research with the writers just making it up as they go and it does detract from the viewing.
Having said all of that the tension builds overall and its difficult to keep track of who's who and where their loyalties lay as people are steadily killed off .
The loyalties and politics back in the uk add to the mix with the same questions of who's the baddie .
It is a great story and all in all well worth a viewing but it'll never make classic status.
Traces (2019)
Series 2 . A mixed bag of tricks .
Series 1 was fine, but series 2 seems to lag a little . Its a mixed bag of tricks but it does manage to fall on the entertaining side of the line. Just.
The problem with series 2 seemed to be it was fairly one dimensional despite fervent but lacklustre dead end attempts to make it otherwise. Some characters were strong and well played , others were just drips. The central theme of tracking down the bomber was good and well paced particularly towards the end, though how it never detonated when he had control of the switches when tackled we will never know.
Along the way the clichés and inaccuracies became extremely irritating . The forensic scientist seemed to be doing basic detective work in order to keep the DCI in a job as well as well as thinking . She was spouting forth presumptive rubbish on numerous occasions. The forensic and police processes were embarrassingly bad. The collection of senior cops sat in an office (as opposed to a command room should have happened in the final episode if not earlier ) was an embarrassment with the SB man offering nothing but "shoot him" to the tactical plan. I can assure you production team they dont all sit around a whiteboard on a massive job like this.
On a good note the much underused Macafee clan disappeared around the middle of the series . They didn't add a single thing to it apart from help develop the one dimensional aspect. I suppose at least the DCI and the Prof got to play their love scene at the end , however arkward they looked doing it .
Make your own mind up about it but when the inevitable series 3 arrives you'll be more hmmmmm than yeehah bring it on.
The Gentlemen (2024)
A chicken with a shotgun ........isn't that always how these things kick off
Implausible , even impossible in some areas and a bit far fetched at times but totally entertaining from begining to end. The characters are well cast , well developed , memorable and the actors playing them seem to bounce well off each other .
Some absolute classic lines and scenarios (no spoilers ) all underpinned and carried along with a mixture of wanting to know what happens next , dark humour and a feeling of foreboding or "oh no".
I think some people who want this to be a specific genre alone ie either a dark comedy , a drama , a gangster or a drug dealer series will be disappointed because it has a good mixture of all elements and you've got to accept your favourite parts you'd avidly watch are mixed equally with the bits you'd like to fast forward .
Personally I loved it from begining to end and can't wait for the rumoured next series .
Guy Ritchie has cracked it with this one.
The Imposter (2012)
You couldn't make it up.
Before we watched this I had no idea about the story so no preconceived ideas or knowledge of the conclusion. It's the ultimate con story , it's well presented although I've knocked it down from 10 to 8 because at some points it does start to plod a little and repeats itself. That said it's still engrossing and carries you along with disbelief.
The con man is skilled and the family gullible to put it mildly. I was quite surprised that people who should have questioned him such as the family with questions along the lines of " have you had a head swap or something " didn't , they just said welcome home whereas people you may have expected to just go along and say "well if you say so " didn't and started looking closer .
Well worth watching .
Passenger (2024)
A real mish mash
A very odd production that for various reasons seems to try a little too hard at being mysterious and stylish. Sadly it flops. I must add the caveat I only made it as far as episode 4 before I gave up. I didn't really consciously stop watching it, there were just more entertaining dramas available.
I like a whole range of dramas from your X Files type mysteries through to humorous odd productions like The Gentlemen and I don't mind having to think about what's going on.
Passenger however doesn't really hit the mark for any genre and is too much like hard work to really enjoy .
There's some bizarre things that just leave you wondering "why?" good example is they're all driving cars from the 1980s or theabouts yet using smartphones whilst there's not a computer in sight. I'm sure there's an answer buried later on but I lost the will to sit it out to see if that answer was actually there .
To be fair it is engrossing for a couple of episodes until holes appear in the road yet the mysterious part isn't played out well and just plods along .
Not for me though I appreciate some will immerse themselves in it .
Finders Keepers (2024)
Good but not wonderful
Overall an entertaining mini series worth watching once . The cast performed well and the storyline , although implausible at points was generally engaging and entertaining. The reasons for not scoring it higher are based aroind the script and plot . Whilst entertaining , bits of it were almost waiting to get going on a more involved and new tack. The kidnap , the very rich collector and the missing business partner to name just three. The portrayal of the police and some other aspects , were with a sort of comic edge but not wildly funny and it left you wondering is this trying to be comedy or drama because it didn't really sit comfortably with the level of mix.
Despite this it was definitely entertaining .
Too Good to be True (2024)
Strangely entertaining . But .......
This series is a strange one . It's fairly predictable and throughout you feel that the tension and intrigue could and should have been ramped up a few notches to make better use of the lead characters abilities .
The story plodded along as you waited for it build up which never happened but as everyone was introduced the plot still lent itself to wondering where they'd come from and what would happen to them .
Unfortunately the final episode was more like a documentary recording what happened than a dramatic conclusion . One surprise was Simone turning up with a chunky cheque just as you thought the family would be slipping back into poverty but of course it was a sadly cliched surprise.
The Grand Tour: The Grand Tour: Sand Job (2024)
On the downhill again
I've praised and criticised the Grand Tour specials in equal measures . That's because they do vary in quality and content . Ultimately ,as a fan, that saddens me . As a rule of thumb they can be assessed to a degree by asking yourself "will I watch this one again". Some I've watched several times , this one won't make a second screening.
The problem is they've lost their zap, their spontaneous humour and behaviour. They seemed on this to have turned up for work , done as much as they have to then looked forwards to going home. Yes it's always been scripted or more relevantly ,organised but the scripted parts seem to be overtaking the rest. Speculating a little they also seem to have ran out of ideas with nothing really new appearing on screen apart from stupid rather than amusing moments like filling James Mays car with sand . Ho ho ho how funny . Not. It achieved nothing , nothing linked to it and no consequences . Yawn. That sadly is how much of the program went. Yes there were amusing moments such as the possessed Aston but that couldn't carry the whole thing.
Let's hope the next effort is a little better and they can retire on a high rather than splutter off screen with another misfire .
Love Rat (2024)
I thought I'd stumbled into a comedy.
This was a terrible production. The first episode wasnt bad but there again we were waiting for things to pick up. Pick up the pace never happened and it was downhill from ep 2 . Sally Lindsey and Neil Morrissey were not good as pivotal characters . The insincerity of her emotions and the clenched teeth speech at one point killed off any potential gripping drama . I say potential as nothing gripping really happened . George , Niko and the Police Sgt played their parts well but the poor script and plot restricted severely their efforts .
The over played but simplistic plot was cringe worthy and old hat . We guessed who the real baddy was by ep 2 and the great reveal and high drama on the building site in ep 4 were total non events.
I feel guilty posting such a negative review so here's a positive note. The scenery and locations were absolutely superb with great views at times of Ayia Napa and Protaras. Definitely the only real reason for keeping us watching apart from there being nothing else on.
Trigger Point (2022)
If you want some excitement then this may not the one for you but if you need a laugh....
This series is terible. The plot line is implausible and the set piece scenarios and situations completely unrealistic. That's even allowing leeway for poetic licence . The acting is quite wooden and extremely cliched. Let's be clear from the start . Bomb squads do not hunt down terrorists , they neutralise their products. The series climax was not a climax. A simplistic call divert (good job they were on a network that allowed it lol ) let the terrorists have a gormless moment as the penny dropped and they got blown up rather than cancelling the call when they knew something was wrong. Speaking of gormless , male terrorist trying to be mean protecting his boss against angry bomb woman using a shotgun that had she discharged would have taken both their heads off 😂
May be exciting if you find queueing at the ice cream van a tense adventurous outing otherwise give it a miss.
The Traitors Australia (2022)
Series 2 , one of the best .
I like the concept of traitors and most episodes I've seen ( Aus, UK & US ) are very entertaining. However Aus series 2 stands out above so many of the others .
That for me is due to various reasons. The competitors speak more bluntly and the humour , at times a little hard , is very much to my taste . It's well presented and the quips and comments do give a chuckle.
As with all the traitors series some of the challenges can be a little bit "it's a knockout" and tedious but the real fun is people watching.
Aus series 2 has to go down as the one with the highest proportion of gullible easily led faithfuls ever and that makes for fascinating viewing . They formulate a plan , one persuasive person speaks up at the round table and it all goes out of the window with some random faithful faithful getting booted. Frustrating , amusing and entertaining all in one breath.
That brings me to the traitors . Sam in particular is probably the least likeable traitor you don't want to take the cash ever. His arrogance and self belief knows no bounds. Amusingly in the nail biting last10 min of the finale he fails big time , his downfall , at the hands of the recruited traitor he was seeking to use and abuse but judged so badly . His bemused petulance and the fact he couldn't believe he'd failed whilst trying to blame his nemesis for that failure was the best ending ever and still gives me a chuckle.
Even the closing narrative referred to it as a warning.
Great fun to watch . I've only knocked it down from 10 to 9 because I usually go get a cup of tea during the uninteresting screamathons that are called challenges .
Dio: Dreamers Never Die (2022)
Superb portrait of a music great
This is an excellent documentary and a must watch for any Dio fan or fan of heavy rock from a certain era. Dio , to coin a cheesy term, was a rock god . He was musically everywhere in my youth and his voice remains a firm.favourote . This program manages to tell that story without going OTT or smarmy . It is peppered with stories and testimony from more famous names than we're used to seeing in a single program . It also manages to show that whilst not a saint Dio was also a good nice guy. The fact that a benificiary of his last ever recording is a cancer charity and the engineer who produced it with him cannot , all these years on, contain his tears says it in one. He climbed that silver mountain and anyone who watches the last 10 minutes without a lump in their throat or a tear in their eye has a heart of stone .
The background music throughout is of course fantastic .
The program has lots of standout moments and quotes . No spoilers , watch it yourself .
Cocaine Bear (2023)
Fairly entertaining
A strange film . It's a sort of gangster / comedy / slapstick / horror mix . The problem is it doesn't really excel in any of those areas . Each attempt leads onto another and on again all held together by the slimmest of storylines . You end up watching out of morbid curiosity to see what happens next rather than being engrossed by the plot.
Some of the hammed up acting and characters made me think of the original Aeroplane type comedy characters though not quite as well played.
I'm no park ranger or bear expert but I would have thought that at such close range early on the bear would have been shot dead . Then I suppose there'd have been nothing to watch for the next hour .
This is a bit of a fill in film to watch out of curiosity when there's not a lot else on.
After the Flood (2024)
A good tale
Strange one . The police process , stereotyping of certain characters and the handling of or response to the flooding in ep 1 werent the best and almost suggest it wouldn't be worth watching, although some parts were spot on which kept the attention . A real mix .
As it develops those police glitches remain which does detract , same shift always at work which probably explains why they're so wooden , but the story certainly develops .
The Jo character is a little implausible , doing her own thing and the habit of giving a synopsis to anyone who will listen just in case you're not following becomes a bit irritating but maybe useful for some .
However the story overall is a great one with a few twists as it unravels in front of you . I had no idea who the meanest bad guy was going to turn out to be and he is sinister . (No spoilers )
Worth watching.
The Tourist (2022)
Hopefully there'll be a season 3 because .....
Typically I can't remember much detail of series 1 other than I thought it was great , and had to look up a detailed synopsis before watching this. No need . 3 of the central characters from series 1 carry on the story and they're memorable so it flows nicely . Well not nicely , it's violent and bizarre .
Speaking of that I read a few pieces before watching it that said viewers were "all saying one thing " and that was that the story had lost the plot . I couldn't disagree more , I think it's more the fact that the first series almost laid the grounds for this and as you watch series 2 you start to realise that things disclosed previously about Elliot may not be the whole story and small details you noticed become very relevant . You're not getting more of the same old , it's the next chapter . Although pointed out by several people throughout Elliot does have a knack of dropping himself in it .
The introduction of rival but intertwined families is cleverly done as loyalties and rivalries are disclosed and tested right up until the last moment .
It has drifted even more towards a Fargo style and tbh is getting better for it. The dark even cynical humour is superbly delivered by very strong and well cast characters . There's no slackers in this from the mad cop and his skeletons on the closet , through to the gangster with the not really that funny name that makes Elliot laugh. Some parts are almost subtle slap stick . The talking display at the museum , classic error . Or the question "has Kostas sent you "? Quickly replied by the not too bright gangster "Why would a coffee shop want you killed" .But those make you smile moments are quickly swept away as the result is always brooding potential menace or back into the action.
The ending , not surpringly although you need to watch the burning paperwork carefully , lends itself perfectly to series 3 the next chapter .
Not one boring moment and I'm hooked .
Fool Me Once (2024)
Don't bother
Harlen Coben stories are generally very good. Perhaps this one is but I for one will have to read the book rather than watching this terrible production to find out. I gave up on it after 3 episodes.
One of the main problems is Michelle Keegan as the female lead. She simply cannot deliver the on screen personna or character she wants to be or should be . Her tough woman stance against the football bully for example is laughable rather than admirable or setting her as someone to be wary of. The argument between her and her brother in law is frankly pathetic culminating in a brief laughable fight backing up her lack of presence .the "car chase" is probably one of the worst attempts at covert tracking ever shown in a drama where shes blocked by a van due to her terrible spatial awareness , a van she doesn't have to be anywhere near , this of course from an experiemced apache oilot ? She isn't helped overall tbh by the appalling technical inadequacies of military and helicopter details to name just two examples or the pathetic lines she has to deliver during these sequences. She seems to play any part in the same old way which often works but it doesn't fit on this occasion . A lot , but not all of the supporting acting is quite methodical and wooden . Perhaps it's the lack lustre but earnest script ?
The production is meant to show exciting switches between scenes and flashbacks. It could work if the overbearing music and effects were turned down several notches so you could hear the dialogue without getting ear ache.
I can not think of any reason to rate this above a 1 star.