katriarjava Reviews

Monk (2002–2009)

Better second time around

[9/10 · 22 April 2024]

I did watch Monk when it was new but I didn't really get the beauty of it then. Now I've rewatched two seasons and I'm in awe of the quality of the show. Of course it is mostly thanks to Tony Shalhoub's performance as Monk. He is bringing out the quirks of an OCD person without mocking them. At the same time you feel sorry for Monk and yell at his behaviour. The dynamic of the cast is good and San Francisco makes a beautiful setting. So far the storylines have been interesting and the humorous undertone is not overdone. I'm glad that I found Monk again. Some shows feel stale after twenty years but Monk is not one of them.

Transatlantic (2023)

Interesting and oddly addictive

[8/10 · 8 April 2023]

I clicked Transatlantic open out of curiosity and binge watched the whole series. As the story is mainly based on real events and people, it gives a view to the bravery of ordinary people. As Varian Fry really was gay, he was in danger in several ways. Mary Jayne Gold managed to find a way to escape the boring existence of the women of her class and find a purpose. Famous artists and intellectuals really belong to the story instead of being planted into it to make it interesting. Makers also trust that the audience understand why these people are fleeing the nazis. Marseille is portrayd beautifully and the addition of the transporter bridge which was destroyed only few years later, adds to the integrity of the production. Funnily I couldn't decide if this was a really good series, but I just had to see all of it at once.

The English (2022)

I am mesmerized

[10/10 · 21 December 2022]

What a treat! Raw and beautiful at the same time. Not an easy plot to follow but at the end everything comes together. I started to rewatch it to see the key points again and I noticed I had missed some the first time. Blunt and Spencer are wonderful together and you can believe everything that happens between them. I have always been interested in history and this show doesn't shy from the ugly part Europeans have played in America. I do hope there won't be any second series. This ending was good and there is always the danger of spoiling it by continuing. There are too many examples of that.

When Calls the Heart (2014– )

Beautiful scenery but lukewarm romance

[4/10 · 7 May 2018]

I know this is a Hallmark show which usually means a pretty and wholesome leading couple, but would it have hurt to give Elizabeth and Jack a bit more personality. Beaming smiles and adoring gazes don't really tell the story. I am not convinced that people love each other just because they state it repeatedly. The actors were doing their best but I actually found them boring.

My favorite story line was Rosemary and Lee's romance. There was real warmth between the characters and it was lovely to see how they learned to love each other's little faults and to laugh at themselves.

There were some details that didn't really fit the era. Elizabeth's hair was down all the time although decent women wore theirs up. I doubt that maids of honor would have had similar dresses made for a wedding when they didn't really have too much money and they would have been wearing the matching dresses years on in every finer occasion.

The school/church was built near the pond on a very flat piece of land. It looked like it might flood in a storm.

It will be interesting to see what the writers are going to do with Elizabeth.Is she allowed to live as a single mother for a while or will a tall dark stranger save her from the widowhood.