DarkClarissa

Update EDIT (5 Nov 2014): A multifaceted and complex plot with a dark soul that will seduce you with its promise of truth and leave you willing to sell your soul to the devil to get a glimpse of what may be a mere lie. The more I watch it the more I like it. All of the characters are developing as layered and flawed. Also, just as I think I know where a plot thread is going, it surprises me. If you are wanting to watch a courtroom based drama where the main thrust is just each case as it comes up, this may not be for you.

****
Shonda has done it again! Gripping, suspenseful and off-beat. All of the characters were interesting, I want to know more about them. Already we have enough twists and turns to keep a country lane happy for several miles. I cannot wait to watch the next episode. This is one of the best pilot episodes I have seen in a long time. There isn't much I can say about the plot without giving spoilers, so I just encourage anyone who likes a twisty thriller to give it a go!

Ahhh, there's nothing quite like the smell of fresh Cold War espionage in the morning. I've been a fan of The Americans since the first episode. Being of a certain age... (ahem, you know around 29 and a half), I remember the era depicted vividly. There was a desperation, a paranoia about the late '70s/early '80s that was unique to that time. The threat of annihilation by nuclear holocaust was a vivid horror etched into everyone's minds. Propaganda and misinformation was disseminated the world over to control what the general public thought. Popular culture depicted the spies of the time as glamorous, dangerous and sexy. The reality, I'm sure was a lot more brutal.

The Americans does a great job of authentically bringing the atmosphere of the era to life. Following what to all appearances is a normal all-American married couple who are, in fact, Russian spies the show draws us into the darkness of the Cold War. The brutality, the double dealing on both sides, the emotional cost, these are all dealt with. On one hand you feel that you should hate the main protagonists for their subterfuge and crimes. But, this is where the show is a cut above many others. The Americans makes all of the characters sympathetic in some way.

Each episode is over far too quickly and each season has flown by. Watch it: you will find yourself rooting for the most unexpected characters; you will hold your breath as you sit on the edge of your seat; you will be glued to the screen as you feel tears forming after a particularly brutal scene. It is probably the best drama on TV at the moment, in my opinion.

This was a joy to watch. Funny, irreverent, silly. I must admit that when I heard the theme of the show I wasn't sure it would work, but I was wrong. Netflix managed to make fun of so many things in 13 short half-hour episodes and they got the tone spot on. It dealt with religious cults, small town hicks, racism, sexism, and class-ism. If you had told me that I was going to find a story about an ex-member of an apocalyptic religious cult's life in New York with her gay, black room-mate, her murdering, drug dealing landlady and her racist Native American employer, I would have told you that you were out of your mind! But it was the funniest thing I've watched in a while. All of the negative traits were dealt with in an intelligent and insightful way. The main characters learn a lot about themselves and it is touching and funny in the process. I really hope that Netflix does a second season.

It is an indictment of today's society that such an pivotal and tragic series of events in English history are referred to as boring and slow by other reviewers. Life was very different in the Tudor period. There wasn't the need for instant gratification that has been fostered by today's "throw away" society. Life was slower and more deliberate. This is what the BBC's dramatisation, Wolf Hall, skillfully portrays.

Life was luxurious, intrigue-filled and deadly for those of the noble class. Not only did they risk the hideous diseases of the day without any protection or understanding thereof, but they condemned themselves with every word or deed. No matter which persuasion a person was, whether Roman Catholic and loyal to the Pope, or a person interested in the "new learning". Or, perhaps a fully committed Lutheran, all were a moment away from the scaffold, depending on from where the accusations originated.

The BBC have produced a most masterful, understated and poignant tale of love, loss and betrayal. The repercussions of Henry VIII's divorce from Catherine of Aragon and subsequent marriage to Anne Boleyn are still felt in the world today. The scars on the landscape of England found in the ruins of the old monasteries. The prejudices and hatred between the two major denominations of Christianity still cause division in some communities to this very day.

The sets were beautifully presented and costumes historically accurate and strangely personal. Some characters were shown to be rather slovenly in their appearance, whereas others were pristine and particular. The performances by Mark Ryland, Claire Foy and Damian Lewis were understated, persuasive and masterful. No melodrama found it's way into this most tragic of stories. Micro-expressions spoke volumes where dialogue had no need. The viewer is drawn into the world of deceit by every movement, look and word.

I highly recommend this to anyone who has a genuine interest in English history. Although based on two novels, Wolf Hall is a good representation of the actual events of the early 16th Century, well as far as we can know them today. No one was the "good guy" or the "bad guy". People lived in the grey areas created by intrigue and deception, politics and religion. This is the strength of Wolf Hall. It doesn't apportion blame, it looks to the human aspect and illuminates it to show all the tragedy it can cause.

I watched the first couple of episodes but had to stop. The whole premise that a kidnapped child after so many years would be dumped back with her biological family with only a bog-standard family therapist helping the whole family is flawed and insulting to the viewers' intelligence.

That "Carter" is an angst filled, rebellious teen is just what many teens go through and the writing of her character flaws and psychological problems didn't feel real. The layers of issues that she would be facing would be greater, more intense, and the help that she would require would be daily hands on support.

I’m really pleased this is being renewed. This was my era when I first got involved with computers and the production of Halt and Catch Fire captures the atmosphere surrounding the computing industry exactly as I remember it. Cutthroat, promiscuous, arrogant, misogynist – these were the things that made that era the way it was. I can’t say that everything was comfortable or that it was right the way things were back then, but that doesn’t change the fact that it was a very hedonistic atmosphere. I’m looking forward to seeing where they go with the characters and the storyline in season 2.

EDIT:
OK, so as promised I watched another episode and I might watch more. Where the pilot episode failed to get across a good mix of black humour and obnoxiousness, the second episode BELLA fared better. I still find Backstrom intensely dislikable, however, the writers injected more of a back story to make him seem, at least, human. The other main characters that they have working with him are a good mix of smart, sexy and staid. There was even a good quote: Officer Moto: "That's dark", Backstrom: "The truth is always dark". I've been able to increase my star rating from 2.5 to 3 stars and I will see what next week brings. The jury is still out, but at least there might be hope for the defendant.

Review of Pilot episode:
Hmmm... not sure about this one. The main character is, quite frankly, obnoxious. It seems to be using the tired old cliched story of "brilliant but dysfunctional individual solving crimes whilst alienating everyone and yet everyone has secret admiration for said nut-job". It's not an original idea. There is a good cast and some solid performances, but the writing was lacking in punch and the directing was barely average. I wish that something had stood out as different, but it didn't. I shall watch another episode in the hopes that it improves, but I won't hold my breath.

EDIT: I started watching episode three and, there is just nothing redeemable about this any more. The script and the over acting is just cringe-worthy. What a shame.
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I kind of liked it after the first episode, but I like it less after episode two. The storyline was weak and the acting felt more forced. The chemistry between Constantine and Zed felt contrived. I also agree with the previous reviewer about the abusive husband and the Romani prejudice. This part of the plot from episode two was rather distasteful.

One of my other gripes is Matt Ryan's so-called "Liverpool" accent. Sorry Matt, but you can't do a scouse accent to save your life. Your musical southern Welsh lilt stops your speech from being flat enough. It is just off putting for me with it being the main character. Eeeek, I hate being so blunt, but John Constantine is supposed to be from Liverpool. I think the speech coach needs to have a wet haddock smacked around his or her head for thinking that aiming for a broad scouse accent was a good idea if the actor can't pull it off. A softer version or even a generic "northern" accent might have been more achievable. Or perhaps find an actor with the accent in his repertoire already. It's a very difficult accent to get right.

I shall reserve judgement for maybe one more episode, but there is a lot of well-acted, brilliantly produced TV out there these days that Constantine needs to improve otherwise they'll take it down to the knacker's yard.

Something happens and eight complete strangers end up fighting for survival together. What has happened to create the chaos on Earth, why it has happened and how are they all linked? I really loved this pilot. I have heard that it has received the green light from Amazon and its customers so more episodes will be forthcoming soon. Really soon I hope!