Lucy

The Leftovers is first and foremost an absolutely amazing show. Secondly, it’s a show that’s impossible to describe. The best I can come up with is its a show about sad people, attempting to cope with change and ultimately be happy. It’s certainly the weirdest but most grounded and human drama I’ve ever watched (if that makes sense) and feels very therapeutic and philosophical at the same time. It’s a piece of art but also a tv show, portraying deep themes including belief, faith in God, grief, free will, fate and acceptance with grace and humanity rarely seen on television. I’ve laughed so hard, wept so much but ultimately become intensely invested in such a great tv show.

The show breaks bold ground in storytelling, providing a realistic look at the world after a Biblical upheaval (2% of the world’s population disappearing). The storytelling, world building and character development are all superb, and if you’re in for a rewarding, well acted, slow burner of a show, this aces all three. I pride myself on my predicting skills when watching tv shows and I can honestly say that I predicted little to none of the main events throughout the three season run. The show takes adventurous leaps and joins up the dots in a genius way, providing intrigue and unpredictability for all viewers.

I’ve watched a few ‘coping with a disaster’ shows, and although this one has more religious/spiritual elements than most, it feels the most grounded out of all of them. The characters are real, relatable people, really sad and distraught people, and we watch them cope with change and pick up their lives 3 years on from the world’s biggest upheaval. The first season deals with Kevin Garvey and how he, as chief of police, copes with the cult of The Guilty Remnant, his family dynamics and securing his own mental sanity. The small town feel of the first season is great and establishes an ensemble cast of characters and where they are in their lives brilliantly for when the show moves locations in season 2.

Seasons 2 and 3 deal more with the wider effects of The Sudden Departure, how it affects communities, the wider world and what it means for those who have remained. The themes of belief and religious undertones highlight the uncertainty felt by all the characters, and each one of them has their core beliefs shaken during the show’s run - providing excellent character growth and opportunities for relationships to blossom and be destroyed.

I love how Kevin and Nora tackle the unusual events in their lives, their teamwork is admirable and genuine love is such a powerful driving force for the whole Garvey extended family. Kevin baring his soul and his vulnerability definitely provides the show with some of its most powerful moments. As chief of police, he isn’t afraid to open up and showcase the huge range of emotions he hs in relation to his family, mental health and the fate of the communities he serves. Justin Theroux delivers a stand out performance every season, showing us many sides to a complex man. Nora is an absolute delight with her scepticism, bluntness and dry humour but she is also not afraid to show how wounded she is too by the loss of her family. Her character arc is wonderful and so grounded in the new relationships she forms, as well as with those she has lost. I could talk in depth about every main character on this show as they’re all so fully formed and unique, I applaud the writing team yet again on some excellent characterisation.

It’s hard to believe that the entirety of The Leftovers is only 28 episodes long. Few shows could hope to achieve the amount of character development, scale and rewarding emotional moments that The Leftovers achieves in such a short three season run. It’s definitely a show that has made me think about my own beliefs and one where the characters and their journeys will stay with me for a long time afterwards.

The Punisher was many things, a great exploration of the character Frank Castle, a wealth of gritty action sequences and many unexpected feelings for a computer nerd and his family. Its strength was its excellent characters and interlinking plot lines, combined with the raw horrors of war and intense action scenes.

This show has some of the most well choreographed action and fight scenes I’ve seen in a long time! The Punisher utilises proper, military-style fighting using close hand-to-hand combat, knives, guns and brute strength to adapt and succeed at defeating his opponents whatever the situation. The adaptability of Frank’s fighting hones in on his extensive military background and made the fight scenes feel authentic and true to character (no mystical superpowers here). Violent and gruesome at times, the blood and body count is high, some of the scenes are not for the faint-hearted but they did a great job to show the true horrors of war (both military and more personal) in a way that didn’t glorify the violence or the use of guns. Throughout the season, there is a really impressive balance of using violence for survival, for a means to an end and choosing not to be violent in some situations.

As well as super action moments. credit has to be given to Jon Bernthal for carrying the entire series and his perfect portrayal of the Frank Castle. He nails the physical presence, the action stunts, the taut, intense tactical scenes and the emotional range of a veteran all in a performance that is refined and restrained in equal measure. His performance drives the show forwards and definitely kept me watching through the slower parts of the show.

The show has three main threads that link together; Frank and his vigilante mission to avenge his family, Homeland security and their investigation into Frank and illegal black ops missions and the veterans group struggles including Lewis and his struggles. All the plot lines weave together fairly predictably and bonus cameos from the rest of the Marvel tv-verse (Turk, Karen Page and her newspaper colleagues) pop up every now and again to flesh out the universe nicely (even if they feel more like cameos).

Frank and Micro’s quest to live as free men was easily the most interesting part of the show. Frank is such a great character and watching his harrowing backstory over the course of the season really added depth and meaning to his journey to freedom. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I came to care for Micro and his self-imposed exile to save his family. He and Frank worked brilliantly as a love/hate buddy duo and also as trusted friends and confidants in their times of need. Their relationship developed and grew naturally in response to their predicaments and they provided some of the most hilarious and emotional moments of the show together.

Each storyline had its merits, but the Homeland security side of things got dry fairly quickly. Madani and Stein are a likeable duo, but there’s only so many office meetings and tactical discussions you can watch, especially after you eliminate one half of the duo. Lewis and the other veterans scenes were played sensitively and realistically and it was refreshing to see veterans talk so openly in a tv show. However, turning Lewis into a villain with a vendetta against the world felt like lazy writing and predictably he self-destructs in the final third of the season.

The final episodes of the season felt much more dynamic than the earlier parts of the season. The confrontations between Frank and both Rawlins and Billy Russo had been built up to brilliantly through their interactions all season and the intense flashbacks. By the time the fights were happening, they felt personal and the heightened emotionally intensity hit you in the gut really strong. Excellent direction of both fight sequences! Billy vs Frank was a masterclass in suspense, tactical warfare and also in changing friendships. You certainly felt the pain of both men whilst they were trying to salvage a friendship whilst ultimately destroying each other for their own diverging beliefs.

Billy Russo was a good character (and a worthy opponent for Frank) that had a small development arc in the series but really it would have been super if his backstory had been fleshed out more to put him more on a par with Frank. It would have cemented his role more as an equal antagonist as well as given him more of a depth to his intentions instead of simply being shown to be driven by money and a sense of childhood injustice. Hopefully, with the reveal of his survival at the end of the season, we’ll see an interesting, developing antagonist in season 2.

Overall I did enjoy the show but as well as a few dry plot lines, predictability and clunky dialogue (gosh some of it was bad), my main issue with the show is the pacing. It takes an AGE to get going, the last 3-4 episodes are where everything falls into place and kicks off - they’re by far the best parts of the season. Though should it really take 9-10 episodes to set up a show? The storylines could have easily been condensed into 8 episodes, without losing the characterisation (and all the scenes where Micro and Frank talk about missing their wives could have been cut).

Either way, I’m always going to be happy to have more Frank Castle in the Marvel tv-verse. A second season has promise, especially if they continue the story of Frank’s recovery and set up more with Billy. Also, someone get Frank to meet Jessica Jones, please!

Mindhunter has become one of my favourite new shows of 2017. An intriguing story, excellently acted and directed with compelling characters, plenty of scope for expansion and a great 70s soundtrack all seamlessly weld to form one of the freshest crime dramas in recent years.

Mindhunter is a gloriously meticulous look at how the FBIs Behavioural Science Unit (BSU) was formed and developed by key characters Holden Ford, Bill Tench and Wendy Carr. As a fan of shows such as Criminal Minds, which is set in the Behavioural Analysis Unit of the FBI, this was like a prequel/origin story I never knew I needed!

It was fascinating to see the BSU in its early days, building a department in a basement, with lack of support and methods other than gut instinct and early academic research - lots of terms such as serial killer, unsub, signature, MO, disorganised and organised offenders and others which I’ve absorbed as part of my crime drama vocabulary haven’t even been invented yet in the 70s and the team spend time deciding classifying each term and inventing new ones based on their research and interviews with killers. A fascinating process to watch on screen and one of the ways in which Mindhunter feels different to other crime shows - they’re right at the beginning of modern FBI terms and techniques, everything is new and exciting to the team, which translates well to us. I was certainly excited when they began classifying crimes!

Holden Ford holds the show together really well (and it’s great to see Jonathan Groff shine in a dramatic rather than a musical role) and his burning desire to solve cases, develop the BSU and learn from killers provides much of the momentum for the series. His gut instincts and more unorthodox methods of interviewing are radically different to modern ‘standard’ FBI procedure and we see him develop as an interrogator and researcher throught the season. His girlfriend Debbie is more than just a ‘love interest’ - she has her own post-grad research to do and isn’t afraid to call Holden out every time he gets carried away (more Debbie next season please).

Bill Tench is a great partner for Holden, as his grounded personality and powerful, thoughtful presence in every scene he’s in really ties Holden down to reality and also exemplifies his professionalism and experience as an FBI agent. The chemistry and companionship these two characters provide each other is less ‘buddy cop’ and more ‘nerdy psychology detectives who happen to be nephew and uncle’. When the wonderfully self assured and highly intellectual Wendy Carr is introduced as the more academic member of the team, it create a lovely balance of personalities and work colleagues that is more familiar of real work places, rather than the usual crime drama stereotype police procedural characters.

As well as the main characters, the serial killer that are interviewed across the season are spectacularly brought to life by the actual interview scripts from real life serial killers and the actors themselves. I certainly felt uneasy watching the interviews, but also desperate to know what was going to be said next and which killers were playing mind games and which just wanted attention.

The cinematography and atmosphere of the show was simply stunning, ranging from creepy, intense, uncomfortable, intriguing to very funny. Bill Tench’s dry humour and some of the quips he and Holden have just laugh out loud funny and for a serious crime drama, I found lots of moments to laugh. David Fincher does an excellent job of balancing the tone of each episode and scene as well as making it look beautiful - the 70s look is done without a lot of grime and smoke, it’s grey and dark and haunting all at once. Everything from the slow set up of a recording tape juxtaposed with murder scenes is compelling and sets you on the edge of your seat before the episode even begins. Also the use of 70s music during key scenes was very effective at driving the narrative (and I’ve started listening to a lot of the tracks too!)

I think what really sets Mindhunter apart from other similar shows is the lack of a ‘case of the week’ formula. Some episodes have a single case, some episodes feature the same case multiple times, some episodes have long interviews, other have more action, some have deep discussions and psychological debates, others just have crimes taking place. It’s a real mixture that flows far more naturally than squeezing a crime, case and resolution into every single episode. The more free flowing structure allows for characters to come and go, cases to be dropped and picked up again and for interviews with killers to be spread out over the season - building relationships with killers and fellow cops naturally and organically which I really liked.

I’m looking forward to more character development from our main team next season as well as seeing if there’s any truth to the popular “Holden is developing into a serial killer” theory going around the internet (personally I think he’ll be fine). Also the mystery of the ADT man and his rather weird behaviour in each cold open will hopefully be resolved. Either way, there’s plenty more for the Mindhunter team to research and investigate, and I can’t wait for it (as well as another travelling montage, please?)

A great afterparty for the show, with good hearted discussions and interesting insights into the production process of making and writing the show as well as talking about character and plot developments. All the cast and crew came across as very likeable and Jim Rash does a great job of leading the discussions.

I sobbed my heart out watching this. A fitting farewell for the most well loved characters, if a heartbreaking one. Although a times a little unrealistic, The Final Break told an enagaging story, with established characters all having a moment to shine and a place in the story that suited them and the plot.

It was so good to see a glimpse of what happened in the 4 year gap between the last episode and the final scene of season 4, also some nice fanservice with the opening wedding scene! The characters, conversations and values of the rest of the show are all there in this Final Break and I appreciated how everything was linked together and executed so well.

I cried and cried whilst watching the final 20 minutes, amazing acting and character reaction/progression that truly was a fitting send off for such a great show.

The Handmaid’s Tale is a perfectly executed drama, written with great finese and shown at the perfect time - this is important tv and a must watch for everyone. The source material of Margaret Atwood’s novel is beautifully incorporated and expanded through 10 thought provoking and gripping episodes.

I studied the book at school and was amazed reading it at how timeless the text was - it could have been set anywhere, during any time period. This timeless feeling was incorporated well into the show, but it was made even more relevant to current events by having the flashbacks be of modern/current life, which made the civil war and events leading up to the creation of Gilead all the more real, and really rather terrifying in suggesting that the events shown could potentially happen in our own, near future.

There is a huge amount of impressive and detailed world building in this first season and it’s amazing to see the scope of a military/religious and tightly controlled power reigning almost unopposed (only concerned with providing environmentally friendly energy and raising birth rates by whatever means necessary). I could have really done with a wee bit more plot overall, but the large amount of flashbacks to the ‘old days’, and seeing the creation of Gilead from different perspectives, gave a greater insight into several characters and gave the whole show a more ‘grey tone’ which was certainly interesting!

All the actors are brilliantly cast, and Elizabeth Moss is perfect as Offred, showcasing a huge range of emotions flawlessly and narrating the early episodes so well that the narration itself provides a ambience that reflects the dark, untrusting atmosphere of the series. She is truly deserving of her Emmy! However, most of the actors could have vied for one - there were some truly great performances bouncing off each other all through the season.

There are of course lots of importance themes discussed and shown in the series; loss, hope vs fear, feminism, brutality, agency, dystopia, religious symolisim - to be honest I could go on. So many current and important issues are explored which provide a glimpse into a shocking alternate future, that really is closer to science fact than science fiction.

I’m really hoping that season 2 expands the world of Gilead and possibly the hope of a real resistance movement to change the future of everyone in Gilead, but most importantly for the Handmaid’s who get by far the worst end of the deal, which we watch time and time again (and it’s certainly never easy to watch). The focus on each handmaid’s face during each ‘ceremony’ sharply reminds us who is really paying for Gilead’s war and why this show is called “The Handmaid’s Tale”. This story belongs to them, and at this point in the show’s narrative, it’s one of the few things that truly is theirs.

A wonderfully calm and comforting show, all the characters were magical and I used to watch the show on VHS forgetting they were toys! As a child I was definitely a big fan of Bagpuss, the furry old catpuss :)

Definitely the best British DIY show, they always produce such fantastic results in such a short timescale and seem to have a great time whilst doing it! I love how the "Big Build" seasons give a whole house back to families who really need it, it certainly changes their lives for the better and makes some truly emotional watching.

The team has remained pretty much the same throughout the 25+ seasons, and they all seem like such nice, caring and hardworking people. Would love to have a cuppa with the crew sometime!

This show is hillarious! Even if you don't know the guests, it's still an absolute treat watching them attempt to lie and convince the other guests of their lies or the truth. You can even play along at home and work out if it's a truth or lie, which adds to the fun. The best parts of the show are when the lies/truths snowball out of control, and everybody knows it!

This was such an inventive children's show, really well thought out and made good use of the limited CGI budget it had! Great to see such friendship between the child characters and good uses of all their powers to solve problems/defeat enemies etc. It also stars Jessica Hendrick (now more famous for GOT and Iron Fist) in the lead role as a martial artist and protective sister. She's great in this, and her performance is worth a watch alone.