sasha99 Reviews

Obsession (2023)

Deja Vu all over again

[5/10 · 13 April 2023]

"A member of Parliament falls passionately in love with his son's fiancée. They pursue their affair with obsessive abandon despite the dangers of discovery and what it would do to his complacent life and his son...." Sound familiar? This is the plot of the fabulously erotic 1992 film "Damage" starring Jeremy Irons and Juliette Binoche. (Based on the novel by Josephine Hart.) Change MP to Dr. And you have "Obsession." Both even have the initial moment of locking eyes across a crowded room. Don't get me wrong-- I have a crush on Richard Armitage, and he's a worthy successor to my all-time heartthrob Jeremy (who, let's face it, is getting too old for this sort of thing). And who doesn't love a good, all-consuming erotic obsession that wrecks a bunch of lives? I'm no killjoy.

But check out the 1992 film, too, and the novel while you're at it.

P. S. In "Damage," the fiancee is also Anna, and the wife is also Ingrid.

The Bay (2019– )

Drab, depressing, miserable characters -- cops and everyone else

[4/10 · 12 April 2023]

I watch lots of UK murder/cop/procedural shows, but this one wins the prize for having the most miserable, dysfunctional characters and families. Not just the citizens, but the cops' families, too. And every week it just gets worse. The contentious marriages, infidelity, bullying at school, dad dies alone in nursing home during lockdown, Down Syndrome child doesn't realize her mum is dead and not coming back, lead cop and her teacher husband struggle with their blended family, gay boy picked on at school, on and on. It gives meaning to the saying, "If it weren't for bad luck, these people wouldn't have any luck at all." Still, for some inexplicable reason, I keep watching it. I must love pain.

The setting is pretty. So there's that.

BTW, I'm in the US and have had no problem with the accents. Of course, I always have captions on, even American shows.

North & South: Episode #1.4 (2004) Season 1, Episode 4

Let's hear it for low-key eroticism!

[10/10 · 6 February 2023]

I had heard of this series for years and finally watched the whole thing in one sitting yesterday. I heartily endorse the positive comments posted by other reviewers re the casting, acting, character development, production values, costumes, music, etc.

I just want to add: >>Richard Armitage, where have you been all my life?? <<

The last bit of Episode 4 (at the train station) have to be among the most sublimely romantic minutes in TV history.* Without touching her Thornton envelopes Margaret with his feelings. Where before his face was tight and stern through most of the series, now a smile plays on his softened lips. With his collar open and neck exposed, he is welcoming and glowing with affection. She is reserved and hesitant until he takes her hand in his for only the third time in the show. After a moment she quickly brings it to her lips. Wow! Let's hear it for subtle eroticism. I've watched that scene several times and it is perfect.

(Poor Henry! Well, he comes into his own as the very attractive thief and con man Hercule Flambeau in the Father Brown series. ) __________ *Possibly matched only by the closing minutes of My Mother and Other Strangers -- the passionate flying embrace between Hattie Morahan and Aaron Staton at the end.

Bull: The Missing Piece (2018) Season 3, Episode 5

I saw it coming but I still didn't believe it until it happened

[5/10 · 28 January 2023]

"When the impossible has been eliminated, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth." -Sherlock Holmes

Well it WAS improbable as heck, and even while it was bearing down on us, I didn't believe it. Deus ex machina. Resolved: must not resort to cheap plot tricks in the future.

What was with the ADA wanting a drink of liquor at lunch when no one else was drinking? That seemed out of place.

The police sending a DNA sample to several genealogy companies on a fishing expedition-- yikes! Would Jack McCoy have endorsed this-- I think not!

I like Taylor (the new Cable). She fits right in. She's willing to bend the law for the Greater Good.

Endeavour: Zenana (2020) Season 7, Episode 3

Season 7 left a bad taste in my mouth

[3/10 · 31 January 2022]

These are my comments on season 7 in general.

I've watched all the episodes of seasons 1 through 6 over and over. I swore I'd never watch season 7 again after the first time. But anticipating the airing of season 8 (finally!) in the USA, I thought, "How bad could it have been?" I got my answer.

I can't believe how far the series has slipped from tightly-plotted, layered episodes like "Trove," "Girl," and "Game." (Gotsta use the Oxford comma, don'tcha know. ;-) ) Heck, even the pilot was eons better than any of season 7.

I know Endeavour the character has to morph into the cranky, arrogant, self-destructive, loser-in-love Inspector Morse, and the relationship with Thursday has to deteriorate, but Lord, it's painful to watch.

One of the best continuing themes has been the growth and maturation of Jim Strange. Likewise the humanization of Reginald Bright. Max Debryn has always been the one I most wanted to take home and cuddle with, his day job notwithstanding.

From what I've read about season 8, it looks like more pain is in store.

Shetland: Episode #6.4 (2021) Season 6, Episode 4

The episode DOES have subtitles! Reboot your device

[7/10 · 1 December 2021]

Like @jjbordner, I can't watch Shetland without captions. Some British shows I can handle, but not this one. When I first started watching episode 6.4 there were no captions. Rats! No way was I going to be able to follow. I rebooted my Roku TV and the captions were still not there. But when I came back the next day, yes! There they were! So don't give up,

Having said that, even with the captions on, I'm having a very hard time following this season. I may have to go back and watch all the episodes again. It seems to be moving more slowly than usual and there are lots more characters and subplots than usual. For such a small island with few people, there are many complications... I love the series anyway-- the scenery alone is stunning. I like the small police force, and I love Jimmy Perez.

I will, of course, watch the next two episodes and all future ones even if I'm pretty clueless about the plot. Binge-watching has ruined my ability to keep a plot in mind from one week to the next.

Grantchester: Episode #6.7 (2021) Season 6, Episode 7

Leonard is the shining light in this season.

[8/10 · 14 November 2021]

Very dark and emotionally draining episode. Al Weaver was superb. The scene with Leonard addressing a homily to the prisoners had me in tears. I adore the character of Leonard. He is so good, deep, loving, and sincere. I can see why Daniel loves him.

I love Robson Green, but this episode was a tough one. The more I see Will, the more I dislike him. Everything Leonard is, Will is not.

Will's stepsister is a monumentally annoying character, and I don't understand why she's even in the story. Ditto the new curate. He is superfluous, since there likely won't be time to develop his character. Season is almost over.

Line of Duty: The Probation (2012) Season 1, Episode 5

Don't want to go through THAT again...

[2/10 · 25 September 2021]

Are the next five seasons as intense and manipulative of the viewer as this one? I'm out.

There's not one person to care about in the whole group. I'd like to see all of them fired and or thrown in jail. I don't like being jerked around by writers who deliberately push my buttons with throat-cutting, finger amputation, a frozen dismembered corpse, a grinning, sadistic juvenile, and the family dog covered in blood, whimpering as it dies. Cheap shots (as it were)-- anyone can write that garbage. No talent needed.

However, I will say that Gina McKee is one of the most beautiful women in the world. She played Inspector Lewis's first love in that show's first season.

Father Brown (2013– )

This series has been my comfort-binge during the pandemic lockdown

[10/10 · 12 March 2021]

Every evening before bed I sit down and watch one or two episodes of Father Brown. It has been my sanity anchor during this last year of total isolation (I live alone). One of my favorite places in the fictional world is the big table in the presbytery kitchen, preferably with a pot of tea and a big plate of strawberry scones. (I've never read any of the G.K. Chesterton stories, so I don't have anything to say about authenticity.)

I love that Mrs. McCarthy always wears a hat, even inside. I love that all the women wear gloves all the time. I love Lady Felicia's crooked smile, and the fact that no matter how many dead bodies are strewn around, a cup of tea will always make things better. I love that Fr. Brown is non-judgmental and compassionate, NOT typical of a 1950s Catholic priest (IME).

I have some favorite episodes that I watch over and over-- one of them is "The Last Man," and it has led me to YouTube videos explaining the game of cricket. "The Bride of Christ" where Fr. Brown has some help from a young Agatha-Christie-reading nun. "The Daughters of Jerusalem" where a pajama-clad Fr. Brown solves the crime from his attic convalescent room with the help of his two right-hand women. "The Rod of Asclepius," which finds the two women hospitalized and on the trail of a murderer.

There are some mistakes and anachronisms regarding Catholic liturgical ritual. Some scenes show post-Vatican II changes, which would not have been used in the 1950s. The Council occurred in 1963.

But my biggest gripe is with Lady Felicia. Being called Lady FELICIA means she's the daughter of a peer. If so, then how can her husband be the Earl of Montague? OTOH if the estate is his, and she married him, then she would be "Lady Montague," not Lady Felicia. And for God's sake, do not have her introduce herself with her title! A titled lady would never do that-- she would introduce herself simply as "Felicia Montague." This bugs me every time she does it... but obviously I can live with it.

Endeavour: Icarus (2018) Season 5, Episode 6

I finally figured something out

[10/10 · 18 July 2020]

I've watched the whole Endeavour series over and over again, maybe as many as 10 times in all. The stories are so multilayered and intricate that I am still discovering details that illuminate plot points, even after multiple viewings.

Before I launch into some major spoilers regarding "Icarus" and all of season 6 which follows, I'll just note one tip: watch the first minute or two of every episode very closely, and you will likely see the clue upon which the whole plot pivots. You won't know this the first time you see it, but by the 5th time or so you might.

MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW... * * * * * I never liked the character George Fancy, and frankly, was not sorry to see him go, but as I was watching "Icarus" for the upty-umpth time and once again shouting at George to stay in the car and not go in to where Cromwell Ames was getting ready to have it out with Eddie Nero. But this time, during the course of the episode, I noticed that George had in fact, improved and matured as a cop. The last thing he said to Thursday was, "I won't let you down." He was going to play it by the book to make Thursday proud (even if Morse had no time for him). So why DID he go into the snooker parlor when Jim Strange had told him to "stand fast"? * * * * SPOILERS FOR SEASON SIX We come to find out in the season six story arc that corrupt cops all the way to the top have been behind everything. We saw the beginnings of this in The Pilot. We find out that the bullet that killed Fancy was from a gun that had gone missing from a police evidence store. Eventually we come to realize that it was police who had killed George.

That's the missing piece of the puzzle: George did not rush into the snooker parlor on his own, in defiance of Strange's directive. Other cops arrived on the scene while George was waiting for his colleagues, and he went in with them, not knowing that one of them would kill him because he was the only witness to their massacre of Ames, Nero, and everyone on the scene.

It wasn't because of his naivete, stupidity, and lack of experience that he didn't wait in the car. He joined some other cops in the raid, probably at their invitation. I won't go into who-- but we do find out in season six. George knew them already.

Maybe everyone else already figured this out, but today it finally clicked for me.

The Royal Today (2008)

A 50-episode season 1, then NOTHING??

[8/10 · 7 May 2020]

I watched the original series The Royal and enjoyed it. This picks up the same hospital in modern times and continues the mix of comedy, drama, soap opera, always wrapping up within the 30-minute time frame. All well and good.

MAJOR SPOILER FOLLOWS-- BE WARNED

I got to episode 50 of this single season and was INFURIATED that it ended the same way as the FINAL episode of the original series, namely with a principle character in surgery! That's it! Does he survive? Who knows? Several relationship angles were left dangling, too. Cliffhangers are traditional at the end of a season. But when the series is cancelled??

The original series also ended with Dr. Ormerod (father of the modern series' Dr. Jonathan) in surgery after being shot by an intruder. And that was all she wrote! Absolutely maddening.

If anyone decides to watch this and has read my comments so far-- and I do recommend the series-- just watch 49 episodes and skip the last one. You might be tempted to throw something at your TV!

London Kills (2019– )

This show is a train wreck...

[2/10 · 7 February 2020]

...but as with a real train wreck, you just keep watching. I've only watched the first season (4 episodes) so far. Don't know if I will watch more.

Why aren't there any other staff populating all the desks in the huge squad room? Camera work seems designed to hide the fact that there are no other people around. Lots of close-ups of faces. They could resort to old-fashioned matte shots. Surely there's a teenage CGI expert among the high schoolers producing this. I guess the cops in uniform are relatives of the production staff that they didn't have to pay much?

Tell Rob if he's going to make the Sign of the Cross when he encounters a corpse to at least do it correctly! It's forehead- chest- LEFT- RIGHT shoulder, not RIGHT- LEFT shoulder. Unless he's Byzantine or Russian Orthodox, in which case I apologize. They do it that way.

Also, could he and Hugo Speer please shave?

These cops are rude and disrespectful to each other, skeptical of each other's ideas, and keep information from each other. For no apparent reason. Vivienne is the original ice princess with (I presume) formaldehyde in her veins.

Billie the beautiful "trainee" is smarter and has more emotional intelligence than the "seasoned pros," but she is showing exceptionally poor judgment WRT to-- you know-- the dreadlocks/homeless girl. 'Nuff said. That can't possibly go well.

Emergence (2019–2020)

My review of season 1 (13 episodes)

[6/10 · 4 February 2020]

I just finished watching episode 13 (season 1). As expected, it was the end of Act One, and there was some resolution, but there will be more to follow. Not sure I can slog through another 13. I liked the series okay--I don't generally watch anything scifi-ish, so I can't compare it to others of that genre. Here are some random comments, in no particular order: 1. I usually hate shows that have a kid as the focal point, but I gotta say that Piper was darling. Precocious, to be sure, but still enough of a kid to be endearing. Not sassy or cocky, but truly trying to figure stuff out as she went along. 2. I also appreciated that Jo's daughter Mia was polite, respectful, loving and not at all the norm for divorced female TV cops, namely, saddled with kids who are sullen, rude, withdrawn, eye-rolling PITAs. Very refreshing. 3. Also refreshing that the cute FBI guy ignored the young, skinny redhead at the office (who clearly was interested) and made out with the chubby, middle-aged, plain Jane Jo. 4. Re Jo: if she tucked her hair behind her left ear one more time, I was going to throw a rock through the TV. But she let her hair hang down in her face on the right side. WTF? Tie the whole mess back, girlfriend! And stop making those funny corkscrew movements with your mouth. 5. Even after Jo figured out that Piper had "powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men (sic)," she still treated the kid like a 10-year old. "You will NOT use your superpowers, do you hear! Or I'll ground you forever!" Jo, show her some respect for Pete's sake. 6. During the last two episodes (while the crew was hiding on Plum Island), the line, "We've gotta get outta here NOW!" was uttered by someone approximately 784 times. 7. I liked Grandpa. The ham radio thing was clever. I guess Piper will cure his cancer next season. 8. Alex the ex was nice, too. I don't want him to move to DC, because I don't want Piper and Mia to be separated. But I didn't get any lingering chemistry between him and Jo. 9. Benny had been on The Mentalist, credibly playing an American in that series. 10. Something that bugs me about shows where weird stuff happens is that even after multiple examples of events that cannot be explained by (obvious) rational means, skepticism is still rampant. In the very last episode, Alex suggests something and Jo says, "Are you insane?" After EVERYTHING crazy that has happened, she still acts like it's the pilot episode. Alex correctly points out that the whole thing is insane.

Grantchester: Episode #4.2 (2019) Season 4, Episode 2

Good procedural

[4/10 · 15 July 2019]

At least some real crime-solving went on in Sidney's swan song. I was surprised at who the perp turned out to be. But here's what I can't get over: he broke up with Amanda and leaves the Church anyway?? I can't forgive him for that. And as I mentioned in another review, the phony Alabama accent was excruciating to listen to. Even Americans who aren't from the South can't do an accurate Southern accent. No wonder the Brits can't do it. Except maybe Kenneth Branagh-- he probably could.

Grantchester: Episode #4.1 (2019) Season 4, Episode 1

No more fake American Southern accents, please

[2/10 · 15 July 2019]

I've loved this series. Up until now. Confused story line. The phony accents of were appalling. Sidney's existential crisis was painful to watch. I didn't perceive any chemistry between him and Violet. A dismal episode.

Topper (1953–1955)

Heads up! There is now a Roku channel where you can stream Topper!

[10/10 · 15 June 2019]

I loved this show as a kid. It's fun to watch it again.

The Royal: Stolen Dreams (2008) Season 7, Episode 6

Watch this episode at your own risk - or don't watch it but read my whole review instead

[8/10 · 27 April 2019]

I've been bingeing steadily on this series for the past couple of weeks. The setting is great, the cast, the plots, the era-- I like it all. The soundtrack is incredible! I was a young adult in the 1960s and know every one of these songs. How did they afford the royalties (excuse the pun)? Beatles? Simon & Garfunkel?

When you binge on a series, you can observe a trend that likely isn't apparent when you watch one episode a week and then wait a few months for a new season ("series," to you Brits) to begin. What I have observed is that over the years the situations have gotten darker and darker, more troubling, more challenging, and with fewer satisfactory endings. Maybe this reflects those troubled times. However...

MAJOR SPOILER FOLLOWS!! . . . YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. . . . . . . . This episode is the epitome of this trend toward darkness-- toward the abyss, in fact. I watched it last night and wish now I hadn't. I can't get it out of my mind.

The whole episode deals with the collapse of an amusement arcade and the attempts (some successful, some not) to rescue the people trapped in the rubble. A philandering couple, a boy with hemophilia-- resolved well. A father comes to the site of the arcade looking for his daughter, Louise. Stella impulsively rushes into the massive wreckage to look for the girl. Some of the structure collapses and traps her--although she does find Louise and comforts her.

When Frankie arrives on the scene, HE impulsively rushes in to rescue Stella, naturally, against all efforts to stop him. He has become aware that he is in love with Stella. He finds her and now they are trapped together, he comforting her and she allowing it. Frankie discovers that Louise is dead. This happens (if I recall) about 30 minutes into the hour. The rest of the time sees other plot points furthered and resolved back at The Royal, with frequent checkins with Stella and Frankie in their dark, dusty, dangerous trap.

Then there is the discovery of leaking gas.

Then the unthinkable happens.

The whole place goes up like a fireball and Stella and Frankie are killed.

I was stunned. I didn't expect that in THIS show. To make us suffer for practically the whole hour and then dramatically kill two main characters in the last few minutes? I really felt as though my emotions were being toyed with and manipulated. I feel like this was the violation of some sort of producer-writer-viewer agreement. I'm not saying this has to be a 100% "feel good" show-- it never was that. No show about a hospital could be. But this constituted Jumping the Shark in my opinion. The Royal went off the rails.

I AM curious to see where it goes now, and I only have a season and a half left, so I will continue to watch. Is this supposed to be "modern"? Nothing is sacred, no one is safe? Cop shows do it, other mainstream hospital shows do it. I didn't think The Royal was of that genre, (shrug) What do I know?

Mayday (2013)

Too long, moved at the pace of molasses in January

[2/10 · 11 May 2017]

Skip it--not worth the time.

**Contains massive and explicit spoilers below**

**You have been warned**

This is one of the grimmest stories I've ever watched. Normally I like BBC productions and they're usually pretty good, but this one dragged on and on. This was a village of twisted little freaks. Anyone and everyone could have done it.

Another reviewer called the black ex-cop a heroine, and all I can say is WTF? She framed someone who wasn't the killer in order to save her husband! Yikes.

And an unanswered question: what happened to the body? Confession: I skipped the second-to-last episode because I was bored, but still curious. If the body was found in that episode, I apologize.

City Homicide (2006–2011)

Lean and mean Australian cop show

[10/10 · 22 July 2016]

I've binged my way through many American, British, and a few Australian cop shows and this is one of the best. I'm about halfway through season 2.

If I could describe City Homicide with one word, the word would be "lean." The plots are interesting and the detective work is straightforward. Some of the police work is techie, but most of it is good, old-fashioned research, door-to-door canvassing, and just plain following up leads. And the show avoids injecting unnecessary tension into the process with false leads and red herrings. There's no fat in this show-- just good police work by a capable and compatible ensemble.

There are some character back stories, but they don't shove the crime story to the back burner (as happens in many programs).

City Homicide: In House (2008) Season 2, Episode 3

One of the best hostage dramas I've ever seen

[10/10 · 22 July 2016]

This plot has been used over and over in TV and movies-- guy with an agenda holds some innocent people hostage.

I've never seen that plot handled better than it was in this episode of City Homicide. The episode was mesmerizing, both in the creation of tension and in the fact that you (at least, *I*) did not see where it was going. Every character in every location contributed an important element to the plot and to the ultimate conclusion. The editing in particular was nothing short of brilliant.

I can't say much more without giving anything away, so no spoiler except to say that I cried at the end.

Route 66: I'm Here to Kill a King (1964) Season 4, Episode 23

I saw it filmed

[7/10 · 11 July 2014]

I lived in Niagara Falls when this episode was filmed and my mother and I went downtown to watch some of the scenes being made. Heck, we might even be IN the crowd scene on Main Street. We saw Marty Milner come out of his trailer/dressing room on a side street and he threw this starstruck 15-year old a big smile. (Swooooon...!)

Of course the episode never aired because of the Kennedy assassination later that year. I finally bought the boxed set of the whole series and I'm looking forward to going through all of them, but I skipped ahead and watched this one today.

There are a couple of ironies, besides the "lone gunman" referred to by another reviewer. The king mentions having visited Dallas on his tour. Also, the motorcade really caused flashbacks of the Zapruder footage, except that the Kennedys were in Lincolns (an irony in itself) and the king's entourage were in Cadillacs.

One of the best things about watching this series now is just the backgrounds of the USA in the early 60s. Not to mention that Tina Louise's hair was THE quintessential 1963 hairstyle (I have my high school yearbook from that year to prove it).

Poirot: Sad Cypress (2003) Season 9, Episode 2

Please someone! Tell me who the murderer was!

[5 May 2007]

POSSIBLE SPOILERS BELOW!!

I just watched this on TV, and at precisely 10 before the hour when Poirot was about to explain all, some movers came to my door to pick up some stuff and I had to leave the room! When I came back, Elinor was being let out of jail and got in the car with the doctor. It looked like something was going on between them. So could someone please (with plenty of spoiler warnings) tell me who did it, how, and why. I left right when Poirot was saying that EVERYONE had lied to him. If Elinor didn't do it, why did she say she had no remorse? Was Mary really the daughter? What happened while Mary was away in Europe.

If you don't want to post here, email me at eve0000z at yahoo. Thanks!

Night and Day (1946)

Tjonas, are you reading?

[18 February 2007]

Tjonas, your comments about the gay subtext in Night and Day were very astute. I just finished watching it on TCM and came here to comment, but you said just about everything I was thinking-- and a lot better than I would have said it! I wish you would see DeLovely and come back and post some comments... I'd be very interested in your take on it. I love Kevin Kline and he does a wonderful job. Ashley Judd is exquisitely beautiful, like a young, healthy, sober, radiant Ava Gardner.

I have a 33 1/3 record album from the 40's with Ginny Sims singing all the Cole Porter numbers that she does in the movie and more. I listened to that record hundreds of times when I was a teenager-- know EVERY word and inflection by heart. It was a treat to watch her singing. She had the perfect 1940's face (not 1920's, though).