It matters that Tannie Maria (aka Maria Purvis) is the most likable amateur detective introduced in a long while because it means longevity - we look forward to seeing her again and willing to spend some of our time with her. Big credit goes to actress Maria Doyle Kennedy (who played one of the most hated characters in Downtown Abbey - Vera Bates). The series has an easy-going character driven style for the most part laced with some tension and a dash of the macabre with loads of humour, creating its own idiosyncratic take on the 'cottage-murder-mystery'. The cinematography, acting, music, story-telling and recipes work well together. Sure there is room for improvement, a bit of tweaking here and there but a solid first season worth the viewing and second helping.
Reviews
4 Reviews
Unabashed escapism on its own terms, no milquetoast
6 June 2022
Not based on a book serial nor true life story, the creators/writers trust the audience's intelligence and ability to connect the dots and fill-in the non-essential details while offering a fun nod-and-a-wink relationship with the clued-up genre fans that creates its own pleasure. Best to enjoy Signora Volpe on its own terms - or simply skip it.
Why do some viewers insist an actress stay in a pigeonhole? Committing outright stereotyping! Actual real-life spies have stated for the record that super-spy (now super hero) James Bond is a male fantasy - pure fictional escapism; Now let the females explore theirs, though Emilia's unthreatening Sylvia Fox is closer to reality than 007 is. Every woman who has taken self-defense and martial arts courses knows the power of her lower-center of gravity, to use the opponent's own force to their disadvantage, how to use the hardest/strongest parts of her body, leveraging with the element of surprise which were all executed well in this first episode. Sylvia Fox doesn't jog; she runs like boxers do every day - her body is lean, conditioned and flexible. While her opponents may have had more size and weight, they rely on their weapons thus are out-of-shape to bout. When she knows back up is needed, she has assessed the conditions, even wisely asks a favor of techno-savvy Raffaela (ep.2). Emilia Fox's Signora Volpe is a multilingual markswoman, smart, perceptive, compassionate, and skilled - can drive like Bond and knows the trick to winning a scooter race. You got the salient point if you think she doesn't come off as a badass super spy but Sylvia can kick-ass.
Why do some viewers insist an actress stay in a pigeonhole? Committing outright stereotyping! Actual real-life spies have stated for the record that super-spy (now super hero) James Bond is a male fantasy - pure fictional escapism; Now let the females explore theirs, though Emilia's unthreatening Sylvia Fox is closer to reality than 007 is. Every woman who has taken self-defense and martial arts courses knows the power of her lower-center of gravity, to use the opponent's own force to their disadvantage, how to use the hardest/strongest parts of her body, leveraging with the element of surprise which were all executed well in this first episode. Sylvia Fox doesn't jog; she runs like boxers do every day - her body is lean, conditioned and flexible. While her opponents may have had more size and weight, they rely on their weapons thus are out-of-shape to bout. When she knows back up is needed, she has assessed the conditions, even wisely asks a favor of techno-savvy Raffaela (ep.2). Emilia Fox's Signora Volpe is a multilingual markswoman, smart, perceptive, compassionate, and skilled - can drive like Bond and knows the trick to winning a scooter race. You got the salient point if you think she doesn't come off as a badass super spy but Sylvia can kick-ass.
Under the Vines
(2021– )
Character-driven romantic comedy
7 January 2022
This lighthearted series is a character-driven romantic comedy set in a fictional town in southern New Zealand's beautiful Otago wine country, offering up quirky characters living in a wine region with its own 'law of the land' and 'rules of the road' for the self-indulgent Brit lawyer (Charles Edwards) and Aussie socialite (Rebecca Gibney), each denying their own eccentric mid-life challenges, to navigate.
Of course, inheriting the vineyard of the late Stanley Oakley does not meet the two outsiders' expectations nor does it fix their personal issues - rather compounding and exasperating them instead - adjusting to being its reluctant joint 'sole-owners' is the new journey they find themselves on. Each cast members' character arc provide for some unexpected surprises, both humorous and touching.
Similar but different from its predecessors like Northern Exposure to 800 Words series, Under the Vines' difference is in the romance of the vines with its enveloping surroundings and night skies make for an easy-going and satisfying weekly tasting.
Of course, inheriting the vineyard of the late Stanley Oakley does not meet the two outsiders' expectations nor does it fix their personal issues - rather compounding and exasperating them instead - adjusting to being its reluctant joint 'sole-owners' is the new journey they find themselves on. Each cast members' character arc provide for some unexpected surprises, both humorous and touching.
Similar but different from its predecessors like Northern Exposure to 800 Words series, Under the Vines' difference is in the romance of the vines with its enveloping surroundings and night skies make for an easy-going and satisfying weekly tasting.
Frankie Drake Mysteries
(2017–2021)
The lead actress is the problem
10 October 2018
Every successful mysteries has casted a lead, either female or male, who can carry the show, surprise the audience and is a character one wants to spend time with (once a week and more). Unfortunately, this does not happen in this series, I'd rather hangout with the supporting cast anyday, leaving Frankie to man-the-phone! According to interveiws Director Cal Coons chose the lead actress, leaving her in the role as he left the show before Season 2 began shooting. A star each for the talented three supporting cast members who carry the series along with the guest cast members.
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