kian01 Reviews

Hustle (2004–2012)

Below My Expectations

[6/10 · 24 April 2020]

After having watched Live on Mars and Ashes to Ashes, iMDb had recommended Hustle as a similarly great series.

I was so disappointed in the nondescript characters and bleak plots. I gave up after the second episode, feeling that I had seen everything in other films years ago. I mean, years before Hustle started in 2004. From a 2020 point of view it looks even older.

Life on Mars, having been shot only 2 years later, is so much more captivating, even from a 2020 point of view. I guess my disappointment is partly due to the high expectation set be the two series I watched before and iMDb recommending this as similarly exciting.

Still, 6 stars for effort. However, I only watch films and series rated 7 and above.

MI-5 (2002–2011)

Great Series with some Inconsistencies

[8/10 · 24 April 2020]

Once I was able to put the inconsistencies aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this series.

If you have an IT background, you may struggle a little more than others. Also, MI-5 getting into diplomacy is a bit far fetched.

Anyway, the stories and characters are addictive.

Our Girl (2013–2020)

Great Series 1 - Recommend to not watch the others

[8/10 · 22 January 2020]

I watched series 1 in early 2020 when series 4 was already available.

I was positively surprised by the heartfelt story and great acting. If I had had the time, I would have binge-watched this in one session, I just could not wait for the next episode, torn between laughter and tears.

My rating after series 1 would have been 9 stars. Then I started series 2, alas with high expectations that were not met by far. I was so disappointed and disbelieving that I continued watching up to episode 4, after which I gave up. This is just average stuff that I would not have watched for more than 10 minutes if it had not been for the brilliant season 1.

My rating for season 2 is 5 stars at most. I don't expect the sequels to be any better, so I am done with Our Girl - too bad.

My overall rating is still 8 stars, because series 1 is really worth watching.

Recommendation: do enjoy season 1, and then just stop there.

P.S.: Explanation of my personal scale: I usually do not watch anything below 7 stars for lack of time.

Designated Survivor (2016–2019)

Hard to Watch

[4/10 · 10 July 2017]

The first 13 episodes were absolutely lame, I guess even Americans would find the melodrama hard to watch, but for a non-American, this took stamina! I only finished it because I had to stay in bed in hospital.

After episode 13 the plot improved and it was OK to watch - but you have to get thus far in the first place.

Iron Fist (2017–2018)

Not worth the time

[1/10 · 23 March 2017]

First episode, I thought his might be interesting. After the third, I gave up - this really is a waste of time: The story line is a deja-vu from other films - been there, done that.

And martial arts? Sorry, the choreography (if there is any) sucks, and my best guess is that the actors learned a bit of martial arts for this film only - if they did at all.