WARNING - Before reading further, this is not only a review but an analysis of the episode and it's plot so it is almost all spoilers. Only read if you don't mind the plot spoiled or if you have seen the episode.
After giving myself a chance to consider the clues and available information in the third episode and to absorb it, you may say that I have become a teensy bit obsessed with the puzzle of this episode. I fear that no matter what the solution may be, I personally will be disappointed that I no longer have something so deliciously tricky to think about.
As any good Sherlock Holmes fan should know, the great detective was controversially killed off during a plunge with his nemesis Moriarty over the Reichenbach Falls so any fans watching this modern adaptation would be aware that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was pressured to resurrect the sleuth; Therefore Holmes had to survive, he just had to. Also, that and the fact that there is to be a third series of ‘Sherlock’ and this was announced after the airing of the third episode of the second series so there were few surprises in these facts.
The skill with which Steve Thompson, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss weaved the twists and turns of the original story with a modern edge make it truly compelling viewing; I was considering it long after the credits had rolled. From start to finish it was a rollercoaster of a tale and in all honesty, from the moment Sherlock found that Moriarty was back, he looked like he knew that the outcome would be hard. In fact, his plunge from the building at the end of the episode felt inevitable from the moment he set foot on the roof.
The beginning of the episode shows a less than impressed Sherlock Holmes(Benedict Cumberbatch), receiving gifts from grateful parties for his work in solving various crimes, including the case that makes his name – the recovery of the ‘Falls of the Reichenbach’ painting by Turner. He has become well known due to his work and is no longer seen as a private investigator due to his fame. At each gift Sherlock is unimpressed, guessing as to what each gift is before handing it to John Watson (Martin Freeman) with the insistence that he doesn’t want them – implying that he solved the crime not for the reward but only for the solving of the puzzle which is what truly interests him and sustains him – like an addict with a craving, he is never satisfied unless he has a case. He is even seen solving cases from long ago when he mentions a case that the Bow Street Runners failed by ‘missing everything’ – The Bow Street Runners were disbanded long ago – this seems to be an indication that he is in desperate need of something to do.
In a gloriously barmy, yet infinitely playful sequence Moriarty (Andrew Scott) manages to break into The Bank Of England, The Crown Jewels and to release the prisoners from their cells in Pentonville Prison simultaneously. He dances wildly, relishing every moment of his crime, despite the fact he could be captured any moment there seems little urgency in his actions and the music, Rossini’s ‘Thieving Magpie’ sets a suitable backdrop to his almost balletic actions. At the crescendo of the music and on bursting into the room where Moriarty is currently perpetrating the crime the police find him swathed in the crown jewels, sat atop the throne wearing the crown and remarking calmly ‘No rush’. This scene in itself is worthy of several watches, not just for clues but for the sheer impudence of it all leading you to feel humiliated yet strangely admiring the clearly deranged man.
Moriarty has his day in court and Sherlock is to stand against him but due to his haughty manner and usual trait of treating everyone like idiots he ends up in prison for contempt in what appears to be the cell beside Moriarty which could seem somewhat dangerous. Despite an enormous amount of evidence against Moriarty he pleads Not Guilty and his defence offers no appeal so he is expected to be sentenced.
Sherlock comes into contact with an investigative journalist who apprehends him in the restroom at the court, Kitty Reilly (Katherine Parkinson) wants the scoop, the story behind the great detective and in a mouth-watering scene that is almost like a seduction or battle (the two can be so similar) between the two characters circling each other and sizing each other up. Sherlock ends the brief encounter such as it is without any physical contact but with three words "You repel me". Now, to my mind, these words are either throwaway and that people like her did indeed repel him but repel seems like a funny choice of words so I was led down the path of thinking that it wasn’t perhaps the words but what they are when put together – You repel me sounded a lot like ‘Europa me’ or ‘Europe Help me’. With Europa being one of the moons of Jupiter and Moriarty’s three words ‘I Owe You’ this led me to Io, another moon of Jupiter and both moons are classed as ‘The Galilean Moons’ and with the magnetosphere of Jupiter, repel...maybe I’m just reading too much into that. Once I saw that there is a crater on our moon called ‘Reichenbach’ and the fact that mercury is mentioned it seemed like a lot of celestial bodies were being discussed, but again, perhaps I am reading too much into it.
Sherlock is at home when Moriarty is freed and ignoring warnings from Watson he puts the kettle on, almost welcoming Moriarty. Playing his violin Sherlock is calm as Moriarty creeps up the stair in Baker Street, only pausing on hearing the footsteps but both continue somehow knowing each other has nothing to fear. Their exchange takes place over tea in a very stereotypical English way and despite Moriarty sitting in Sherlock's seat there is little fear between the two. They discuss a world with locked doors where the man with the key is king and Moriarty claims to have a key that can open anything, indicating his opening of the vault, the prison and the crown jewels to advertise his key. Moriarty’s discussion of fairy tales only highlights the horrors to come and after a series of veiled threats and the statement ‘I owe you’ he leaves, having carved ‘I O U’ into an apple. The apple seems very in-keeping with all of the themes of the episode; falling angels, the fall of man and with the fairy tales (apple in Snow White – another Grimm fairy tale). Also interestingly, Moriarty’s cup and saucer were the only things that he touched in the room other than the apple and knife and as the tea cup was very distinctive and Sherlock’s was plain – perhaps DNA was extracted following Moriarty’s departure?
John is urged to see Mycroft by surreptitious means and he finds that there are a series of executioners living around Baker Street that appear to be a threat to Sherlock.
Sherlock is thrown into another incident involving the kidnapping of two children and due to Sherlock’s deductions, footprints in linseed oil and Hansel and Gretel similarities the case is solved and the children are recovered – traumatised and poisoned with mercury painted on sweet wrappers voraciously eaten during their hunger but alive.
After Sherlock and John are allowed to question the little girl about the crime she is sent into screaming hysteria even when seeing the face of Sherlock which led me to believe that Moriarty had perhaps either worn a mask or used someone in the kidnapping that looked a lot like Sherlock. Considering the effects of mercury include sensory disturbances and confusion, it would not have been too much of a stretch to believe that Moriarty used someone who looked like Sherlock to kidnap the children or supervise them in the disused factory – perhaps with the right treatment the little girl could have become terrified by Sherlock just because of the experience. This hysteria of the little girl sows the seeds of doubt in the head of the police, coming to the conclusion that the crimes solved by Sherlock may have been orchestrated by him and that he may be a fake. This combined with a hitman being shot because he saved Sherlock and shook his hand appears to indicate that the executioners are not there to kill Sherlock but to duel to get to that which Sherlock holds the secret.
Moriarty is trying to throw doubt on Sherlock at every turn, a small germ of doubt in the police’s mind, to a wider spreading idea in the head of the public – the media having a field day highlighting that the police trusted him and therefore adding disbelief on the competency of everyone - degrading Sherlock bit by bit until he is believed by no one, including casting doubt in the head of his firm friend.
On the arrest of Sherlock however, John manages to get arrested too and the two escape the clutches of the police together – briefly passing a sign on the wall with angel wings that reads ‘IOU’. This escape leads to the death of another of the hitmen but not before exacting the information from him that the key code was planted in the flat making his part in the crimes seem all the more real.
The pair try to track down Rich Brook who has sold a ‘kiss and tell’ story to the papers all about Sherlock and on finding him and the investigative journalist Kitty they are told that Moriarty doesn’t exist and that Rich Brook is an out of work actor that Sherlock has paid to pretend to be Moriarty to make it seem like he is not responsible for the crimes. Watson is understandably shaken and Rich Brook seems a benign sort of character, cowardly and fearful, producing 'evidence' that he is not Moriarty but a children’s TV presenter (presumably because neither Sherlock or Watson would watch kids TV). Even Sherlock seems to doubt his own mind and Watson is cast into a tailspin, wondering what to believe. Is this man with the super human intellect really who he thinks he is?
Sherlock then does several uncharacteristic things – he goes to Molly for help, tells her he trusts her and for once admits that someone other than himself is right showing some sort of humility. He finally asks for help, knowing that if he is to ‘die’ that there are people who can’t know about it and John is one of those people so he can’t ask him for help. Molly shows unwavering trust despite the doubts swirling around the great detective and she agrees to help regardless.
It seems that Mycroft, in an effort to get Moriarty talking, may have shared the stories of Sherlock’s life – he is the only one close enough to know Sherlock being as they grew up together and know each other's weaknesses. John is scornful of Mycroft that he may have inadvertently caused his brothers potential demise and despite the lingering worries in his head, John still believes in Sherlock.
They consider breaking into records and restoring Jim Moriarty, if only they had the key which they believe to be in Baker Street but then Sherlock comes to the conclusion that the rhythmic tapping on his Moriarty’s knee could be the key – being a series of 1 and 0 (also potentially pointing the IOU aspect) relating to the rests and beats – and that the key is therefore in Sherlock’s mind as he memorised it, being the observant fellow that he is. He then invites Moriarty to ‘come play’ with him on the roof of St Bart’s hospital. It may be nothing but at this point the sleeve of Sherlock’s shirt as he put his phone back in his pocket did not have a button despite him claiming at the beginning that all his shirts have buttons and I thought that maybe he had been wearing the diamond cufflinks he was given but had used them for something. There were quite a few references to diamonds throughout the episode; the diamond used to break into the crown jewels, the crown jewels themselves, the diamond bracelets on the cab TV screen.
While sitting in the lab, John receives a phonecall from paramedics saying that Mrs Hudson has been shot and Sherlock seems nonplussed. John calls him a machine for seemingly being uncaring but this particular bit seemed reminiscent of the original story where Watson was called away to help an ill woman but he seemed to know that there was something a bit odd about the claims. Leaving Sherlock behind in the lab, John rushes to see Mrs Hudson only to find that she is ok and realising that Sherlock wanted him out of the way, he hurriedly returns to St Barts hospital.
As Sherlock sets foot on the roof of the hospital to meet Moriarty, it is almost as if the situation was inevitable – his fall from grace, his forced suicide. Moriarty is determined that Sherlock should die in disgrace but the problem is that without Sherlock, Moriarty will have no one to play with and he needs stimulation that he can’t get from anyone other than Sherlock. With each thinking they have the upper hand is becomes clear that Moriarty is more of a threat to Sherlock’s friends than he is to him and Sherlock's weakness of always wanting things to be clever may not be the only thing that can make the detective dance with the devil so to speak. The episode gives us something that we don’t often see on TV, the circling of two adversaries, fighting with their brains and intellect rather than pummelling each other into submission – cerebral battles somehow always come across as sexual and arousing in many ways and like any true seduction, submission of one party must be unavoidable. Moriarty’s weakness is his boredom, his pride and his misjudging of Sherlock. It’s left to the viewer to decide whether Sherlock really is that clever as to show the double bluff of the key code not existing as it is portrayed that only ‘ordinary’ people would think a single line of code would bring down everything. In order to bring about his earlier ‘magic trick’ you need some willing participants and this seems to point to Sherlock having similar people for his ‘magic trick’.
The baton shifts between the two, Sherlock almost crumbling and going so far as considering killing Moriarty but he finds that Moriarty has been one step ahead again and has hitmen set up to shoot John, Mrs Hudson and Lestrade, his only friends (Molly is not mentioned but is someone he trusts and so would not give Moriarty that ammunition) if he doesn’t kill himself, completing Moriarty’s fairy story.
On the brink of the precipice, Sherlock laughs in what seems like realisation that as long as Moriarty is alive and Sherlock has him that his friends are safe as there must be a way to call off the hit. Moriarty wants Sherlock to make a choice and believes him to be ‘on the side of the angels’ but Sherlock assures him that they will shake hands in Hell as just because he is on the side of the angels, this in no way means that he is one of them. Only then does Moriarty realise that Sherlock is certainly not ordinary and in a sort of cutting his nose off to spite his face act, to stop Sherlock saving his friends he kills himself. This puts him across as being completely insane and ruthless, sacrificing his life just so that Sherlock has to make a choice whether to save his friends and die or live and to have blood on his hands but they both know that they are more alike than either of them would ever care to admit.
On Moriarty’s death, Sherlock seems to have no other option but to jump if he has any feelings for his friends at all. He steps onto what appears to be a bloodstained roof wall and prepares to jump just as John arrives in a taxi.
From here on in there is a lot of speculation from me as to how the subsequent events play out. Sherlock phones John as he is exiting the taxi and demands that he stand in a particular place and to keep looking at him no matter what happens – this appears so that he will both deflect the gaze of the hitman from Sherlock and by witnessing Sherlock’s demise, however traumatic, it will keep John safe. Between John and Sherlock there appears to be some kind of shed but at the angle Sherlock is standing John cannot see Sherlock hit the ground. Sherlock speaks emotionally and frankly to John and in another uncharacteristic act, he cries. A tear roll down his cheeks, perhaps not because of his own death but perhaps at the death of his friendship as it is very hard to continue seeing people once you have faked your own death. He wants John to tell everyone that he was fake and even proposes that he researched John before their first meeting to impress him – which seeing as Sherlock doesn’t usually make these sort of claims seem somewhat odd. The fact that he says that his research was a trick – ‘just a magic trick’ – does seem to also point to the fact that what John is going to see has been orchestrated.
Not only does John not see Sherlock fall but at a precise moment, which could also have been orchestrated, he is struck and whirled around by a cyclist – disorientating him. Despite potential concussion he staggers to his friend, desperately clawing at the people around the body to check the pulse as he just can’t believe his friend his dead. To all intents and purposes, Sherlock lies on the stretcher, drenched in blood and his eyes gazing glassily into space and he is rushed away by paramedics.
A few odd things happened around these events; what looks like a laundry truck or a bin bag truck appears to have been present at the fall and as John rushes to see his friend the truck drives silently away, this could have provided something of a soft landing for Sherlock being prepared earlier and would get him away from the scene quickly should he need. I thought at first that the cyclist had spun John around to face another direction where a mock up of the scene with the body was provided with willing participants and so when he stood up he was distressed and disorientated but ran to the body on another part of the street but this seemed unlikely as the view was exactly the same from above. I also thought that Molly had the body of someone who looked like Sherlock (perhaps the man who assisted in the kidnap of the children to make Sherlock seem guilty and perhaps Moriarty had killed him once he was no longer needed and the body had been retained) and that she had pushed the body from a window at the scene on the command. The idea of the bouncing ball and the word repel made me feel like I was missing something and that Sherlock was trying to find a way to ‘bounce back’. He could also have used the ball to make his pulse appear to have stopped as there is some way of faking this by placing an object at a particular place on the arm to make the pulse seem to have stopped – so perhaps he jumped, was cradled by the truck to soften the blow then fell onto the pavement from just a few feet. With help from someone maybe he could arrange for the blood to look authentic at his head and then declaring him dead would have to be from another willing participant – generally, Sherlock would never trust that many people but this is no ordinary scenario and he may have allowed people into the plan because his feelings for John, Mrs Hudson etc were far greater than his fear of lack of control over trust? Once ‘dead’, Sherlock would have to trust people in order to keep his secret. He may have been experimenting with the idea of faking his own death and maybe Mr Hudson knows more about it that expected as, at Sherlock’s graveside she remarks that his “keeping bodies in the fridge” and specimens was something she considered odd but maybe she was trying to hint to John that he was ok?
Maybe the police were in on it too and either Sherlock’s phone was tapped or he was using it to record the conversation so that he would be given an alibi of sorts for Moriarty's body, LeStrade certainly didn’t seem in any hurry to arrest them and John was able to walk in and see Mycroft without apprehension so perhaps the police helped to arrange things – again this would mean Sherlock trusting people to which he is unaccustomed.
The body lying on the pavement was definitely not Moriarty as it was the baby blue eyes of Benedict Cumberbatch that stared into the sky – this particular scene though may have been from John’s perspective and he saw what he expected to see as he was disorientated but this seems unlikely.
There were lots of little references to flying animals; a bird in the seal on the envelope sent to Sherlock and the children, just after Sherlock’s fall pigeons scattered from one of the upper windows, an outstretched bat on Sherlock’s mantelpiece. As in the second episodes references to coffee there seemed to be a lot of instances of tea being drunk, spilt etc but this may have been to highlight our seemingly unflappable tea drinking stiff-upper lipped image. Sherlock also seemed to be more well mannered than usual – saying Thank you several times and shaking hands with people. I also liked the reference to Diogenes in the name of the club that Mycroft attended.
All in all and all theories aside, 'The Reichenbach Fall' was a televisual triumph and for all it’s serious and intelligent content there were moments of humour and wit peppered throughout to lighten the subject matter. The chemistry between Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman is palpable and makes them so very irresistably watchable. They swap from carer and client to friends to brothers and their respective roles change depending on situation but always with a warmth that seems that they can win through everything so it makes it all the harder to watch Watson try desperately to keep his composure over the death of his friend and his faith in him is still unshakable in Watson’s request that he make it stop and that he can find him still alive – it is something that will keep him going. Mark Gatiss should also be congratulating himself with his clipped and smooth performance as Mycroft, holding all the pieces together and despite his brother's intellect he has a similar mind as well as the connections with which to make things happen. Despite their differences, they are much stronger together than they are apart. It was a wholehearted success for the BBC, the actors and the cast and crew and a tremendous treat for us. Long may there be quality television such as this and I for one cannot wait for the next instalment to find out exactly what happened. I can hardly wait...
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Friday, 20 January 2012
Hot in the kitchen – TV cooking shows
Lately I seem to be saturated by cooking shows, this is entirely my fault as I am currently on a healthy eating plan (not allowed to say the word ‘diet’) and the only way I can enjoy food that it generally bad for me in the quantities in which I wish to consume is to vicariously devour the creations of others through my eyes.
Firstly, my favourite competition (that isn’t Strictly Come Dancing) Masterchef (BBC One) is back to my delight. Now, either the auditions were conducted off screen or due to a scheduling malfunction I missed them but a shortlist of contestants have been drawn up. In each of three episodes 8 amateur cooks compete for one of the 12 much desired Masterchef aprons. Like a golden ticket to a chocolate factory with more work and toil and presumably less entertaining gentlemen in purple top hats, the apron is the key to a world of challenges and professional kitchens to be the best cook and join the ranks of other culinary success stories. To be frank, I wouldn’t last an hour in a professional kitchen without either having a breakdown or yelling back at someone if they were constantly on my back about my performance – that is why I am not a chef...well, that and my lack of ability to cook.
I have so much admiration for the Masterchef hopefuls, some of whom have given up their day job to chase their dream of becoming an expert chef. I do so admire passion and these people are brimming with fervour which I find immensely infectious. Greg Wallace and John Torode are back in their rightful places, their patience often stretched but I think what I like most of all is their critique of food is never overly harsh; when someone is eliminated from the contest they do show genuine sadness at the loss of some people.
This year’s episodes so far showed some remarkable culinary ability, some weird and wonderful concoctions, some emotional contestants and a roaring John Torode! Perhaps I can allow myself a chocolate each time Gregg Wallace says ‘Cooking doesn’t get tougher than this!!!’.
On another channel is the ever resourceful Heston Blumenthal in How to Cook Like Heston (Channel Four). What can I say, the man is a gastronomic genius! I spent this Wednesday evening almost perpetually drooling over the lashings of delicious chocolate. I found myself desperately wishing he lived next door to me so I could sample his cuisine (I was going to write ‘wares’ but that just seemed inappropriate on several levels). His innovative use of ingredients never fails to astonish me. His ‘chocolate soil’ to go on his plant pot tiramisu looked so easy to make but I can almost guarantee that if I were to try it that it would be burnt or all over the kitchen. I think some of the show just washed over me as I watched the dripping, undulating chocolate mixture that he used to make an ‘Exploding Chocolate Gateux’ that he coats with a velvety finish using a paint gun from a DIY store filled with chocolate. The exploding aspect of the cake is that he has added popping candy to the biscuity base. It looks heavenly!!! I will be continuing to watch How to Cook Like Heston although I fear that I will never manage to do as the title suggests.
I also thoroughly enjoyed The Great Sport Relief Bake Off (BBC Two) recently for the same reasons as Masterchef but I have more of a chance with baking as I can bake reasonably well. After the minor controversy regarding a certain naughty squirrel last year there seemed fewer shots of the furry friends and more of the scenery around the baking tent during busy moments. A series of celebrities took part culminating in a final to become The Great Sport Relief Bake Off champion 2012. Brave souls were they who went under the critical eye of the well respected cookery experts Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. Each show has the typical signature bake where the celebrities were instructed to make varying items with a particular theme. Sadly Sarah Hadland’s cake mixture ended up mainly all over her “what I call an apron” (a reference to the show she stars in with the comedy pal Miranda Hart) but she managed to pull it back and at least get some of the mixture into the bake. Some amazing baked goods were created in this round on every show and despite the celebrities not being professional bakers, their efforts were actually very good. The second round in each show is the technical bake where the celebrities were called upon to create things such as cheese scones, coffee and walnut cake – some of which were well executed and some were almost disastrous – using a recipe from one of the judges with parts of the recipe missing so to allow the celebrities to work it out themselves. Finally, each show had the showstopper challenge where the judges were to be wowed by the celebrities by creating tiered cakes etc. Arlene Phillips always seemed to be on the brink of failure before pulling it back and seeming surprised when told that her pastry was lovely and Angela Griffin’s confusion with what to do with the cheese in her scones provided moments of light relief in the competition as well as watching Paul Hollywood’s ice blue eyes crinkle with pleasure when munching on particularly fine baked goods. This is a show I just want to see run and run.
The last programme I wanted to mention was The Fabulous Baker Brothers (Channel Four) which had me transfixed on Wednesday. In the episode I watched Tom and Henry make what I can only describe as the most wonderful breakfast in bed, not just because it was Eggs Benedict but the fact that the muffins and hollandaise sauce were handmade. I can imagine how thoroughly impressed I would be should I be presented with some a lavish breakfast made with such thought and care – it beats soggy cereal into a cocked hat really and would definitely earn some brownie points. My husband is a fantastic cook but I think making his own muffins would definitely impress me further. As if the beautifully made breakfast wasn’t enough, we were treated to the creation of melt in the middle chocolate puddings that looked so wonderful that I considered breaking my diet for just a taste. Their sweet pie competition at the end was adorable as they battled against each other to create the perfect sweet pies for a group of hairdressers. Definite contenders for people I want living next door to me. The smell of baking and cooking would be delightful.
I’m looking forward to more cookery shows as the year continues, maybe one day I might actually rustle up some delicious food without making a mess of it...maybe...
Firstly, my favourite competition (that isn’t Strictly Come Dancing) Masterchef (BBC One) is back to my delight. Now, either the auditions were conducted off screen or due to a scheduling malfunction I missed them but a shortlist of contestants have been drawn up. In each of three episodes 8 amateur cooks compete for one of the 12 much desired Masterchef aprons. Like a golden ticket to a chocolate factory with more work and toil and presumably less entertaining gentlemen in purple top hats, the apron is the key to a world of challenges and professional kitchens to be the best cook and join the ranks of other culinary success stories. To be frank, I wouldn’t last an hour in a professional kitchen without either having a breakdown or yelling back at someone if they were constantly on my back about my performance – that is why I am not a chef...well, that and my lack of ability to cook.
I have so much admiration for the Masterchef hopefuls, some of whom have given up their day job to chase their dream of becoming an expert chef. I do so admire passion and these people are brimming with fervour which I find immensely infectious. Greg Wallace and John Torode are back in their rightful places, their patience often stretched but I think what I like most of all is their critique of food is never overly harsh; when someone is eliminated from the contest they do show genuine sadness at the loss of some people.
This year’s episodes so far showed some remarkable culinary ability, some weird and wonderful concoctions, some emotional contestants and a roaring John Torode! Perhaps I can allow myself a chocolate each time Gregg Wallace says ‘Cooking doesn’t get tougher than this!!!’.
On another channel is the ever resourceful Heston Blumenthal in How to Cook Like Heston (Channel Four). What can I say, the man is a gastronomic genius! I spent this Wednesday evening almost perpetually drooling over the lashings of delicious chocolate. I found myself desperately wishing he lived next door to me so I could sample his cuisine (I was going to write ‘wares’ but that just seemed inappropriate on several levels). His innovative use of ingredients never fails to astonish me. His ‘chocolate soil’ to go on his plant pot tiramisu looked so easy to make but I can almost guarantee that if I were to try it that it would be burnt or all over the kitchen. I think some of the show just washed over me as I watched the dripping, undulating chocolate mixture that he used to make an ‘Exploding Chocolate Gateux’ that he coats with a velvety finish using a paint gun from a DIY store filled with chocolate. The exploding aspect of the cake is that he has added popping candy to the biscuity base. It looks heavenly!!! I will be continuing to watch How to Cook Like Heston although I fear that I will never manage to do as the title suggests.
I also thoroughly enjoyed The Great Sport Relief Bake Off (BBC Two) recently for the same reasons as Masterchef but I have more of a chance with baking as I can bake reasonably well. After the minor controversy regarding a certain naughty squirrel last year there seemed fewer shots of the furry friends and more of the scenery around the baking tent during busy moments. A series of celebrities took part culminating in a final to become The Great Sport Relief Bake Off champion 2012. Brave souls were they who went under the critical eye of the well respected cookery experts Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood. Each show has the typical signature bake where the celebrities were instructed to make varying items with a particular theme. Sadly Sarah Hadland’s cake mixture ended up mainly all over her “what I call an apron” (a reference to the show she stars in with the comedy pal Miranda Hart) but she managed to pull it back and at least get some of the mixture into the bake. Some amazing baked goods were created in this round on every show and despite the celebrities not being professional bakers, their efforts were actually very good. The second round in each show is the technical bake where the celebrities were called upon to create things such as cheese scones, coffee and walnut cake – some of which were well executed and some were almost disastrous – using a recipe from one of the judges with parts of the recipe missing so to allow the celebrities to work it out themselves. Finally, each show had the showstopper challenge where the judges were to be wowed by the celebrities by creating tiered cakes etc. Arlene Phillips always seemed to be on the brink of failure before pulling it back and seeming surprised when told that her pastry was lovely and Angela Griffin’s confusion with what to do with the cheese in her scones provided moments of light relief in the competition as well as watching Paul Hollywood’s ice blue eyes crinkle with pleasure when munching on particularly fine baked goods. This is a show I just want to see run and run.
The last programme I wanted to mention was The Fabulous Baker Brothers (Channel Four) which had me transfixed on Wednesday. In the episode I watched Tom and Henry make what I can only describe as the most wonderful breakfast in bed, not just because it was Eggs Benedict but the fact that the muffins and hollandaise sauce were handmade. I can imagine how thoroughly impressed I would be should I be presented with some a lavish breakfast made with such thought and care – it beats soggy cereal into a cocked hat really and would definitely earn some brownie points. My husband is a fantastic cook but I think making his own muffins would definitely impress me further. As if the beautifully made breakfast wasn’t enough, we were treated to the creation of melt in the middle chocolate puddings that looked so wonderful that I considered breaking my diet for just a taste. Their sweet pie competition at the end was adorable as they battled against each other to create the perfect sweet pies for a group of hairdressers. Definite contenders for people I want living next door to me. The smell of baking and cooking would be delightful.
I’m looking forward to more cookery shows as the year continues, maybe one day I might actually rustle up some delicious food without making a mess of it...maybe...
Earthflight (BBC One)
With this fascinating nature documentary, the BBC appear to be going all out to show that they can continue the popularity of documentaries that capture the publics heart. Narrated by the velvety smooth voice of David Tennant we are taken on a journey across the continents via the routes of our feathery friends. Each week the journeys and habits of bird species are laid bare in spectacular splendor.
My only slight predicament is that, while watching a nature documentary such as this I generally like to hear the dulcet tones of Sir David Attenborough. I have the utmost respect for David Tennant and he is high up on the list of people I would like to read me a bedtime story (and that is literal, not a euphemism) due to his soft lilting voice and anyone who knows me can testify to my deep rooted Doctor Who ‘The Tennant Years’ obsession but I just find Sir David Attenborough more authoritative in nature when it comes to nature, so to speak. I am unsure as to David Tennant’s knowledge of the natural world and for all I know he may have a series of degrees in natural history but for me, in a ‘who would you go to with this nature question?’ contest, I’m afraid I would be figuratively wagging my tail as I trotted towards Sir David.
In fact, due to the fact that Sir David Attenborough may decide to retire one day, I hope that somewhere he is recording every word in the dictionary in different ways into a special database so that we can forever pepper nature documentaries with his inimitable style.
Regardless of this small foible of mine, Earthflight is truly stunning and the struggle and tricks of many birds are explored. Some of the footage appears to be filmed with tiny cameras attached to the birds giving a birds-eye view. I was filled with wonderment at the journey of geese flying thousands of miles through difficult terrain, resting sometimes only to be caught out by weather, in order to breed and continue their line.
Feeding habits of the birds is revealed, such as eagles opportunistically munching on the leftovers of brown bears salmon meals, showing just how industrious and innovative birds truly are.
All in all, another nature documentary from the BBC that should add to their reputation of providing quality viewing.
My only slight predicament is that, while watching a nature documentary such as this I generally like to hear the dulcet tones of Sir David Attenborough. I have the utmost respect for David Tennant and he is high up on the list of people I would like to read me a bedtime story (and that is literal, not a euphemism) due to his soft lilting voice and anyone who knows me can testify to my deep rooted Doctor Who ‘The Tennant Years’ obsession but I just find Sir David Attenborough more authoritative in nature when it comes to nature, so to speak. I am unsure as to David Tennant’s knowledge of the natural world and for all I know he may have a series of degrees in natural history but for me, in a ‘who would you go to with this nature question?’ contest, I’m afraid I would be figuratively wagging my tail as I trotted towards Sir David.
In fact, due to the fact that Sir David Attenborough may decide to retire one day, I hope that somewhere he is recording every word in the dictionary in different ways into a special database so that we can forever pepper nature documentaries with his inimitable style.
Regardless of this small foible of mine, Earthflight is truly stunning and the struggle and tricks of many birds are explored. Some of the footage appears to be filmed with tiny cameras attached to the birds giving a birds-eye view. I was filled with wonderment at the journey of geese flying thousands of miles through difficult terrain, resting sometimes only to be caught out by weather, in order to breed and continue their line.
Feeding habits of the birds is revealed, such as eagles opportunistically munching on the leftovers of brown bears salmon meals, showing just how industrious and innovative birds truly are.
All in all, another nature documentary from the BBC that should add to their reputation of providing quality viewing.
Stella (Sky One)
Given that I never really paid much attention to ‘Gavin and Stacey’, I had few expectations for the slow-paced Welsh comedy drama of ‘Stella’. I thoroughly enjoyed Ruth Jones in ‘Hattie’ so I was in no doubt of her beguiling acting skills or timing but I somehow feel that she isn’t at her best in ‘Stella’. In the wake of the frothy comedy drama ‘Mount Pleasant’ also on Sky One, I was hoping for something in the same vein but ‘Stella’ just didn’t live up to my hopes. Perhaps this is my failing rather than anything else.
Don’t get me wrong, ‘Stella’ is still worth a watch as it seems to be just getting into its stride but I had hoped to be more enamoured with the characters after the first two episodes.
Ruth Jones plays the titular character, a world weary but still optimistic woman in her 40’s who very much seems to live for her family. A divorced mother of three, she spends her days ironing for the local residents of her village as well as the day to day work of the household and taking care of her children. Her ex-husband is seeing a younger woman who insists she be called ‘Na-dine’ by everyone but generally this request is ignored making it something of a running joke. Stella’s eldest son is in jail, her sixteen year old daughter is found to be in a sexual relationship with her boyfriend that leads to changes for everyone and her youngest son appears to be studious and fairly quiet. Stella is fiercely protective of her little family, desperate for her kids to have the best chances in life; she adores her children but you can’t help but feel that maybe she missed out on some things she wanted to do after falling pregnant at an early age.
Her family and the characters that surround her are a little predictable and stereotypical and I anticipated more comedy than drama. It was described in the media as a gentle comedy drama but perhaps the comedy is a bit too gentle. Stella’s brother is married to a funeral director who also appears to be an alcoholic, their sex life is the focus of some hilarity being somewhat varied. The neighbours across the road appear to have a horse living in their house, which I tried to find amusing and quirky but so numbed by odd news stories and strange internet tales am I that I sort of skimmed over it without giving it much thought. Stella is the focus of the local lollipop man’s amorous attentions whose most romantic actions seem unlikely to be reciprocated as there is another potential man on the scene.
The show is filled with the trials and tribulations of everyday life and it is not hard to identify with the situations, the emotions and the dilemmas but it is almost as if it is too close to real life to really be entertaining. I know the theory of ‘it’s funny because it’s true’ but sometimes it’s just true and you can see it coming. I think that predictability is the main irk for me so far.
I admire Ruth Jones for her sacrifices for comedy as she doesn’t seem to mind looking dowdy or ridiculous for her art, even though in real life she appears to be very attractive and the other actors in the show are giving their best but it just isn’t hitting the right notes for me. Maybe I need a little more time to get into it and I will give it the customary first series to make up my mind fully about whether I will watch a second series should it be created but for now it gets a tenuous 3/5 from me.
Don’t get me wrong, ‘Stella’ is still worth a watch as it seems to be just getting into its stride but I had hoped to be more enamoured with the characters after the first two episodes.
Ruth Jones plays the titular character, a world weary but still optimistic woman in her 40’s who very much seems to live for her family. A divorced mother of three, she spends her days ironing for the local residents of her village as well as the day to day work of the household and taking care of her children. Her ex-husband is seeing a younger woman who insists she be called ‘Na-dine’ by everyone but generally this request is ignored making it something of a running joke. Stella’s eldest son is in jail, her sixteen year old daughter is found to be in a sexual relationship with her boyfriend that leads to changes for everyone and her youngest son appears to be studious and fairly quiet. Stella is fiercely protective of her little family, desperate for her kids to have the best chances in life; she adores her children but you can’t help but feel that maybe she missed out on some things she wanted to do after falling pregnant at an early age.
Her family and the characters that surround her are a little predictable and stereotypical and I anticipated more comedy than drama. It was described in the media as a gentle comedy drama but perhaps the comedy is a bit too gentle. Stella’s brother is married to a funeral director who also appears to be an alcoholic, their sex life is the focus of some hilarity being somewhat varied. The neighbours across the road appear to have a horse living in their house, which I tried to find amusing and quirky but so numbed by odd news stories and strange internet tales am I that I sort of skimmed over it without giving it much thought. Stella is the focus of the local lollipop man’s amorous attentions whose most romantic actions seem unlikely to be reciprocated as there is another potential man on the scene.
The show is filled with the trials and tribulations of everyday life and it is not hard to identify with the situations, the emotions and the dilemmas but it is almost as if it is too close to real life to really be entertaining. I know the theory of ‘it’s funny because it’s true’ but sometimes it’s just true and you can see it coming. I think that predictability is the main irk for me so far.
I admire Ruth Jones for her sacrifices for comedy as she doesn’t seem to mind looking dowdy or ridiculous for her art, even though in real life she appears to be very attractive and the other actors in the show are giving their best but it just isn’t hitting the right notes for me. Maybe I need a little more time to get into it and I will give it the customary first series to make up my mind fully about whether I will watch a second series should it be created but for now it gets a tenuous 3/5 from me.
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Black Mirror (Channel Four)
WARNING: Contains definite spoilers! Only proceed if you don't mind the spoilers!
The three part drama conceived by Charlie Brooker was always going to be as thought provoking as it was grimly miserable – reflecting a world that is almost recognisable, if we’re not careful. The idea that we are being constantly distracted by screens around us is very real considering that I have already broken off writing this so far around four times to check something on Facebook and my email. I expected intelligent plot, a sort of gentle mocking and the creeping feeling that things are not going to end particularly well in each of the stories and I was certainly in no way disappointed. I found the stories disturbing but somehow deliciously satisfying in their terror – I haven’t felt this way since watching things such as Tales of the Unexpected or The Twilight Zone – a sort of satisfaction that even though Socrates said the life unexamined is not worth living but the examined life is sometimes too scary to consider living.
The first part of the series is ‘The National Anthem’ written by Brooker himself, the troubling tale of a kidnapping with the most alarming ransom imaginable. Fictional Prime Minister, Michael Callow is awoken to be told that the much admired Princess Susannah has been kidnapped. In his bleary eyed shock he watches the video of the sobbing princess reading out the written statement of her kidnapper but his advisors freeze the video, leaving the princess in a rictus of pain and anguish on the screen. The Prime Minister demands to know the request and is warned in advance, somehow in disbelief that it could be as bad as the looks on his advisors faces belie, but it is worse than he could have imagined. The Princess sobs her way through the statement, culminating with the kidnappers demand that at 4pm on all channels, Michael Callow must have un-simulated sex with a pig, live on TV. At this point you almost laugh out loud, I think I did laugh out loud, mainly in disbelief and even Callow himself believes it to be a joke at first, even up to the point where he is expected to carry out the demand his face is masked in shock and disbelief that it isn’t a terrible nightmare or hallucination. Everyone around him seeks to stop the kidnapper, to find them before the deadline and whilst they are embroiled in their tasks, the public has gotten word of the situation and the world is abuzz with conversation, wondering if he will do it. The ransom demand video has been on YouTube, Twitter is alight with debate, the media aglow with speculation – everyone is either helping track down the princess or staring at any available screen, fascinated and sickened by the events that are unfolding. As the drama builds to a climax, I as a viewer was holding out hope that the outcome would be a less distressing one but, as reality can often be harsh and this is while an unreal world, somehow frighteningly possible, it was never going to end well. The distraught Prime Minister Callow is torn between sacrificing his dignity and doing something which he and society would consider abhorrent or feeling guilt and blood on his hands if the princess were to be executed for his failure to acquiesce to the request. Every emotion is played out on his face and the amazing Rory Kinnear takes us along on his fearful journey. The deed must take place and somehow even from the start it seems inevitable, even though in most dramas the person is released before the demands are met, but this is no ordinary drama. Callow goes through with the demand, sobbing and hysterical, and like the public in the drama that are staring wide eyed and grimacing at screens all over the land – so too are we in a mixture of shock, disgust and dark admiration that someone would be willing to go through with that to preserve the life of someone else. So engrossed and horrified are the public gaping at the reflecting screens that they are unaware that the princess was actually released before the event took place, their distraction allowed the man whose final ‘artistic’ work would be his gruesome and yet thought provoking legacy to the world – a Turner Prize winning artist whose proof that things can occur unnoticed while everyone is busy glued to screens rather than paying attention to real life. As if wanting to give brief glimmer of some hope to the watching audience, the Prime Minister is shown in a year’s time with more support and the Princess has recovered and is getting back to normality but it seems that Callow’s marriage may be in turmoil. The drama is, while the subject matter may be brutal, beautifully crafted and the mocking tone behind it all somehow echoes Charlie Brooker with his tongue very firmly in his cheek. It serves as almost a stark warning, looking through that Black Mirror to the other side, to what we could turn into, the dark side of our technologically convenient lives.
The second part of the drama '15 Million Merits' written by Charlie Brooker and Kanaq Huq, appears to be a somewhat sterilised, claustrophobic version of a future where people are compartmentalised into individual living spaces surrounded by giant screens bombarding them with adverts and entertainment. The citizens of the futuristic city appear to be classified by their fitness level – the fit spend their days cycling on stationary bikes, like some sort of metaphor for going nowhere, seemingly to provide power to the city which rewards them with merits to spend on transitory pleasures such as erotic visions or clothing for their “doppel” (avatars). The unfit are tasked with cleaning duties or they can be humiliated on gameshows for entertainment and reward, the fit watching their antics with smug superiority as they pointlessly travel nowhere. In this world, Bingham Madsen (the immensely talented Daniel Kaluuya) lives, flooded with visual stimuli from the moment of waking until exhausted sleep – interrupted in every part of his life by adverts that incur a penalty to skip. Even the food that he eats is dispensed from a screen covered vending machine, giving the further impression that nothing is real. On attempting to retrieve an apple from the vending machine and believing it to be lost, he is helped by a colleague with an interest in him but he pays little attention. On meeting the beautiful Abi (Jessica Brown-Findlay), a stranger to his work section, after hearing her sing whilst on the loo he nervously babbles at her and she walks away seemingly unimpressed. Later however, he manages to strike up a conversation with her, helping her with the vending machine in the same way the girl did previously to try and impress. After urging her to take part in the talent show Hot Shots due to her singing talent and seemingly for his desire to experience something ‘real’, he offers to pay the 15 million merits entry fee, explaining that he inherited the money from his brother. Abi reluctantly agrees and this leads them to exit the drudgery of the day to day grind to attend the talent show with Bing as her friends and family guest. What follows is first uplifting, as Abi sings beautifully – in the sterile, cold world, a beautiful angelic voice ringing out – but then soon turns to misery as Abi is described as an ‘Above Average Singer’ and recommended that she enters the world of pornography due to her stunning looks. As the doppels of the fellow citizens of the city pump their arms in the air and encourage her to go for it, the hosts of the show make it seem as if she would be letting herself and everyone else down if she says no and she reluctantly agrees, to Bing’s distress. In his home/cell, now without the merits to skip adverts, Bing is forced to watch adverts of Abi with a haunted look on her face taking part in sexual displays. Even shutting his eyes cannot save him from the pain as the adverts pause when his eyes are shut, forcing him to watch them when he opens his eyes again and like a traumatised beast trapped in a cage he lashes out, smashing his room and gouging at the screens. He retains one of the large shards of glass and resolves to do something, anything to stop the system. After working hard, eating leftovers and saving as much as possible Bing saves enough to enter Hot Shots on his own and waits tirelessly in their waiting room to be chosen day after day. Eventually he gets his chance and is brought in front of the judges where he first dances then holds the glass shard to his throat and makes a tearful, emotional plea for something real and threatens to kill himself. The judges find him intriguing and offer him a TV show where he can rant about the unfairness of everything. I think that the most surprising, yet somehow unavoidable, thing is that he takes the job – selling his ‘performances’ for the chance to experience something real. In an ending that reverberates with ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’ Bing is seen staring listlessly into the distance at a forest of trees behind a glass screen; life is as real as it is going to get. There is something terrifyingly haunting about the episode, in the time of spending our hard earned money purchasing things that are real but somehow not tangible such as clothes for a character that doesn’t strictly speaking exist or mp3 instead of a CD or cassette. Yearning for something real, perhaps that’s what we all want yet every day we slip ever further into the technological abyss.
The third and final part of the drama 'The Entire History of You' written by Jesse Armstrong, plays out as a modern day fable of obsession over detail and poses the question that if you could easily gain proof of a partners infidelity, would you be happier or more miserable? Would your life be improved if you could record all of your memories and play them over and over again? After attending an appraisal in his job as a lawyer, Liam Foxwell (Toby Kebbell) is concerned about his performance and is seen replaying the memory back to try and gauge the reactions of his bosses. In this world, people can be fitted with a 'grain' behind their ear that records every memory and can be watched by the person themselves or projected onto screens for others to view. Memories can be deleted too should a person decide so. The grain technology seems to have led to the crime of ‘gouging’ where people’s grains are stolen in attacks and a woman, at the dinner party that Liam attends with his wife Ffion (Jodie Whittaker), explains that she is happier without hers, despite the gouging being harrowing. At the dinner party, Ffion seems to be laughing at another of the guests, Jonas, jokes and seems to be looking fondly at him as if there is history between them. Liam is uneasy as Jonas boasts that he often masturbates to replays of memories from previous relationships and Ffion seems uncomfortable. At home, after saying goodnight to the babysitter, Liam and Ffion discuss the evening. Liam’s jealousy brims over with Ffion finally admitting that she once went out with Jonas. Liam is consumed with anger and jealousy and after watching a previous experience with Ffion while having sex with her, only for her to be doing the same, he spends the night getting drunk and then drives over to confront Jonas and demand that he delete the memories of his wife from his sexual repository. After a struggle, Liam wakes with little memory of what happened at Jonas’ but on replaying events he notices something and goes to see his wife. Ffion tries to calm Liam down but it is too late, everything he believed has been thrown into question as he noticed that Jonas had a memory of sleeping with FFion 18 months ago and the paternity of their baby is now possibly in turmoil. Liam is left bereft in his empty apartment, not only did he fear that his partner cheated but he had actual proof and his excision of the grain behind his ear seems to reflect his desire to be happy rather than right or to rid himself of the hurt. The story does highlight some very interesting issues and despite there being numerous possibilities as to what aspect of life to focus on, the spotlight is very much on the idea of whether you would rather have the facts at your fingertips or live in blissful ignorance. There is a thick streak of paranoia throughout the entire tale and in truth, would Liam have noticed that much if he didn’t have the grain or would it just be a squirming doubt within him when, it seems from the beginning, his life was idyllic. All in all the story does lead you to consider how happy you would be if you could spend time replaying your life – would you do it?
The three part drama conceived by Charlie Brooker was always going to be as thought provoking as it was grimly miserable – reflecting a world that is almost recognisable, if we’re not careful. The idea that we are being constantly distracted by screens around us is very real considering that I have already broken off writing this so far around four times to check something on Facebook and my email. I expected intelligent plot, a sort of gentle mocking and the creeping feeling that things are not going to end particularly well in each of the stories and I was certainly in no way disappointed. I found the stories disturbing but somehow deliciously satisfying in their terror – I haven’t felt this way since watching things such as Tales of the Unexpected or The Twilight Zone – a sort of satisfaction that even though Socrates said the life unexamined is not worth living but the examined life is sometimes too scary to consider living.
The first part of the series is ‘The National Anthem’ written by Brooker himself, the troubling tale of a kidnapping with the most alarming ransom imaginable. Fictional Prime Minister, Michael Callow is awoken to be told that the much admired Princess Susannah has been kidnapped. In his bleary eyed shock he watches the video of the sobbing princess reading out the written statement of her kidnapper but his advisors freeze the video, leaving the princess in a rictus of pain and anguish on the screen. The Prime Minister demands to know the request and is warned in advance, somehow in disbelief that it could be as bad as the looks on his advisors faces belie, but it is worse than he could have imagined. The Princess sobs her way through the statement, culminating with the kidnappers demand that at 4pm on all channels, Michael Callow must have un-simulated sex with a pig, live on TV. At this point you almost laugh out loud, I think I did laugh out loud, mainly in disbelief and even Callow himself believes it to be a joke at first, even up to the point where he is expected to carry out the demand his face is masked in shock and disbelief that it isn’t a terrible nightmare or hallucination. Everyone around him seeks to stop the kidnapper, to find them before the deadline and whilst they are embroiled in their tasks, the public has gotten word of the situation and the world is abuzz with conversation, wondering if he will do it. The ransom demand video has been on YouTube, Twitter is alight with debate, the media aglow with speculation – everyone is either helping track down the princess or staring at any available screen, fascinated and sickened by the events that are unfolding. As the drama builds to a climax, I as a viewer was holding out hope that the outcome would be a less distressing one but, as reality can often be harsh and this is while an unreal world, somehow frighteningly possible, it was never going to end well. The distraught Prime Minister Callow is torn between sacrificing his dignity and doing something which he and society would consider abhorrent or feeling guilt and blood on his hands if the princess were to be executed for his failure to acquiesce to the request. Every emotion is played out on his face and the amazing Rory Kinnear takes us along on his fearful journey. The deed must take place and somehow even from the start it seems inevitable, even though in most dramas the person is released before the demands are met, but this is no ordinary drama. Callow goes through with the demand, sobbing and hysterical, and like the public in the drama that are staring wide eyed and grimacing at screens all over the land – so too are we in a mixture of shock, disgust and dark admiration that someone would be willing to go through with that to preserve the life of someone else. So engrossed and horrified are the public gaping at the reflecting screens that they are unaware that the princess was actually released before the event took place, their distraction allowed the man whose final ‘artistic’ work would be his gruesome and yet thought provoking legacy to the world – a Turner Prize winning artist whose proof that things can occur unnoticed while everyone is busy glued to screens rather than paying attention to real life. As if wanting to give brief glimmer of some hope to the watching audience, the Prime Minister is shown in a year’s time with more support and the Princess has recovered and is getting back to normality but it seems that Callow’s marriage may be in turmoil. The drama is, while the subject matter may be brutal, beautifully crafted and the mocking tone behind it all somehow echoes Charlie Brooker with his tongue very firmly in his cheek. It serves as almost a stark warning, looking through that Black Mirror to the other side, to what we could turn into, the dark side of our technologically convenient lives.
The second part of the drama '15 Million Merits' written by Charlie Brooker and Kanaq Huq, appears to be a somewhat sterilised, claustrophobic version of a future where people are compartmentalised into individual living spaces surrounded by giant screens bombarding them with adverts and entertainment. The citizens of the futuristic city appear to be classified by their fitness level – the fit spend their days cycling on stationary bikes, like some sort of metaphor for going nowhere, seemingly to provide power to the city which rewards them with merits to spend on transitory pleasures such as erotic visions or clothing for their “doppel” (avatars). The unfit are tasked with cleaning duties or they can be humiliated on gameshows for entertainment and reward, the fit watching their antics with smug superiority as they pointlessly travel nowhere. In this world, Bingham Madsen (the immensely talented Daniel Kaluuya) lives, flooded with visual stimuli from the moment of waking until exhausted sleep – interrupted in every part of his life by adverts that incur a penalty to skip. Even the food that he eats is dispensed from a screen covered vending machine, giving the further impression that nothing is real. On attempting to retrieve an apple from the vending machine and believing it to be lost, he is helped by a colleague with an interest in him but he pays little attention. On meeting the beautiful Abi (Jessica Brown-Findlay), a stranger to his work section, after hearing her sing whilst on the loo he nervously babbles at her and she walks away seemingly unimpressed. Later however, he manages to strike up a conversation with her, helping her with the vending machine in the same way the girl did previously to try and impress. After urging her to take part in the talent show Hot Shots due to her singing talent and seemingly for his desire to experience something ‘real’, he offers to pay the 15 million merits entry fee, explaining that he inherited the money from his brother. Abi reluctantly agrees and this leads them to exit the drudgery of the day to day grind to attend the talent show with Bing as her friends and family guest. What follows is first uplifting, as Abi sings beautifully – in the sterile, cold world, a beautiful angelic voice ringing out – but then soon turns to misery as Abi is described as an ‘Above Average Singer’ and recommended that she enters the world of pornography due to her stunning looks. As the doppels of the fellow citizens of the city pump their arms in the air and encourage her to go for it, the hosts of the show make it seem as if she would be letting herself and everyone else down if she says no and she reluctantly agrees, to Bing’s distress. In his home/cell, now without the merits to skip adverts, Bing is forced to watch adverts of Abi with a haunted look on her face taking part in sexual displays. Even shutting his eyes cannot save him from the pain as the adverts pause when his eyes are shut, forcing him to watch them when he opens his eyes again and like a traumatised beast trapped in a cage he lashes out, smashing his room and gouging at the screens. He retains one of the large shards of glass and resolves to do something, anything to stop the system. After working hard, eating leftovers and saving as much as possible Bing saves enough to enter Hot Shots on his own and waits tirelessly in their waiting room to be chosen day after day. Eventually he gets his chance and is brought in front of the judges where he first dances then holds the glass shard to his throat and makes a tearful, emotional plea for something real and threatens to kill himself. The judges find him intriguing and offer him a TV show where he can rant about the unfairness of everything. I think that the most surprising, yet somehow unavoidable, thing is that he takes the job – selling his ‘performances’ for the chance to experience something real. In an ending that reverberates with ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’ Bing is seen staring listlessly into the distance at a forest of trees behind a glass screen; life is as real as it is going to get. There is something terrifyingly haunting about the episode, in the time of spending our hard earned money purchasing things that are real but somehow not tangible such as clothes for a character that doesn’t strictly speaking exist or mp3 instead of a CD or cassette. Yearning for something real, perhaps that’s what we all want yet every day we slip ever further into the technological abyss.
The third and final part of the drama 'The Entire History of You' written by Jesse Armstrong, plays out as a modern day fable of obsession over detail and poses the question that if you could easily gain proof of a partners infidelity, would you be happier or more miserable? Would your life be improved if you could record all of your memories and play them over and over again? After attending an appraisal in his job as a lawyer, Liam Foxwell (Toby Kebbell) is concerned about his performance and is seen replaying the memory back to try and gauge the reactions of his bosses. In this world, people can be fitted with a 'grain' behind their ear that records every memory and can be watched by the person themselves or projected onto screens for others to view. Memories can be deleted too should a person decide so. The grain technology seems to have led to the crime of ‘gouging’ where people’s grains are stolen in attacks and a woman, at the dinner party that Liam attends with his wife Ffion (Jodie Whittaker), explains that she is happier without hers, despite the gouging being harrowing. At the dinner party, Ffion seems to be laughing at another of the guests, Jonas, jokes and seems to be looking fondly at him as if there is history between them. Liam is uneasy as Jonas boasts that he often masturbates to replays of memories from previous relationships and Ffion seems uncomfortable. At home, after saying goodnight to the babysitter, Liam and Ffion discuss the evening. Liam’s jealousy brims over with Ffion finally admitting that she once went out with Jonas. Liam is consumed with anger and jealousy and after watching a previous experience with Ffion while having sex with her, only for her to be doing the same, he spends the night getting drunk and then drives over to confront Jonas and demand that he delete the memories of his wife from his sexual repository. After a struggle, Liam wakes with little memory of what happened at Jonas’ but on replaying events he notices something and goes to see his wife. Ffion tries to calm Liam down but it is too late, everything he believed has been thrown into question as he noticed that Jonas had a memory of sleeping with FFion 18 months ago and the paternity of their baby is now possibly in turmoil. Liam is left bereft in his empty apartment, not only did he fear that his partner cheated but he had actual proof and his excision of the grain behind his ear seems to reflect his desire to be happy rather than right or to rid himself of the hurt. The story does highlight some very interesting issues and despite there being numerous possibilities as to what aspect of life to focus on, the spotlight is very much on the idea of whether you would rather have the facts at your fingertips or live in blissful ignorance. There is a thick streak of paranoia throughout the entire tale and in truth, would Liam have noticed that much if he didn’t have the grain or would it just be a squirming doubt within him when, it seems from the beginning, his life was idyllic. All in all the story does lead you to consider how happy you would be if you could spend time replaying your life – would you do it?
Monday, 9 January 2012
A Night with the Stars (BBC Two)
Conclusive proof that quantum physics doesn’t have to be boring! The ever smiling Professor Brian Cox was our friendly guide through the somewhat complicated subject of quantum physics, inviting random TV celebrities to assist him in his demonstrations. Due to his good-natured demeanor, confusion unraveling delivery and facially gifted beam, science becomes not only fun but, dare I say it, even a little bit sexy. I don’t wish to sound shallow as Professor Brian Cox is a very intelligent, well read and gifted man but whatever his secret to making things clearer, being easy on the eye certainly doesn’t harm his cause.
Giving a lecture to a packed lecture theatre can’t be easy for anyone and with an excess of celebrities in the audience and a series of cameras this must have been a little nail biting but Professor Cox seems to take it in his stride. I was surprised and slightly impressed that I managed to understand the vast majority of it – some things I had read about in the past but I have read ‘A Brief History of Time’ about five times and still can’t claim to fully understand what on earth (or elsewhere for that matter) was going on. I’ve always had a sort of mental block when it comes to mathematics too and that doesn’t usually help as well as my brain’s irritating need to know the why behind everything. With these issues outstanding, I tried to go into the lecture with an open mind.
One of the most astounding things that was explained was Pauli Exclusion Principle where no two electrons can be in the same state at any one time. I firstly thought that this was within an atom but it seems that this is throughout the universe. As Professor Cox explained, when warming something up, no other electron can be in the same state so presumably some sort of massive ripple occurs to alter the states of electrons that must affect the entire universe. Mind-blowing stuff.
Simon Pegg and Professor Jim Al Khalili are recruited to demonstrate standing waves with a spring and a large dose of wrist action, cue a little adult humour but the hilarity serves to lubricate (so to speak) what could be a very dry subject. In amidst the merriment, the concept of standing waves is explored.
In another experiment the lovable James May has his hands full, literally as he holds hydrogen gas filled soap bubbles before Professor Cox advances towards him with a naked flame...
All in all, a little science and fun goes a long way to understanding some of the more complicated matters in physics and who could be a better guide than a happy Lancashire lad. A definite must-see.
Giving a lecture to a packed lecture theatre can’t be easy for anyone and with an excess of celebrities in the audience and a series of cameras this must have been a little nail biting but Professor Cox seems to take it in his stride. I was surprised and slightly impressed that I managed to understand the vast majority of it – some things I had read about in the past but I have read ‘A Brief History of Time’ about five times and still can’t claim to fully understand what on earth (or elsewhere for that matter) was going on. I’ve always had a sort of mental block when it comes to mathematics too and that doesn’t usually help as well as my brain’s irritating need to know the why behind everything. With these issues outstanding, I tried to go into the lecture with an open mind.
One of the most astounding things that was explained was Pauli Exclusion Principle where no two electrons can be in the same state at any one time. I firstly thought that this was within an atom but it seems that this is throughout the universe. As Professor Cox explained, when warming something up, no other electron can be in the same state so presumably some sort of massive ripple occurs to alter the states of electrons that must affect the entire universe. Mind-blowing stuff.
Simon Pegg and Professor Jim Al Khalili are recruited to demonstrate standing waves with a spring and a large dose of wrist action, cue a little adult humour but the hilarity serves to lubricate (so to speak) what could be a very dry subject. In amidst the merriment, the concept of standing waves is explored.
In another experiment the lovable James May has his hands full, literally as he holds hydrogen gas filled soap bubbles before Professor Cox advances towards him with a naked flame...
All in all, a little science and fun goes a long way to understanding some of the more complicated matters in physics and who could be a better guide than a happy Lancashire lad. A definite must-see.
Death in Paradise (BBC One)
I realize that the current run of this show is over but I couldn’t let it pass without appealing for a second series.
Not unlike 'Midsomer Murders' in the Caribbean, Ben Miller is joined by a host of guest stars in this extremely appealing crime drama. D.I. Richard Poole (Ben Miller) is dragged from his practical, comfortable existence in an office where he doesn’t seem to have a great many friends to the beautiful (yet fictional apparently) island of Saint-Marie in the Caribbean to solve the murder of his predecessor. Disregarding the circumstances of his posting, many people would perhaps love to be sent to a Caribbean island but for Richard Poole it seems to be a major inconvenience.
Despite the tropical weather, Richard insists on wearing the thick woolen suits that he would wear in England while still complaining bitterly about the heat. His search for a good cup of tea only highlights his stereotypically English demeanor but he can be forgiven his little foibles as he looks very cute in his stripey pyjamas.
Initially his arrival appears to be welcomed to assist in the investigation and be the temporary police chief but somehow he manages to rub people up the wrong way. However, he manages to redeem himself by essentially being very good at his job and solving every murder that is thrown his way – even from his delirium in his sick bed.
His team are a close knit group comprising of D.S Camille Bordey (Sara Martins), Dwayne Myers (the ever entertaining Danny John-Jules) and Fidel Best (Gary Carr). Camille was an undercover agent mistakenly arrested in the first episode and as her cover is blown she is assigned to work with the team. Dwayne is an affable, laid back guy who seems to have a startling knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time in several of the episodes. Fidel has a pregnant wife and is tasked with collecting evidence due to his methodical nature. Camille’s mother, Catherine(Elizabeth Bourgine) owns a café/bar on the island and seems fond of Richard even though he has put his foot in his mouth on many occasions but he dare not upset her as she is one of the only people who makes a decent cup of tea.
Even though Richard Poole considers himself as something of a loner, his disappointment at not being invited on a night out reveals a small desire to be accepted and despite the job being a temporary post, a series of events get in the way that may prevent his going back to England.
All in all the series has charm and, as I enjoy in any crime drama, the comfortable formula of crime followed by clues and then reveal at the end. Highly recommended series and a must see. Here’s hoping for a series two.
Not unlike 'Midsomer Murders' in the Caribbean, Ben Miller is joined by a host of guest stars in this extremely appealing crime drama. D.I. Richard Poole (Ben Miller) is dragged from his practical, comfortable existence in an office where he doesn’t seem to have a great many friends to the beautiful (yet fictional apparently) island of Saint-Marie in the Caribbean to solve the murder of his predecessor. Disregarding the circumstances of his posting, many people would perhaps love to be sent to a Caribbean island but for Richard Poole it seems to be a major inconvenience.
Despite the tropical weather, Richard insists on wearing the thick woolen suits that he would wear in England while still complaining bitterly about the heat. His search for a good cup of tea only highlights his stereotypically English demeanor but he can be forgiven his little foibles as he looks very cute in his stripey pyjamas.
Initially his arrival appears to be welcomed to assist in the investigation and be the temporary police chief but somehow he manages to rub people up the wrong way. However, he manages to redeem himself by essentially being very good at his job and solving every murder that is thrown his way – even from his delirium in his sick bed.
His team are a close knit group comprising of D.S Camille Bordey (Sara Martins), Dwayne Myers (the ever entertaining Danny John-Jules) and Fidel Best (Gary Carr). Camille was an undercover agent mistakenly arrested in the first episode and as her cover is blown she is assigned to work with the team. Dwayne is an affable, laid back guy who seems to have a startling knack of being in the wrong place at the wrong time in several of the episodes. Fidel has a pregnant wife and is tasked with collecting evidence due to his methodical nature. Camille’s mother, Catherine(Elizabeth Bourgine) owns a café/bar on the island and seems fond of Richard even though he has put his foot in his mouth on many occasions but he dare not upset her as she is one of the only people who makes a decent cup of tea.
Even though Richard Poole considers himself as something of a loner, his disappointment at not being invited on a night out reveals a small desire to be accepted and despite the job being a temporary post, a series of events get in the way that may prevent his going back to England.
All in all the series has charm and, as I enjoy in any crime drama, the comfortable formula of crime followed by clues and then reveal at the end. Highly recommended series and a must see. Here’s hoping for a series two.
Sunday, 8 January 2012
Sherlock – A Scandal in Belgravia (BBC One)
After a staggering 17 months of withdrawal symptoms from the dashing yet aloof detective known as Sherlock Holmes(Benedict Cumberbatch) finally it is back on our screens, albeit for a mere three episode run sadly. Like a brief salubrious shot of adrenaline we are thrust back into the world of the striking detached detective and his faithful assistant whose fates hung in the balance in the last episode of the first series.
Let’s be honest here, if they were both destroyed in the first five minutes of the episode as was planned in the end of the first series, it would be a pretty short and uninteresting series so the assumption of their escape is not exactly a surprise. Therefore, anything that comes after the threat to their lives is going to be an anti climax when they do escape but rest assured that this is a short lived moment of disappointment as the episode slides back into intrigue once again.
Due to John Watson’s (Martin Freeman) blogging, Sherlock has become something of a celebrity, a status that he is not overly enamored with and he is less than pleased with the ‘boring’ cases that are being thrown his way.
Being called upon by his brother Mycroft (Mark Gatiss) to help ‘his client’ results in moments of mirth as Sherlock is practically kidnapped from his home in Baker Street, refusing to clothe himself and on John Watson’s arrival he is found wearing the sheet in which he was surrounded when summoned. In keeping with the difficult genius role he stubbornly refuses to put on his clothes but eventually relents, which considering that the nudity of Irene Adler (Lara Pulver) has drawn complaints, was probably for the best.
It has been a year or two since I actually read the Sherlock Holmes stories but I don’t remember Irene Adler being a dominatrix so perhaps this has been slotted in, so to speak, to please a modern audience that knows little surprise. There was a bit of nudity but there didn’t appear to be a shocking amount in my opinion, a lot of it was implied and this may be what upset the viewing public. You may think that a girl with what may be considered a salacious background wouldn’t interest Sherlock but her mischievous and wily nature serves to interest him more than any other woman – perhaps as she provides him with an unpredictable challenge that he hasn’t really seen in day to day life. Such a relationship in real life would be ultimately flawed and damaging but Sherlock doesn’t seem to live in ‘real life’ being such a genius.
Ultimately this show answers my question of ‘What would happen if Sherlock Holmes existed today?’ that I asked several years ago as a lot of Sherlock’s assumptions were based on things of which we have in diverse amounts these days – For example, when receiving a letter in the stories he would find out the letter writer based on the brand of paper which may be from some obscure place and the post mark. Paper these days is far more widespread and trying to track someone down from a brand may be somewhat tricky. Therefore, I like the fact that the writing team have taken these facts into account and based the puzzles on the good old fashioned basics.
As you can imagine, the story of ‘A Scandal in Belgravia’ doesn’t have a textbook happy ending for Sherlock and Irene Adler but their cat and mouse games culminate in a satisfying ending that will leave you with a wry smile on your face and begging for more...twice :)
Let’s be honest here, if they were both destroyed in the first five minutes of the episode as was planned in the end of the first series, it would be a pretty short and uninteresting series so the assumption of their escape is not exactly a surprise. Therefore, anything that comes after the threat to their lives is going to be an anti climax when they do escape but rest assured that this is a short lived moment of disappointment as the episode slides back into intrigue once again.
Due to John Watson’s (Martin Freeman) blogging, Sherlock has become something of a celebrity, a status that he is not overly enamored with and he is less than pleased with the ‘boring’ cases that are being thrown his way.
Being called upon by his brother Mycroft (Mark Gatiss) to help ‘his client’ results in moments of mirth as Sherlock is practically kidnapped from his home in Baker Street, refusing to clothe himself and on John Watson’s arrival he is found wearing the sheet in which he was surrounded when summoned. In keeping with the difficult genius role he stubbornly refuses to put on his clothes but eventually relents, which considering that the nudity of Irene Adler (Lara Pulver) has drawn complaints, was probably for the best.
It has been a year or two since I actually read the Sherlock Holmes stories but I don’t remember Irene Adler being a dominatrix so perhaps this has been slotted in, so to speak, to please a modern audience that knows little surprise. There was a bit of nudity but there didn’t appear to be a shocking amount in my opinion, a lot of it was implied and this may be what upset the viewing public. You may think that a girl with what may be considered a salacious background wouldn’t interest Sherlock but her mischievous and wily nature serves to interest him more than any other woman – perhaps as she provides him with an unpredictable challenge that he hasn’t really seen in day to day life. Such a relationship in real life would be ultimately flawed and damaging but Sherlock doesn’t seem to live in ‘real life’ being such a genius.
Ultimately this show answers my question of ‘What would happen if Sherlock Holmes existed today?’ that I asked several years ago as a lot of Sherlock’s assumptions were based on things of which we have in diverse amounts these days – For example, when receiving a letter in the stories he would find out the letter writer based on the brand of paper which may be from some obscure place and the post mark. Paper these days is far more widespread and trying to track someone down from a brand may be somewhat tricky. Therefore, I like the fact that the writing team have taken these facts into account and based the puzzles on the good old fashioned basics.
As you can imagine, the story of ‘A Scandal in Belgravia’ doesn’t have a textbook happy ending for Sherlock and Irene Adler but their cat and mouse games culminate in a satisfying ending that will leave you with a wry smile on your face and begging for more...twice :)
The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2011 (Channel 4)
Like an unfinished cigarette end in a half empty glass of mulled wine, The Big Fat Quiz of the Year 2011 spluttered an end to the festive season. The year of staggeringly more and more bizarre news stories was laid out in a series of questions presented by Jimmy Carr.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I have watched this quiz show several times and thoroughly enjoyed it but this year seemed to dissolve into childish antics and eventually served to get on my nerves so many times that I almost switched it off. I think that Miranda Hart and David Walliams are amazing comedians and I enjoy their offerings frequently but their refusal to even try and get questions right started to grate almost straight away. Answering questions with the answers from previous questions and insisting they should be given points as they got it right from a previous round really does grow tiresome after the first time but this occurred several times. I don’t know if they were trying to make a point or some sort of thing but it quickly became very irritating.
I realize that it is not an all out serious quiz but in most panel shows the guests do tend to join in the fun rather than spoiling it for the other contestants.
Admittedly Eddie Izzard did start using his phone at the start and whilst having his phone confiscated comically tried to run away with Jimmy Carr’s questions but he soon settled down to being funny rather than juvenile.
Despite the silly behaviour, the show was actually quite enjoyable and there were a few news stories that genuinely appear to have passed me by this year. My husband, who has very little interest in music did manage to answer one of the music questions that I failed to answer leaving me rather red faced due to my declaration of ‘probably only going to get the music questions right’.
David Mitchell was at his usual scathing best and Jonathan Ross and Jamie Oliver were self deprecating and reverential of the special guest which actually increased my respect in both of them.
Teamed with Jimmy Carr’s comical delivery and truly incredible laugh, they managed to win me over and it wasn’t as much as a depressing and annoying end to the year as I had begun to fear. I will watch it again should it be shown next year but I shall stick to watching David Walliams and Miranda Hart in what they do best.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I have watched this quiz show several times and thoroughly enjoyed it but this year seemed to dissolve into childish antics and eventually served to get on my nerves so many times that I almost switched it off. I think that Miranda Hart and David Walliams are amazing comedians and I enjoy their offerings frequently but their refusal to even try and get questions right started to grate almost straight away. Answering questions with the answers from previous questions and insisting they should be given points as they got it right from a previous round really does grow tiresome after the first time but this occurred several times. I don’t know if they were trying to make a point or some sort of thing but it quickly became very irritating.
I realize that it is not an all out serious quiz but in most panel shows the guests do tend to join in the fun rather than spoiling it for the other contestants.
Admittedly Eddie Izzard did start using his phone at the start and whilst having his phone confiscated comically tried to run away with Jimmy Carr’s questions but he soon settled down to being funny rather than juvenile.
Despite the silly behaviour, the show was actually quite enjoyable and there were a few news stories that genuinely appear to have passed me by this year. My husband, who has very little interest in music did manage to answer one of the music questions that I failed to answer leaving me rather red faced due to my declaration of ‘probably only going to get the music questions right’.
David Mitchell was at his usual scathing best and Jonathan Ross and Jamie Oliver were self deprecating and reverential of the special guest which actually increased my respect in both of them.
Teamed with Jimmy Carr’s comical delivery and truly incredible laugh, they managed to win me over and it wasn’t as much as a depressing and annoying end to the year as I had begun to fear. I will watch it again should it be shown next year but I shall stick to watching David Walliams and Miranda Hart in what they do best.
The Royal Bodyguard (BBC One)
Sir David Jason is back in this gentle comedy. His character Guy Hubble, in a kind of Peter Principle move, has been promoted from Car Park attendant to Royal Bodyguard due to an incident that was ultimately his fault. Cue plenty of slapstick fun, as if someone decided that the finest moments from Only Fools and Horses were when Sir David Jason was falling over or in some sort of calamitous situation and have provided The Royal Bodyguard to assuage our thirst for his physical comedy attributes.
Guy Hubble, a well meaning, yet clumsy and bumbling gentleman with an apparent long family history of royal service has been charged with the task of looking after the Royal Family. In the first episode he is involved in the security detail for the Queen’s visit to a conference in Scotland but, in several scenes that somewhat make it hard to suspend disbelief, he manages to give away security information to someone he has scarcely known a full evening. I am in no way saying that Guy Hubble couldn’t possibly interest an attractive young woman, he seems amiable enough, it’s just that he seems fairly lax regarding the ultimate security card that he has been given. Considering that his character is karate chopping suits of armour and claiming to have a 360 degree awareness in the first half of the show, he is quickly felled by a few drinks and a beautiful lady – which to me makes it hard to believe that he is truly as dedicated to his job as he ought to be. This leads me to wonder how much I should be dedicated to this comedy.
Sir David Jason has many fine attributes as an actor, his comedy timing is second to none and he can turn his hand to so many things but maybe in this show it just feels that his artistic hands are a little tied. Lots of TV shows need a little time to bed in and in the coming episodes hopefully SDJ will get the chance to flex his enormous talent.
To be perfectly honest, I’d watch Sir David Jason in just about anything – and have done with the exception of ‘The Darling Buds of May’ for some reason – and I really want this comedy to work but I fear that the public might miss Del Boy’s confidence, the wide eyed dreaming of Granville or Detective Frost’s gruff world-weary demeanor and the character of Hubble doesn’t quite live up to these high standards. Perhaps that as the series progresses we will fall for this Clouseau-esque charms. I, for one, will be crossing my fingers and hoping.
Guy Hubble, a well meaning, yet clumsy and bumbling gentleman with an apparent long family history of royal service has been charged with the task of looking after the Royal Family. In the first episode he is involved in the security detail for the Queen’s visit to a conference in Scotland but, in several scenes that somewhat make it hard to suspend disbelief, he manages to give away security information to someone he has scarcely known a full evening. I am in no way saying that Guy Hubble couldn’t possibly interest an attractive young woman, he seems amiable enough, it’s just that he seems fairly lax regarding the ultimate security card that he has been given. Considering that his character is karate chopping suits of armour and claiming to have a 360 degree awareness in the first half of the show, he is quickly felled by a few drinks and a beautiful lady – which to me makes it hard to believe that he is truly as dedicated to his job as he ought to be. This leads me to wonder how much I should be dedicated to this comedy.
Sir David Jason has many fine attributes as an actor, his comedy timing is second to none and he can turn his hand to so many things but maybe in this show it just feels that his artistic hands are a little tied. Lots of TV shows need a little time to bed in and in the coming episodes hopefully SDJ will get the chance to flex his enormous talent.
To be perfectly honest, I’d watch Sir David Jason in just about anything – and have done with the exception of ‘The Darling Buds of May’ for some reason – and I really want this comedy to work but I fear that the public might miss Del Boy’s confidence, the wide eyed dreaming of Granville or Detective Frost’s gruff world-weary demeanor and the character of Hubble doesn’t quite live up to these high standards. Perhaps that as the series progresses we will fall for this Clouseau-esque charms. I, for one, will be crossing my fingers and hoping.
Welcome!
While watching ‘Felix and Murdo’ (Channel 4, Wednesday 28th December 2011), the pilot starring the uber-posh and lovable Ben Miller and Alexander Armstrong, I crossed my fingers and hoped with all desperation that a full series would be commissioned. Discussing it with my husband we considered that on paper, it probably wasn’t something that a programme commissioner would really be turning cartwheels about in these times – a sitcom featuring two Edwardian gentlemen with a penchant for drink and drugs while attempting to compete in the Olympics. I know, not exactly the sound of TV award audiences uproarious applause and thank you speeches but on viewing said sitcom I was pleasantly surprised. My reasons for watching it were two-fold 1) I adore the whole Armstrong/Miller fusion and am inclined to watch anything with either or both and 2) I miss ‘Blackadder’. I realize that ‘Felix and Murdo’ was nothing like ‘Blackadder’ but to be honest, I have missed historical comedy and flicking through the TV guide, this may be the best I am going to get.
I grew up watching comedy gems such as 'Blackadder', Victoria Wood, 'Red Dwarf', 'The Nightingales', 'Shelley', 'Bread', 'The Golden Girls' and 'Only Fools and Horses'. Admittedly we had very few channels in those days and most of them closed down at night therefore requiring less televisual stock. Now, perhaps due to the large amount of channels at our disposal, it is harder to find the diamonds in the rough. These days there is a slew of reality shows, structured-reality shows as well as panel shows and talent shows, it is difficult to see the programmes with true longevity.
Back in the Eighties and Nineties, 'Only Fools and Horses' was a nationwide event. Who could fail to stifle a sob when Del Boy first held baby Damien in his arms with his usually dysfunctional family looking on. 'Red Dwarf' was a delightful treat, I remember sitting watching the end of the fifth series holding hands with a friend of mine – completely devastated when we thought that they had been in a virtual reality game for many years only to find that it was a hallucination induced by the despair squid. My childhood is peppered with memorable TV moments. Who wouldn’t be moved at the final episode of 'Blackadder Goes Forth' watching the soldiers going over the top, the haunting music not quite covering the sniffling in the room from the unbidden tears.
In 2011 the TV shows most talked about seem to be 'The X Factor' (ITV), 'Britain’s Got Talent' (ITV), 'I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!' (ITV) and 'Strictly Come Dancing' (BBC). Every weekday on daytime television, analysis of the contestants, their personalities, dress sense seems to take place until I feel that I know more about people such as Frankie Coccoza than I do about my friends.
Televised talent shows are by no means a new addition to our TV diet, 'New Faces' and 'Opportunity Knocks' had already paved the way for several stars in the 70’s and 80’s but in the Noughties there seems so many chances for people to achieve their 15 minutes of fame that said fame in already diluted by the time they have won the competition. Such a huge amount of people seemed to achieve celebrity that it was difficult to keep track and the limelight is only big enough to encompass the precious few in the public’s affections. With exception of people such as perhaps Susan Boyle, I seriously wonder if I will even give a thought as to where some of the contestants are now in my twilight years (and I mean my old age rather than the sparkly vampire obsession). This saddens me as some of the contestants in these talent shows are actually very gifted with similarly interesting personas but unless they shine brightly enough they risk being eclipsed by other more notorious offerings.
The fascination with celebrity certainly isn’t a new thing either, chat shows with Terry Wogan and Michael Parkinson at the helm showed us the other side of the stars, their personalities away from their professions. With enormous viewing figures it was fairly clear that the public wanted to know as much as possible about these remarkable people who lived their life in the spotlight. The main difference in the 21st century is the advent of wide access to the internet allowing us a fenestral view into the lives of the rich and famous.
Nature documentaries have been a staple of TV for decades and few have been as well loved as those from David Attenborough. Recently, 'Frozen Planet' (BBC) showed awe inspiring footage of a caterpillar that froze every year for 14 years until becoming an adult – truly mind blowing TV. Pretty much anything with David Attenborough tends to end up as TV Gold and rightly so due to the informative dialogue and spectacular imagery.
The 21st Century has seen the revival of fabulous dramas such as 'Doctor Who', the introduction of lavish costume dramas such as 'Downton Abbey' and the passing of amazing shows like 'Arrested Development' (although there are rumblings of this being revived).
My love affair with television stretches right back to my very early childhood, I voraciously devoured TV shows; I would run indoors from ‘playing out’ to watch 'Blackadder', spent summers watching 'WACADAY' with Timmy Mallet and 'California Dreams', 'Saved by the Bell', 'Secret World of Alex Mac', 'Clarrisa Explains it All'. I loved Saturday morning television, I watched films with my mum, adored magic shows, quiz shows – basically anything on TV, I would watch.
The relationship wasn’t always without trauma, Paul Daniels' Iron Maiden trick in around 1987 had me absolutely terrified for his safety. In fact, despite him saying that "anyone with a nervous disposition should switch off now" and I definitely resided in that category even then, I watched it and was so upset that I couldn’t watch the TV for weeks. The spoof documentary ‘Ghostwatch’ was so distressing that I didn’t sleep properly for weeks afterwards and even on purchasing the DVD and attempting to watch it as an adult in broad daylight – I found that the fear was still too great and couldn’t get past the DVD Menu! I’ve shouted at the TV, cried at it, yelled ‘oh no!!!!’ at moments of fear and laughed until I cried – there are very few other objects I can say that about.
As a child, we had cable TV which meant that at a certain point in my childhood we had more than 4 channels and this was something of great pride to me – I think we even had MTV and so we could happily munch our breakfast listening to ‘Send me an Angel’ by the Scorpions, which was nice.
The introduction of Satellite TV brought Sky – the home of 'The Simpsons' and this filled me with so much excitement. I adored The Simpsons, owning the album, slippers and various other merchandise, oft quoting the now ubiquitous ‘D’oh!’. Satellite TV also brought with it a channel that I think was German called RTL, my grasp of German is non-existent and even without understanding a word that was being said, I would still watch American shows in German with my Nanna. I actually have very fond memories of lying full length on the furry rug that was right in front of the fire in my Nanna’s house, chin in hands, watching something like 'T.J. Hooker' in German. There was also an odd sort of gameshow called ‘Tutti Frutti’ which seemed to contain a large amount of nudity but the songs were very catchy.
I remember my astonishment at watching ‘The Jerry Springer Show’ for the first time in my teenage years. The story was along the lines that two sisters were seeing one guy and were fighting over him but it turned out that not only was he seeing the two sisters but he was seeing a gay man who was also sleeping with the man’s best friend who ultimately fancied the gay man’s boyfriend – still with me? I remember discussing it with friends and trying to explain it and people exclaiming how wild it was! These days, I have been witness to so many stories similar to this on talk shows that very few things genuinely shock me anymore which somewhat worries me.
I loved The Royal Institute Christmas lectures and was enthralled with their lecture 'The Cosmic Onion'.
As a teenager I had a TV set that was part of an ‘entertainment system’ of the time – it was a huge VCR shaped box with a tape recorder, radio, small alarm clock and a TV that was black and white and about 4 inches by 4 inches. The screen was tiny but considering my TV addiction it was just a way to get my fill of late night TV. I suffered from terrible insomnia (then and my entire life) so I ended up watching a vast amount of late night Channel Four TV. My Dad managed to buy me a Betamax video from a car boot sale and I searched similar sales for Betamax tapes, eventually buying around 40 tapes at around 20p each.
In my twenties, cable TV and Satellite TV was expensive and as a student at University sadly I had to limit my viewing to 5 channels but I still wrung as much TV goodness as possible out of every channel. I have been an avid 'Eastenders' fan for the longest time and imagine my glee when it was on for four nights a week. Despite the often, overly beautiful and outlandish storylines (there have been at least two serial killers in the village, how often does that happen!) of 'Hollyoaks', I found myself sucked in at an early stage and it is a programme that I still watch in my thirties – I count it as a guilty pleasure. I drift in and out of 'Holby City' and 'Casualty' and my current soap opera delight is the effervescent ‘River City’ showcasing the banter of Glasgow.
Oddly, my displeasure at having to sit through 'Top Gear' as a child has somewhat changed as I reached adulthood and now I happily watch the show, mainly for the antics of the presenters admittedly but to be honest who wouldn’t like to build an aquatic car or watch someone making a hash of the task?
I love detective shows – 'A Touch of Frost', 'Cracker', 'Inspector Morse', 'Jonathan Creek' etc and BBC and ITV were on hand to deliver these during the cable and satellite TV drought of my twenties.
Now, in my thirties, with cable TV I have a wealth of TV channels at my disposal but for some bizarre reason I still seem to end up watching ‘Friends’ episodes that I have seen at least 10 times each. With the event of cable TV in my life I have welcomed some brilliant American shows such as 'House', 'Sons of Anarchy', the fabulous and highly recommended ‘Burn Notice’, 'American Horror Story', 'Pan Am', '30 Rock', 'Scrubs' – the list is huge. As well as wonderful documentaries and science shows such as 'Mythbusters'.
My love of TV has inspired me to write this blog, I hope to be able to discuss shows with you all. The large amount of time I spend alone leaves me desperate to discuss shows with someone, if only to spare my husband the pain of having to discuss shows that he has no interest in. Look out for reviews and features coming your way.
Much love,
The Viewing Pleasure Principle x
I grew up watching comedy gems such as 'Blackadder', Victoria Wood, 'Red Dwarf', 'The Nightingales', 'Shelley', 'Bread', 'The Golden Girls' and 'Only Fools and Horses'. Admittedly we had very few channels in those days and most of them closed down at night therefore requiring less televisual stock. Now, perhaps due to the large amount of channels at our disposal, it is harder to find the diamonds in the rough. These days there is a slew of reality shows, structured-reality shows as well as panel shows and talent shows, it is difficult to see the programmes with true longevity.
Back in the Eighties and Nineties, 'Only Fools and Horses' was a nationwide event. Who could fail to stifle a sob when Del Boy first held baby Damien in his arms with his usually dysfunctional family looking on. 'Red Dwarf' was a delightful treat, I remember sitting watching the end of the fifth series holding hands with a friend of mine – completely devastated when we thought that they had been in a virtual reality game for many years only to find that it was a hallucination induced by the despair squid. My childhood is peppered with memorable TV moments. Who wouldn’t be moved at the final episode of 'Blackadder Goes Forth' watching the soldiers going over the top, the haunting music not quite covering the sniffling in the room from the unbidden tears.
In 2011 the TV shows most talked about seem to be 'The X Factor' (ITV), 'Britain’s Got Talent' (ITV), 'I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!' (ITV) and 'Strictly Come Dancing' (BBC). Every weekday on daytime television, analysis of the contestants, their personalities, dress sense seems to take place until I feel that I know more about people such as Frankie Coccoza than I do about my friends.
Televised talent shows are by no means a new addition to our TV diet, 'New Faces' and 'Opportunity Knocks' had already paved the way for several stars in the 70’s and 80’s but in the Noughties there seems so many chances for people to achieve their 15 minutes of fame that said fame in already diluted by the time they have won the competition. Such a huge amount of people seemed to achieve celebrity that it was difficult to keep track and the limelight is only big enough to encompass the precious few in the public’s affections. With exception of people such as perhaps Susan Boyle, I seriously wonder if I will even give a thought as to where some of the contestants are now in my twilight years (and I mean my old age rather than the sparkly vampire obsession). This saddens me as some of the contestants in these talent shows are actually very gifted with similarly interesting personas but unless they shine brightly enough they risk being eclipsed by other more notorious offerings.
The fascination with celebrity certainly isn’t a new thing either, chat shows with Terry Wogan and Michael Parkinson at the helm showed us the other side of the stars, their personalities away from their professions. With enormous viewing figures it was fairly clear that the public wanted to know as much as possible about these remarkable people who lived their life in the spotlight. The main difference in the 21st century is the advent of wide access to the internet allowing us a fenestral view into the lives of the rich and famous.
Nature documentaries have been a staple of TV for decades and few have been as well loved as those from David Attenborough. Recently, 'Frozen Planet' (BBC) showed awe inspiring footage of a caterpillar that froze every year for 14 years until becoming an adult – truly mind blowing TV. Pretty much anything with David Attenborough tends to end up as TV Gold and rightly so due to the informative dialogue and spectacular imagery.
The 21st Century has seen the revival of fabulous dramas such as 'Doctor Who', the introduction of lavish costume dramas such as 'Downton Abbey' and the passing of amazing shows like 'Arrested Development' (although there are rumblings of this being revived).
My love affair with television stretches right back to my very early childhood, I voraciously devoured TV shows; I would run indoors from ‘playing out’ to watch 'Blackadder', spent summers watching 'WACADAY' with Timmy Mallet and 'California Dreams', 'Saved by the Bell', 'Secret World of Alex Mac', 'Clarrisa Explains it All'. I loved Saturday morning television, I watched films with my mum, adored magic shows, quiz shows – basically anything on TV, I would watch.
The relationship wasn’t always without trauma, Paul Daniels' Iron Maiden trick in around 1987 had me absolutely terrified for his safety. In fact, despite him saying that "anyone with a nervous disposition should switch off now" and I definitely resided in that category even then, I watched it and was so upset that I couldn’t watch the TV for weeks. The spoof documentary ‘Ghostwatch’ was so distressing that I didn’t sleep properly for weeks afterwards and even on purchasing the DVD and attempting to watch it as an adult in broad daylight – I found that the fear was still too great and couldn’t get past the DVD Menu! I’ve shouted at the TV, cried at it, yelled ‘oh no!!!!’ at moments of fear and laughed until I cried – there are very few other objects I can say that about.
As a child, we had cable TV which meant that at a certain point in my childhood we had more than 4 channels and this was something of great pride to me – I think we even had MTV and so we could happily munch our breakfast listening to ‘Send me an Angel’ by the Scorpions, which was nice.
The introduction of Satellite TV brought Sky – the home of 'The Simpsons' and this filled me with so much excitement. I adored The Simpsons, owning the album, slippers and various other merchandise, oft quoting the now ubiquitous ‘D’oh!’. Satellite TV also brought with it a channel that I think was German called RTL, my grasp of German is non-existent and even without understanding a word that was being said, I would still watch American shows in German with my Nanna. I actually have very fond memories of lying full length on the furry rug that was right in front of the fire in my Nanna’s house, chin in hands, watching something like 'T.J. Hooker' in German. There was also an odd sort of gameshow called ‘Tutti Frutti’ which seemed to contain a large amount of nudity but the songs were very catchy.
I remember my astonishment at watching ‘The Jerry Springer Show’ for the first time in my teenage years. The story was along the lines that two sisters were seeing one guy and were fighting over him but it turned out that not only was he seeing the two sisters but he was seeing a gay man who was also sleeping with the man’s best friend who ultimately fancied the gay man’s boyfriend – still with me? I remember discussing it with friends and trying to explain it and people exclaiming how wild it was! These days, I have been witness to so many stories similar to this on talk shows that very few things genuinely shock me anymore which somewhat worries me.
I loved The Royal Institute Christmas lectures and was enthralled with their lecture 'The Cosmic Onion'.
As a teenager I had a TV set that was part of an ‘entertainment system’ of the time – it was a huge VCR shaped box with a tape recorder, radio, small alarm clock and a TV that was black and white and about 4 inches by 4 inches. The screen was tiny but considering my TV addiction it was just a way to get my fill of late night TV. I suffered from terrible insomnia (then and my entire life) so I ended up watching a vast amount of late night Channel Four TV. My Dad managed to buy me a Betamax video from a car boot sale and I searched similar sales for Betamax tapes, eventually buying around 40 tapes at around 20p each.
In my twenties, cable TV and Satellite TV was expensive and as a student at University sadly I had to limit my viewing to 5 channels but I still wrung as much TV goodness as possible out of every channel. I have been an avid 'Eastenders' fan for the longest time and imagine my glee when it was on for four nights a week. Despite the often, overly beautiful and outlandish storylines (there have been at least two serial killers in the village, how often does that happen!) of 'Hollyoaks', I found myself sucked in at an early stage and it is a programme that I still watch in my thirties – I count it as a guilty pleasure. I drift in and out of 'Holby City' and 'Casualty' and my current soap opera delight is the effervescent ‘River City’ showcasing the banter of Glasgow.
Oddly, my displeasure at having to sit through 'Top Gear' as a child has somewhat changed as I reached adulthood and now I happily watch the show, mainly for the antics of the presenters admittedly but to be honest who wouldn’t like to build an aquatic car or watch someone making a hash of the task?
I love detective shows – 'A Touch of Frost', 'Cracker', 'Inspector Morse', 'Jonathan Creek' etc and BBC and ITV were on hand to deliver these during the cable and satellite TV drought of my twenties.
Now, in my thirties, with cable TV I have a wealth of TV channels at my disposal but for some bizarre reason I still seem to end up watching ‘Friends’ episodes that I have seen at least 10 times each. With the event of cable TV in my life I have welcomed some brilliant American shows such as 'House', 'Sons of Anarchy', the fabulous and highly recommended ‘Burn Notice’, 'American Horror Story', 'Pan Am', '30 Rock', 'Scrubs' – the list is huge. As well as wonderful documentaries and science shows such as 'Mythbusters'.
My love of TV has inspired me to write this blog, I hope to be able to discuss shows with you all. The large amount of time I spend alone leaves me desperate to discuss shows with someone, if only to spare my husband the pain of having to discuss shows that he has no interest in. Look out for reviews and features coming your way.
Much love,
The Viewing Pleasure Principle x
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