Fishermen’s Friends — A Review.

19th February, 2020.

Right … 

You’ve possibly watch that introduction video … haven’t you?

Basically?

I confess to not knowing my own mind.

Not knowing if I’d want to settle down in front of the TV … with a film or a TV show.

Granted: there’s a few of each I wanted to check out.

Being in the mood I’m in … ?

I fancied a movie.

And, to be perfectly frank?

I fancied a feel-good movie.

And … ?

In deciding on the Chris Foggin directed Fishermen’s Friends, I think I picked a good one …

~≈†≈~

Good Omens — Series 1: Episode 6 — The Very Last Day Of The Rest Of Their Lives — A Review

5th July, 2019.

Sad times can be very sad.   As you’ve possibly realised.

There’s upsides: although these are bitter sweet.

IN my particular case?



Simply a touch of money inherited from my stepfather: with the help of my two sisters, Anna and Ruth.

I’ve been able to replace a few big ticket items around the house.

I’ve a new oven due, for example.

A new tumble dryer’s* been delivered, as has a new microwave oven.

Bits, bobs, clothes, a new book or two: the Dune Encyclopedia looks good.

And unbelievably detailed.

The other thing I’ve picked up: with a bit of a story too it?

Is a new TV.

Which is now in place: in front of my favourite armchair, and loudly playing some Eno inspired ambient.

Having just been used … 

To watch the last episode of Good Omens …

Did anyone else catch the Dr Who† reference … ?

~≈§≈~

Episode 6 — The Very Last Day Of The Rest Of Their Lives — opens with a brief glimpse of the future: showing us Crowley (David Tennant) being put on trial by his peers.

Stepping back … ?



It shows us why.

Shows us Adam (Sam Taylor Buck) confronting Gabriel (Jon Hamm) and Beelzebub (Anna Maxwell Martin) … 

Confronting — and winning out against — the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse … 

And finally?

Confronting Satan (Benedict Cumberbatch) himself.



And then … … ?



Then having to deal with his annoyed father, Arthur (Daniel Mays).



Sometimes, the only way to stop the Antichrist … ?

Is to ground him … 

~≈§≈~

Now … 


Good … ?



I have to say yes.



This episode of Good Omens is a very light and fluffy climax: for what’s been a faithful adaptation.

Fluffy … ?



Might be the wrong word … 

Light might be the better one.



Good Omens, much like the novel itself?

Is both satirical: taking the proverbial Michael out of human foibles, out of our deep tendency to view our side as the good guys … and the other side as demons incarnate.



But also shows us something else.

We’re human.



All of us.

Good or bad, black or white, male, or female, Antichrist or otherwise, what we are … ?



IS sometimes less important than who we are.

~≈§≈~

As a final thought … ?

As a final thought, I have to admit, I’ve always had an ambiguous relationship with the film — or TV show — of the book.

I find the details that reach the screen don’t look anything like the ones that have crawled off the page and into my head.

Neither do the actors.

I believe I share that with a lot of fans.

I worried about how Good Omens would turn out.

I don’t think I should have.

This is a very good adaption: true to the book, and with a cast that’s top notch.

It’s I think will delight fans … 


And, hopefully, interest non-fans.

Can I suggest that, if you’ve read my posts about the show, and been encouraged to watch Good Omens?



That you do me a favour, and read the original novel.

I think it’ll will repay you.

*        The thing’s got an accompanying app.   An app, for God’s sake!

†        About half way through the episode, Adam is eventually taken home by his dad.   Arthur’s car’s number plate?   Spells out SIDRAT: the copied imitation TARDIS created by the War Chief and sold to his masters in Patrick Troughton’s last Dr Who‡ story, The War Games.

‡        There’s a few former Dr Who cast members in there.   Dan Starkey (Strax) turns up as a passerby, Anna Maxwell Martin (Beelzebub) was in a Christopher Ecclestone episode called The Long Game, Michael Sheen was in The Doctor’s Wife.   Then there’s David Tennant’s whole family …

Good Omens — Series 1: Episode 5 — The Doomsday Option — A Review

3rd July, 2019

I think we can say this: that we have to live with the consequences of our actions.

The one I’m worried about … ?

Is simply the fact I now have a green screen set up … !

OK, it’s not working perfectly: the thing only got unpacked a few hours ago, and needs ironing.

Which accounts for the speckled look.

But … ?



I know have a green screen: and I’m wondering where to put in between uses!

~≈Ü≈~

At any rate … ?

I’ve got a green screen that — once it’s ironed — I can use to do all sorts of basic compositing: including the effects seen in the video intro.



All that … ?



All that because I like talking about TV shows?

Well, yes: I always did like that Max Headroom effect.

At any rate … ?



And while we on the subject of TV … ?

Yes: I’ve seen another episode of Good Omens … !

~≈Ü≈~

Good Omens — Series 1: Episode 4 — Saturday Morning Funtime — A Review

1st July, 2019.

Yep: it’s been enough of a quiet day … 

To do a little shopping.



For practical stuff: rather than going on electronics.

I’m now expecting a tumble-dryer on Friday.

And more clothes … 



I don’t know about you, but I can only afford cheap stuff: which barely lasts for five minutes.

And means I end up spending more than someone who gets something of better quality … 

The good stuff lasts.



Hmm …



Remind me to tell you about Terry’s Pratchett’s boots theory.

Talking of which … ?



Did I tell you I watched more TV, tonight … ?

Yes … 

Good Omens … 

~≈¥≈~

Good Omens — Series 1: Episode 3 — Hard Times — A Review

27th June, 2019.

Yes!

My kitchen sink is not making hideously horribly glugging noises.

As you. Possibly aware, I had an issue with it, last night.

Something seemed to be coming up the pipes.

Quite why, or how … ?

I’m still not sure.

But … ?



At least I’ve managed to report it to my landlord.

~≈Ç≈~

At any rate … ?



Unemployment means I have time on my hands.

Time enough to get snotty: if my AppleTV starts playing up at a crucial moment.

OK: I can reset everything by switching it off, pulling out the power cable, then plugging it back in again.

But it IS awkward … 

And thankfully, something I didn’t have to do, before sitting down with episode 3 of … Good Omens … 

~≈Ç≈~

Good Omens — Series 1: Episode 2 — The Book — A Review

26th June, 2019.



Yep: it’s a thing … 



I have a kitchen sink that’s misbehaving: and upsurged a couple of times, tonight.

And yes: I have managed to clean that sink.

And unblock the drain.

All to no avail.

I still get upsurging.



And … ?

On the advise of my landlord’s out of hours service?

It’s something I’m going to have to chase up in the morning.

I just hope it doesn’t get so bad, it floods the place.

At any rate … ?

At any rate, it’s another quiet night: which means another episode of … 

Good Omens … 


~≈¥≈~

Good Omens — Series 1: Episode 1 — In The Beginning — A Review

25th June, 2019.

You know, there’s upsides and downsides, to life on the proverbial dole.

The length of time between interviews … the boredom …

It can leave you feeling … 

Mildly depressed, to say the least.

For me personally?

A couple of family deaths hasn’t helped.

Something I AM grateful for … ?

Is simply the amount of films and TV shows I’ve got access to: and the fact I can air my thoughts on what I see.

Yes: you’re right.

I’ve finally managed to access Good Omens: the series based on the book by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

~≈§≈~

The Limehouse Golem — A Review

31st March 2019.

It has to be said … it’s been a quiet Sunday night … 

That’s possibly something you’ve already worked out.

If you watched the amount of built in stuttering in the intro video*!

Or if you’ve been follow been me a while: you’ll have possibly realised I’m jobhunting, at the moment.

So?

I spend a lot of time jobhunting, trying to sort out a looming debt crisis, more jobhunting, writing the Daily Teaser … 

Followed by the odd movie, or two.

Occasionally?

I get a chance to watch a TV show.

I like media, in other words: and have a lot stashed away in various places.

Tonight?

I thought was a good time to raid the collection … 

And sat myself down to watch … 

The Limehouse Golem… 

~≈§≈~



Dad’s Army — Don’t Panic … !

6th March, 2016.

You know, it’s been the weekend of my birthday: Friday, just gone, so you know.

AND Mother’s Day.

Which means that … 

Well … 

It’s been rather long.

And … ?

Well, Friday definitely saw a shirt with just a bit too much gorgonzola dip.

And today … ?

Well, today saw a staff meeting, this morning: I came in third in the staff competition, winning a small prize in the process.

And, this afternoons, in a sort of joint celebration of Mother’s Day, AND my birthday … ?

Me and my family … ?

With the mild sense of irony my family tends to occasionally exhibit, my family and I went to see Dad’s Army … 

~≈Á≈~

Outcasts Episode: Am I Bothered, Though … ?

You know, I’ve GOT to confess that, right now … ?

Right now, I definitely need a new kettle.

The one I’ve GOT has gone for a Burton.

The net immediate result … ?

Is the cuppa that’s sitting next to me … ?

Is one I made the hard way.

With two level spoonfuls of sugar, a teabag, a mug, a spoon …

And a small milk-pan to boil the water with.

An ambidextrous milk-pan, I should add.

I’m left handed.

Having a milk-pan you can pour with either hand is both as rare as rocking-horse poo.

And something I treasure!

But let me get to the meat of the post, if I may … ?

Yes, I think I may …

»»•««

You see, getting back from my Mum’s, after having Sunday dinner … ?

I caught what’s been my usual Sunday TV shows, for the past few weeks.

And … ?

To be as blunt as I try to aim to be, here, I’m thinking that Being Human has shown itself to be the far better effort, in my humble opinion*.

The whole of series three of Being Human has …

Especially when you compare it with the other piece of genre fiction that the BBC has been showing us, over the past few weeks.

Outcasts.

Hmmm …

Outcasts …

Tonight’s finale shows us Julius Berger’s attempts to take over Forthaven, seemingly the only human city on Carpathia.

Against the backdrop of a resurgent C23 virus.

One that seems to have originated from the native aliens on Carpathia, the beings that President Tate and co have dubbed the “Host Force”.

»»•««

Now, I’ve got to admit …

I’m …

Well, I’m none to sure how I feel about episode 8 of Outcasts.

You see, I’m thinking 8 is a definite improvement on most of the preceding episodes, I am.

It polishes things off, nicely.

But also sets up things for a second series.

Being frank, here, I’m not convinced that it deserves one.

As I’ve said, a couple of episodes — 5, 7 and 8 — have been fairly good, compared to the rest of this first season.

But having seen episodes 1 and 2, I also can appreciate exactly why many people weren’t afraid to quietly — if not necessarily publicly — say they were disappointed.

Bless him, Outcasts Adrian definitely left me a couple of good comments, expressing his dissatisfaction.

I’m thinking, here, if Outcasts and Being Human one of the movies I and the gang watched, frankly it wouldn’t be getting much in the way of stars.

Season 3 of Being Human … ?

Would be getting “GO GET NOW”: ★★★★

Series 1 of Outcasts, on the other hand … ?

A series that had interesting ideas and characters, but such iffily executed ones … ?

“Nice, but forgettable” ★☆☆☆

And add my hopes that the BBC don’t commission a second series.

I think they’d be wasting license-fee payers money.

Actor	Role
Liam Cunningham	Richard Tate
Hermione Norris	Stella Isen
Daniel Mays	Cass Cromwell
Amy Manson	Fleur Morgan
Ashley Walters	Jack Holt
Eric Mabius	Julius Berger
Langley Kirkwood	Rudi
Michael Legge	Tipper Malone
Jeanne Kietzmann	Lily Isen
Moshidi Motshegwa	Dr Desta

Director	Jamie Payne
Producer	Radford Neville
Writer	Ben Richards

* Is it me, or is “In My Humble Opinion” the silliest phrase … ? I mean, when was the last time any of us had a “humble” opinion? Seriously … ?

Outcasts Episode 7: That’s a BIT better …

Actually, before you say anything, I believe I’m right on this.

Episode 7 of Outcasts … ?

Certainly ranks as one of the better efforts from the series.

Possibly on a par — quality-wise — with episode 5.

And without as many holes as episode 6.

Tonight’s episode … ?

Well …

After giving us the usual reprise of the first six, sees ‘President’ Tate arrive at his office, to be confronted by what appear’s to be himself.

It isn’t, of course.

The entity soon reveals itself to be some form of life, apparently native to Carpathia.

One that warned humans on the planet were doomed: just like the last batch.

And the presence of which sees Richard ordering Stella to investigate a method of communicating with the aliens.

And trying to get in touch with the ACs, both to warn them about it. And to see if they can help.

»»•««

That’s not the only storyline in tonight’s episode.

The other … ?

Sees Cass and Fleur investigating the case of a missing woman: Carla Shapiro, played by Claire Keelan.

With Cass and Fleur becoming increasingly close, what Cass hasn’t told Fleur is that he’s spent the night …

In bed with the missing woman.

Seemingly … ?

There’s plenty Cass hasn’t told Fleur.

Including about the dossier that Carla has found in Cass’ cupboards: ones that look seriously official.

»»•««

Now, granted, episode 7 is a much better effort than we’ve seen outside of episode 5.

Or episode 4, come to that matter.

Far better paced and scripted.

But I still feel that Kudos and the BBC could have done a lot better with Outcasts, so far.

After all, Episode 7 is a good episode in a series that’s showing itself to be very erratic in terms of its overall quality.

It’s a stand-out in a poor series.

Rather than a good episode in a great series.

Actor	Role
Liam Cunningham	Richard Tate
Hermione Norris	Stella Isen
Daniel Mays	Cass Cromwell
Amy Manson	Fleur Morgan
Ashley Walters	Jack Holt
Eric Mabius	Julius Berger
Langley Kirkwood	Rudi
Michael Legge	Tipper Malone
Jeanne Kietzmann	Lily Isen
Claire Keelan	Carla Shapiro
Adrian Bower	James Shapiro
Heather Middleton	Dylan
Brett Williams	Robertson
Rory Acton-Burnell	PAS Officer Ferguson

Director	Jamie Payne
Producer	Radford Neville
Writer	David Farr