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

Outcasts Episode 6: Interesting, but with definite HOLES …

Hmmmm …

Do you remember me saying — was it only on Monday — that episodes 6, 7 and 8 of Outcasts had a lot of work to do … ?

Well, I did.

I know I did.

I’ve just had a another look at the post I did for episode 5.

Which I was definitely impressed by.

Episode 6, on the other hand … ?

Hmmm …

Is very much a case of for me to apply a thoughtfully sceptical ‘Hmmmm’ noise.

Episode 6, you see, caught me with something of a background hole, lets put it like that.

Picky little wossname I am, holes are things I can’t really ignore.

The opening teaser of Episode 6 sees Jack Holt’s expeditionaries out in the wilder parts of Carpathia, trying to track down a three-person XP squad squad that seems to have gone missing.

With the one surviving member that they find, Josie — in the second picture — seriously injured.

Wanting to see her kids.

And claiming to have been attacked by the ACs, the colonists’ genetically modified super-troopers, abandoned to a life in the Carpathian wilds.

»»±««

Not wanting to spoil things too much if you’ve not seen tonight’s episode, the missing Josie that returns to Forthaven at the start of the episode …

Turns out to be a hallucinatory one, akin to the realistic ones that Richard Tate is seeing of his dead children.

Something that Holt’s Expeditionaries — along with Cass and Fleur — find out at the end of the episode.

Nice big climax, there … !

»»±««

But I mentioned holes, at the start of the episode, didn’t I … ?

Oh, boy, yes … !

Let’s get to the obvious one, shall we … ?

One of the sub-plots in tonights episode … ?

Was the fact one of the missing expeditionaries has a wife in Forthaven, named Marie.

Marie spends most of the episode giving birth to the only human child seen on Carpathia in the past five years.

The reason I mention this … ?

Is that Stella — a qualified neurologist, despite being Forthaven’s Chief of Police — seems to be spending a great deal of time going to and from Forthaven’s Maternity unit.

And seems to be the key person responsible for making the decision to save either the baby or the mother, in case the birth goes wrong.

The Chief of Police.

Let me stress that again, the Chief of Police.

Granted, the Hermione Norris character is a qualified doctor: but in neurology, rather than gynæcology or obstetrics*.

And, as I’ve already stated, she’s always the head of Carpathia’s small — three person, seemingly — police-force.

The question I have … ?

Or hole I’ve spotted, I should say … ?

Where the hot-hooting heck is Forthaven’s Chief Medical officer … ?

Oh, there’s medical staff: plenty of ’em … !

But seemingly, no one in charge of those staff: despite the fact that Forthaven has a large expeditionary force that seems to get injured, once a week!

Actually, the other hole I’ve spotted …

Kind of ties into the Expeditionaries.

Well …

Them, and any one venturing outside the town of Forthaven.

You see, in last Monday’s episode, one mild annoyance for me was simply the fact the Fleur and Cass — indeed any of Forthaven’s inhabitants — would go happily tearing off into the Carpathian desert …

Without any signs of a radio.

Or phone.

Or communication device, sat-phone, two tin cans connected by string.

Or some sort of map, come to that matter. Carpathia is, after all, largely unknown: certainly to us, you’d thing President Tate would have a map of the explored areas around Forthaven in his office.

Now, I quite happily suspended disbelieve watching episode 5.

It was the best of the bunch, so far.

But something else occurred to me, watching tonights episode.

Where’s the planes?

Or helicopters … ?

Or — given that I seem to recall a throwaway line in episode 5 about the difficulty of powered flight on Carpathia — some sort of colonial jeep, for heaven’s sake!

Transport, in other words!

Everyone seems to spend a lot of time walking … !

»»±««

Just as a final piece of criticism, here … ?

And this — given the existence of recordable media — isn’t too much of a bother for me personally.

Is the change of place in the schedules.

A nine o’clock start — on whatever day of the week — is one that I find generally acceptable.

But 10•25 on a Sunday evening, for those of us who have to get up for work on a Monday … ?

Well …

I know that in its first two weeks, Outcasts scheduling played merry havoc with the Tuesday Night Movie.

On the other hand … ?

10•25 on a Sunday night … ?

There’s going to be a lot of jammed switchboards!

»»±««

Now, I know there’s probably a few people who are going to disagree with me, about all this.

No, let me rephrase that.

Aren’t going to let the holes or the scheduling bother them.

That’s their choice.

And more power to them.

But, for me personally … ?

Those holes, in particular are like a little piece of Sunday roast beef.

You know the one.

The one that’s got stuck between a couple of back teeth, where you can’t quite get to with just your tongue.

It’s going to niggle.

Episode’s 7 and 8 had better be a bloomin’ long toothpick.

Actor	Rôle
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
Juliet Aubrey	Josie Hunter
Rebekah Nathan	Stacy
Maddy Baskerville	Rona
Dylan Fourie	Dylan
Melissa Haiden	Marie Docherty
Sean Michael	Clark Johnson
Bongo Mbutuma	XP Hartson

Director	Andy Goddard
Producer	Radford Neville
Writer	David Farr

* Says I, hoping I’ve got the correct terms, there … !