Category: Reviews

The Walking Dead: Season 9, Episode 2 – The Bridge

“I get what you’re trying to do here, and it’s the right thing. But maybe for some of them – they’re just not ready for it.”

(SPOILER WARNING!)

Showrunner Angela Kang took a backseat after last week’s underwhelming season opener for veteran (and lengthily named) scripter David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick this week. And the result was an episode that, while ostensibly more low key, felt a lot more satisfying. Yes, there were still multiple narratives, but these ones were more satisfyingly intertwined than last time. The pacing was better too; rather than starting with the action then tailing off to the talking, this one built up the other way round. Continue reading “The Walking Dead: Season 9, Episode 2 – The Bridge”

Doctor Who: Season 11, Episode 2 – The Ghost Monument

“What, like a race? Like Paris Dakar in space? Are you two space racing each other?”

(SPOILER WARNING)

After a solid if unexceptional season opener for a thoroughly revamped Doctor Who, new showrunner Chris Chibnall has clearly made an attempt to wow the audience in his second episode, with some amazing location filming, impressive effects, and a pair of great guest stars in Shaun Dooley and Susan Lynch. The story? Well, it was certainly more interesting than last week’s Predator visits Sheffield, but if I’m honest I doubt that what was effectively Top Gear Challenge in Space is going to go down as one of the all time classics. Continue reading “Doctor Who: Season 11, Episode 2 – The Ghost Monument”

The Walking Dead: Season 9, Episode 1 – A New Beginning

“We deserve to live in peace. Negan and the Saviors tried to take that away from us. Alexandria, the Hilltop, the Kingdom and Oceanside came together. To fight for a better future.

“We won.

“Not without painful losses. Today, we try to heal. We try to forgive. Now, the work begins. The new world begins.”

(SPOILER WARNING!)

Fine words, Rick Grimes. This is indeed a new world for The Walking Dead. A world where showrunner Scott Gimple has been replaced by veteran scriptwriter Angela Kang. A world with a plot other than about Negan. A world where Carl Grimes, alive in the comics, is dead – and his father is about to join him. Continue reading “The Walking Dead: Season 9, Episode 1 – A New Beginning”

Doctor Who: Season 11, Episode 1 – The Woman Who Fell to Earth

“We’re all capable of the most incredible change. We can evolve, while still staying true to who we are. We can honour who we’ve been, and choose who we want to be next. Now’s your chance – how about it?”

(SPOILER WARNING!)

All change! Yeah, I know, I didn’t write an all-encompassing summary of Mr Moffat’s reign like I did with Mr Davies (my life was a bit of a mess at the time), but this really is new. New showrunner (and more about that in a minute), new team, new Doctor… and most concerningly, new composer! Continue reading “Doctor Who: Season 11, Episode 1 – The Woman Who Fell to Earth”

Bodyguard – some thoughts

(SPOILER WARNING!)

As you’ll know if you’ve seen my recent posts, the main thing that’s been keeping me entertained during my two-and-a-bit weeks of living in my van has been watching all of BBC’s much hyped and highly popular thriller Bodyguard, which for the most part I’ve enjoyed immensely. I came to it not because of the hype though, but because of the writer. I recently binge watched all of Jed Mercurio’s hugely enjoyable bent copper drama Line of Duty on Netflix, and hearing that he’d come up with this high stakes blend of cop drama  and political thriller, I was keen to watch. Continue reading “Bodyguard – some thoughts”

The Walking Dead: Season 8, Episode 16 – Wrath

“All this is just what was. There’s gotta be something after.”

(SPOILER WARNING!)

So finally, FINALLY, that’s a wrap on the All Out War, in a mostly satisfying and thoughtful season finale for The Walking Dead. It’s been two and a half seasons since we first encountered antagonists the Saviors; that’s over two years ago now. Their presence has been, since then, almost a default format for the show, and it’s a format that’s got real tired. Thank heavens the series can finally do something else. Continue reading “The Walking Dead: Season 8, Episode 16 – Wrath”

The Walking Dead: Season 8, Episode 15 – Worth

“If they won’t end it, you have to. You have to give them a way out.”

(SPOILER WARNING!)

It’s the penultimate ep of this season of The Walking Dead, and for the first time in about two years there’s the beginning of some resolution to the plot. That’s not to say this ep has redeemed what went before, or even has the sense of building momentum you’d expect the week before the season finale. But at least there’s some movement. Continue reading “The Walking Dead: Season 8, Episode 15 – Worth”