The Witcher Series Two TV Show Review (Contains Spoilers)| CarenzaOnBooks

Taken from Google Images

Title- The Witcher

Creators- Lauren Schmidt Hissrich 

Cast- Henry Cavill, Freya Allan, Anya Chalotra, Joey Batey, MyAnna Buring, Eamon Farren and ensemble cast

Genre- fantasy, drama  

Length- 8 episodes

Platform- Netflix

Rating- 4.5/5 stars 

Plot

The story begins with Geralt of Rivia, Crown Princess Ciri of Cintra, and the sorceress Yennefer of Vengerberg at different points of time, exploring formative events that shape their characters throughout first season, before eventually merging into a single timeline.

Geralt and Ciri are linked by destiny since before she was born when he unknowingly demanded her as a reward for his services by invoking "the Law of Surprise". After the two finally meet, the witcher becomes the princess's protector and must help her and fight against her various pursuers to prevent her Elder Blood and powerful magic from being used for malevolent purposes and keep Ciri and their world safe.

Taken from Wikipedia 

Opinions  

I was swept up in The Witcher hype at the beginning of 2020, having never read the books or played the games. I really enjoyed it and went out and bought the first three books. I even rewatched it a few months after I had first watched, while we were plunged into lockdown. It became a favourite and a show I was excited for the second series. After a very long wait because of the pandemic, it finally arrived. I was only able to get to it in mid-January, a month after it released because I was so busy and tired with work. I wanted to savour it and enjoy it. I ended up watching it over three days and I bloody loved it. 

Taken from Google Images

This series had a much stronger overarching plot. It felt established and like it new what it was doing. While I liked the jumping around and different timelines in series one, I found myself engaging with this one more. This is odd because when I was reading the books I loved The Last Wish (which provided the stories/inspiration for series one) but really struggled with Blood of Elves (which was the inspiration for series two). I had a lot of expectations for series two and it didn't fail to meet them. I really liked when Geralt, Ciri and Yennefer finally all met together. It has a lot of potential for series three, for them being a little family unit. They're clearly meant to be and are connected to each other. 

Taken from Google Images

If you follow me on Twitter, then you might know that Jaskier is a favourite character of mine and I was beyond excited to see his return in series two. I wish he could have been introduced a bit earlier, as I was almost watching just to find out what happened to him and not the other characters. His introduction as the Sandpiper was great. Speaking of great, they had some more incredible songs in series two. They had a very difficult job of topping series one, but they did it. Burn, Butcher, Burn lives in my head. I've found a playlist on Spotify with all of his songs and I listen to it on repeat. I felt we got to explore a bit more of Jaskier this series. He wasn't just the comic relief. He went through a fairly traumatic time and his directness with Gerlat was really good. I hope they include Jaskier in the family dynamic in series three as he is an integral part of that family. 

Taken from Google Images

Let's talk about the ending. I audibly gasped when it was revealed that Dunny was the White Flame as I thought he was dead. That was a really good reveal. The end with Ciri being possessed made for a good battle, with Yennefer's sacrifice and getting her magic back feeling like a satisfying ending. It wasn't quite as dramatic a cliffhanger as series one. I found the plot line with the Elves somewhat predictable. I knew that something bad was going to happen to the baby Elf. I didn't see Francesca going on a baby killing spree, that was kinda haunting. There's a lot of room for great things to come in series three, but I'm not as desperate for it as I was for series two. 

The production felt a lot tighter this series. I thought the sets, the costumes and the overall design of the show was beautiful. The stories and directing were great. I could talk for days about the music because I'm a sucker for a good soundtrack. It felt like a step up from series one, with even better things on the horizon for series three.

Overall, I really enjoyed this series. I'm glad I waited until I was in the right mindset to watch it as I think I enjoyed it more. Naturally, I am very excited for series three and I'm even tempted to dive back into the books, despite some of the problems I have. In the meantime, I'm going to impatiently wait for my Jaskier Pop Funko to arrive, while listening to my Jaskier playlist repeat. 

What did you think of the Witcher series two??

The Outlaws TV Show Review (Contains Spoilers)| CarenzaOnBooks

Taken from Google

Title- The Outlaws

Creators- Stephen Merchant and Elgin James

Cast- Christopher Walken, Stephen Merchant, Rhianne Barreto, Gamba Cole, Clare Perkins, Darren Boyd and Eleanor Tomlinson with an ensemble cast 

Genre- comedy, crime, thriller

Length- 6 episodes

Platform- BBC iPlayer

Rating- 5/5 stars

Plot

The story follows seven strangers from different walks of life forced together to complete a Community Payback sentence in Bristol. However, their luck changes when they discover a bag full of money, unaware that some dangerous people are looking for it.

Taken from Wikipedia

Opinions

The Outlaws had been on my radar for a while for a number of reasons, but one of the top reasons was that it was set in Bristol, which is where I went to university. After spending most of my final year at home, it was so nice to see Bristol on the screen. Another reason was that I had seen some interviews with show creator Stephen Merchant and it just looked like a good show. I wasn't wrong. This was a funny, entertaining show from beginning till end. That doesn't mean it didn't tackle some series issues, such as racism, family dynamics and societal expectations. The Outlaws was a well rounded show that balanced the comedy and crime/thriller tones brilliantly. 

Probably one of my favourite parts of this show as the friendship between Greg (Stephen Merchant) and Gabby (Eleanor Tomlinson). It was one of those unlikely friendships that just worked. They complimented and supported each other so well. I would happily watch a spin off about the two of them going on a holiday or a day trip together as it would be brilliant. They had each other's back when it mattered, even if they did have arguments. We love to see friends that support each other. I hope we get to see more of their relationship in series two. 

Another brilliant thing about this show was how it subverted the stereotypes in the main characters. The main seven characters were incredible, they worked so well together as an unlikely group of characters. Similar to the friendship between Greg and Gabby, John (Darren Boyd) and Myrna (Clare Perkins) had a strong relationship that took time to develop. They clashed for so long and then suddenly they realised that they could be friends. When they stood up to Christian (the real Christian) at the end, it was a very touching moment. I hope they continue to subvert the stereotypes as it was refreshing to see some of the topics and ways they handled it. 

I think it goes without saying that I am very excited for series two. I want to find out what happens to Ben (Gamba Cole) and who this mysterious Dean is, played by Claes Bang. I have a feeling series two might be the last one as if they tried to extend it too much, this show would loose it's charm. I would like to see it go out with a bang and have a great ending. The writing, directing, performances and setting were fantastic. An easy favourite of the year as my family and I flew through it. 

What did you think of The Outlaws?? Are you excited for series two??

 

What We Do in the Shadows Series Three TV Show Review (Contains Spoilers)| CarenzaOnBooks

Taken from Google Images 

Title- What We Do in the Shadows 

Creators- Jemaine Clement (based on the 2014 film of the same name)

Cast- Kayvan Novak, Matt Berry, Natasia Demetriou, Harvey Guillen and Mark Proksch

Genre- mockumentary, sitcom 

Length- 10 episodes, three series 

Platform- BBC iPlayer (UK)

Rating- 4/5 stars  

Plot

Set in Staten Island, What We Do in the Shadows follows the lives of three traditional vampires, Nandor, Laszlo, and Nadja; Colin Robinson, an energy vampire; and Guillermo, Nandor's familiar. The series revolves around the centuries-old vampires interacting with the modern world and other supernatural beings.

Taken from Wikipedia

Opinions

Taken from Google Images

After adoring the first two series, I was desperate to watch this series. There was quite a long gap between them, partly because of the pandemic and partly because the UK gets a delayed release date. I believe this series started in like August-September in the US, but only came out earlier this month in the UK. I watched in about three sittings because it was so fun and I needed to know what crazy things these guys would get up to this time. 

Taken from Google Images

I feel like this series they really went all out, especially with the storylines and comedy. It's been a while since I watched them, I haven't seen the first series since 2019 and the second one since September 2020. I remember them being good, but this one felt different. It feels much more established and easier to connect with the characters. My favourite character would have to be Nadja because she just gets stuff done and bosses the men around, which is great. The plot line with her and Gail was so funny. I also really liked Guillermo this series, he's grown so much as a character compared to the others and feels well developed. I'd love an episode just focusing around him and his non-vampire related life as I think that would be great. 

Taken from Google Images

Probably my favourite set of stories from this series was Nandor's storyline. I did not expect him to go down the path he did. I liked how they tackled mental health and made it link to the vampires, but also got the balance between funny and series right. I think the other characters reactions were great. Nandor just wanted to find love, but it kept going wrong for him. He had the strongest and most engaging storylines this series as we got to see some personal growth.  

Taken from Google Images

Sadly, I already knew about the big twist for this series, which was that Colin Robinson died towards the end. I had accidentally seen a spoiler that he died, which was sad. However, I did not expect that he'd come back as this weird baby thing, that scared me when it sort of jumped out of the crib. Colin is a character that you love to hate and hate to love, so it was shocking when he died so quickly.

I am so excited to see what happens in series four, which has already been confirmed. My theories so far are that Lazlo is going to be looking after the weird Colin Robinson baby, Nadja and Guillermo are going to have a great time in London and bond, while Nandor is going to somehow end up stuck in New York. I just wish that series four was already out as I am desperate to see it, just like I was with this one. I know it's going to be brilliant.

Sex Education Series Three TV Show Review (Contains Spoilers)| CarenzaOnBooks

Taken from Google Images

Title- Sex Education

Creators- Laurie Nunn

Cast- Asa Butterfield, Gillian Anderson, Ncuti Gatwa, Emma Mackey, Aimee Lou-Wood, Connor Swindells plus an ensemble cast

Genre- teen drama, comedy, drama 

Length- three series of eight episodes

Platform- Netflix

Rating- 4/5 stars

Plot

Sex Education primarily follows Otis Milburn, a student at Moordale Secondary School. Otis begins the series ambivalent about sex, in part because his single mother Jean is a sex therapist who frequently has affairs with male suitors but is unable to maintain romantic relationships.

Brief summary for all three series taken from Wikipedia 

Opinions 

In case you didn't know, Sex Education is one of my favourite shows of all time. When it first dropped in 2019, I watched the first series four times in a row because it was that good. This series has been anticipated for a while because of how series two ended and because of how long we've had to wait because of COVID. I have more to say than I can fit into one blog post, so I've picked what I think are the key points/things I want to talk about. My very brief summary is that compared to the first two series, this one was weaker but still good. I wasn't disappointed or bored, I just didn't quite have the same connection as I did to the first two. I easily gave the first two 5 stars without a second thought, but this one gets 4 stars because it just missed the mark for me. 

Taken from Google Images

I think the main storyline was the love square that we had going between Otis, Maeve, Ruby and Issac. I am not a big fan of love triangles or any other shapes, but this one kinda worked. Let's talk about the Otis and Ruby romance first. I was quite surprised by it, but after the events of series two, it did work. It allowed us to finally get to know Ruby better after only getting small insights in the first two series. It was inevitable that the two would break up as they weren't 100% compatible and it would have been cruel of Otis to lead her on when he didn't love her. I hope we get to see more of Ruby following her breakup with Otis as she faded into the background after their relationship ended. This then leads us to Maeve and Issac. I think they work wonderfully as friends, but not as romantic partners. They understood what the other had been through and they brought the best out in each other. A romance would have complicated that. I never hated Issac, I thought that while his actions were wrong, he was just trying to protect his friend. I would like to see them just as friends for the next series. Finally, let's talk about Otis and Maeve. We've had this big "will they, won't they" plotline going since series one and we've still got it going. I am getting a bit tired of it at this point, but if they don't get together properly at some point before the show ends, I will revolt. 

Taken from Google Images

One of the things I really didn't like about this series was how they treated Eric. His actions throughout just felt completely off character. The way he treated Adam was appalling. As someone who had struggled with coming to terms with his own sexuality due to lack of support, Eric should have been much more supportive of Adam and his journey. They've turned Eric into someone who will cheat on his boyfriend without a second thought. He isn't the same character as in series one, he isn't even recognisable as that character. I was very disappointed with his storyline this series. 

Speaking of Adam, he has had one of the best, if not the best, story arcs throughout the shows run. We got to see that he wanted to become a better person, not just for those in his life, but for himself. He's slowly beginning to accept his sexuality and he wants to do better at school. We get to learn why he is so quick to violence and why he struggles with his emotions. One of the things that bugged me a bit was how the media reported Adam's journey with his sexuality. They called him gay, when he has clearly stated he was bisexual. This could have been such a good chance to have some strong bisexual rep and it fell a bit flat for me. I hope they return to the topic of Adam's bisexuality. The final episode made me smile and cry for him. He has become one of my favourite characters and Connor Swindells deserves an award for his performance as it was incredible. Michael's storyline was just as beautiful and very similar to Adam's. Series two did him a bit dirty as he wasn't a textbook villain. We got to see that just like his son he wants to change and undo the years of damage by his own father. They were some lovely scenes, especially the ones when he stood up to his arrogant brother. Their storylines were probably my favourite this series and were the ones I found the most interesting. 

Taken from Google Images

Aimee's storyline was another powerful one. It showed her slow recovery from her sexual assault. I liked that they didn't gloss over it and say that she was magically fixed after the bus scene. Her interactions with Jean during her therapy sessions were so strong. The fact that we get to see her hear being told that what happened wasn't her fault was another important moment. Aimee Lou-Wood 100% deserved the BAFTA she won for playing Aimee in series two and she just goes from strength to strength in her performances. Her friendship with Maeve finally saw a few bumps in the road, which is what it needed for it to progress. They are very different people but they are able to fix that and still love each other. It is one of the best relationships in this show. As sad as it was for her to breakup with Steve, I think it needed to happen. It will be nice to see Aimee without a boyfriend. 

Taken from Google Images

I genuinely cried when I thought they might kill Jean off after she experienced complications with her labour. The idea of Otis and Joy not having a mum was so sad. Her overall storyarc was a bit dull. She did have some great lines, such as shouting at the tea and the doctors at the hospital. The show just wouldn't work without her. I am excited to see who could be the father of her baby as it clearly isn't Jakob. My theory at the moment is that it's motorbike Dan as we saw him outside the hospital and we wouldn't have seen him unless it was a clue.  

Taken from Google Images

I think one of my problems with this series was that there were too many characters, which resulted in too many storylines and it felt diluted. There are so many characters that I have't even touched on, like Lily's storyline was heartbreaking. Ola didn't really have one and I found her a bit annoying this series. We didn't get to see some characters, such as Jackson's other mum and Remi Milburn this series. Speaking of Jackson, he just felt like a background character and didn't really have a storyline. The same went for Viv and they were great characters with an iconic friendship. The new characters didn't really add much, other than for Cal to be introduced as a non-binary character and for that to be their sole personality trait. They had one good scene with another non-binary character and that was it. I didn't mind Hope as the villain. I felt that she was under a lot of pressure and that it had damaged her own morals. The parallels with her needing total control in her professional life compared to her lack of control over her body was a strong one. I'd like to see her return, but then her storyline also felt complete. Compared to previous series, there's was just too much going on, but not enough big events.      

I am of the belief that series four should be the final one. Have the students finishing their time as secondary school pupils and go off to university. I think a fifth series wouldn't work. We've already reached a point were there are too many characters and therefore too many story arcs to resolve. The writing, performances, directing and overall production were great. This show should go out on a high while it still can. 

Here is a list of things I would like to happen in series four:

• Otis and Maeve get together properly
• Adam and Michael to fix their relationship or work towards it, plus Adam competing in dog shows
• Eric figuring out what he wants in a boyfriend and not cheating on them
• Either Mr Hendricks or Miss Sands becoming the new headteacher of Moordale 
• Aimee continuing on her journey of recovery 
• Ruby to become a more developed character outside her relationship with Otis
• A strong ending of them going to university, with Otis training to become a therapist and Maeve studying English Literature

I could probably list a lot more things, but these are the ones I really want to see. What did you think of Sex Education series three?? 

Vigil TV Series Review (Contains Spoilers) CarenzaOnBooks

Taken from Google Images 

Title- Vigil

Creators- Tom Edge 

Cast- Suranne Jones, Rose Leslie, Shaun Evans, Paterson Joseph and Martin Compston plus ensemble cast 

Genre- crime drama, political, British 

Length- 6 episodes 

Platform- BBC iPlayer

Rating- 3/5 stars 

Plot

Detective Chief Inspector Amy Silva of the Scottish Police Service (the fictionalised Police Scotland) is sent to HMS Vigil, a fictional Vanguard class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine, to investigate a death on board, which takes place shortly after the mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler. Her investigations, and those of her colleagues ashore, bring the police into conflict with the Royal Navy and MI5, the British Security Service.

Taken from Vigil's Wikipedia page

Opinions   

I love a good procedural crime show. I love trying to figure it out and being wrong. I haven't seen Line of Duty, which is a show from part of the creative team behind this, so I can't comment on that. It's on my to watch list. I thought the show had a strong premise. A murder on a submarine? Limited suspect pool in a very confined space. It sounded really interesting. We ended up binging it in the space of a week, watching the final episode live. 

Taken from Google Images

I'll start with some positives. I thought that there was a very strong cast of characters. I liked that it kept you guessing and that in each episode, you were convinced it was someone else who had committed the crime. At the end of each episode, we would try and guess who had done it, and right up until the big reveal, we were wrong. It was nice that it wasn't obvious. I thought Suranne Jones and Rose Leslie made excellent leads. Suranne Jones, from Gentleman Jack and Doctor Who, is a great actor and really pulled off the tortured detective in a different way to normal. Rose Leslie, who I've only seen in Game of Thrones, was just as compelling. The two made a great pair, especially when you add the romantic relationship between the characters. Mark Prentice, played by Adam James, had some incredibly strong character development in only 6 episodes. I thought the cast was very good and that the characters were well developed. 

Taken from Google Images

Let's talk about the actual plot. As I said, the premise was very strong. I really enjoyed the first two episodes were it was about who could have done the murder and getting to know the characters. I lost interest as the political elements were introduced. It felt like there were too many threads to pull on. At one moment, it was the Russians and then it was the Americans. I feel we never truly learnt who was responsible for the sinking of the fishing trawler. I personally would have found it more compelling if someone on board the submarine had a reason to kill Burke, rather than going down this political route. It was surprising when it was revealed that Burke's replacement was the killer and Russian spy. What frustrated me to no end is that we never learnt his motives for joining the Russians. It was something I would have liked to have explored. It just felt a bit rushed. 

Taken from Google Images

Finally, I want to talk about the relationship between Amy and Kirsten. Poor Amy had been through a lot. The car crash that killed her boyfriend just as they agreed to get married. Having their daughter, who wasn't her biological child, taken away by the child's grandparents. Then the breakdown of her new relationship with Kirsten. At times I felt like Kirsten was being unfair to Amy. She was clearly still traumatised from what had happened and needed some time to figure out who she was, but Kirsten was pushing her into coming out. I can understand why Kirsten wouldn't have wanted to hide, but this side of her made her unlikeable. However, the fact that by the end, they were both alive and ready to commit makes a change from how we normally see LGBT relationships in the media. Usually they end in heartbreak or worse, death. It did make a nice change to see a happy, LGBT relationship. 

I think leaving it as as miniseries would be the best thing to do. If they were to come back for a second series, it would be dragging it out. A mixed bag, but well worth watching.

What did you think of Vigil??

Motherland TV Series Review (Contains Spoilers)| Carenza Bramwell

Taken from Google Images 

Title- Motherland

Creators- Sharon Horgan, Juliet May and Holly Walsh 

Cast- Anna Maxwell-Martin, Lucy Punch, Diane Morgan and Paul Ready as well as an ensemble cast

Genre- sitcom 

Length- 3 series 

Platform- BBC iPlayer and Netflix

Rating- 4/5 stars   

Plot

This is a programme about navigating the trials and traumas of middle-class motherhood, looking at the competitive side and unromantic take on parenting- not the cute and acceptable public face of motherhood. 

Taken from IMDb

Opinions 

Taken from Google Images

A friend had recommended I watch this show and then my dad also wanted to watch it, so we finally ended up watching it this summer. All I knew was that it was a sitcom about a group of parents and their struggles. It's created by Sharon Horgan, who is half of the creative team behind Catastrophe, which I loved, so I knew we were in safe hands. Our main characters are Julia (played by Anna Maxwell-Martin), an overworked, slightly selfish at times and under-appreciated by her family occasionally mother. She then befriends Liz (played by Diane Morgan) a more down to earth and the only non "posh" mother, and Kevin (played by Paul Ready) a stay at home dad that you can't help but feel both sorry for and annoyed by. They're the underdogs, the not as popular parents with the other characters. Joining them is super mum, but not in the good way, Amanda (played by Lucy Punch) and ball of sunshine Anne (played by Philipa Dunne). They're a wonderful bunch of characters and make the show full of pure chaos. There's constant drama and clashes, yet there's also quite touching moments between them. I would have to say that my favourite is Liz because she's just so down to earth and doesn't put up with any of the others mess. 

Taken from Google Images

As someone who is not a parent (I'm only 21 years old, so I'm not sure I'm the target demographic for this show), this show is still funny despite that. The situations these characters find themselves in are bonkers. One particularly memorable scene is from series two when the parents go away for a half-term holiday and rent a house. Kevin, as the good natured and kind hearted person he is, offers to cook a very complex meal. This of course goes wrong and ends up with Kevin throwing the burnt pig (yes, he cooked a whole pig) on the living room floor and calling them all "bitches!" and then adding for the one other father there "Bill!". It just made me laugh so much. An iconic scene.

In series three in particular, the show begins to tackle important issues. The opening of the show is a piss-take of the governments handling of the pandemic. It has the school having a nit epidemic and there being a tonne of rules for the parents to follow. One of the funniest scenes I have seen in a long time. On the other hand, there is a much more series storyline about Meg (played by Tanya Moodie) and her daughter experiencing racism at school. I think this was supposed to mirror the BLM movement that took place over the summer. This is the first time that Meg's race has ever been addressed as she is the only character of colour on the show. I thought that it was good that they included this storyline, but have seen some comments in a review I read about how it was a bit heavy handed. It was the white characters coming to her aid and kicking up a fuss, rather than letting Meg and her daughter address the problem. I'd like to see them address it again in another series to see if they can have a slightly better conversation about race. 

Let's talk about series three and how it was by far the best one. The opening scene. The characters storylines and development. But the real thing I want to talk about is how shocked I was when Kevin and Amanda slept together. They are polar opposites and it was just a one night stand thing. Yet it worked to have the characters bond. It also had some very funny moments. Julia's storyline with her builder Gary was sweet and funny. We finally got to meet Paul in person and see him interact with Julia. This series just bounced from strength to strength. There is a Christmas episode that I've yet to see but I can only imagine the chaos that will take place. I'm hoping they come back for another series as I'm not quite ready to say goodbye to these characters.  

 

What did you think of Motherland??

Loki TV Show Review (Contains Spoilers)| Carenza Bramwell

Taken from Google Images

Title- Loki

Creators- Michael Waldron, Kate Herron

Cast- Tom Hiddleston, Sophia Di Martino, Owen Wilson, Gugu Mbatha-Raw 

Genre- Marvel, superhero, sci-fi, drama

Length- 6 episodes

Platform- Disney+

Rating- 4/5 stars

Plot

The mercurial villain Loki resumes his role as the God of Mischief in a new series that takes place after the events of “Avengers: Endgame.”

Taken from IMDb

Opinions

I would consider myself to be a big Marvel fan. Since March of this year, my family and I have been watching all the Marvel films in release order every Monday. We decided to do this after watching WandaVision and being a bit confused because it had been so long since we had watched the films. We've had to take a few breaks for when I've been away, but as of this going live we have two films left (that are currently out on DVD). We enjoyed WandaVision, have only watched two episodes of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, but were very excited for Loki.

Taken from Google Images

I am very happy that I managed to avoid too many major spoilers for the show as Twitter was filled with them. Loki has been a favourite character of mine since Thor came out. I even have a little Lego Loki keyring on my keys. Before watching the show, I saw that Loki had been confirmed to be gender fluid and bisexual. It's hard to believe that we're only just getting our first openly LGBT+ Marvel character (main character) in 2021. But, a very short summary is that I think Loki is a great character, which made me very excited for this show. 

Taken from Google Images

As this show is all about Loki variants, of course I add Sylvie to my favourite MCU characters list. While it was clear that she was a Loki, she was her own character. She had sass and was a badass. We deserve and need more Sylvie content. I felt that she and Loki had great chemistry, that felt very real. The banter between them in episode three was top quality. I'm trying to make this a series review, but instead I feel like I'm just fangirling about how much I love these characters. They really made the show. Plus Sylvie is played by a Northern actress, and as a Northerner myself, she automatically becomes a favourite of mine. Sophia Di Martino did an incredible job with this role. 

Taken from Twitter

I would like to take a moment to praise the aesthetic of this show. Let's start with the direction. Kate Herron did an amazing job with this show. I didn't realise while watching, but Kate Herron also directed four episodes of Sex Education (which is one of my favourite shows). Kate Herron might be my new favourite director. She is an icon. On the very slim chance that Kate Herron is reading this, then I would like it to be known that I think you're great and you've done amazing. Iconic. Now let's talk about the cinematography. This took my breath away. There's this shot (which I've included above this section and I found from this tweet), which is one of the most beautiful shots I have ever seen. I've seen a few comments about how this show is all about the female gaze and I have to agree. The shot setups, the lightning. Just everything is beautiful. I love the music! I am a big fan of soundtracks to films and TV shows, this one has now been added to the ones I listen to regularly. I could go on and on about how much I love the individual creative choices that went into making this show, such as the costumes and set designs, so instead of me rambling about this, I'd recommend the making of documentary called Assembled (there's one for WandaVision and TFATWS too). Disney+ has some great behind the scenes documentaries for their shows. 

Okay now that I've waffled about how much I love the aesthetic of this show, I will get to my one complaint. I wasn't wowed with the plot/premise of this show. I feel that it was a much more character driven show. Compared to WandaVision, which had an excellent premise and felt very unique, this wasn't as great as everyone was making it out to be. I really think that the plot was the only let down. Nevertheless, I still really enjoyed myself, I was just expecting something a bit more for some reason. That being said, I can see it having a much stronger plot in series two, which brings me nicely to my final point.

I am so excited for series two. I need to know what happens to Loki and Sylvie, as well as the other characters, such as Mobius (who was also very cool). I'd like to see more Croki and Fror (Frog Thor). I think I'll be rewatching this show soon so I can go and see all the cool Easter Eggs. A very solid show.     

Favourite Films and TV Shows of 2021 So Far| Carenza Bramwell

As we are now over halfway through 2021, I thought it would be fun to look back at the year and talk about my favourite films and TV shows. As of writing this, I have watched 90 things. I have watched 59 movies and 31 TV shows. I have been rewatching a lot of favourites, including a complete rewatch of the Marvel films. I went through my list of things I've watched and picked 5 favourites. 

The Queen's Gambit

A highlight from the start of the year and one I still can't stop thinking about. I have a full review, which you can read here. I don't know how they did it, but they made chess an engaging subject. Beth and the other characters all had something about them. They were icons. I loved this show so much that I have since read the book and feel that the show is superior. If for some reason you haven't watched the show, you really should as it's one of the best I've watched in a while. The writing. The acting. The set design. The whole package. It was incredible. 

The Mauritanian 

Despite the dark subject matter of this film, you can't help but feel hopeful as it ends. Tahar Rahim as the central character brings light to an otherwise quite bleak film. As it's based on real events, it can leave you feeling angry that this happened. I still want to read the book that this is based on. I think the other cast members are just as strong in their performances, but this is Rahim's film. I'd recommend doing some research on this film before watching it. It was another one where all the elements came together to create an amazing film. You can read my review of it here. 

 

Shadow and Bone

I was not expecting to like this show. I hadn't been the biggest fan of the books so I didn't see the hype around the show. A friend of mine convinced me to watch it and I ended up watching it twice. I was that hooked that as soon as I finished watching it for the first time, I started watching it a second time. I went and reread the books because of it. They made some great changes as I really don't care for the books. I have a full review of the show, which you can read here. I think it goes without saying that I am very excited for series two and for them to introduce some of my favourite characters to this show. 

 

The Machines vs the Mitchells 

If you are looking for something funny, heartwarming and beautiful, then look no further. This is probably my favourite film of 2021 so far. It was great from start to end. I loved the characters, the animation, the story. I don't think there was a single thing I didn't like about this film. Olivia Coleman voices the villain and is clearly having a blast. At it's core, this is a film about a family coming together despite being very different. I loved all of their storylines. I think, to put it simply, I loved this film. 

Breeders Series Two

I watched this series in one day because I could not stop watching. I had rewatched series one and thought it was good, but this series knocked it out of the park. Obviously as it's a second series, I won't be going into details so I can avoid spoilers. They threw everything they could at these characters. I found the storylines really engaging. They tackled some important topics. The performances were superb. If you are looking for a new sitcom, then I'd strongly recommend this one. This is a show about parenting and as someone who is very much not a parent (and won't be for quite some time, if ever), there is something for everyone in this show. We all know people like that. 

So that was a very quick list of my favourite films and TV shows of 2021 so far. I'll be doing an updated one at the end of this year, with hopefully some more things on it. Have you watched anything from this list? What are some of your favourites so far? 

The Outpost TV Show Review (Contains Spoilers)| Carenza Bramwell

Taken from Google Images

Title- The Outpost  

Creators- Jason Faller and Kynan Griffin  
Cast- Jessica Green, Jake Stormoen, Imogen Waterhouse and Anand Desai-Barochia plus ensemble cast

Genre- fantasy adventure, drama 

Length- 36 episodes

Platform- Syfy (UK) 

Rating- 4/5 stars

Plot

Talon, the lone survivor of the Blackbloods, sets off to track her family's killers, and discovers her supernatural powers, which she must learn to harness. 

Taken from IMDb

Opinions 

A friend of mine had started watching it and for various reasons which I will expand on, she wanted me to watch it. So we ended up watching it from the beginning. It was certainly an interesting experience. I am glad my friend made me watch it as it was fun. If you are looking for a new fantasy show, then I would suggest this one.

Taken from Google Images

One of the reasons my friend wanted me to watch it was because of the writing. I just finished my degree in Creative and Professional Writing, specialising in screenwriting. I think the nicest way of describing the writing for this show would be that it's questionable in places. They've clearly done something well to get three seasons, but the writing at times is bad. It just feels clunky and unrealistic. Yes, this is a fantasy show, but the writing and dialogue can be quite gimmicky at times. I think the only way to explain what I'm saying is to watch the show and see what you think. 

Taken from Google Images

The cast does an okay job with the scripts. One of the things that stands out are the inconsistent accents. It's supposed to be either British or Australian. A lot of the cast isn't British and their accents aren't the best. The performances are either quite wooden or very over the top. They aren't always the same within a series. Like with the writing, I think the nicest thing would be to say that it's questionable at times.

Taken from Google Images

I feel like I've said a lot of negative things, which is odd as I did enjoy it. I think the second series was the best of the ones I've seen. The first was a lot of world-building and character introduction. It also introduced a massive love triangle (square more like). The second was were it seemed to find it's footing. The story arc was more interesting, with the characters having developed. I found the ending of part one of series three disappointing as it undermined the whole arc of the show. I am sad that I probably won't get to watch part two as I don't have access to the platform anymore. 

Despite all the flaws this show has, I would say it's worth watching. I don't think I've seen a fantasy show with a female protagonist. The characters do compliment each other and you can tell the cast is having a lot of fun making this show. If you are looking for a new fantasy show, then I would recommend this one. 

What did you think of The Outpost?  

Shadow and Bone TV Show Review (Contains Spoilers)| Carenza Bramwell

Taken from Google Images

Title- Shadow and Bone

Creators- Leigh Bardugo and Eric Heisserer

Cast- Jessie Mei Li, Archie Renuax, Freddy Carter, Amita Suman, Kit Young, Ben Barnes plus ensemble cast

Genre- YA, Fantasy

Length- 8 episodes

Platform- Netflix

Rating- 4/5 stars

Plot

Alina Starkov, a cartographer in the First Army of Ravka, discovers that she is a Grisha (a person who can perform "small science") with the ability of summoning light. When her ability is revealed to the world, tensions arise between the nations of Ravka, Shu Han, and Fjerda. With the mentorship of General Kirigan, a Grisha with the ability to control darkness, Alina becomes Ravka's only hope of destroying the Shadow Fold—a region of impenetrable darkness that has stained the land for hundreds of years and split East and West Ravka. At the same time, a crew of thieves in the trade hub of Ketterdam known as the Crows attempt to kidnap Alina and win a fortune.

Taken from Wikipeida

Opinions

I will be totally honest and say I was not that bothered about this show before it's release. I knew that the Grishaverse was being adapted and that was it. I had read the books between 2017-19 and thought they were okay. I feel I was one of the few people that wasn't blown away by Six of Crows. I had seen the trailer and thought it looked good. A friend of mine convinced me to watch it as I wasn't planning on watching it around the time it was released.

Taken from Google Images

I have now watched it twice. After a underwhelming start, this show really picked up. At first, I found the writing, the dialogue especially, to be very clunky. Now this could be because I was going through the process of rewriting my own scripts and my mind was very dialogue focused, but the first couple of episodes had some not so great dialogue in my opinion. The actors managed to salvage it. As the show went on, the writing got better and by the end, I was desperate to know what happened next. I finished watching it and found myself in a position where I didn't know what to watch next. So I decided to rewatch it, because why not.

Taken from Google Images

I knew they were planning on intertwining the storylines and I actually quite enjoyed it. I really liked the episodes were we had the three storylines of Alina's story, the Crow's story and Nina's story. Those episodes stood out to me and were the ones I couldn't stop watching. They moved between the three quite naturally, in a way that always kept you interested. It was a smart choice not to just adapt the Shadow and Bone storyline on it's own as that wouldn't have been as strong.

Taken from Google Images

Let's talk about the design/technical side of the show. I loved the music, and have listened to it several times since. The set and costume designs were great. Aside from the writing, I don't really have any complaints about the show. I thought the actors all did incredible jobs in their roles. That Netflix budget really came through and made this a solid show. 

Taken from Google Images

As already mentioned, I read the books back in 2017-19 and was underwhelmed by them. I remembered enjoying the Shadow and Bone series over the Six of Crows series, which meant it was odd when I ended up preferring the Six of Crows storyline. I thought the cast had great chemistry and felt like they were the characters (from what I remembered about them). I remember loving Jesper and thought Kit Young played him very well. I'm excited to see what they do with their storyline when we get to it.

Taken from Google Images

I think it would be unfair of me to not mention some of the controversies around this show. The first one was about the attitudes towards race within the show and how it wasn't needed. Some people have liked it, saying it was powerful, other people have said it was unnecessary. Then there was the inconsistent way it was handled, and how it seemed to be only Alina on the receiving end, when in the show Mal, Zoya, Inej and Jesper are all people of colour. Zoya seemed to be the one making most of the statements towards Alina, I'll link an interesting article on it so you can read it here. Recently, it was revealed that Amita Suman's stunt double was in fact a white woman who was made up to look like she was the same ethnicity as Amita. A lot of fans have called that out, with the show-runner making a formal apology. I hope these are issues that are fixed for the future.    

We're all now waiting for it to be renewed for a second series. I'm kinda surprised that it's taken this long as normally it's within a month a show gets renewed, but there's still time for it to be renewed. It would be a shame if the show didn't get a second series as it was well received by fans, despite the things I mentioned above. Hopefully we'll find out soon.

What did you think of Shadow and Bone? 

It's A Sin TV Show Review (Contains Spoilers)| Carenza Bramwell

Taken from Google Images 

Title- It's A Sin

Creators- Russell T Davies 

Cast- Olly Alexander, Lydia West, Omari Douglas, Callum Scott Howells and Nathaniel Curtis with ensemble cast

Genre- drama miniseries

Length- 5 episodes

Platform- Channel 4

Rating- 4/5 stars

Plot

A chronicle of four friends during decade in which everything changed, including the rise of AIDS.

Taken from IMDb. 

Opinions 

Before I get into my thoughts in It's A Sin, let's talk about how Russell T Davies is the king of the miniseries. This is the second miniseries by RTD that I've watched and wow does he know how to pack a lot into such a short amount of time. I'd really recommend Years and Years (not the band Olly Alexander is/was in), but his other most recent miniseries. I thought it was incredible. I've been watching Russell's work since I started watching Doctor Who in 2005 and he just keeps on getting better as a writer. 

Taken from Google Images

I thought that the central cast of the five friends was phenomenal. I had only heard of Lydia West (Jill) as she stared in Years and Years. Each character was so different and the actors all brought something to the show. I saw an interview with Russell that said it was important to have as many queer and people of colour on this show as that's who the story is about. I can see each and everyone of the cast going onto do amazing things. Olly Alexander as Ritchie was great casting. Ritchie could have easily been an annoying character, and at times he was, but Olly Alexander made him feel more fleshed out. I think the cast and the writing went hand in hand perfectly.

The show tackles a particularly difficult issue of how the AIDS crisis was handled, which is very relevant in our lives today with how COVID has been handled. It was fairly obvious from the beginning that some of the characters were going to die as this was about people RTD had known during his own experiences with the AIDS crisis. There are themes of homophobia, racism, police brutality and more in this show. I was told by many I was going to cry and yet I didn't. To be fair, it takes a lot for me to cry at non-real life events (books, films, tv, plays etc) these days. This is most likely a personal thing, but I wasn't hit with the emotional punch to the gut I was expecting. 

Taken from Google Images

I pretty much loved everything about this show, expect for the ending. It just felt a little bit rushed. I would have liked more time to process Ritchie's death as we didn't really get that. Yes, it needed that slightly happy moment at the end, but it almost detracted from the sheer scale of loss throughout the series. So many people died from AIDS. I've found since studying Creative and Professional Writing at uni it is very hard for me to be absolutely blown away by a show and go wow it was flawless. Personally, I found Colin's death more shocking. You really didn't see it coming. I was so angry when Colin died that I shouted at the TV.  

Speaking of writing, I've already touched on how I think RTD is a great writer and he is. He is easily one of the best modern writers of TV. He just keeps on getting better and better. This was a story he had to tell, as he's said in many interviews. This was something he experienced and that he had to do these people justice. You can see the love, the loss, the anger and the pain come through in his writing. I would love to take a writing class from him as he's just so good. 

Taken from Google Images

I've spoken about how good the core cast is, but the supporting cast is just as good. Neil Patrick Harris and Stephen Fry, who both asked to be involved because they are gay actors, are wonderful in their roles. Keeley Hawes as Ritchie's mother somehow gives a warm yet callous and smothering performance. I hope that some of the cast get acting awards as they knocked it out of the park.

I loved this show, but because I was expecting a bit more emotion and I've become very difficult to "impress" as a viewer, I gave this show 4/5 stars. I think it will be one of my faves of the year and I can't wait to see what RTD does next. 

  

Have you seen It's A Sin?