‘More than just a penal colony, what we have here ladies and gentleman is the birth of a nation.’ So says the idealistic yet unflappably pragmatic Governor Phillip in the second instalment of Jimmy McGovern’s new convict drama and yet moments before making this pronouncement Phillip is telling us that ‘England does not give a … >
It’s an indication of how engrossing Critical is that despite my squeamishness with regard to medical matters I’m finding it compulsive viewing. In fact during this week’s episode I found myself delighted to focus on the exposed chest cavity of the patient – mainly because it allowed me to divert my attention away from the … >
The second episode of ITV’s Conan Doyle based drama, Arthur and George, continues to impress after the strong precedent set by last week’s opener. This week sees the Sherlock Holmes author delving deeper into the mystery posed by George Edalji, the vicar’s son who was (dubiously) imprisoned over the slaughter of farm animals and now … >
Still reeling from the loss of one of their own, the Selfridges staff gather round to pay their respects as the death has a profound effect on all concerned. However, loss – as a key theme of the episode – is something all the characters experience this week in one way or another. Violette and … >
‘I wrote you a letter,’ Eugene Mathers tells Ralph, who has many other things on his mind at the moment, and demands simply to be told what is written on the piece of paper. This, loosely, is the connective tissue of the fourth episode of Indian Summers: Very Important Things Written On Bits Of Paper. … >
Like the best episodes of Call the Midwife, Season 4’s finale is at once uplifting and heartbreakingly sad. And, really, if there’s anything the episode is about, it’s how the good always comes with the bad; it’s most explicitly stated in a single, brief conversation between Tom and Trixie: she on the way back from delivering a child, … >
Hold on to your cocoa. Sunday nights just put on a tricorn hat and got sexy. Or perhaps ‘sexy’ isn’t the right word. Barring an almost Carry On reference to rural copulation, there’s no hint of carnality, yet Poldark is a drama which radiates an irresistible hormonal power through every glance across the salty Cornish … >
At long last, this week’s Musketeers is The One With Porthos’ Dad, and boy do they dig up some drama. Turns out that Dad is the reclusive Belgard (Liam Cunningham), who seems to have spent the last few years hiding out in his room while daughter Eleanor and her husband Levesque (Emma Hamilton and Steven … >
I was so ready for this episode of Banana to lift my spirits. I was so ready for Aiden (Dino Fetscher) to get over his superficialities and take a chance with Frank (Alex Frost). I was cheering for them to make it. When they didn’t, it was like one of those punches to the gut … >
In this penultimate episode of Cucumber, Russell T Davies doesn’t give us what we expect. There’s no knock at the door for Henry or Marie – no sudden, shocked bewilderment at news only half-comprehended. Instead, the action begins on the day of Lance’s funeral and we follow Henry going through the motions of thanking guests … >