charles augustus magnussen

‘Sherlock’: ‘His Last Vow’ review

Those of a certain age may remember the 90s show Breaking the Magician’s Code, wherein a chap in a mask and gaudy suit debunked a series of magic tricks, including falling from a great height, being shot, and getting rid of an elephant from a room…

Anything sound familiar, Holmes fans? For the audience it was a dual draw: fun to see the illusions performed, and equal fun to see how they were accomplished.

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‘Moonfleet’ Episode 1 review

Hot on the heels of last Christmas’s really rather excellent Treasure Island, Sky1 have set their sights on another literary adaptation: John Meade Falkner’s swashbuckling tale of smugglers on the South Coast, Moonfleet.

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‘Downton Abbey’ Christmas 2013 special review

Downton Abbey never fails to over-promise and under-deliver. There is, at least, a kind of consistency in this; but it makes for exasperating viewing. After the calamitous events of last Christmas’s festive episode, this year, writer Julian Fellowes was taking no chances. Like an over-cautious Christmas tree decorator, he sought to take his characters out … >

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‘Yonderland’ finale: ‘Dirty Ernie’ review

Negatus’ kinks are further developed in this finale, as his boss Imperatrix is due to arrive to sort things out herself, due to Negatus’ incompetence. In disguise as a tramp (the titular Ernie), Negatus plans to destroy Debbie once and for all. Along the way he learns that being pure motiveless evil isn’t necessarily great for your self-esteem.

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‘Atlantis’ Episode 12: ‘Touched by the Gods – Part One’ review

With the werewolf shenanigans of ‘Hunger Pangs’ past, and not even referenced, the opening part of Atlantis’s Christmas-straddling finale was rooted in earlier events. Returning in a dream that saw Hercules dead, Jason was reminded of the fateful bargain he struck with Pasiphae’s vengeful sister, the witch Circe. It was a creepy and effective start to a storyline full of promise.

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