A mere four episodes in, and we have what feels like The Crown’s first filler episode. That’s perhaps an unfair description – and perhaps an inaccurate one, too. It may be closer to the truth to describe ‘Act of God’ as an episode of The Crown which is trying to be a different programme entirely; … >
We return to the island of Saint Marie tonight, with the Honore Police investigating the murder of a young girl who died from an apparent suicide, as the town celebrated the first (and presumably last) Saint Marie Literary Festival. “She wrote a novel we all studied in school, The Flame Tree.” With all the potential … >
The obvious next step, of course, considering the established themes of The Crown – responsibility and duty taking priority over love and autonomy – is to show us the royal who shirked the former in pursuit of the latter; the man who, in his own words, couldn’t handle the responsibility. Prince, formerly King, Edward (here … >
‘Hyde Park Corner’ begins with Elizabeth (Claire Foy) and Philip (Matt Smith) on a tour of Africa, spending the duration of the episode in Nairobi. It’s a look at the decadence and dark side of royalty, with the first confrontation with the colonialism and imperial tendencies that the crown still represented at this point; Elizabeth … >
It’s May of 1940 and the skies above London are full of RAF planes as ITV’s new hotel drama The Halcyon continues. The “phony war” rapidly becomes real when the Dutch surrender and German tanks cross the Maginot Line. Conflict is brewing within The Halcyon and battle lines are drawn. Lady Hamilton observes Richard Garland … >
The only true measure of a great episode of TV is when you spend ten minutes after the credits repeating “wait, what?” like a mantra. ‘The Lying Detective’ was all about confessions; inner secrets laid bare for all. Our big bad, Culverton Smith (what a great name) is on the end of the spectrum, relishing … >
The fourth season of Sherlock certainly didn’t pull any emotional punches with its first episode, ‘The Six Thatchers’. The loss of Mary Watson is not only an important game-changer as far as the show’s central dynamic is concerned, but also delivers a kick to the gut with its poignancy. Thing is, it’s only really effective because … >
Taboo comes at you like its protagonist. It approaches forcefully and unrelenting, swathed in many shades of black; vague and yet intimidating, and with a purpose so odd and opaque that it renders your opinion of it insignificant. Taboo, like its anti-hero James Delaney (Tom Hardy) just exists. And you either have to deal with … >
Hit comedy drama Death in Paradise returned tonight to help us beat the blues with some sun, sand, sea… and murder. Now in its sixth season, BBC One’s detective show is the perfect antidote to a wintry January, adding a little mystery to the New Year. When a researcher at the Saint Marie Volcanic Institute is found dead … >
With Downton Abbey in the rear view mirror and the second season of The Crown in the distant future, we now have ITV’s The Halcyon to fill the void. And does it ever! The Halcyon is a swanky hotel in London where aristocrats, political leaders, and the posh set come to stay and play. It’s May … >