Not to get all QI on you, but did you know a baby’s cry is specifically designed to hack the fear centres of your brain? 2 points to you if you’re nodding. When baby yells, it sparks off all sorts of primal neurochemistry in your amygdala that sets you on edge, even if baby’s not … >
‘It’s like trying to grab hold of fog!” These are the words of DI Cassie Stuart (Nicola Walker) to DS Khan (Sanjeev Bhaskar) after yet another frustrating interview with one of the gang of four suspects. She may be frustrated by the poor memories of informants recalling events of nearly 30 years ago, but the … >
With the main plot points of BBC One’s River explained and explored over the first couple of episodes, the object of focus becomes the life (and death) of the title character’s ex police partner, Stevie (Nicola Walker) and the secrets that she left behind, that River is slowly beginning to uncover. With last week’s revelations … >
Full marks to Angela Griffin as DS Maddox when she almost gets away with the line, “It says here under occupation he was a Practicing Alchemist” in the concluding part of ‘Magnum Opus’. Despite the absurdity of the comment she gives it the same lightness of touch that less convoluted police dramas would give to … >
Now, this is a Part 1! With many of the two-parters this season, the trick has been to tell a story that pivots at the halfway point, flipping and somersaulting over the viewer’s expectations. With ‘The Zygon Invasion’, however, the watchword is very much ‘scale’. Since the events of 2013’s ‘The Day of the Doctor’, … >
Oh boy. Last week’s instalment was one of the most brutal and violent episodes in a while, and you could hardly be blamed for thinking that The Walking Dead might have ramped it down a little this week. Instead, ‘Thank You’ cranked up the deaths and violence to the point it’s all threatening to become … >
Brighton is a city that is difficult to get a bead on. It’s either the unkempt town notoriously savaged by a ‘Sun Says’ column a few years back, or it’s the cheerful, brightly coloured party trick beloved of hen parties and misfits. Most of the time, of course, it’s both at the same time. So … >
The Abbey is bustling with preparations for its first ever public tour. Lady Mary has decided – much to the consternation of Lord Grantham and Mr. Carson – to sell tickets to raise money for the hospital. Thank goodness Bertie Pelham looks in on Lady Edith and gives the hapless family some much-needed direction on … >
‘We all change…’ said The Doctor once upon a regeneration, ‘We’re all different people, all through our lives. And that’s okay…so long as you remember all the people that you used to be.’ Sound advice. Shame Ashildr’s forgotten who she was. Now she thinks she’s The Shadow from Blackadder. Hide your (clockwork) squirrel, Doctor! But … >
‘Milan’ says the opening caption. Are we about to take a trip beyond the cold, cumulus-grey town, and onto the warm sidewalks of Lombardy’s most famous city, the fashion-capital of Italy? No chance. Milan is the name of a mysterious young chap who, 35 years ago helped Pierre break into Victor’s house and kill him, … >