In this episode, the arrival of the contraceptive pill splits opinions within Nonnatus House in a very neat divide between the older midwives and the younger ones. It would be easy to suggest that this argument is one of religious and moral principles being ignored by those that don’t worry quite as much about them, but with … >
With both young George Quaintain and Johnny Blackwood now freed from their conspiracy, this final episode seemed to dedicate itself quite blatantly to laying foundations in the hope of a second season. As romance blossomed in the open between Annie and Johnny, barmaid Alma prepared for her wedding to Davey Sharpe and Ralph Coates supposedly … >
I can understand that a man with a beautiful wife, especially in the more gender-defined society of the 1940s, would want to spoil her. A new dress here, some expensive jewellery there, that’s fine. But when she asks for a dawn visit to the local mortuary for a bit of body-snatching; and when her next … >
Chase Masterson (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) is back as the impossibly glamorous assassin turned bounty hunter Vienna Salvatori. Unlike previous seasons, this third box set has Vienna accompanied by Jexie Reagan (Samantha Beart, Random Dent in the fifth season of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy reprised on stage). Jexie was a jaded cop … >
This week’s episode opened a fortnight on from the events of last week, with Catherine sat opposite a therapist being asked to recap what had led to her being in the session. We could happily watch an entire episode of just Sarah Lancashire’s character being dissected in an attempt to better understand her (what a … >
After the thrilling chaos of the mid-season premiere, The Walking Dead took a well-deserved breather for a measured episode that gently nudges the series in a new direction. ‘The Next World’ is an unusual episode of The Walking Dead in just about every sense. It has the lowest stakes and threat level of any episode … >
“We’ve been given another case, Mulder. It has a monster in it.” It’s an evocative title, telling you all you need to know and probably putting the viewer in a very specific mind-set before the episode has even started. So we know we’re getting a monster and given that this is a script from Darin … >
How fear results in important truths being concealed makes for the backbone of this heartbreaking episode of Call the Midwife, as the consequences of a series of violent attacks against women in Poplar are explored. It’s to the show’s credit that it doesn’t do what so many other shows would in actually showing the brutal assaults. Its interest … >
Here we are at last. Dickensian Episode 20, finally. Sorry, I meant, finale. The finale. Ahem. There were times I thought we’d never get here. Even if you have enjoyed Every Single Episode of Tony Jordan’s cobble-stone uneven and overly long literary mash-up prequel, you have to admit it feels like it’s been on forever. … >
Peggy Carter, special agent, and Mr Edwin Jarvis, chauffeur, make for an effective if unlikely team. She supplies keen intelligence and ruthless fighting abilities; he provides transport and a boot full of elephant tranquilisers. All these diverse skills come together in ‘Smoke and Mirrors’ this week, enabling Peggy & Jarvis to capture Mr Hunt the … >