It’s a real compliment to those involved in The Smoke that we care as much about these characters and still have so much to learn about them. Lucy Kirkwood, who penned this episode with Daragh Carville (Cherry Bomb) has clearly enjoyed the slow reveal to everyone’s story. Episode 5 manages a fine juggling act, as … >
The first Captain America film set itself apart from the rest of the Marvel franchise by being essentially a period piece, with most of the action taking place in the 1940s. The second instalment finds itself firmly rooted in the modern day and the real world, perhaps more so than any other Marvel film to … >
Series 2 of Line of Duty didn’t just come to a satisfying conclusion, it drew a big line in the sand and dared the rest of TV drama to cross it. Quite right too: good TV should leave a mark, just as it should also leave us speechless. And what is there to say about … >
Set early in her time with the Doctor, and referencing the events of ‘The Romans’, ‘Starborn’ finds Vicki unable to enter the TARDIS. Confronted by a warning of ominous clarity, she is informed that her next journey in the ship will be her last. The warning comes from a medium named Madame Violet and mindful … >
Tom Hollander and Olivia Colman are back for a third (and possibly final) series of the award-winning Rev, but how does a new addition to their family affect the show? Thankfully, not a jot. In fact, the BBC Two sitcom about a London East End Reverend has only grown with the birth of Adam and … >
On Silk this week Martha had to defend a young Muslim man facing extradition to the US on terrorism charges. One couldn’t expect too much from this plot as its themes have been covered numerous times on television in recent years, but we finally got to see the potentially catastrophic result of Martha’s heart ruling … >
The team behind BBC Two’s fantastic Olympics sitcom Twenty Twelve are back with another satirical swipe at the modern world, and this time the BBC is in their sights. Well, it’s not solely the BBC under attack here. Like writer/director John Morton’s previous series, which didn’t attack the Olympics, W1A lampoons administration and management. Or, … >
This penultimate episode of Mr Selfridge’s second series shows an understandable ‘tying up’ of certain plot threads as others continue into next week’s finale. However, the news this week that Mr Selfridge has been given the green light for a third series means that aspects of the stories set up here may be the seeds … >
Oh dear. The Musketeers had been carving out an enjoyably undemanding, handsome if predictable storytelling niche for itself. Tonight’s episode was not redeemed simply by there being attractive people and well-shot sword fights in it. As the Musketeers escort a violent prisoner, the Cardinal’s Red Guards intercept them. This leads to a falling out between … >
You know already that David Renwick is not afraid of killing off beloved characters. He created everyone’s favourite po-faced OAP Victor Meldrew, and when the time came he was good enough to grant him a quick death. Sad, but quick. Shame there’s no such luck for Jonathan Creek, who has been left to a slow … >