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 … >
Vienna Salvatori is the new girl on the Big Finish block. Spun out of an appearance in the Doctor Who main range, and after a successful solo release in February 2013’s ‘The Memory Box’, Vienna’s brand of high concept, sassy sci-fi adventure has earned her a three-part series. Chase Masterson, better known to CultBox readers … >
As we hit the halfway point of the series, The Smoke has explored its characters, but left more than enough room to grow. Focus on undeveloped characters and a subtle awareness of continuing plot threads provides some fantastic drama in this fourth episode, albeit one arguably littered with a little too much unnecessary humour. Technically, … >
Set after Ian and Barbara have returned to Earth and given up their travels with the Doctor, ‘The Sleeping City’ finds the couple arrested by the Security services. Under suspicion as Russian spies, their captors are very keen to learn all they can about the Doctor and Vicki. Ian is initially reticent, seeking to preserve … >
Be careful what you wish for. Ever since the first episode of Inside No. 9, the latest comedy series from one half of The League Of Gentlemen, there has been an unholy chorus of voices demanding a return to the darker, more gothic tones that were scattered across Royston Vasey. You know, the early, scary … >
Last year 3D TVs were all the rage. This year it’s concave 4K OLEDs. Next year your TV will probably be so advanced it’ll be too busy cooking your dinner for you to watch it. But still TV manufacturers are behind the times, because they haven’t yet managed to construct a set that can fully … >