Between 2009 and 2013, supernatural drama Being Human was the jewel in BBC Three’s crown, being nominated for two BAFTAs and launching the careers of its young and upcoming cast. The series saw two sets of main characters – a vampire, a werewolf (or two) and a ghost – as well as numerous guest characters … >
Watching this many Doctor Who Christmas specials in rapid succession is an odd experience, and I’m only not even halfway in. I am having to muster levels of festive I never knew I had in me. Bring it on, ‘Voyage Of The Damned’! Not quite set on Earth, but not far off, the Doctor finds … >
Being Human creator Toby Whithouse has revealed that he’d only bring back the show if he had a “stunning and revolutionary idea”. The supernatural comedy-drama launched on BBC Three in 2008 and the fifth season concluded in 2013. Whithouse told BBC Writersroom: “We all know shows that have outstayed their welcome, or been cynically resurrected. … >
The final episode of Banished delivered an emotional punch as the show went out with a howling bang rather than a whimper. Honour and virtue were the watchwords as Mrs Johnson realised she had been duped, Tommy met his end, Captain Collins engaged in some soul searching and the authorities struggle to keep control of … >
Banished is BBC Two’s new convicts drama from Accused writer Jimmy McGovern. From the makers of Top Of The Lake, the seven-part series stars Myanna Buring (Ripper Street), Russell Tovey (Being Human) and Julian Rhind-Tutt (The Hour). > Order Banished on DVD on Amazon. The cast also includes David Wenham (Top Of The Lake), Joseph … >
This week’s episode saw Banished finally hit its stride. For the first time really, the full episode was packed with dramatic tension and intrigue. There were still issues involving some poorly written dialogue and some questionable character choices – Catherine’s volte face where her feelings for Major Ross were concerned felt unconvincing. If admitting that … >
After a somewhat frustrating wait, this week’s episode finally delivered some of the drama and tension that previous instalments have only hinted at, and yet three dimensional characterisation and a sense of consequence were still vexingly absent. The episode opened with Freeman contemplating his new life in the pay of the Governor. His fellow convicts … >
The latest episode of Jimmy McGovern’s Banished once again raised some interesting issues, but again failed to capitalise on them by allowing any drama and tension mustered to dissipate almost immediately. Part of the problem is that, as Freeman discovered in this episode, the colony camp is a small canvas on which to paint. In … >
If you are to believe Jimmy McGovern’s version of the first British colony in Australia, it truly is a miracle that a modern civilisation emerged from these unpromising beginnings given the amount of time the commanding soldiers spent with nothing on their minds but where their next sexual encounter was going to come from. It’s … >
‘More than just a penal colony, what we have here ladies and gentleman is the birth of a nation.’ So says the idealistic yet unflappably pragmatic Governor Phillip in the second instalment of Jimmy McGovern’s new convict drama and yet moments before making this pronouncement Phillip is telling us that ‘England does not give a … >