DOCTOR WHO, 9.11 – 'Heaven Sent'

★★★★★

While ironically resembling a hybrid of Fort Boyard and Cube at times, "Heaven Sent" was a magnificent hour of sci-fi and easily the best episode of Doctor Who this year. I'd rate it within the best three Peter Capaldi era hours, too—thanks mainly to something the show doesn't always deliver: a good, robust ending.

Frame Rated: THE LEFTOVERS, 2.8 - 'International Assassin'

Wednesday's link to my review of THE LEFTOVERS at Frame Rated is here, and it's another top-quality episode. If you're not watching this HBO drama (perhaps because you were put off by the relentlessly dour first season?), do yourself a favour and power through to season 2. It's amazing. Anyone watching here? Leave a comment over at Frame Rated; I'd love to hear your thoughts and theories!

I don't think anybody expected The Leftovers to kill its protagonist, Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux), last week—after he drank poison at the behest of a numinous old man who promptly blew his own brains out with a revolver. It was a jaw-dropping cliffhanger, and "International Assassin" follows it with this show’s most audacious episode; one fans will be analysing, interpreting, and theorising about for a long time. Continue reading...

Frame Rated: THE LEFTOVERS, 2.7 - 'A Most Powerful Adversary'

As usual, Wednesday means a link to my weekly review of THE LEFTOVERS at Frame Rated, with a look at the incredible "A Most Powerful Adversary"...

"A lot of The Leftovers is about ordinary people seeking explanations for extraordinary events, and the push-and-pull over accepting outlandish theories that fly in the face of common sense. These concerns usually play out with the show's big picture issue of 2% of the world's population vanishing, and how such an irrational event has completely upended everyone's beliefs. "A Most Powerful Adversary" tackles the same kind of idea, but with a narrower focus on Kevin (Justin Theroux) seeing the deceased Patti Levin (Ann Dowd) and struggling to reconcile this fact: is she a delusion invented by his own diseased mind, or a real paranormal occurrence that suggests he's special or cursed?" Continue reading...

Frame Rated: THE LEFTOVERS, 2.5 - 'No Room at the Inn'

It's Wednesday! Which can mean only one thing: this week's link to my latest THE LEFTOVERS review at Frame Rated. "No Room at the Inn" was a magnificent hour of television, focusing on Christopher Eccleston's character, Reverend Matt Jamison.

It's time for Reverend Matt Jamison (Christopher Eccleston) to have his turn in the limelight, and my expectations were high because a favourite episodes last season was the Matt-focused "Two Boats and a Helicopter", which singlehandedly made me stick with The Leftovers in those early days when its gloomy vibe was proving a tough sell. I'm pleased to say "No Room at the Inn" was another impressive hour of TV to equal that first season highlight—tense, surprising, distressing, poignant, moving, and weirdly optimistic. Continue reading...

Frame Rated: THE LEFTOVERS, season 2 premiere - 'Axis Mundi'

I'm going to be reviewing HBO's THE LEFTOVERS every Tuesday, exclusively on Frame Rated. My thoughts on season 2's incredible premiere, "Axis Mundi", is now up--so please visit, read, and share!

The first season of HBO fantasy drama The Leftovers was a hit with critics, but audiences were less receptive. It's easy to see why, because this is a show with a tantalising hook (that 2% of the world's population inexplicably, instantaneously vanished), but isn't offering answers to that mystery. It just wants to explore the myriad ways ordinary folk would react to such an extraordinary event; which means a lot of the drama revolves around serious themes of loss, regret, grief, guilt, and loneliness. Click to continue reading...

HANNIBAL, 3.13 – 'The Wrath of the Lamb'

★★★★

For the last time, a reminder: this review is scheduled alongside Thursday's broadcast in Canada. This finale airs tonight in the U.S on NBC, and Wednesday in the UK on Sky Living, so proceed at your own risk of spoilers...

HANNIBAL, 3.12 – 'The Number of the Beast is 666...'

★★★★

Once again, to remind everyone, this review is scheduled alongside Thursday's broadcast in Canada. This episode airs tonight in the U.S on NBC, and Wednesday in the UK on Sky Living, so proceed at your own risk of spoilers...

HANNIBAL, 3.6 – 'Dolce'

★★★★

It finally happened. After weeks of teasing, many of Hannibal's leading characters finally shared the screen this week, and not just in dream sequences or flashbacks. It feels like the beginning of the end for Dr Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) after his vicious beating at the hands of Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne); forced to limp home, battered and bruised, to be bathed and nursed by Dr Bedelia (Gillian Anderson). Will (Hugh Dancy) arrived in Florence soon than expected after his train accident, to be reacquainted with his erstwhile FBI boss, as the two men discussed what Lecter's next move will be. And both men found quickly found Bedelia, who's busily severing ties with Lecter as he prepares to flee Italy; sticking to an alibi that boils down to taking a cocktail of drugs and pleading (not entirely ridiculously) that she's been brainwashed by Lecter into believing he's Dr Fell and she's his dutiful wife. Her play acting doesn't fool Will and Jack, who know a thing or two about genuine brainwashing, but will it fool the polizia now they're keen to catch Inspector Pazzi's killer?

PENNY DREADFUL, 2.8 – 'Memento Mori'

★★★★

I worship the ground Eva Green walks on, but her presence in Penny Dreadful is often detrimental—in the sense she's so magnetic to watch, and write for, that everyone else tends to fade into the background. "Memento Mori" got around this problem by revealing what's happening to the other characters, now Vanessa (Green) and Ethan (Josh Hartnett) have gone to ground in the Cut-Wife's cottage. And while it would be wrong to remove Green from this show for too long, her absence definitely allowed for the rest of the ensemble to shine.

PENNY DREADFUL, 2.3 – 'The Nightcomers'

★★★★

The highlight of the first season was a Vanessa Ives (Eva Green) flashback, episode 5's "Closer than Sisters", which provided much needed backstory to the ongoing story around it. The same could be true of this year, as "The Nightcomers" was likewise focused on Vanessa's past, and was quite a wonderful hour of spooky chills and heartbreak. It further enriched Vanessa's enigmatic character, deepened our understanding of her prickly nature and steadfast resolve, but also hinted at Penny Dreadful's long-term plan for her story, and created a fantastic, personal connection to season 2's villain.

OUTLANDER, 1.15 – 'Wentworth Prison'

★★★★

For a television series that could so easily have become stuck in a fug of romanticised chivalry and glossiness, one of Outlander's biggest surprises has been how damned intense and unsettling it can become—not to mention outright gruesome. This began relatively early, with the notorious flashback where Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies) was seen gleefully flogging Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) to within an inch of his life, but a part of me wondered if that scene was an anomaly. But no, it seems Outlander takes a curious pleasure in bringing Captain "Black Jack" Randall back into the lives of Jamie and Claire (Caitriona Balfe), to wreak misery and psychological damage on the happy couple. This may become wearisome and repetitive, but not yet.

MAD MEN, 7.13 – 'The Milk & Honey Route'

★★★★

The penultimate episode of the series was as great as one could hope, and in some ways felt like a suitable finale. Three of the main characters—Don (Jon Hamm), Peter (Vincent Kartheiser), Peggy (January Jones)—got final scenes that worked as farewells, but what struck me most about "The Milk & Honey Route" is how well the writers wrong-footed fans convinced the show's near-obsession with mortality was a portent of Don Draper's demise... when it was actually his ex-wife Betty's life that's drawing to a premature end.

OUTLANDER, 1.11 – 'The Devil's Mark'

★★★★

A pivotal and exceptional hour from Outlander, despite how much of the trial adhered to the tropes of innocent women charged with witchcraft and having to suffer the false testimonies of townsfolk with scores to settle, or who wilfully misinterpret events to serve their own prejudices and fears.

DAREDEVIL - Season One

★★★★

'Into the Ring' • 'Cut Man' • 'Rabbit in a Snowstorm' • 'In the Blood' • 'World on Fire' • 'Condemned' • 'Stick' • ' Shadows in the Glass' • 'Speak of the Devil' • 'Nelson v. Murdock' • 'The Path of the Righteous' • 'The Ones We Leave Behind' • 'Daredevil'

(Spoiler warning: the following review shouldn't be read if you haven't seen the entirety of season 1, although an effort's been made to avoid ruining the experience by mentioning notable deaths and revealing the ultimate outcome. But still, caution advised...)

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, 6.6 & 6.7 – 'All the Way' & 'Once More, with Feeling'

DAWN: I've been kissed before. I-I kiss all the time. Not that I'm a kiss slut. Just, you know, with-with the lips and-and the pressing together and stuff. Hey, expert here. Okay, okay, it was my first kiss. I know, I know, I suck. My-my lips are dry and my tongue's all horrible and sticky and I'm pretty sure I drooled on you.

I'm predisposed to liking Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Halloween episodes (as past ones have been good fun), but "ALL THE WAY" didn't even lean on its spooky trappings to become a highlight of the season, thus far. There were three interesting stories vying for attention, but this hour primarily concerned Dawn (Michelle Trachtenberg) absconding on All Hallows' Eve to meet up with friends and, crucially, experience her first kiss and a taste of life without big sis Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) around to protect her.

BETTER CALL SAUL, 1.6 – 'Five-O'

★★★★

Strange that BETTER CALL SAUL's first standout should revolve around a different character, but that's because Mike Ehrmantraut's (Jonathan Banks) past is something Breaking Bad fans have been curious about for much longer than Saul's back-story. Not to denigrate Saul Goodman, but this prequel's job is to prove he's more than just comic relief, whereas we already know Mike's a captivating character, and "Five-O" cast light on his exact reasons for handing in his police badge and moving from chilly Philly to sunny Albuquerque.

THE FLASH, 1.14 – 'Fallout'

★★★★

I don't read THE FLASH comic-books, so it's possible a lot of this season's twists and reveals aren't so exciting for DC Comics aficionados, but as a layman I'm having a great time watching this sprightly first season. It really seems to have hit its stride just lately, too, with a run of really good episode—but "Fallout" was particularly strong. In some ways all you want from a superhero television show is likeable characters doing cool things within entertaining storylines, and The Flash is now reaping the rewards of its careful build-up.

Amazon pilots: COCKED • DOWN DOG • MAD DOGS • THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE • THE NEW YORKER PRESENTS • POINT OF HONOR • SALEM ROGERS

It's Amazon pilot time... again. From the lows (axing The After before production began) to the highs (Transparent winning two Golden Globes), I think we've all adjusted our expectations of Amazon's pilots. A few will be very good, most will be decent but forgettable, and some will be just plain awful. I've seen all of the latest batch for winter 2015, so below are my capsule reviews of each...

DOCTOR WHO, 8.11 – 'Dark Water' • did you Missy me?

★★★★

The heart of Series 8's mystery was answered by the end of "Dark Water", and was only a surprise in the sense it was the most obvious of the many fan-theories. There was a time when Steven Moffat would have outmanoeuvred shrewd DOCTOR WHO viewers, but in some ways he still managed to by making the answer so obvious.

THE FLASH, 1.4 – 'Going Rogue' • ice and smoak

★★★★

Crossover alert! Arrow's beautiful boffin Felicity Smoak (Emily Bett Rickards) makes the trip from Starling City to Central City in "Going Rogue", ostensibly to visit her friend Barry (Grant Gustin) after hearing he's out of his coma. As a confidant of The Arrow, Felicity's let into S.T.A.R Labs' inner circle about Barry's new powers, during a time when jewel thief Leonard Snart (Wentworth Miller) decides to up his game and defeat the city's new super-sonic do-gooder...