RED DWARF X – 'The Beginning'

Series X draws to a close with arguably the most action-packed episode in its history, partly adapted from the failed Red Dwarf movie's screenplay. "The Beginning" was certainly amongst the best episode of this series, but still not without some underlying problems. I wasn't a fan of rogue droid Hogey (Richard O'Callaghan) who sneaked aboard ship and proceeded to threaten the crew's lives with "a duel across time and space"; partly because it was a thin joke stretched to breaking point very quickly, and partly because it was another example of Series X's odd use of xenophobic caricatures (following the Chinese med-bot, and Taiwanese/French vending machines).

MSN TV: Channel 4's SECRET STATE review

Over on MSN TV today: my review of Channel 4's SECRET STATE, a four-part political thriller inspired by the 1982 novel "A Very British Coup", starring Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment) as a Deputy PM who uncovers a conspiracy involving an American petrochemical firm...

Secret State had the intention of being a landmark British drama, but this first part ends up falling very short. It may have glossy visuals, an updated villain in a faceless petrochemical firm (unlike the novel's Cold War backdrop of nuclear disarmament), and big name actors (Charles Dance's post-Game of Thrones comeback continues), but there's the unmistakable whiff of a drama trying too hard. It certainly moved along snappily, with ad break crescendos big enough to draw you back, but it cumulatively felt oddly insubstantial.

Continue reading at MSN TV...

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, 2.13 & 2.14 – 'Surprise' & 'Innocence'

Buffy: My boyfriend had a bicentennial.

Marti Noxon must have been Joss Whedon's "golden girl" back in 1998, because she's back already with another two-parter (this time in partnership with Whedon, mere episodes after her previous two-parter and immediately following her "Bad Eggs"). You can't fault Noxon for commitment and productivity! As these two-part stories tend to go, "SURPRISE" was masses of set-up and exposition, as Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) was plagued with dreams of boyfriend Angel (David Boreanaz) being "dusted" by Drusilla (Juliet Landau) on the eve of her 17th birthday. It also introduced the unexpected reveal that sweet Jenny Calendar (Robia LaMorte) is a covert gypsy sworn to ensure Angel is forever tormented for his despicable crimes as Angelus before he regained his soul. This was a strange direction to take Jenny down, but I guess it makes her more interesting than a dependable teacher Giles (Anthony Head) confides in and canoodles with. I just wish the scene where Jenny's real identity was revealed was written better, because it was so clumsy to have her creepy Uncle Enios (the late great Vincent Schiavelli) simply turn up for a classroom conversation that spelled everything out very, very clearly.

State of the Blog: winter break

I'm taking a break until next Monday (12 November), so output will be noticeably affected this week. As always, I'll endeavour to review a few things if I get the chance (maybe including the new Bond film Skyfall), but it's best to expect absolutely nothing and be surprised by whatever does get published. What I do know is that I'll be uploading TWO double-bill Buffy reviews this week (Thursday and Saturday), because I have those in my "break glass in case of emergency" folder. Other shows I don't get around to watching will either be reviewed later, or double-billed alongside the next episode.

Speaking of Buffy, now I've finished watching its second season, and considering the success of that capsule-sized project, I'm thinking of doing the exact same thing for season 1 of Star Trek: The Next Generation on remastered Blu-ray. Is there interest in that?

DEXTER, 7.6 – 'Do the Wrong Thing'

written by Lauren Gussis / directed by Alik Sakharov

A good episode of mid-season adjustment, as Dexter brought Hannah McKay's (Yvonne Strahovski) storyline to the forefront while pushing Isaak Sirko's (Ray Stevenson) into the background—which itself was unexpected, as I thought that storyline was over. I particularly like how Quinn's (Desmond Harrington) plot is being developed this season, as it runs parallel to Isaak's and will seemingly have huge repercussions for Dexter (Michael C. Hall) if his desire to protect stripper Nadia (Katia Winter) results in him helping get Isaak released from jail. That didn't quite happen this week, as Quinn held onto his principles when he had the chance to "lose" the blood evidence tying Isaak to the murder of rival drug runners, but I'm almost certain he'll do the deed once Nadia's life is put in more obvious jeopardy.

MISFITS, 4.2 – episode two

written by Howard Overman / directed by Nirpal Bhogal

Last week's premiere divided people 50/50, but I was happier with episode 2's focus on newcomer Finn (Nathan McMullen), although this hour still didn't feel as effortlessly witty and imaginative as Misfits in its series 2 prime. I think it's a combination of the fact newbies Finn and Jess (Karla Crome) haven't settled in yet, the fact they're joined by two "veterans" in Rudy (Joe Gilgun) and Seth (Matthew McNulty) that I've never wholeheartedly embraced (especially the latter), and the only constant has been the wearisome Curtis (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett). After the show's big shake-ups, I think the current mix of talent isn't the best, and they're unfortunately part of a four-year-old show that's showing signs of exhaustion.

TV Picks: 5-11 November 2012 (Comic Strip Presents, Dara O'Briain's Science Club, I'm A Celebrity..., Nick Nickleby, Secret State, etc.)

Below are my picks of the best television shows hitting UK screens this week...

MERLIN, 5.5 – 'The Disir'

written by Richard McBrien / directed by Ashley Way

There was a lot of horse-riding back-and-forth during "The Disir", mixed with the unshakable feeling we've seen it all before. Merlin has always encountered problems making every episode feel distinctive, as it leans so heavily on clichés, formulas and tradition. There's strength in those things, in subtle doses, but this show doesn't always get the mixture right. I feel like we've had the argument about sorcery for so long it's lost all meaning, and to be honest the exponents of The Old Region need to employ spin doctors—because standing around in a spooky caves, passing on condemnation of a king whose only "crime" is disagreeing with your religion, before demanding he start worshipping a Triple-Headed Goddess (or else!) isn't going to win hearts and minds...

FRINGE, 5.5 – 'An Origin Story'

written by J.H Wyman / directed by P.J Pesce

After last week's shocking death of Etta (Georgina Haig), it was only right that "An Origin Story" should focus on the grief felt by parents Olivia (Anna Torv) and Peter (Joshua Jackson), and I'm glad it wasn't hurriedly brushed under the carpet with some token scenes before the show got back to business. Instead, this hour gave us a good insight into how they're both choosing to mourn their daughter's loss: Olivia focusing on their mission, ignoring Walter's (John Noble) advice to embrace her emotions rather than build walls around her heart; and Peter taking desperate measures to avenge Etta's death, by interrogating a captured Observer (David Stuart) for information about how to reconstruct a high-tech cube capable of opening a wormhole to Earth's future...

DERREN BROWN: APOCALYPSE – Part 2

The conclusion of Derren Brown's zombie apocalypse prank was everything it needed to be, although more issues with the concept bubbled up in my mind. The biggest being how the psychological changes to Steven didn't require such an elaborate fraud, and there were times when the narrative worked overtime to make you believe Steve was undergoing a huge transformation of personality... when he was only behaving like any sane person would in this situation (surely), prodded along by actors with earpieces. For instance, when the show cut to behind-the-scenes—with Derren watching everything on a bank of monitors, and grinning when Steven decided to persuade brash Ian to trust a timid survivor called Danny—it made me question the assumption Steven wouldn't take pity on a nervous man before the show and argue the case.