Autumn 2015 TV - Part One

We're a few months into the 2015/16 television season, so I just wanted to run down all the shows I'm watching, how I think they're getting on, and my degrees of continued interest in them.

'Agents of SHIELD' (season 3) - ABC.
Season 1 became good halfway through. Season 2 turned bad halfway through. Season 3's proving to be a real bore from the start. It seems someone decided what we really want from AoS is lots of people with superpowers, so they're going big on the whole Inhumans angle. I just wish the show didn't feel like a live-action X-Men more than a spy-fi show that could tackle a lot of different subjects and ideas. Unsurprisingly, the best episode (so far) concerned an hourlong flashback to Simmons stranded on an alien planet, having to survive until rescue arrived. While it was probably inspired by The Martian novel, or knowledge of the film adaptation, it was something you don't see TV do very often.

By George, it's DOWNTON CLOONEY!

On the one hand, it's rather marvellous a humble ITV drama like DOWNTON ABBEY now has the clout to attract A-list Hollywood talent like George Clooney for a glorified cameo. On the other hand, is this a shark-jumping moment? It totally breaks whatever thin vestige of realism the show's clinging to, being suddenly presented with the visage of ER's Dr Doug Ross... no?

TV News: DIG, DOWNTON ABBEY, LONDON SPY, PEAKY BLINDERS

• Tim Kring (Heroes) has a new TV project in development called DIG, which will star Jason Isaacs (Awake). Kring's output since Heroes season 1 has been shaky at best (anyone remember Touch?), but he's partnered with Gideon Raff (originator of Homeland, who adapted it with Howard Gordon, who earlier worked with Kring on Strange World in 1999). Dig is one of those "event series", containing just six episodes, and concerns a FBI agent (Isaacs) investigating a female archaeologist's murder in Jerusalem, only to uncover a 2000-year-old conspiracy. The show will debut on the USA Network later this year. [via TVLine]

MSN TV: ITV's DOWNTON ABBEY - series 4 finale

Today over at MSN: I've reviewed the series 4 finale of DOWNTON ABBEY (so beware of major spoilers!), where some of the year's storylines were resolved, and others nudged into the Christmas special's agenda...

Downton Abbey overcame a misguided second series with a general return to form last year, culminating in the shock death of Matthew Crawley (actor Dan Stevens decided he wanted out, forcing an eleventh hour EastEnders-style dose of Christmas misery when he crashed his car). The real test of series four was seeing if the show could overcome the loss of Stevens - whose character was the dapper heir to the Crawley family fortune and one-half of the show's key romantic coupling. The answer is a resounding yes, although the potential suitors for widowed Mary haven't left much of an impression, making Lady Mary look a little marginalised, despite the fact she was on equal footing with her father in terms of managing the family estate. As finales go, I expected better - particularly as it was an extended episode, and Julian Fellowes tends to write better with doubled screen-time. Downton was as cosy as one expects for a Sunday evening on ITV, but I'm beginning to find it rather frustrating how this show fumbles good ideas. Or rushes them for no good reason.

Continue reading at MSN TV...

Autumn/Winter 2013: What to Watch

The start of the 2013/14 TV season is almost upon us, with UK and US channels ready to launch a slew of new shows together with their returning favourites. It promises to be a busy few months for telly addicts, but what will I be watching from now until Christmas? In chronological order, let's take a look...

Dan's TV Awards 2012 (including a Top 10)

It's December, which means most entertainment blogs and websites will be indulging their readers with extensive Top 10 lists. I've done exactly that myself for most of the seven years Dan's Media Digest has been online. But this year I thought I'd offer something different: an awards ceremony! Of sorts. You can call it the "Danos", or something. It's basically a run-down of television shows that I thought pulled off something particularly good or bad this year. And if you still prefer a more traditional Top 10, I've included one at the very end.

Review: DOWNTON ABBEY, series 3

I was late falling under the spell of the opulent Downton Abbey, but burned through the first two series in preparation for last year's Christmas special, so this marks the first time I've experienced ITV's Emmy and BAFTA-winning period drama in HD and with adverts. I approve unreservedly of the shiny high-definition, which gives everything even more of an immaculate air, but the number of adverts was slightly irritating over 90-minutes. (I'll be recording and watching on delay from next week.) The premiere itself was very entertaining stuff; feeling like it'll recapture the effortless poise of series 1 without too many awkward blunders like the patchier second series. Creator Julian Fellowes came to global attention thanks to the movies (Gosford Park, Vanity Fair), and it's telling that the best episodes of Downton Abbey are often the ones with the length of a feature-film.

Autumn 2012: What I'll Be Watching

It's that time of year again; the tantalising brink of the autumn/fall season, where the TV networks premiere their brand new shows, together with returning favourites. As always, it promises to be a very busy time of year, and I probably won't be covering as much as usual. Instead, I'll sample the majority of pilots, write about the ones I have a strong reaction to, and then watch a few more episodes to determine if they're worth persevering with. Only the most interesting shows will become regularly reviewed here, as I just don't have the time to plough through everything.

Teasers: DOWNTON ABBEY, series 3

ITV1 used the Saturday night returns of gameshow Red & Black? and The X Factor to debut trailers for upcoming dramas. The most memorable of which were two teases of Emmy-winner Downton Abbey's third series. Both offered fans peeks of the Dowager Countess (Maggie Smith): one where she makes an acerbic remark about Lady Grantham's visiting mother Martha Levinson (Shirley Maclaine), and the other where Martha gets the better of her caustic English relative.

Primetime Emmy Awards 2012: Nominees

The nominations have been announced for the Primetime Emmy Awards 2012, and it makes for interesting reading. Below is a list of the major nominees, together with thoughts from my good self under each category. Obviously, I don't watch everything on US TV, so some of this is down to gut instinct and wishful thinking...

Outstanding Comedy Series

• The Big Bang Theory
• Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Girls
• Modern Family
• 30 Rock
• Veep

Thoughts: I'd like Girls to win because it's new and, to be frank, most US awards show are tedious because a good 90% of the nominees are cut-and-paste from last year.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Lena Dunham – Girls
• Melissa McCarthy – Mike & Molly
• Zooey Deschanel – New Girl
• Edie Falco – Nurse Jackie
• Amy Poehler – Parks & Recreation
• Tina Fey – 30 Rock
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep

Thoughts: Claiming Nurse Jackie's a comedy is one thing, but claiming Edie Falco's in any way funny on that show is another thing entirely. I can envisage Julia Louis-Dreyfus winning, because of residual Seinfeld love, despite the fact she was the fourth funniest person on Veep.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Jim Parsons – The Big Bang Theory
• Larry David – Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Don Cheadle – House of Lies
• Louis C.K – Louis
• Alec Baldwin – 30 Rock
• Jon Cryer – Two & A Half Men

Thoughts: Louis C.K should win, obviously, but Jim Parsons probably will because more people watch Big Bang Theory and it's easier to laugh at geek stereotypes.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Mayim Bialik – The Big Bang Theory
• Kathryn Joosten – Desperate Housewives
• Julie Bowen – Modern Family
• Sofia Vergara – Modern Family
• Merritt Weaver – Nurse Jackie
• Kristen Wiig – Saturday Night Live

Thoughts: I'm not best placed to say, but Merritt Weaver is the only thing that even makes me understand why Nurse Jackie gets nominated in comedy categories, so give it to her. She's fun.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Ed O'Neill – Modern Family
• Jesse Tyler Ferguson – Modern Family
• Ty Burrell – Modern Family
• Eric Stonestreet – Modern Family
• Max Greenfield – New Girl
• Bill Hader – Saturday Night Live

Thoughts: The Modern Family award will most likely go to... oh, throw a dart.

Outstanding Drama Series

• Boardwalk Empire
• Breaking Bad
• Downton Abbey
• Game Of Thrones
• Homeland
• Mad Men

Thoughts: Finally! Americans have woken up and realized Downton Abbey is a TV series, not a miniseries. This has huge repercussions, as you'll see later. Breaking Bad is the best show on TV, so one hopes this is a no-brainer. Interesting that none of these dramas are on mainstream networks.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• Glenn Close – Damages
• Michelle Dockery – Downton Abbey
• Julianna Margulies – The Good Wife
• Kathy Bates – Harry's Law
• Claire Danes – Homeland
• Elisabeth Moss – Mad Men

Thoughts: Oh, Claire Danes, for sure. Michelle Dockery? America really needs to get over its UK period drama fetish. She's fine, but... God.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Steve Buscemi – Boardwalk Empire
• Bryan Cranston – Breaking Bad
• Michael C. Hall – Dexter
• Hugh Bonneville – Downton Abbey
• Damian Lewis – Homeland
• Jon Hamm – Mad Men

Thoughts: Bryan Cranston, duh. How is Michael C. Hall still getting nominated for Dexter? Hugh Bonneville? Oh, Lord. Jon Hamm's my #2.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Anna Gunn – Breaking Bad
• Maggie Smith – Downton Abbey
• Joanne Froggatt – Downton Abbey
• Archie Panjabi – The Good Wife
• Christine Baranski – The Good Wife
• Christina Hendricks – Mad Men

Thoughts: See, they've gone Downton crazy this year! I'm going to say Christine Baranski, because I've seen her play drama and comedy and she's terrific at both. Christina Hendricks is lovely, but I don't see why she gets nominated. Unless Emmy voters just want to see her on the red carpet.

Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Drama Series

• Aaron Paul – Breaking Bad
• Giancarlo Esposito – Breaking Bad
• Brendan Coyle – Downton Abbey
• Jim Carter – Downton Abbey
• Peter Dinklage – Game Of Thrones
• Jared Harris – Mad Men

Thoughts: Ordinarily, Peter Dinklage would be my pick, but the Emmy's have come good and given Giancarlo Esposito a nomination. So he's my pick, because he was absolutely astonishingly good in Breaking Bad's fourth season.

Outstanding Guest Actor in Comedy

• Michael J. Fox - Curb Your Enthusiasm
• Greg Kinnear - Modern Family
• Bobby Cannavale - Nurse Jackie
• Jimmy Fallon - Saturday Night Live
• Will Arnett - 30 Rock
• Jon Hamm - 30 Rock

Thoughts: I can't judge this one, sorry...

Outstanding Guest Actress in Comedy

• Dot-Marie Jones - Glee
• Maya Rudolph - Saturday Night Live
• Melissa McCarthy - Saturday Night Live
• Elizabeth Banks - 30 Rock
• Margaret Cho - 30 Rock
• Kathy Bates - Two and a Half Men

Thoughts: Or this one.

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

• Mark Margolis, Breaking Bad
• Dylan Baker, The Good Wife
• Michael J. Fox, The Good Wife
• Jeremy Davies, Justified
• Ben Feldman, Mad Men
• Jason Ritter, Parenthood

Thoughts: Excellent category. I'd love for Mark Margolis to win, considering his performance was 99% communicated with a glare because his character in Breaking Bad could't talk. But I'd be happy with anyone else, except for Jason Ritter in Parenthood (which I haven't seen).

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

• Martha Plimpton, The Good Wife
• Loretta Devine, Grey's Anatomy
• Jean Smart, Harry's Law
• Julia Ormond, Mad Men
• Joan Cusack, Shameless
• Uma Thurman, Smash

Thoughts: I can only really comment on Martha Plimpton and Julia Ormond here, who were fine but nothing Emmy-worthy. Was Uma Thurman worth the nomination for Smash?

Outstanding Reality Show Host

• Tom Bergeron - Dancing With the Stars
• Cat Deeley - So You Think You Can Dance
• Phil Keoghan - The Amazing Race
• Ryan Seacrest - American Idol
• Betty White - Betty White's Off Their Rockers

Thoughts: This is a genuine category? Oh. Umm, Cat Deeley to win. I like her.

Outstanding Reality Series Competition

• The Amazing Race
• Dancing With the Stars
• Project Runway
• So You Think You Can Dance
• Top Chef
• The Voice

Thoughts: From what I hear, The Voice or Dancing With The Stars have this sewn up.

Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series

• The Colbert Report
• The Daily Show With Jon Stewart
• Jimmy Kimmel Live
• Late Night With Jimmy Fallon
• Real Time With Bill Maher
• Saturday Night Live

Thoughts: I don't watch any of these regularly, but tend to find The Colbert Report funniest.

Outstanding Miniseries or Movie

• American Horror Story
• Game Change
• Hatfields & McCoys
• Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Luther
• Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia

Thoughts: Oh, now the Emmy's think Sherlock isn't a TV series. Give it a few years and they'll learn – but, okay, the paucity of episodes means it's a hard one to categorize. I'd pick Sherlock here because it's more fun and creative, but wouldn't mind Luther winning.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie

• Connie Britton – American Horror Story
• Julianne Moore – Game Change
• Nicole Kidman - Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Ashley Judd – Missing
• Emma Thompson - The Song Of Lunch

Thoughts: I can't judge this one, but my gut says Julianne Moore.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie

• Woody Harrelson – Game Change
• Kevin Costner - Hatfields & McCoys
• Bill Paxton - Hatfields & McCoys
• Clive Owen - Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Idris Elba – Luther
• Benedict Cumberbatch - Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia

Thoughts: It has to be Cumberbatch, followed by Elba. Patriotism, see.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie

• Frances Conroy - American Horror Story
• Jessica Lange - American Horror Story
• Sarah Paulson – Game Change
• Mare Winningham - Hatfields & McCoys
• Judy Davis – Page Eight

Thoughts: Jessica Lange was the standout of American Horror Story, in a role that's practically revived her career. Disliked the show, by and large, but she was great.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie

• Denis O'Hare - American Horror Story
• Ed Harris - Game Change
• Tom Berenger - Hatfields & McCoys
• David Strathairn - Hemingway & Gellhorn
• Martin Freeman - Sherlock: A Scandal In Belgravia

Thoughts: Denis O'Hare? He's great, but his role on American Horror Story was negligible. I actually thought Watson's role in series 2 of Sherlock was noticeably weaker, but I haven't seen the others, so will have to go with Martin Freeman.

Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series

• Tim Van Patten - Boardwalk Empire
• Vince Gilligan - Breaking Bad
• Brian Percival - Downton Abbey
• Michael Cuesta - Homeland
• Phil Abraham - Mad Men

Thoughts: Hmmm, tricky. I think there's more involved with directing Boardwalk Empire, so Tim Van Patten gets my hypothetical vote.

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

• Julian Fellowes - Downton Abbey
• Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon & Gideon Raff - Homeland
• Semi Chellas & Matthew Weiner - Mad Men
• Andre Jacquemetton & Maria Jacquemetton - Mad Men
• Erin Lev & Matthew Weiner - Mad Men

Thoughts: Julian Fellowes? Haha. He had terrible problems with Downton Abbey series 2. Just give it to one of the Mad Men posse.

Overall thoughts

A strong showing for British shows (Luther, Downton Abbey, Sherlock) and the actors involved in them (but not the writers?), plus some love shown for excellent dramas like Mad Men and Breaking Bad. It's just a tragedy Community doesn't feature anywhere—being not only the funniest show on TV, but one with the best comedy ensemble I've seen in years.

The Emmy 2012 winners will be announced on 23 September at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles, with host Jimmy Kimmel. The complete list of nominees can be read here.

Review: DOWNTON ABBEY, series 1 & 2

Series 1

Series 2

Christmas Special

(Warning: Major plot spoilers occasionally alluded to.)

It's easy to see why Downton Abbey's become such a hit on both sides of the Atlantic. It arrived on our airwaves with impeccable timing, coinciding with a period where it feels like the world's on the brink of financial ruin. What better way to distance yourself from the present uncertainties, than by revisiting the Edwardian era, where life was more rigid and everyone knew their place. It's cultural nostalgia, warped and beautified accordingly, but Oscar-winning creator Julian Fellowes' idealised view of the early-20th century has the power to seduce. We're in such a muddle nowadays, preoccupied and confused by our own lives and the direction of the world, that it's refreshing to watch a more black-and-white, romantic existence. A British Empire at the peak of its power and influence, where the classes all had their roles to play within the imperial machine.

Cleverly, Downton Abbey immediately feel like a comforting old friend, perhaps because every iteration of this genre covers broadly the same stories and archetypes. There's the kindly Earl of Grantham, Robert Crawley (Hugh Bonneville), the kind of chap who'll gladly pay for a servant's eye operation; his American wife Cora (Elizabeth McGovern), the one with the wealth he inherited after marriage; their beautiful elder daughter Mary (Michelle Dockery), whom they're anxious to marry off; plain middle child Edith (Laura Carmichael), who harbours deep resentment of Mary's special treatment as the eldest; politically-minded youngest daughter Sybil (Jessica Brown-Findlay), who's interested in nursing and bucking the system; and sharp-tongued grandmother Countess Violet (Maggie Smith), a Victorian relic who refuses to accept the world is changing around her. It all feels oddly familiar, particularly given Smith's Emmy-winning turn, as she's really just refining a character she's often asked to trot out. But you can't deny Smith has a way with disparaging one-liners, delivered with a wide-eyed burble--the most satisfying of which is saved as a parting shot during the Christmas special.

The working class servants are likewise recognisable in their broad personalities: fastidious butler Carson (Jim Carter), who keeps the grand house running smoothly; tough but fair housekeeper Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan), Carson's right-hand woman; devious maid Mrs O'Brien (Siobhan Finneran), who can't help meddling in people's affairs; affable head housemaid Anna (Joanne Froggatt); freckled Gwen (Rose Leslie), the lowly housemaid who dreams of becoming a secretary; clandestinely gay footman Thomas (Rob James-Collier), whose good looks mask his inner ugliness; naïve kitchen maid Daisy (Sophie McShera); doughty cook Mrs Patmore (Lesley Nicol); and enigmatic valet Bates (Brendan Coyle)—the most interesting character (narrowly beating Thomas, his enemy and rival), as he feel like less of a stereotype. It's notable that Fellowes wrote Bates with Coyle in mind, so perhaps that helped him craft a character who's more like a person from the start. It helps that Bates is also setup as being extremely sympathetic (he walks with a limp sustained in the Boer War, is the target of uncalled-for staff bullying upon arrival, and develops a sweet romance with a maid).

The first series revolves around an interesting state of affairs, following the tragic deaths of two heirs to the Crawley fortune, after the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Worse, the estate's entail says only a man can inherit the Earl's title, which thus passes over his three daughters (the eldest of whom was engaged to marry the original heir) and goes to debonair Matthew Crawley (Dan Stevens), who's initially seen as a poor choice because he's a middle class doctor (who'd rather dress himself and make his own tea). As first episodes go, Downton Abbey's in actually one of the best I've seen, seeing as it nimbly introduces a broad range of characters and sets key ideas in motion, leading into an equally compelling second hour involving a scandalous murder. As I've said, it helps that so many of the characters are types we've seen many times before, but that shouldn't undervalue the excellent work done by Fellowes here. The biggest compliment I can give is that after watching the first hour, feeling uncertain I'd even enjoy Downton Abbey because the genre can sometimes be very stuffy, I was immediately compelled to watch a further two episodes that same day.

That's not to say Downton Abbey doesn't have its issues and flaws, many of which become more apparent in the messier second series. You watch the show with an expectation that the servant/master dynamic is going to elicit most of the drama, but instead it becomes clear that the Crawley family are so charitable to their staff it can almost feel comical. It's definitely heartening and endears "the toffs" to the audience, but I couldn't help thinking some tricks were missed by taking this decision. Fellowes attempts to turn Edith into a villain towards the end of series 1, as she tries to scupper her sister's chances of a happy life, but it comes too late and is anyway forgotten about come series 2. Instead, the show's prominent villains are from "downstairs", which is a shame, although I very much appreciated the addition of slimy press magnate Sir Richard Carlisle (Iain Glen) in series 2. But, by and large, the English nobility have a great PR campaign in Downton Abbey, make no mistake about it.

One thing that's striking about the show is its weird sense of pacing and the general passage of time. The first series actually covers two years, and it comes as quite a surprise when that's mentioned in a piece of dialogue during episode 5. It's strange because most of the stories feel barely weeks old, but in fact many of the show's relationships and situations have been brewing for months. While there are occasional title cards letting you know when we've entered a different year at the beginning of some episodes, the show never really feels like such time is passing.

I was aware going in that series 2 was received less warmly by critics going in, and I can now understand why, although it contains more eventful episodes in every respect. I wonder if Fellowes felt additional pressure, knowing that Downton Abbey had become a worldwide hit, as there's an occasional feeling of desperation in how the series evolves. Fellowes wrote series 2 single-handed, unlike the previous year, and he most likely bit off more than he could chew. Series 2 is primarily focused on showing how the Great War (announced at the end of series 1) was the catalysts for change in British society on many levels, and it fuels a very different mix of problems and situations for the characters to tackle. Most notably, many of the young men are whisked off to fight in the trenches of the Somme—most notably Crawley, Thomas, and footman William (Thomas Howes)—while Downton Abbey itself is turned into a convalescence home for injured soldiers, thanks to the pressure exerted by Matthew's do-gooding mother Isobel (Penelope Wilton) and Lady Sybil.

Again, it's the pacing that's most remarkable, as series 2 is particularly fast-moving and years literally pass between key episodes. And while that brings freshness and vitality, there are times when you wonder what all the rush is about. In listing the events that occur from beginning to end, any other drama could probably have spread that material out across double the allotted hours. And in many instances that would have been beneficial, because so many ideas are given short-shrift, or story arcs you expect to last ages get resolved in two hours.

Perhaps most alarmingly, you soon begin to realise just how much of the plot is led by coincidence or mixed luck. Or you just feel the writer's hand guiding the characters' destinies too much, to put it another way. Life can sometimes happen to people, rather than people happening to life, but there's often too much of the former going on. Have you been left with a baby born out of wedlock? Don't worry, your son's well-heeled family will appear from nowhere. Have you been left paralysed from a war, unable to father children? Never mind, your doctor probably got his diagnosis wrong. Are you a nobleman with an indecorous crush on a lowly maid? Tricky, but she'll soon resign, once your wife becomes sick and guilt kicks in for you both. Is there a facially-scarred Canadian officer with amnesia, claiming to be heir to your family estate? Never fear, he'll be gone very soon. Do you have a fiancé you can't jilt to be with your true love, out of a feeling of loyalty? Oh look, here comes Spanish 'flu to sort things out...

Maybe this is why the stories that really stick out about series 2 were the ones where it really did come down to people interacting, trying to sort out their lives. Lady Sybil falling in love with the Irish chauffeur, Mary going through a marriage of convenience with Sir Carlisle, sweet Daisy being guilt-tripped into marrying someone on their deathbed, or Bates and Anna deciding to marry under the cloud of a murder investigation.

Still, Downton Abbey overcomes many of its failings through sheer gusto and an eye for good entertainment. Judged on the level of a high-class period soap, it's undeniably entertaining to watch it grab every plot cliché you can imagine and take them all for a good long run. War, murder, birth, death, sickness, tragedy, marriage,  divorce, betrayal, scandal... the show merrily skips through them all, even if its own eagerness sometimes comes at the cost of believability and a story being allowed to breathe. Thankfully, the ragged nature of series 2's telling is somewhat salvaged by a very impressive Christmas special that brings the majority of storylines to a satisfying end, told in a memorably festive and (mostly) heartwarming way, with a final scene guaranteed to melt the iciest heart.

written by Julian Fellowes, Shelagh Stephenson & Tina Pepler / directed by Brian Percival, Ben Bolt, Brian Kelly, Ashley Pearce, Andy Goddard & James Strong / 26 September-7 November 2010 (Series 1), 18 September-6 November 2011 (Series 2) & 25 December 2011 (Christmas Special) / ITV1