National Treasure Sir Bruce Forsyth Dies

Originally published in The Indiependent.

Sir Bruce Forsyth, the veteran entertainer and presenter, has died age 89. He had been suffering from illness for some time and had been in and out of hospital over the last year – something he alluded to in classic good humour by reportedly saying ‘I’ve been very, very busy… being ill!’ Many people, young and old, will be saddened by his passing as this national treasure has entertained viewers for decades in classic shows like ‘The Generation Game’, ‘Play Your Cards Right’ and since 2004 ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.

He died peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife of 34 years, Wilnelia Merced, and his children after contracting bronchial pneumonia. Many tributes have been shared on social media from high profile names, including those that worked with him over the years. Tess Daly said she was “heartbroken” and would “never forget his generosity, his brilliant sense of humour and his drive to entertain the audiences he so loved”.

TV News: HBO’s Westworld trailer released (23/6/16)

Originally published on The Indiependent.

HBO have released a teaser trailer for their upcoming Science Fiction/thriller TV series Westworld, based on the 1973 film of the same name. The trailer splices a visceral Western backdrop and gun slinging action with mysterious science fiction and androids. It will be produced by J.J. Abrams and Jonathon Nolan (Christopher’s brother) and the series will be written by Nolan and his wife Lisa Joy.

TV News: Marvel’s The Punisher Netflix Series Announced (2/5/16)

Originally published on The Indiependent.

Netflix and Marvel are set to continue their unrivalled conquest of superhero television after announcing a full season of Marvel’s The Punisher. Following on from his performance in the generally well received second season of the Netflix series Marvel’s Daredevil, Jon Bernthal will reprise the role of Frank Castle AKA The Punisher. Both Jon Bernthal’s performance as the conflicted and compelling anti-hero and his character arc were the highlights of the second series and it was inevitable that Netflix would heed the call of fans clamouring for a solo run.

TV News: BBC One’s Dickensian Cancelled (21/4/16)

Originally posted on The Indiependent.

If you were a fan of the recent BBC One drama Dickensian and you wanted ‘some more’, then like Oliver Twist himself you will be disappointed. The big budget drama, which was inspired by Charles Dickens’s novels, has been axed after just one series. Running for 20 episodes after a successful launch on Boxing Day, it initially attracted audiences of 5 million.

TV Review: The Man in the High Castle // Episodes 3-10

Originally posted on The Indiependent.

First part of review is here.

Having watched all of The Man in the High Castle I can review the remainder. One thing Amazon’s most successful original series does very well is keep the audience guessing as to what the characters true intentions are and whether there is really something more at stake. At the end there are still major questions about seemingly central parts of the program, such as the importance of the enigmatic newsreels, something which was a little frustrating at first. However there will be another series so this stalling in plot can just about be forgiven, for now. Warning: There are spoilers ahead.

TV Review: The Man in the High Castle // Episodes 1-2

Originally posted on The Indiependent.

The Man in The High Castle is Amazon studios latest title airing exclusively on their video streaming service Amazon Prime. Set in an alternate 1960’s America it presents a world where the Axis forces won World War Two and follows the main protagonists Juliana, Frank and Joe’s involvement in a mysterious plot to change everything. Much like the similar service Netflix, Amazon have released a number of TV series for paying subscribers but on the whole these titles have not garnered nearly the same amount of attention as series such as Orange is the New Black, House of Cards and Marvel’s Daredevil. This might be the one to change all that.

Thoughts: Sherlock New Year’s Day Special 01/01/16

Sherlock is first and foremost a detective drama. This is obviously simplifying both the original stories and the beloved TV drama; ignoring the fact that the focus is much more on the character of Sherlock Holmes himself. However his defining character trait is that of having the almost supernatural ability to solve crimes of all shapes and sizes. At the heart of each episode what I want to see is a case taken on and ultimately solved. As far as I can tell we got two of these in this episode however,

TV Review: Life In Squares Episode 1

Originally posted on The Indiependent.

BBC Two’s new period drama exploring the lives of the bohemian Bloomsbury group, renowned for both their artistic talents and their relationships, follows a trend in recent BBC prime time dramas (e.g. Peaky Blinders, Wolf Hall) of taking risks and setting edgier tones. The subject matter then couldn’t be more apt for this sort of show. A Jane Austen adaptation this is not.

It could almost be seen as a glorified soap opera set in the 1920’s, if it weren’t for the driven, beautiful characters present; only made more enticing by the fact that they did actually live and breathe these very lives.