Change Your Image
jessestewart-72478
Reviews
The Beast Must Die (2021)
Slow burn but worth a watch
Like a lot of shows I gave up on this when it first came out finding it too slow. Not sure what that says about me but probably something! Low attention span maybe. I just came back to it and I'm glad I did, I actually watched from the start again and this time it hooked me. I found some parts a bit-by-the-book, for example there is always a new detective in town. But I kept with it and found it quit clever the way all the back stories came together in the end. The setting is also quite atmospheric if familiar to a lot of British crime mysteries, there's always an eerie landscape to creep you out!
Vera (2011)
Great character and mysteries
I'm a latecomer to this show which is to my benefit as there are so many seasons to catch up on! As others have said Brenda is such a great lead lady, unconventional and not what you expect. She's like a cranky unpredictable Angela Landsbury from Murder She Wrote but as if she dropped into the English countryside. I like the way the show is structured around the 4 ep season mystery as opposed to trying to cram a new storyline into each episode. There's only one season I started to watch (2) then gave up on but I'm looking forward to going back. It's got better over time is my other key point, whereas a lot of shows do the reverse.
Riptide (2022)
Good little series, easy watch at 4 episodes
I enjoyed this gem of a series on my5 and found it just the right length. Too many shows drag a story out to 6, 8 or more episodes when they should be less.
It's about a woman whose husband goes missing after a morning swim. Jo Joyner does a great job of portraying her and her relationship with her daughter is also interesting. Suffice to say there's a mystery about what happened though it doesn't drag on too long.
One strange thing is they never wonder if a shark has taken the hubby, it is Australia and aren't shark attacks common?
At times it feels like a stage play despite all the scenes by the seaside. It wasn't too complicated which I liked.
Downton Abbey (2010)
Classics tv show
I watched all seasons when they first aired and have actually gone back and watched them all a second time binge-style. I don't think anything will beat the first season and what really stands out is how well thought out the characters are. Like any show that goes on a long time is starts to become boring in places and repetitive, some characters I was sad to see go while others overstayed their welcome. There is one death that I think was a mistake (a central family member, I won't say who for any one reading this who hasn't seen it). I would like to have seen them in later years. All in all an outstanding series that will stand the test of time.
Ten Pound Poms (2023)
Missing the X factor
I'm really fascinated by this part of history and the notion of so many people travelling to Australia on one way tickets as I've heard real life stories of the period, This had the potential to be a great drama but it lacked a twist in my opinion. You sort of expect that it's going to be hot and insect ridden and not what anyone expects so in that sense it's all quite predictable. It also found Michelle Keegan hard to believe in her role but others were generally good. I think they tried to cover all the topics but forgot the most important ingredient which is a more interesting story at the heart.