First Look: The Carrie Diaries

Sorry lads, just when you thought the Sex And The City franchise was finally dead, the CW had to go and get one of Candace Bushnell's books and make a series where the younger Carrie in the 1980s first moves to New York to start her journalism career with a host of not Miranda/Samantha/Charlotte's in the form of a few vapid airhead-y friends, a closeted gay guy and Freema Agyeman playing fashionista, Larissa, who from this trailer alone looks like the only character worth giving a fig about.

To be fair if you didn't know this was a prequel to Sex And The City, you'd basically think it was an 80s version of Gossip Girl  (not so coincidental as Josh Schwartz is one of the creators of this show along with Stephanie Savage). Anna Sophia Robb seems like she could be a decent take on Carrie but my advice when watching this is to keep your expectations low and you won't be that disappointed. Then again, maybe the CW just accidentally released a crap trailer and the show will be a gem. Somehow though, I doubt it. Still, I'll give it a few episodes before totally writing it off.

Press Release: http://www.cwtv.com/shows/the-carrie-diaries/about
Trailer: http://www.spoilertv.com/2012/05/carrie-diaries-full-promo.html

The Carrie Diaries will air on the CW from September. Expect either E4 or SkyLiving to get this one.

First Look: Switch

Well, it's about time ITV2 got into the game. With BBC3 providing us Being Human (and for a short while, The Fades) and E4 riding high with Misfits, ITV2 have decided to give us a modern day show centering on a coven of witches in London in the form of six part series, Switch.

The show stars Lacey Turner as career woman, Stella, Nina Touissant-White as fashionista Jude, moral compass Grace played by Phoebe Fox and Hannah Tointon as the restless and spontaneous Hannah, otherwise known as the Witches of Camden, who when they're not facing every day challenges, also have to deal with a rival coven in the shape of the Witches of Kensington, comprising of rival witches Alexa, India, Remy and Romola.

On the surface, the show does very much sound like a mash-up of Charmed and Being Human (Touchpaper who produce the latter are working on this show as is Philip Trethowan) but there are some interesting bits of information that have been revealed about the six part series.

For instance, the word 'switch' is codeword for the girls doing a spell, which they can only do together and each of the girls is born under a specific element - earth, water, fire and air. Caroline Quentin will also be appearing in an episode, playing the hippy mother of Grace while Stella's nightmare ex-girlfriend, played Rosamund Hanson will also be appearing on the show as well.

Switch could be a nice little success story or bloody disaster area but right now, it does sound rather good and with an emphasis on the girls friendship and lighter/pacier tone compared to Being Human, it's going to be interesting to see how the show actually fares.

Press Release: http://www.cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/3341-lacey-turner-to-star-in-itv2-witches-drama-switch

Switch airs on ITV2 from October.

Soap Discussion - May 2012

And my last blog for the month and it's a soap one.

Coronation Street: I may not condone Kirsty's actions towards Tyrone, even with the knowledge that she used to be abused by her father but right about now, she's the best thing about this show at the moment. A fascinating character, brought nicely to life by Natalie Gumede. However, it's amazing that both Carl and Eva continue to bore as characters and when it's not lame affairs (both real and imaginary), neither remotely compel as characters and the less said about that god awful plot with Eileen/Paul/Lesley the better really.

EastEnders: With so many characters taking a leave of absence from this show, I'm beginning to see why the writers might be so keen now to humanise Derek a little. The addition of Alice is a nice touch along with him helping out the perennially bland pairing of Whitney and Tyler but threatening Tanya was just a nice reminder that Derek will never be a nice guy though. As for Ian's reaction to Ben's confession of murder and the exit of Mandy - it really hasn't been his month, has it? And Michael conning Jean as well just proves that he too will never be nice either.

Emmerdale: I shouldn't feel sorry for Ashley after his behaviour over the last few months but he certainly is paying for it now though, isn't it? Most of the village hate his guts, his marriage is in tatters, his own child is scared of him and he's been defrocked and forced to work in a burger bar with two idiots lording it over him. Still, it's a better plot that Cameron and Chas's dull affair or the not so shocking discovery that Megan had a child she gave up for adoption. At least some of the scenes with Zac and Cain have also been interesting to watch this month.

Hollyoaks: And now, Doug is struggling with his sexuality/has fallen in love with Ste/but also slept with Texas/admitted he was gay. Only in soapland would you get this level of character whiplash but I'd rather see Ste with someone like Doug than Brendan any day of the week and it was better than the subplot of Bart landing his family in it with the authorities again. One of the show's more quiet of months but the trailer for the next few weeks certainly looks interesting.

Doctor Who - Series 7 Companion Spoilers

And we've finally gotten some interesting spoilers to mull over after a few weeks of nothing to go on about really.

It was rumoured a while back but according to more recent set reports, it seems that Jenna-Louise Coleman's character will be called Clara. While a BBC press release has yet to properly confirm it, it is a rather nice name and perhaps a possible tribute/nice coincidence in relation to Elisabeth Sladen, whose middle name was Clara. I wonder what her surname will be but going by the clothes, she looks like a present day companion. Then again, she could be a period one who later dresses in more modern attire.

The episode in question being filmed is apparently the 11th episode, or the sixth one that will feature Clara. The episode is written by Spooks/Luther scribe Neil Cross and is directed by Jamie Payne, who has helmed for shows such as Call The Midwife and The Hour. It looks like a Victorian episode and 11's new jacket is pretty lovely as well, isn't it? Jenna's first episode, the Christmas special will be filmed later in the run.

With the first half of Series 7 comprising of episodes from Steven Moffat (Episodes 1, 5 and 6), Chris Chibnall (Episodes 2 and 4) and Toby Whithouse (Episode 3), apart from Neil Cross (Episode 11), Mark Gatiss has been confirmed to be penning an episode for the second half of the season.

Filming Pictures: http://www.flickr.com/photos/54169297@N04/sets/72157629975874374/

Series 7 of Doctor Who is due for BBC1 in the Autumn.

The Bridge - Season 1 Review

God damn it, BBC4 - that was fun. Yes, I know you've aired the originals of both Borgen and The Killing but when it comes to a Danish drama (or more accurately a Danish/Swedish co-production), even I think The Bridge was light years ahead of both shows I've mentioned.

For those who haven't been following, The Bridge is a ten part series, focusing on the body of a female politician discovered in the middle of the Oresund Bridge, which connects both Copenhagen (Denmark) and Malmo (Sweden), except that half the body was of a Danish prostitute but it's enough to interest both countries police, in particular our leading detective characters of Saga Noren (Sofia Helin) from Malmo and Martin Rohde (Kim Bodnia) from Copenhagen.

Of course, the series takes an interesting turn with a killer named The Truth Teller begins a viral campaign by kidnapping people and torturing them online in an attempt to highlight certain social problems and while that could've just came across as gratuitous torture porn, the show was wise enough to keep toned as possible whilst having the desired effect as later episodes reveal that the killer in question is connected to one of our main characters with a not so honourable past, resulting in a trail of revenge that would even make Emily Thorne blush.

I'm not the greatest of cop show fans and while far too many of the new US ones are becoming increasingly poor, slick and over polished versions of the tiring CSI franchise, this show was something of a breath of fresh air. The Truth Teller was a genuine scary and (oddly) sympathetic villain to a large degree, the slew of recurring guest characters were fantastic to watch (especially that samurai sword wielding guy early in the series), the clues and misdirections were fun to watch but more importantly - the partnership between Saga and Martin was utterly compelling and believable from start to finish and the core element in this series success too.

Saga in particular, might be one of my favourite new characters to emerge on television as well. I loved how this show never condescended or went overboard in explaining to us that she had Aspergers. It was moments like her inability to lie (even during a crucial moment in the finale) to her colleagues, her attitudes towards men and sex that highlighted it nicely. As for Martin - I found him a wonderfully complex man, haunted by his past misdeeds and suffering the consequences for them as well with his fragile relationships with his son, August and second wife, Mette. If I had only one gripe with this series is why did BBC4 air it in double bills? It almost felt like it barely on television at all despite producing ten excellent episodes. At least we have a second series to look forward to next year.

The Bridge Series 1 is currently available to buy on DVD.

Lip Service - Season 2 Review

And with the second series of the BBC3 drama just completed it's run on the channel, I have a look back at what the last six weeks have been like for viewers of the show.

Episode 1: It's been a new beginning of sorts with the addition of Sadie as a regular and the arrival of Australian doctor, Lexy while Frankie and Cat continued their affair and Tess became involved in a production of Uncle Vanya with some interesting-ish co-stars.

Episode 2: The big episode with the big character death, having something of a massive ripple effect for all our main players as well. This was also the episode which kind of saw Cat finally make a decision where her heart truly belonged to and also saw the exit of Jay as well.

Episode 3: After nine episodes, Frankie headed back to New York and Sadie moved in with both Tess and Lexy when she wasn't starting an affair with magazine editor, Lauren. It's also the episode that would foreshadow that Lexy's friends with benefits thing with Bea would blow up in her face.

Episode 4: Ed's dating the obnoxious Nora, Lexy's getting creepy calls while wine tasting and helping Sam with her panic attacks, while Sam learned about Cat and Frankie, Sadie met Lauren's wife and there was an interesting moment with Sam and Lexy as well at the end of the episode.

Episode 5: Ed's book launch thing where he dumped Nora and the writers teased a triangle of sorts with Tess/Lexy/Sam while Sadie and Lauren's relationship seemed to deepen a little. Oh and there were more sarky comments from Declan and the resolution to the stalker storyline.

Episode 6: Despite Nora and Hugh's interferences, it was amazing to actually see Tess generate the applause she deserved during her performance in Uncle Vanya but too bad the episode teased a possibility with her and Lexy, only to go down the Lexy/Sam. Also, I was a little disappointed that Sadie went back to her old ways when Lauren dumped her.

Overall, a solid second series with some good new characters added in the mix but the finale could've been better and the distances between series probably didn't do it much favours. I suspect also moving it to a Friday timeslot didn't help either.

Rating: 7 out of 10

The Play's The Thing

Actually, there's more shows I want to discuss in the next few days, so um, look forward to a blog dedicated to The Bridge and another on some of the comedies airing on UK TV at the moment. For now though, a look at the stuff I've been watching in the last week or so.

Desperate Housewives: Before anyone spoilers it, I already know how the series ends but with two episodes left to go, the build up has been entertaining to watch. Of course Bree would develop feelings for trip, considering that he's stepped into the role of her white knight but it's a fun enough pairing, so I don't mind. I do however mind that none of the housewives are making any actual effort to really help Bree though, instead turning on each or making plans (Susan offering to help raise her grandchild, Lynette's scheming to get Tom, Gabby being her usual self) but overall, looking forward to the last two episodes.

Game Of Thrones: This has certainly been a wordier season than the last one with not much in the way of actual action happening. Cersei seems to realise that she's created a monster in Joffrey and while one minute, she's being sympathetic with Sansa, the next she's threatening Tyrion (whose confession to Varys of enjoying the game is a little worrying). Even Daenerys herself seems to be in perpetual entitled mode rather than being the more assertive self I would like to see but I do find her scenes pretty interesting to watch. And then there's the events of Blackwater, which I will definitely be watching later on today.

Glee: Okay, the prom episode was fun and the finale had it's moments but ultimately was a pretty unsatisfying experience (why couldn't both Kurt/Rachel go to NYADA instead of one of them?), though Gloria Estafan as Santana's mother was worth it alone. It's the middle episodes that were more interesting - Tina's body swap dream was a good source of comedy and partial insight and it was about bloody time the kids actually won at Nationals for once. I really do hope the 'show within a show' concept mapped out for the fourth season does work in the show's favour though.

Hit & Miss: I talked about this a while ago on my blog and thankfully SkyAtlantic are generous with the repeats because it took their third airing for me to catch up with this show. Chloe Sevigny as transgendered assassin Mia is utterly brilliant and having Mia father a son named Ryan and look after the kid and his siblings now that their mother Wendy is dead is a workable touch to the series. I hope the premise can be sustained for the next five episodes but I think it will. Definitely a hit more than a miss. I know, terrible pun, don't shoot me.

Lip Service: I liked the finale but it could've been better, couldn't it? I didn't mind the fact that Sam finally admitted that she was losing it and I didn't mind that both her and Lexy did the deed but at the same time, I kind of wish they hadn't intensified Tess's feelings for Lexy in the process either. Still, at least Tess got to pull a brilliant performance on her opening night in spite of Hugh and Nora being massive hindrances and Sadie proved yet again that a leopard doesn't change it's spots when Lauren dumped as well. If this show comes back for a third run, I will be pleased but surprised, considering how bad the ratings have been.

The Vampire Diaries: Warning: I might have two episodes left to watch but I already know what's gonna happen in the finale but don't spoil it in the comments though. Alaric's fate just made me realise that people really do drop like flies on this show and while Esther has a similarly fanatical bent that her annoying son, Klaus (please, can we get rid of him, already?) has, I actually do prefer her, even if she is possessing the likes of Rebekah and Bonnie to carry out her own acts of genocide. As for the usual Stefan/Elena/Damon stuff, where's Katherine when you need her?

- Kate Hudson will be appearing in six episodes of Glee's fourth season as Rachel's mentor in New York. Sarah Jessica Parker will be in one episode as Kurt's.
- American Horror Story's second season will be set in the 1960s with Evan Peters character being the hero of the bunch and Chloe Sevigny playing an antagonist for Jessica Lange's character.
- A prequel series for Silence Of The Lambs called Clarice is in the works for Lifetime.
- Touch will get an online spin-off named Daybreak, starring Ryan McPartlin.
- Vanessa Ray will be playing a mentor of the late Allison in the new season of Pretty Little Liars.
- Jaime Cepero, Raza Jaffrey, Brian D'Arcy James and Will Chase will all not be returning for the second season of Smash.
- Mark Hudris has been named as Alan Ball's successor for True Blood if the show gets a sixth run.
- Seth Gabel will not be a regular for the final season of Fringe.

My Review of Deadlocked

Written by Charlaine Harris
Released in 2012

Sam: “Sookie. You have to tell me what the cluviel dor is all about. How you made it work.”
Sookie: “Sure, Sam. Another day.”

I have to admit that the last few books have been a bit of letdown and while this one isn’t exactly as compulsive as earlier books have been, it does have a nice sense of resolving some ongoing plotlines that I think most can appreciate.

I’ve never been a Sookie/Eric shipper, so the dissolution of their relationship in this book is neither here nor there for me. I knew there would be consequences for the death of Eric’s maker and with the presence of King Felipe and Oklahoma Queen Freyda wanting to make a marriage with Eric; it seemed an interesting enough way of tearing the Viking and the telepathic waitress apart.

The book seemed to go to some lengths to actually point out that whatever love may be between Sookie and Eric, it’s obviously not enough for either of them to get the latter out of his arranged marriage with Freyda. Even Eric’s attempts to manipulate Sookie into using the cluviel dor don’t pan out for either of them.

Speaking of the cluviel dor, it’s not entirely amazing that its potency is only felt when Sam wound up being killed and Sookie had to bring him back to life. It might not be a popular opinion but I like the idea of Sam being the endgame for Sookie instead of Bill, Eric, Alcide or Quinn (who makes a brief appearance in this one). Over the last few books their relationship has deepened and become more believable, so it makes a lot of sense for Harris to actually go there with the characters.

In terms of the mystery, this one was an improvement as well. Kym Rowe’s death as part of the power games between Claude and Jannalyn meant that both of them got exactly what they deserved towards the end of this instalment as well and it served its other part in contributing to Sookie and Eric’s split and Sookie and Sam getting close to each other as well for good measure.

As for the return of Niall, I did feel this book could’ve explored that element a little more. While I enjoyed Sookie’s interaction with most of her fairy kin and Claude’s true intentions being revealed, it did seem a little rushed in resolving itself and I guess I’m going to miss Dermot as a character too.

- In terms of the mundane, Sookie became a third owner of Merlottes and turned 28, Tara had a boy and a girl (Robert and Sara), JB was a stripper at Hooligans and Jason/Michele got engaged.
- I’m hoping we get to see a bit more of detective Ambroselli in the next book. She was a decent enough foil for Sookie.
- Mr Cataliades helped Sookie dispose of the furniture shop owner that wanted the cluviel dor as well. Another death in the kitchen, folks.
- The next book will be this series last, according to Charlaine Harris.

“Deadlocked” was certainly a better read than the last two books but with the sense of winding down and the TV series itself becoming slightly less dependant on the books, it probably is time to call it a day. Still, this one is a decent read but not a classic.

Rating: 7 out of 10.