It’s “What did you watch last week?, my chance to tell you what movies and TV I watched last week that I haven’t already reviewed and your chance to recommend things to everyone else (and me) in case I’ve missed them.
The usual “TMINE recommends” page features links to reviews of all the shows I’ve ever recommended, and there’s also the Reviews A-Z, for when you want to check more or less anything I’ve reviewed ever. And if you want to know when any of these shows are on in your area, there’s Locate TV.
Things are calming down a bit in terms of new launches so the only dedicated review I put up last week was a third-episode verdict on the dreary Atlantis. Still in the viewing queue are last night’s Serangoon Road and Friday’s Strike Back.
I did start watching The CW’s Reign with my lovely wife, who loves all things Tudor. It’s the story of the return of the teenage Mary Queen of Scots to the French court, which confusingly has everyone French or Scottish speaking in English with an English accent. However, we had to stop 15 minutes into the show because after an exciting start, we were subjected to such a plot and character dump that even my wife couldn’t cope. So we’ll probably watch it tonight or later in the week when our brains can catch up.
Also still in the viewing queue are last night’s Serangoon Road, Saturday’s Atlantis and Friday’s Strike Back.
Shows I’m watching but not necessarily recommending
Agents of Shield (ABC/Channel 4)
The dullest ep so far – although it was far from being a washout – yet also the first that’s really established the show as a series in its own right, rather than merely a spin-off from the movie series.
The Blacklist (NBC/Sky Living)
Tom Noonan guest stars as a list member – cue one of the biggest Manhunter tributes in living memories, right down to making him a dentist who collects teeth. Megan Boone is now pretty superfluous to requirements, beyond being a damsel in distress. All the same, probably the best episode so far.
Isabel (Sky Arts)
Still good fun, even if I am a couple of episodes behind now. Can’t help but notice but for a prestige production, there are only about five sets being used.
The Tomorrow People (The CW/E4)
Basically the same episode as the pilot episode, just with less excitement.
Recommended shows
Arrow (The CW/Sky 1)
The return of China White, a new recruit, making sense of why we’re still getting flashbacks to the Island and more. A pretty good second episode in fact, with a killer of a cliffhanger.
Elementary (CBS/Sky Living)
Is it my imagination or is Watson now making more and better deductions than Holmes? Quite a fun episode hugely off-canon but with a nice guest turn by Laura Benanti (The Playboy Club, Go On) as an important figure from Holmes’ past. Quite touching in its own way.
Homeland (Showtime/Channel 4)
Erm, what? Actually, the surprise twist to proceedings didn’t seem that surprising, even though it didn’t make much sense. Brody’s fun in Venezuela last week made even less sense. And the Dana interlude is incredibly dull and pointless. But I’m enjoying this far less explosive season more than than the second 24-lite season. It doesn’t half feel like there are a bunch of characters still hanging around for no good reason, though.
Modern Family (ABC/Sky 1)
A lot funnier than some recent episodes, but with the usual fixed gender conclusions and stereotypes.
“What did you watch last week?” is your chance to recommend to friends and fellow blog readers the TV and films that they might be missing or should avoid – and for me to do mini-reviews of everything I’ve watched. Since we live in the fabulous world of Internet catch-up services like the iPlayer and Hulu, why not tell your fellow readers what you’ve seen so they can see the good stuff they might have missed?
