An archive of blog entries about international TV programmes and production, including co-productions and shows from countries other than usual
Airdates
When’s that show you mentioned starting, TMINE? Including Vella Raja, Escape At Dannemora, Sex Education and Titans
Every Friday, TMINE lets you know when the latest TV shows from around the world will air in the UK
Acquisitions
The big one of the week is CBS (US)’s FBI, which has been picked up by Sky. No word on an exact date or even what channel, but Sky Witness seems the obvious choice.
Premiere dates
Vella Raja (Amazon)
Premiere date: Today
Amazon Prime’s first Tamil-language series, Vella Raja follows several characters that find themselves in a hostage situation after a drug heist. Stars Bobby Simha (Jigarthanda) and Parvathy Nair (Overtake).
Escape At Dannemora (US: Showtime; UK: Sky Atlantic)
Premiere date: Tuesday January 1, 9pm
Escape At Dannemora recounts the real-life, stranger-than-fiction prison break in upstate New York in the summer of 2015 which spawned a statewide manhunt for two convicted murderers, aided in their escape by a married female prison employee who reportedly carried on months-long affairs with both men. The limited series stars Benicio del Toro, Patricia Arquette, Paul Dano, Bonnie Hunt, Eric Lange and David Morse.
Sex Education (Netflix)
Premiere date: Friday, January 11
Sex Education follows Otis Milburn (Asa Butterfield) – an inexperienced, socially awkward high school student who lives with his mother, Jean Milburn (Gillian Anderson), a sex therapist. Surrounded by manuals, videos and tediously open conversations about sex, Otis is a reluctant expert on the subject. When his home life is revealed at school, Otis realises that he can use his specialist knowledge to gain status.
He teams up with Maeve, a whip-smart bad-girl, and together they set up an underground sex therapy clinic to deal with their fellow students’ weird and wonderful problems. Through his analysis of teenage sexuality, Otis realises he may need some therapy of his own.
No trailer that I can spot, yet. Sorry
Titans (US: DC Universe; UK: Netflix)
Premiere date: Friday, January 11
The first programme from the US’s nascent DC Universe streaming service is actually a surprisingly credible and interesting look at some of the DC comic book world’s lesser known heroes, as well as some of its more important ones but from a different perspective than the one we’re used to at the movies. It sees original Batman sidekick Dick Grayson shed his Robin persona to become a Detroit police detective. However, it’s not long before he’s having to protect a teenage girl – who has somewhat demonic qualities – from a whole bunch of people who want her dead (or worse). Along for the ride is an alien who’s lost her memory (Starfire) and a new, shapechanging hero (Beastboy) who lives with some odd friends…
The first episode is excellent and after a few bumpy episodes caused by some bad choices of villains and supporting heroes, as well as some standalone episodes designed to launch other DC Universe shows such as Doom Patrol, the show quickly soars off to become one of the current members of TMINE’s Recommended Viewing list. Be warned, though – not only is it surprisingly sweary, its fight scenes are impressively gritty and there’s a lot of blood, so it’s not one for the young comics fan, who’d be better off watching Teen Titans Go To The Movies.
Episode reviews: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
