T E L E V I S I O N / Broadchurch 201 - 204 Review

“I can still feel the weight of her, water dripping off her clothes all down me. What sort of a person leaves a child like that?” God, Broadchurch is back with a second series after the whirlwind that was the first and I am so freaking happy. SO HAPPY. There were a lot of directions I thought it would go, but none compared to what actually happened. My first few guesses dealt with a new murder case in town or exploring other crimes, but I'm glad it didn't really do that and instead focus on the next part of an arrest, that being the trial and flesh out more of the tensions and problems that will take place with such a dangerous and unpredictable outcome.  The writing and execution for this series has been superb on everyone's part. I can't even tell you how many times my jaw fell when a twist came up--like Joe pleading not guilty for one thing. I actually screamed right after. And in my head while it was still in its flurry was trying to answer what are they doing? How are they going to write this when we've already seen the entire murder fleshed out at the end in the last series. I was so nervous I thought I was going to puke. I'm so amazed with the direction they're taking it. Bravo, everyone, bravo.   This series also features a not-so-new new side plot featuring Hardy's old and unsuccessful case in Sandbrook. It's nice to see that resolved and add that tension with the current tension in the courtroom. Plus, it also offers us a shirtless and often sweaty James D'Arcy. I mean, who can complain about that? It's nice that we're also seeing more to Hardy such as his ex-wife and his daughter and his desperation with the Sandbrook case. My stomach is twisting though with the real murderer (I'm assuming) and whether or not he's going to be caught. Broadchurch definitely does suspense right and that's what I appreciate most about it.  With all the good bits said, and I hope this isn't a nitpick thing, but are we ever going to see why they threw in Paul's break of celibacy in the first episode if they're not going to go anywhere near it afterwards? Is it just a throw away point or like gasoline to priestly Arthur Darvill fantasies? I mean, I don't mind but I would just like it to have the same continuity as everything else.  Can't wait to see what episode 5 has in store!  Ratings: ★★★★★ B R O A D C H U R C H | Mondays, 10PM → ITV

T E L E V I S I O N / Suspects 303 - 304 Review

“Mr. Forrester, some days are good days.” Just as quickly as it came, Suspects series 3 is now gone and done. It was fleeting and I'm sad that each series is so short, but what can you do? So, here are my thoughts on the final two episodes.  While episode 3 was good, there wasn't anything big or unique or different in the world of procedurals and I suppose that's fine. Episode 4 and the way it introduced not only one but two transgender characters and appropriately navigated in using the correct pronouns for the boys was amazing. I think I appreciated episode 4 the most in the series in its message of the realities of transphobia and violence against transgender people. A common theme that connected these final 2 episodes is the idea of the protective mother who hide or flee with their children aka the ones who committed the crimes. It's a nice and sentimental touch, I think, in order to prolong the suspense.  Series 3 wasn't great, but it wasn't bad either. It felt like Suspects just fell into its footing it found in series 1, but didn't follow through with the fantastic building we saw in series 2. While self-contained episodes are great, I think I prefer the two episode arcs simply because we get more insight. I was also hoping that since series 2 featured Jack's background pretty heavily in this world, I was really hoping to get more of Charlie, but alas we did not and I think that's a real loss. Maybe, series 4 will give Charlie Steele her much deserved background and screen time. While I love me some Jack, I also love Charlie and she's just as critical to breaking cases as Jack and Martha. She deserves her limelight, goddamnit. C'mon Suspects writers, I'm begging on my knees here!  Ratings: ★★★★☆

T E L E V I S I O N / Suspects 301 - 302 Review

“I’d press that panic button now if I were you.” I'm so glad Suspects is back and that I'm watching it before the entire series is over! Granted, I missed the first two episodes on the day it originally aired, it probably wouldn't have made much difference since I'm in geographically restricted from watching this show. But, two--now three--series in and that has yet stopped me from this!  A noticeable difference from this series right off the bat compared to last series is that the writers have decided to have each episode be self-contained again (a hark back to series 1). I'm not sure I'm fond of it to be quite honest. With series 2 having the plot arc span over two episodes instead of fitting into just one allowed the characters--specifically the suspects themselves--to be fleshed out as the interrogation progresses. Whereas having a self-contained story per episode may give the story a more adrenaline and suspenseful narration (and it did keep me on edge the whole time), I prefer character driven rather than plot driven scenarios, you get me?   Episode one featured a serial psychopathic college teacher while episode two featured a convoluted missing persons' arc. While both were very suspenseful and shocking in their revelation, I obviously have some qualms. One, after last series and Jack's forced vacation from the force, he seems so happy and cheery and unaffected by the past in this series. Like they make references to it once or twice in the beginning and end, but that's it. There's no side eye wariness. There's no true consequence outside of what happened in series 2 and it feels...strange. Two, there's no build up to the suspect--this issue is presented differently in the episodes. In the first, Rory (the teacher) transitions from reasonable frightened and aggressive teacher who wants to keep his student affair hush to this sudden serial psychopathic killer with a trauma. The second half felt so unnecessary. It would have been fine, honestly, to leave it with just a teacher trying to keep his secret hush hush. In episode 2, the build up to Mike, the father, being the culprit was totally out of left field and after it was revealed, it was never fleshed out. Are we supposed to believe that the kidnap was because he lusted after his 8 year old daughter? The entire situation felt very...unresolved and I suppose, that was how the episode was meant to be considering he committed suicide before his arrest.  I hope this third series works out its kinks. It was doing so wonderfully in the second series too! I hope Charlie takes the center stage this time around and it seems like that's where it's headed considering the amount of screen time she's getting and the focus on her reactions and emotions and her abilities as a detective.  Ratings: ★★★☆☆ S U S P E C T S | Tuesdays, 10PM → Channel 5

T E L E V I S I O N / Glue 107 - 108 Review

“I just want to go back to the beginning. All I want to do is go back to the beginning.” I swore to myself that I would write a finale review for a show and stop my track record of never writing finale reviews (looks sadly at Mr. Selfridge & MMFD posts) by writing this one. Though it's incredibly late and my mind is a bit fuzzy on the specifics and details of what took place in the penultimate and final episodes, I still vaguely remember what I felt when I watched it. This won't be as in depth as the other reviews I've done since, like I said, it's been a while since I watched the episodes, but it'll be a overview of my thoughts. Well, let's start with the biggest reveal from these episodes: Who killed Cal? Like I said in the last review, I honestly thought Ian would have had a hand in it, but since he died before the end, that was crossed off. Part of me wants to say I never really suspected Eli would be the killer and part of it is the way the story was told and I tip my hat off to the writer for this. Because we see Eli desperately investigate Cal's pass, there's this automatic assumption that Eli is looking for Cal's killer and to piece the story together as the police and as we the audience are doing. But Eli's definition of Cal's murder is not his physical murder but the murder of the brother he once knew before foster care. That familial drive and aspect to Eli's character was so present from the beginning that it was nice to see it played out in a dangerous matter. I wish, however, since family played such a critical role to Eli's life that we got to see more of it with his father, and his mother. There were lots of talking and threats and too much telling than showing--of course, this could all be for suspense's sake. Despite this, seeing Eli as the killer definitely surprised me to a certain degree though I wish it didn't since all the signs were there! Watching it a second time, I'm sure there will be very subtle hints that form an arrow pointing to him.  Another favorite arc of mine was Ruth. I don't know if it's a regression or progression of character. I'd like to say it's a progression because from the beginning we see her deny her background as a Roma consistently, especially with her physical separation from the camp. By the end, she's living there with her daughter, immersing herself in the environment again. I also loved the development of Ruth and Tina's re-budding friendship. Honestly, I wish there was more of this. Their bonding in the flat pulled my heart strings and wished there was more since 80% of the show consisted of them glaring at each other. A lot could have been developed in terms of backgrounds and characters, but given the length of the show, I guess I can't find much fault with it.  This is total an aside fan thought, but I would have really loved Eli and Ruth to get together over Eli and Tina, but whatever. I'll take them separately since they're both independently great characters involved with a pretty good story.  Ratings: ★★★☆☆

L I F E / 2K15 Resolution

I don't have a long list of resolutions for this new year. I find that whenever I try to do that, I overwhelm myself a bit and I just don't touch the list at all. So this year, I only have one important resolution I want to achieve. For 2015, I am going to write at least 1000 words per day. Just for the sake of writing. Just to remind myself that this is indeed what I still want to do and to train myself to do it no matter what. I hope everyone has a great year! I also need to write the finale for Glue. I swear I don't know why I just don't write reviews for finales. I will write it! I swear!