Wednesday, 5 September 2012

Doctor Who Returns


Doctor Who returned on Saturday night on BBC1. The appearance of the Doctor's future companion shocked fans but allowed a glimpse at what is to come after the departure of Karen Gillan. Jenna-Louise Coleman (Emmerdale, Titanic) is set to take over the role of companion when Gillan leaves the show.

Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill return for 5 more episodes in the new series before leaving to let Coleman take over. The 5 episodes will be shown in the next 5 weeks before taking a break before the Christmas episode in which Coleman reappears airs over the Christmas period. A further 8 episodes then complete the sevenths series of the show.

Whovians are eagerly anticipating the reveal of just how Amy and Rory leave the show, as well as how Coleman takes over the reigns as the Doctor's new companion, Clara Oswin.

Read my review of the new series premier here.


Doctor Who: Series Premier



‘Remember me’

 Doctor Who returned on Saturday with a well kept surprise which shocked many a Who fan. The premature appearance of the Doctor’s new soufflé baking, classical music playing companion was perhaps the best kept TV for secret for years. It is a well known fact that Amy Pond (Karen Gillan) and her husband Rory (Arthur Darvill) will leave the cult show later this series (how exactly is to be debated) and that Jenna-Louise Coleman will step into Gillan’s shoes as Clara Oswin, however, she made an unexpected appearance in the first episode of the new series.

In the first episode of this series the actress appeared as Oswin Oswald a quick-witted and flirtatious space traveller. Her predicament of being trapped inside a Dalek was relatively predictable from about half way through the episode, what with the circular camera shapes and her better-than-the-Doctor intelligence. Despite this, the reveal turned into a touching and heartfelt moment. The only sign of Coleman’s future role as Smith’s companion came with the words ‘remember me’, delivered by the actress with a cheeky grin and wink. Just exactly how this comes about will no doubt be hotly debated by Doctor Who followers.

A topic similarly be debated will be the details of Pond’s exit. The dramatic scene of the Doctor carrying his friend through the chaos of a collapsing Dalek empire, prominently shown in the series trailer, also appeared in this episode, cutting such a scene out of the running. The pairing of Amy and Rory will be missed, i’m sure, as this episode showed just how important their relationship is. The apparent demise of their marriage was saddening but the chemistry between the two characters –and actors- is clear and something the show has revolved around for a while. The mentions of their past especially –Rory’s waiting for 2000 years for Amy shows just how much history these two have and how vital the pair have become to the show. So for all the doubters, perhaps moving on from two such long running companions will refresh the show and keep it moving. However, this episode was a sparkling series premiere providing more questions than answers which will ensure the audience will stay tuned for the future....

How do you think the Ponds will exit? And how will Oswald become Oswin? Let me know in the comment section below.

Aired 1/9/12 BBC1


Monday, 27 August 2012

Hiatus and refurb!


TV Junkie has had and will be having a hiatus for a few days, but will be back with a new design and feel. It will return with a different focus - less reviews and more features - and will have more of a magazine aspect.

Watch this space!


Tuesday, 21 August 2012

Actress of the Week: Julie Gonzalo



With the new series of Dallas finally coming to the UK in September and the UK lainch party tonight, our Actress of the Week this week is one of the new faces of the cult TV series: Julie Gonzalo.


The Argentinian born actress plays Rebecca Sutter, who marries Christopher Ewing in the pilot episode, yet has many deep secrets yet to be revealed...

Gonzalo first moved to the US from Buenos Aires when she was 8 years old, frequently returning there throughout the next few years and still speaks fluent Spanish, including often during media interviews. The actress has starred in several high profile films and TV shows including Freaky Friday, A Cinderella Story, Veronica Mars and Eli Stone.

With Dallas on its way to Britain, i’m sure we’ll see much more of the actress in the next few months, but if you want to find out more about Dallas take a look at the Dallas cast interview from This Morning on ITV1 yesterday (link below) and follow TV Junkie for features and reviews in the future.


Monday, 20 August 2012

Revenge 1.12


‘Trust me, one doesn't easily forget a deal that’s made with the devil’


The shock factor was high in the last 10 minutes of this episode of Revenge. A burning down house and the reveal of a long buried secret gave what has come to be the classic weekly Revenge punch in the gut.

This week Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp) took her revenge to a new level by burning down Mason Treadwell’s house. Her anger was clearly shown at the beginning episode by her dramatic crossing out of the biographer’s face.  Roger Bart played Treadwell, the desperate, slimy fame seeker who had written the ‘true’ story of the David Clarke scandal, betraying the young Amanda Clarke in the process. Nolan Ross (Gabriel Mann) once again came to the rescue by providing Emily with the technological resources to bring down Treadwell (and whilst making faux Amanda actually useful for once) but along with the rest of us was also impressed – and equally unfazed - by Emily’s sheer determination and penchant for causing chaos with the arson attack

Daniel’s (Joshua Bowman) sudden transformation into ruthless businessman was slightly confusing, particularly with his unwavering loyalty to Emily coming into question with his plan to use her to get his trust fund. This uncharacteristic change is welcome though, as Bowman’s character was becoming one who was easily walked over both by his parents and friends.

The pair who had been inconsequential over the last few weeks, Charlotte and Declan,  have suddenly been thrown into the spotlight with the revelation that Charlotte (Christa B Allen) is David Clarke’s daughter, throwing a whole new light onto Emily’s pursuit for retribution and providing much anticipation for her next steps.

Aired 13/08 E4


Thursday, 16 August 2012

Once Upon A Time 1.20



‘You come with me and I promise that you’ll find everything you’re looking for’


After spending the last few weeks wondering who exactly the mysterious Mr Booth was, his fairytale identity was finally revealed in a dramatic fashion.

The stranger revealed that he was the boy who found the lost baby Emma when she was transported through the enchanted tree and that his role was to persuade her that Regina’s (Lana Parrilla) curse was real. Despite his earnest honesty and conclusive proof that he was who he said, Emma, frustratingly, still didn’t believe him. This intense scene between the two was gripping and when August (Eion Bailey) attempted to reveal his real wooden nature to Emma (Jennifer Morrison), we all thought this was it, this was when our heroine would finally accept her fate. But no. The fact that Emma couldn’t see Booth’s wooden leg due to her strong anti-curse beliefs leaves us thinking, will she ever manage to save the fairytale characters from the curse?

Once again, this episode was all about the parent-child relationships. This week the focus was drawn to Gepetto a.k.a Marco (Tony Amendola) and his son Pinocchio a.k.a August Booth. The relationship between the two was touching, with Booth’s tips to Marco in his carpentry shop emphasising their past as well their unusual relationship. The second parent-child relationship in this episode was Emma and Henry’s (Jared Gilmore). Emma’s revelation that she was going to take Henry away from Regina and her leaving Storybrooke with him proves how much she is now ready to be a mother to him. But their exodus from Storybrooke at the end of the episode leaves us all wondering how far she will go to do this...and what exactly is she willing to compromise in the process?

Aired 12/08/12 Channel 5


Thursday, 9 August 2012

Revenge 1.11



‘Tyler can be very unpredictable when off his meds’...’We’re figuring that out’


A bitter divorce battle?

Two double-crossing, scheming women?

A gun bearing psychopath?

What more could you want from an episode of great TV drama? Because episode 11 of ABC’s Revenge had all of it. We are now mid way through the first season of Revenge and are still just as addicted to the programme as we were when it first started.This week everything seemed to come to a head as Tyler’s (Ashton Holmes) grand plan for Grayson domination came to an end and Emily’s (Emily VanCamp) plans for both Tyler and the Amanda Clarke impersonator came together.

It hadn’t taken too long to realinse that there was something mentally wrong with Tyler, as his escapades became more and more erratic – blackmailing Nolan (Gabriel Mann) and trashing the Grayson’s pool house. Thankfully the characters began to realise this too, but not before Tyler was able to hold up Daniel’s (Joshua Bowman) beach birthday bash. The moody and atmospheric lighting in most of Tyler’s scenes, especially when he was confronted by Daniel and on the beach, as well as the ominous music, added to the unpredictability of Tyler’s actions. Of course as soon as Tyler had got one up on billionaire Ross, we all knew something big was going to go down.

We were rewarded with an explosive scene at Daniel’s birthday which threatened to expose many of the Grayson’s dark secrets. However, the timely reappearance of the injured Ross, along with the mad man’s brother prevented that. Daniel and Jack’s (Nick Wechsler) decision to work in tandem to surprise tackle Tyler was touching and showed just how these two could cross paths more, leading to a confusion of feelings for Emily Thorne which have clearly already been exacerbated by faux Amanda’s relationship with the bar owner – but we all know that Emily and Jack just have to end up together, right?

Aired 6/08/12 E4


Monday, 6 August 2012

Actor of the Week: Gabriel Mann




Wacky young entrepreneur Nolan Ross is one of the most intriguing and genius characters in ABC’s Revenge. The person we have to thank for bringing such a character to life is Gabriel Mann, who with his witty one liners and fast paced whispers to the scheming Emily Thorne, proves that the billionaire is a force to be reckoned with.

Although Mann has many films and TV shows under his belt, including The Bourne Identity and Wasteland, when the actor got the script for Revenge he was said to be on the verge of quitting acting – i’m sure all Revenge fans are very grateful he didn’t!

You can follow Mann on Twitter (@Gabriel_Mann) and of course see him in action in Revenge, Mondays at 9pm on E4.


Once Upon A Time 1.19


‘I have broken one deal in my life, and it certainly wasn’t this one’



Last week it seemed that Once Upon A Time needed to step up, and step up they did with an intense last few minutes of this episode! We were taken from a tear jerking reunion to shocking surprises, all of which set the stage for what is sure to be a fabulous season finale.

This episode provided us with the story of Mr Gold (Robert Carlyle) and his son (Dylan Schmid) – one which was potentially dull but proved moving and riveting. Unlike last week, it was the young actors who stood out for all the right reasons. Dylan Schmid portrayed a son who just wanted his Father to be the best person he could be very strongly. By labelling Rumplestiltskin a coward as he was passing into a different world took the actor to a different level as he showed great desperation and emotion.  Similarly, the only scene between two young actors so far in the season was also touching and a highlight of this episode.

Once again Robert Carlyle played the villain for a lot of the episode. The fact that August (Eion Bailey) was going to come out as the Storybrooke version of Baelfire was predictable but the fact that he was actually just impersonating him came as a complete surprise – something Once Upon A Time has become expert in providing over the last few weeks. We were taken to the point of hating Gold, being disappointed in him to actually having sympathy for him all with much credit to Carlyle. He has left us impatiently wondering and highly anticipating what the character is going to do next.

Emma (Jennifer Morrison), finally deciding to fight for Henry (Jared Gilmore) has provided a strong foundation for the final episodes of the season, which i’m sure the audience are eagerly anticipating. This truly gripping episode was a great improvement from last week with fascinating storylines and strong performances, particularly from the younger members of the cast.

Aired 5/08/12 Channel 5


Sunday, 5 August 2012

Revenge 1.10


‘There’s no need for the dramatic pauses’


Well maybe there is, but perhaps not as many as were in this episode of Revenge. Being almost half way through the season, we are expecting Revenge to pick up steam with plot twists and shocks. Although the show has been full of those up to now, it seemed that this week’s episode was turned into a filler episode, and a way to promote the exclusive Hampton area,

It was clear that the producers were trying to make the most of the idyllic setting, as the episode was periodically full of panoramic views of the Hamptons, including the beach, harbour and Grayson estate. Such scenic views are all very well, but when you are expecting a show full of tension and suspense, as Revenge has been up to now, this episode was a little disappointing.

However, this episode kept the audience hooked by exploring two of the most interesting relationships on the show – Emily (Emily VanCamp and Nolan’s (Gabriel Mann) and Nolan and Tyler’s (Ashton Holmes). Nolan and Emily’s constantly changing relationship is interesting, with Nolan often providing the comic content to counter Emily’s scheming ways. Yet when it was needed tonight, Nolan wasted no time in questioning Emily’s methods and proved that he could potentially be the moral compass of the show, by reminding Emily when she goes too far. Similarly, the ambiguity of the relationship between Nolan and Tyler is gripping, leaving us wondering if there are true feelings involved between the two of them, or if they are simply using each other – and I wouldn’t put it past them!

It was Nolan who truly stood out tonight, both as a key man in two key relationships and as the comic relief. His quip of ‘do you know how much ecoli you just dumped next to my lunch?’ gratefully lifted the mood of what could have been an intense conversation with Tyler.

Despite seemingly being an episode to make up numbers, many plot lines were also set up, and threatened for the coming half of the season. The ominous music playing when Tyler’s empty canister of medication was found gives indications of trouble ahead and we finally saw Emily slip up for the first time.

Last week we wondered who exactly Takeda is. This week we are still left wondering, although we have been given a few more clues – the fact that he’s a wealthy millionaire and that Emily went to train in the art of Revenge withn Japan. It is mysteries such as this and the threat of more plot twists ahead which makes this programme one that the audience will keep tuning in to each week.


Once Upon A Time 1.18


‘Why can’t I just be myself? ... Because you can be so much more!’


In this week’s Once Upon A Time, we finally got to understand the true reason behind Regina’s (Lana Parrilla) vendetta against Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin) and it had been a long time coming.
The difference between Storybrook Regina and younger Regina was greatly emphasised by Parrilla, although making her look younger seemed to have been attempted slightly too hard for an already youthful looking actress. Her youth was emphasised by the control her stereotypical wicked mother (Barbara Hershey) had over her – i’m sure many mothers wish they could have such controlling magical powers over their daughters!

We also saw Snow White as a young girl and, subsequently, the reason for Regina’s hate. It was clear that the producers had plumped for a stereotypically cute girl in Bailee Madison and although the scenes between her and pre-marital Regina were very touching and showed a lovely mother-daughter relationship between the two characters, they were often over the top, with Madison seeming a little too earnest to please. Despite this, Parrillia gave us glimpses of the future evil queen and the fixed grin when she discovered what Snow White had done was also a stroke of genius.

Tonight, we finally reached the climax of the Mary Margaret – Kathryn Nolan (Anastasia Griffith) debacle – something which has been coming for a longtime. The shocking reappearance of the former Mrs Nolan finally bought an end to a long drawn out plot line and providing a saving grace for Mary Margaret and once again grabbing back the audience for next week, despite Once Upon A Time needing stumbling with a couple of aspects of the episode.


Tuesday, 31 July 2012

PRIMEVAL: 5 Series, 5 Forgotten Characters



With the finale of Primeval having been over a week ago and no prospect of a sixth series in sight, we take a look back through the last five series at five characters who you may have forgotten, but were key players in the story of Primeval and the ARC.

Series 1: Claudia Brown/Jenny Lewis  (Lucy Brown)


Claudia Brown arrived on our screens in Series 1, Episode 1 as a Civil Servant working for the Home Office. After joining the ARC team she became a liaison between the Home Office, Lester and Cutter, but still got involved in many of the missions to prevent the creatures coming through the anomaly causing too much trouble. By mid way through series 1 Claudia had begun to fall for Cutter, making her suspicious of Helen Cutter and her motives when the wanderer returned through the anomaly.

After she and Cutter had admitted their feelings for each other, sealed by a kiss, he followed Helen through an anomaly to the Permian era, returning to find that Claudia Brown had disappeared without trace and the rest of the team had no memory of her – a consequence of his meddling in prehistoric times.

In episode 1 of series 2, Jenny Lewis appears as a new PR assistant for the ARC team. She looks identical to Claudia Brown although has a contrasting personality to her and seemingly has no recollection of her doppelgänger. After discovering the real nature of the ARC team’s work, Jenny became a key part of the team, keeping the press away from the areas of the anomalies and providing cover stories for the havoc caused by the creatures.

Jenny supported Cutter through the death of Stephen, admitting she was attracted to him mid way through series3. His subsequent death devastated her and she left the ARC team soon after. Our final episode with Jenny was at her wedding in series 4, when Hyaenodons and the team interrupted her wedding. However, she finally got her happy ever after when Lester married her and her fiancé via video link.

Series 2: Stephen Hart (James Murray)


The former sportsman acted as a lab assistant to Cutter having had long friendship with him and Helen for many years. The seemingly cold character proved his bravery and loyalty, saving countless lives over the 2 series he played a part in.

In the 2nd episode of series 1, Stephen was left for dead by a venomous Arthropleura and was visited by Helen Cutter asking him to pass a message on to Cutter, but she also left him for dead, leaving Cutter with a race against time to get Stephen the antidote he needed.

At the end of series 1, it was revealed that Stephen had had an affair with Helen many years previously, a fact she used to try and persuade Stephen to leave the ARC to travel with her. However, Stephen resisted, realising Helen’s true colours. Stephen was also known to be the object of Abby’s affections although no 
relationship developed from this, aside from the offer of a couple of dinner dates.

In series 2 episode 7, Stephen showed his true dedication to the ARC by sacrificing himself for the good of the team by shutting himself in a room, full of dangerous prehistoric creatures, with a door which only locked from the inside to prevent the creatures escaping. His death devastated the ARC team.

Series 3: Sarah Page (Laila Rouass)


Sarah Page joined the team at the start of series 3 after an anomaly appeared at The British Museum, her workplace at the time. She was assigned to find out if there was any link between the anomalies and mythology but later joined the team on their missions. Sarah seems to become the confidante of Jenny Lewis as she tells her all about her apparent dual persona and Claudia Brown.

When most of the team are stranded in different eras at the end of series 3, Sarah helps Becker lead rescue missions to find them. She is not seen again and it is implied that she died on one of these rescue missions.

Series 4: Patrick Quinn (Jonathan Byrne)


Patrick Quinn disappeared through an anomaly as a teenager. He spent time travelling through eras alone, including appearing in 1902 Russia and murdering many people before joining the Time Tribe. His appetite for killing sprang from having to fend for himself by killing beasts to survive.

As part of the Time Tribe he met Emily and Charlotte, who he fell in love with. When Charlotte falls sick with smallpox, Patrick (known as Ethan) and Emily return through an anomaly to the present time to get her medical care. Unfortunately Charlotte died, leaving Ethan heartbroken and he blames Emily. Emily allies with Matt, the new leader of the ARC as Ethan is trying to kill her. He also wants to get revenge on his family for leaving him through the anomaly – including ARC member Danny Quinn. After being captured by the team, Patrick is reunited with his brother and the two hug. Patrick escapes the ARC after a fight and escapes through an anomaly. Danny follows him to make sure Patrick doesn’t kill anyone else.

Series 5: April Leonard (Janice Byrne)

The research assistant, hired by Philip Burton, turned into a weapon wielding fighter by the end of series 5. She was hired to help Connor with the New Dawn project. She seems cold and calculating by not getting on with the rest of the team, mainly as she refuses to tell them exactly what she and Connor are up to.

April helped Connor create the first lab born anomaly but, unknown to Connor, she is also working on a secret project with Burton. When Philip’s project comes to fruition in series 5 episode 5, April comes head to head with Abby. Their fight ends when April is killed by a flock of Anurognathus.


Saturday, 28 July 2012

Revenge 1.09


'Remember, inside the viper's nest, you must be a viper too'


We've all got accustomed to the viciousness of the senior Grayson members and the ruthlessness of Emily Thorne (Emily VanCamp). However this week, several other protagonists revealed their real colours.

Daniel’s friend Tyler (Ashton Holmes) has been slowly becoming more villainous over the past few weeks, but this episode saw him rise to whole new level by conning young entrepreneur Nolan Ross (Gabriel Mann). His attempt to get Nolan on his side whilst beating Daniel to a spot in the Grayson’s company was devious yet Tyler hadn’t counted on the strong alliance between Emily and Nolan to outwit him. By also persuading Ashley (Ashley Madekwe) to ‘raise her game’ in order to climb the social ladder, Tyler incensed some of his own desire for social reign in his girlfriend and surely set up things to come.

Cara (Margarita Levieva) as she’s known to the Hamptons also showed more of her scheming nature by not taking Emily’s money or flight to Paris. Instead she chose to toy with Jack Porter (Nick Weschler), seducing him and then revealing her ‘real’ name as being Amanda. The moment that Jack told of ‘Amanda’s return’ was clearly devastating for Emily, yet due to her dual persona she had to keep a unaffected expression – VanCamp highlighted her talent by showing Emily’s despair whilst maintaining the fake front. Amanda’s deception surely makes a romance between him and Emily completely off the cards, yet makes us frustratingly root for them all the more.

Charlotte and Declan’s deception of Mrs Grayson as well as Conrad’s removal of Lydia from the manor behind Victoria’s back put the finishing touches to an episode full of deceit, mystery and aptly titled ‘Suspicion’. This episode seemed like a stepping stone to the rest of the series, setting up more plot twists and leaving many questions unanswered, the main one being: who exactly is the mysterious Satoshi Takeda?

Aired 23/07/12


Monday, 23 July 2012

Actor of the Week: Martin Compston




After being tortured at the end of last week’s episode and with the series finale tomorrow night, the future doesn’t look good for DS Steve Arnott in BBC2’s ‘Line of Duty’. However, the same cannot be said for rising star Martin Compston.

The Inverclyde native first shot to stardom in ‘Sweet Sixteen’, a movie shot locally to where Compston grew up. After successfully campaigning with his local council for the certificate to be lowered to enable local youngsters to learn from the mistakes of his character Liam, the actor next hit our screens as ladies man Ewan Brodie in ‘Monarch of the Glen’. Enabling Compston to use his native Scottish accent (unlike in Line of Duty) this cheeky character clearly suited the emerging actor.

Having many other TV and movie credits under his belt as well as several others lined up in post-production, the 28 year old is currently finding fame in the BBC’s new drama ‘Line of Duty’, with Arnott being one of the biggest roles Compston has had so far in his career. The brash DS has stirred up trouble within the police force, attempting to expose a corrupt cop. Despite the doubt over Arnott’s survival, the future seems bright for this talented actor and he is clearly an actor to watch out for in the next few years.

Picture from IMDB


Once Upon A Time 1.17



'Ready or not, here we come'


We all know that meeting a stranger in the woods and going off with them is never a good idea, and Emma’s encounter with Jefferson proved just that. Episode 17 gave Once Upon A Time a distinctly darker feel this week - the dark forest, predominantly black clothing, sharpening of scissors and hostage like situation gave a sinister atmosphere to the episode. The atmosphere was made even more effective by the music contrasting with the periods of deafening silence. As always the music was suitably chosen for the mood and never came across as overpowering or interfered with the storyline.

Similarly, contrasts were also effectively used with the juxtaposition of Jefferson as an evil character and as a kindly father, just wanting to provide the best for his daughter - both characters Sebastian Stan acted equally successfully.

We also saw Emma (Jennifer Morrison) giving a feminist aspect to the programme by showing her heroic side in saving both herself and Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin). Both actresses ensured that their reactions to their predicament were not over exaggerated and Morrison depicted a distressed version of her character particularly well. The tension was palpable as the two were escaping yet it was predictable that Jefferson would be behind them as they exited the room where Mary Margret was tied up. However, the strengthening friendship between the two female leads was lovely to see and provided some tender and more sensitive moments in an unexpectedly action packed episode.

It is frustrating how long Emma’s disbelief in her true identity is lasting – the producers are really keeping the audience waiting. However, it seems, with Emma’s shocked facial expression in the closing moments of the show that something is around the corner to really propel the show forwards.

Aired 22/07/12 Channel 5


Sunday, 22 July 2012

Primeval 5.06


‘This is what New Dawn did to the Earth, turned it into hell’


And hell was what the ARC team faced this week. After last week’s intense episode and dramatic cliff-hanger, we were expecting a lot from the series finale of Primeval and we definitely got it.

The opening wasteland Connor found himself in at the start of the episode painted a dramatic picture for what was to come; an intense and gripping theme was continued by Philip’s (Alexander Siddig) slimy persona continuing to execute his and Helen’s evil plan. The rapid camera movements throughout the episode also increased the tension and the frequent shaking of the shots increased the feeling of panic that the team were experiencing.

Abi’s (Hannah Spearitt) rescue of Connor (Andrew Lee Potts) and Matt (Ciaran McMenamin) gave a nice reference to last week’s episode and the development of their romance nicely rounded off their relationship which we have followed right from series 1. The romance aspects of the episode gave a nice respite from the thrilling action and gave the episode greater depth and emotion.

Similarly, the witty retorts which we have come to love from Primeval were in full flow tonight, despite the ongoing catastrophes. The humour of Connor’s analysis of the impact of merging the two anomalies and Lester’s ‘could Philip not afford to pay the electricity bill?’ was needed to maintain Primeval’s spirit and gratefully reduced the gravity of the predicament. The allying of Jess (Ruth Kearney) and Lester (Ben Miller) also provided some humour, with their father-daughteresque relationship quite a surprise yet the continuation of it from last week was nicely played out. The tension of the discovery of the monster in the ARC with a long, drawn out camera shot was heart stopping and Miller’s serious facial expressions provided a more serious side to his mainly comic character. However, between this pair, certain lines could have been delivered more convincingly – Kearney’s ‘anyone?’ for example.

For long time fans of the series, there were many recalls to earlier episodes. References to Helen Cutter reminded the audience of the origins of the ARC and Philip’s sacrifice was reminiscent of Stephen’s in an earlier series whilst providing the villain with a sense of redemption.

The ending gave a sense that the team could continue with their work by not giving a satisfying answer to the anomaly conundrum and frustratingly the appearance of another Matt provided the series end with a cliff-hanger which could provide a foundation for another series with the same team, one which we now know unfortunately won’t happen. However, after this sensational finale it seems that the spinoff Primeval: New World may well be worth tuning in for.

Will you be giving the new Primeval: New World a chance? Let me know in the comments box below.

Aired 21/07/2012


Tuesday, 10 July 2012

Primeval 5.04


'I hate insects, worse than spiders, worse than dinosaurs'


It was predictable that something was going to wrong with the Connor’s new found ability to spontaneously generate anomalies, and our predictions were quickly fulfilled.

This week, Primeval changed tact, moving from ferocious beasts to skin crawling insects. The sounds this episode’s creatures, being prehistoric beetles, made you squirm as did the CGI effects of millions of the beetles which were as good as always. Of course since insects seem relatively harmless it just so happened that one of the team was allergic to insect bites.

However, Jess’ (Ruth Kearney) new found insect bite allergy allowed the budding romance between her and Becker (Ben Mansfield), which seemed to have been forgotten about since last series, to develop. His protectiveness over the computer genius quickly revealed his true feelings and his choice to leave quickly after providing her with an adrenalin shot showed a more emotional, human and vulnerable side to the macho hero we’re used to.

Despite Connor’s (Andrew Lee Potts) irritating faith in Philip, this week Connor stepped up, realising his mistakes and becoming a bit of a hero. In the process he began to mend his relationship with Abi – something i’m sure we’ve all been waiting for. It was Abi’s (Hannah Spearitt) partnership with Matt which stood out this week though with the pairing becoming quite a force. Despite a few slip ups towards the beginning with her accent, Spearitt showed her growth as an actress with her delivery of the line ‘we had to, you wouldn’t listen to me’ and her harsh glare afterwards.

This episode was one in which many characters surprised and grew, providing Primeval with a stronger footing than simply a programme about dinosaurs.

Aired 7/07/12 ITV


Wednesday, 4 July 2012

Revenge 1.06


‘I was just thinking how it’s one of the loneliest places on Earth’


The programme which has replaced One Tree Hill as our Monday night viewing has been an enthralling watch so far and tonight was no different.

This week’s episode began where last week’s left off –Daniel (Joshua Bowman) in Emily’s (Emily VanCamp) bed and the fallout of Frank’s attack on Lydia yet to be played out. Emily’s plans for revenge seemed to be spiralling out of control, emphasised by Nolan’s (Gabriel Mann) panicking over the previous night’s events. Yet Emily smoothly managed to bring the situation back under control and manipulate it to her benefit, something that she always seems to manage to do. A skill which Jack (Nick Wechsler) needs to grasp. Whilst we all are aching for the Jack to discover Emily’s real persona, Jack’s constant moping and aggressiveness towards Daniel, as well as Nolan’s constant persuasion is becoming a little played out, although Jack’s offer to fix the swing-seat was a perfect reminder of their shared history.

The revengeful looks, or ‘the croc’, as the cast likes to call them were once again in full flow and perfectly executed by VanCamp and the sniping argument between Tyler (Ashton Holmes) illustrated Emily’s real character and the reason she became a neighbour to the Graysons.

Tyler, once again, was putting a spanner in the works of Emily’s plan of revenge by inviting himself on a double date with the couple. Despite the fact his constant interference is incredibly frustrating, it makes the way Emily has to deal with it and the repercussions it throws out all the more riveting.

This episode was also the one that truly made the senior Grayson’s relationship more absorbing. The breakdown of their marriage and the toll the revelations of Conrad’s affair are taking became more evident. Madeleine Stowe flawlessly portrayed the cold wife and her fading fake smile in the balcony scene demonstrated the growing differences between her public and personal appearances. The contrasts between the formerly strong Grayson couple and the new, developing couple underlined Victoria’s loneliness, again shown by the balcony scene in the isolation of Grayson manner.

The ending of the episode, although not as explosive (despite the atmospheric 4th of July fireworks) as many of the others, as always, ensured the audience would return for episode seven to watch Emily’s deception apparently be discovered by the Grayson’s wayward security guard.

Aired 2/07/12 E4


Once Upon A Time 1.14


‘You’ve got your reasons for being here, i’ve got mine’


From the start, this episode of Once Upon A Time appeared to be the episode in which the concept went too far –the sickly sweet fairies and Dwarves hatching from eggs? Really? Yet despite such flaws the audience’s enchantment with Once Upon A Time continues.

This week’s episode focused on ‘Dreamy’, the dwarf (Lee Arenberg), seemingly a subsidiary character, meaning that from the outset this episode seemed to be just a filler for continuing the series. Arenberg did a brilliant job of portraying the character in both worlds and the storyline allowed him to show a wide range of emotions – we disliked him as the ungrateful labourer to start with, before sympathising with him as the Blue Fairy was scuppering his plans for an adventurous journey with Astrid. Having the dwarf and Snow White work together was a master stroke, providing an interesting storyline whilst showing the problems each character was facing individually and giving the link between Snow White and her dwarfs which has seemingly been lacking.

The sickly sweet nature of both Astrid and Nova (Amy Acker) was one area where this episode faulted. Although the character was played fittingly by the actress, the over the top sweet nature of the fairy gradually became more and more irritating, especially in the fairytale world. The fairies’ costumes divulged from the stereotypical fairy apparel by being more frilly, bright and revealing but worked well in the warped worlds the programme is set in.

However, the producers also worked their magic by making the dwarf’s story a footing for the exploration and development of the storyline between Snow White and Prince Charming - the plot we are all eager to see. Kathryn’s (Anastasia Griffith) disappearance was the thread that ensured this episode did not just an also-ran episode. The confusion of David (Josh Dallas) and Mary Margaret (Ginnifer Goodwin) over the mystery as well as Emma’s (Jennifer Morrison) investigation was gripping  and the closing scenes made sure that the audience would be tuning in once again next week.

Aired 1/07/12 Channel 5


Sunday, 1 July 2012

Primeval 5.03


'This is not what you think'


After last week’s very different episode of Primeval - being unusually stationed in one location rather than having the characters running around - we were expecting a lot from this week’s episode. Once again Primeval didn’t disappoint.

The opening scenes set up a much darker version of the show, with the dark skyline and eerie Victorian streets providing an intriguing backdrop for the episode. Unusually this episode revolved around the Victorian era – a time surprisingly human for such a show. The tension was further increased by the return of an unsettling face in Emily (Ruth Bradley) who was accompanied by her husband and his Alistair McGowan look-a-like of a sidekick. Bradley’s portrayal of a feminist living in an era before her time was very convincing, clearly illustrating her anguish between being a faithful wife and a monster hunter. However, the Victorian era aspect of the show could have been further exploited to greater effect, with the potential for more of a murder mystery quality.

The tension from through the anomaly was let down by the dealings in the ARC this week. The lack of Connor’s (Andrew Lee Potts) usual comedic role was evident, leaving the character in a position where he simply became grating, with his delusions about Philip and his team overly mentioned. Equally, if not more irksome was April (Janice Byrne), his assistant. Her annoying over protectiveness, wariness and cold stares were only added to by her irritating voice. The darker tone of the episode was still continued though, as the underhand dealings and whisperings that took place between many of the characters emphasised. Despite the yearning to return to the Victorian era, the recurrent, yet often seemingly unnecessary ARC scenes provided a decent pay off with the final revelation of the programme.

The departure from the norm was very welcome this week and continued the run of gripping and surprising episodes which have provided a strong first half of the series. Despite such a move for the programme, the continuing story arc was still rapidly moved forwards this episode providing anticipation for next week and the rest of the series.

Aired 30/06/12 ITV1


Friday, 13 April 2012

One Tree Hill 9.06


'And here you are, because you’re a Scott, and no one is smarter or tougher than a Scott boy'


The ninth and final series of One Tree Hill is turning out to be just as brilliant, if not better as the other eight. With Nathan missing and Julian struggling to deal with the aftermath of his childcare incident, this episode was seemingly just a stepping stone to what is surely set to be a fantastic series finale.

At November’s ‘An Evening with One Tree Hill’, creator Mark Schwahn, when asked to describe this series in one word said ‘Moose’, and last week, with the discovery of Nathan’s present to baby Lydia in the gutter, we found out why. Nathan’s ongoing kidnap storyline is, psycho nannies and fake brothers aside, one of the darkest One Tree Hill has ever told. James Lafferty’s Nathan Scott being held hostage and threatened by a foursome of Northern European gold diggers seems unlikely in North Carolina, yet the whole kidnap has been pulled off by Schwahn and his team very convincingly, right down to the eerie warehouse Nathan seems to be trapped in. The intensity Lafferty shows in his scenes in ‘the chair’ makes for a gripping hour of television. With this episode under Lafferty’s direction, the actor and director owned tonight’s episode.

An aspect which did appear to let this episode down were the other characters’ reactions to Nathan’s disappearance. Even Brooke, who has known Nathan since High School seemed only mildly concerned at his disappearance, choosing instead to focus on her dispute with the neighbouring cafe owner. It was, in fact, one of the younger members of the cast who pulled out a gut-wrenching reaction to the news of his father’s disappearance. Jamie Scott’s (Jackson Brundage) outburst attacking Dan thoroughly portrayed the feelings of the Scott family, reinforcing Lenz’s (Haley Scott) excellent performance of a potential widow-to-be.

For Brooke and Julian, this episode saw the fallout from the dramatic closing scenes of last week’s episode. Brooke’s trashing of her rival’s cafe came at the price of Karen’s Cafe’s own patrons. The scenes between Brooke and Tara (who appears to own no clothes which fall below her mid-thigh) really stood out from the rest of Tree Hill’s standard character- jumping scene snippets which have become a staple of recent series. Their quick-witted cat fights showed off their talents, particularly Sophia Bush’s whose character Brooke Davis has allowed her to become quite a pro at such quick-fire squabbles.

One Tree Hill showed its strengths in the early seasons by showcasing new, and sometimes ‘off-the-beaten-track’ bands and music. Tonight, once again, that made a return with Chris Keller a.k.a Tyler Hilton performing one of his tracks, Prince of Nothing Charming, at Karen’s Cafe. Although every viewer knew it was a shameless plug for Hilton’s new album ‘Forget the Storm’, (which is fantastic and available to download from ITunes now) the performance was worked seamlessly into the Chase-Chris-Tara love triangle.

Despite many excellent performances, which we have come to expect from this final series of One Tree Hill, the Scott family, and especially the Scott boys, truly stole the show, both on and off the screen, in this episode.

Aired 9/04/12 E4


Actor Of The Week

Actor Of The Week
Julie Gonzalo
 

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