Goliath Season 4 2021 Episode 2: title The Pain Killer aired 9/24/2021

     Patty finds herself on the hook for Billy’s behavior as he digs deeper into this case.  Episode 2 opens with a student basketball game for a state championship.  It’s a flashback and Tom True’s daughter is on the cheerleading team.  She experiences a nasty fall and her father watches on in complete horror.  

     Then it then turns into a trippy-feeling scene with George Zax on stage in an imagined Broadway show.  He’s on the piano singing about a fallen princess who is in pain and he offers his assistance to help her.  His way of helping is by giving her opioids.  He calls himself “The Painkiller.”  If that is not a direct aim at big pharma companies, I do not know what is??  It is filmed like a commercial ad.  48 min.

5* (I really like this series)

Note:  TV Fanatic 4.5 out of 5 with 4 1/2 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 100% critic with 5 ratings 80% audience score of 60,  https://decider.com/2021/0924/goliath-season-4-amazon-review/,stream 69.6%, skip it 10.1%, results 20.3% out of 227 votes, readysteadycut.com 4* out of 5*, Metacritic 7* with 5 ratings.

Created by David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro, executive producer Lawrence Trilling, Geyer Kosinski, Jennifer Ames, Steve Turner. 

Mr. Mercedes TV series episode two 2017: On Your Mark

     Detective Bill Hodges continues his pursuit after the maniac who killed 16 people with a stolen gray Mercedes.  This episode opens with a paranoid, drunk Hodges watching another video delivered to him through email from the mysteries murderer.  

     This video is of the little baby Patti and her mother.  They were ruthlessly killed in at the City Center Job Fair.  In this video, the happy mom and baby are celebrating Patti’s first month of life.  Her grandmother has captured the memory.  This video was manipulated like the first one, making the mother and baby appear distorted, bloody and also scary.  Only for mature audiences.  5* (I really liked this series)

53 min, crime directed by Jack Bender, written by Stephen King, David E. Kelley, Sophie Owens-Bender with Brendan Gleeson, Harry Treadaway, Kelly Lynch, Jharrell Jerome, Scott Lawrence, Robert Stanton, Breeda Wool, Mary-Louise Parker, Holland Taylor, Ann Cusack, Laura Dooling.

Note:  Imdb 7.8 out of 10 with 889 ratings, tvfanatic editor 4.5 out of 5, user rating 5 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 83% with 29 critic ratings 90% with 637 user ratings, Amazon 4 1/2* out of 353 reviews.   

Goliath Season 4 2021 Episode 1 title Hadleyville aired 9/24/2021

     Recovering from a world-shattering injury?  Billy reunites with Patty at a prestigious law firm in San Francisco in order to take down the opioid industry.  In the first episode of this season it is alluded to that Billy has had an injury but it is not explained fully.  He is still drinking, chain smoking and looks the same!!!

     Billy McBride and Patty Solis-Papagian are working for a different law firm in this season.  Patty feels like she has to keep tabs and remind Billy of everything!!  Even things like look sharp and arrive on time!!  I liked that this season is filmed in San Francisco and it is nice to see the sights of this city.  It is pouring rain in the beginning.  5* (I really like this new season)

29 min with Billy Bob Thornton, Nina Arianda, Tania Raymonde, Diana Hopper, Julie Brister, Bruce Dern, Brandon Scott, Jena Malone J.K. Simmons.

Created by David E. Kelley and Jonathan Shapiro, executive producer Lawrence Trilling, Geyer Kosinski, Jennifer Ames, Steve Turner.

Note:  Rotten Tomatoes 100% critic with 5 ratings 80% and an audience score of 60, https://decider.com/2021/09/24/goliath-season-4-amazon-review/, stream 69.6%, skip it 10.1%, results 20.3% out of 227 votes, readysteadycut.com 4* out of 5*, Metacritic 7* with 5 ratings, TV Fanatic 4.5 out of 5 with 4 1/2 reviews.

Special Note:  You don’t need to have watched previous seasons to pick right up on this season.

Two Lovers 2008

      This film is loosely based on Fyodor Dostoevsky’s 1848 short story titled White Nights.  Leonard Kraditor is a burned-out case as a person!!  He is living with his immigrant parents after his fiancée left him.  He is helping out at their Brooklyn dry cleaners, taking photographs, at loose ends and he is suicidal.  In quick succession, he meets two women!!  

     Sandra is the daughter of his parents' business associates.  She is frank, direct, sensual and Jewish like Leonard.  He also connects with his neighbor Michelle.  She is mercurial, rootless, fun, blond and unattainable.  Michelle is in love with a married man and she cries on Leonard's shoulder.  Sandra wants to save him.  Is Leonard willing to risk losing Sandra's fidelity for the moments of Michelle's mood swings toward him?  Can this end well?

Note:  Imdb 7 out of 10 with 39K reviews, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, Rotten Tomatoes 82% with 168 critic reviews 59% with 50,000+ audience scores, Metacritic 74 with 33 critic reviews 8.6 with 102 user ratings, RollingStone Magazine 3* out of 4* Peter Travers.

Mistake:  After Leonard drops his suitcase out the window, it isn't there when he goes downstairs to meet up with Michelle.

Special Note:  Featured in Maltin on Movies: Awards Special 2013. 

110 min, Drama, directed and written by James Gray and also written by Ric Menelloo with Joaquin Phoenix, Gwyneth Paltrow, Vinessa Shaw, Anne Joyce, Eliot Villar, Craig Walker, Carmen M. Herlihy, Donald John Hewitt, Christian Albrizo, Isabella Rosselini, Moni Moshnov, Julie Budd.

Note:  Imdb 7 out of 10 with 39K reviews, Letterboxd 3.7 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 82%, Roger Ebert 3 1/2*, Wikipedia 82% based on 167 reviews, Metacritic 74% with 33 votes, Eye for Film 4* out of 5*, Amazon 2060 reviews. 

North Country 2006

       This film is a fictionalized account of the first major successful sexual harassment case in the United States.  It is titled Jenson vs. Eveleth Mines.  It is about a woman who endured a range of abuse while working in a job as a miner.  Mines filed and won a landmark 1984 lawsuit.  It is based on a book written by Clara Bingham and Laura Leedy.

      In 1989, Josey Aimes takes her two children, Sammy and Karen with her.  She leaves her abusive husband Wayne and she is to returning to her northern Minnesota home town.  She has a chance meeting with her old friend Glory Dodge.  He works as a driver and union rep at the mine operated by Pearson Taconite and Steel.  Josey decides to also work at the mine.  This type of work is dominated by men in number and in tone.  She wants to be able to stand on her own two feet for the first time in her life.  She probably could not do this if she remained in a job washing hair at a beauty salon.  Plus, she needs to make a higher wage.  

     Working at the mine does not sit well with her father, Hank Aimes.  He also works at the mine and like the other male workers, he believes she is taking a job away from a man.  Hank has also believed that all Josey's problems are of her own doing!!  It is because she was unmarried and she had Sammy while she was still in high school.  Josey has always stated that she does not know who Sammy's biological father is?  Sammy also has Hank's attitude about his mother.  This film is only for adult audiences.  5* (I liked this movie)

126 min, Drama with Charlize Theron, Jeremy Renner, Frances McDormand, Thomas Curtis, Elle Peterson, Sean Bean, Woody Harrelson, Richard Jenkins,Sissy Spacek, James Cada, Rusty Schwimmer, directed by Niki Caro, written by Michael Seitzman, 

Note:  Imdb 7.3 out of 10 with 41k reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 69% with 175 critic reviews 76% with 50,000+ audience scores, Roger Ebert 4*, Common Sense Media age 16+, 3* out of 5*, 3* drinking, drugs, smoking and sex, 4* violence and language.    

The Lookout 2007

     An admired high school hockey player with a bright future foolishly takes a drive in the night with his girlfriend and two other friends.  He doesn’t have his headlights on and devastating results ensue.  The former athlete is left with a brain injury.  It prevents him from remembering many things for extended periods of time.  To compensate, he keeps notes in a small notebook to aid him in remembering what he is to do.  He also lives with a blind friend who helps him.  Unfortunately, with his mental incapacitation, he is unable to find meaningful work.  

     He does find work as a night cleaning man in a bank.  He comes under the scrutiny of a gang planning to rob the bank.  The leader makes friends with him and gets him involved with a young woman who further ensnares him.  After they get close then there is reeling him in because of his mind not working.  The bank plan begins to unfold.  He is confused but he wants to escape his current existence.  He initially goes along with the scheme.  After finally realizing he is being used, he attempts to stop the robbery.  Of course everything immediately goes bad!!  5* (I liked this movie)

99 min, crime directed and written by Scott Frank with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Jeff Daniels, Mathew Goode, Isla Fisher, Carla Gugino, Bruce McGill, Alberta Watson, Alex Borstein, Sergio Di Zio, David Huband, Laura Vandervoort, Greg Dunham, Morgan Kelly, Aaron Berg, Tinsel Korey, Suzanne Kelly Brian Edward Roach, Martin Roach.

Note:  Imdb 7 out of 10 with 58K reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 87% with 169 critic reviews 74% with 50,000+ audience scores, Metacritic 73 with 33 critic reviews, 8.7 with 163 user scores.     

Serious Moonlight 2009

      This movie is based on a novel by Jean Bennet.  Ian (Timothy Hutton) wants to have a day with his mistress Sara (Kristen Bell)?  His high-powered lawyer wife Louise (Meg Ryan) surprises him by showing up a day early.  He is packing to leave her when she takes him prisoner.  She vows to win him over.  She lies to Sara about their impending separation and sends her away.  While Louise is out, Ian gets the attention of lawnmower Todd (Justin Long).  Instead of helping, Todd starts robbing the home.

     Adrienne Shelly has written a quirky story.  It doesn't have enough comedy and directing novice Cheryl Hines is unable to inject any.  Ryan and Hutton are angry but the comedy falls flat.  The quirky tone is not funny until the last act when Hutton, Ryan and Bell are locked in the bathroom.  It's a little late although it's better to end on a good note.  The movie needs to have set that tone from the start.  There are tough topics such as loss, grief, self-harm and disability.  The main characters are 18 and 19 plus they have medical conditions.

84 min, drama directed by Cheryl Hines, produced by Andy Ostroy and Michael Roiff, written by Adrienne Shelly with Meg Ryan, Timothy Hutton, Kristen Bell, Justin Long, Derek Carter, Bill Parks.

Note:  Rotten Tomatoes 221% with 37 critic reviews 25% with 2,500+ audience scores, Metacritic 36 with 16 critic ratings 5.1 with 10 user scores, Slant Magazine 2.5* out of 4*, Common Sense Media, 4* out of 5* age 14+, 1* consumerism, 2* educational value, drinking, drugs, smoking and violence, 3* positive messages, sex, language 4* positive role models.

Special Note:  Police arrested Diego Pillco, a 19-year-old construction worker.  He confessed to killing Shelly and trying to make it look as if she had committed suicide.  This event happened on November 1, 2006 and she was 40 years old.  Her residence had been in West Village, Manhattan, New York.

All Good Things 2010

     This film is both a love story and murder mystery.  It is based on the most notorious unsolved murder case in New York history.  This original screenplay uses newly discovered facts, court records and speculation as the foundation for a story of family, obsession, love and loss. 

     The story involves David Marks.  He is son of a New York family that owns valuable 42nd Street real estate in the 1970s. The property at that time was rented to strip clubs, porno shops, massage parlors and so on. The family, wealthy and private, moved in the best circles and the nature of their holdings was not widely known.  Essentially, the family is making money from unsavory enterprises and their goal is to hide their shady dealings!!  They were still highly regarded because the type of people they rented to was unknown. 

     David Marks marries Katie McCarthy and she was a working-class student.  They move to Vermont to enjoy country life and they set up a health food store called All Good Things.  They return to New York after David is lured back by his powerful father Sanford Marks.  He tells David he is not giving Katie the lifestyle that she deserves?  5* (I really liked this movie)

     

Note:  Imdb 6.3* out of 10* with 355 reviews, popularity 1,700, Roger Ebert  3 1/2*, Rotten Tomatoes 35% with 98 reviews 37% audience with 25,000+ reviews, Metacritic 57 with 27 critic reviews 7.7 with 104 user scores, RollingStone Magazine 3* out of 4* Peter Travers.

     

101 min, Crime directed by Andrew Jarecki, written by Marcus Hinchey and Marc Smerling with Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Frank Langella, Lily Rabe, Philip Baker Hall, Michael Esper, Diane Venora, Nick Offerman, Kristen Wiig, Stephen Kunken, John Cullum, Maggie Kiley, Liz Stauber.

Special Note:  Ryan Gosling felt so bad about a scene that he had to pull Kirsten Dunst’s hair that he sent her flowers the day after!!  Andrew Jarecki said that he wanted to make a movie that real-life counterpart Robert Durst could watch and have an emotional reaction to.  Upon seeing the movie, Durst contacted Jarecki and he wanted to give his view of the events as depicted.  The interviews with the normally reclusive Durst provided the basis for the documentary miniseries The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst (2015).  The film gained widespread attention for contributing to Durst's arrest in relation to the murder of Susan Berman (shown as Deborah Lehrman in this fictionalized film. 

Goliath Season 3 Episode 2 Happiness from the Ground Up

      Billy was wandering around outside his hotel and he started to head toward some bright lights and people drilling.  Billy didn’t realize that he saw Wade’s sister’s drilling site and it is on federal land?  Roy is starting to get nervous because he knows Diana still needs to move that water through his land to get it out.  If they are caught, it is a federal crime to drill on federal land!!  Wade reminds Roy that this is going to make them all rich.  Roy believes his sister’s ambition is going to be the cause of their downfall!!  

     Billy leans that there’s no real claim on water like there is on land.  If a farmer can drill down to it and get it, they say it’s theirs.  He learns that there is more water used by the corporate farmers than the entire city of Los Angeles!!  Billy and Patty need to come up with something other than the wrongful death suit pertaining to the death of his friend’s wife??  5* (I really liked this series)
     

Note:   Readysteadycut.com 4* out of 5*, Imdb 7.5* out of 10* with 552 reviews, Amazon 3.5* out of 5* with 1294 reviews.

Goliath Season 3 Episode 1 The Subsidence Adventure 2019, aired 10/4/2019

     The unexpected death of the wife of an old friend takes Billy McBride to California's Central Valley.  She was killed during some kind of fracking earthquake?  A record drought has made water more valuable than human life in this area.  Billy feels bad for his friend and he’d like to find out how the ground just opened up in an agricultural area?

     There are a LOT of very strange things going on at a casino here?  It’s not long before Billy decides they have a case and Patty Solis-Papagian travels to meet up with Billy and figure out the legal angles.  5* (I liked this episode) 

     The entire plot for Season 3 is based on the true story of Lynda and Stewart Resnick and their Paramount Farms ("Wonderful", "Pom", etc.) empire that is primarily in Kern County.  The Kern County Water Bank controls who gets water and also who doesn’t.  Many residents of the South-Central Valley around Bakersfield don't have tap water for various legal reasons.  This is not a secret and the press has been reporting this over the past few years.

Each episode 59 min, drama directed by Lawrence Trilling, written by Jennifer Ames, Steve Turner and David E. Kelley with Billy Bob Thornton, Nina Arianda, Tanie Raymonde, Diana Hopper, Ana de la Reguera, Julie Brister, Graham Green, Shamier Anderson, Amy Brenneman, Dennis Quaid, Beau Bridges, Griffin Dunne, Lauren Tom, Delanna Studi.

Mistake:  At the gas station Billy goes to pay and says give me $30 on the pump, a pint of Jack and a pack of cigarettes then he leaves but he doesn't pump gas?    

Note:   Readysteadycut.com 3.5* out of 5*, Imdb 7.6* out of 10* with 703 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 80% with 5 critic ratings 53% with 270 user ratings, Amazon 3.5* out of 5* with 1295 ratings.

Mr. Mercedes TV series episode one 2017: Pilot

    This three episode series tells the story of a psychopathic killer.  Adapted from a 2014 novel by Stephen King.  The killer drives a stolen Mercedes into a crowd and he kills 16 people.  Recently, a retired detective has begun again to try to solve this case that has eluded him for years.

     Brady Hartsfield sends letters and emails to retired police detective Bill Hodges.  He also messes with Brady’s computer and TV.  You never know what is going to happen next in the episodes!!  This series should only be viewed by mature adults!!  5* (I really liked this first season)   

  

Crime, created by David E. Kelley and Dennis Lehane.  Directed by Jack Bender, Kevin Hooks, Laura Innes and Peter Weller with Brendan Gleeson, Holland Taylor, Jharrel Jerome, Breeda Wool, Justine Lupe, Harry Treadaway, Robert Stanton, Maximiliano Herandez, Gabriel Ebert, Rarmian Newton.

Note:  Imdb 7.8* out of 10 with 19K reviews, Metacritic 72 out of 100 with 21 critic reviews 7.8 out of 10 with 16 user scores, ratinggraph.com7.8 out of 10, Amazon 5 1/2* with 575 reviews. 

East West 101 Season1, Episode 3 2007 aired 12/20/2007

      Titled:  Islander Sacrifice: Two Lebanese teens and a schoolgirl walking by are killed in a drive-by shooting.  Malik is appointed to run the investigation.  Crowley doesn't like his junior colleague supervising the case but he has bigger problems.  Internal Affairs is investigating Crowley's actions in the death of a known drug dealer.  The same dealer that sold drugs to his now dead son!!

     Malik and his partner Koa are also disagreeing on this case.  Finally they decide to send in a man with a wire to get the real scoop to see what is really going on.  It’s their job to keep this man safe but can they do it??  5* (I really liked this series)

 

Note:  Amazon 3.9 out of 5 with 71 global ratings, play.google.com 5* with 8 reviews, Imdb 7.7* with 23 reviews.

East West 101 Season1, Episode 2 2007 aired 12/13/2007

     Bad drugs are being sold on the streets of Redfern and addicts are dying.  Local Aboriginal leader and anti-drug crusader Adam King is following up on this event.  He is trying to get the drugs off the street but he is shot instead.  Malik and his partner Koa are disagreeing on how to move forward on this case.

    Zane Malik often clashes with Senior Detective Raw Crowley.  Many times they let their personal lives get in the way at work.  Crowley possibly killed the drug dealer that sold drugs to his son that died.  What they really need to do is set their egos aside and focus on the job.  It’s a very tough job but someone has to do it!!!  5* (I really liked this series)  

Note:  Imdb 7.4* with 27 reviews, Amazon 3.9 out of 5 with 71 global ratings, hoopladigital.com 3 1/2* out of 5* with 40 reviews. 

Wallender Episode 3: The Brothers, aired 9/7/2005

      A wealthy couple is found murdered at their magnificent estate.  This occurs at the same time as a military exercise is taking place in Ystad.  Kurt is under intense pressure to solve this case.  Linda and Stefan find a surprising lead as they investigate the young soldiers participating in the exercise.  As events progress there is a series of murders to be solved.

     As the murders continue, Wallander and his team investigate deeper and are forced to concede there may be a link with the troops.  It’s possible these crimes and others are revenge killings?  It is also possible that this event happened 20 years ago?  Will Kurt, Linda and Stefan be able to trace back what happened to set off these murders??  5* (I really like this series)

Directed by Jorn Faurschou and written by Ola Saltin with Kister Henriksson, Johanna Sallstrom, Ola Rapce, Angela Kovacs, Fredrik Gunnarsson, Chatarina Larsson, Douglas Johansson, Mats Bergman, Stina Ekblad, Marianne Mörck, Allen Svensson, Anders Algard.

Note:  Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 14 global ratings, play.google.com 5* with 113 reviews.

The Coroner Season 1 Episode 3 aired 11/18/2015 Title: That's the Way to Do It

      After antagonizing several people by stamping out beloved traditions including Punch and Judy.  Abrasive Mayor Una Drake is found dead in a hotel room.  Despite all her moral stance she was having an affair with young gigolo Danny Ball.  

     Estranged husband Gavin seemed to be remarkably tolerant about Una's affair??  Una had been threatened by a friend of the Punch and Judy man?  Also, Hannah, her daughter tells Jane that Una had hundreds' of enemies?  Jane puts herself in danger to find out which on of these enemies killed Una?  5* (I really like this series)

44 min, directed by Matt Carter, written by Sally Abbot and David Bowker with Tilly Blackwood, Rupert Procter, Claire Goose, Ronan Vibert, Molly Hanson, Matt Bardock, Leon Ockenden, Grace Hogg-Robinson, Oliver Gomm, Beatie Edney, Ian Kaye, Jon Ian Dredge.

Imdb 7.1* out of 10* with 112 reviews, Amazon 4 1/2* out of 5* with 272 reviews, Amazon 4 1/2* with 272 reviews. 

Special Note:  Filmed in Dartmouth, Even, England, UK by BBC Drama, Worldwide and Birmingham.

Wallander Season 4, The Troubled Man Episode 3, aired 6/5/2016

      This episode is the last case for Kenneth Branagh as Kurt Wallander.  Kurt is very troubled, he has dizzy episodes and disorientation.  These are the same problems he was having in episode 2.  His doctor is urging him to reveal his diagnosis to his family.  Kurt begins to practice his speech alone at home.  

      Kurt doesn’t get a chance to tell his daughter what is going on concerning his health.  She comes to see Kurt and she is very worried.  Her father-in-law, Hakan von Enke has disappeared.  She would like Kurt to go up north and look into what’s happened.  Hakan von Enke is a retired naval commander.  Kurt searches Hakan’s desk.  He finds a tape recording of a man being interviewed about an incident involving enemy submarines in Swedish waters in the 1980’s.  He also learns that Hakan and his wife Louise had a child that the other relatives didn’t know about?  He suspects that one member of the family was a Soviet spy?  5* (I really liked this season)

Directed by Benjamin Caron and written by Peter Harness and based on a novel by H ending Mankell with Terrence Hardiman, Kenneth Branagh, John Lightbody, Jeany Spark, Boel Larsson, Ann Bell, Simon Chandler, Christopher Fairbank, Barnaby Kay, Richard McCabe, Joe Claflin.

Note:  Imdb 7.8* out of 10* with 495 reviews, play.google.com 5* with 113 reviews.

East West 101 Season1, Episode 1 2007 aired 12/6/2007

      East West 101 is about the Major Crime Squad in metropolitan Sydney.  It is based upon the experiences of actual detectives in a crime unit in Sydney’s western suburbs.  Muslim detective Zane Malik is fighting crime in a post 9/11 world.  There are times when he feels unsupported by the law.  As a boy his father was shot by an armed robber and the shooter was never apprehended and brought to justice.

     A police officer is killed apparently by two armed robbers of middle Eastern appearance.  Zane Malik uses his connections in the Arab community to track down the two youths involved.  Malik butts head with the Senior Detective.  He is accused of putting his community before his job?  This a fast paced and interesting series.  5* (I really liked this episode)

Special Note:  I did not know that Sydney was melting pot of different nationalities. Australian, Arab-Australian, Australian-Arab, Australian-Chinese and Chinese-Australian, Australian-Indian and Indians.

Drama with 3 seasons, 30 minutes, created by Steve Knapman and Kris Wyld with Don Hany, Susie Porter, Aaron Fa’aoso, Daniela Farinacci, Renee Lim, Tasneem Roc, Taffy Hany, George Fayad, Lucy Abroon. 

Note:  Amazon 3.9* out of 5* with 71 global ratings, Imdb 7.2* with 30 reviews.

The Coroner Season One 2015 aired 11/15/2015 First Love episode 1

     A teenage boy is found dead at the foot of a tower.  Detective Sergeant Davey Higgins believes it was a tragic suicide but Coroner Jane Kennedy thinks there is more to the case than meets the eye.

     At first Jane believes the boy died at the time his watch stopped.  After questioning his girlfriend, they learn that she bought a knockoff watch and it always had the same time every day.  She doesn’t know what happened to her boyfriend?  Was he pushed, did he jump or did he fall? 5* (I really liked this series)

Note:  Amazon 4.5* out of 5* with 271 reviews, Imdb 7* out of 10* with 1.6K ratings, BBC Shop 4* out of 5* with 25 reviews. 

  

Each episode is 45 min, 10 episodes with Claire Goose, Matt Bardock, Beatie Edney, Oliver Gomm, Grace Hogg-Robinson, Ivan Kaye, Simone McAullay, Robin Laing, Tupele Dorgu, David Corbett.

Special Note:  Filming is done in South Devon and the towns in the backdrop are Hope Cove, Brisham, Dartmouth, Totnes, Broadbands Beach and Paignton.

Wallander Season 4, A Lesson in Love Episode 2, aired 5/29/2016

      The body of a woman is discovered in the forest.  Afterwards it is learned that the victim's daughter is missing.  Wallander must act fast before he has another dead body on his conscience.  As the investigation unravels, Wallander senses he is being followed.  Kurt is attacked by a group of motorcycle bikers and he wonders if they are involved in the murder and the disappearance? 

     Kurt is haunted by his father's decline and death from Alzheimer’s.  He is always aware of the cruel disease that ravaged his father's mind.  Their relationship was a tortured one even before his father’s illness.  He never approved of Wallander's choice to join the police force.  But, they were more alike than Wallander would have liked to think.  His father was a successful artist and he painted the same bleak landscape over and over again.  Both men are powerless in the face of their obsessions and they fought a losing battle against their natures.  Kurt is starting to notice subtle signs that he may also have Alzheimer’s.  This is a difficult dilemma to face!!  5* (I really liked this season.

89 min, Crime, directed by Benjamin Caron, written by Peter Harness and Henning Mankell (novel) with Kenneth Branagh, Kitty Peterkin, Jeany Spark, Harry Hadden-Paton, Terrence Hardiman, Barnaby Kay, Karen Gleldhill, Joe Claflin, Cecile Anckarsward, Richard McCabe, Clive Wood. 

Note:  Amazon 4 1/2* with 161 reviews, Imdb 7.7* out of 10* with 517 reviews.

Frankie Drake Season 1 Episode 9 Ghosts aired 1/22/2018

      The horrors of war haunt Frankie.  These feelings are brought on when an investigation into a soldier's murder reunites her with a friend left traumatized by his tour of duty.  There are common problems and memories that men and women suffer  after serving in a war.  They have lived through shell shock, explosions, gas and gas line explosions, detonators, gas masks, chemical weapons, memory loss, hospitalization, hiding in basements and other shelters, flashbacks and remembering the deaths of friends and other soldiers.

Special Note:  The first Armistice Day was held in England on 11 Nov 1919. In 1921, the Canadian Parliament adopted the first Monday in the week of November 11 as Armistice Day. In 1931, the government changed the name to Remembrance Day, and the date was set for November 11.  

Mistake:  The first person to get killed, Grant Burton looked at a post card prior to entering his home that had bomb inside. The post card he took out of the mail box was addressed with a zip code. This series is just after World War I.  Zip codes in Canada didn't begin until 1971.  

43 min, Crime, written by Carol Hay, Michelle Ricci and Ian Carpenter with with Lauren Lee Smith, Chantel Riley, Rebecca Liddiard, Kris Holden-Ried, Jim Watson, Steven McCarthy, Geordie Johnson, Gia Sandhu, Kamiran Aldeo, Brian Bisson, Patrice Goodman, Samantha Gracie, Paul Almeida.

Note:  Imdb 7.8* out of 10* with 114 reviews, telltaletv 3 1/2* out of 5*, Amazon 4 1/2* with 468 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 100% with 6 critic ratings 41% with 20 user ratings.

One Mississippi, tv series, Season 1 Episode 4, Let the Good Times Roll aired 9/9/2016

      As Tig’s health begins to improve from the side effects of her cancer surgery.  She prepares to return to Los Angeles to meet with Brooke after the Bay St. Lucille Mardi Gras parade.  Tig fills in for her mother as the queen of the parade and Jessie interviews her for the local reporter.  Jessie begins to be very flirtatious with Tig??  

      A call with Brooke goes worse than expected about the subject of Tig coming back to Los Angeles?  Tig turns around, heads back to the airport and quickly returns to Bay St. Lucille.  Nothing about this journey turned out as Tig had  expected!!  4* (I liked this episode)

26 min, Comedy, semi-autobiographical) directed by Ken Kwapis, written by Tig Notaro, Diablo Cody, Stephaine Allynne (story editor) with Tig Notaro, Hoah Harpster, John Rothman, Rya Kihistedt, Jill Bartlett, Adora Dei, Ferron, Richard Levi.

Note:  Imdb 7.9* out of 10* with 153 reviews, Vulture 3* out of 5*, Amazon 4.3* out of 5* with 3,640 reviews. 

Wallander Season 3 Episode 2, The Dogs of Riga, aired 7/15/2012

      Kurt Wallander is drawn into a case involving police corruption in Latvia.  A detective that has confided in him is murdered.  A boat is washed up near Ystad and two murdered Latvian informants are found dead in the boat.  Soon afterwards, Wallander is joined by a cop from Riga, Major Leipa.  As soon as Leipa returns to Riga, he is murdered.  Wallender flies to Latvia to try to solve three murder cases and he knows he cannot trust anyone he meets!!

     Kurt meets with Leipa’s widow, Baiba.  He feels he can trust her and she can help him with his investigation.  Riga has very narrow streets and most of the buildings are very old.  The police station has Stalinist offices, CCTV cameras and ex-KGB officers.  Kurt believes most of the officers are corrupt.  5* (I really liked this episode)        

90 min episode with Kenneth Branagh, Sarah Smart, Tom hiddleston, Sadie Shimmin, Richard McCabe, David Warner, Polly Hemingway, Jeany Spark, Mark Hadfield, Barnaby Kay, written by Richard Cottan, Executive Producer Francis Hopkinson, Rebecca Eaton, Hans-Wolfgang Jurgan, Anne Faurbye, Andy Harries, Kenneth Branagh.  5* (I really liked this series)  

Together Forever Season 1 (8 tv episodes) 2018

     This is supposed to be a comedy but I really didn’t see anything funny??  In the beginning June and Oscar are a married couple and they seem to be in a deep rut.  They decide to go skiing to mix things up but that doesn’t work out. 

 

     As soon as you get used to this main theme the film changes and you are in a totally different dimension that has absolutely no humor??  There are a LOT of episodes and I advise you to cut your losses in the beginning and not drag out your viewing hoping for a better outcome!!  I don’t want to include any spoilers in my review but I really hope there are not any additional seasons!!!   2 1/2* (I really thought this was depressing and there is no comedy)

Each episode 28 min, 8 episodes total, premiered 9/14 on Amazon Prime,  directed and written by Alan Yang, also written by Matt Hubbard and Alan Yang Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen, Catherine Keener, Noah Robbins and Kym Whitley.

Note:  Amazon 3.5* out of 5* with 2,504 reviews, Imdb 7.2* out of 10* with 370 reviews.  There are many negative reviews without number ratings.  

Vera Season 7 Episode 9, Broken Promise aired 4/2/2017

      Journalism student Jamie Marshall falls to his death from the roof of a derelict college building.  Previously, he had posted an angry online rant about extortionate tuition fees and suicide is suspected.  But, Vera learns that somebody had assaulted him days before his death?  His friend Lucy recalls hearing him argue with an older man?  Vera investigates the death and finds out that Jamie might not be all he seems to be.  A university security guard and a building surveyor are reluctant for the police to go up the dilapidated building to investigate.  This sets off alarm bells for Vera.     

     Vera discovers that Jamie uncovered a scam regarding the refurbishment of this building which would cost the university millions.  However Jamie also knew that his father was involved in a hit and run death some years earlier.  The victim's father was a bounce castle owner who Jamie had contacted for the job.  Then there is a rugby player who seems to be unduly upset at Jamie's death and his father is a well known lawyer.  The suspects begin to mount up.  There are a lot of plot strands in this episode, this sets the mystery up nicely and one of the stronger episodes in the seventh series. 

     Additionally, Jamie was hoping to sell a story to a local newspaper that would "ruffle feathers"?  Children's entertainer Ian Holland bears a bitter grudge against Jamie's long-estranged father.  Ian enters the frame of suspicion.  Reticent fellow student Rory Marston and his glib lawyer father Alan also have something to hide?  Vera must establish whether Jamie's murder was an act of revenge or was it to prevent him from exposing a high profile fraud?  5* (I really liked this series)

89 min, Crime directed by Lee Haven Jones and written by Ann Cleeves and Robert Murphy with Brenda Blethyn, Kenny Doughty, Jon Morrison, Noof Ousellam, Christopher Colquhoun, Riley Jones, Fraser Wall, Chris Gordon, Stuart Grahm, Philip Arditti, Michael Shaeffer, Hebe Beardsall, Steven Elder, Steven Hillman.

Note:  Imdb 8* out of 10* with 320 ratings, Rotten Tomatoes 71% with 7 user ratings, Amazon 4.9* out of 5* with 514 global ratings.

Special Note:  Two of the hospital scenes were filmed in the closed wards of Harlepoot General Hospital.  Some of the university scenes were filmed at Ushaw College in Durham.University scenes were filmed at The University of Northumbria though the university is called University of Northumberland in the program.  Graveyard scenes were filmed at the old Spion Kop cemetery in Hartlepool.