The Blacklist: Season 5 (2017-2018) Episode 1

 TITLE:  Smokey Putnam, aired 9/27/2017

          There are 22 episodes in this season.  Reddington gets resourceful, Ressler’s mistake surfaces.  With his criminal empire in ruins, Red enlists Liz in a plan to earn cash and deliver a new Blacklister to the Task Force.

     Following the war between Raymond Reddington and Mr. Kaplan in the previous season, Raymond's greatest secret, the suitcase containing an unidentified human skeleton has been missing.  Raymond and Dembe Zuma desperately search for it. 

     During the search, they are faced by a new adversary Ian Garvey, he is a corrupt U.S. Marshall and drug kingpin.  He wants the suitcase so he can undermine Raymond's criminal empire.  Also he wants to put in danger Raymond's allies, especially Elizabeth Keen.  Elizabeth questions her relationship with Raymond concerning whether he is her biological father or not as was hinted at the end of Season 4.  She later discovers the existence of one person (Fiona Dourif) who has an unexpected connection to Reddington.  This leads to an unsettling discovery at the end of the season.  I did not like this episode and I have not watched the previous seasons.  I thought that James Spader was over the top and this series is not very good.  I did liked the Corvette very much!!!  Consequently, I watched this episode and one more. 2* (I did not like this season)

Crime each episode 43 min directed by Bill Roe, written by Jon Bokenkamp, John Eisendrath, Marisa Tam (story editor) with James Spader, Megan Boone, Diego Klattenhoff, Ryan Eggold, Amir Arison, Mozhan Marno, Hisham Tawgfiq, Henry Lennix, Michael Aronov, James Carpinello.

Note:  Imdb 8.2* out of 10* with 1.3K reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 100% with 5 critic ratings, 86% with 326 user ratings, tvfanatic.com editor rating 4.5* out of 5*, user rating 4.9* out of 5* with 44 votes, tvovermind.com 4.5* out of 5* user reviews 5* one vote.

Special Note:  The red car Raymond Reddington (James Spader) steals at the beginning of the episode is a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette C1.  Filming location is New York City, New York USA. 

Special Note:  The red car Raymond Reddington (James Spader) steals at the beginning of the episode is a 1954 Chevrolet Corvette C1.  Filming location is New York City, New York USA.  

One Mississippi, tv series, Season 1, Episode 3,The Cat’s Out, aired 9/9/2016

      Tig is blamed for Bill’s cat escaping out the front door.  Tig’s biological father Mick insists on leading a search for the cat.  While searching together, Tig and her brother Remy discover their mother had a son out of wedlock and he lives next door?  After the search for the cat, Tig begins recording her show at a local radio station.  She meets Kate, she is the off-beat local sound engineer and a fan of Tig’s work.

     The cat is not located but Tig and Remy believe that cat will come home on its own??  Their discovery of another relative so nearby has erased the cat departure and search from their minds  When they think back about it they are disappointed for Bill that the cat is still missing!!   4* (I liked this episode)

27 min, directed by Nicle Holofcener, written by Tig Notaro, Diablo Cody, Cara DiPaolo with Tig Notaro, Noah Harpster, John Rothman, Rya Kihistedt, Martha Madison, Ritchie Montgomery, Stephanie Allynne.

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.

The Cheap Detective 1978

      Lou Peckinpaugh (Peter Falk) as the Cheap Detective has entered a world that is half Casablanca (1942) and half The Maltese Falcon (1941).  It is a satirical look at Humphrey Bogart's movies with Lou going through a series of scenes from both movies.  He is also trying to keep ahead of the Police who think he killed his partner? He is also trying to find the black bird.

     Peter Falk must have used cue cards in order to remember all his lines?  He talks and lot and he is in almost every scene.  There are so many funny scenes in this movie!!  It is difficult to keep track and remember them!!  Some characters are wearing disguises.  You have to look at them closely or check the list of the actors to figure out who the actors are!!!  5* (I really liked this movie)

92 min, comedy directed by Roger Moore and written by Neil Simon with Peter Falk, Ann-Margret, Eileen Brennan, Sid Caesar, Stockard Channing, James Coco, Dom DeLuise, Louise Fletcher, John Houseman, Madeline Kahn, Fernando Lamas, Marsha Mason, Phil Silvers, Abe Vigoda.

Note:  Rotten Tomatoes 65% with 20 critic reviews 835 with 10,000+ user ratings, Imdb 7.4* out of 10* with 36K reviews, Letterboxed 3.1* out of 5*, Roger Ebert 2*, Amazon 4.1* out of 5* with 264 global ratings.

Special Note:  This title is used because the detectives in these old films never got paid!!  This profession always involves danger and it’s a job not for the bucks but it is a lifestyle.  Released 6/23/78 in the US.  Languages are English and German.  Also known as Neil Simon’s The Cheap Detective.  Budget was $6,000,000 and box office was $28,221,552.

Mistake:  Approximately 45 minutes in, Lou meets with the character played by Madeline Kahn in his office.  A male member of the movie crew is visible and he is seated on a couch.  He wearing a pink shirt and glasses.  He appears to be reading a script.  He is only visible for about a second as the camera pans across the room?

Frankie Drake Season 1 Episode 5 Out of Focus

      The basic story is that Frankie and Trudy need to go undercover on a silent movie set.  They intend to solve a seemingly impossible murder??  The ultimate solution is one that’s both clever and that makes sense.  The larger basic story is about women, work and the things that are expected of them.

     There is a lot of time spent with Sofia DeVoe.  She is a silent film star and her life is in danger.  During the investigation about this mystery, we learn a lot about the industry and the place where she works.  It is terrible for women in many aspects.  Not just that someone might want to kill you??  Also, Sofia is willing to commit murder to protect herself and her job.  Will Frankie be able to solve the mystery and also manage some physical stunt work that everyone assumed she could not do???  5* (I really like this series)

43 min, aired 12/4/17 directed by Sudz Suatherland and written by John Callaghan with Lauren Lee Smith Chantel Riley, Rebecca Liddiard, Sharron Mathews, Emmanuel Kabongo.  Also written by Carol Hay and Michelle Ricci, executive producers Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Cal Coons, producers Jonathan Hacket, Julie Lacey.

Note:  Amazon 4 /12* out of 5* with 463 ratings, Imdb 7.5* out of 10*with 125 reviews, telltaletv.com3* out of 5*, play.google.com 4* out of 5* with 9 reviews, Rotten Tomatoes 100% with 6 ratings Audience score 41% with 20 ratings. 

One Mississippi, tv series, Season 1, Episode 2, Title: Effects, aired 9/9/2016

      Tig struggles to part with her mother Caroline's possessions.  She also tries to maintain control of her radio show from Mississippi.  It is difficult to decide what to keep and what to let go.  Her stepfather Bill wants her to let go of everything!!  

     The attitude of don’t keep anything doesn’t help Tig choose what she would like to keep and what she can give away!!  Tig is also struggling for an explanation of how her mother fell and this caused her death?  What role does Bill have in what happened?  It is hard for Tig to figure this out but it is causing Bill great pain that there are doubts about the accident?  4* (I liked this series)

43 min, comedy with Tig Notaro, Noah Harpster, John Rothman, Casey Wilson, Rya Kihistedt executive Producers Louis C.K., Diablo Cody, Tig Notaro.

Note:  Rotten Tomatoes 93% with 45 critic ratings 87% with 174 user scores, Amazon 4.3* with 3,640 reviews, Imdb 7.4* out of 10*, Imdb 7.7* out of 10* with 145 reviews.

All At Sea (original title Wide Blue Yonder) 2010

      This is a comedy about an old rogue named Wally.  It was adapted by UK playwright Hugh Janes from his mid-1990’s play Wide Blue Yonder.  It was originally written as a starring vehicle for the late Eric Sykes.  Wally breaks all the rules to fulfill and old friends dying wish to be buried at sea.  He learns that you can’t just toss his friend and best mate Skipper into the ocean??  There are many rules, regulations and forms to be filled out.  Wally is also a pirate and he heists liquor being shipped into the local port.  He causes a scene at the funeral for his friend but many of the locals are not surprised about this turn of events!!

     Almost every one of the actors in this film is old enough to live in a retirement home and they do!!!  Wally is always breaking the rules and he now has a new roommate since his friend has passed away.  There are a lot of great sea ditties

(short sailing songs and they usually have dirty language?  There is a lot of photography of Norway and the old sailors.  4* (I liked this movie) 

 

88 min, comedy directed by Robert Young and written by Hugh Janes with Brian Cox, Lauren Bacall, James Fox, Here Schoyen, Kare Conradi, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, Sverre Anker Ousdal, Anne Ryg, Elsa Lystad, Astrid Overa, Harald Kolaas, Nicholas Hope, Janna Kari Kvinnesland, Erik Madsen.

Note:  Imdb 7.7* out of 10* with 165 reviews, Amazon 4* out of 5* with 57 reviews, scottishreviews.com 3* out of 5*

Special Note:  Release date May 25, 2012 in Norway and filmed in Kopervik Norway, United Kingdom.  Estimated budget 47,000,000, gross worldwide $87,591.  There is a book with the same title but it is about the accidental drowning of The Guardian journalist Decca Aikenhead’s partner Tony while he tried to save her eldest son.

Modern Love Season 2 Episode 4 aired 8/13/2021

      “A Life Plan for Two, Followed by One” stars talented up-and-comer Dominique Fishback as a young comedienne by the name of Lil.  One night, while performing a stand-up set, she sees her lifelong crush in the audience.  From then on, we’re taken on a series of flashbacks that show how the two met, how they became friends and what happened to their will they/won’t they relationship.  Lil is the new girl in school and she falls for her best friend Vince.  Will Lil move up to girlfriend status or remain in the friend zone?   

     This episode is difficult to follow and it is about the romance between Lil and her love interest Vince (played by Isaac Powell).  Flashbacks can be an effective device for plots and storytelling but it makes this love story seem less interesting than the other stories?  Compared to another episode in this season with flashbacks being used to move along the plot, this episode feels too rushed??  (3 1/2* I liked this episode)

Note:  readysteadycut.com 2.5* out of 5* with 2 1/2*, Amazon 3* out of 5* with 441 reviews, Imdb 8* out of 10*, primetimer.com ranked 11 out of 1-11.