Tag: television

More Great TV Shows

As much as I love reading, I also enjoy watching TV series and so now and again I write about my favourites. Right now, I am still hooked on Big Sky, Motherland and Nine Perfect Strangers. However, there are a few other notable shows that I’d like to mention.

Ted Lasso (Apple TV+)

Not being a massive fan of football, it surprised me how much I enjoyed the first season of this series. It’s about an American football coach who comes over to London and starts managing a failing team. Jason Sudeikis is Ted Lasso, the charismatic, quirky leader who happens to know nothing about soccer at all.

He is joined by the feisty football club owner, played by Hannah Waddingham. She is best known for being the woman who followed Cersei on her walk of shame in Game of Thrones, while ringing a bell and shouting, ‘Shame!’ In this role she is steely but likeable and her character becomes central to the plot.

The footballers have little respect for Ted initially but his enthusiasm grates off on them. With a moving soundtrack and some really heart-warming moments, there is a definite feel-good vibe to this programme. I find myself with tears in my eyes during every episode.

This brilliant comedy- drama is moving, sweet and funny. Currently I am in the middle of season two as it is being released weekly, which is the way I prefer to watch things.

Vigil (BBC)

Source: BBC

A few weeks ago a new series started on BBC iPlayer called Vigil. It stars Suranne Jones, who is famous for Coronation Street and Doctor Foster, alongside Rosie Leslie. Rosie is famously married to Kit Harington and starred opposite him in Game of Thrones. Her character once said, ‘You know nothing, Jon Snow!’

Anyway, the setting is incredible as they have clearly built the interior of a nuclear submarine, stuffed with intricate details. Suranne’s character (DCI Amy Silva) is a police detective winched down into the sub to find out more about a mystery death on board.

The story that plays out involves action on the sub itself but also on land as her sidekick DC Kirsten Longacre (Rosie) rummages around on a navy base and gets to know anti-nuclear protestors who also seem to be involved in the plot.

With DCI Silva’s dramatic past, she is no fan of being trapped in a metal box, deep under the sea. Her anxiety gets the better of her at times. Meanwhile Rosie is pursued by a mystery group as she sets about finding out more about the guy who died.

These two TV series have really got me hooked. Ted Lasso because it engages all of my emotions and Vigil because of the incredible storyline set off the coast of Scotland. For more about other shows I like click here.

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TV Shows Worth Watching Now

As it’s summer, I have had plenty of time to get hooked on new TV shows and as a blogger my instinct tells me to share. In this article I want to celebrate another couple of programmes that have gained my viewership and entertained me thoroughly this summer. Usually I enjoy watching comedies and dramas, so here are my reviews of one of each.

Schmigadoon

This little gem came from nowhere. I was ready to watch another episode of ‘Physical’ on AppleTV+ (See my previous review) when I stumbled across a trailer for a new comedy series, styled like a 1950s musical. Before long I was checking it out and totally entertained.

The cast is led by Keegan-Michael Key (The Prom) and Cecily Strong (Ghostbusters 2016). Supported by Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming, the talented singers and dancers bring a charming production which is nostalgic and funny.

This comedy is all singing and all dancing.

With plenty of tongue-in-cheek humour and lots of glitz, this series doesn’t take itself too seriously. It takes off classic movies such as ‘The Sound of Music’ with affection and is a great distraction from the rigour of modern living. The couple are having marital problems and whilst camping, find a bridge that traps them in a town which seems stuck in the 1950s. The town has nods to ‘Oklahoma’ as does the theme tune. They can only return to New York if they can prove they really love someone. Maybe confirm their love for each other even.

Big Sky

Having watched half of the season of ten episodes, I am right in the midst of the drama. The thing that tempted me to view this Star/ Disney Plus show was the fact that it was scripted by the incredible David E Kelley (Big Little Lies/ husband to Michelle Pfeiffer). Interestingly Michelle’s sister appears in this gripping drama, which includes a guest appearance from Ryan Phillippe.

I don’t want to give anything away about this. It is best just to switch it on and see what you think. To start with, episode one introduced some private detectives who were squabbling over an affair. Then we met some teenagers who were driving to Colorado from Montana. Everything seemed great until it was revealed that recently lots of young women had gone missing along the route they were taking.

This series has breath-taking scenes set in beautiful Montana and covers trafficking, which is a harrowing issue and involves shipping women over the border to Canada. The script is clever and many of the characters have funny lines to say which make you smile. The state trooper is particularly quirky, witty and scary (all at once).

These two shows are both proving to be successful and entertaining. Big Sky is already on its second season and I am sure Schmigadoon will soon follow. Six episodes are definitely not enough.

I hope that you consider checking out one of these TV series. If you enjoyed this post please follow my blog and help me grow the platform.

TV Shows Worth Looking At

Every now and then I like to share some great TV programmes that I am currently glued to. Having got hooked on a few more recently, I thought I’d tell you what I think in case you wanted something fresh to tune into.

Motherland

These characters will have you howling and hooting with belly laughter.

I am probably late to the party with this one but when a few people at work mentioned how hilarious it was I decided to check it out using Netflix. It is already on season two and was apparently shown initially on BBC iPlayer.

The star, Anna Maxwell Martin, plays a mum whose husband always appears to be out with his mates, partying. She juggles a well paid job with parenting duties and her mother has recently started avoiding babysitting, preferring to boost her own social life. Often she bumps into the nan whilst out and about and nan tries to hide, which is comical in itself.

Soon making a couple of good but whacky parent group friends from the same school, Julia (Anna’s character) goes through one ordeal after another. I laughed out loud a few minutes into episode one and didn’t stop chuckling through the whole of series one. I am just about to watch more and totally big up these half hour joke-filled calamities.

Young Royals

This one caught me by surprise. I was just browsing through Netflix and it came up as a suggestion because I had previously watched a TV show which was Swedish. All about a version of the Swedish royal family, the series focuses on the younger of two princes who follows in his brother’s footsteps by attending a private school.

He is introduced to the society rituals there and finds that he is popular with different groups of students, the wealthy and the studious. During his self-discovery he falls for a guy who teaches him how to relax and be himself. Trying to keep this a secret, he gets into all sorts of bother.

I usually watch foreign language shows with subtitles but I tried using the English dubbing for this one. I soon reverted to having them speak Swedish and reading the subtitles as it seemed more natural. If you like 50 minute episodes of YA dramas which cover many contemporary topics, then give it a watch. I love it!

Nine Perfect Strangers

I kind of cheated by mentioning this one because it hasn’t actually started yet. But get ready for some incredible drama with a star-studded cast and a storyline based on a Liane Moriarty novel.

Nicole Kidman produced this series after buying the rights to several of Liane’s bestsellers, including Big Little Lies. Luke Evans, Melissa McCarthy and Asher Keddie join her and many others for what will no doubt be a gritty and surprising miniseries.

My review of Nine Perfect Strangers – the book – is here. I’d definitely check out the book before you get sucked into the TV show. If not, get straight into episode one on Amazon Prime Video on Wednesday 18th August.

I hope that you check out one of these programmes as you may find they are really entertaining. If you enjoy my blog articles then perhaps consider following my blog.