Tag: TV series

Kate Winslet’s Regime

Another Unique Performance

Not the actual palace in The Regime but equally nice.

Kate Winslet has always been a brilliant film actress. She has an incredible track record.

Who can forget her as Marianne in Sense and Sensibility or playing Rose in Titanic?

But it is rare that she does TV shows. Her first was more than ten years ago, but recently she has made two amazing series.

First, she starred as a middle America detective called Mare. Mare of Easttown was a hit and definitely showed off her acting abilities.

Now she is incredible in a powerful and funny new series.

The Regime (HBO/ Now TV)

Mare of Easttown came out two years ago and now we are watching a new series unfold, set in a small fictional European country. It is powerfully entitled ‘The Regime’.

It reminds me of Luxembourg but with more political hostility.

Kate plays the Chancellor (Elena) who is obsessed with hygiene, convinced that mould is terrorising her palace. She hires a war criminal to be her guard and assistant but soon becomes intrigued by him.

So intrigued that he starts to influence her and everything she does.

Her weird marriage of convenience and peculiar politics make this a satirical show. It has moments of comedy and seriousness.

The series is actually written by Will Tracy, who helped create the brilliant show ‘Succession’, which also had many millions of us totally riveted.

Final Thoughts

Kate Winslet holds this show together with her incredible way of shaping a dictatorship. She is funny, especially when she sings. Elena is also strong, argumentative and a ruthless negotiator.

I would totally recommend checking out this HBO series which is also playing on Now TV and Sky Atlantic in Britain.

For another of my recent reviews, check out Jodie Foster’s True Detective and consider following my blog.

Read, Watch, Listen – March

It has been a while since I did one of my monthly roundups of entertainment suggestions. This feature samples a book, a TV show and a podcast that I am currently enjoying.

Check out my reviews and see whether any take your fancy. This month I mention a drama set in Asia, a fanciful story about The Queen and a really funny podcast about death.

Read – The Uncommon Reader – By Alan Bennett

Thinking about the Queen in her prime, this story imagines her becoming a bookworm.

If the monarch started neglecting her duties due to a bookish obsession what might happen?

Alan Bennett explores this subject cleverly with gentle narrative and witty skill. It is a rather short book but nonetheless satisfying. With a book stuffed behind the seat of her state event carriage and a constant desire to quiz guests about their reading, it makes for an entertaining read.

Watch – Expats – on Amazon Prime Video

Nicole Kidman plays Margaret, an American lady who came over to Hong Kong with her husband and ended up staying longer than expected.

The reason for this was tragic. Their youngest son went missing during a visit to the well known Hong Kong night market. The six episodes follow various characters, including the young nanny, the housekeeper and various wealthy Expat friends.

Listen to – Where There’s A Will, There’s A Wake

Kathy Burke hosts this hilarious podcast which interviews stars about their ideal deaths, funerals and wakes.

Kathy is well known for her funny roles in ‘Kevin and Perry,’ ‘Gimme, Gimme, Gimme’ and ‘Absolutely Fabulous.’ I have even seen her direct an Oscar Wilde theatre play.

She is clever and scathing, known for her no-nonsense honesty and potty mouth.

The first interview she did involved Jennifer Saunders and she had me laughing my head off.

And Finally

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my recommendations. Hopefully something grabbed your interest.

Feel free to share your thoughts on one of these in the comments.

If you like my articles, perhaps also consider following my little blog for future similar content. I write reviews of books, movies and TV shows as well as discussing environmental problems and sharing life hacks.

Jodie Foster’s Chilling Detective Series

I have always been a fan of TV series which are set in snowy places. So it was a no brainer that I was going to check out the new season of True Detective on NOW TV/ HBO Max.

Seeing Jodie Foster in the trailer, I was immediately intrigued.

Apparently there have been three previous series of ‘True Detective’ but this was the first time I had heard of it. Each season had different settings and actors. This one was about a detective uncovering a mystery in Alaska.

Day of Night

Each episode is introduced as the 1st, 2nd, 3rd day of night. So the events take place during the deepest part of winter when the sun never rises above the frozen state.

Having recently seen Jodie Foster again in ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ when it came on TV in January, I could not wait to catch her investigating strange goings in up north.

Without any spoilers, this programme explores the mysterious death of a bunch of scientists working at a remote research centre.

Liz Danvers (Foster) plays a cop who has slept with most of the locals and has a secret of her own. She is fairly gritty and fearless, with a certain vulnerability of her own.

Jodie is a straight forward, sharp talking officer, keen to get to the bottom of these unexplained deaths.

Her sidekick is a younger cop named Peter Prior (Finn Bennett) and she is constantly ordering him about, much to the disdain of his other half. His father is also in the police and the relationship between him and Danvers is complex.

Final Thoughts

This is already turning out to be a brilliant TV show with a twisted story that leans towards macabre.

Another woman, Navarro (Kali Reis) introduces us to indigenous cultures and teams up with Foster to dig deep into an increasingly weird story about a mining town full of angst.

After just four episodes I am totally hooked. I love the fact it is played out weekly and Monday nights have become a highlight of my week because of it.

I totally recommend checking out this unfolding TV mystery. It is well written, fascinating and full of great actors.

Will you be checking out ‘True Detective: Night Country’ too?

For a recent movie review, check out my thoughts on Saltburn. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.