October 14, 2026 – SparklyPrettyBriiiight

(courtesy IMDb (c) 20th Television) SNAPSHOTIn “On the Fort Day of Christmas”, a record-breaking Christmas snowstorm means one thing to the Belcher kids — a record-breaking Christmas snow fort. (courtesy Animation Magazine) I fear with Bob’s Burgers that the TV horse has bolted. For me, at least. Kicking off in Continue Reading

New releases October book review: Taipei Story by Rebecca F. Kuang

(courtesy The Borough Press) Finding your place in the world is no easy thing. It’s a seemingly impossible task made all the more complex and challenging when you are under a huge amount of pressure, external or self-imposed, or sometimes if you are truly unlucky, both, to be a particular Continue Reading

Happy Hell-o-ween: Family Guy Halloween special 2026 review

(courtesy IMDb (c) Hulu/Disney+) Who of us hasn’t at some time declared that their life is hell? Yep, I see your raised hands – all of us in fact have uttered those words at some point; it’s a common lament, one that thankfully with no fire, little brimstone and no Continue Reading

Believe again: Thoughts on Ted Lasso season 4

(courtesy IMP Awards) Revivals are, in the land of TV and streaming at least, often bittersweet affairs. On one hand, it is a joy and delight with an added dose of a fizzy sense of euphoric reunion to be back with characters you know and love and were sorrowfully ripped Continue Reading

Reviving a family culinary legacy: Awkwafina: The Unlikely Cook

(courtesy AppleTV) SNAPSHOTThe eight-episode series follows Nora Lum, aka Awkwafina, on a cross-country culinary road trip as she attempts to revive her family’s beloved Chinese restaurant. Her family ran Lum’s, the iconic Cantonese restaurant in Flushing, New York. Nora inherited the family legacy. The cooking skills? Those still need work. Continue Reading

New releases October book review: The Newer World by Sebastian Barry

(courtesy Allen & Unwin) Whether we’re reading a weight tome on a certain long ago civilisation or epoch, or while hearing historian hold forth on their particular area of specialisation, it’s easy to think of history as a series of unassailable truths assembled carefully to present an unquestioningly factual take Continue Reading

Once more into the majestic oceanic depths: Blue Planet III drops mesmerisingly enticing trailer

(courtesy IMDb (c) BBC) SNAPSHOTBlue Planet III is a forthcoming British nature documentary series co-produced by the BBC Natural History Unit, ZDF, France Télévisions, and Skai TV in partnership with The Open University. [With David Attenborough returning as narrator] Blue Planet III will have six hour-long episodes, with filming taking Continue Reading

Halloween movie review: Shaun the Sheep: The Beast of Soggy Bottom

(courtesy IMP Awards) In a bid to sell this movie to my full-on horror loving friend – turns out I didn’t have to sell it too hard; who doesn’t love some Aardman whimsy as it turns out – I told him it was Halloween-adjacent, embracing the season quite clearly but Continue Reading

The short and the short of it: An animated look at a “sensitive prince” and his brutal family in Wilem

(courtesy First Showing (c) Adult Swims) SNAPSHOT“Wilem is the story of a sensitive prince, living in a brutal world. With the help of his friend he attempts to escape not only his royal duties, but also, his crazy family.” Wilem is an animated short film created & written by London-based Continue Reading

New releases October book review: Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason

(courtesy Harper Collins Publishers Australia) If we are to believe Hollywood’s take on grief, loss and trauma, all it takes is about an hour and a half, a montage or two and a meaningful conversation with a bestie, significant other or wisely insightful stranger for all of the pain and Continue Reading

“I didn’t think it might actually be real.” Trailer drops for delightful British series Small Prophets

(courtesy IMDb) SNAPSHOTSmall Prophets is a comic tale of the eccentric Michael Sleep (Pearce Quigley) who, since his darling Clea disappeared seven years ago, has lived a very ordinary life. He works in a DIY store, visits his dad Brian (Sir Michael Palin) and hopes for Clea to return. One Continue Reading