This review was first published on 20 April, 2019. You have to hand it to Linus (Stephen Shea) – in the face of all evidence to the contrary, he continues to believe, and believe with a capital “B”, even when sceptics such as Sally mock him gently, and let’s be Continue Reading
TV
Streaming review: The opening episode of Doctor Who season 15/season 2 “Robot Revolution”
(courtesy Doctor Who Facebook page) If you have ever watched a Doctor Who episode, and given it’s been around for about six decades, there’s a reasonably good chance you have, you will have noticed that there’s a certain pattern to how new companions are introduced. They are always babes in Continue Reading
She has nowhere to go but up: Thoughts on North of North
(courtesy IMP Awards) Stories of empowerment generally take the form of someone discovering they are lost and trapped in a place shorn of agency and vivacity who then takes steps to change their lives in ways that are triumphant and overcoming. But while these stories are meant to be inspiring, Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision 2025: Week 3 – Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Sweden + Ukraine (semi-final 1, part 3)
What is the Eurovision Song Contest?Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is telecast in both English and French – is open to Continue Reading
“Do you think we can trust it?” The innate humanity of Murderbot is on full display in its first trailer
(courtesy IMP Awards) SNAPSHOTBased on Martha Wells’ Hugo & Nebula Award-winning book series, Murderbot is a sci-fi thriller/comedy about a self-hacking security construct who is horrified by human emotion yet drawn to its vulnerable clients. Murderbot must hide its free will and complete a dangerous assignment when all it really Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision 2025: Week 2 – Estonia, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway + Poland (semi-final 1, part 2)
What is the Eurovision Song Contest?Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is telecast in both English and French – is open to Continue Reading
Stranger and stranger indeed: The entertaining trailer for Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S3
(courtesy IMP Awards) SNAPSHOTIn Season 3, when we reconnect with the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, still under the command of Captain Pike, they face the conclusion of Season 2’s harrowing encounter with the Gorn. But new life and civilizations await, including a villain that will test our characters’ grit Continue Reading
Road to Eurovision 2025: Week 1 – Albania, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Croatia + Cyprus (semi-final 1, part 1)
What is the Eurovision Song Contest?Started way back in 1956 as a way of drawing a fractured Europe back together with the healing power of music, the Eurovision Song Contest, or Concours Eurovision de la Chanson – the contest is telecast in both English and French – is open to Continue Reading
Old friends. New Roommates. Thoughts on Mid-Century Modern
(courtesy IMP Awards) It’s all too easy form some people to dismiss sitcoms as disposable TV, something you watch for an escapist laugh and nothing more. And while there’s nothing wrong with losing yourself in quick gags and sparkling quips that punctuate storylines that only run to 22 minutes or Continue Reading
Chef. Spy. Lover. Carême tells the story of arguably the world’s first celebrity chef
(courtesy First Showing) SNAPSHOTCarême follows the thrilling story of the world’s first celebrity chef, Antonin Carême (starring Benjamin Voisin), who rose from humble beginnings in poverty in Paris right up to the height of culinary stardom in Napoleon’s Europe. While he dreams only of becoming the most famous chef in Continue Reading