shellview

Gomorrah is a series that really de-glorifies the Italian mafia especially in Naples. We see the extreme brutality that takes down innocents as well as opponents in the criminal world. We hate to love and love to hate the characters in this very well acted drama. The only fault I find is the subtitles are maybe too literal which at times makes the dialogue feel stilted. I do like that Sundance gives us two episodes together, the two+ hours go by very quickly. This is just another example why the broadcast network shows (outside of PBS)are not competitive with cable, basic and premium, stations which give us great imports and fantastic domestic programs.

Having seen both versions of "The Bridge" I can say "The Tunnel" is by far the best one. The Scandinavian version is good maybe a 7. The American version is okay, maybe a 5. This version is tighter and has cut away the superfluous fillers like: how autistic is she? The acting is excellent and the changes in the story work to make it a much more enjoyable program. American TV is still learning that more is not always better.

This is what great TV is all about. Brilliant. The first episode (pilot) allows the viewer to get to know the characters without muddying the water. Too many police dramas throw so much at us that we end up scratching our heads. In passing we see the limo driver and the second eyewitness who disappears while we get to know in depth Box and Naz. Too bad it is only seven episodes but when it is over I will watch the original from the UK which is also suppose to be terrific.

I have a sense that I have seen this story before whether as part of a mystery series from the UK or as a stand alone. I know all the twists and turns before they happen. That being said I find "Thirteen" a good mini-series although with some serious flaws. The actress playing the mother is terrible and annoying. I am not sure whether it is the writing, direction or acting but she ruins every scene she is in. The rest of the cast is quite good especially the actors who play Tim and the sister. Unfortunately there are many implausible scenes such as when Ivy is allowed to go alone to see Tim at his bar at night while the cop sits in the car. Also in the first episode while interviewing Ivy the female cop leaves to help the mother make tea leaving Ivy alone with the male cop. Really? The story itself is well written and interesting though but not up to the standards of most mysteries/police dramas from the UK.

It is too bad that so many cannot get the Sundance Channel on their basic cable. They are missing out on some top notch TV. The Last Panthers is a taut, exciting, very well acted mini-series. Sundance keeps delivering with shows like this, Rectify and The Returned. Maybe the providers will make Sundance more accessible and these programs will get the viewership they deserve.

Although "Prey" may not be the prime of the UK police dramas it is exciting and enjoyable on a visceral level. The average programming from the UK is still heads and shoulders above anything on the broadcast networks in the US. The acting is excellent even though the dialogue is not quite tight enough. I enjoy the cat and mouse play between the characters. Fun to watch.

There is no better television when Gilligan is involved. The acting, writing and especially character development is just brilliant. "Saul" is engrossing and never pandering. The St Clair scene is so incredible that I had to re-watch to enjoy every word and nuance of the three characters. Non-premium cable is the place to find the best in television: Fargo, Breaking Bad, Justified, Saul to name just four.

Very good thriller from the UK. Although the protagonist and others are gay, "London Spy" is not about being gay. It is about people who just happen to be gay That deserves an 8 by itself. No pandering nor agenda driven at all, bravo. I found the characters interesting and well drawn. The story,so far, is exciting and very well written as is the dialogue. Too bad it is only a mini-series but the Brit's, unlike the US, know how to end a story and not drag it out ad infinitum.

What a disappointment. Watching "Mercy Street" I felt as though I had fallen into a history/medical/social course 101. The acting is just pedestrian as is the writing. Sadly disappointingly boring as I had looked forward to this period drama produced by PBS. I found nothing interesting in the premiere that would get me to watch episode 2.

For a show to work it has to make sense within itself and this season does not. More holes than my grandsons' socks. The acting is good but the writing or editing or both made this permutation disappointing. The serial killer is not consistent in what and why he does what he does. The timing of what happens borders on silliness, he ties up a family, loads them in a van and makes a clean getaway before the police get there. really? Luther realizes the ex-girlfriend connection at the same time the killer goes after her and her family, really? The female detective hides until all hell is breaking loose before she takes any action, really? Too shoddy this go-round.

Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. The dialogue alone is reason to watch Fargo #2. "Mike Milligan and the Kitchen Brothers" are they the best act ever? Even better than season #1. One of the best prequels every made including those of movies.

For those of us who love British shows, especially those about crime and mystery, are in for a delight. Critics be damned I am loving this miniseries. Based on a true story of a socio-psychopath it is engrossing, scary, funny and fantastic. The acting and writing is first rate. I am waiting with bated breath for the final hour. The first two kept me on the edge of my seat. Thank you PBS for again a great import.

As a disclosure I must say I love everything that Martin Clunes does, from "William and Mary" to "Doc Martin" . So nice to see him in something quite different, a fact based mystery involving Arthur Conan Doyle. The beauty of most mystery/police dramas from the UK, unlike those from the US, is the exploration of the personal lives and personalities of the main characters and A&G does a beautiful job of this. Having only seen the first episode I am very much looking forward to the rest of the mini-series and know I will not be disappointed.

TD season 2 is an abomination. The acting is putrid. Vince Vaughan is so bad I have laughed out loud every time he opens his mouth and speaks. Not to mention the actress who plays his wife who obviously must have a "relationship" with the producer. The story is so convoluted it gave me a migraine trying to figure out what the hell is going on. Then they contrive the story line so that they can give us one of the silliest orgy scene I have ever seen. I think the dialogue was written by a chimp who got hold of a typewriter. Throw in a chubby red headed kid who looks like none of his 3 ****! Dreck!!!

I found the first episode very well acted and directed. I found many improbable situations but I also found this in the beginning of "The Americans" which I love. "The Americans" continued to improve each year as I hope "83" will. When "The Americans" first started they researched for the best sub-titles since they would be used often. "Deutschland 83" should have done the same. The subtitles are horrible. They almost ruined the program for me. White on white really? Better watch on a big screen because the subtitles, tiny as they are, will get lost on a small one. I watch many foreign films and TV shows and these are by far the worst in history!!!!! That is a real shame. The awful subtitles are a terrible distraction because you have to strain to read them. Very good show except for the sometimes strained reality and the awful subtitles.

Although derivative it seems to be finding its own path. We have the governor from TWD, we have the inability to leave from The Dome and The Returned etc. What we do have that makes it worth watching is an excellent cast, although no one is not expendable, so the cast may change, and some unnerving twist and turns. Definitely worth the summer viewing.

Even as a woman of age I can identify with Marc Maron. He lives in a world where nothing really goes totally wrong nor does anything go totally right. He lives in a middle world that most of us are condemned to inhabit. A world where significant others tolerate us just to a point and we them. Where that great job is right around the corner, the corner we just never turn. Love his take on my life.

I was so looking forward to this mini-series but cannot believe how bad it is. I could barely get through the first 2 hours without laughing at some of the putrid acting. The soap opera story lines are silly and contrived. The dialogue is written like the story took place in modern day. Not familiar with the book I thought this was going to be an exciting retelling of the Masada story. Unfortunately it is not. Too bad. I gave it a two because Sam and Cote are very good but other than ****!

OMG can more stuff be thrown at us in the pilot? Instead of building a story slowly "Dig" is all over the place, literally. It was just a scratch-my-head mess. I did not even get a sense of what this is suppose to be about or who the characters are. So much information but no idea of what the information means. In one scene in Mexico the sound track music was Middle Eastern....what? Just one example of what a mess this is and believe me there were many.

So far this is the best season of "The Americans". There is a move away from the soap opera and more into character development and espionage story lines which serves the show well. The one big flaw has been sound quality. DREADFUL! The worst sound engineering of any program that I regularly watch. Often I have to "re-wind" to try and figure out what was said or turn on the close captioning which is very often not in sync with the spoken words. The Russian scenes are a relief because the subtitles are perfect.

"How to Get Away With Murder" has almost nothing redeeming about it. I started watching this show when they started the reruns because of the critic reviews. It can be summed up with two words, "murder" and "sex". Not a single likable character, not a plausible plot line and not a single moment of joy. Everything is dark and sleazy. The wonderful show "The Walking Dead", even though gory and gruesome at times, gives us moments of joy and sophisticated, multi-layered characters. HTGAWM gives us nothing that is interesting or enjoyable. The sex is joyless and the characters are soulless. A three for some good acting otherwise ugh!

This is great TV story telling. James Nesbitt has brought his A-game as the father experiencing every parent's worst nightmare. The rest of the cast is excellent as well. I always marvel at what the UK and most of Europe can do with a story brought either to the small or large screen. The twists and turns of the story never seem artificial or contrived. Brilliant.

I am a big fan of British mysteries but not of this offering. Although the acting and "feel" of the mini-series are terrific the story becomes a silly soap opera. The first (of three) episodes showed promise but as the characters developed they became cartoons of British in the mid/late fifties England. Disappointing.

"Manhattan" is a wonderful summer surprise. The acting, dialogue, and cinematography are first rate. What helps make this so good is the lack of "star power" . These are mainly character actors who give this a sense of realism. Sometimes when it gets too scientific I do have trouble keeping focused on the story but the intrigue is what gets me right back to the show. Not perfect but Manhattan is excellent thought provoking viewing.

It is the great character actors that make this such a great pilot. Everyone from Martin Freeman (so great as "Watson") to Billy Bob are spot on. Funny, scary, disgusting, and so much more describes this version of Fargo. The broadcast stations just do not produce anything near as good as the shows we find on the cable stations. Fargo can join with Breaking Bad, Justified, The Walking Dead, and others in the pantheon of television programs.

This was pure dreck. Were they adlibbing the dialogue? No character development. A plot without focus. An ending that defied any logic. More holes in the story than can be sorted and explained. The final episode was so ridiculous that I laughed through most of it, "Slingblade" meets "Close Encounters" meets "Texas Chainsaw Massacre'....... Thank heavens it is over. More psychobabble would leave me in a catatonic state. One star for some very good music, the rest is just crappola.

Not as good as the original from Australia but still a 7 compared to most of what broadcast TV has to offer. Unfortunately because it is on broadcast TV it has been sanitized a bit which makes this Keegan less edgy than the Cleaver Green portrayed by Richard Roxburgh from down under. The pilot shows promise and I found the introduction of characters well done.. I think if Kinnear can grow into this role and become more difficult to love it could be as successful as the original Rake.

It was a cold and rainy night when this mug walked into my front room and turned my TV on. The show was new, "Mob City" was the name. He smiled and settled in. I didn't say no since he brought me some great silk stockings. I'm a girl that knows which side her bread is buttered. We watched together. It was just what a girl needs, a great guy and an awfully good show.

This is what excellent TV is suppose to be. "The Returned" is so good I am addicted after one episode. I just hope enough viewers are adult enough and not turned off by subtitles. One word describes this series "brilliant".

Have I missed something? I find "Ray Donovan" a big disappointment. The writing is beyond terrible. The show feels like a bunch of writers who each write a scene and then are thrown together in a hodge podge that makes no sense. The acting is so bad I find myself laughing during scenes that are suppose to be serious. When Gould's character sees the "Golem'" Voight runs off like a little **** you kidding me? Just one of many silly scenes. At least if there was one likeable character I could stay with this dreck, but there isn't. The kids are spoiled brats, Ray is just a dog sniffing after everything, Gould's character and the lawyer are so stereotypical as to be offensive......Beyond all this is the pandering. Voight instructs his grandson on oral sex, Ray dreams his father is screwing his wife, Ray's wife displays her thong that she just bought to the delight of her father-in-law and more, all unnecessary pandering. I could go on about why this show stinks but I don't want to give this show anymore of my time. One star for the nice homes and apartments but I guess I could see that on HGTV.

"Rectify" is as close to perfection as a TV program can be. Writing, directing, acting and even soundtrack are exceptional. A story of a man, brilliantly played by Aden Young, who is reborn into world he no longer knows and a family who no longer knows him. As I watched the dynamics of the relationships develop I felt the dread of what was seething from without. Too bad Directv doesn't show Sundance in HD or I would have given "Rectify" an eleven.

I love a good horror movie as well as the next but this is just not good gru. This show lacks any sense of humor or empathy. The writing is putrid and the graphics are disturbing without any redemption. Having watched the third episode I cancelled my season pass and moved on. When they leave a serial killer's daughter alone in her house, even though, she may have been involved in the murders, I threw up my hands. A suspect left alone to kill another suspect and then gets recruited by Hannibal who has time to hide the body while a crap load of cops are **** yeah somehow he gets a bump on the head.....dreadful dreck! The dialogue and acting is god-awful. Oh, and the constant "eerie" soundtrack to set the mood is mind-numbing. This show is NBC's version of "Monk" meets "Criminal ****!

Another great year with Raylan. "Justified" just keeps delivering dialogue that is unmatched by most shows. Here we have baddies that we hate to love and baddies that we love to hate. Boyd and Raylan are two beautifully drawn characters that each year become more interesting. We have prostitutes who have hit rock bottom, cops who find it hard to do the right thing and cops who are conflicted, war vets who have totally lost their way and other well defined characters. From the opening song to the end credits "Justified" delivers week after week.

When Noah is telling the Book of Genesis to his family I knew this would not be **** it isn't. Everyone has a different accent....even Scottish. Cringe worthy.

At first I wasn't sure how I felt about "The Americans", but the last two shows have made me realize how much I like it. The episode of March 6 was the best one so far. The first few episodes had major holes and was not very believable. The last two episodes were well crafted with a tightly woven script. The dialogue was better developed and now feels more like the way people really talk. The twists in the last two episodes were surprising and exciting. Whether there was a change in writers or they realized the errors of their ways I now look forward to watching "The Americans"

Booooooooring. Although pretty to look at I couldn't care less about these very annoying people. I thought maybe once he went off to WWI I might see some real depth to character...well that lasted for two minutes. The only bright spot is Stephen Graham who can go from being Al Capone to a pathetic Scotsman, fun to watch which Parade's end isn't.

This is one of the worst shows ever on television and will probably appeal to most Americans. It is like watching a two hour movie expanded to fit 12 hours. I have watched four episodes and I am done. The writing is pedestrian at best. The violence is sadistic and mostly unnecessary. Much of the time is spent prolonging the violence to fill in empty time. Not one character is multi-layered. There are more holes in the story than a wheel of Swiss cheese. Just one example,of so many, that shows how bad this show is: Bacon and his partner go to rescue his sister. He tells his partner that he will leave the side door open for him. Bacon goes in, gets knocked unconscious, is picked up and put on a table and tied up by a the girl villain, tortured with batteries and threatened with a knife before his partner comes in to rescue Bacon and his sister. WHAAAAAAT!!! Maybe his partner went to dinner, saw a movie and then came to the rescue. Really? Do the producers think we are that stupid or maybe they are just hoping.

I have been watching "Copper" since it started and thought it was a fair, C+ show. After watching this sunday's episode,9/9, I will no longer be recording it. The one Jewish character is the most negative stereotype I have ever seen on a network program. What makes this so reprehensible is that there are no other Jews depicted on the show. There are multi-character blacks, Irish and others but only one Jew who is a pawn broker who lies for money. Does "Copper" have another agenda besides telling a story? Too bad this goes unnoticed by the reviewers.

BBC mysteries are all about the journey with characters who are often very flawed but very likable in their humanness. Case Histories is one such show. Although it stretches believability because of all the coincidences, brings to life very interesting characters. Jason Isaacs is wonderful in the lead role of private detective Jackson Brodie who struggles with his personal demons as he tries to solve crimes. The drab Scotland backdrop lends a sense of grittiness long missing from similar American shows. I look forward to more seasons of Case Histories.

This is one of the worst shows I have seen on HBO. The Dern character is so unlikeable and pathetic I cringe at her every word. She is "Enlightened" and feels she is on a mission to change the world. The kind of person most people go out of their way to avoid. The supporting characters are one dimensional and annoying as well. I watched two episodes, the second to see if maybe I missed something but it only got worse.