Yes, the early books used to be the most interesting ones. But these might need some tweaking to allow for making it a team effort (or at least get Neagley involved in a side plot). One might also look into combining a couple of books for a season.
I think that there’s plenty left in the Reacher series to provide for future seasons. They did start out with one of the stronger books with Season 1, which was appropriate since it was also the first novel, but then they went with one of the weaker novels for Season 2, most likely because it was a novel that afforded them a chance to work some kind of a spinoff from it since it featured Reacher getting back together with a lot of the people from his investigative unit from the military. And, that does seem to be what they’re looking at doing. I haven’t seen Season 3, mainly because I never finished Season 2 because it was turning to be just much of a slog to get through as the novel it was based on was, but Persuader is one of the stronger novels, so it should have that going for it.
Going forward, though, they’ve got quite a few novels that they could turn into decent seasons of television. Die Trying or 61 Hours would be good places to start with the next time out.
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That’s actually what I did: I got hooked on the reboot, then did my research on its history. Like you, I’d never laid eyes on Doctor Who before the Christopher Eccleston/Billie Piper reboot. It was my husband who got me interested (the same was true for the Bond films, as well).
Even though my husband is nine years younger than me, he was the original Doctor Who fan, thanks to it airing on TVOntario when he got home from school. So he was quite excited when he learned that the series was starting up again. We watched “Rose” together, and both of us were hooked from then on.
My husband stayed interested through the Peter Capaldi era, but at some point in the transition between Capaldi and Jodie Whittaker, he lost interest. Like me, he felt that Chris Chibnall’s writing didn’t draw him in. I have always felt that Whittaker was let down by that. She had her moments that proved to me she could carry the role, especially in episodes like “Eve of the Daleks” where she wasn’t reduced to endless exposition that sounded to me like babbling. But that’s down to the writing, not her performance.
I kept on watching, though I did not make the transition to Disney+. However, I did watch the David Tennant/Catherine Tate specials on DVD and quite enjoyed them. I just got the Ncuti Gatwa’s first season DVDs from the library and will be watching them this week, so I’ll be able to form an opinion on what I think of it.
It’s interesting to me that, in our household, I was the convert … yet I am the one still watching!
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If Neagley gets her own show, I think the necessity for her being in every Reacher season isn´t there anymore…
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I believe that it’s a strange mistake when the showrunners surround the Doctor with a big entourage.
That only takes away screen time from him.
Pair him with one companion and let the sparks fly. That‘s what made many eras work much better for me.
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I had no idea the Neagley spinoff was already a foregone conclusion. In an 80s tv network environment that decision was probably a no-brainer, see Spenser/A Man Called Hawk. But then again, that went just for a single season and so far I thought Neagley and that other guy worked well as support in a Reacher show. I expected they’d work that angle for another season or two before deciding on a spinoff.
But we’ll see how that works out. Child is one of those authors not shy to branch out his brand, just the logical next step to do the same on the screen.
I wish the creative team behind the Moneypenny films had decided that this would be a good idea.
The giving away of valuable screen time to an ever-growing entourage of redundant side characters eventually waters down the main product until the main thing in the franchise is no longer the main thing.
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The reality tv format that kept people watching live tv…
No small feat. But I wonder if there are lessons to be learned from this for Amazon? Beyond the obvious one:
“I’m quite wary of the trend analysis. This is the simplest thing in the world. Have a great big hit and you will get a lot of people viewing it of all ages. That was true 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago.”
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Having started it and being now through the first half I am happy to say that this season so far is hugely entertaining, and I love how Waltz is wearing an ironic version of his Brofeld frock.
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I was right, it’s obvious sooner than you’d think
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Oh, crap.
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A streamer killed off one of the series I look forward to.
Still, Only Murders In The Building, The Last Of Us and Fallout are still standing.
For now…
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Meanwhile, Line of Duty is going to get a comeback…
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Sadly, the second half of The Iris Affair doesn’t really do a lot the first one didn’t before. Predictably, Hollander is revealed as the basically good egg - if we ignore him ordering his goons battering some cop to pulp, thus kicking his character firmly onto the dark side - while Harry Lloyd is the nasty customer.
Events move from the coast to Rome for three episodes during which a lot happens but no progress is made apart from plot twists. The final two episodes move into meta-philosophical territory while still keeping the rage-against-the-god/machine theme. Seriously disappointing towards the end.
Overall, watch it if you’re a fan of Niamh Algar, Tom Hollander or some others in the cast. Don’t expect a revelation though. Miss it if you’ve got something else to watch.
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Was a fan of the original so it’s nice to see so many returns.
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I only have three episodes to go to finish up season two of ROGUE HEROES. I have binged all episodes within the last 5 days. Given that it’s adapted and written by Steven Knight, who is writing the new Amazon Bond movie, I feel better about the hands that are crafting our next iteration of 007 (and wishing Jack O’Connell was taller!). I’m curious to get the thoughts of my forum brothers and sisters on this one. I have thoroughly enjoyed it (with some minor reservations, such as the anachronistic music).
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Inside Man (BBC/Netflix) by Steven Moffat
I have a nagging feeling I already posted on this but I can’t find it - apologies if I did already.
I have mixed emotions about this limited series. What was absolutely great: Stanley Tucci as Jefferson Grieff. I absolutely loved the character and Tucci’s portrayal. The premise for Grieff is wonderful: He is a death row inmate, and former criminology professor, who thinks he deserves the death penalty for killing his wife. People come to see him to gain his insights into criminal cases and the story for his character revolves around one of those cases.
On the not so great side is the character of Harry Watling (a British Vicar) played by David Tennant. While Tennant is delightful (as always), neither the character evolution nor the story for his character worked for me.Without giving too much away, it boils down to the Joker’s claim that all it takes is just one bad day… Maybe; but I just don’t see that guy ever going as far as he was willing to go.
The big idea was to bring the two plots together which they do. Great idea but it the Harry Watling story never hooked me… to the point where I started fast forwarding much of that story (there are advantages to watching a show alone).
It’s too bad that Moffat didn’t focus entirely on Jefferson Grieff. The character is great and Tucci is excellent. I think there was the potential for a truly iconic character that could have resulted in serveral series/seasons being made.
Worth the watch just for Tucci IMHO.
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Black Doves (Netflix)
Knightley is actually quite good in this candy coloured spy farce set in a Christmas bauble London they might have patched from LOVE ACTUALLY’s outtakes. The mature part as wife to a British politician suits her - and the fact she’s been placed in that role by some private information broker puts an interesting spin on the deep cover agent in trouble-cliché.
Not everything about the character rings true - they must put her on a quarterly refresher course with the Navy SEALS to do all the KILL BILL stuff that wouldn’t even be her brief; plus deck her out with all the weaponry when it’s surely more important she has a quick look at hubby’s homework each night - but the basic dilemma of a woman locked in a politician’s marriage and wanting something else for herself seems all too authentic.
But Black Doves is actually even more about Whishaw’s brilliant contract killer caught up in his own code-of-conduct, his basic unshakeable loyalty to his friend and his longing to spend an ordinary life as parents with his boyfriend and leave the wet jobs behind. Roughly a third of the screen time of Black Doves is dedicated to this side plot, unfailingly providing the character highlights in each episode. The series might almost work with Whishaw’s character alone.
Together though Knightley and Whishaw make the oddest spy couple - that surprisingly we actually buy, in spite of the ultraviolence that’s by now a staple of this Christmas shooter subgenre. One wonders what a fabulous nail biting thriller Black Doves might have been.
Be that as it may, Netflix has a solid six-parter with decent production values and a fine cast in excellent form here. Recommended because it’s a pleasure to watch and doesn’t overstay its welcome. Second season is supposedly already in the works.
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I also enjoyed this. It surprised me. I think it just needs to find its footing.
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When those last few frames of the final episode flicker across the screen I actually wanted to spend more time with this crew. I hope the second season has some interesting ideas to play with the format and mix things up.
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