Terry's Viewing

Recommendations

Winter 2025

I’m very pleased with my subscription to BritBox.  I realize there are many options out there one can choose from, but if you love adaptations of classic mystery novels, satirical comedies (as only the Brits can do them!), historical period dramas, and quirky characters – then give BritBox a go!

I recently enjoyed the BBC adaptation of an Irish crime novel series starring Gabriel Byrne as the brooding pathologist “Quirke” set in 1950s Dublin. The character Quirke, created by author John Banville (writing as Benjamin Black), has an enthralling past, and the first episode blew me away with the number of twists that were unveiled in his familial relationships.


I also recommend

·       the quirky comedy detective series “Death Valley” and “Ludwig.”

·       dramas like “Whitechapel” and “A Spy Among Friends”

·       recent excellent adaptations of Agatha Christie works, including “The ABC Murders,” “Ordeal by Innocence,” “The Pale Horse,” and “Murder Is Easy.” 

And I love that on BritBox, at any time of my choosing, I have access to these three classic portrayals:  David Suchet as Poirot, Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes, and Julia McKenzie as Miss Marple. Three old series that hold great nostalgia for me.

·       Finally, if you’ve not seen these series, you must:  “Vera,” “The Doctor Blake Mysteries,” “Death In Paradise,” and “The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher.”

___________

Summer 2025:

I know, I know.
I'm a decade late on this one.
But wow, was I ever impressed!

The final episode of the Showtime series, Penny Dreadful, ended in 2016 after three seasons.  By all reports, that was the plan all along of the series creator, John Logan.  

Poor me, I had to wait until it arrived on Amazon Prime before I came upon it.   And, like the many who viewed it when it originally aired, the fact that it ended so abruptly after only three seasons, is my one and only complaint about this amazing production.

If you're not familiar with or have no like for the 19th century Romantic poets, the authors of Victorian Gothic fiction and the characters they invented - Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyl & Mr Hyde, Dorian Gray, Dracula... 

nor are you fond of tales of the darkside, the occult, and quite a bit of gratuitous sexual deviance thrown in - 

then, frankly, this series is likely not for you.

The cast is stupendous.

I could not get enough of the hotties in the series - including Reeve Carney, Josh Hartnett, Harry Treadaway - yum, yum, and yum. 

While I was familiar with Eva Green from her roles in Casino Royale, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, and 300, 

I gained enormous appreciation for her skills as an actress after binge-watching episode after episode and seeing her skilled performances as the central character. 
 
And I've always been a huge fan
of Billie Piper
ever since her stint in Dr. Who.

But the biggest delightful surprise for me in this series was the appearance of the incomparable Pattie Lupone.  

God, I love me some Pattie Lupone!   Three Tony awards, two Olivier awards, two Grammy awards - and here she is playing the most amazing old crone (Season 2) and fiesty alienist (Season 3) in this wonderful avante-garde production. 

Not for the prudish, but definitely for the rest of us.  Check out Penny Dreadful!
____________

2nd Qtr, 2024:
AMAZON PRIME: "Three Pines"

Louise Penny is the Canadian author of the Three Pines mystery novels set in the Canadian province of Quebec centered on the work of francophone Chief Inspector Armand Gamache of the Sûreté du Québec. 

Penny was a radio broadcaster for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) before she turned to writing.  She has won numerous awards for her work, including the Agatha Award for best mystery novel of the year five times, including four consecutive years (2007–2010), and the Anthony Award for best novel of the year five times, including four consecutive years (2010–2013).

I began reading her novels in 2012 when someone handed me the first in the Gamache series,
"Still Life." I was immediately hooked and continued to read each new release in the series. 

I love the quirky characters who reside in Three Pines -- especially Ruth Zardo!!!

"Ruth was a gifted poet. 
One of the most
distinguished in the nation.
But that gift had come wrapped
in more than a dollop of crazy."

I was delighted when I discovered "Still Life" would be made into a film and doubly delighted when I heard who had been selected to play Inspector Gamache - none other than the great Nathaniel Parker. 

I've been a fan of Parker since his great turn as Inspector Lynley.  The Inspector Lynley Mysteries is a British crime drama television series that aired on BBC from 2001 to 2008 and, like all the wonderful BBC mysteries, would eventually come to our PBS affiliates.

Elizabeth George wrote the wonderful Lynley mystery series and if you've never read the first in the Lynley series, "A Great Deliverance," it is a powerful thriller that blew me away when I first read it.  Nathaniel Parker embodied that lead character -- in every way he was perfectly cast in the role of Inspector Lynley!

Likewise, as Inspector Gamache in "Still Life: A Three Pines Mystery" (2013) --  again, I thought, Parker has been perfectly cast.

And so I was a bit disappointed at first hearing that he would not be returning in the role for the Amazon series.  Instead, the role of Inspector Gamache was given to Alfred Molina (right).  Hmm, I wasn't so sure.

But after watching the first couple of episodes, I was sold!  Molina has done a great job, as have all the actors in this wonderful series -- 

including Rossif Sutherland (indeed, yes, son of actor Donald Sutherland.  Who knew that someone with Donald's looks could produce someone as hot as Rossif!)

and the talented Clare Coulter is providing a memorable performance as Ruth Zardo (left).

You really should check it out.  But, yes, definitely start with the first book - read or watch "Still Life."  

Then enjoy streaming the Amazon series, Three Pines!

______________________
Viewing Recommendations
1st Qtr, 2024:
AMAZON PRIME:  "Night Sky"
Starring: Sissy Spacek & J.K. Simmons

It was a huge mistake canceling Night Sky after only 1 season.  

The story was not only well-conceived and well written, 
but I especially loved the pace of the series.  
Here I am meaning the pace in which revelations unfolded in each episode with 
a delightful building of intensity toward a banging good finale and, as well, 
the pace that could provide seasoned actors like Spacek and Simmons 
the kind of time and space in their scenes to produce quality work -- 
to move, emote, and convey -- 
showcasing why they are the exceptional performers that they are.  

Always been a fan of Sissy!  I wonder if her Czech origins had anything to do with
her asking for kolaches at the restaurant in Ep. 2?


And what a refreshing find is Chai Hansen (right)!


The ending provided so many avenues to take us down in the future.  Please, please, please reconsider and bring back this show...and promise you'll include Mr. Hansen.
__________________________

Summer, 2023



 I love all the old classics found here: 

    Perry Mason, Mission Impossible, 
    The Twilight Zone, I Love Lucy, Gunsmoke...

But best of all -- ALL of the Star Trek series are found here!  This includes the newest series which I've been very impressed with: 




My favorite episodes in Season 1:
Episode 1, 5, 9, and 10.
I didn't much care for episode 8.

____________________

Other series I'm really into:



Vienna Blood; 
So many good things to say
about Vienna Blood,
but mostly I'm enthralled
with Matthew Beard.
Poldark;
Grantchester; 
Endeavor; 
The Hour; 
All Creatures Great and Small; 
Ken Burns' Benjamin Franklin; Broadchurch; 
The Bob Ross Experience; 
Downton Abbey;
and I still love Sister Wendy!

_________________________________

Reviewed: Spring, 2023


Here I enjoy: 

Father Brown, 
Sister Boniface, 
Vera, 
 
Brenda Blethyn
is outstanding
in this adaptation
of Ann Cleeves'
character, Vera.


Miss Marple and Poirot, 
Death in Paradise, 
Doctor Blake, Inspector Lynley, 
Sherlock Holmes, and many more!


Why BritBox?

I've been a huge fan of cozy British mysteries since childhood.  

My grandmother started me out slowly with 
The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, 
then Ellery Queen.  

David Suchet as Agatha Christie's Poirot,
like Jeremy Brett's Sherlock Holmes,
so defined the character for our generation -
who can imagine any other in these roles?
But once she started handing me the Great Dames of the Golden Age of Mysteries - Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, and Dorothy L. Sayers -- I was finally hooked.  An Anglophile (who has his personal loo done all in London fare), I still read British mysteries near every evening.  

My latest fare
are those of Anthony Horowitz
He was the creator and writer of the ITV series Foyle's War, and wrote scripts for ITV's Agatha Christie's Poirot and Midsomer Murders.

I first took an interest in Horowitz's mysteries with The House of Silk, his homage to Holmes. 


Since then I've read:

Magpie Murders (recently brought to
PBS-TV! Did you watch it?),
 
Moonflower Murders, 
The Word Is Murder, 
The Sentence is Death, 
and on my future list, 
Moriarty.
__________________________

Sports viewing?  
Me?

Well, as a matter of fact -- 
If he's on the court, I'm watching.

Mr. Nadal.

Turned pro over 20 years ago 
and he's still killing it on the court.

The greatest at this game -- EVER! 
[Career Titles]

I do love Raphie!

______________

Enjoy looking through my Library:

______________________________

Terry’s “Good Living” Guide:

Body:
Avoid the 3 PsBsSs
Processed Foods, Phthalates, Plastics;
Beef, Butter, Breads;
Sedentary activities, Sugars, Salt.
Trust me,
you’ll be feeling better in no time!

Mind & Spirit:
Avoid the 3 F’s
Manufactured in these mediums are
misinformation, fear, anger and hate!

JOIN ME IN ENSURING AN EDUCATED CITIZENRY!

JOIN ME IN ENSURING AN EDUCATED CITIZENRY!

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)