It hasn't really felt like there’s been many must-see new shows this year as yet. We've been so spoilt with shows like Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead over the last couple of years that the new kids on the block have to work twice as hard to get noticed. My interest waned in Arrow after a few episodes (though I plan to go back eventually), The Carrie Diaries holds no appeal for me whatsoever, and while I am curious about Ripper Street, it’s not something I've yet investigated. I checked out a few other newbies over the Easter break, so join me below the cut to find out what I watched, and what I thought.
When I first saw ‘Labyrinth’ pop up on a list of new shows, I was understandably mortified. Why would they remake that? Would Bowie reprise his role? How many socks would be in his leotard? Fortunately, it was instead an adaption of the 2005 book by Kate Mosse, where we’re flung between modern day and medieval France as a secret war for the Holy Grail is waged. Lots of familiar faces in here, with Harry Potter’s Tom Felton, Merlin’s Katie McGrath, Captain America/Once Upon A Time’s Sebastian Stan, and Downton Abbey’s Jessica Brown Findlay all featuring. It aired as a two-parter over the Easter weekend, and while the first half was quite slow, it was also very mysterious and the desire to know what the hell was going on was the thing that kept me watching. I did find the end a little confusing, so I think reading the book will be in order. Very enjoyable miniseries, and worth the time investment.
This BBC comedy-drama was a bit of a surprise packet. If anyone can make the war in Afghanistan funny, it’s the Brits. A sit-com of sorts, following a British bomb disposal squad during Operation Herrick, Bluestone 42 will have you laughing out loud then feeling a little bit guilty for doing so. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to liken it to a modern-day M*A*S*H (the characters switch from slapstick to business mode swiftly when situations turn hostile), though there’s a lot less social commentary than we got from Hawkeye and co. I only caught the first episode (there are five available currently), but this is one I will certainly be making an effort to catch up on. Extremely funny, with a crew of jerky characters you can’t help but love.
I’m not going to beat around the bush here. I lasted 20 minutes into the Psycho prequel tv pilot before I had the burning desire to stab MYSELF in the shower. Is this a popular show? Do people really want to see this uncomfortable mother/son relationship for an hour every week? I can’t say I ever looked at Psycho and thought ‘Hey, you know what would be awesome if it was transplanted into modern day and made into a TV series? THIS!’ I think it was the gang of vapid pretty girls that for some reason decided Norman was a cool guy to hang out with that made me actually stop watching. I don’t care how boring a town you live in, if the new creepy kid looks like a serial killer, maybe leave that whole situation alone. That said, Freddie Highmore was pretty fantastic as the aforementioned creepy kid, it was just a shame everything around him was significantly less so. I’ll be giving this one a miss from now on.
I'll have to check out Labyrinth.
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