ak2020

Red Eye: Episode #1.6 (2024)

An exciting series spoilt by the last episode

This was a terrific story, for which I gave 8s and 9s for the first 5 episodes. But the last one was so full of holes it spoilt the whole ending.

• How did Madeline and Jess get into an RAF base in a private car with no authority?

• How did the plane get around the airspace to change runways so quickly that the MI6 team couldn't get to the new runway in time?

• How did the steps get to the plane and the doors opened so quickly?

• How did they, Nolan and Li get off the base without challenge?

• How did they all drive into London, and the US embassy without being spotted by thousands of traffic cameras and the security of the embassy?

• How believable was it that Mike, with his senior role at the US embassy, not realise that he was in the grounds of the Chinese embassy?

In addition, the last 10 minutes was a complete anti-climax.

Sorry, too many blunders for me: I have given it a "5".

FBI: Most Wanted: Heaven Falling (2023)

Oh dear, another awful series ending

The latest FBI triple current series are all ending at the same time. If, there are more series please, please producers - get new writers and directors.

The acting and story in this final episode was abysmal. In fact, both have been going downhill all through this series. I found it impossible to connect with the characters for this episode, never mind the overacting by the FBI team.

I also did not appreciate the beginning, short story which just appears (to me) as a story filler which had no bearing on this one, and looks as if they couldn't pan out the main story (Who Killed Mikey?) to a full episode.

I am also fed up with the woke speeches towards the end of the episodes - especially the one in this final one of the series. Mr Wolf, please keep politics out of our entertainment.

FBI: God Complex (2023)

An inglorious end to this poor series

Other reviewers have pointed out many of nonsensical actions (or inactions) by the FBI in this last episode of the series - which, in my opinion was the worst of a long run of poor episodes.

The writer(s) and director(s) should have their contracts terminated for their poor screenplays and direction. This story was so poor they had to pad it out with unnecessary chases - as mentioned by other reviewers) and a lack of imagination. As examples, why was the courthouse not surrounded by SWAT, why didn't they use a helicopter (or drones) in the cemetery to help the team, why did Maggie go into the crypt on her own to seek out the culprit?

And, why oh why did they have to lengthen the episode with the hospital emergency side story? The actual FBI story in this episode was only about 30 minutes.

Please get some new writers for any future series.

Boîte noire (2021)

One of the best thrillers of the year

This film was shown for the first time in the UK on BBC4 (channel which usually is mainly for repeats) earlier today (November 2023) - and must be one of the best thrillers of this year.

Whilst it is in French with subtitles (but with some English), this did not detract; nevertheless it is taut, very gripping and highly recommended. Other reviewers have outlined the plot so I won't repeat it here. Suffice to say that in my opinion the acting of all the lead characters was first class and the production moved along at pace.

There is one small plot hole that I identified but this didn't really ruin, but actually added to the plot. I won't describe this as I would have to tick the "spoiler" box.

Payback (2023)

Stick with this - it's worth it

I thought that the first episode was a bit slow and had too many plot holes although, as I am not going to write "spoilers", I won't list these. But they did reduce my final rating from 9 ot 8.

However, having now watched all the remaining 5 episodes, it does get better as it goes along - with fewer plot holes - and finishes with a good last episode, with no open ending laying the ground for another series.

I thought that all the actors playing the main characters did well, and there were few weaknesses. I also liked the writing and direction and, unlike so many crime series these days, didn't rely any chases between the "goodies and baddies" to bolster the plot.

This series is well worth four hours of your time.

Departure: What Lies Beneath (2022)

Disappointing ending

As the first reviewer I don't want to explain my headline in much detail, otherwise I would have to admit spoilers.

So, suffice to say that although the threads come together in the last half an hour - but I am afraid that I found them barely believable.

I also found the acting rather understated through all 6 episodes but especially in this last one. Indeed the actor who played the British hitman through this series was so poor that he should give up acting and find another job - especiially not as a hitman!

Series that end with a soulful voice singing some sad song always depresses me. We got it again here.

Bull (2021)

Totally gripping until the silly ending

I couldn't take my eyes away from the screen from the beginning until the almost end - I don't normally watch "the devil comes back" films and this was (presumably) one of these, as I understand those last couple of minutes.

It's hard to believe that this was filmed during the Covid pandemic time, on a budget of just £100k. The actors were brilliant and did include some well-known faces in the UK. As many others have reported, the cinematography was brilliant and I congratulate the director and film editor for their own roles in making best use of their limited budget at a very difficult time to film.

However, the director was also the screenwriter and he spoiled his marvellous work with that silly ending.

Until then I was scoring the film 9, which is unusual for me. The ending knocked 3 stars off my score.

The Lincoln Lawyer: Suspicious Minds (2023)

Why is this called "The Lincoln Lawyer"?

I rated this series high in series 1, and for the first couple of episodes of this series 2.

However, as the first 5 episodes in Part 1, before the summer break, have progressed I have reduced my ratings, giving episode 5 only a "6".

Firstly, this second series has progressively moved away from the Lincoln car - such that it hardly figures in this last episode. It has turned into a conventional legal series just like so many others from LA.

Also, the stories have been padded out too much with side stories involving Lorna and Cisco, which makes what should be four episodes into five and deflects away too much from what was the unique working of a lawyer who works from his car.

Very disappointing. Hopefully, Part 2 will be better.

Faithfully Yours (2022)

Terrific Who Dunnit?

Do not be put off by the first review of this movie: it's great entertainment, a good plot and terrific acting from most of the actors.

It is set in and around Ostend in Belgium, rather than the Netherlands and the plot is nicely paced, building up to an ending that nobody will guess in advance.

On the way there are some "minor holes in the plot" - but the in real life people do make mistakes out of character - which the lead person, who is a family judge in this story, did make.

Sit back, engross yourself for an hour and half and enjoy a movie that is very different from the usual genre of "who dunit" movies.

Unforgotten: Episode #5.6 (2023)

You will want to binge watch this series

I haven't previously watched the first four series, so came to this new.

In contrast to the previous reviewer, I thought the actors were all very good and the story compelling, especially the way the first couple of episodes seemed disjointed but everything came together as the series went on.

The back stories of the main (police) characters did seem a little protracted, but nevetheless did help to explain the characters.

One of the non-police characters was indeed a Conservative minister but I didn't find anything disturbing about this - after all they have been in government for the last 13 years and it was essential to the plot.

Treason (2022)

Yes, there are some holes in the plot, but ........................

The first couple of episodes of this powerful thriller do contain some holes in the plot - especially about the role of the MI6 agents.

But keep watching: episodes 3 to 5 strengthen the story, which turns into a very gripping thriller, with a reasonable ending.

I am not giving plot lines away by stating that nobody comes out of this story well - not the MI6, the CIA nor the Russians.

The writers and director have kept the plot moving well in later episodes and the actors all performed well. London once again proved to be an outstanding backdrop - leading to a very entertaining series.

I often give Netflix series a low rating of 2 or 3, but my rating of 8 reflects the entertainment value of watching all 5 episodes. Don't follow those who tell you not to bother watching - do so and form your own opinion.

Bull: The Diana Affair (2022)

A very poor silly episode

Anybody who knows anything at all about the legal systems in the USA (and indeed the UK and most "western countries") that it takes weeks if not months or years from charge to court hearing. So, as a reviewer above explained, there was no need for Bull to cancel his holiday at the beginning of this episode.

This time delay helps investigators to gather evidence, which is not usually when a case is near completion. So, there are so many holes in the rest of what we viewed, as outlined by the reviewer above, the whole story was nonsense.

When I know from the beginning of an episode of any drama that the story is nonsensical, it spoils the whole entertainment. Shame on the writers.

Bull: Caliban (2022)

NOT one of the better episodes

Over its run, usually Bull has been one of the best series from the USA, with just occasional poor episodes.

Unfortunately, this is one of those poor ones. The main story was not able to be developed at anything like the necessary 41 minute length by the scriptwriters, so they padded it out with a back story about Bull's brother - which was rather silly and very predictable.

I am not a scriptwriter but I can think of several ways that the main story could have developed, to then lead up to an on the edge ending. As it was written there was no tension at all.

I will miss the series when it ends but maybe that's a blessing as these writers are running out of material.

FBI: International: Close to the Sun (2022)

So amateurish

The acting, the direction, the incorrect geography, the story - all amateurish.

Others have reported on the many incorrect clues that this was not filmed anywhere in Northern Ireland. Don't the producers plough in enough money to at least dress up the European filming studios to look like the UK?

The acting was poor. The rogue policeman was obvious from the first time he opened his mouth; none of the other characters - supposedly in Belfast - convinced.

The wrong car number plates would have taken so little to get right; the wrong plug sockets, also.

I think the writers, directors and producers are insulting to what must be a mainly American audience for this rubbish - never mind those of us who live in the UK and know that the FBI would not act in the UK in the way depicted here.

Bull: Bull Undone (2021)

A weak story padded out

I fear that the writers of this episode ran out of ideas about how to fill the full 40 minutes, so used the time to fill by starting a soap opera.

The strength of this particular group of people was always about how they worked behind the scenes to influence jurors. But this episode wasn't about jury manipulation at all. The focusing on just one juror towards the beginning was irrelevant to the plotline.

The ending was obvious (to me at least) from about 10 minutes in. I just watched further to see how it played out to get there and it was a very amateurish script.

I believe that this series will be the last. If further stories are as weak as this one, maybe this is a good thing.

FBI: International: Secrets as Weapons (2021)

Stories full of holes

I thought that I would leave it a few stories, to permit a settling in of the characters, before commenting.

So far, all three episodes have had stories full of holes in the plots. Added to this the back story of the romance between characters, so early on, just spins out the plots to fill the time slotted for the episodes.

Finally, the acting is very wooden and the characters are not convincing. This series (so far) is not a patch on the first (main) FBI genre.

Last Seen Alive (2022)

Story full of holes

I have rated this movie low because the story is stupid and the plot is full of holes.

This is not one of Butler's best movies, with him over-acting the character he plays.

Deadline (2022)

What a waste of four hours of my time that I will never get back

I share the reviews already published about the stupidity of this story - especially the ridiculous final episode.

The lead is supposed to be an experienced investigative journalist but made errors that would not be made by such a person in real life.

Like others who have commented, I found the ending simply unbelievable..

NCIS: New Orleans: Illusions (2021)

Oh dear, Oh dear, Oh dear

This episode has just two 10-minute stories and the rest is a soap opera..

The writers have totally lost any ideas how to write a screenplay story related to the Naval Criminal Investigation Service.

If this is really the final series - good. If not, then the next series needs new writers.

NCIS: New Orleans: Choices (2021)

Appalling acting and a poor padded out story

It's hard to know where to start my criticisms about this soap opera. Yes, it's no longer a thriller about what is supposed to be connected with the criminal investigation in US Navy in New Orleans.

This particular episode, as part 2 of the previous one, has no story that brings any kind of tension, connection with the NCIS and is padded out to two episodes by two back stories which are totally uninteresting.

The writers must be replaced and all the actors (except CC Pounder) go back to acting school.

Bull: Evidence to the Contrary (2021)

A very poor episode

The undelying theme of this episode is political and not entertainment. The screenplay was poor and the law behind the story abysmally represented.

A definite thumbs down for what is normally a good series of stories.

Blacklight (2022)

Story full of holes, acting amateurish

From a few minutes in there is a massive hole in the plotline, followed at regular intervals by others.

As for the acting - appalling. And Liam Nolan - just plays Liam Nolan.

Bull: The Head of the Goat (2021)

Terrific episode

After a very poor opening episode to this series, the series has steadily improved and this is the best episode yet.

I challenge anyone to guess the ending in advance..

Death in Paradise: Death in Flight (2022)

An entertaining hour

Yet again, this series has produced an nice, entertaining hour. Without divulging anything as a spoiler, I imagine most of those watching it will guess "whodunnit" as I did, (and how it was done, but not the why) well before Nevil does.

Death in Paradise: Last Call to Honoré (2022)

Quite a good start to the new series

This a very pleasant entertaining series and the new series continues the tradition.

However, i am still trying to work out how (after over 10 years) the police in a French Island in the Caribbean is seemingly run by the British !!