Reviews

I really like DCI Banks, along with other English police or detective dramas such as New Tricks, Vera, Rosemary and Thyme, Death in Paradise, The Last Detective, Inspector Lynley. Anyway, A Little Bit of Heart is from season five of DCI Banks, and at the time there was no reason to think DCI Banks wouldn't be renewed for season six, but sadly that happened. Anyway, there's a lot of twists in the murder investigation of Xun Li (played by David K. S. Tse) who is a pillar of the Leeds community. Annie (Andrea Lowe) is conflicted big time, and wants to return to Alan, but what will happen with Annie.

Here in this episode of the Secret Life of Lighthouses, we travel to the famous Shetland, where of course one recalls the famous Shetland TV crime drama from England with its noir and all. In this episode we meet Julia Elton, who is famous for her research of literature of engineering and the images of the industrial revolution.

Dr Anjana Khatwa make another welcome appearance. I find her insights very thoughtful and refreshing about lighthouses and their history. Anyway, it appears this episode is the penultimate episode of the Secret Life of Lighthouses, but hopefully it will return for a fourth series.

I really like watching DCI Banks, even with all the shouting, but still worthwhile watching, and Stephen Tompkinson's DCI Alan Banks is such a far cry from his role in the 1990s sitcom Drop the Dead Donkey. Anyway, Ghosts: Part 2 sees the fallout of DS Martin Hexham's affair with DI Helen Morton (Caroline "Doc Martin" Catz), and anyway, in we also have the fallout and intrigue about the identity of the fetus of Melanie Thomas (played by Tanya Fear, who later had a role in My Dinner with Herve). Anyway, it's a shame DCI Banks wasn't renewed for season six because it was such a compelling series set outside the London bubble.

DS Florence Cassell (Josephine Jobert) returns (she made a brief surprise appearance at the end of the previous episode) and it's a major set-up for her declaring her feelings for DI Neville Parker (Ralf Little), especially with Parker finishing up to travel around the world to find love and all init.

Django Chan-Reeves almost steals the episode as influencer Cressida Dempsey, and it turns out she did the deed on Abigail Warner (Eve Ponsonby). Anyway, the part about Warner leaving the camera memory card on a tree was kind of far-fetched but it is what it is.

I've been a fan of Death in Paradise since it debuted, and with the impending departure of Parker, it's impressive this series continues from strength to strength.

Dr Anjana Khatwa appears again, this time in Beachy Head, the first episode of season three of Secrets of the Lighthouse, and I find her insights very thoughtful and refreshing about lighthouses and their history. Dr Khatwa is an acclaimed Earth Scientist who has appeared in many programs, and is also a university academic, so it's good to see she is a regular guest on the episodes of Secret Life of the Lighthouse, which is hosted by Rob Bell. I like how Rob talks to the experts, the historians and just gets all confused. Now this Rob Bell is not to be confused with the Rob Bell who was the former pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church here in America.

Beachy Head lighthouse has the job of warning sailors of the Sailors' Graveyard.

Dr Anjana Khatwa appears in The Longstone, and I find her insights very refreshing and thoughtful and helpful about lighthouses and their history. Dr Khatwa is an acclaimed Earth Scientist who has appeared in many programs, and is also a university academic, so it's good to see she is a regular guest on the episodes of Secret Life of the Lighthouse, which is hosted by Rob Bell. I like how Rob talks to the experts, the historians and just gets all confused. Now this Rob Bell is not to be confused with the Rob Bell who was the former pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church here in America. The Longstone is worth watching.

What a season finale, wow, now that's how a season finale should be written. But unfortunately for whatever reasons that really aren't convincing, the network has axed Quantum Leap, so unfortunately no season three. It's not too late surely, and maybe, just maybe, Scott Bakula can be encouraged to issue a social media post calling for Quantum to be picked up. This episode had an incredible twist, with Gideon being Jeffrey! Wow, that would have made M. Night Shyamalan proud. Anyway, Ian's line about the bumping off the baby leader of the world war 2 axis was a knowing wink to the ethics dilemma about changing time.

Still, even if there's no season three, then this episode ensured Quantum Leap ended on a high with Ben and Addison reunited truly.

I really like watching DCI Banks, even with all the shouting, but still worthwhile watching. Anyway, Ghosts: Part 1 has a Breaking Bad element to it, with a science student and supervisor manufacturing ecstasy. DS Martin Hexham (Cal MacAninch) rekindles a former affair with DI Helen Morton (Caroline "Doc Martin" Catz), so that's quite explosive, and we learn that Morton had an affair when she was married with children. Anyway, it's a shame DCI Banks was axed when it did because it could have lasted two more seasons with compelling crime stories in Leeds and the surrounding area for us to view.

I like Cake Masters, as it's kind of the antidote to the kinetic frenzy of Cake Wars and Cupcake Wars (two shows which I like by the way), and Geoffrey Manthorne is a cool dude who manages to keep the ship steady when dealing with a crisis (e.g. A leaky roof) when baking the master cakes. I'm not kidding, but I think Manthorne has more than a passing resemblance to Dave Grohl, the founder and lead singer of Foo Fighters.

It's a shame Cake Masters didn't run for more seasons, but who knows, maybe it can be rebooted for a new generation of cake fans who enjoy the mastery of cakes without all the competitiveness.

Yes, there are a lot of negative imdb user reviews for Part 2 of Buried, and fair call, so there's not much more for me to pile on init. Anyway, still I think any DCI Banks is better than none at all, and still, if the plot holes in this episode had occurred in an episode of Murder, She Wrote, then perhaps we could give it a pass, but DCI Banks is supposed to be a cut above the rest with its hard edged realism in Leeds, England. Certainly Part 1 of Buried was better, so I guess not all writers can maintain the quality that easily, but still perhaps in a reboot there would be changes for more realism in DCI Banks.

Here in Part 1 of Buried, we see a body of a famous lawyer washed up, and this leads to all sorts of intrigue, especially with rumors of an affair, and what motive could have led to this. I became a fan of DCI Banks back in 2016 or 2017, and Stephen Tompkinson, who plays DCI Alan Banks, is very different to the role he played in Drop the Dead Donkey, and it shows his acting range. I like that DCI Banks isn't set in London, but rather in Leeds so it's outside the London bubble so to speak.

Jack Deam, who plays DC Ken Blackstone, later became memorable in his role in Father Brown. Danny Rahim plays DC Tariq Lang.

Death's Shadow opens season two of Midsomer Murders, just as we approach the millennium, and we open with a children's initiation that goes very, very wrong, with gruesomeness and all

Children's initiation gone wrong, pastor wreaks revenge gruesomely, so for instance you have Richard Bayly literally losing his head with a sword, David Whitely in a caravan and not living to get out alive, and then Simon Fletcher being shot in the back with an arrow. Seriously, it's like that movie Naked Prey where the hunters are the hunted. Anyway, I'm enjoying reflecting on Midsomer Murders and now long it's survived in popularity.

Stranger's Wood is from season two of Midsomer Murders, and there's intrigue galore in this episode. DCI Barnaby has to contend with more than one murderer, and it really kept me guessing until the end init. That is for me the hallmark of a Midsomer Murders episode when I'm kept guessing until the very end, and sure, it's not like an Inside No. 9 twist or Tales of the Unexpected, but I like that. Anyway, I'm enjoying reflecting on the early episodes. If there's ever a spin-off showing DCI Tom Barnaby (or even John Barnaby) in his younger days like Endeavour with a Touch of Frost, I nominate Danny Dyer to play the young Barnaby.

Rather serendipitously, the T20 world cup is on here and the West Indies, and here we are with a cricket-themed Midsomer Murders episode, Dead Man's Eleven, the penultimate episode of season two. Anyway, Dead Man's Eleven guest stars Anthony Calf who plays Stephen Cavendish. Calf starred in New Tricks, which is also a favorite series alongside Midsomer Murders. Annabelle Apsion plays Jane Cavendish, and there was a later episode featuring Apsion playing a different character. Also Toby Jones plays Dan Peterson. It's fascinating seeing the early seasons of Midsomer Murders and how we get used to the high murder rates in the quaint and beautiful English countryside.

James Bolam, who I first saw in the English police drama, New Tricks, guest stars as Ron Pringle in this season three opener of Midsomer Murders, Death of a Stranger. I must admit, I only became a fan of Midsomer Murders back in 2014 or 2015 or so (although I briefly saw some episodes before that but didn't think too much), so I haven't watched the episodes in chronological order. So I only started watching the early episodes, like Death of a Stranger later on. Anyway, the early episodes were somewhat darker, but that's what the fans wanted. It appears DCI Barnaby doesn't get fazed by the high number of murders compared to say metropolitan London or Manchester or Birmingham init.

I must admit, and I'm really serious, I do sometimes get Cake Wars mixed up with Cake Masters and Cupcake Wars, so anyway, here we have an episode of Cake (not Cupcake) Wars, How to Train Your Dragon. I remember one of the cakes was a fish cake, and all credit to the contestants who manage to maintain their energy, stamina and all. No way can I bake an ounce the way they do, and I'm cheering them on big time. All credit to the judges such as Waylynn Lucas, as they try to be encouraging and not try to trash and bring down the contestants who are really just doing their best under extreme pressure.

Okay, I feel embarrassed to say this, but really sometimes I get Cake Wars mixed up with Cake Masters and Cupcake Wars, but they are quite distinct in a way. Anyway, it would be wonderful if there was a reunification episode bringing together Cake Wars, Cupcake Wars and Cake Masters. Anyway, I can't bake for anything, but I love watching the contestants displaying their master cake baking skills under extreme pressure with no wiggle room at all. Anyway, all credit to them for delivering the goods under the eye of the judges who no doubt mean well and are experts in their field. Cake Wars should be rebooted please.

Cake Masters is one of my favorite cake shows, along with Cupcake Wars. Anyway, in Transformers Mega Cake, it's Duff's birthday. Also the decorators work long hours into the night, and we see Geoffrey Manthorne motivating the team. I like Geof's demeanor and personality, and quite seriously he has a major resemblance to Dave Grohl, the founder and lead singer of rock band Foo Fighters. If Geof wants to go into acting, he should be first choice to play Grohl in a biopic for sure. Anyway, it all ends up well with the long night of cake decorating, and it makes me appreciate the work ethic and all.

I'm a big fan of Fresh off the Boat and I'm sorry I haven't posted enough imdb user reviews for the episodes. Anyway, Breaking Chains is set during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, and Eddie is starting 8th grade, so that's a big deal init.

Jude Weng directs Breaking Chains, and Kourtney Kang is the episode writer. Jessica sees Louis's hiring of a housekeeper Mary as a betrayal, and in fact Mary played is played by Melanie Hutsell, who is a SNL alumni. In fact, Hutsell may be one of the few SNL alumni to appear in Fresh off the Boat, so an honor indeed. Anyway, I'm enjoying reflecting on Fresh off the Boat.

Huge tall cakes are the hallmark of round 2 of this Cake Wars episode, Emoji. Anyway, I've watched a few episodes of Cake Wars, and I, like many fans, wonder how on earth the team bake the cakes under extreme pressure. It's true, they are professionals who no doubt work tirelessly, but yeah, there's really a lot at stake (or to paraphrase Jaws, we're gonna need a bigger oven). Anyway, so far we haven't seen any of the contestants lash out against each other in a Ramsayesque manner when the going gets tough, but who knows what happens off camera init. Still, I like Cake Wars but I sometimes get it mixed up with Cake Masters and Cupcake Wars.

It's not often we get to see DCI Tom Barnaby's extended family, so here we have Phyllis Calvert as Barnaby's Aunty Alice Bly who has settled into a nursing home, and it goes without saying that Barnaby has to sort things out big time. Blue Herrings is from season three of Midsomer Murders, and for me, I only starting watching Midsomer Murders around a decade or so ago, and I eventually managed to watch some of the earlier episodes like Blue Herrings. Nigel Davenport guest stars as William Smithers, and I didn't realize Davenport was over 50 when he starred in Chariots of Fire, and he passed away in 2013.

I must admit that being a fan of Midsomer Murders over the past decade or so, I haven't watched the episodes in chronological order, so I think Death in Chorus from season nine (which debuted in 2006) is one of the first I watched, and it had a pre-Doctor Who Peter Capaldi as one of the chorus ringers. Later on when I watched more episodes, I realized that Death in Corus is kind of similar to the Midsomer episode Ring Out Your Dead, which debuted in 2002, and I guess there are subtle differences but things look familiar init. Annabelle Apsion plays Ellen Barker Ellen Barker as well in this entertaining episode.

I must admit that being a fan of Midsomer Murders over the past decade, I haven't watched the episodes in chronological order, so when I saw Ring Out Your Dead, which debuted in 2002, I thought, this looks familiar init, and then I realized it's because I saw Death in Chorus, a Midsomer episode from 2006 (the one which starred the pre-Doctor Who Peter Capaldi) so that's why I kind of got mixed up init. Before his career exploded in Downton Abbey, Hugh Bonneville guest starred as Hugh Barton, and Clare Holman guest starred as Sue Tutt before she hit it big in Lewis which is also a favorite of mine.

I've been a fan of Midsomer Murders for the past decade or so, and I especially enjoyed the episode Dark Secrets because it brought together three actors from the acclaimed English sitcom Drop the Dead Donkey. The actors were Neil Pearson, Haydn Gwynne, and Jeff Rawle (in fact Rawle had guest starred in an earlier of Midsomer Murders but in a different role). Seeing them together was like a mini-reunion of sorts, so good to see. Also Dark Secrets guest stars Richard Ayoade's uncle, Edward Fox, whose brother James also appeared in an earlier episode of Midsomer Murders. Anyway, Dark Secrets is worth watching.

I saw a couple episodes of Young Once, and I have to catch up with the episodes which are available on the internet. Anyway, the main couple was Caelan Tiongson and Cassie Randolph, and it Caelan (who I think is Filipino) ended up becoming a professional basketball player, and Cassie Rudolph was a contestant and analyst on The Bachelor.

I'm pleased Young Once was renewed for season two so I have to watch that as well. Perhaps there can be a season three to find out how the lives of the Christians have unfolded, especially in the wake of the pandemic and also the intersection with societal changes.