What I’ve Been Watching on Television Lately

I enjoy having plenty of time to watch television, but I’m not a night person so you’ll probably find me up at 6am on the weekend so I can binge watch programs no-one else in my family enjoys. Of course there are a couple of programs that I have had to watch when they are aired, although I could watch them on catch up if it’s too late. Here’s a round up of what I’ve enjoyed watching on television lately.

Shadow and Bone series 2

This only dropped on Netflix a couple of weeks ago so I’ll not to give away spoilers. I’ve never read the books which is probably why I have enjoyed the series. Apparently, there are two lots of books which focus on Shadow and Bone and The Crows individually, whereas they are combined in the television series. I can imagine that being quite frustrating for a book fan.

I watched the first series and enjoyed it, of course it ended on a cliff hanger which leaves you waiting for the second. When the second started it gave you a detailed recap of what had happened in the first series, it still took me a while to catch up in my head, or maybe that’s just me. The second series also ends on a cliff hanger, roll on series three!

Basically, if you like fantasy, other worlds, magical powers and dark forces, then you would probably enjoy Shadow and Bone. It’s very entertaining. I love both the stories of Alina and Mel and the Crows, and I can’t imagine them being separate but I am intrigued to read the books now. In the second series they both don’t collide until the last episodes but you follow both their stories.

Alina is a Saint and has escaped the clutches of the evil Krigan and is now with her true love Mal, but of course, true love never runs smoothly. She has to find the third amplifier for her powers to finally defeat the Fold, a dark sea of monsters that divides their world. The Crows take on new members and are on their own mission to take down a tyrannical empire built by the man that Caz, leader of the crows, blames for his brother’s death. Each story seems completely separate until the ending.

I would not advise watching series 2 without watching the first as it would be difficult to understand what was going on.

Image courtesy of Netflix

The Irregulars

Another YA classed series but based, loosely, on Sherlock Holmes. My advice would be not to avoid YA just because you are not an young adult, some of their programs are really good. The biggest problem is that Netflix have already cancelled the second series. I think the first is worth a watch though, if you like supernatural adventure. Sherlock Holmes doesn’t make much of an appearance, most of the focus is on Watson and a group of young adults that solve the mysteries. It’s good fun and a little spooky at times.

Rise and Fall

Much to my families disgust I am enjoying the reality television series Rise and Fall. It shows a diverse group of people who are divided by who rises to the penthouse and who is left to graft in the basement. Only someone from the penthouse can win and those in the basement add to the prize fund by being pushed to work by those upstairs. The twist is that only those in the penthouse can be voted off the show and those in the basement can be voted to go up to the penthouse. I’m not sure how it’s all going to pan out in the end as the numbers deplete and how the winner will be chosen. I’m interested to find out.

The show has come under criticism for it’s current constitution of being all white, male leaders at the top. I do have a feeling that this will all change though. There are some in the basement that are biding their time for sure. Then again, it may just be a reflection on real life ??

Great Expectations

One of my favourite Charles Dickens stories but it really has been ‘done’ so many times in both film and series format. I wasn’t going to watch it but the first episode had me gripped. There has been tons of criticism on how it doesn’t reflect the book and that Dickens would be outraged. It’s dark, creepy, disgusting and I’m curious to see how Pip’s future pans out in this version. In other words, I’m enjoying the fact that it’s really different. It’s still keeping the same underlying values that Dicken’s instilled in the book. Mrs Haversham, played by Olivia Coleman is the same, but different. I don’t remember her being an opium addict, but I guess it wouldn’t have been impossible during those times.

Some of the scenes have no place in a Dickens adaptation though and once seen can’t be unseen. But still, I’m intrigued to know what else will be thrown at us.

Dicken’s it isn’t!

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