I was looking forward to this from Jimmy McGovern (Cracker, etc), and it doesn't disappoint - grim, powerful.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/p09fs2qh/time

Night Sky (2022) Apple TV

Going in, I knew this was a slow show, so I wasn't put off by that, and was only watching cos of Simmons and Spacek (who are both v.good).

It's mainly a family drama, with a hint of scifi - it does suck you in and just about maintains interest, but the tone and realism is very up-and-down.

Note that it's now been canned, leaving unanswered questions and a mild cliffhanger. Scrapes a 6/10

She Hulk (2022)

I was hoping this was being down-voted by all the anti-wokers, but sadly no - it's just not good enough. The early origin story with Banner is good, and the forth wall breaking is off-the-scale clever, but it all feels too cheesey and teenage. Jameela Jamil is woefully underused, too.

With a bonus point for the final 2 eps, scrapes a 6/10.

The English (2022) on Amazon and the BBC - Some people were complaining this is too slow, but I really enjoyed it - beautifully shot, professionally made, a modern update of traditional western storytelling. Sweeping plains, silhouettes, guns, horses, bows n arrows, quirky characters galore. There are some tense scenes and the occasional blood is not for the squeamish, but the historical horrors are not dwelled upon and it's non-preachy.

To criticise, the story does jump around a bit, several eps could have been 10 mins longer, whilst several storylines are explained rather than shown. Some characters mumble their words through thick accents (subs required), but Blunt is excellent, if impossibly pretty and well-presented; Spencer (who I didn't know) is absolutely perfect for the role.

Best to watch blind - the story travels to places you don't expect as the layers unpeel to reveal all the details.

A solid 8/10, and highly recommended for thoughtful Western fans.

I also really like Hugo Blick's other work - 'The Shadow Line', and 'The Honourable Woman' - quality dramas, good plot, excellent scripts (I've not yet watched 'Black Earth Rising').

I watched the first episode and didn't like it enough to continue. I thought it felt very contrived and fake - with a mainly British cast and what looked suspiciously like green screen work, it just didn't feel 'western'.

Interesting, @wowbagger ... I understand what you mean, and yes, it is very cinematographic, bordering on the theatrical. Somewhat Tarantino-esque too, with quirky characters in tense situations.

But I was hooked from the first episode, so it's unlikely you would enjoy the rest. The world it created felt real and consistent, so I suppose that was enough for me.

British cast - well, it is 'The English' about the early settlers who would have had a range of accents.

Green screen - I didn't notice that at all, and the sparse landscape and tiny new settlements/towns looked believable to me. It was apparently filmed in Spain >

That boom could have somebody's eye out. I'm told by another that it really picks up in episode 2 so I'll probably start again at some point. About the green-screening, or lack of it, I'm noticing this more in UHD/HDR product. It might be just me but I'm finding that the HDR which supposedly is there to make colours more lifelike can have the opposite effect; there were scenes in this that had me wishing they'd turn the colour down a bit - and I'm not a fan of those 'drained palette' pieces. I've noticed it in other things (of course I can't name an example right now). It could just be my eyes though, which tend, these days, to be looking for older films to watch. I might look at ep 1 in SDR out of curiosity.

And since you mention him, Tarantino has a lot to answer for. It's not his fault, or rather it is, since he does 'quirky' so well and indeed has his own adjective. And I agree with you, yes it was T-esque, which works when it doesn't feel forced. I'm not saying it was in this case, I can't remember, but at the back of my mind is a recent (and ghastly) example of what happens when Tarantino-esque is a bad thing - Bullet Train. I know you liked that one, but that running (for eternity) tank engine joke had me squirming.

Just finished season 2 (above) of The White Lotus last night - well worth a watch at 7.5/10, but not as good as S1 (below) at 8.5/10 (a must watch for everyone, I'd say). Interesting that some reviewers are rating them equally. S1 was tight and compelling, whereas S2 was a bit more contrived and flabby (could have trimmed about an hour).

Both seasons look fantastic (especially Sicily in S2), and the atmosphere is sexy, confident and cheeky, occasionally outrageous, with plenty dark-humour LOLs. The acting is excellent, and the dialogue is clever and engaging (whilst remaining quite realistic).

Shoutout to a minor Brit character who only appears half-way through S2 (excellent actor), and a nod to the Sanditon heartthrob who we couldn't even place as a Brit in this. (I did manage to recognise the star of Emily Is A Criminal, though).

For me, the main downside is that both seasons start with a death of an unknown person, then we flashback to see how it all came about. It then of course becomes a sort-of whodonit, but I find my own guesses and analysis distracting!

Anyone watched The Peripheral on Amazon ? Honestly, it's only "OK", like a cross between: Matrix x Westworld x Ready Player One, but not as good as those.

It would have made a better 3 hour film  - there are a few cool set pieces, but the whole thing is too stretched out, the dialogue occasionally stilted and actually boring, and it's difficult to care when the storytelling is of the style that that slowly reveals to try to create interest (when it actually  creates annoyance).

On the plus side, it looks superb, the first ep is excellent, and most of the acting is good, dodgy draaaaawly accents aside, especially Chloe (although in close-up HD, I found her nose distractingly similar to my ex's !)

Scrapes a 6/10, and yes - I will probably watch S2, just like I stuck with Westworld. Smh.

Rotten Tomatoes reported a 77% approval (average rating 6.7/10, based on 53 critics) - "Somewhere on the edges of this sci-fi vision is a compelling narrative, but The Peripheral's single-minded focus on its lofty ideas comes at the expense of character or coherence."

Metacritic assigned 57/100 (20 critics), indicating "mixed or average reviews".

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8291284/

The Peripheral was OK - the "time bit" was a bit messed so didn't make sense - I think I'll dig out the book at some point.

Better - started off OK - an interesting twist - but with all cop shows why does no one ask the question - "how did you afford that big house / car / lifestyle"

Last series of Endevour only watched first episode - a few big jumps since last series, but still worth watching.