Wild At Heart: Series 7 - Episode 11 (Last Ever Episode)

This feature length episode saw the conclusion of series 7 and the show as a whole.

At the start of the episode the family was in conflict with tension between Danny and Alice caused by new born Bobby, relationship problems between Olivia and Cedric and everyone not liking Rosie's older fiancee Dylan. This allowed for a good deal of development and exploration to took place in order have the characters go through more struggles before bringing them to a rounded conclusion.

It was also interesting to see Anders given a lot of development because he has to change his life style after receiving the news that if he doesn't he could end up killing himself. Within this Andres find himself the only one that can heal the rifts while keeping his own secret. This allowed for me to see how much the characters have grown and changed since the start of the series and this was seen through the strength and emotion of the final scenes where the family were reunited and Danny pays tribute to Leopard's Den and Anders

Meanwhile, the episode stays try to the show's usual set up by having the characters deal with a problem with their animals and this one saw them flying to Zambia and trying to save their cheetahs after it was stolen by poachers. But the stress of this ordeal, continuing to drink and the fright from the flying, causes Anders' health to deteriorate and his meddling causes the others to turn on him without thinking. Although the others slowly discover the truth and it was a sad and yet a fitting ending for the character of Anders where he goes into the bush for his last moments.

The main cast consisting of Stephen Tompkinson, Dawn Steele, Lucy-Jo Hudson, Olivia Scott-Taylor, Hayley Mills and Thapelo Mokoera all give great performances, but the most credit goes to Deon Stewardson, who gave a superb performance as Anders Du Plessis and has built a well defined and thought throwugh character.

Call The Midwife - Christmas Special

This was a very touching and poignant episode.

The show kept the strength of its first series in this special with two great stories of love and fear, which further showed the poverty and social situation of the 1950s east end. The first story I want to talk about was that of Mary-Ann Jenkins, an elderly woman living in poverty and horrible conditions. It turns out that she was a victim of the workhouse system and that all her young children didn't survive the ordeal. It was very good how the central character Jenny Lee was determined to help Mary-Ann to improve her health as well as her mental and emotional state.

This led to a scene where Jenny took Mary-Ann to the site of the public grave in which her children along with other workhouse inmates were buried. The simple script, along with the way Jenny pointed out the location of each of Mary-Ann's children and Mary-Ann's controlled reaction worked superbly well to great a very powerful and heartbreaking scene. It was then good to see how Jenny had helped Mary-Ann to regain control of her life and help out with the nativity.

The other story saw teenager Lynette Duncan giving birth and out of fear abandon her new born with the midwives. It was interesting to see how she had to keep secret the fact that she was the mother in the fear of losing her family and when she collapsed due to complications and her parents discovered the truth we saw how they in the end came around to supporting her. This was done through midwife Chummy Noakes, who, as well as providing most the comedy in the episode through her trying to put together the nativity performance, showed a good amount of strength and support for Lynette and was able to convince her that she would be able to take the baby back.

The main cast gave great performances, while Sheila Reid gave a fantastic performance as Mary-Ann and Ami Metcalf also did a good job as Lynette.

Downton Abbey - Christmas Special

This was a good episode of the period drama, with a very dramatic cliffhanger.

This episode dealt mainly with tying up the storylines from the end of the last series. Set a year later it had many continuity elements. For instance, Lord Grantham's opposition to the modernisation of Downton is reversed after he learns of the financial state of their hosts, the MacClare's estate. In turn, he comes to accept Matthew, which adds a lot to the sadness of the tragedy at the end of the episode. Within this as well was his relationship with Cora, which had suffered after the death of their daughter Sybil in the last series and it was good to see that Sybil was still making an impact among the family and staff.

Tom Branson had a good bit of development with him trying to deal with still grieving over Sybil and trying to find a balance between the old and the new him. The use of the guest character Edna Braithwaite was effective in getting him to find his balance because of her questioning of his change in character from the stubborn political-minded working class figure to being the husband of a lady and running the estate of Downton.

Other continuity aspects included Thomas and Jimmy resolving their differences after Thomas took a beating for Jimmy, Bates and Anna being able to enjoy time as a married couple and the ending of Edith's courtship with Michael Gregson. In contrast, it was also good to see the guest characters of Hugh and Susan MacClare, being a good bit of development, along with seeing a more fun side to the staff as they were able to have some free time while the family were away.

Along with these continuity elements were some new bits setting up for the next season including the MacClare's daughter Rose being entrusted into Cora's care and the birth of Mary and Matthew's first child, which had seemed unlikely in the past. This very much added to the tragic nature of the final scenes as Matthew was killed in a car crash on the way back from meeting his son. It was done in a very quick and swift way and work well to great a big surprise for the audience.

All the main cast gave good performances, while guest stars MyAnna Buring, Peter Egan and Phoebe Nicholls also held their own and added a lot to support the other characters.

Loving Miss Hatto

This was an interesting biopic, that showed what someone's love can drive them to.

Based on the true story of Joyce Hatto, a concert pianist, who became famous in her 70s after struggling for most of her life to make it in the classical world, but what later turned out to be all down to a fraud plot. The dramatisation saw how her husband, William Barrington-Coupe's love for his wife would see his determination to make her dream of being recognised for her talent by the classical world a reality by taking recordings from other pianists and tweaking them to sound like how she use to play before she was diagnosed with cancer.

This setting and the script by Victoria Wood, made it a very touching story and it easy for me to emphasis with Joyce and William. It also allowed me to see how they were drawn into making the fraudulent recordings and understand their motives behind doing it. This was done through showing Joyce's struggle to become well known through performing in her 20s, but suffered from terrible nerves and lack of confidence. Then when she does perform it was done in an exceptional standard.

William's support and determination also showed a great strength among the couple and it was good how the story was told mainly from his perspective. Then when the fraud was exposed 6 months after Joyce's death, William defended what they did and stated that Joyce wasn't involved at all int he fraud and thought that the recordings were hers. The dramatisation works well to display this by having Willliam talk to the ghost of Joyce and argue over whose fault it all was and then when he is visited by two ex-pupils of Joyce's and see how much they had faith in her, he decides to defend her honour. This brought I really heart-warming and emotional end to the story.

 Francesca Annis and Alfredo Molina were superb as Joyce and William and the chemistry between the two really worked. Maimie McCoy and Rory Kinnear also gave great performances as the younger versions of the couple.

Doctor Who: Series 7 - The Snowmen

This was a great episode and a good introduction to the new companion, Clara Oswald played by Jenna-Louise Coleman.

I thought this was a really great episode full of twists and turns. The story sees the Doctor now acting as a recluse, with him living in the TARDIS on a cloud. This was a really good idea and I liked how he tried to fight against trying to get involved with the strange happenings around Victorian London. The reintroduction of the characters of Madame Vashtra, Jenny Flint and Strax work well to add to the Doctor's determination to keep out of the affairs of others. I also thought the bit where Clara had to give one word answers and the one she used to convince the Doctor to help was 'pond', was really a nice way to sort of give a nod to Amy and Rory.

The humour of the episode was really good and well placed against the drama of the Snowmen attacks. The concept behind the Snowmen was well thought through and a good balance was made between introducing Clara and bringing the jeopardy to the story. I also liked the new design of the TARDIS and how the episode displayed the classic traits of a new companion introduction with a few twists such as Clara saying 'It's smaller on the inside.' instead of the usual 'It's bigger on inside than on the outside.' The use of the name of the parasite that was in the snow, which was the Great Intelligence, was a curious thing to do as that has been associated with the Yetis back in the classic series, so unless this is pointing to their possible return. Will have to wait and see.

Clara was a very interesting and intriguing character. It was good to see how she seemed to be near the Doctor's equal and the two bounced off each other quite well. I liked how the character changed between different personas and did a good job at showing different sides to Clara. Then when they had killed her off, it came as such a surprise and quite a bold move to play. But when the revelation over her connection to Coleman's role in the early episode, Asylum Of The Daleks, and how Clara - later revealed to be Clara Oswin Oswald - and Oswin Oswald were the same person, who somehow died in two different time periods and then seen alive in the present day, it created a lot of intrigue and made me really want to know more. Now I can't wait for the rest of the series.

Coleman gave a superb performance, making Clara a unique and interesting character, while Matt Smith also gave a great portrayal of a different side to the Doctor. The guest cast, including the return of Neve McIntosh, Dan Starkey and Catrin Stewart, and with Richard E. Grant and Tom Ward, all gave good performances. Sir Ian McKellen and Juliet Cadzow also did great as the voices of the Great Intelligence and the Ice Governess, really adding a lot to the episode.

Merlin: Series 5 - The Diamond Of The Day (Part 2)

So here it is. The last ever episode and the show ended in a very epic and emotional way.

This was a great ending to the series and to the show, full of tension, emotion and tragedy. The continuation from the previous episode of the battles scenes worked really well to create an epic opening to the show and they were shot really well. I liked how powerful Merlin was as the older version of him and it really showed his potential and strength. Then when Mordred confronted Arthur and the vision Merlin saw earlier in the series comes true there is a good deal of tension and the lack of dialogue does well to great a good death scene for Mordred and the mortal wounding of Arthur.

I think that the best thing was the scenes between Merlin and Arthur. Merlin's reveal to Arthur of his magic and Arthur's struggle to accept this, were really strong and very powerful. It was good how throughout the episode Arthur started to understand Merlin and see a different side to magic through Merlin's kindness and friendship with him. Then when Arthur died before Merlin could save him, it was so heartbreaking and very touching and Arthur thanking Merlin was so powerful and well performed by Bradley James and Colin Morgan. Merlin's grief and determination to save Arthur were superbly performed by Morgan, adding a lot of strength to the scenes.

Meanwhile, others character gave a lot to the episode as a whole. Gwen showed a great deal of control and strength, while Morgana displayed increased madness and erratic behaviour, which created a good contrast. While Gwaine and Percival were also given more action and Gwaine's death acted as an initial shock before the dramatic finally. All theses aspects add to a very dramatic and powerful conclusion to the series. I also liked the image at the end of the aged Merlin walking past the same spot that Arthur was buried in the modern day.

Morgan, James, Angel Coulby and Kate McGrath all gave superb performances and have overall really made the series and the show a great success. John Hurt, Richard Wilson, Alexander Vlahos, Eoin Macken, Rupert Young and Tom Hopper have all given great performances and have also added a lot to this final story. I will miss the show a lot.

The Makng Of A Lady

This was a good one-off rages to riches Victorian tale.

Based on the novel, The Making Of A Marchionness by Frances Hogson Burnett, the central character Emily Fox Seton was saved by the harshness of poverty when she decides to accept the offer of marriage, not out of love but of the need of security, from Lord James Walterhurst, the nephew of her once employer Lady Maria Bayne. Within this comes an interesting exploration of the importance of duty and position and how purity and kindness, that Emily showed, suffered.

It was good how Emily and James come to love each, but it was sad how his duty to his family causes this to be damaged. Emily's friendship with Walderhurst's cousin Alec Osborne and his wife Hester. The arrival of these two characters seemed to, as well as give a lot of humour, bring a darker edge tot he story, with Alec's erratic behaviour and them faking an invitation from James from them to stay.

The figures of Ameerah and Mr Litton also add to the episode, with suspicion over their true intentions and it is uncertain for most of the story as to which one I should trust. This is further amplified by the later discovery of Litton's body in the river. Then it soon appeared to be an attempt to isolate and kill Emily by Alec and Hester as they would inherit the fortune. The tension at the end was very affective and well built.

Lydia Wilson did a great job as Emily, while Linus Roache, James d'Arcy and Hasina Haque all gave strong performances. The supporting cast including Joanna Lumley, Sarah Ridgeway, Claire Hackett and Souad Faress all do gave good portrayals of their characters.

Merlin: Series 5 - The Diamond Of The Day (Part 1)

This episode saw the start of the end.

This was a great first part to the last ever series finale, filled with drama, humour and tension. From the off the episode kept building up to the fateful battle at Camlann between Arthur's and Morgana's forces that would determine Arthur and Camelot's destiny. Within this context every character was able to give their bit towards the narrative. For instance, Sir Gwaine's softer side was seen with his handling of the only survivor, Eira, of the first of Morgana's attacks, although she later turned out to be a spy.

The episode also worked well to bring in a little bit of humour at the start, through banter between Arthur and Merlin. However, it was good to see a tender and serious scene take place between the two and how they go off to meet destiny on separate paths. Also, Merlin later warning to Arthur through a dream and Arthur's belief in it shows the strength of their friendship. In contrast, a vengeful Mordred emerged, adding more gravitas to the growing tension and his alliance with Morgana works well to show their determinate to kill Arthur and Merlin.

The exploration of Merlin in this episode was really good as he had to deal with his magic being drained by a creature sent by Morgana. It was good how Merlin became vulnerable at the start of the episode and throughout tried to fight against fate and regain his magic until he was trapped by Morgana in the crystal cave, and he gave up. Then, through the use of the ghost of Merlin's father, Balindor, Merlin finds the belief in himself he needs to emerge out of the light as the stronger older Merlin, whose use as comical figure appears to be at an end.

All the central cast, Colin Morgan, Bradley Jame, Angel Coulby and Katie McGrath all give great performances, along with Richard Wilson, Alexander Vlahos, Rupert Young, Eoin Macken and Tom Hopper's portrayals also add a lot to the episode.

The Town

This 3 part series centres around the residents of the town of Renton.

Mainly centring around the return of Mark Nicholas to the town after the supposed suicide of his parents, the show works well to keep this story as the focal point, but to also bring in other strands of narrative through the lives of other characters. Also as Mark tries to find out more about what happened to his parents, a conspiracy seemed to be developing, which made the story more intriguing.

When it emerged that Mark's mother, Kate, had an affair with Chris Franks, the officer in charge of the investigation into their deaths and that Mark's parents were involved in the death of the mayor Len's son 13 years earlier and it seemed to support the suicide theory. So later when it is revealed that it was the Len that murdered his parents in revenge for what happened to his son, it came as a surprise.

I did like how Mark's sister, Jodie and grandmother, Betty, dealt with the tragedy and how they all tried to move on. I wasn't sure about Jodie at first, but by the end of the first episode I had started to come around to her. Within this it was interesting to see the development of Mark's relationship with past partner Alice, Jodie's relationship with Harry and Betty's friendship with young boy Daniel.

Andrew Scott, Martin Clunes, Julia McKenzie and Avigail Tlalim all gave superb performances as the leading characters. Meanwhile, Charlotte Riley, Goldy Notay, Kelly Adams, Gerard Kearns and Toby Regbo are all great additions to the cast, which allowed for the sense that the story involved the whole town to be shown.

The Poison Tree

This was a good and tense thriller.

Centred around Karen Clarke, who finds herself being stalked and blackmailed after the return of her husband, Rex, from a 12 year prison sentence. From the start there a good amount of mystery and intrigue around the reason Rex was in prison and also for the secret that they can't tell their daughter Alice. From this was see Karen struggling to hid the stalking from Rex and protect Alice from the truth.

The mysterious is revealed through flashbacks to 1999 where a 19 year old Karen meets art student Biba and later moves in with her and her brother Rex. We see how the three grew close and then when Biba and Rex's estranged father tried to sell the house and started to throw out their belongings, it was Biba who accidentally pushed their father over the balcony and then shot Lenny in order to stop him calling the police, instead of Rex. I thought that this was built up well and the reveal was done in a very good way to leave a question of who shot Lenny at the end of the first episode.

The secret emerges that Alice, was the daughter of Biba and Lenny, not Karen and Rex, who was left with Karen after Biba's apparent suicide. This aspect was well written and handled, with it being seen from Karen's perspective. The use of the flashbacks works well to build up tension and allowed me to connection with Karen and see how she was pushed into being part of the cover up and taking care of Alice. When the second mystery stalker is revealed, it was aurprise and the action that Karen takes was very shocking.

MyAnna Buring, Matthew Goode and Ophelia Lovibond all gave great performances as the three central characters, while newcomer Hebe Johnson gave a strong performance as Alice.

The Hour - Series 2

This series saw police corruption and organised crime take centre stage.

So in the wake of the previous series' revelations and a gap of 9 months, this series opened with the Hour facing competition from ITV's Uncovered, Freddie's absence, Hector's entrance into celebrity and a new conspiracy. With these elements it made it intriguing and compelling from the start to see how they would develop and gave new areas for development for the characters. This was also seen when their source, Rosa Maria Ramirez is murdered and Bel's guilt and Freddie's apparent indifference comes into conflict.

As with the last series, historical events are used as a background to many of the episodes. For instance, it shows the space race, the attitudes to immigration, the cold war and the corruption among police and socialites. These all help to build a continually intriguing storylines and create a tense and well pace piece of drama. Moreover, I like how Bel's emotions for Freddie have been amplified, but must be hidden in the face of Freddie's marriage to a French woman,  Camille Mettier, during this time away. In contrast, it's interesting to see how Freddie struggles with married life and his relationship Camille is tested by Bel's presence, which later leads to the ending of it.

I also like how the characters, Lix Storm and Marnie Madden, have been give more development, with Marnie carving her own career in TV and it being revealed that Lix had a daughter she gave up for adoption and is trying to find her along with new character Randall Brown. This development showed a stronger side to Marnie and a softer side to Lix, making them more in-depth characters.

The main cast, including Ben Whishaw, Romola Garai and Dominic West all gave great performances, while Anna Chancellor and Oona Chaplin gave strong performance with their character's new development. Peter Capaldi, Hannah Tointon, Lizzie Brochere, Tom Burke and Vincent Riotta are all great additions to the cast, allowing their character to make their mark and grow well throughout. This has been a great series and the cliffhanger of the last episode was so good and very tense.

Last Tango In Halifax - Series 1

This is a warm-hearted story of an elderly couple reunited after 60 years apart.

This was the feel good story of Alan and Celia who, after knowing each other when they were teenagers, are reunited through Facebook and start the long awaited relationship that they should have had 60 years earlier. The show works well to keep these two characters as the central point, while bringing in the complicated lives of their family, including Alan's daughter Gillian's affair with Paul and relationship with her son, Raff, and Celia's daughter Caroline's failed marriage to John and her relationship with co-worker Kate.

All the characters are well developed, with Alan and Celia's growing honesty with each other feeling quite natural and really good. Moreover, I think through the lively and strong characterisation, it really helped to shine a more positive light on old age and shows that the elderly shouldn't be taken for granted or portrayed as weak as they often are. As a side note, it also allowed for a good light to shine on social media as it showed how Facebook can be used in a positive way to reunite long lost friends.

I liked how the relationship was tested in the last episode, with Alan being disappointed by Celia's harsh reaction to her finding out about Caroline's relationship with Kate. This set up a very emotional and powerful episode and I thought that Celia's change of mind was down in a very smart way. Furthermore, when Celia reconciles with Alan after his has a heart attack, it was very powerful and allowed for a very happy way to end the series.

Anne Reid and Derek Jacobi gave wonderful performances as Celia and Alan, with Sarah Lancashire and Nicola Walker supporting them with strong portrayals of Caroline and Gillian. There were also good performances from Dean Andrews, Tony Gardner, Josh Bolt, Nina Sosanya, Louis Greatorex and Edward Ashley.

Merlin: Series 5 - The Drawing Of The Dark

This episode saw Mordred join Morgana.

Mordred came to centre stage in this dramatic episode, which saw him switch his loyalties from Arthur to Morgana. I think it was done in a very good way with Mordred being seen as a very caring and loyal person, whose turn to Morgana's side was as much as a result of his friends betrayal, as it was because of Kara's influence. The use of the character of Kara, who was a fellow druid and person that Mordred loved, helped to act as Mordred motivation, especially in the event of her death after she was put on trial and sentenced to death by Arthur.

This betrayal by Arthur, especially after Mordred begged him to reconsider, does show how Mordred's loyalty is tested and allowed him to sympathise with him as I could see the difficult he faced. Kara also was an interesting character, representing Morgana's growing influence and how Arthur's continuation of the laws against magic have turned people against him and made them see him to be the same as his father. This was then contrasted by Arthur's offer to Kara to free walk if she repents for her crimes and showing that her fate was her own fault as it was Arthur's.

It is also good to see how Merlin tries to fight against the tide of fate and how all the things he does in the episodes, including betraying Mordred to Arthur, are all done for the greater good. Although I can see how Merlin's past suspicion toward Mordred has not helped the situation and comes ahead in this episodes in a big way as Mordred reveals Emrys' true identity as Merlin to Morgana. This added to the sewing of the seeds of Camelot's doom that have been growing in the last few episodes and now it will be interesting to see how the two-part finale will shape itself.

I thought Alexander Vlahos and Alexandra Dowling gave great performances as Mordred and Kara, and their chemistry works well to develop a believable relationship that I could invest in and feel sympathy for how it tragically ended. Also I think Colin Morgan gives a very strong performance as the out of depth Merlin, who realises he can no longer fight the path of destiny.

The Secret Of Crickley Hall

This was a great and thrilling drama.

Centring around two periods of the same house, Crickley Hall. The first being the present day, where the Caleigh family have moved in for six months to get away during the one year anniversary of parents Eve and Gabe's son Cameron going missing. The other is the house used as a orphanage in World War 2, where the children are mistreated by brother and sister Augustus and Magda Cribbins and events around the tragic deaths that took place there.. And the connection of the two periods acts through the character of Percy Judd, who worked for the Cribbins and remained as the caretaker of the house through to the present day.

The show does well to show underlying themes of child abuse, through Nancy Linnet's campaign to free the children from the grips of the Cribbins, and bullying of Loren Caleigh because of her brother's disappearance. The attitudes of the Cribbins toward German orphan Stefan Rosenbaum, also reflect on how German refugees may have been treated by many people during the war. And with these underlying themes came the mystery of what happened to Stefan and Maurice Stafford whose bodies were never found.

The three-part drama works well to shift smoothly between the two times and it keeps the mysterious of both times twisting and turning in a very good way. Also the way the ghostly happening are filmed with close up shots helps to add to their potential realism. It was interesting to see how the stories became more darker as they develop, with the sweet romance between Nancy and Percy and then her later murder by Maurice and Magda, and the deaths of the orphans apart from Stefan at the hands of Augustus.

With this in mind, the final episode saw a great deal of tension and heartbreak, as Percy discovered the truth about Nancy's disappearance and the Caleighs found out about Cameron's accidental death, which was handled in a very affective manner. Furthermore, we later find out that Maurice, now known as Gordon Pyke, is under the control of the ghost of Augustus to kill one of the Caleigh children, which he finally gives up doing when confronted by the ghost of Nancy.

Suranne Jones, Tom Ellis, Olivia Cooke all give great performances, adding a lot of emotion and strength to the story. Other cast members including Douglas Henshall, Sarah Smart, Iain de Caestecker, Susan Lynch, Donald Sumpter and David Warner, also give good performances, allowing their characters to develop well. I also have to give credit to young actors Maisie Williams, Pixie Davies, Elliot Kerley and Kian Parsiani, who did a great job at showing their great potential.

Merlin: Series 5 - The Kindness Of Strangers

This episodes saw the build up to the two-part finale start.

This episode saw Morgana stepping up her campaign to found out the identity of Emrys and soon it turned into a cat and mouse chase as Merlin was given the knowledge of the Old Religion by Finna that is needed for the coming battle. Within this it was good to see Merlin and Gaius's relationship, like that of a father and a son, come into focus, which shows the amount of growth that the characters have gone through together.

There was a good contrast between the loved up scenes between Arthur and Gwen and the capture and later death of Alator of the Catha by Morgana, who previously appeared in series 4. It helped to give shades of light and dark to the episodes. Also the use of Alator again adds to the strength of Morgana's conviction to find Emrys, as Alator had been previously employed to haunt down Emrys by Morgana.

It was also good how the script made it unsure whether Finna's loyalities were initially with Merlin or Morgana, but this soon turned out to be the former. I was thinking that with the mention of Saxons, not just in this episodes but in others seemed to be the show trying to tie its historical narrative into established history. It very much felt like a build up of the continuity and narrative as Mordred's importance in future events start to pick up, Finna's warning to Merlin about 'the druid boy' and Morgana's declaration of war.

Gary Lewis makes a good return as Alator and Sorcha Cusack gives a great performances as Finna.

Merlin: Series 5 - With All My Heart

This was a good episode, where Gwen was fixed!

It was a really good story, with a nice mix of humour and drama.  I'm glad to see that Gwen's recent evil activity has now been explained as being down to powerful magic from the Old Religion that causes the victim's soul to be replaced by the demands of their master. Then I really liked the bit between Arthur and Gwen, where only the line 'With all my heart' is able to bring back some of the old Gwen and allow her to be cured. I also thought it was done in such a simple and effective way.

I thought that Merlin in drag as the Old Woman worked as a humourous tool and I supposed was used because of how serious the upcoming episodes will be. Furthermore, this I suppose helped to show the Merlin of previous series, compared to that of him as the Old Man Merlin threatening and actually injuring the Dochraid, which I wasn't that sure of really. But I did like the bit where Gaius and Merlin have to smuggle Gwen out of Camelot and it was good to see Richard Wilson providing a lot of the humour.

As we near the end of the series, Mordred came more involved and showed a strong sense of loyalty towards Arthur, which is a very contrasting image to that of him killing Arthur in Merlin flash forward. Also Morgana appears to be starting to lose control and it'll be interesting to how her and Mordred's alliance is meant to emerge.

Credit goes to Angel Coulby and Bradley James for their strong performances and Colin Morgan brings out a very good comical effect in his. Maureen Carr also gives a good performance as evil Dochraid.

Hunted - Series 1

This is a good spy drama and improved throughout the series.

Having been created by the same people behind Spooks, comparisons might be made and although it does have all the elements of a spy drama, it feels different. I felt this was because the series is more centred around one character, Samantha 'Sam' Hunter , and her journey to find the person who betrayed her. The character's tragedy backstory adds a contrast and a connection for the audience in face of the strong and cold exterior that Sam portrays.

The series also focuses around the work of the private security services, in the form of the company Byzantium and the team's mission that is controlled by their client. This allows for an interesting exploration, as moral issues emerge, along with the fact that the team members can't know who the client is or why they have employed them, but still have to complete the orders. Furthermore, this came forth with the team having to 'terminate' one of their group who had been captured.

The sub-plots of the conspiracy to kill Sam, Sam's mission to integrate herself into the Jack Turner household and the elements of the mission that emerge with each episode, work well to create tension and suspense. They also work to create twists and turn that are able to keep the story fresh and moving in a fast pace over the 8 episode run. I think this series worked well to maintain the story arc and concluded in a very dramatic and clever way.

Melissa George gives a superb performance as Sam, giving a very layered portrayal. Other members of the cast including Stephen Campbell Moore, Patrick Malahide, Adam Rayner and Indira Varma, all give good performance, making their characters stand out.

Merlin: Series 5 - The Hollow Queen

This episode sees how much change has happened to Merlin since the start of the show.

I liked how Merlin seemed very much like Gaius, when he was looking after Daegal, which I thought was a really good way to show the character's growth. This is again shown when Merlin was able to instruct Daegal on what to use in order to cure the poison that Morgana used on him. I think that the character of Daegal acted as a reflection of how naive Merlin use to be at the start of the show.

I also think that the balance between Gwen being evil and appearing not to be, was achieved more effectively in this episode. Furthermore, with the device of having Merlin being lured away from Camelot, it works to extend this character change, as the montage for the next episode seem to show them hopefully fixing Gwen.

Another element of continuity entered in this episode in form of Sarrum of Amata, who was the one that imprisoned Morgana during the period between this and the last series. Also with the sad news of this being the last series of the show, it does seem that the continuity elements that have already been shown are building up to a big climax.

There were good performances from guest stars John Shrapnel and Alfie Stewart and its good to see Richard Wilson being given a bit more action.

Merlin: Series 5 - A Lesson In Vengeance

So this episode saw Gwen go bad.

This character change, mixed together with an attempt to kill Arthur, does make it interesting and intriguing. It is always good to be able to see a character's different side come out and gave Angel Coulby a good chance to show her versatility as a actor. Although, the source of Gwen's turn to evil hasn't been fully explained, which leaves me to question whether its of her own doing or she isn't aware of what she is doing because of being brainwashed by Morgana. I would prefer it to be the latter, as Gwen does kill someone in this episode out of cold blood which wouldn't be something the character would usually do.

Also I did think it would be a one episode thing but it seems that maybe it'll be an aspect that goes into the finale, which does add another layer to the continuity of the coming downfall of Arthur and Camelot. The guest character of Tyr Seward helped to show the change in Gwen and add to the suspense of the story. Also Gwen's plan to frame Merlin was a really good twist and showed a really contrast to the friendship they have had previously. I do like how Arthur and Gwen's relationship, in general, is portrayed to be very strong and supportive.

Moreover, Arthur and Merlin's two-hander scenes give a good sense of humour to the episode. It is also good to see how strong and determined Merlin is to keep Arthur alive. I do like when the old Merlin comes out and how he looks like the stereotypical image of Merlin from the Arthurian legend. And when the conclusion of the episode came, it, like last week's, left a feeling of anticipation as Gwen has everyone fooled, apart from Merlin and Gaius and it will be interesting to see how this will develop.

The guest cast, including John Bradley, Tony Guilfoyle and Zee Asha, all give good performers, adding tension and humour to the episode.

Merlin: Series 5 - The Dark Tower

This was a really good episode that felt fairytale like and had a great cliffhanger.

In this episode Gwen took more of a central role and it was good to see her getting more involved. It was also good to see Gwen's brother, Sir Elyan, being given a bit more development as well after Gwen was kidnapped by Morgana. Moreover, having two-hander scenes with just Gwen and Morgana worked well to show the change in their relationship and also an echo of the old friendship that once existed. I did like how Arthur and Gwen's relationship was highlighted well showing how much they care for each other.

The Dark Tower, where Gwen was imprisoned, seemed to feed on her fears and was done in a really creepy way, with close up shots on Gwen's face that worked well to create a sense of claustrophobia and make me sympathise with Gwen's situation. The use of night time for most of the episode and the prediction of a death helped to great suspense and tension throughout the episode.

The episode did feel very fairytale like, with the queen locked in a tower by an evil witch and her king has to fight through a thick and magical forest in order to save her. Only this fairytale ended in the death of Elyan and gave a bit of motive for the twist at the end of the episode which really was a surprise and left me thinking how this would then develop in the next episode.

There were great performance from Angel Coulby, Katie McGrath and Adetomiwa Edun, with a great amount of tension that led to a very surprising conclusion.

Monroe - Series 2

The medical drama returns, despite the 18 month gap in narrative, it works to make it feel that I can just settle back into investing in the characters.

I like how Sarah Parish's character, Jenny Bremmer, throughout the series had a good amount of character development where Bremmer learns to become more emotionally able with her partner Lawrence Shepherd and also more sympathetic with her patients. The central character Gabriel Monroe, portrayed by James Nesbitt, also developed well with him having to deal with causing damage to a patient's brain during an operation which worsens their condition.

Furthermore, in general the operations and the way the series tells of the background of the guest characters, are done in a very stylish and effective manner. It was also good how the cardiac centred stories were shown in an equal amount to the neurosurgery ones. Also the operation themselves and how they are done are just remarkable, such as when they have to stop a patient's heart in order to transplant it and when a patient is awake during the operation on their brain.

Parish and Nesbitt both give great performances as do the rest of the main cast. Tracy-Ann Oberman as Lizzie Clapham and Neil Pearson as Alistair Gillespie are great additions to the cast. The list of guest cast is vast and full of very good performances. It's been a very good series and it would be interesting to see how another series, if there is one, would develop.

Merlin: Series 5 - The Disir

This episode saw the exploration of Arthur's conflict with magic.

It was interesting to see how Arthur's strong belief in still having magic outlawed conflicted with the ideal that one day magic will return to Camelot. The idea of Arthur being judged and given his fate by the Disir, the highest court of the Old Religion and communicators with the gods, was very interesting and brings more of the coming downfall of Camelot that's been hinted at throughout the series so far.

The episode feels like it was setting up a lot of series continuity with Arthur rejecting the Disir's offer to accept magic. Although I would have thought that Arthur, after four series, would have been anxious about what consequences would come by rejecting magic and upholding his father's beliefs.  Also the way the Disir were shown worked well to create a sense of mysterious and power that would have to be associated to these powerful magical figures.

There is very much a different tone to this series, especially in terms of Merlin, who in this episodes makes quite a dark decision to let Mordred die because he seems to be consumed by the fate of Arthur and Camelot that he's been shown. What is good is how Arthur and Merlin's friendship is shown to be very strong, with Merlin very much acting as a confidant and wise adviser.

Merlin: Series 5 - Another's Sorrow

This episodes saw a good adventure story, furthering the characters and dealing with various elements of continuity of the series.

I felt that there was a sense that this episode was helping to tie up loose ends as the guest cast included the return of established characters, Princess Mithian and King Odin. Using these characters helps to further show passage of time between series and also how the ideal of the united kingdom under Arthur starts to come into place. It's good to see Richard Wilson being used more in this episode, as he hasn't had much until now in this series. Furthermore, it's interesting to see how a more grown up and tougher Merlin is starting to emerge.

This episodes feels like a return to past series and showing how much the characters have developed. It also really highlights Arthur and Merlin relationship which seems to be getting more stronger. The story also builds up tension and anticipation over how the episode will conclude, as most of it is the quest to request Mithian's father. The final confrontation between Arthur and Odin worked well and helped to show Arthur's humanity.

I think Katie McGrath gives a good performance as the aged servant version of Morgana with visuals and a voice that were convincing. Janet Montgomery and Fintan McKeown also return will good portrayals that reintroduce and make the characters make their mark effectively.

Merlin: Series 5 - The Death Song of Uther Pendragon

This third episode of the series was really good, with an interesting and strong story.

Arthur Pendragon, played by Bradley James, took centre stage as much of this character development was brought forth and increased. Focusing on Arthur's alternative attitude to magic and his fear of being haunted, in this episode literally, by his father Uther's legacy and spirit, it gives a different tone to the episode. In this respect, with the return of Anthony Head as Uther's spirit, this story helps to move on Arthur's development and tie up Uther's character, with him discovering that Merlin has magic.

There's also an interesting undertone of morality as it displays the question of would you summon your deceased loved ones if you had the means. But I also like how the gateway between the worlds was located at Stonehenge. I thought that the use of lighting at this point looked stylish and the music again worked well to complement the visuals.

Being more character centred I can see Arthur's growth and how he comes to the realisation that his reign has to be his own and not overshadowed by his father's. Also being set mostly at night and not seeing Uther's spirit during his attack on the castle and its occupants helped to create and build up tension. The final confrontation really makes it clear the differences between Arthur and Uther, and make me think that this will help Arthur to move on and become more confident in himself.

I thought James gave a great performance and that Head's return worked well and he brought Uther back to live very effectively.

Breaking Bad - Series 1

So I've heard a lot about this series and when friends say it's really good, you want to see it. And I'm glad I did.

This series focuses on Walter White, a chemist teacher who, after being diagnosed with cancer and given only a few years to live, decides to start cooking and selling crystal meth in order to create a financially secure future for his pregnant wife and cerebral palsic son.

When I had heard about that character change I was a bit unsure about its validity, but once I saw the first episode I found that I understood Walter's decision. Also I felt the setup worked well to make me sympathise with him and it was interesting to see how the events that take place altered him and how he goes from being seen as a joke to someone whose enjoys the thrill of doing something illegal. I thought Bryan Cranston was able to communicate this effectively and gave a fantastic performance throughout.

Overall, I like how humour is used and placed within the episodes. Moreover, I like how the domesticity shown through his wife Skyler, son Walter Jr, brother in law Hank and sister in law Marie helped to break up and make the episodes more lighter when compared with the darker, gorier elements, such as the dissolved remains of a body falling through the ceiling onto the floor in episode 2, that are used. The connecting of various storylines and how they develop through the series are very interesting and felt that the show was looking at a very human perspective on what happens.

Cranston and Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman work well together  and the two conflicting characters create a likable duo. I found that there was something that felt different about this show and I think its original context allows it to set itself out from other shows.

Merlin: Series 5 - Arthur's Bane (Part 2)

This episode, acting as the other half of the opening two-parter, matched the first episode well and created a lot of elements that will no doubt reoccur later on in the series.

The episode does take a slower pace, but keeps the action very much present and often used as a way of moving on the episode. It's also good to see how more aspects of the Arthurian legend comes into play and the story works well to create an effective conclusion to the opener of the series. Furthermore, the strength of Merlin and the series potential development does make me think that Merlin's secret will probably be revealed to Arthur soon. I also thought that the locations and music used added greatly to the story.

The supposed death of Morgana came as a surprise, especially being done by Mordred and it looks like his development throughout the series will be intriguing to see. Even more when this will be put against Merlin's development and conflict with him. Also what appeared to be an alien, was in fact that, an alien! The Euchdag, as it is known, voiced very well by Josette Simon, worked well to add another aspect to the series and it was understandable when it was revealed to be the key. I do like how the idea of Arthur's bane is from within himself, which will make an interesting character exploration.

The guest cast, including Sophie Rundle, Liam Cunnimgham and Stephen McCole, held their own with differing and good performances. This episode also further shows the great development that Gwen has gone through, shown through her strategic and strong mindset, played effectively by Angel Coulby.

Good Cop

This series followed the idea of taking justice into your own hands.

Focusing on police officer John Paul Rocksavage and the murder of his colleague Andy Stockwell by a gang, and a split second decision sees him go from a law abiding cop to an revengeful killer.

I thought this was a very tense four-part thriller, with many good elements to it. These include the many aspects of John Paul's life. For instance, we see his domestic side as he has to care for his father and his need to reconnect with his first love Cassandra, his strategic mind that he has to use in order to cover his tracks and his good cop roots that are brought out by trainee Amanda Morgan, played by Kerrie Hayes. These make him a very multi-layered character and a very interesting one that I invest in, which is done through Warren Brown's good performance.

The series developed well, with the tension kept up by the relatively fast past, especially in the final episodes where it intensified even more. This was because, having been postponed due to the recent events in Manchester, it saw John Paul's erratic behaviour increase as Amanda was brutally attacked in a failed operation and led him to inadvertently kill an innocent man. By this point I can see how the character has changed and left wondering whether he will be caught at the end of the episode.

Obviously you wouldn't want to think of the a police officer taking justice into his own hands, but in a way you can see how he gets to and why he does what he did. In terms of the final episode this feeds into the debate about arming police that has risen recently. Also the use of sub-plots of different crimes display his good side but as well it effectively shows the blurring of his judgement. Brown does well to show the character's downfall in the last episode and there were also great performances from Kerrie Hayes, Michael Angelis and Aisling Loftus.

Homefront: Series 1 - Episode 1

This is an interesting military drama, where the perspective of military wives and girlfriends take centre stage.

The opening episode deals with the death of a soldier, Private Matthew Raveley, and how his wife Tasha and family cope with what has happened. I thought it was good how the different reactions to grief were shown and I liked it when Tasha initially refused to attend the funeral because it was more about and for the army then her, which can be understandable and an interesting perspective. But then when she did arrive at the church, I thought the this made the funeral seem very human and emotional.

Also I think the interweaving of the other storylines and characters helped to break up the episode and give it a steady pace. I think Claire Skinner's character, Claire Marshbrook, who is a major's new girlfriend, is an interesting way of representing the audience's view as she has to get use to the politics and procedure that exists even among the families.

I thought all the cast were good, especially Antonia Thomas as Tasha and Chris Reilly as the grieving brother Tom. I'm looking forward to seeing how the other storylines will development as they develop.

Merlin: Series 5 - Arthur's Bane (Part 1)

So the series returned with a strong start to its fifth series, where 3 years of peace have past since the finale of series 4.

All the main cast have come back with more interesting character developments, such as Gwen, who now being queen seems to be more authoritative and every character held their own in this fast paced and epic opener. Also the reintroduction of Mordred, the establishment of the Round Table and Albion starting, I can see more of the mythology coming into use, which makes the series have more potential for growth. One thing was unepected was the appearance of what appeared to be an alien. So maybe the show's going more sci-fi, but hopefully should be explained next week.

This episode, acting as the first of a two-parter, builds up the suspense and tension with the mystery around Arthur's bane and the key that Morgana is trying to find by kidnapping numerous people including some Camelot knights. An older Mordred, now played by Alexander Vlahos, brings forth the idea of Merlin's arch enemy and it will be interesting to see how this will develop throughout the series. I was surprised by the harder persona that Gwen displays especially when sentencing someone to death near the end of the episode, but I suppose it's understandable that the character has had to become more stronger with now being queen and she still showed her kinder side at various points during the episode.

Colin Morgan, Bradley James, Katie McGrath and Angel Coulby all gave great performances, along with the cameo of John Hurt as the Great Dragon, whose voice always brings a bit of gravitas to his scenes. So overall it was a great and strong opening episode and setting up a lot of stuff for the concluding episode of the two-parter next week and the series as a whole.

The Paradise: Series 1 - Episode 1

This series, an adaption of Emile Zola's novel, is about a young woman, Denise Lovett, who tries to make her mark in the country's first department store, known as The Paradise.

The show works well to show the motivations and skill that Denise has, and to create well established main and supporting characters, with expectation of further development throughout the series. Some of the characters, such as store owner Morey, represent the development of the modern age and its interesting to see how these conflict with the 'old class' characters. Furthermore, the story of Denise trying to make something of herself works well to strike an accord with me.

The set up of the series allows for a lot of areas of exploration. These include the social aspects of the time, as well as a the development of consumerism and the battle between departments stores and the small businesses. Although, they do act as a background to the stories that centre around the characters, but they are well highlighted. Moreover, the sets look superb, with obviously great detail and work done on it.

Joanna Vanderham gives a good performance as the smart and kind Denise, will other members of the cast including Sarah Lancashire, Emun Elliott, Matthew McNulty and Elaine Cassidy, also making their presence felt.

Doctor Who: Series 7 - The Angels Take Manhattan

So there it was. The end of the Ponds, and it was sad and tense.

 The Weeping Angels, who have become kind of the main enemy of Amy and Rory's time, return and they are used as the device in order to make sure the Ponds won't return and they fitted well into the New York setting. Also there is this suggestion of passing time in Amy and Rory's storyline and the ideas of witnessing or reading your own future that makes it set in stone, which I thought were interesting ideas.

From the start there was anticipation of the how Amy and Rory's fate would play out and when the idea of them both sacrificing themselves came around I was surprised and hoped it wouldn't be the end. Then when the end came it felt heartbreaking and sad, which were further amplified by the main cast's performances. I'm also left with mixed feelings as its good that Amy and Rory remain together but at the same time its sad because they can't live out the lives they should have had in their normal time. The use of the timey-wimey aspect also helps to create a mystery around what would happen throughout the episode and this kept me guessing on how it would end.

Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill give some of their best performances as they tackle the end of their characters. Matt Smith also gives a great performance especially in the last scene, and we can clearly see the chemistry between the three actors. Furthermore, we couldn't have the end of the Ponds without River Song and Alex Kingston gives her all in bringing the humour of the episode to the fore. Also have to give credit to Murray Gold's score that gave some great gravitas to the episode.

Mrs Biggs

This is a dramatisation of Charmian Powell's love affair and marriage to the famous train robber Ronnie Biggs.

Starring Sheridan Smith (Charmian) and Daniel Mays (Ronnie), it's a very interesting portrayal focusing on Charmian's life. In this way, it makes it feel that it's more about the characters behind Ronnie Biggs instead of focusing on his crimes. Also its interesting to see how Charmian is led into Ronnie's criminal antics and how much she grows as a character which helps me to believe in the passage of time that takes place and the strength of their relationship..

Obviously the drama tackled the train robbery and does it in a way where the perspectives of Charmian, whose blissfully unaware, and Ronnie, whose every much a small part of the operation, are juxtaposed cleverly. I think this along with Charmian's horrified and then protective response, made it very easy to understand her reaction and how she struggles to hide the truth. I found that showing all the things she did including helping in the plan for Ronnie's prison escape and then their life on the run abroad, made it very easy for me to understand and warm towards her.

Smith gave a superb performance, with Mays also giving a good portrayal, allowing me to be able to see how much they have worked on their character's relationship and chemistry. I get a great sense that Charmian and Ronnie did love each other, but maybe Charmian more, and how much it affected Charmian because of being cut off from her family and facing life as a single mother and under the supervision of the criminal associates of Bruce Reynolds. Within this situation I felt a lot of sympathy for Charmian as she faced the horror of having an illegal abortion as a result of an affair. Furthermore, I felt that the death of their eldest children Nicholas due to a car crash was approached and done in a very sympathetic and powerful way, making me see how and why their relationship crumbles. Smith was very powerful in these scenes and gave a heartbreaking performance.

I very good and fascinating drama-documentary.

Parade's End

This is a period drama based on the set of novels by Ford Madox Ford, centred around the unlikely marriage of Christopher Tietjans and Sylvia Satterthwaite over a period of time including the First World War and his love of suffragette Valentine Wannop.

Benedict Cumberbatch does a great performance as the nice and dutiful Christopher, while Rebecca Hall makes me sympathise with the flirtous Sylvia who has had affairs. This is because Hall gives a layered performance of Sylvia showing a vulnerability and need for Christopher to love and fight for her. Tom Stoppard's script works well to use the Edwardian language effectively to allow me to follow the story without being confused by the pomp and ceremony of it. Cumberbatch also shines in his role and especially in the wartime scenes. He clearly shows the struggles that Christopher goes through to try and not have an affair with Valentine. Adelaide Clemens also does a good portrayal as the strong and political Valentine, who very much represents the changing of attitudes.

I like how the drama examines and shows the harshness of the climate of the time including the suffragettes and the First World War, but also the strictness of the social etiquette. This especially seen when Christopher and Sylvia have to publicly reunite after she ran off to France with another man and this social pressure is very much represented by the character of Sylvia's mother.

It's also interesting how the drama also examines societal attitudes towards the war and the dividing attitudes of Christopher and Sylvia. This comes mainly in the fourth episode where Sylvia travels to France to see Christopher and shows how their relationship has done a great deal of damage to Christopher's life. The ending of the series feels quite fitting and I think overall it's been well written and performed.

Leaving

This is an intriguing drama about an affair between a 44 year old married deputy manager, Julie and unemployed 25 year old Aaron.

Following the typical set up we see Julie, whose marriage has lost its spark and seeks for fun and to be young again, fall for Aaron in what I found felt like a natural progression and not at all sordid. It's also very interesting how the relationship develops and how in the final episode the consequences made me feel great sympathy for mainly Julie as she can't walk away from her family as easily as she thought. Also the use of Aaron's parents as an unhappy couple in which you would expect this situation would arise showed that the situation isn't just black and white.

I found it interesting how they had the contrasting sub-plot of Julie's husband Michael engaging in a harmless flirtatous that resulted in him being suspended and later convicted of threatening behaviour but you can see that this situation was blown out of proportion. I found myself routing for both couples, which is very interesting to try and work out how I want it to end, but I was quite surprised by Michael's violent reaction to finding out about the affair which I'm not sure was necesary.

The final scenes gave me mixed feelings as I wanted both Julie's relationships to work and we're left unsure as to what her future will be. Meanwhile, I thought Helen McCrory did a great job as Julie especially in the last episode. Callum Turner also gave a good performance as Aaron and his chemistry with McCrory worked well to communicate the character's developing relationship.

Inspector George Gently - Series 5

This was a great series, set in 1968 and among an atmosphere of change, and feels very different to other detective dramas.

Focusing on Inspector George Gently, played by Martin Shaw, and Sergeant John Bacchus, played by Lee Ingleby, the two characters work well together and even though Gently might be seen as a dinosaur, he is instead quite progressive and helps to mentor Bacchus. The mysteries in this series were very thought through and kept me guessing, especially in the third episodes where a baby was snatched.

Each episode, 4 in total, worked very well as individual stories, but they also had underlying elements of questions about social change and society. For instance, the first had suggestions of attitudes towards immigrants and racism, the second looked at the association of different classes and the third explored gender roles and perceptions on women. Meanwhile, the fourth had thoughts on corruption in the police force and within society. These elements are used effectively as they were hidden by the murder mysteries that acted as the stories foundations.

The series finale was a very dramatic and tense thriller. It saw Gently being accused of corruption and framed for two murders and story worked well to show the level of corruption that is easily manipulated against a clean officer. Also I was surprised by the dramatic final scenes where, as well as most of the guest cast being killed, the fates of Gently and Bacchus are left in the balance after both being shot in a showdown with the remaining criminal in a cathedral. I also think that Shaw and Ingleby gave great performances throughout the series but especially in these scenes.

Doctor Who: Series 7 - The Power Of Three

This was a great episode and found it was a good bit of fun before the finale.

I really liked the ideas of the Doctor having to live time and the domesticity of it. I thought it was interesting that it explored how a companion would cope with real life and life with the Doctor colliding and one living out the other. I think that sometimes we can forget that the companion has a real life and age while their in the TARDIS and looking at this through Amy and Rory's developing life on Earth was very good.

One thing I really liked was that the character of Kate Stewart was the daughter of established character Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart. This was a lovely and appropriate thing to do as it gave another nod to the Brigadier and the actor that portrayed him, Nicholas Courtney who died in 2011, and having her heading up UNIT and it being more scientifically led, showed a great respect for the classic series.

The idea of the cubes and how their mystic and initial lack of action was able to place people under a false sense of security. I wasn't quite sure about how Brian Williams could have stayed in the TARDIS for four days just watched a cube and why didn't anyone else notice that. Anyway, this episode felt like it was more about the Doctor, Amy and Rory and I think it's probably an interesting set up towards the finale episode.

The Bletchley Circle

This three part series centres around 4 women who were code breakers in WW2 and now have returned to a normal life, but when one of them, Susan Gray, spots a pattern in a set of murders, the women come together again to solve the mystery.

I found this was an intriguing and interesting mystery drama because of the complexity of the storyline and the strong assets of all the women which are clearly shown. Also interweaving the women's domestic lives into the story also helped to create a steady pace and show the character's motivations. Also I think the reason why it works is that if these were just ordinary housewives deciding to investigate the murder, the audience might ask why, but the characters Susan, Millie, Lucy and Jean miss their wartime experience and the fact they made a difference every day.

The later episode did a good job in building the tension as the story came to a climax and the way the serial killer's psychology was structured was very affective. Also with it being set in 1952 it had more validity to the danger and disbelief from the police that the characters have to face.

The main cast, including Anna Maxwell Martin, Julie Graham, Rachael Stirling and Sophie Rundle, all gave good performances. I also have to praise Martin for her strong performance in the final scenes of the last episode.

Downton Abbey: Series 3 - Episode 1

The third series opened with a great first episode, centring around the wedding of Matthew and Mary Crawley.

As with the usual format of the series, we join the members of Downton in 1920, two years after the end of the 2011 Christmas Special. This episode really works in introducing new characters, establishing new storylines for current characters and creating hints at the series overall story arc. I think the fact that I as an audience member join the characters, not just this episode but since its first episode, at times of climax in there characters' development and making me feel that the time jumps make the character's development seem more organic.

With starting this episode set in Spring 1920 and Lord Grantham facing financial ruin makes me think that the series is either leading to the Wall Street Crash or an event in the mid-1920s as the series usually climaxes at an historical event. What is also interesting is how this episode shows the conflict between tradition and change, which is very much symbolised by the characters of Tom Branson and Lord Grantham.

I thought all the cast give good performance and I really liked the duo of Dame Maggie Smith's character Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham and new character Martha Levinson, played by Shirley MacLaine, and thought that their performances bounced off each really well. I also think that having the episodes running at 90 minutes makes it feel like a short film and it kept my attention throughout.

Really looking forward to the rest of the series.

Doctor Who: Series 7 - A Town Called Mercy

Doctor Who does Wild West! I thought this was a good episode centring around a cyborg known as the Gunslinger whose hunting down the last of its creators in a wild west American town.

I thought it looked stylised with the great Spanish landscape acting as the desert of the wild west. The inclusion of well known western traits are also a good addition to a rather more darker story. I thought it was interesting by having a question about morality in war with the character of Kahler-Jex who could be seen as either a war hero or criminal, and this is added to by Amy's support of him and her confrontation with the Doctor to stop him causing Jex's death.

One thing I wasn't sure of was how angry the Doctor seemed and how it felt like it was out of the blue, especially with him condoning a murder and threatening to use a gun, and then tell one of the townspeople that violence isn't the solution to violence. Although it could be seen as a kind of climax in the character as he had previously shown a lack of morality towards Solomon in the last episode. Also maybe more then 5 episodes would do at the moment because it kind of seems like we're rushing through to the end of the Ponds. But maybe this is Steven Moffatt's intention and this would be better seen in retrospect after the final episodes.

However, I like it overall and think that Toby Whithouse's script was good and witty. I thought Adrian Scarborough was great as Jex and Karen Gillan took her moment to shine, which was played well against Matt Smith's strong performance.

The Scapegoat

This was a one-off drama, centring around John Standing, played by Matthew Rhys, who meets his body double, Johnny Spence, also played by Rhys, and is forced into taking on Johnny's life leading to fatal consequences.

The concept is interesting and it did make me wonder what I would do in the situation, although the likelihood of it happening is very rare and the only reason I could think why they were so identical was either they were twins separated at birth or just something else, but it was never clarified. This is because lookalikes are usually going to be a little bit different physically as well as in their personality. It's interesting to see the good effect that the nice character of John has on Johnny's disconnected family. And with this in mind, I felt that the way the story ended was justified.

I can understand the appeal that the new and rich lifestyle that probably movitated, the man with nothing, John's actions, but I wasn't sure about how easy it seemed for him to just fit into the family. Also he didn't seem to give a thought to Johnny and where he was or when he would turn up again. Maybe this would have been helped if it had been a few episodes instead of a feature-length one.

I think that Matthew Rhys gave a good performance by displaying the clear differences between the two men and even though Andrew Scott's and Sheridan Smith's characters, Paul and Nina Spence, were more on the back seat they still made a good impact.

The Thick Of It: Series 4 - Episode 1

This was a great return for this series, now dealing with the atmosphere of the coalition government.

The episode's situation was very plausible and I thought the script sounded great. The political language isn't forced upon you but used as a good comical element. I also think that having bits of improvisation involved helps to create a more natural and believable realism. This is also helped by the fly-on-the-wall style of the series and can provide a human perspective to the political figures that may be sometimes seen by the public as monsters.

I thought all the cast were good, but especially Roger Allam as Peter Mannion. His scene in the school was really good and I could feel the character's pain. I also think that keeping back the main characters of Malcolm Tucker, Nicola Murray and Ollie Reeder until the second episode allowed for me to get to know the other characters and I'm left wondering where they are.

This was a great opener and I'm looking forward to the rest of series.