The Expanse S05E10 concludes the latest season of the critically acclaimed scifi streaming TV space opera drama. Entitled “Nemesis Games”, The Expanse S05E10 ties up several plot strands as diverse character arcs intersect to present a very satisfying denouement for this penultimate season. At the same time, the season finale provides the perfect set up for season 6, which will probably see broadcast in 2022.
WandaVision Episode 4 is the latest instalment of the Disney+ superhero streaming TV drama. After spending three episodes in a bizarre alternate reality where Wanda and Vision were living in TV sitcoms based in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, we finally get to see what is happening in the ‘real’ world i.e. the Marvel Cinematic Universe!
The Expanse S05E09 continues the latest season of the critically acclaimed scifi streaming TV space opera drama. Entitled “Winnipesaukee”, The Expanse S05E09 is the penultimate episode of Season 5 and storylines are being wrapped up ahead of the season finale.
WandaVision Episode 3 continues the Disney+ streaming superhero TV drama miniseries. As mentioned in our previous review, WandaVision is the first time Marvel Studios has spun off the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) characters into a TV series. Anyone familiar with the MCU – isn’t that everyone? – will be aware of its interconnectivity and perhaps that’s where WandaVision (so far) has held back in favour of a very fanciful storytelling artifice.
The Expanse S05E08 continues the latest season of the critically acclaimed scifi streaming TV space opera drama. Entitled “Hard Vacuum”, The Expanse S05E08 was expected to be a deeply plotted instalment, especially after the ending of the previous episode but once more it proved tentative and transitional.
30 Coins is a Spanish supernatural horror fantasy TV drama that draws heavily from the Catholic religion and mythology. The series is created and directed by noted Spanish filmmaker Álex de la Iglesia. The 8-part 30 Coins Season 1 of is an ambitious mystery thriller utilising several conspiracy theories relating to the Catholic church, much in the vein of Dan Brown’s Robert Langdon series.
Our analysis of 30 Coins Season 1 contains spoilers.
Outside the Wire is a 2021 scifi war thriller streaming on Netflix. The film is set in 2036 and stars Anthony Mackie (who also serves as a producer on the film) as an android officer who works with a drone pilot (Damson Idris) to stop a global catastrophe. Our short take on Outside the Wire is that it is possessed of both an interesting premise and a strong underlying message but certain narrative choices turn the third act into a unsatisfying cliché.
Please note that there are spoilers in our analysis of Outside the Wire that follows.
WandaVision is the debut Marvel Studios superhero TV miniseries drama streaming on the Disney+ platform. Of course, we have had Marvel TV series like Daredevil, Jessica Jones etc on Netflix, Agents of SHIELD on ABC and so on. However, this time around, WandaVision is effectively spinning off the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) characters of Wanda Maximoff and Vision into a TV miniseries. Thus far, Disney+ has released the first two episodes of the miniseries and its fair to say that WandaVision is quite different from what MCU fans may be used to in the hit movies.
The Serpent Episode 4 is the 4th instalment in this eight-part crime drama miniseries based on the real life murders committed by Charles Sobhraj (played by Tahar Rahim) in the 1970s. Sobhraj was a French thief, fraudster and serial killer of Vietnamese and Indian origin and his victims were young European backpackers visiting South-East Asia on the so-called ‘hippie trail’.
The Expanse S05E07 continues the latest season of the critically acclaimed scifi streaming TV space opera drama. Entitled “Oyedeng”, The Expanse S05E07 is arguably the best episode of this stellar 5th season so far. This is probably because finally, the episode digs deep into the story behind Naomi Nagata’s history with Belter freedom fighter (or terrorist, take your pick) Marcos Inaros and their son Felip.
The Serpent Episode 3 is the third instalment in this eight-part crime drama miniseries based on the real life murders committed by Charles Sobhraj (played by Tahar Rahim) in the 1970s. Sobhraj was a French thief, fraudster and serial killer of Vietnamese and Indian origin and his victims were young European backpackers visiting South-East Asia on the so-called ‘hippie trail’.
Star Trek : Discovery S03E13 is the season 3 finale for this scifi space opera streaming TV drama series. Entitled “That Hope is You (Part 2)” S03E13 effectively completes the character arc for commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) in this third season of Star Trek : Discovery.
History of Swear Words is a 5-part streaming TV documentary series hosted by actor Nicolas Cage. The series was released on Netflix on 5th January 2020. The concept behind History of Swear Words is straight-forward enough – interview comedians and experts to discuss the origins, usage and cultural impact of swear words down the ages.
The Expanse S05E06 continues the latest season of the critically acclaimed scifi streaming TV space opera drama. If you have been following season 5 of The Expanse with us, then you would have found the narrative quite grim as the solar system slips into the chaos of war with the aggression of Marcos Inaros on behalf of Belter liberation.
Star Trek : Discovery S03E12 is the penultimate instalment of the third season of this scifi space opera streaming TV drama series. Entitled “There is a Tide …” Star Trek : Discovery S03E12 is the middle part of a 3-episode story to wrap up the season. Sadly, the episode also highlights the primary flaw with Season 3.
The Expanse S05E05 signals the halfway mark in the latest season of this scifi space opera streaming TV drama. Entitled “Down and Out”, The Expanse S05E05 continues to explore the ramifications of Marcos Inaros’ asteroid attack on Earth on our key characters. Suffice to say, things are not going well at all.
As mentioned in our Best Movies of 2020 piece, it is clear that there is much better quality material in the Best TV Series of 2020 in contrast. Perhaps long form story telling is the way forward especially in this streaming era. Anyways, there was an abundance of TV series to choose from in 2020, so our preference for genre fiction held sway in this Best TV Series of 2020 list. (In alphabetical order)
Washington is a three-part documentary cum drama miniseries on the life of George Washington, the first President of the United States of America. Now, I have personally avoided these kinds of historical ‘docudramas’ believing that a dramatised documentary would be neither good documentary or drama. However, the excellence of Washington may have got me rethinking this approach.
Bridgerton is a British historical streaming TV drama produced by Shonda Rhimes and created by Chris Van Dusen. The series is based on the multi-book novels written by Julia Quinn. The series is set in early 19th century Regency England during the reign of King George III, well known as the era of romance writers Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters.
2020 has been a good year for actress Anya Taylor-Joy. Her performance in The Queen’s Gambit, a Netflix breakout hit sensation has enhanced the profile of Anya Taylor-Joy worldwide. She was starred in the period drama Emma. and appeared as Magik in the chronically delayed The New Mutants.
Small Axe S01E05 is part of the Small Axe anthology film series directed by the award-winning director Steve McQueen. The anthology consists of five films which tell distinct stories about the lives of Black immigrants in London. Entitled “Education”, Small Axe S01E05 focuses on young Kingsley Smith (Kenyah Sandy) as he struggles with school in the 1970s.
Star Trek : Discovery S03E11 marks the beginning of the end of Season 3, as Discovery and its crew set about resolving a couple of key problems. First, discovering (sorry) the root cause of the Burn and saving the Federation of Planets from the Emerald Chain.
The Expanse S05E04 brings us squarely into the business segment of the season as Marcos Inaros executes his plan to bring the inner planets (i.e. Earth and Mars) to their knees. The asteroid bombardment of Earth and the theft of the protomolecule from Tychos is justified as revenge for the generations of oppression of the Belters by the Inners.
The Mandalorian is the well-received, critically acclaimed Star Wars Disney+ streaming TV series that has taken the world by storm! Even as last year’s first season whetted the appetite of Star Wars fans – young and old – for a return to the world that George Lucas created over forty years ago, nobody expected The Mandalorian Season 2 to well and truly up the ante like it did!
His Dark Materials S02E07 is the season finale of this scifi fantasy adaptation of The Subtle Knife, the second book in Philip Pullman’s series. Entitled “Æsahættr”, His Dark Materials S02E07 finally reveals to us, the true nature of Lyra’s identity, as preposterous as that revelation is.