letess Reviews

Shetland: Episode #8.1 (2023) Season 8, Episode 1

It's OK that he's gone. I love this season.

[10/10 · 9 December 2023]

What makes Shetland is Shetland. This vast pristine island with windy landscapes and a frothy sea. While Jimmy was there, he was fantastic but his character was stuck and the writing often dull. His daughter is in and out; they don't know what to do with her. The dual role of fathers was going nowhere. Jimmy's inept romances were tiresome. Henshall himself said he was weary and wanted out of the series. Not all 7 seasons with Jimmy have been that great. But, I've always liked Tosh. Ever since the first time we see her hungover from a chocolate liquor drink waking up on the floor full of other partygoers and getting that call for her first day on the job with Jimmy.

In S8, Det. Calder comes in slow and unobtrusively with great insight. The story is well written better than previous ones because it is all new and different and not clinging to past characters. I really hope there is a S9. The writing is solid. It feels fresh. It feels like Shetland. Breathtaking.

The Disappearance (2018–2022)

Unbelievable series. One of the best shows. One of the best characters. One word description FIERCE.

[10/10 · 16 November 2022]

This lead Polish actress who plays CHYLKA is phenomenal. She is a defense attorney and what you don't know is whether or not she is defending someone who is guilty or innocent. Her interrogations and courtroom cross-examinations are something to behold. She's complicated and men like her. They respect her. She likes them too but she's not entirely respectful. Her young associate is besotted with her and there is a real bond if not a romantic one. Lots of swearing. Lots of steak dinners in beautiful dimly lit restaurants. Always vodka - lots of it. She's like a dancer. She's like a boxer. She looks like a million bucks. She's nasty at times and belligerent and cuts to the chase which oddly enough is the truth and crux of the case. Some of her cases are terrifying. She has her own set of ethics but she's troubled by trauma in her childhood and will do anything to protect a child. The 3rd season is more difficult as she is self-destructive. Just never give up on this feisty blonde dynamo.

Peaky Blinders: Lock and Key (2022) Season 6, Episode 6

What a mess.

[1/10 · 15 June 2022]

This series went in a direction that is nothing like the original first two seasons. You could tell the actors just couldn't wait for this to finally end. It died a slow death. I doubt they will do a movie. What would it be about? Lesser characters became major characters. How I hate what happened to this great series. It signifies that this was Otto's genius all along.

Signora Volpe (2022– )

Under the Tuscan Sun and the Signora

[8/10 · 7 May 2022]

The location in Umbria is gorgeous. She's gorgeous. And there's mystery and espionage. I only saw the first episode so the set up starts in UK. She's a spy and there's a threat she has to deal with before she goes to her niece's wedding. Fascinating how she maneuvers that one and the ensuing trouble ahead. She decides to stay...

Rifkin's Festival (2020)

What a delight. Light-hearted.

[8/10 · 29 January 2022]

I enjoyed this film. Allen speaks through Wallace Shaun whose character says he was happiest at being a film teacher. His respect and love of classical European film directors come face to face with today's and he finds today's lacking. One of my favorite scenes from Breathless is shown. Some scenes are hilarious. I found myself laughing out loud. Something I haven't done in a while. In particular, Louis Garrel character as a contemporary film director finds himself being interviewed at the festival by journalists and then the bongo drum scene. The San Sebastián location is magnificent. Lot of references to Paris and New York. When he says there's nothing like walking down Boulevard Saint-Michel in the rain - you know what he means.

Silent Witness: Reputations: Part 2 (2021) Season 24, Episode 6

Ten Stars for Adam

[2/10 · 24 January 2022]

Why on earth would they introduce the new guy - Adam - an engaging, charming, magnetic character - and then off him in two episodes. You knew there had to be some replacement for the team as two huge leads exited the last season. But this guy was fantastic - there have been leads that lasted many seasons that didn't have his personality. I don't get it. Was this intentional? Was there any long-term planning here - because where you could replace the last two leads with Adam, now you can't replace Adam.

Detective Montalbano: Il metodo Catalanotti (2021) Season 15, Episode 1

How to destroy the perfect series.

[1/10 · 7 July 2021]

There were two more books after this, so essentially what happens in this one is not really the final. The last two books were not made into episodes, although they wanted to do so and still want to, Luca as Montalbano wanted out. There are new characters introduced in this episode who disappear in the remaining episodes. Yet, those books are actually not very good. But, it is Livia who is misrepresented in this episode and gets a rotten send off. Montalbano falls hopelessly in love with someone half his age. He's willing to sell his house, leave Viagata and do what? Unbelievable. Totally out of character. This episode - The Catalnotti Method - is a mess and Montalbano's about face is hard to watch. What I also noticed is that the tone and music have gone in the last three episodes. The original director passed away in 2019 and Luca took on being the director. I think he is great at being Montalbano but I don't like they way he's directed these last three episodes. That haunting music is gone. There is a little bit more yellow-y light on the streets of Vigata and rural parts that make it more vacation-y but it is not what were are used to. And this last episode should not be the finale. This one episode completely destroys the previous 36 episodes in one fell swoop. It is just a lament and not at all a celebration.

The Vikings (1958)

Question re the finale

[3 June 2002]

SPOILER ALERT Did Kirk Douglas pause at the end in his sword fight with Tony Curtis because he realized he'd being killing his half-brother OR because he'd kill the man that Morgana truly loved? He could have won this fight -- actually, giving his character, neither of these two things should have ever mattered, but Tony minus a hand had to win.