Once Upon A Time 7.19 "Flower Child" Review

                                               
This ep about Mother Gothel (Emma Booth) where we get her backstory and how she was a tree nymph, basically good and got corrupted by, yes, humans!  Who else! As she wants to fit into the human mould and not be seen as different, but she was different.  Are we now going to get a switcheroo and have her become good or will she get her just desserts as a witch and generally bad tree nymph, she deserves them.  The way her mother gave her that responsibility now of looking after nature, which she squandered for revenge, made it sound as though she was part of, or is mother Nature.  (Even though in Tangled she was the main antagonist!  Funny after Googling for some background, found that Gothel is a name for a brothel with vampire Goths!  Right will move away from this snippet of info quickly! ha)

Henry (Andrew J West) somehow begins to believe his own book (!) and that magic could be real, telling this to Jacinda (Dania Ramirez) who remained as vacant as ever! That perhaps her glass slipper shard is really magical and really belongs to her, that they knew each other and somehow can't recall but did come together to have Lucy (Alison Fernandez).  Again it's a very fanciful notion to Jacinda, come on Cinderella was not this dense!  As Lucy gets in to see Facilier (Daniel Francis) and tells him he could be the good guy here, the hero in saving Henry and Reggie would be very grateful.  She's not picking up her phone, cos Rumples took the last piece of magic and Facilier could save Henry, thereby helping her.  He needs some other form of magic, any bit to break the curse and then they can all band together and save the rising coven of witches.  The "storm of witches" that is brewing.  Coincidentally Reggie and Rumples weren't in this ep.

Gothel now putting her plan into action to rid some more humans by brainwashing the policeman to lure Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) and Tilly (Rose Reynolds) into a trap, cos she just knew that they'd both come.  Also taking blood from Margot (Tiera Skovbye) to help her spell.  As she says she's a friend of Tilly's.  Margot is too trusting.  Gothel whispers how as Robin she didn't help her back then but can now.  Then tells Tilly she's her mother.  As she promptly goes to Hook.  And then to Henry who has mapped out everything he can relating to the people in Hyperion Heights and his book.  Henry telling them about magic and how his book could be real.  Policeman calls and tells them where Gothel is and Tilly wants to come in with him too.  After taking a bite of a marmalade sandwich which Hook had ready for her in the car.

Lucy and Jacinda look through storage boxes and Lucy finds the broken shoe belonging to Cinderella, spelling out that's who she is.  She takes it to Facilier who magics a spell and the glass shatters into tiny pieces winging their way back to Henry.  As Henry and Jacinda now kiss and Henry doesn't fall under the spell and die, but Lucy finds she can't recall anything of her other life.  Thus the curse isn't broken.  Henry being romantic in saying what if it wasn't love at first sight when he saw her but was already in love with her.  Personally I still say Henry and Druzella had more chemistry and would've made a better couple!

Suppose that curse has something to do with Gothel as she forces Tilly to help her otherwise she'll kill Hook, as she tells Tilly he's her father.  So that love she felt for him was cos of this.  He tells her not to help but Tilly can't lose him.  As Tilly now joins the coven of witches.  In the other realm, Gothel gets her revenge on the humans for killing her family and as she's finished them all off in that realm.  She sets her sights on other humans as in a 'land without magic thousands of years later.'

From this episode it's really difficult to see how Gothel can change and at this point in time this isn't even her intention.  It's kind of a quick turnaround where everyone suddenly believes in magic and Henry's book, whereas everyone was so adamant it was just a book and there's no such thing as magic.  Even Hook was believing even if he couldn't quite understand it.  As Naveen (Jeff Pierte) tells him everything and the impossibility of Hansel being stabbed inside his heart.  Also feel there's much more to Facilier and his ulterior motives for helping Lucy and Henry.  Surely he must've known that magic wouldn't work and true love's kiss isn't going to break this curse.  Wouldn't that be too easy and too repetitive.  Particularly as Gothel and Facilier would make some evil allies together.

7.7 Eloise Gardener was also about her and now we get another one on Gothel. Where we learned how Gothel loved the soil and always needed this when Victoria was around, being a tree nymph.  As well as being named Gardener!  Also in 7.7 how Hook needed to get that flower from her garden in order for him to be able to get rid of Rumples, being duped and here the same thing happens again as she gets the better of him once more!. 

See my review here:
https://mila255.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/once-upon-time-77-eloise-gardener-review.html

Shakespeare Schools Foundation Presentation of "The Trial of Richard III" Novello Theatre 29 April 2018

The Shakespeare Schools Foundation this year performed The Trail of Richard III which once again proved to be entertaining, if a tad biased in favour of Richard himself.  However we'll overlook that as it was for charity, for providing funding the Foundation itself.  With actual barristers (QCs) and a real Court of Appeal Judge, Lady Justice Hallett, to overlook proceedings, which did turn out to be a little murky in some areas.  Criminal barristers including; Ian wWinter QC, Jonathan lLaidlaw QC for the Prosecution and John Kelsey-Fry QC and Sallie Bennett-Jenkins for the Defence.  Hey Mr Kelsey-Fry also got a joke out of Mr Winter's name with: "the Winter of discontent." Particularly living up to its name also with the extraordinarily freeing weather for this time of year!
With an introduction from St Francis of Assisi School pupils who gave a little performed, potted history of Richard III and how there were so many protagonists with similar names of Edward, Richard...

Also an introduction from Hugh Dennis who as Jury Foreman (and Patron of the Foundation) explained what to expect and how Richard III was discovered in a car park between two bays and thus he didn't even have a ticket for either one.  Including how the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) actually were lucky enough to finally prosecute a King and thus use the 'Crown' aspect of their name.  Oh and we were told to forget whatever that Shakespeare Bard wrote!! Lest it may influence our decision.

First witness was the Duke of Buckingham superbly (as always) played by David Oakes, who cut a dashing figure in his cape and feathered hat.  As I tweeted to him it was kind of Muskteer-esque and no surprises since he went off to ally himself with Henry Tudor in France.  Of course he evaded the question of whether he had any part to play in the murder of the two Princes in the Tower.   (Named Edward and Richard too.)  Putting it down to "bloodlust" on the part of Richard,  quite a few times over.  Being questioned by the Prosecution as to whether he was an actor?  Whereupon the Duke's reply was well, "subjective."  He stated that Richard told him of his plan to murder the Princes and when asked what he did about it, he finally and reluctantly replied "nothing."  Thereby damning their fate.  Choosing to show allegiance to Henry Tudor and the Lancashire cause.  (The Red Rose of Lancashire.)
[David of course having played the Duke of Clarence in the BBC production of The White Queen would've been all too familiar with Richard's actions.]

The two murderers themselves, added some impetus and comedy to the murderous deed as this was their career of erm, career assassins.  As they were given full immunity by the prosecution.  Carrying out the murderous deed, "bish bosh speedy speedy" which hilariously was also used by the Defence and the Judge when she was expelling them from the witness box.  Having being given free reign of the Tower by a man named Tyrell (which they stated was like the name of the crisps.)  Omitting where the bodies were buried since that would lead them to not be able to use that place in the future.  As there were so many steps in the Tower and the crows who like to eat human flesh.  Concluding they couldn't remember where they buried them.  They didn't come across as very convincing as witnesses for the Prosecution.

Infact, with hindsight, the prosecution produced no conclusive evidence whatsoever, forensic (even though it was 1484) or otherwise that Richard was actually behind the murders.  Aside from hearsay and speculation.  The Defence bringing up the Act of Parliament titled, Titulus Regius - (meaning "Royal Title" in Latin) and how Parliament gave the title of King of England to Richard III.  Thereby confirming that all others were subsequently also legitimate.  However also arguing that the others, such as Richard's brother, Clarence, had no succession to the throne and would not become King.  Thus Richard had no reason to kill anyone, let alone his brother and his nephews.

However when Lady Anne took to the witness box, it was implied that she and Buckingham conspired in a way to implicate Richard and he was innocent after all.  Anne being the widow of Edward, Prince of Wales and having no title until she married Richard and would become Queen.  Her eye firmly on the Crown.  Accusing Richard of the murder also and talking to the walls and never shutting up.  Telling Richard to "don't look at me" from his seat several times over.  And why was this, the Lady doth protest too much it appeared!

Richard on the 'throne' aka witness box, presented himself as amiable and accusing Buckingham and Anne of making things up.  Surprise witness was Clarence himself who apparently was at a hen party as he entered to the tune of "you can dance, you can jive..."  Funnily enough as Mama Mia is currently playing at the Novello Theatre.  However he said he didn't drown in a vat of Mamsie wine, but that he was inebriated and he drank plenty of the wine, thus being known as "Three butts Clarence."  Adding how Dick and him got on very well and he loved his brother.  The Prosecution asking whether he was really dead or a ghost.  Whereupon conceding he was too drunk to tell if he was alive or dead.  The latter being the obvious conclusion.  Even if Richard was dressed as a Goth at the moment as described by Clarence.
In fact Clarence had just watched a play "hear the drums Fernando..." and he was an actor hired to play Clarence since it was a small part and he wouldn't be around for long.

The Prosecution in their summing up and address to the jury spoke of how they should have no sympathy towards Richard even though he was infirm and hunchbacked.  Even if the jury may have felt sorry for him on this aspect, it was enough to convict.  Yet how even nature was against him cos of his condition and appearance.  The Prosecution also stating that only one verdict would be required, Guilty or Not Guilty.  That if Clarence was alive then this showed attempted murder on the part of Richard which carries a much more hefty sentence as it showed intent and thus he should be convicted under this instead. The Defence again referring to Titulus Regius and how it was Lady Anne and Buckingham who both wanted Richard gone and Henry Tudor on the throne.  Their actions showing this and particularly Buckingham doing nothing to stop the murders.

As for the audience aka the jury voting on the verdict, it was again biased for want of a better word!! Since the verdict page of the programme for 'Not Guilty' was clearly printed on red paper, easier to read and spot whereas the 'Guilty' verdict was printed on black paper, much harder to see even with the lights on.  (Although black would signify the Judge's black cloth placed on head when delivering a sentence of death.  However that was irrelevant.)

Yet this trial wasn't only comical but also a reflection on the law and asides, to how the law and the concept of fairness was not present in those days.  That justice should be available to everyone equally.  Although Buckingham did refer to the Divine Right of Kings.  And the audience, as the jury were referred to as "dim witted" amongst other slurs by the Prosecution, who having pondered it more did not do an effective job at all in presenting their flimsy evidence.  Perhaps with hindsight I should change my verdict also to 'Not Guilty.'
I once paraphrased Richard III's "a horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse" replacing it with "the law, the law, my kingdom for a law;" with a piece I wrote years ago relating to the importance of  the law being the last bastion of civil liberties as well as a right and not a luxury for the few but access for everyone.

All in all have to say that I and the audience generally haven't had this much fun in a long time and how the event was extremely enjoyable.  It was a perfect blend of actors, real life judiciary and the children themselves who proved to be funny and even serious at times.  There was even some input from the celebrity jury consisting of Tim Campbell (the first Apprentice winner) Emily Carding, who played Richrd III herself globally, actress Athena Stevens, and Lindsay Johns, who was the only one who voted guilty.  My verdict, in my legal opinion: Guilty.  Mistrial, retrial and all that....!!  Richard won but presumed to shake hands with everyone, so much for being deformed and not having a right hand!  Something rotten indeed! Can't wait for the next one in two years!

It was great seeing David again after Venus In Fur last year and must admit was a little surprised not many people wanting to see him afterwards at Stage Door!  Heck this jury was really biased against the Duke of Buckingham after all, as only two of us got pics with him  and had a few words on another great performance!!  Hey poor David even asked if anyone else wanted a pic or autograph!  Silence!! Oh come on jury you could've done better!

Cast: Tony Gardner (My Parents Are Aliens) as Clarence; Kae Alexander  (Game of Thrones)  as Lady Anne; and David Oakes (Victoria, The White Queen) as Duke of Buckingham.  Caleb J Richards as Richard III.

Jury Foreman Hugh Dennis  hosted, with a jury including Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock MBE, Emily Carding, Professor Russell Jackson, Lindsay Johns, Dave Benson Phillips, Athena Stevens and The Rt Hon Ed Vaizey MP.

Once Upon A Time 7.18 "The Guardian" Review

                                             
This ep was all about Rumples (Robert Carlyle) or practically about him and about time too as we get more on how he wants to become good and meet up with Belle before it's too late for him to get to   
the other side.  Belle is afraid that the longer he's apart from her he will become dark again and we can see his crocodile skin beginning to return to his hands.  Whilst in his shrine to Belle, Facilier (Daniel Francis) appears and attempts to take the Dagger from him using a "pincushion" as Rumples tells him, which won't work on him.  He squeezes his throat and demands to know what Belle said to him, which is what I just wrote about him becoming dark. 

In Hyperion Heights Rumples and Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) find Hansel (Nathan Parsons) dead in
the cell and Rumples finds a piece of Facilier's voodoo doll on the floor telling Hook someone else was here.  Of course when Hook watches the surveillance video it cuts out so they can't see who his visitor was.  However Rumples knows for sure and confronts Reggie (Lana Parrailla) about this after discovering the dagger is missing from the police evidence lock-up.  They do have some obvious and silly places to hide things in plain sight.  Reggie assures him it wasn't Facilier and to give her time to find out what's happening.  As she brews a potion to hopefully help Henry (Henry J West) as Rumples demands a bit of the magic.  He thinks she's deluding herself thinking Facilier was helping her since he kept some magic back for himself.  She reminds Rumples that Henry may be her son but he's also his grandson, at which point Rumples has nothing to say in response.

Reggie asks Facilier and he evades the issue making her ask him three times and finally admits he didn't take the dagger.  Rumples also confronts him when she leaves and pulls a gun on him but he again denies taking it, though next time he won't be so lucky as he banishes Rumples back to his police car gun in hand.  With that look of disgust on his face and anger too as he stares at the useless gun in his hand.  Well he wouldn't have used it anyway, throwing it and then getting angry.

In the other realm, Rumples watches Alice (Rose Reynolds) as she's pure of heart and must be the Guardian.  As Robin (Tiera Skovbye) delivers a letter from Hook to her and she gives her a bracelet everyone's making in Storybrooke and exchanging them.  She has nothing to give her in        exchange and then recalls the pocketwatch that tells time backwards.  Robin wishes she could have been on many adventures like Alice and she returns to deliver the letter to Hook.  Who confronts Rumples and wants him to stay away from Alice since she's innocent and leave her to her own life.  Rumples sneaks into the cabin to speak with Alice and tells her about Belle. 

He takes her to Facilier and wants her to remove his heart and crush it as it's the only way she can break the curse and be with her father; crush one heart to break the spell.  She tries but her goodness and pureness of heart is too much for her to go through with it.  Rumples admits it was a test and he didn't want her to go through with it.  He shows her Belle's shrine and then the dagger.  She takes the dagger and his crocodile skin begins to disappear and then he takes it back.  He can't let her do this as she has her whole life to live, to love.   Hook thanks him since this could be the beginning of a new tale for them and they shake hands.  Yeah the start of a beautiful friendship!  ha.  As they watch Alice and Robin together.  All he can do now is what Rumples always does which is "spin, spin, spin."  Yeah spin a good yarn!! Ha.

Rumples telling Alice he can't let her do this since it will just be another tower for her and he can't let her imprison herself.  See he had changed so much for Reggie telling him later on that he hasn't.  Even if he did only think of retrieving the dagger for himself and not of Henry.  But this is his chance too to be redeemed for good and be with Belle and he has waited a long time.  Henry can't even remember anything or he's not really going through any hell right now.  Aside from his life being saved.

In Hyperion Heights, Hook watches the surveillance from the cameras across the road and sees Naveen/Drew (Jeff Pierre) outside.  As Henry tells Hook he wants to go to Hansel's apartment to find something.  This being the doctor's blood test report.  As they enter the apartment Naveen makes a run for it and finally tells hook his life is in danger and Samdi made him do it.  Just like he killed Hansel but Hook wouldn't believe him if he told him what's really going on.  That he should check the autopsy on Hansel.  Henry tells Jacinda (Dania Ramirez) about the blood test and perhaps Lucy was right all along and she is his daughter but Jacinda questions how that could be.  Henry also tells Hook about the blood test also saying that he wouldn't believe him if he told him.  Well that was Henry all along from the start when Lucy came to see him.  Not believing in anything.

Rumples sneaks back into the basement and steals some potion since Reggie just leaves it under lock and key which he easily breaks and pours onto the map.  But there was some potion left over so why does Reggie say he used it all.  The map points to one place, which is the troll statue where Alice/Tilly was sketching it and Robin/Margot found her.  Asking her to show her Hyperion Heights and go for food.  This being toffee apples which Robin didn't even eat.  Tilly hears noises which Robin can't hear and she takes her to the bookstore (making her similar to Belle in many ways as she too loves books.)  As she explains they can take you anywhere without leaving.  Robin shows her the bracelets she has from her travels and gives her one from Thailand.  But the noise gets too much for Tilly and she rushes off.  Ending up at the troll too as she tells Rumples she can't handle the noise.  He finds the dagger in her backpack and she didn't put it there.  He returns the dagger back into the lockbox, see again another stupid place and Reggie berates him.  Rumples tells her that Facilier is no good and that Alice is the Guardian not Anastasia.  But Reggie is through with him.

Tilly apologizes to Robin since she doesn't want to see her when she has a bad day, but Robin says she doesn't mind and they have a drink on it touching hands again as Robin returns her bracelet to Tilly that she dropped.

Not much headway made in resolving major issues yet and we just get little snippets of info on how some of them are beginning to realize that things don't make sense and aren't quite right.  Such as Henry and the blood test, Hook finding there's more to this serial killer after the autopsy reveals Hansel was stabbed in his heart from inside his body, with Henry saying that couldn't be possible.  As always everything goes back to hearts in this show whether they be crushed, broken or pincushioned!  It was good to see Rumples getting some airtime and how he has searched for the Guardian for so long, someone pure of heart and finding he can't subject Alice through the same fate he has endured: the immortality and loneliness.  But strange how Rumples knew Alice could be a potential Guardian whilst in the other realm and yet was silent about it in Hyperion Heights.  Not even telling Reggie about it until now.  Thinking it could be Anastasia.  But would he have subjected Anastasia to that same fate as Alice (which was in the past) knowing full well it would mean immortality for her.  More importantly, would Druzilla have let him do that to her sister. 

Also did Victoria know all this when she was in the Tower for so long and then Alice was born there and ended up there too in the sense that Anastasia had this potential to be much more than just someone with magic.  Looked a little like an 'add on' to the plot when Rumples could've used Anastasia years ago in the other realm, especially since he knew about Rapunzel and Victoria in Hyperion Heights, otherwise nothing makes sense.

Paranormal Lockdown 3.8 "Beattie Mansion" Review

Beattie Mansion, St Joseph, Missouri, is also known as the "House on the Hill" and what a gigantic house it is too"  Built in 1854 by Armstrong and Eliza Beattie.  Armstrong died a sudden death and some add under mysterious circumstances, as his wife may have something to do with it.  He fell ill after a bout of cholera and died 3 days later in 1878.  As Michael, the owner who aims to convert it into a B&B says it was assumed that she may have contributed to his death; as he only left her the house in his will and his distant relatives got the money and other business assets.  It is thought she and Armstrong both haunt the mansion.  That she is still here since it was hers and won't leave it.  Armstrong was an adept banker and also was elected Mayor five times.  Eliza died in 1880.

Numerous people, including Michael and other investigators have seen shadow figures and some dark presence.  Which Katrina also sees.  I know they capture a dark figure/mist near the end of the ep, but sometimes you just wanna see what they do during the day and the general walk-through.  Aside from sounds, bumps, footsteps, dragging noises, they did manage to get some good audio captures and some pertinent evidence.  Also Kelly the former caretaker, who hadn't stepped into the house again until now, said how he saw shadow figures too and the door rattling violently, particularly during thunder storms.

The investigation begins with Nick using the application through the analogue radio  with voices saying, "I'm not leaving."
When Nick says it feels different in here, the reply is "yes."  As well as getting a response when he shuts the door and gets back the reply, "don't let it."  Wonder if that was any response to Armstrong wanting the door left open.  Since it was said when they close the doors they seem to open back.

Other voices were: "he wants you..."
As well as some kind of "shit" coming through.  (Sorry that sounded a little funny!)  Nick says it said "holy shit" but I can't hear the "holy part."  Though you gotta know that couldn't have been Armstrong.  perhaps a former resident when the home was used by those in need.

Also "he wants you..."  Couldn't fathom what that means, or is it anything to do with Armstrong and Eliza.  When Nick asks "which room are you in?"  Can hear "inside."  At least that's what it sounded like to me, but it comes through as a disembodied female voice twice.  Not through any equipment.

Also it doesn't sound like "Michael" to me when they go into the bedroom, to me it's more "lightning" or "bright light..."  Will have to listen to all these again when I get a chance just to doublecheck.  Yeah I know I do a lot of EVPs and audio stuff but I just like listening to those!

Then there's; "it's hard" and a female voice says "it's still here" in response to Nick saying the device is still being used.
Also: "it is" and "it's my fault..."  A lot of the voices are very apologetic and Michael explains at the end, it may be since Armstrong died very quickly.  But shouldn't think he would have anything to be sorry for.

Nick says that it's still going off and a male voice says "trick or treat?"  When Katrina moves the sweets on the bed.  A child's voice sounds like" I want it..."  Which gives credence to reports of a child's spirit on the second floor.
As the house is very active during thunder ad rainstorms, Nick and Katrina get Elizabeth Saint to come in bringing some devices that will generate electricity to charge the house with ions too.  She sets up a Van Den Graff Generator, Jacob's Ladder in the hall, which they have used many times before and an Ion Motor in the living room; which will convert ions to storm beams.   As well as a haze generator and laser beams in the basement.  Where Nick slept and next day found the energy to be much more darker and feeling very different.  Elizabeth notices something dark break the laser beams and move across the wall, which is very visible when you watch the ep.

A funny sound capture that came through was a male voice saying "I believe you not..."  Not sure if that was a response to them or just general response to something or someone else since Nick says they're still investigating here.  Then a scream is heard.

There's also a light anomaly/orb seen when Elizabeth shows them what she saw in the basement and I know Nick doesn't pay much attention to orbs etc, but some of us do.  One reason why he doesn't mention capturing them in the show.  Of course they are interesting to see as they do show a paranormal presence even and especially when nothing else is seen or heard.

Then there's a voice which says, "you did" when they ask if if he's seen in the hallway.
"Did you go in there..."
"You deserve it..."
"I throwed it" when something appears to be thrown at Nick.
I also heard a female voice say" at home..."

Obviously I like the episodes where there's something more than voices captured cos then there's more to write about especially if you have to read it.  But Nick did manage to touch a stick figure that appeared on the 3D mapping and felt being touched by it too.

A man's voice is heard again saying. "I'm sorry."  After asked if something is there?
Nick: "where can we find you?"
They say it said "upstairs" but I heard "there, up there..."
Also I didn't hear Eliza when the name is asked, I hear the male voice say "Eva."

As they go into the long hallway where the figures are seen, a voice comes through saying, "turn back Nick..."  Katrina says that it's warning him not to got there and "I can help him."  I also hear "warning you too, or two?"  This is where Rob does his amazing feat, as always and sees a figure in white peeking from the wall behind Katrina and Nick and then vanishes back into the wall.  Let's just have Rob filming by himself!  ha cos he does manage the best evidence finds as said!

Let's see if the video caught it, apologies if it's not too clear!

As Nick tells Michael at the end, the renovations are good and though his workers may see things, they will probably like what he's doing with the place and there's nothing to be afraid of.
I'd like to have written more interesting stuff but guess gotta go with what they got.  Especially since this was the final episode and one of Katrina's favourite investigation lockdowns thus far.  And airing on Nick's birthday!!

Celebrity Ghost Hunt Fort Horsted

23 March 

@BobbyCNorris This orb/light anomaly came from right of @Rylan continued to enter Bobby where the

red arrow ends on left b4 his reaction to being touched! If it was filmed in night vision would've got better pic & Twitter won't let me upload vid!! #CelebrityGhostHunt #FortHorsted

To save me retyping the tweet above.  Here's the video of the light anomaly/orb:

But as I said before Bobby should become a permanent presenter on any new series of Celebrity Ghost Hunt! 

Once Upon A Time 7.17 "Chosen" Review

                                       
An ep marking Lana Parrilla's directorial debut and she did a great job too.  Hence she was missing for most of the ep but at least she did appear and it was also good she got to direct one which involved Zelena (Rebecca Mader) and her story as well as her farewell.  Though we won't be too disheartened by it since this is the final season after all, which means we'll have to say farewell to everyone at season's end!  This one also gave Lana the chance the direct an ep which involved one of her fave fairytales of  Hansel and Gretel; with a twist as is always the case with this show.

Zelena stumbles across the gingerbread cottage in the woods and finds Hansel (Seth Isaac Johnson) and Gretel caged, fatted calves ready fro slaughter, don't ask why I said that!  But she doesn't rescue them and seems the witch got one over her in terms of using magic.  So Zelena stumbles and loses her necklace too only to be rescued and taken back to Ivo's (Dan Payne) house.  He nurses her back and she finds he's blind thus he can't see her in all her magnificent wicked greenery.  She notices the exquisitely carved chairs and finds that he is Hansel and Gretel's father mentioning how he told Hansel to leave breadcrumbs to find his way back home.  They weren't that young though in this ep that they needed breadcrumbs.  I mean if Hansel can threaten Zelena with the knife then he's old enough to know his way back home.  Zelena finds he doesn't judge her for who she is and as she plans on rescuing them she finds their cages empty and takes the witch's sight to restore it to Ivo.  Obviously he wouldn't want it and they found their way back themselves.  See!  Hansel wants to punish her but she burns his hands adding children shouldn't play with witch's or they'll get burned.  This was her chance at redemption but of course no one wanted to listen to her explanation.  Thus that's why she didn't bother anymore with anyone.

Back in Hyperion Heights Reggie (Lana Parrilla) has found the moss that she needs for Henry's spell and to break the curse but Zelena receives a box of those choccies!  As I said a few eps ago in my review it had to be Hansel and Gretel behind it since they were the ones with the sweet tooth.  Also Gretel was featured in 7.15 with Drizella.  Of course she was double crossed there and so she would've been avenged by Hansel.  Zelena speaks with Rumples (Robert Carlyle) who really doesn't want to help her but reminds her it's good to have a piece of their sorry past to remember how they have changed and come that far. As he gives her back her necklace and also she mentions Belle and if he doesn't help her then it won't get him any nearer to being reunited with her.

As Nick cum Jack cum Hansel has kidnapped Henry (Andrew J West) as he wants him to see that the book Henry wrote is real and he's a part of it, Henry sees his lollipop keychain and realizes he's the killer.  Although he doesn't believe that he is Hansel just that he's probably delusional and a killer.  Hansel (Nathan Parsons) commenting on him being the truest believer but yet doesn't believe.  Margot (Tiera Skovbye) and Zelena have problems too as she can't share anything with Margot right now and she wonders why she came back here.  Hansel also kidnaps Chad (Kip Pardue) as Zelena thinks of him too and how he won't like her and what she's done but Reggie thinks she should have the happiness of Kelly too.  That baseball bat didn't come in handy though.  Jacinda (Dania Ramirez) hasn't herd from Henry who's meant to be in New York and then suddenly gets a text calling her 'J' which only Sabine (Mekia Cox) does.

Henry's car is found and Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) tries to find him.  Noticing the gingerbread making kit in Jacinda's car and how she tells him she was called 'J.'  Hook finds Henry and it's actually Zelena who's left to take care of Hansel as he has Chad tied up.  But she doesn't kill him and knocks him out.  Chad still wants to marry her as he says no matter what she might have been like as Zelena he saw how she could have gotten her revenge on him but she didn't.  She asks Margot to be her bridesmaid and gives Margot the necklace.  Margot wants to stay here since she wants to see how things will work out with Tilly.

Zelena and Reggie bid farewell and she tells Zelena to find her life and be happy since she came when she needed her and now she should leave.   Facilier (Daniel Francis) gets what he wants from Naveen (Jeff Pierre) a Beignet to add the dusting to his voodoo puppet since he takes care of Hansel with it.  He failed in his killing of the witches and now he's a loose end.  Facilier's still after the Dark One's dagger, but has Reggie wrapped around his little finger still.  Henry returns to Jacinda and they almost kiss except Lucy (Alison Fernandez) interrupts them.  Henry realizing this is where he must stay.

Henry being shown the birth certificate doesn't believe he's Lucy's father since Hansel killed the doctor.  And he doesn't want to rewrite any happy ending for Hansel since s Hansel tells him, Henry doesn't believe that bad guys like Hansel are worthy of it.  (See all that stuff we went through with Reggie and wanting her own happy ending when she was the Evil Queen.) As well as not batting an eye when Hansel tells him he's more concerned with Henry's aunt, Kelly, getting whats he deserves for Gretel, and in short, for being a witch.  We await Mother Gothel's fate!

The City and The City Series 1 Part 3 "Orsiny" Part 4 "Breach" Review

                                            
Part 3 Orsiny
After all that fuss we find out the real secret surrounding Orsiny (or if you're really annoyed by the fact this was very slow, call it Arseny!) well okay not in this part but you knew it was heading there even if you haven't read the book.  Borlu (David Morrissey) still on the search for Mahalia's killer and finding out what happened to Kat (Lara Pulver).  He finally gets to meet with Bowden (Christian Camargo) along with Dhatt (Maria Schrader) and he tells Borlu he's being victimized.  As he recalls being targeted by other people too.  That he saw Kat before she disappeared and how invested she was in finding Orsiny.  He leaves and Borlu says they can use that warrant how since he won't be at his apartment.  When they arrive the door is ajar and there is writing all over the walls which Dhatt says isn't Ul Quomo.

Everything leads back to that dig again and there was quite a bit of repetition with the flashbacks and after getting onto a rip roaring start it seemed to fizzle out in the last 2 parts.  Borlu was meant to be deported back to Beszel and happens to have dinner with Dhatt and her partner, Yallya (Kasia Koleczek) which he enjoyed seeing a different side to her, making her a little more human and like him in some ways; but at the end of the day she's still a policewoman and is getting her orders higher up.  Just like him.  As she later will say to him, she has a life.  That being the difference between them both as he is dedicated to his work and finding out who killed Mahalia and what happened to Kat.  Which makes it more personal for him but since he is a policeman with a conscience and hating this divide between the two cities.  It's the people who suffer the most and in some ways reflected in him not being able to open his eyes when he sees those blurred lines. 
Yeah going back to that dig whilst they are there talking with professor Nancy (paprika Steen) someone sends Bowden a bomb which explodes just as the shifts change and Tairo (Barry Aird) is saved.  So Bowden becomes a target now as if someone was trying to remove his existence too as he knows too much.

More flashes to Kat and Borlu and how they met and got married, including their 2 year anniversary and including how she moved in with him beforehand.  He was clearly besotted with her but she was more into that city and finding it.  At their 2 year anniversary Bowden arrives with another woman friend and still Kat can't help but be taken in by him.  It was if Borlu was just that consolation prize and she wouldn't end up with anyone but marrying a policeman would give hr some kind of freedom to carry on with her research.  Even being known as a subversive.  She is a lecturer at a Beszel Poly  and even this isn't enough for her.

Borlu talks with Tairo after the bomb goes off but he doesn't give him his number.  Instead Borlu follows him and finds Yolanda (Moryffd Clark) hiding out with him and some others.  They believe Orsiny doesn't exist and it's all made up.  Borlu wants to take Yolanda over to Beszel and they come up with this silly elaborate scheme to cross the border with her dressed as an Ul Qomo policewoman, with Corwi (Mandeep Dhillon) meeting her other side.  As Borlu's still waiting to cross over there's gunshots and Yolanda panics and runs away and is shot doing so.  Gotta ask why Corwi didn't put her in the car instead of hiding behind it.  Well as said, that was pointless.  Borlu turns back into Ul Qomo on the pretext of having left something behind and follows Corwi chasing the shooter.  It's as if he can see everything but can't cross over when it would be so easy to do so.  Finally he sees the shooter and takes a shot at him going through the membrane between the two cities and the bullet penetrating this membrane.  For a second it looked like he had actually crossed over into the street and the next city.

As he doe so, he's approached by men, who must have been Breach.
As we get to Part 4 Breach.

Borlu is tortured as they try to get tot he bottom of how much he knows and also speaking of Kat.  He's permanently removed from duty as Gadlem (Ron Cook) takes his badge and also is told not to fraternize with any other officers.  Borlu meets Corwi who finally admits she's Breach Manifest.  As she tells him all bout Breach in flashes and the case.  Taking him to an apartment where he'll be safe with his things and also he's now a part of Breach too, so they can go anywhere and cross over and through the blurred lines of the city.  Some people might be confused in the previous ep as Borlu fired his gun through the cross hatch, the disputed part of the cities.  However they can travel freely and she plays him tapes and video recordings of their surveillance on Mahalia, Bowden and Kat.  How they met that night and Borlu was following her, but he didn't go after her when she left Bowden.  How Mahalia found the artefacts and substituted them for nothing.  Seeing Kat on the last known footage of her and disappearing into Ul Qomo through a desolate part of the city.  Which Borlu plays over and over.  As he analyzes the footage and prints photos marking them on the map.

Corwi entered Sear and Co attempting to speak with Gorse (Robert Firth) but she was escorted out.  Obviously Sears and Gorse - his company had a lot to do with all this.  As did Major Syedr (Danny Webb) who has been reelected in what he calls a victory for purity.  Borlu and Cowri retrace Mahalia's steps into how she got out of the dig with the artefacts and Borlu finds it was a building in one of the photos she had.  Also she speaks about Kat on the recordings.  Poor delusional Kat - my words!  They find Mahalia dropped the artefacts through a hole in the ground and climbed down there herself.  Here she followed the light but it only led her to Sears Corp.  That's why she was killed, there was no Orsiny.  As Borlu also finds the same.  Gorse and Bowden met in India and must've come up with this elaborate hoax.  As well as Gorse telling Borlu that no matter what happens they will just become the remnants of the US mining corps.  They found metal in those artefacts which are abundant underneath the city.  There was no invite from Orsiny and there was no city where people could escape and be free.  Also Syedr was a part of it and he kills himself not being able to stand the heat as they say.

Borlu meets with Bowden telling him he can be free and Corwi has the call traced.  Bowden tells him all about Kat and how Borlu couldn't save her this time, he should have but he wasn't there.  She did what he saved her from and killed herself, just as she jumped from the bridge the first time round.  Bowden telling Borlu he pushed her since he made her do it cos he took away who she was and well, it was actually Bowden and his non existent quest which got her involved in this.  As Bowden approaches Borlu he can't go through with drowning him and Bowden stabs him in the neck with the knife.  As Corwi shoots Bowden, Kat appears to Borlu and wants him to go with her.  But he turns back cos he doesn't want the nothingness that she was attracted to and which led to her taking her own life.  He turns back and survives

Corwi telling him they all breached once, they're not from here.  SO he becomes a part of the very thing he spoke of in Part 1. Breach: they are just like you and me.  And perhaps the ones who were level headed, some of them and keeping order.  As Borlu is now able to cross into both cities freely.  He sees Dhatt through the blur of the next street which is no longer a blur but blended in for him.
It was an ambitious production brought to life, can't help thinking it didn't have to be drawn out this long since the flashbacks were already shown quite a bit.  As said, Orsiny was just a city to mask their mining operation and the US attempt to make money and get rich from other countries.  Nothing changed there either then.

What it came down to is The City and The City just being your run of the mill crime drama, murder investigation.  With Borlu narrating in film noir fashion, the events, what/who he is, the city he lives in, rules and what's happening to tie in the loose threads for us.  At the end of the day he is just a policeman investigating a murder which was made to believe was alluding to a mythical city where there was no racism or hate and people could live as one, without the yellow/red divides of Beszel and Ul Qomo.  yet it didn't exist and what he was left with, what anyone was left with was the everyday reality of greed, poverty, versus intimidation, purity and misguided politicians just making a name for themselves ind riving the masses to hysteria and with the threat of being caught and deported, killed or beaten.

Agatha Christie's Ordeal By Innocence Parts 1, 2 & 3

                                                
From the outset you knew this wasn't going to be an ordinary fare served from the BBC as they like to excel in their own way when they redo these dramas and also change them significantly from the books.  As they did with And Then There Were None and Witness for the Prosecution - in some ways - ( the stage production of which is currently at County Hall is exceptional!) This one began in screaming fashion with the maid/cook/housekeeper, Kirsten (Morven Christie) finding the DB of Mrs  Rachel Argyle (Anna Chancellor) and events take a turn from there.  As her adopted son, Jack (Anthony Boyle) the outspoken 'do as I please' son, is suspected of her murder, professing and protesting his innocence to his father, Mr Leo Argyle (Bill Nighy).  The damning evidence being his fingerprints on the murder weapon, the decanter.  Of course back then there were massive miscarriages of justice and very little forensics involved.  Thus he was sent to his death, or would have been if he hadn't been involved in a prison fight.  The implication being that when Dr Arthur Calgary (Luke Treadaway) showed up to clear Jack's name he was still meant to be alive.  Of course things wouldn't be that easy or else this wouldn't have been a drama.

Resorting to flashback to paint the picture of how the entire family were not just misfits and easily falling into the category of suspects, including prodigal son, Michael (Christian Cooke) [hot off the heels from his stint in Knives in Hens on stage.  Looking so completely different here than he did on stage!] who has fought in Korea and returned home for the funeral for Jack.  Everyone wearing veils, jokingly I said they should have given him one too. ha.

Then there's the mysterious Kirsten who sneaks around hiding in the bunker and Hester (Ella Purnell) with the blood on her night gown.  The intended new Mrs Argyle, Gwenda (Alice Eve)  who is preparing for her wedding to Argyle when Arthur turns up, claiming he was in the Arctic and is shocked to find Jack isn't alive but nonetheless wants to instrumentally and guiltily clear his name, stating he picked Jack up on the night of the murder and dropped him off at 9pm.

Seems she wasn't that good a mother considering she wasn't the one who bought them up as seen from Part 2.  Thus Kirsten had plenty to lose and lots to gain when she died.  Also showing some resentment towards her.  Then there's Mary (Eleanor Tomlinson) and her wheelchair bound husband, Phillip (Matthew Goode) who does seem a bit of a cad and the only one how couldn't have done it and thus he had to be taken care of in Part 2, where more skeletons from their sordid closets are revealed.  Such as Michael and  Tina (Crystal Clarke) being in the woods and confronting their mother.  Seems it takes two to tango!  All of them at loggerheads.  With Michael warning off  Arthur and then taking him to the train in Part 2 to leave here.  But Arthur changes his mind and comes back.

Part 2 also showing what Jack was really like and free with the women and one reason why the inspector didn't like him and would've framed him for his mother's murder, friend of the family or no friend.  Especially as Jack was getting it on with his wife.  As he comes to run down Arthur after he calls the police.  Argyle showing his fatherly qualities towards Arthur when he wants to leave.  That was another big clue as to the real killer's identity.

Don't recall Richard Armitage being this way when he starred in the ITV production of Ordeal By Innocence with Miss Marple in the proceedings and Jane Seymour as the lamentable Mrs Argyle.  In that the nanny did the dirty deed and also offed the intended fiance cos she didn't like her.  However in the book it was Jack who convinced Kirsten to kill Rachel after making her believe he loves her and then his wife turns up.  So Jack was married and did have a penchant for older women..

Then we got Hester and her recalling how she told Tina she could have done it cos of the blood on her.  Yet again we were still kept being drawn back to Kirsten who has so many secrets and how she nonchalantly strolled in behind Leo and Arthur and moments later they find Phillip dead in the shower.  She was my suspect but considering writer Sarah Phelps stated she changed the ending. Gotta wonder why writers have to take such liberties man, ha, no really, sometimes you don't want writer's licence coming into it and them doing what they want, a little slap in the face stating how Agatha Christie didn't manage to pull it off!  It does come off feeling that way!  However I did, well me and sis did manage to get it was Leo and as I tweeted it's always the quiet ones who put on this entire charade of being so very 'innocent' and of course Jack confirmed this in Part 1 when he spat at him.  If daddy dearest hadn't been a bastard then he wouldn't have done this.  Also the divorce aspect and how he'd be penniless and let's see how long Gwenda would've stuck around without money.

So the reveal wasn't that big a deal after all (putting aside that I haven't missed a suspect yet in anything I have watched over the years, couldn't spoil my record now.)  Leo getting his just desserts being locked away in the bunker and he was friends with the police inspector too so everything would've been easily arranged to get Jack killed on the inside.

A bit of an ordeal for audiences/viewers but the BBC did manage to pull out all the stops and what with refilming with Christian Cooke, managed to finally air it at Easter instead of its intended Christmas Boxing Day date.