The Halcyon Series 1 Episode 1 Review

                                               
The opening episode as all eps go, set up the characters and tried to add some dimension to them and their potential storylines.  The backdrop being the war and how it affects the staff and guests at the Halcyon, which being a hotel, will be business as usual.  The episode opens with the 50th celebration of the hotel and also the event is interpreted by an air raid siren.  Whereby Betsy (Kara Tointon) states they have 5 minutes before they need to get to the air raid shelter, thus giving her an opportunity to get one song in.  Which as everyone knows wasn't the case.  Cue bomb and an almighty explosion as it rocks the Halcyon.

Thus we get to May 1940 - seven months earlier as the show attempts to set up intriguing plots to drive the show and ratings forward.  Thereby we meet the cast/characters, as said and how they'll fit into their respective roles.  Such as the secret meeting Lord Hamilton (Alex Jennings) the owner is meant to have his own agenda regarding the war and hoping to appease Hitler, as Chamberlain wants peace whereas Churchill is of the opposite view.  They want to get Halifax as PM.  Hamilton also brings his mistress, Charity Lambert (Charity Wakefield) to the fore.  As she's been to Germany, but that doesn't mean much in the price of things.  Who orders drink upon drink and proceeds to embarrass herself.  Hamilton has no qualms about the staff knowing of his 'indiscretions' as they all willingly (possibly for the sake of keeping their jobs) have to tow the line and his sordid secret, shall I say.  Until his wife, Lady Priscilla Hamilton (Olivia Williams) arrives (no not quite Emma Lady Hamilton, she of Lord Nelson fame.)  Who is rather cynical and prim but she's not a fool, even though the staff appeared to treat her as such.  Particular Hamilton's manager, Garland (Steven Mackintosh) who tries to cut her off in her tracks as Hamilton is otherwise 'disposed.'  Of course she will know of the nefarious endless affairs of her husband, which wife wouldn't.  Garland also gets to show at an early stage his many facets, as he comes across as a little smarmy, caring about his daughter and willing to do anything for his boss.

Then there's the twin sons, Freddie (Jamie Blackley) and Toby (Edward Bluemel) being four minutes younger than Freddie who's the heir apparent and also part of the RAF, home on leave.  Timely to celebrate their party.  As Freddie is clearly the favourite for his choice of a career no doubt and Toby is just the lowly Oxford researcher.  As Joe (Matt Ryan) later tells him, his father shouldn't have treated him so abysmally in public.  Joe O'Hara, journalist, or I should say, foreign correspondent who's a recent guest at the hotel.  Immediately having an eye for Emma Garland (Hermione Goldfield) receptionist and daughter of Richard  Garland.  Of course it's not conducive to have a reporter around, especially when Hamilton chooses to have meetings there.  Naturally he's going to get the low down on what's happening and also report it.  Not like they were being particularly secretive about it or anything.  Coming in the back way means nothing and he reports the news of Hamilton and his meeting over the radio to the US, particularly after Toby blabs and tells him about Charity being, "blonde with blue eyes" and that's why the German's like her, as she's also been to Munich.  And as some would say, she should've just stayed there.

Garland hears about the story and the British press won't report it, aside from one paper and so Garland has words with Briggs, telling him about his meeting with a 'lady' with dates and times.  Adding that he likes him, thus having  a mutual understanding.  Garland is rather shifty, so you know there's more going on with him and yet more secrets to be revealed.  As well as Hamilton watching Betsy with a roving eye as he later finds her in the bath in one of the rooms and she wasn't shy over showing off her naked body to him either.  As Emma discovered her earlier in another room, earlier on.  Well if she was the resident singer seems like she should've just had some sort of room there.  But this isn't a hotel for the staff, or some halfway house as some would say.  As the housekeeper remarks: "you can still smell some tart" to the stench of Charity lingering.

It's more like an 'upstairs, downstairs' scenario again, as there's some glimpses of the staff too and how they also are privy to every going on here.  It's no surprise then that Hamilton carks it as soon as the couple are going their own way and will break the news later, thus leaving Freddie as the heir and Lady Hamilton with a contempt-filled look for Garland.  She' s going to call the shots now.  As seen in the second episode.

As the name suggests this intro ep was a harkback to days gone by as we return to seven months early on.  Some will watch for the story, the characters, nostalgia and how everything plays out whilst some will watch for Matt, whatever your reasons, there's plenty to keep you entertained.  Yeah fine, I'm watching for Matty!!  So it was only fitting that the episode began with Joe chancing upon the black car entourage at the back of the hotel and being fielded by Emma as he questioned what was happening.  Of course he's a journo so he won't be as gullible as she thinks.  He knows rightly there's more going on than meets the eye, there is a war on after all.  Emma is the 'poor' daughter who has set her sights on the heir apparent who becomes heir by episodes end and having a moment of reminiscence too as she and Freddie find their carvings in the basement.  But she's "just the girl behind reception."  Quickly moved up the ranks to assistant manager.

As for Kara, think she's more suited to The Sound of Music since she's not so good with the blues/jazzy/swing numbers, actually her voice is drowned out by the music.  Not meant in a bad way.
Alex Jennings playing Lord Hamilton, who went onto Victoria as Uncle Leopold, typecasting there then with the womanizing aspect.  Now if Downton Abbey had entered the war years...

The hotel exterior building shot is located at 32 Lincoln's Inn Fields. been there often and still do!

Reminded me of Walt Whitman's Halcyon Days: "...Then for the teeming quietest, happiest days of all!

The brooding and blissful halcyon days!

Victoria 2.6 "Faith, Hope and Charity" Review

                                              
This episode deals with the Irish famine and the millions who died since pestilence and plague hit their crops.  However also a testament, if that's the right word without sounding like a pun, to how not to judge people based on their religion or religious affiliation.  Clearly the Protestant clergy saying this was as a result of the Catholic religion.  Whereas Dr Traill (Martin Compson) believes this not to be the case and wants to help the people of his parish of Schull where he sees firsthand the devastation brought to the people.

Victoria (Jenna Coleman) wants to help her people, but Peel (Nigel Lindsay) is adamant the government's hands are tied due to the Tory outrage over taxes and how they will not get the right price for their crops.  Which Victoria fails to understand and tells him as such later, after she meets with Traill who tells her of his plans and how the people are suffering.  Peel tells the House the government is unable to help.

Cleary (Tilly Steele) wants an advance of her salary which Penge (Adrian Schiller) refuses, even mocking the handwriting of the letter she receives from home.  Whereas Francatelli (Ferdinand Kingsley) gives her his gold pocketwatch, a gift from a lady who told him he'd become a gentlemen with it, whereas she calls him "a prince among men."  He would rather do a good deed than want to be thought of as a gentleman.

Albert (Tom Hughes) is concerned with the sewers and installing water closets in the palace, especially when he finds that the palace is built over sewers and even that the Roman sewers are in better condition than the ones now.  He wants the staff to have water closets too, which Lehzen (Daniela Holtz) tells Penge will be appreciated more by the female staff. 

Ernest (David Oakes) suffers from a rash which is diagnosed as a venereal disease and is prescribed mercury inhalation treatment, however he is warned that he cannot be with a woman or be able to have children.  Which comes at a time when Victoria receives news that the Duke of Sutherland has died leaving Harriet a widow and a free woman.  Ernest doesn't want to return to Coburg as he doesn't want to marry anyone Leopold finds for him which eh tells Albert before he receives the news from the doctor.  Seems Earnest won't be marrying anyone after his excesses in Paris.  The doctor only treats him after he finds he can afford his fees, nothing changed there then.

Traill opens a soup kitchen at his parish and tells his wife to to to Dublin with the children, as she says she won't return when she does, moot really since he dies of typhus anyway.  Victoria telling Peel that she's a mother and she can't bare the plight of other women in her position not being able to feed their babies.  Also reminding him how she thought he was very congenial when she met him for the first time.  But her opinion of him has changed now and first impressions can be deceiving.  Whereas Peel tells the House that the government will be sending food to the Irish.  Cleary finds out her family is immigrating to America, as was the case with millions back then, as she thanks Victoria for meeting with Traill.  Admitting that she too is a Catholic which doesn't bother Victoria.

An episode full of doom and gloom as it barely touches upon religion and indeed politics in Ireland in the nineteenth century, led on obviously by the sermon she and Albert listened to at the beginning setting up the events for the rest of the episode.  Reinforced by the views of Sir Charles Trevelyan (Edward Bennett) who had a cynical answer for everything in his meagre efforts of setting up relief for the famine, adding that inevitable over population was always going to result in starvation as a means of equalling out the numbers.  Rather bleakly and bigoted in his staunch Protestant views and outlook.  As we know the real Victoria gave not an ounce of concern over the fate of her subjects in Ireland. 

The same doom can be applied to Drummond (Leo Suter) and his 'failed romance' with Alfred (Jordan Waller) as he comments on women being emotional and Alfred asking if his fiance is the  same way too.  Drummond bemoaning how she wants to set a marriage date in the middle of the session of the House, adding Alfred doesn't want to hear that.  So tears and woes all round then! 

Longmire 5.3 "Chrysalis" Review

                                          
Cady (Cassidy freeman) and Nighthorse (A Martinez) have a conversation about what her job entails and how she's putting up fliers telling people about her legal aid clinic and the casino staff have only been paid a pittance, whereas the Res workers should have got more than she's getting.  Which they will resent her for.  She actually tells Henry (Lou Diamond Phillips) that he's paying her $750,000 and many will believe what they should have gotten has been squandered on her, which will hardly give her a good reputation or acceptance amongst them.  He asks if Walt (Robert Taylor) knows and she tells him he does but he didn't find out, she told him.  Even though he doesn't like it, she's an adult and can make her own decisions.  When she leaves the casino she spots a girl sitting outside in a car on her own.  She calls Walt and Olivia Hannah Nordberg) tells him her father's disappeared.  A search of the casino doesn't reveal anything.

Walt also leaves messages for Donna (Ally Walker) who doesn't pick up but prefers to carry on with her work.  As he also notices the bullet holes in his house which need fixing.  Walt takes Olivia home and he sees the car lights on, her mother's inside passed out and they carry her in.  Olivia says she does this a lot and can put her under the shower.  He questions them about her missing husband and Olivia makes breakfast at 4am before having to finish off homework.  Her mother, Melissa (Anne Dudek) can't recall anything.  Walt talks with Olivia's teacher who really can't say much for fear of losing her job but doesn't have much to say about either of them. 

Ferg (Adam Bartley) still searches the casino and Walt wants to see the footage from two days ago when her father was here.  Walt tells Nighthorse Malachi (Graham Greene) may have started up his scam again from relieving guests from their winnings and Nighthorse doesn't want any of the footage getting to Walt.  As he keeps Olivia and her mother at the station, Ruby (Louanne Stephens) tells him Ferg found a DB matching the description of her father on the other side of town.  Vic (Katee Sackhoff) doesn't find much money in his wallet for someone who won big and he appears to have been run over.  Being found by a school bus driver who parked alongside the road, instead of parking further down, giving the children a view of the DB and a chance to take pictures.  Obviously they're not going to delete them as Walt tells Ferg to tell them to do that.  Vic questions the trailer park owner, Mega (Robert Baker) and he didn't see him there.  On her way back, she finds a man on his mobile chair with his dog who says he saw a woman who was searching for a royal blue car.  Putting the suspicion on Melissa since she also conveniently can't remember. 

Donna finally shows up after Walt leaves a message about Olivia, as Walt tells Ferg to check the underside of Melissa's car.  Where he doesn't find any damage to it.  Vic and Donna have words, yeah two jealous women going at it, okay more like one jealous one and one who seemed indifferent either way about her true feelings for Walt or whether she has any for him.  Vic being open tells her she doesn't deserve him, she saw how he was when Donna was missing and Donna just avoids him.  Donna making excuses about having been shot so she wants to make up lost time for her work.  So perhaps Vic gave Donna the idea to go back and pursue Walt in the end, a little of, if she can have him she will and Vic won't, going on there.  Well she's a shrink after all.

Nighthorse calls Henry and asks what he's found out about Malachi and he has found anything new, except for the ledger which doesn't show much except that Nighthorse's catering company has been doing a lot of business with Henry.  Also Nighthorse tells him about a company that Walt found out about after he questioned the woman, Shawna Crawford (Beau Garrett) in room 503 after he found the room number on the DB.  She just says she flirted with him and he brought her back here when she had too much to drink cos he looked "safe."  Malachi tells Walt there's no footage in the casino of the man other than with Shawna and Nighthorse gets a camera to place in Malachi's room. 

Henry takes Cady to search for offices on the Res and comes across a foreclosed house.  There are also other foreclosed houses on the Res but they won't be in such good condition.  She's going to have a tough time getting them to accept her.  Henry also confronts Nighthorse about this and he draws an analogy of the body being starved for days without food has to be nourished a little at a time, the same with the tribe, who must be given a little money at a time and not a lot in one go, they've gone without for so long.  He wants schools, health centres for them.  Henry tells him they won't really help the people.  Also that he sounds like the government.  Nighthorse wants Cady to use Sam as a handyman (yes him again from past seasons) and also gives her a rifle.  He's not threatening her but says it's a Cheyenne custom that when a bride gets married, a gun is given as a gesture.  You don't give a gun to your enemy, as well as giving her bullets just incase.

Melissa is taken to hospital and Vic finds she was beaten by her father.  But he didn't lay a hand on Olivia.  In his car Walt finds a packet of Skittles on the driver's side pointing the finger at Olivia, that much was apparent.  She knew about his abuse towards her mother and she said it was her dream, that they'd be rescued but they weren't.  Walt didn't find his keys cos she had them and she was his designated driver so he wouldn't get a DUI and lose his job.  She stopped the car and reversed over him after throwing him out.  The title being the analogy Mega at the trailer park drew about  chrysalis turning into butterflies.  Seems that won't be the case here for Olivia. 

Donna visits Walt and he has a package for her, laundry.  She tells him she's pregnant and he wants to do the right thing.  She thinks he's saying that cos he's obligated to do so, but she's not really pregnant, that he feels he owes her after what happened to her.  But that's not what she wants.  She stays for a Rainier and asks him if he knows how a woman gets pregnant.  He can't remember if they actually did anything or not and she replies it's great to have some mystery in a romance.  As long as the mystery doesn't involve some secrets from her past.  Also poor Ferg didn't get to take a photo of Beth at the hospital, Walt telling him not to stay there.

Not much of an interesting episode in terms of the story about Olivia and her parents, it's been done before.  The bitchy catfight (ha, can a cats be bitchy) between Donna and Vic was more interesting and also how Walt finds himself in the same position as Melissa in not recalling whether she killed him or not.  Walt doesn't even recall what they did that day, which was a bit harsh on Donna's part keeping the truth from him.  It wasn't as if he was a drunk suffering from a hangover or anything like that.  But hey they did find her clothes and bra, so...he should've got some sort f an inkling from that, or maybe not.

Victoria 2.5 "Entente Cordial" Review

                                               
Peel (Nigel Lindsay) is concerned over the impending agreement between Isabella of Spain to marry the King of France, Louis Philippe's (Bruno Wolkowitch) son, Antoine.  Whereas Leopold wants Isabella to marry Prince Ferdinand, otherwise there will be an impending war between England and France and England can't afford another war.  Victoria (Jenna Coleman) feels she should write to Louis explaining the situation, but Peel is adamant that it won't do any good.  Trying to convince Albert (Tom Hughes) of this.  However once Victoria gets an idea into her head, she doesn't relinquish it quickly, if at all.  She later thinks it will be better if she actually visits Louis in person and sets about gathering an entourage of Drummond (Leo Suter) for political purposes, though he wasn't much help at all, the Duchess of Buccleuch (Diana Rigg) Wilhelmina (Bebe Cave) and Skerrett (Nell Hudson) of course.  She doesn't take Lehzen (Daniela Holtz) as she doesn't trust anyone else to look after her children.  Does that include her mother too.

On the journey, Albert insists he isn't a very good sailor, so how many journeys has he made via sea and he's still not gathered his sea legs.  The same can be said about Skerrett.  At the port, Victoria is received by Louis and he kisses her on both cheeks, Louis being her cousin.  As the French ladies make fun of her bag with Dash on the front of it.  "I can't travel anywhere without Dash" as she said earlier on.  Victoria thinks the French ladies think her plain and she asks what they were wearing on their faces.  As Albert conversely remarks he hates their painted faces.  Preferring simplicity.  He also sees Earnest (David Oakes) there, but has no idea why he was there, other than for some frolicking with another French lady, he had nothing to say about the impending nuptials.  Albert is surprised he could leave Coburg.   Infact when Albert confronts him about his obvious dalliance, he says he is "honouring their father's memory" by behaving in the same manner.  But of course we know that Earnest has more of his father in him, since his trysts with the Duchess in England.

Wilhelmina still seems to be throwing herself at Earnest but he's not interested in her.  As Drummond and Lord Alfred (Jordan Waller) forever engaging in their innuendos and glancing looks towards one another.  The Duchess of Buccleuch thinks they're just heading into a "Sodom and Gomorrah."  Apt phrase if you know what I mean!! Specially with the smirkings of Drummond and Alfred.   Indeed if the Duchess knew their intentions she'd have repeated the phrase again! She was too busy despairing at where she is.

Victoria wears rouge after Wilhelmina is approached by Skerrett asking for a translation and is shown what the women wear on their faces by the French maid (Emily Renee) as well as on their breasts. As well as wearing flowers in her hair.  At dinner, Louis doesn't like to mix business with pleasure and refuses to speak ot Victoria about the marriage.  Instead he prefers to eat crispy birds drowned in almanac, which is a death he too prefers as opposed to Madame Guillotine, which his father got after siding with the rabble, they betrayed him too.  He doesn't want that for Antoine.

Albert doesn't want Victoria to wear make-up again and says that he doesn't like this place as it's full of deceit, which it is.  Also hating how Louis spoke of how his father left his mistress for him when he died.  Victoria explores the grounds with Louis and she is in awe of her surroundings, as he cuts her an orange.  Finding it handy to carry a knife around.  As well as speaking of his fellow countrymen attempting to kill him seven times, Victoria adding she has also been shot at, but he tells her the gun wasn't loaded.  At the lavish 'picnic' which is what it really was.  Alfred remarks on Albert liking this forest, it's hardly a forest to him.  He goes on a walk with Antoine and he loves his brisk walks, it's exercise.  Chancing upon the lake and waterfall he finds he's in need of a cold rush of blood to the head and goes for a dip.  As do Drummond and Alfred, as well as Earnest after his tete a tete with the Duchess in the grounds!

Soon Victoria approaches the lake too and is told by the French Duchess that they're just peasants, but she spies a look and sees who it is.  Albert is in better spirits after his swim and he tells Victoria about Leopold and how he might be his father.  However she says there's no way of knowing whether he is or not. Also how he says he's just a bastard.  She loves him anyway and she can't live in this world without him.  Albert mentioning "til death do us part."  However she mentions as long as they both shall live.  Albert later convinces Louis not to get involved with the marriage, demonstrating by making Isabella a bunch of grapes whereupon the first person who picks a grape from the vine is mauled by the dog guarding it.  Louis agrees on an entente cordial.

As they return home, Alfred and Drummond now sit next to one another in the carriage and the Duchess refers to the entire trip as being  decadent, as they smirk again.  She recalls her brother being killed in battle against the French.
Victoria appears to have missed her children now and later they learn that Antoine is to marry Isabella after all.  Louis lied and Albert is angry.  See a wasted effort after all.  Those were the times and it's not as though there was any sort of lasting peace back then.  Thus Peel was right after all and she shouldn't have gone there, let alone thought of writing a letter.  Victoria thinks it was good they went since she and Albert weren't in a good place, but now they are and they no longer have any secrets between them!  As she gestures towards her stomach.  It appears she is pregnant once again.

Though in this Victoria was played as the first British monarch to visit France back in 1843, again dramatic licence just to move the story and episodes forward.  Ah it's all about the entertainment after all, so no one really cares!

Longmire 5.2 "One Good Memory" Review

                                                
Walt's (Robert Taylor) still determined to find Walker (Callum Keith Rennie) and holds him responsible for Donna (Ally Walker) being missing, as he heads to the morgue, he hesitates before he takes a look at the DB under the sheet.  The attendant  apologizing as he thinks Walt is holding his head in prayer.  He finds it's not Donna which gives him a faint glimmer of hope.  He also checks out the burnt out van of hers and finds a bottle of beer which is the brand that Duncan Butler (Mac Brandt) was drinking when they went to his house.  Walt heads to his work and also to his house but he and Vic (Katee Sackhoff) find he's not there and that his employer lied about the days he was here when Walt was shot and the assault.  He thinks Duncan deserves some credit for serving his country and he often had bad days where he doesn't turn up.

Henry (Lou Diamond Phillips) breaks into the house where Mathias (Zahn McClarnon) has sent him and is shot at by a man.  He tells Mathias that the artifact, the piece of pottery he went to retrieve wasn't there but there were several other artifacts there.  Mathias is then called about the break-in and Henry realizes he used that to gain lawful entry.  However when Mathias goes there, he finds there was nothing there.  The artifacts are real but were stolen and now cos of Henry acting like Hector the thieves have disappeared.  But he still wants Henry to help him.  Otherwise he'll contact he FBI and send the blood to them.  Henry also picks the gun from under the tables and waits for his chance to photograph some papers from the office.  Also he''s called by Jacob but we don't know why.

Walt goes back to Sheriff Wilkin's (Tom Wopat) house after enlisting Ethan's (Josh Cooke) help and he finds Walker there.  They have an altercation and Ethan is fired.  Walker says if he shot him, Walt would've been dead.  Which Walt believes before being told to leave.  Ethan rejects Walt's job offer saying he'd be jumping from one irksome boss to another bad situation.  Mainly cos of Vic really.

There's a fight at the Red Pony and Brandt takes Randal (Anthony Alabi) hostage saying he knows what's happened to Donna.  Henry follows him and contacts Vic, who stops Duncan, telling Henry she doesn't know who the bad guy is.  Duncan tells Walt he knows what's happened cos he was also a patient and he watched Donna to protect her.  But one day she rejected his rabbit stew which he prepared personally for her , even shooting the rabbit and Vic mocks him as if she agrees with him. Walt show shim the beer bottle and tells him his fave Rainier doesn't come in bottles.  He admits he freaked out and torched the van, but he didn't hurt her.  Ferg (Adam Bartley) tells Walt that Adam (Sterling Beaumon) is Donna's son as he spoke to her ex and also he's a lawyer so he's angry about him being locked up without being charged.  There's a voicemail on his phone and he says she never checks up on him like that and uses the word "deelio."  Obviously she's being held hostage too.  Ferg traces the call and finds it was made from Tamar's (Jamie Ann Allman) address.  Where they find blood inside a closet and Vic apologizes for a second time, that she didn't look there.

Donna is at a gas station with Tamar and she leaves a note on the tissue for someone to find.  She doesn't want to hurt her but is only protecting her.  As if she needs protection which obviously must also have been triggered when Donna's van was burned.  Ferg looks at the photos Walt was looking at and Walt recalls the photo in Tamar's drawer at a lake.  The service station man tells them about a lake nearby and that's where Donna is being held.  Tamar found the note she left and is angry.  Walt and the others split up and he comes across the cabin and sees Donna.  Not expecting for Tamar to see him.  He is told to drop his gun and come in but he brings his spare with him and Donna tells him she's not dangerous.  Yeah she only tried to shoot him.  Telling Walt about Tamar's rape and he guesses it was her CO.

She thinks no one will believe she was trying to protect Donna and will turn it into some kind of twisted lesbian affair.  Which Walt almost does.  He gives Donna his gun and tells her she's protected now and safe.  So Tamar can leave.  She does and Donna doesn't want her treated like a criminal, she's traumatic.  Walt talks with her and she wants to be handcuffed since she doesn't belong anywhere and doesn't trust herself.  As Donna comes out, Tamar wants to take one last look at the lake, but obviously we knew she was going to jump in.  She after all did try it once before.  But Donna didn't notice her intention now.  Walt dives in after her and Vic and Ferg end up getting them both out.

Somehow I thought this episode a little anti-climactic to the season opener.  It just seemed fairly routine that Donna would be alive and that one of her patient's was behind it.  It's strange how Duncan's boss said he served his country and should be cut some slack but the reverse was said by Tamar and she was right in many ways.  Why shouldn't she have been given some lack too, for serving her country and then getting raped by her CO.  She didn't deserve that, no one does.  Walt was right though she should've told her story and most people would have understood and empathized with her.  Apparently double standards still exist.

The look on Walt's face when he came out of the drink lying on that jetty said it all. Was he relieved or glad to be over that ordeal, as well as thinking what next now?  Donna just doesn't seem right, sorry I have to say it, she's very volatile for him and especially with her patients.  He doesn't need that kind of trouble in his life and especially not at this point either.  Though makes you wonder why Donna didn't help Tamar being a doc so she's still trained in first aid and all that, even if she's a shrink.

Henry giving Mathias that ultimatum though was good to see cos people will be upset when they find out what happened to hector and really eh didn't care if he told the FBI, but deep down he was actually calling his bluff.  He couldn't have Hector's name being used for such purposes when he was all about helping people.

Once Upon A Time 4.21/22 Operation Mongoose Parts 1 & 2

                                              
Operation Mongoose goes the route of a reversal of Once Upon A Time, after the opening, we get to see the ending, or rather variations on happy endings.  Regina (Lana Parilla) takes Zelena (Rebecca Mader) to the hospital and locks her up there, presumably she takes away her necklace so she can't use magic, or is she still able to do that.  Anyway after Issac (Patrick Fischler) vanishes he writes a new book for Gold/Rumples (Robert Carlyle) with Gold being the author, more than Issac. Entitled  Heroes and Villains where all is reversed.  Snow (Ginnifer Goodwin) now becomes the Evil Queen with David (Josh Dallas) as her huntsman and Regina is Snow.  That was a turnaround, didn't think we'd see Regina becoming a bandit.  Hence her moniker of 'Bandit Queen.'

Henry (Jared S Gilmore) finds he's the only one left in Storybrooke and takes Regina's car to the next town where no one's seen his family, but he chances upon Issac's book, now Henry did you pay for that book?  Ha.  He ends up at a book signing with Issac and he wants to lock him back inside the book unless he's open with him.  Which he isn't, it's his book he says and so Henry takes the original book and uses the key to get inside, bringing Issac with him.  Issac however ties him to the cart for an ogre to kill him.  Cue Rumples as knight come to save the day and Henry.  Leaving Henry free to find Regina.  She doesn't believe he's her son and burns the book, knew she'd do that, with Henry saving a page from it, so what page did he manage to save, I'd like to have known.  Regina apparently is going to rob a tax collector's carriage and Henry tells her that her happy ending is with Robin Hood (Sean Maguire) who is her rival.

Issac slimily is caught and brought before Snow who is about to kill him before he tells about Henry, as well as telling her that her true love was James since he was just like her.  Regina sets off to meet the carriage, only Snow surprises her and Robin manages to save her.  Taking her to the tavern where she meets Zelena who's going to be his bride later in the afternoon.  She pays him for his troubles, but certainly doesn't want to attend the wedding, she's leaving the kingdom.  Henry stops her again and tells her she can save the day by stopping the wedding, or rather with the help of he Saviour.  Regina tells him the Saviour is in the tower and is locked up there.  Thus he needs to secure passage on a ship which he thinks belongs to Hook (Colin O'Donoghue).  In actual fact he's just a deckhand and doesn't have an ounce of courage or daring do at this point, in this book.  It appears he's neither a hero nor a villain.

Henry takes care of Blackbeard (Charles Mesure) and Hook can now take the ship to the tower, which is guarded by a black knight.  Henry rescues Emma (Jennifer Morrison) who knew he'd come and they head back to stop the wedding, so Regina can have her true love and with true love's kiss, they can end it all.  However the black knight is none other than Lily who follows them and is conked out by a cannonball.  Emma teaches Hook to sword fight but it's a little too late, as he does manage to defeat David, but turns his back on him and is stabbed from behind, as Emma and Henry escape to find Regina.  Begging the question of why Regina was still around after Henry rescued Emma and made it back to shore.

She doesn't believe she can stop the wedding but they convince her to try.  Gold learns of them trying to change things and he doesn't want his happy ending to be spoiled.  He is married to Belle (Emily de Ravin) and they have a son together.  So he attempts to stop them.  We even get the chipped cup in this story which Belle says can be easily fixed.  Not so it seems, that was just like a metaphor for 'if anything can go wrong it will and always does'.  Gold gets to fight Henry and Emma but Regina doesn't stop the wedding, choosing instead to save Henry.  She's stabbed and Issac  tries to write her out, but Henry grabs the quill and Emma is able to use Regina's blood since it's good and is light magic to write  a different ending.

As they return to Storybrooke and everyone wakes up.  Emma looks fir Hook and thinks he's not around but he still is.  She tries to tell him she loves him, which she told Regina she couldn't do as she was afraid and still doesn't do it.  Belle finds Gold passed out and David stops Issac from leaving in Hold's car.  He needs to be prevent his heart from turning black, Belle tells Rumples she loved him and he threw it all away.  He says he didn't believe they could be happy.  Henry is the new author now but he needs to be careful about what he writes.  The sorcerer's apprentice tells him he can't write his father back since he died in the real world.  Hook came back cos his death was only fiction and just as well he did otherwise there'd be uproar!!  And not just from me!  Ha.

They try to use the hat and the sorcerer's apprentice attempts to take Gold's heart and put it through     the hat.  The darkness needs a new host body and returns from the hat into the apprentice, then leaves through the letterbox.  The apprentice tells them that Merlin is the only one who can stop it, so it's on a quest to find Merlin now.  Emma tells David and Snow she spent to much time holding grudges against them and she needs for Regina to have her happy ending, as he takes the darkness into herself.  They stopped her from becoming dark before and now they'll have to do the same.

Strike:The Cuckoo's Calling 1.1 1.2 1.3

                                           
Cormoran Strike (Tom Burke) may seem like a different and new kind of detective/PI but under the surface and visibly too it's nothing that we haven't seen before.  Modern day 'Sherlock' too!  Now I know I tweeted that as well but it sooo was!!  There were many scenes/locations, sets, which were too similar to say it wasn't just a coincidence, even the end music was almost similar sounding too.

We've got a regular cafe where he hangs out: aka Speedy's.  Then there was that restaurant too, especially similar to the one where Sherl and Watson first went to when they were chasing the taxi in the Pilot A Study in Pink.  Then there was the coat, yes no detec is complete without obligatory overcoat, do they still call them overcoats.  Even his office screamed Sherlock and he even sleeps on the couch there too, which is actually meant to be a camper bed as his sister referred to it.  Still there was a couch involved.

Then we frequented Belgravia/Westmister where we chanced upon Irene Adler's house, or close enough to be the same from the outside.  As well as Lula's apartment which was akin to the one in The Blind Banker when the man supposedly was meant to have committed suicide too.  Of course Lula didn't kill herself, why would she, she had so much going.  Not to mention meeting Tony (Martin Shaw) in a restaurant, Sherlock as waiter with 'tache sprang to mind.  Then the CCTV footage when Corm when to the apartments again, that was definitely Sherlock many times over. And let's not forget the swimming pool and his first encounter with Moriarty!  Do I call this a Cormoran v Sherlock review or something?  Ha.

It has its quirky moments and the number of times he removes his prosthetic leg and how it pains him still, so it doesn't come in handy for chasing people, re Rochelle.  Well he shouldn't have shouted to her when he found her.  If she was hiding, why make a phonecall and speak that loudly anyway!!  As well as requiring several meals a day.  He eats, whereas Sherlock didn't, not in the early days at least and yes I was going to call Robin (Holliday Grainger) a "Mrs Hudson" cos in many ways, she is (and she pouts plenty).  Especially when she made the coffee and cleaned up the place.  She is a PA after all and not a fellow detective (yet).  Just to make it topical, Corm is the son of a rock star and his mother committed suicide.  Thou it's not spelled out straightaway.  Not even when Uncle Tony remarks about it, trying to threaten him to get off the case.  Mentioning his lack of funds, his leg and his mother too.  he's not too bothered about derogatory remarks made towards him, but no one says anything bad about his mother.

Also he has an ex-fiance, Charlotte, who keeps calling him.  That introductory scene with Robin when he nearly dropped her down the stairs, was going to say she was standing too close to them from the outset! Huh, predictability!  Corm is hired by John (Leo Bill) brother of an old friend of his (small world) to tie up loose ends and ensure it was suicide, but obviously it won't be.  Robin is a uni drop-out, as is he and she searches Corm on the Net for his background.  Turns out he was in the Royal Military Police.

Lula (Elarica Johnson)was a model, had everything going for her and everyone knew her.  Leaving Corm with plenty of suspects, of course there is one that stands out and many of us have seen this but a lot haven't.  So I'll leave my theories and deductions to the third ep, but pretty sure who it is now.  JK Rowling as Richard Galbraith really needs to come up with something that hasn't been done before.  Doubt many would've watched this if it hadn't been for Tom Burke (Athos from The Musketeers) playing the title role!)

Episode 1.2

This episode also included the introduction of Corm's half sister who wanted to take him home with her and well, 'mother' him in many ways, as if he can't cope with the real world, it's not exactly like he's got some from of disorder.  Aside from his debt and the pain, he was managing quite well.  Also bringing up the subject of their mother and how it perhaps wasn't suicide.  But she does get to give him a lift, as he questions the people who worked with Lula, including fellow model and friend, Ciara (Amber Anderson).  Whom he then had a one night stand with, whilst finding out the Guy Some bags also contained hidden pockets beneath the lining, thus giving ample opportunity to hide anything really. Giving him the idea of the will in the next episode.  Of course the leather gloves were another clue and Evan (Bronson Webb) just happened to have some, before he found out Corm was accusing him and lost it.

Of course at this point, Corm still suspected Tony as the killer, as he took photos of him with Tansy (Tara Fitzgerald) who's unhappy in her marriage to a movie producer.  Yes the suspect list was plenty in this, but the killer would be much more closer to home.  And how they kept returning to the vacant apartment and the flowers, in the police photos but then went missing from her place.

Robin heads to the dress shop Lula frequented with her friend Rochelle (Tezlym Senior-Sakutu) and Robin managed to try on a bright green dress when Corm happened to turn up!  He later buys it for her as bonus when he gets into the money.  Robin acting like a model too in that mirror.  Finding out that one of the shop girls taped their conversation until Lula found out.  Also how Rochelle knew what was going on and was actually blackmailing the killer who killed her too.  Corm being too late to save her and scolding his hands in the boiling water in the bath tub to boot.

As for the part with the CCTV footage, strange the killer didn't know it was there, well obviously he did cos he wore the hoodie, but still didn't manage to disguise his posture and of course the shoes. Yes you fool, your lanky body and your shoes gave you away!  There another suspect caught before the end of the show by yours truly.  But why did Corm imply he knew who it was, when clearly he didn't until the last episode, unless he was cunningly keeping it under his coat until he got evidence and found the will..  It was John after all, her adoptive brother.  Obviously he had no brains, why bring Corm in to investigate when the police had already ruled Lula's death a suicide.  He wanted the will no doubt, cos he didn't want her share left to her real brother.  Again about money.  Especially since Lady Bristow (Sian Phillips) was about to cark it.  Reminiscing about the movies and her love for Lula and her other son.

Episode 1.3

Not only was the motive money but turns out John wasn't loved by his mother, not as much as his brother was, in terms of being the favourite and continually berated for his looks etc.  Thus leading him to also kill his brother and keeping the bell from the bicycle.  Corm gently telling him that leather is porous and forensics will make light work of it.  Before John starts a fight with the bottle he bought for him.  Knew Robin would return anyway.  See in series 2, she again comes to his rescue of sorts, as she nabs the culprit in that too.

As Corm's search leads him back to Guy (Kadiff Kirwin) the fashion designer, as he recognizes his hoodie and gloves which haven't been released yet, but Lula had them.  Apparently Tony always suspected something wasn't quite right with John, but he didn't want to hurt his sister, not in her condition.

We also got some insight to how Corm lost his leg in Afghanistan after being ambushed.  Which seemed quite preventable, how were they duped by that broken down truck.  Showing also how he was going to be shot by the boy with the gun, who hears the helicopter, winks at him and runs.  Corm was former military police so his background would've kept him in good stead as a PI, not much else he could do.   Particularly with his famous father and his mother being a model too.  Having his own personality, especially the hangovers, which were frequent, and his love for food, we saw him eat quite a bit.  Tom Burke really got into this character and brought him to life like an impressionist painting, keeping you guessing and working out what he's really like; lots of layers, secrets and personal traits we have yet to learn about him.