THEGAYUK

Tag: TV Review

All the latest TV reviews from THEGAYUK. Browse The THEGAYUK’s complete collection of TV reviews.

  • TV REVIEW | Red Dwarf XII Siliconia

    You’d be forgiven for wondering why so many Sci-Fi shows have such high budgets when you see what Red Dwarf pulls off this week on a far lower one.

    The much announced and high awaited “Siliconia”, aka “The One Where Everyone is Kryten” has it all: questions about obedience, sides and morality, an epic fight scene and oh such feels! Yes, hidden behind his android mask and by own admission feeling rather ill because of it, Chris Barrie delivers a heartbreaking speech that will stick with you for quite some time.

    Meanwhile, Danny John-Jules gets the laughs this week with several zingers while Craig Charles makes a meal of Lister’s battle against his new android mind taking over.

    In other scenes, Robert Llewellyn shows off the humanised traits of the original Kryten very well as the android questions where his loyalties lay.
    An almost cinematic effort by Doug Naylor who by now is clearly a seasoned writer/director.

    Red Dwarf XII is tonight (19th October) 21.00 – Dave

  • TV REVIEW | Against The Law

    As part of their Gay Britannia season, the BBC commissioned Against The Law, a docudrama of some of the events leading up the Wolfenden report, which paved the way to the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in the UK.

    TV REVIEW | Against The Law

    Against The Law is a docudrama by filmmaker Fergus O’Brien, based on the true story of Peter Wildeblood played by Daniel Mays, a writer and journalist for the Daily Mail, who was charged and imprisoned for homosexual acts in 1954, following an affair with a military man (Richard Gadd). At the time, gay men were being arrested in their droves, police raids were regular and the shaming of men for their lifestyle was rife.

    The punishment for those found guilty was prison time and gay cures offered, by professional medical staff, to those who wished to drive the gay out of them. The cures offered included electrical and chemical aversion therapies.

    The law made it almost impossible for gay men to lead honest, open relationships with each other as demonstrated in Wildeblood’s story. His personal love letters to his boyfriend were used against him in evidence of his so-called crimes.

    After his incarceration, he was the only openly gay man to testify in front of the Wolfenden committee, the committee that was, eventually, instrumental in the decriminalising of homosexuality in the UK.

    Interspersed with the drama were the true life stories from men caught up in the cruelty of the British legal system. They share their heartbreaking stories of fear, longing for acceptance and reclamation of their stolen lives.

    Utterly captivating and desperately sad, Against The Law, is a history lesson everybody in the LGBT+ community needs to learn.

     

  • TV REVIEW | Epidemic: When Britain Fought AIDS, Channel 4

    ★★★★★ | Epidemic: When Britain Fought AIDS, Channel 4

    REVIEW | Epidemic: When Britain Fought AIDS, Channel 4

    To mark the 50 years of the partial decriminalisation of homosexuality in England and Wales, Channel 4 has commissioned a number of special programmes, in its 50 Shades Of Gay series; Epidemic: When Britain Fought AIDS is just one of these remarkable look backs.

    In the 1980s the UK was gripped by the panic of a destructive disease, which, in the beginning seemingly only affected the gay and bisexual male community. Citizens the world over were starting to exhibit numerous illnesses caused by one of the most destructive diseases known to man. It killed its victims ruthlessly, painfully and indiscriminately.

    It would take the best part of a decade for the government and health industry of the day to get to grips with just the naming and diagnosis of what we now know today as HIV and AIDS. To put it perspective, PrEP and Truvada were still twenty years in the development.

    Epidemic: When Britain Fought AIDS focuses on the main players in a forgotten story, from the landmark moment when Princess Diana publicly held the hand of someone who had AIDS in the UK’s first HIV/AIDS hospital ward to the complete silence on the subject from the UK’s Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher.

    Paul O’Grady, Jean Paul Gaultier, Andy Bell, Lord Michael Cashman, and Margaret Thatcher’s health secretary Norman Fowler, give personal insight into how the battle against AIDS was fought. It delves into how the language that we used today was born and how the fight against AIDS, forced the UK, as a whole, to face its own intolerance and see LGBT+ people as humans rather than sinners and degenerates.

    Watch it on the Channel 4 website

     

     

     

     

  • TV REVIEW | Looking, Season 1

    The search for happiness starts with LOOKING

    (C) HBO

    Rumoured as the gay version of Sex and the City, Looking is not your typical gay drama.

    Usually, gay dramas tend to include either drug-fuelled sex orgies with someone eventually dying of AIDS or ridiculously good looking men just sleeping with each other in unbelievable circumstances and situations.

    However, Looking is none of this; it is refreshingly unique in its portrayal of modern gay culture. Yes, there are good looking men but they are not ridiculously hot. They are typical gay men who live in San Francisco and are trying to figure out what it is to be gay in the 21st century; including the blurring of relationships, ageing in the gay world and the question of monogamy versus polyamory.

    Looking offers an unfiltered look at three friendships in one of America’s most iconic cities. Looking: Season One introduces us to Patrick (Jonathan Groff best known for The Normal Heart and Glee), who is a 29-year old video game designer getting back into the dating world after learning about his ex’s engagement as well as aspiring artist Agustín (Frankie J Alvarez best known for Smash), who questions the idea of monogamy as he transitions into domesticity with his boyfriend and career waiter Dom (Murray Bartlett best known for White Collar), who is the oldest member of the group who, at 39, is soon to be facing middle age with his romantic and professional dreams still unfulfilled. The trio’s stories intertwine and unspool dramatically as they search for happiness and intimacy in an age of unparalleled choices, and rights, for gay men.

    Rounding out the world of Looking: Season One are the UK’s own Russell Tovey (Being Human, The History Boys), starring as Kevin, Patrick’s boss and love interest; Dom’s roommate Doris (Lauren Weedman); Agustín’s boyfriend Frank (O.T. Fagbenle); and Patrick’s co-worker Owen (Andrew Law), as well as the legendary Scott Bakula (Quantum Leap, Star Trek: Enterprise) who stars as Lynn.

    The complicated, funny and romantically charged lives of three friends living in San Francisco takes centre stage in the sexy and lyrical Looking: Season One which comes to Blu-ray and DVD on 12th January 2015 courtesy of HBO Home Entertainment. The whole season and individual episodes are also available to own and watch instantly on Amazon Instant Video, blinkbox, Google Play and iTunes.

    Looking: Season One, created by Michael Lannan (Nurse Jackie, Remember Me) and executive produced by Sarah Condon (Bored to Death) and Andrew Haigh, who wrote and directed the critically-lauded Weekend, is a ground-breaking comedic drama that focuses on the universal themes of falling in love and ultimately finding fulfilment.

    DVD & Blu-ray special features include audio commentary episodes 1 – 8 with Jonathan Groff, Frankie Alvarez, Murray Bartlett, Andrew Haigh, Michael Lannan, Raul Castillo, Ryan Fleck, Russell Tovey, Reed Morano, Jamie Babbit, John Hoffman, Lauren Weedman, Tanya Saracho

    Overall opinion:
    A must see. Regardless of age, this gay drama tells the true story of what it is to be gay in our modern world. Featuring much-loved stars such as Jonathan Groff and Russell Tovey, we promise you that you’ll watch for the eye candy but stay for the story.

    First published Dec 2014

  • TV REVIEW | Red Dwarf XI Episode 6: Can Of Worms

    ★★★★ | Red Dwarf XI Episode 6: Can Of Worms

    Red Dwarf XI / DAVE TV
    Red Dwarf XI / DAVE TV

    So another very different episode. A very unique one too as it gives the, long overdue, lead to the Cat (Danny John-Jules).

    Even though the trope is simple: Cat finds love but all is not what it seems, the execution isn’t; Just when we think we know where this is going we suddenly find that we are not going there at all. This is the episodes strength as well as it’s weakness: there often is too much going on and every element would have been a perfect episode by its-self.

    The characters, though, are spot on as are the actors: Dany John-Jules clearly relishes giving the Cat more freedom while Chris Barrie and Craig Charles add a new facet to Rimmer and Lister – concerned parents looking after their naïve cat-child. Although very short, the guest performance by Dominique Moore as the Cat’s love interest really left us wanting Moore (yes, pun intended).
    All in all a strange but worthy ending to a brilliant series.

    We can’t wait till XII next year!! See you then!!

    Red Dwarf XI continues tonight on Dave at 9PM

     

  • REVIEW: Red Dwarf XI Episode 5 – KRYSIS

    Red Dwarf has used various styles this series and this new episode is no different. After a fast paced big cast episode, a filmic flashback, a horror time travel episode and a body horror technology based episode we have another first for the series: cute and fuzzy friendship feels!!

    ★★★★

    Red Dwarf – Series 11 – Ep05 – “Krysis” –

    This episode proves just how much the characters have grown and developed over the years. The bickering foursome have developed into a dysfunctional but caring family. Sure they might bicker and grumble, but after so many centuries together, they do care.

    Kryten (Robert Llewellyn) is feeling depressed and the guys fear he might suffer from a midlife crisis and they are soon proven right. As Kryten goes through various stages of midlife crisis at an alarming speeds and feels increasingly low about himself and his accomplishments, Dave Lister (Craig Charles) thinks it’s time for an intervention. Of course things do not go completely to plan.

    Red Dwarf – Series 11 – Ep05 – “Krysis”

     

    What makes this an interesting episode is seeing Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie) and the Cat (Danny John-Jules) as part of the team, trying to help out but with their characteristics still in tact. This is very clever writing. It’s good to see characters grow up and learn and it shows that the show works even without constant clashes and insults. The heart of the show is these characters being there for each other despite their differences.

  • TV | Red Dwarf XI Episode 4: Officer Rimmer

    TV | Red Dwarf XI Episode 4: Officer Rimmer

    One moment there is no Chris Barrie on our screens for years next thing you know more than a hundred come along at once …

    ★★★★★

    Red Dwarf XI / DAVE TV
    Red Dwarf XI / DAVE TV

    This week’s Red Dwarf sees a return to the classic Arnold Rimmer (Chris Barrie) has illusions of grandeur setting of old. Though this time it’s no illusion as Rimmer finally receives the promotion he has waited for all his life and death. Obviously the rest of the Dwarf Posse are less than happy with this.
    An attempt to reign in the power crazy Hologram only makes the situation worse as Rimmer decides on creating a few hundred clones of himself certain that they will obey him if no-one else will.
    Sure they will, Arn, sure they will …

    Red Dwarf XI / DAVE TV
    Red Dwarf XI / DAVE TV

    A very different but no less special episode if only for the treat of seeing Chris Barrie do what he does best: playing multiple characters at once. The fact that he manages to act as the same character in at-least twenty different ways is testament to his talent. He is an extremely talented man and it’s a shame he isn’t on our screens more often.
    Red Dwarf XI every Thursday at 9PM on Dave

  • REVIEW | Red Dwarf XI, Episode 3, Strongest yet

    REVIEW | Red Dwarf XI, Episode 3, Strongest yet

    ★★★★ | Red Dwarf, Give and Take

    Red Dwarf XI / DAVE TV
    Red Dwarf XI / DAVE TV

     

    Tonight’s episode of Red Dwarf (Thursdays at 9PM on Dave) might be the series strongest yet!
    After it’s release on UKTV Play last week fans called it the “Most Dwarfy Episode since series 6”.

    And it’s easy to see why: Rimmer (Chris Barrie) is at his most Rimmer-esque while Cat (Danny John-Jules) has never been more Cat-like (both are acting at an almost series 1 to 3 type level).
    Kryten (Robert Llewellyn) on the other hand gives off a strong series 5 to 6 vibe as he tries to help Lister (Craig Charles) with a huge problem.

    Explaining this episode in detail would be very spoilery as the story is rather intricate and revealing too much would spoil it. Let’s just give you a few keywords: An evil being, time travel a mistaken identity and Rimmer trying to sort through some deeply rooted issues.

    With strong and exciting episodes like this you often forget that you are watching a comedy series and wish it would last at least forty instead of thirty minutes.

    Red Dwarf continues tonight at 9PM on Dave.

    Pre-order Red Dwarf Series XI on Amazon now

  • TV REVIEW | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Season Two

    TV REVIEW | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Season Two

    I just watched the first episode of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Insert sad face emoji.

    Oh dear what’s happened to Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt? The first series was one of the funniest TV shows on television – okay Netflix – is that classed as television these days?

    It was rather glorious. The female lead sitcom which blasted on to our screens in 2015, was a breath of fresh air, colour – and return to sublime absurdist comedy. It’s about a woman, Kimmy (Ellie Kemper) who after being bunkered by a religious zealot for 15 years is finally freed and makes a new life for herself in New York collecting on her travels an assortment of outrageous characters, each more offensive than the last  – but the second season’s first episode just left me with a huge sad face.

    I maybe late to the party with season two, which was released earlier this year, but I’ve made it a house rule that we can’t have anymore than three TV binges happening at once – we have to complete something before we can start something new – so I made my housemates rush finish Camping Julia Davis’s brilliantly cringey new offering, HappyIsh Steve Coogan’s brilliantly insightful new dark comedy and the latest series of Person Of Interest – it’s a guilty pleasure – don’t ask.

    After all that binge watching maybe I was tired. Tired as Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s script, which is worrying at this every early stage in its lifetime. It should still feel fresh and with Tina Fey’s brilliant mind this is a TV show that should run for many series.

    Sad to say, the comedy that brought Kimmy out into the open feels rather bunkered. The first episode didn’t even raise a polite titter (and I laugh at dog videos on YouTube, so the bar is pretty low).

    What has happened to our beloved Kimmy? Maybe I’ll give one more episode.

    Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is available to stream on Netflix now.

     

  • TV REVIEW | London Spy

    Ben Whishaw in a gay spy thriller? What’s not to like?

    CREDIT: (C) WTTV Limited - Photographer: Joss Barratt

    CREDIT: (C) WTTV Limited – Photographer: Joss Barratt

    The cute and slightly broody looking Q from the Bond franchise in a new 5 part programme, in part inspired by the Gareth Williams case of the body in the bag, and in part by a 1960’s CIA handbook about covering up a murder by using an accident?

    Right up my street and no mistaking! We are less than 1/2 way into this programme, and am firmly gripped. I love programmes that throw up more questions than they initially answer, that keep you guessing, that offer false scents, false trails and you end up with no idea how it will all end – bit like life really. It starts with Danny, played by Whishaw, a 20-something in dead-end jobs who parties, flat shares and doesn’t have a steady boyfriend – a bit of an every-gay, nothing special, just living his life.

    A chance meeting early one morning with the enigmatic Joe/Alex/Alistair (Edward Holcroft) and suddenly love creeps into his life. Joe is secretive with no family, a job he doesn’t want to talk about and Danny laps it up – even when Joe fronts up and becomes Alex. Danny has a close friend in Scottie (Jim Broadbent playing an older gay in quite a respectable way) and confides in him about Alex and then after 8 months, the two finally meet. Fast forward to a possible romantic weekend away, and suddenly Alex disappears. Danny and Scottie have a heart to heart and Scottie’s past as a spy comes out, along with his suspicions about Alex and his area of work.

    Danny then receives a mysterious package at work, and so begins a game of cat and mouse.

    A key to Alex’s exclusive apartment complex leads Danny to discover a decaying body, a sex dungeon (but in the attic) and his boyfriend’s possible secret life. After questioning by the police and the assumption the body is that of his boyfriend, yet another identity comes out and Alex becomes Alistair, together with a whole other life and a family.

    Episode 2 introduces the iconic Charlotte Rampling in a role made for her – queen of her very own castle, a model of decorum and a woman of few words, but all packaged with a tinge of menace.

    Enter Alistair’s family. Where is this going? Who was Alex? Is he really dead? Why is Danny being watched, and by whom?

    The next 3 episodes promise more unanswered questions before the finale, but I intend to savour the acting skills of Ben, and the flashbacks to his handsome and taciturn boyfriend Joe/Alex/Alistair – along with Jim Broadbent’s superior character, who for me, reminds everyone that gay life doesn’t end at 40.

    If you like your spy thrillers with a realistic edge, watch this!

    London Spy is on Monday nights at 9PM on BBC 2

  • TV REVIEW: Scream, TV Series

    All you Slasher movie/Wes Craven fans out there Netflix has come up trumps with a new TV series called Scream.

    A Lone girl at home with phone communications coming from within the house… Check.

    Lone girl in a garage with the lights off… Check.

    Geeky virgin guy talking about how the murderers stalk their victims… Check.
    A small town high school is rocked, twice, first time after a video of the non-plastic, emo-y, dark haired girl kissing passionately with another girl goes viral on YouTube, the second time, after one of their prom queen contenders is brutally slashed from ear to ear and left dead in her swimming pool.

    But don’t mistake this for a TV version of the astronomic hit Scream series of films that wowed and scared teens in equal measures across the world in the late 90s and early noughties, the offering is different, think Scream meets Halloween.

    The story, just like the films, is very tongue in cheek, served with the same knowing and revealing gags thatScream (the film) became famous for and spawned the even more popular Scary Movie franchise, however it does feel incredibly dated, very last century. The fact that the creators have chosen a mostly white, blonde, thin, toned, rich-kid cast feels too conceited than a tongue in cheek nod at casting choices of the last century– and the idea that a lesbian – (read bi-curious) kiss could cause such controversy in 2015, in a high school, is a little unbelievable, unlike the uproar it would have caused in the mid/late 90s.

    Although Wes Craven, who sadly passed away in August this year, did not write or direct this series, he is credited as an exec producer.
    Purists of the genre, however, will love the jumps, the gore and the suspense as Lakewood’s series slasher dispenses with rich kid after rich kid, however perhaps a more mature audience looking for a more grown up Slasher proposal might need to look further.