Open House: the great sex experiment

 Okay, disclaimer, if you are looking for Temptation Island or cheap nudity, just skip both this little review as well as the series.

 

Open House is an experiment in which an intimacy coach, dr Lori Beth, explores with couples if the open lifestyle is something for them.

 

In this first season, numbering 6 episodes, we get to meet a dozen couples who are looking towards opening up their relationships.  Some to spice it up, some because they are curious, and some for all the wrong reasons like getting over affairs.

 

During the season, I saw some really intresting couples in situations any older couple can relate to: life is to busy, kids, and the spark is just dimmed due to not having enough time and try to add some additional spice to it all.  For some, the experiment, in which a couple usually spends one or two nights at the resort, proved to be a blessing, while others realised they need to work on their relation more then on their libido.

 

And then their are of course the typical young couples, in which one partner gets a stack of rules, only to see their other half that imposed them breaking those themselves at the first go.  That relation even ended there and then on the resort... but not in a drama way like "reality shows" tend to do.  On average, the IQ of the participants is higher then "Wannabe Insta Famous" and "Fit Boy" dropped in the candy shop.

 

Though the sixth episode, with the guy that used to be a stripper was hilarious, as was Al, a funny car sales man dropped in there.  Those two where the stars of the season (and they behaved, it was just their manner of approaching things that made it super enjoyable).

 

But yeah, if this is a sort of thing that picks your intrest, it is worth a watch as it will open up that line of conversation in the living room as well... 

Foundation season 2

 Time for the second season of the acclaimed science-fiction series Apple is producing at the moment, and I really enjoyed the first one so of we go.

 

Now, take into account, it is "based" on the books by Isaac Asimov, but in truth diverges ever further from them with every episode, let alone season.

 

Think of it a bit like the Rings of Power, take away the Tolkien monniker and you have a very enjoyable fantasy series, and the same goes for this series in my opinion.  It has the names and the basic concept, but that is about it in the end...

 

Now, the second season keeps jumping places and times as the first one did, at times resulting in a bit of disorientation for the viewer.  What is more, having multiple copies of Harry Seldon running around doesn't make it any easier to know which one knows what.  The plan is veering of course, and Gaal and Salvor are trying to put it back together as the events of a "second crisis" are starting to unfold.  In the meantime, Emperor Day is planning to add the genetic heritage by wedding Queen Sarteh, a monarch who blames him for killing her whole family.

 

From then on, the plan takes the course of founding a Second Foundation, which will be crucial for the first to survive, as clerics of a faith that formed on the first are trying to bring outlier planets into the folds of Foundation themselves after the Vault on Terminus has reopened.   In the meantime, a vision from Gaal reveals someone called The Mule will rise in 150 years and that he is the source of the impeding darkness and accelerated fall of Empire.  Empire in the meantime is confronted with the knowledge that not only Terminus survived a solar flare, but is technologically outdevelopping them, the Whisper ships being the best proof of that with their enhanced jump technology.  

 

From there onwards, the story splits into three main lines: Gaal and Salvor trying to found a second Foundation on a planet of mentats, but their leader has other plans.  She wants Gaal to become her newest host body for her mental consciousness, and this results ultimately in the death of Salvor and Gaal and Harry overcoming her, starting a cycle to help found the Second Foundation.  On Terminus, Empire arrives to destroy the Foundation, seemingly succeeding.  But it will cost him his entire fleet and his own life, while the inhabitants have been saved unknowingly by the Vault and Harry Seldon, bringing about the rapid fall of the Empire, but also the destruction of Terminus itself as Invictus is crashed into the planet by the fleet.  The third arc unravels the secrets of Demerzel, and while this will end the current brother Dusk and the exile of Dawn together with Sareth with whom he is having child, it once more weakens the position of the genetic heritage to the public, Demerzel who has now a copy of the Prime Radiant realizing Empire is inevitably doomed...

 

So there was once more a lot going on this season, but it felt less disorganised like the first season for sure.  The second Foundation, The Mule and the fall of Empire have been set up, and will likely start happening in the third season.

 

Which I'll be watching pretty soon after this one for sure.... 

Star Wars The Clone Wars season 5

 As I wanted to complete or at least reduce all the Star Wars and superheroes series and movies still on my To Watch list (some for years if not nearly a decade), I sat down for the fifth season of Clone Wars.

 

These animated series is pretty fun viewing for sure, and tie in a lot of stories from the movies of the prequel as well.

 

And this season seems to focus mostly on the rise of the crime syndicates and underground resistances, on the one hand the return of Darth Maul who gains more and more influence and takes over Mandalore, and on the other hand Hondo's pirate band as the often go to solution.  And a fun droids only adventure arc, which broke the pace nicely. 

 

But the heaviest arcs lie at the end of the season, first with how Maul is being overcome and recruited by Palpantine to serve him again, though not as an apprentice, and at the cost of his brother's, Savage Opress's, life.  And then we get the big finale arc, where Ahsoka is falsely accused and set-up for a bombing inside the Jedi temple, and how it leads to her leaving the Order as a result.

 

Definitly a very intresting season, with some very strong arcs having been set up.  Now to one day see those final two seasons and complete it all for this animated series. 

 

See season 3

 While I enjoyed, but not really loved the previous seasons, I still wanted to know of course how it will all play out.

 

And I must say, I liked this final season actually the most of all.

 

This season is mostly aimed at politics and ways to stop the war before it escalates, as Pennsa must find a way to survive against the larger Trivantian force.  Who also have a secret weapon in the form of boms as Baba found out while hiding in the woods to refresh his spirit and body.  Which is a thing to do when your people are of course being besieged and your son fathered a child with the disgraced Queen Kane... because priorities.  But within Trivantian borders things are stirring as well, as the triadic nature of the council is being played, and Pennsa becomes an unwilling accomplice in this.

 

A scientist, Tormada, backed by the banking arm of the government, has a plan in place for a coup, as the Pennsa send a group to the House of Enlightenment to destroy his arsenal and the production facilities.  They succeed in doing this, but he still has a sizeable stock.  When the Trivantian plot is discovered, he throws in his lot with the escaped Queen Kane to besiege Pennsa and destroy her enemies, leading to a huge battle and the sacrifice of Baba Vos in the end, but the series really picked up pace in this final season.  My issue with the earlier ones was often the slowness of the series, as a lot was literally blind shuffling along a forest or a city.   

 

So yes, I actually enjoyed this season as I said, and not just as background material while painting or building army lists, so that's a good thing for certain.  Doesn't happen to much in my idea that a series goes crescendo instead of dwindling down, and it is all excellently wrapped up at the end, including a very cool revelation...

 

Guess it leaves a good aftertaste then in the end... and it was okay to 'See' it afterall.... 

 

 

Star Trek Starfleet Academy

 The rumours where true, this wasn't bad, it was awful!

 

Well, not Section 31 awful, but it's getting there, only saved by some shiny performances.

 

And I'm not going into the whole "woke" debate, because at it's core, Star Trek has ALWAYS been woke, even back in the 60s with the Kirk / Uhura kiss.  No, this is bad for a couple of reasons, and even not the "Beverly Hills 90210" vibe for those that remember that.  Aka are old enough to see captain Picard actually debut on screen...

 

But, there are some saving graces, which I will come to later.  The problem I had with this series, which ran for 10 episodes, is that I liked a single one (the finale with how Jett Reno ran the ship in a crisis), and two or three in between (basically, all those that featured Nus Braka, the highlight of the series).  But there where so many "meugh" moments though: the lack of a strong captain (granted, she is actually a teacher and not a full captain), the bad use of The Doctor who we know from Voyager can be so much more but they only use his cliches like opera in the series, and then that whole explanation during the trial in the finale.  Which was good upon the moment "wonder boy Caleb" explains the whole of Nus's trauma... by a colouring book!  "Starfleet weapons are blue, enemy weapons are red"... and let's just ignore the fact this has always been done to distinguish special effects of battles on screen, and nothing with any specific technology.  The Federation has had red coloured phasers as well.  But I guess Kurtzman never saw the Enterprise E or the Defiant in action, which wouldn't amaze me as he has no clue how Star Trek "works"...

 

That said, there where highlights.  Nus Braka was just an awesome villain, misguided and piratey, manipulative, yet somehow you rooted for him.   Jett reno was her own sarcastic self, always a joy on screen, and the whole "dressing up" and special effects where of a very high quality.  

 

But I can't say I "enjoyed" the series, as frustrations at times took the upper hand.  Am I sad it will be cancelled?  No, not at all to be honest, but I don't think that some of the critiques (gay Klingons, Jem'Hadar / Klingon hybrids,...) are correct, a lot can happen and evolve in those 600+ years between the end of the Picard era and the Discovery era.

 

But just to point out the colouring book BS:

 

 

A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Time for another prequel series to Game of Thrones, and this time it is based on the novella's of The Tales of Dunk and Egg, often referref to as "The Hedge Knight" after the first book.

 

Guess a bit everyone calls Game of Thrones after the first book in the A Song of Ice and Fire series...

 

The series follows ser Duncan "Dunk" the Tall, and a boy he squired called Egg.  Who is actually prince Aegon Targaryan, and yes, we are getting close to the main time line, these stories taking place around 90 years before the main books and series.

 

The series follows how our hedge knight, a low born knight who sleeps in the open skies, wants to register for the tournament at Ashford.  But to do so, he needs to find a lord that wants to vote for him, as he goes unknown through the lands.  This brings him in contact with amongst others Lyonel Baratheon, who he befriends.

 

But as he can't find a voucher for him, none other then Baelor Targaryan votes for him, as he is impressed by the pure and true values of a knight he holds high.  But after he got in a fight to save a performance girl with prince Aerion, he must fight in a Duel of the Seven.  He manages to find allies, but is betrayed by lord Steffon Fossoway.  However, right before he would be disqualified and found guilty, Baelon himself joins as the seventh knight on his side.

 

Dunk is victorious, sparing Aerion, but Baelon is fatally wounded by a mace swing from his brother.  Dunk is however freed of charges by prince Maekar, as they both understand history will remember them as the reason Baelon fell instead of becoming the future king.  Egg joins Dunk as he rides away, stating that his uncle send him to squire and learn the ways... which turns out not to be true as they ride into the horizon.

 

This truly was a great series to watch, highly enjoyable and the "low stakes" settings of a tournament and a false accusation stands out against the big politics and wars of the two other series in the setting.  And that is in a good way very refreshing, as you bond on a more simple level with the heroes, and even the machinations of the "bad guys" make more understandable sense.  

 

Definitly one of the better series I saw so far this year! 

Agatha All Along

 In the quest to catch up with all Marvel, DC and Star Wars series this year, me and Noshi sat down and went through the Wandavision spin-off sequel Agatha All Along.

 

Agatha being the witch that was captured as "Agnes" in Wanda's fantasy by the way... and who harbours a big hatred towards her now.

 

And now they have to go on a mystical road trip across The Road, a secret pathways that will grant witches their powers back if they so crave.  Because not only is she left powerless, she is also having a debt with Death herself, a former lover and enemy whom she tricked, but which had cost her her son.

 

So to do so, she needs to form a Coven again, finding witches in and near Westfield to undertake the journey, as well as an occult "fanboy" (who we all quickly deducted was Wiccan, Wanda's magical powered son).  

 

But during the trials the road presents, the witches start falling one by one as part of the actual trial.  Agatha gladly seems to sacrifice them, feeling both remorse but also pleasure in moving on, until she has to face her own personal trial against Death.  She overcomes it with the help of Wiccan, and back in the world, after Agatha sacrificed herself for the boy, she appears to him to become his spirit teacher.  In a flashback on Agatha's life, we learned how she became so cruel, that The Road was an invention to absorb other witches powers, but that Wiccan had made it real as he has far more powers then suspected.

 

Now, this wasn't to bad of a series in the Marvel setting, and one of the better in phase 5.  But honestly, I'm getting really hero tired for these series, as many have only a thin story and they are becoming rather predictable, even if you didn't follow the (very general) comics about the characters.

 

But, I am over halfway of catching up on all the Disney+ stuff, so I'll get there eventually... 

 

 

Creamerie season 2

 Picking up exactly where season 1 left off, with the betrayal and the truth what happens to men, it's time to see more of this weird series.

 

So we sit down for 6 more episodes of absurdity...

 

... and I'll never look at the term "milkman" the same again. 

 

In this second season, they not only escape Welness, but look for the promised sanctuary for men.  They find this, but learn that it is run by amazonian women who have rejected weapons, and a bunch of men who are drugged all the time, basically forming a hippie community.

 

They travel to the capital instead, and the Prime Minister believes their story.  However, the claws of Welness run deep, and when they are framed for the assassination of the PM, they need to flee.  They end up in the Underground, where men and women party together, in a secret tunnel network where the law can't touch them.

 

But the Welness leader is elected the new PM, and Bobbie and the girls set out to kidnap her, which results in the end that she is tossed overboard as "team Creamerie" sets off to better places where Bobbie and others can live in peace.

 

So yeah, while short at 6 episodes once again at 22 minutes, the absurdity once more runs high in this. It's still good fun, but the "shock value" of the first season has worn off unfortunatly, and it feels as a bit of much of the same on the joke front.  Still, a nice binge for an evening, but it will leave you with a bit of an unfulfilled feeling once the final credits roll in my opinion.

 

Still, it's okay... 

 

 

 

 

Foundation season 1

 Okay, so I've heard a lot of good things about this series, and of course some not so good as well.

 

So I sat down and gave the first season a go, and see what it is all about!

 

Based on the works of Isaac Asimov, this is a series with two things at it's center: a declining empire ruled by clones, and maths.  Yeah, that doesn't sound to much of rock and roll for the latter now does it, but luckily it is far more enjoyable then hours of calculus at school.

 

A prodigy, Gaal Dornick, travels to the Trantor, the capital of that Empire ruled by Emperor Cleon, where she meets with Hari Seldon.  This is your math teacher that predicted the end of the Empire, and as such isn't really liked, resulting in banishment to Terminus where he can start work on creating "the Foundation", a repository of knowledge to slow the demise of the Empire.

 

Of course, there are more that want the downfall of the dynasty, and a terrorist attack crashes the star bridge.  Brother Day (the clones come in three, a younger one called Dawn, the current emperor called Day, and the previous older incarnation called Dusk, as well as the very old one Darkness, but these are usually quickly euthanised) returns the favour by nuking some planets from orbit in retaliation for this act, instigating further dissent amongst the planets.  

 

Now, one thing about this series is that it often hops to and fro in the story, so you must keep up and pay attention or miss out on vital details.   On Foundation, a city has sprung from their efforts, though a mysterious and unreachable Vault is at it's outliers.  When rebels arrive on the planet, a fight errupts costing the lives of various settlers and faction member rebels, but it turns out they want to go search for a mythical vessel of a bygone age.  The Emperor in the meantime tries to sway a planet back in it's fold by undertaking a sort of spirit quest, though he lies about the outcome, yet manages to overthrow the threat to his power and install his vassal in charge.

 

Gaal, who has been off the radar for 19 years after the murder of Hari in the past, awakens on an automated ship, while the others find the Invictus, the ship they where looking for.  The pieces are all connected, and it turns out Hari actually build, and a projection is inside, the Vault on Terminus, as a sort of reward to have it's secrets unlocked.  See, maths can bring you somewhere in life it seems... like being dead and locked in a filing cabinet.

 

As Gaal learns of the truth what transpires and the others try and take control of the Invictus, the Empire itself shakes by betrayal of the youngest clone, brother Day.  He wants to taste freedom instead of  the life set out for him, but this only results in both his death by execution by his elder siblings, as well as a shaking foundation of the imperial system.  On terminus, the truth about the Foundation's purpose, not being a vault but a fresh start, shakes up more believes, and a plan is sprouted how to handle this situation...

 

So visually stunning, it can get confusing at times of "where" in time we actually are at moments, yet it is a series that draws your attention to the screen.  Lee Pace is great as the Emperor and I'll definitly will be watching the future seasons as well relatively soon, if time and real life permit some binging sessions.  

 

But make sure, if you haven't, to check this series out for sure!

 

 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2

 Hot on the tail of the first season, me and Noshi sat down to watch the second season of this Disney+ series.

 

And this one was based on the second book, Sea of Monsters, and the quest for the Golden Fleece.

 

So yeah, basically teenage Jason and the Argonauts... or at least a part of it. 

 

The defenses of the camp are failing, another guardian in Tantalus has been appointed (a very annoying figure, both as written as well as the way he was portrayed I thought) and percy, son of Poseidon, is kept out of the loop.  And not only because he suddenly has a cyclops half brother who is also a son of Poseidon and tags along like a puppy.  

 

At the core of it all is the tree protecting the camp that is failing, also known as Thalia, daughter of Zeus, after Luke poisoned it.  Percy, Annabeth and Tyler, against the wishes of the camp leaders, set out on a quest to get the Golden Fleece and free Grover who is captured by the Fleece's guardian, which is capable to heal the tree.  Of course, this brings them not only across Luke, who actually not only wants a war that brings down Olympus by using the fleece to restore Kronos, but also wants to free Thalia.  Because we learn during the series she didn't make the sacrifice to become the tree, but was punished by her father for not obiding to him.

 

But they manage to overcome not only them, but also the machinations of Circe and the Sirens, to reach the Fleece and defeat the huge cyclops Polyphemus.  Though of course, Luke gets the fleece as he wants to save a gravely wounded Annabeth with it first, before attacking Camp Halfblood.  Percy and Clarisse, who have formed a friendship during the journey after running into each other, form the defences and manage to restore the tree... to Thalia, and she is not happy.

 

Percy realises she might be his hardest challenge to come in the future, but that will be for season 3...

 

It still isn't a bad series, though Percy (or at least, his actor) made a HUGE growth spurt in the years between season 1 and 2, the things with teenagers of course.  But he still puts down a convincing depiction of the halfgod, and the effect of the series where really nice.  Especially Clarisse's crew of the dead was pretty funny and well done.

 

All in all, it's no loss of time to watch this series, and that is a good thing amongst a lot of rubbish being tossed out the past years... 

 

 

See season 2

 Time to see the second season of See (pun intended), a post apocalyptic series which revolves around a blind civilization.

 

Though I must say, just as with Stranger Things, everyone loves it and I just can't get attached to it... so yes, it is a bit of a struggle to go through the episodes. 

 

With Baba Voss's brother Edo appearing on the scene in the season 1 finale (hello Drax), this season is set to be all about family and bloodties, especially as the children have been split up and need to hide their gift of sight.  But they aren't alone, for example the girl Wren, tasked with guarding Baba's daughter Haniwa also posesses it.  Kofun in the meantime is brought to his mother and to the Queen, and soon starts falling under her charm (because well, teenage boys and "experienced" women).  Maghra, Kofun's mother, is forced in marriage with Lord Harlan in the meantime by the Queen's machinations (though Harlan turns out to be quite an okay guy all things considered) to establish a new capital.

 

Now, to be honest, the side characters for me where the better things in this season.  Not only Wren and Harlan, but also the returning Witch Hunter, thought dead in season 1, and the "good riddance" of the children's biological father. 

 

But of course, while they have to face the threat of war with the stronger nation of Trivante, as the Queen wants a holy war in her name.  Maghra tries to broker peace, but fails, and then moves to usurp her sister and take her rightfull place on the throne.  Baba and the children join the battle to hold off the attack, and succeed with tricks and aid of tribes Baba helped out before.  But the imprisoned queen kills Paris, and escapes captivity while the brothers face off, Baba forced to kill Edo.

 

Now, I must say that the second season starts to pick my intrest already a bit more then the first one did so far, but still, on a scale of 1 to Hooked, I would say I am only around 4.  For me, it's still something to watch while not fully awake, you know, that "one episode before calling it a night" kind of series.  I will watch the third season somewhere this year, but it isn't high on my priority list to be honest...

 

Guess it's not a series I want to "See" per se hehehehe... 

Wednesday season 2

 The hit series is back on Netflix, and I must say I enjoyed the first one.

 

And this time, it doesn't only focus around the titular character, but the whole family gets involved.

 

As Wednesday returns to Nevermore, she has Puglsey along this time, and he decides to keep a pet zombie he found.  Which of course is always a good idea... But Wednesday herself also has problems, as in her investigations she suddenly loses her psychic gift.  This influences her behaviour at school, as one of her last visions was her roommate Enid being killed, and she gets an actual stalker / fangirl in the form of Agnes.

 

As she looks further into the matter, the new principal, Dort (an awesome Steve Buscemi as always) enlists her mother Morticia to help in a fund raiser, and wants to bring Wednesday's grandmother in to make huge donations.  Which he of course does by not to legal means, like enlisting a student with siren powers.  And then the zombie escapes and turns out to be Isaac Knight, a former friend and co-student of Morticia and Gomez, and as it turns out the reason Gomez has no abilities.  His goal is to heal his former lover from her Hyde curse, which her son Tyler inherited.  They are sprung out of the assylum even with Wednesday and Fester trying to stop it, and go on a rampage.

 

It also turns out that Thing is actually Isaac's old right hand (literally) as the family opposes him after unraveling the whole fundraiser charade, resulting in Enid fleeing in the outback towards Canada, while Tyler loses his mother but is recruited by dr Capri, a werewolf herself.  And played fantastically by Billie Piper (hello Rose).

 

This was a really fun season, and actually more of an intense affair then the rather dark who-dunnit style of the first.  This also means a totally changing viewing experience, which some approve and others (like myself to be honest) find that it makes the season while fun, not as top tier as the first one.  

 

On the other hand, it is quite fun that it has become a "full" Addams Family show instead of a Wednesday solo adventure, as the other members have great things going about them as well.  Yeah, looking at you Fester, you loveable lunatic!

 

So surely check it out, it makes for some great laid back entertainment and one of the better series on Netflix at the moment for sure. 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

 So, another go at making television presence of Percy Jackson's books...

 

The films where okay but not memorable, but what would this series bring, this first season based on the first book, The Lightning Thief.

 

Of course, this means we already know the story, as most of us have both read the books as well as seen the movies.  Percy discovers he is a demigod, a son of Poseidon, and blamed for stealing Zeus's lightning bolt, which of course he didn't.  So he sets out on a quest together with top student from Camp Halfgod, Annabeth, and his satyr protector Grover. 

 

This leads them on a roadtrip towards New York, where a portal is said to be to get to Olympus.  Of course, they are chased by furies, run into (a very sexy) Medusa, met Ares (who turned out to be behind it and not Hades) and save his mother while at it, who was saved from death by Hades and serves as a barganing chip.  

 

Ares inadvertently awakens Percy's powers, resulting in the halfgod defeating the God of War, before he realised the truth that his friend Luke, son of Hermes, is actually the Lightning Thief who despises the gods so much he wants to bring down Olympus through a war.

 

Now, the series itself is visually well done, though at some times the CGI just looks a little bit to rough still, mostly visible in Grover's legs.  But the acting is okay, Percy is well cast, and it is just that sort of light hearted fantasy series ideal for those lazy evenings of just "watching something".

 

And now to see season 2 after this... 

Creamerie season 1

 Roight, time for something odd that I watched...

 

This is a black comedy web series, made in New Zealand.

 

In this 6 episode season, the world has no more men.  They all died to an unknown virus, and now the women rule the world through Welness, an organisation that runs a balot for the surviving sperm.  And then three friends, Alex, Jaime and Pip, find a man in their stables of the dairyfarm.

 

Now, this series then goes to trying to get him, Bobby, out to a safe place, which of course throws the lives of the women totally on it's head.  Blinded by ambition, one betrays them, and they are caught by Lane, the head guru of the cult like Welness.  And no, no-one convinces me it is not like that already in those wellness spa's today.  And then they discover it is all a plot, orchestrated by Jaime's ex-husband, to capture and masturbate men like cows for their seed...

 

The series ends on a cliffhanger for the second season, and to be honest, while not the greatest of things I ever watched, it is so intriguing that I know I'll have a look at that as well pretty soon.  Just because, it is a refreshening weird thing...

 

And a warning to all men! 

Versailles season 3

 Versailles is a fantastic series, with awesome visuals and strong acting performances.

 

Yet somehow, the thrid season always slipped backwards on my to watch list...

 

But no more, I started the year with binging through the 10 episode long final season of the rise of Louis XIV, le Roi Soleil.

 

This final season builds further on the shisms that have been growing over the course of the first seasons, the political machinations, the shifting of alliances and the brothers becoming more and more opposed to each other.  In his ever glowing delusions of grandeur, Louis first starts imposing draconic measures on the defeated Leopold I of the Holy Roman Empire, instigating the distrust of the church.  This results in the Vatican taking action, going as far as threatening to excommunicate him should he not become a puppet to their will.

 

In order to do so, they have the one trump card that Philippe had accidentally discovered.  A prisoner in an Iron Mask.  Ever since the time of Louis XIV this prisoner has been an urban myth and the many writers and historians have made their own theories about who this was.  An italian envoy (the most likely theory imho), the twin or older brother and rightful heir of the throne of France (the most often used one in stories and movies ever since Alexander Dumas used this in his Musketeer tales), and so much more.  In this series, it turns out to be the real father of Louis and Philippe, after they first chased an actual unknown brother of them, but who had died as an infant.  Members of the court had been in the loop on this, but they convince their father to take poison in the end, widening the chism between the brothers even further, but securing the throne and robbing the church of their possible hold over France.

 

The queen also died, making Louis having to look for another wife, and he falls for the charms of Francoise d'Abignee, a marquise that spend time as a prostitute, then turned devote christian and wow his heart.  But her fanatiscism causes Louis to prosecute all protestants in Paris, causing the people to revolt against him.  But when he invokes a ritual of Thaumaturgy to come closer to the people, he survives an assassination attempt thanks to his brother.

 

It was a good season for sure, and yes, the debauchery of the first seasons continues as chastity was not one of Louis's christian virtues he went by, even though he has convinced him he is the only true man of God put on Earth, and conquers the surrounding countries as such in name of the Lord.  George Blagden stars again as the king, but for me Alexander Vlahos (Philippe) and Evan Williams (the chevalier of Lorraine) remain by far the strongest performers for the series, especially the transformation they go through over the series from pompous dandy's.  One becomes a believer of freedom, the other a fighter for the protestant rights respectively. 

 

It is these deep character arcs that make Versailles such a strong series, not only the visual marvel that it is, and definitely worth checking out have you not done so over the years. 

Agatha Christie's Seven Dials

 Recently Netflix dropped this british mini-series based on the 1929 novel by Agatha Christie, so Noshi and me sat down and binged straight through the 3 episode series.

 

Now, I have read a LOT of Christie's books, but mostly all her Hercule Poirot works, so I didn't know how this would pan out.

 

Central in the story is Lady Eileen "Bundle" Brent, a great performance by Mia McKenna-Bruce, and her group of friends.  And it includes some big names as Helena Bonham Carter as her mother Lady Caterham, or Martin Freeman as Superintendent Battle.  And "leftenant Gruber", albeit without his little tank, as the butler.

 

The story turns around Bundle's betrothed being murdered during a party at their house, and Eileen suspecting it wasn't an overdose of sleeping medicine but actual murder.  She sets out to investigate, which results in another one of her friends being fatally shot, while uncovering a secret society called "The Seven Dials".  

Further digging, and witnessing a meeting of the mysterious Seven Dials, she is contacted by superintendant Battle from Scotland Yard, who warns her to stop her digging as it might threaten her life.  Which of course, like any central figure in a series, she throws into the wind.  Kudos to Battle, he already realises this before she walks out of his office door.

 

She attends a party hosted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where a Cameroonian (is that an actual word?) attends to negotiate a deal with the government about a special metalworking formula he created.  Eileen suspects the Seven Dials want to stop this, and finds her friend Jimmy shot in the arm, and the formula stolen by her betrothed's sister.  Setting chase, they find her at the station with Jimmy, as she connects the dots that they work for the Seven Dials and they need to meet up with their handler on the train.

 

But so wrong she was, as it turned out to be none other then her mother behind it all, who still holds a grudge against the government for having her son killed during World War 1, and wants the fornula to get make her a profit.  Bundle learns later as she is invited to a meeting of the Seven Dials, that this is actually a secret service branch (basically, an interbellum stand in for MI:7), headed by Battle, and she is invited to join them to take her father's place, who was one of the members, which she accepts.

 

Now, before the third episode, I had deducted most of the plot to be honest, that Jimmy shot himself, that the Seven Dials "open spot" would be for one of her parents (I thought her mother), that Battle was part of them and that mom was behind it all.  I only had thought her mom had gone rogue, but the number 7 had ringed my bell for James Bond's branch of the secret service, the no longer existing at the moment (or is it) MI:7 whom was a spionage and information service during the wars.

 

Guess I really read a lot of Christie's indeed, but this was a very, very enjoyable series to watch, and well produced.  The visuals are stunning and the acting performance up there, so it is certainly worth a watch.  Even early in the year, this might even be a runner for my Best Of list in 10 months!

 

Go watch it! 

The Witcher season 4

 Season 4 of the The Witcher, and in a way, a new start with the forced recasting of Geralt of Rivia.

 

And let's drop in with the elephant in the room: nope, just nope.

 

Now don't get me wrong, should Liam Helmsworth had been the witcher since day 1, it might have worked, but after the gruff look of Henry Cavill, this version just looks to polished and, well, "pretty boy" compared to what we have been used to in the first three seasons.

 

The story continues with the three arcs implemented in the previous season: Ciri finds herself in a far away land, becoming a member of a rogues group called The Rats and taking the monicker Falka to hide her identity.  Geralt and his growing band of companions still try to get to Nilfgaard to prevent the marriage between Emhyr and (the imposter) Ciri, and Yennefer decides to gather surviving mages to confront Vilgefortz.

 

Now, like in the books (and face it, they should have been called "Chronicles of Ciri" or something instead of the Witcher), the heaviest part of the story goes around the missing princess, and it is also by far the most intresting and intense of the arcs, especially when The Rats are defeated by Leo Bonhart.  Yennefer discovers the truth about the marriage, and sends Geralt on his new way right after he finally had gotten into Nilfgaard, meeting and parting with other companions.  And the mages are soundly beaten by Vilgefortz, though they do cripple his plan for an unforseen amount of time, but at the cost of many lives...

 

Now, while the season has it's highs and lows as such, it does bring us with two awesome characters.  Regis makes his appearance (and Laurance Fishburn plays him well, despite online critique), and the epic, epic, EPIC portrayal of Leo Bonhart (awesome portrayal by Sharlto Copley).  Then there are some great sidecharacter arcs, like Skellen (my favorite character of both book and series btw) and Dijkstra.

 

In the end, you have a good series of enjoyable fantasy, with the only downside for me really being, well, the titular character...