As Broadchurch has finally finished (for this series anyway), I thought it would be timely to write a few words on the program that has gripped the nation. I've watched both series and have nothing but praise for David Tennant, Olivia Colman and of course Chris Chibnall, the man responsible for such terrific TV. 

In season two, we've seen the arrival of several new characters, all in charge of fleshing out an old case that's been haunting Alec Hardy (Tennant). I have absolutely relished the Sandbrook case and, even with only the final episode to air, cannot figure out who was actually responsible for the murders. James D'Arcy has been positively coercive as Lee Ashworth but I think the stand out performance has to be that of Eve Myles. Her performance as Claire Ripley was just exceptional. I've been accustomed with Myles since the early Torchwood days, so had no doubts about her acting ability. She has nonetheless surpassed any of my expectations by playing the one character I simply cannot figure out! I'm sure much of this is down the unquestionably good writing Broadchurch is based upon but I think Myles has given stellar performances in every single episode, encapsulating the myriad of emotions a woman in Claire's position might easily be experiencing. 

I also really liked the back stories of  Sharon Bishop and Jocelyn Knight, two new characters who are long-time acquaintances appearing in opposition over the Latimer case, although I am somewhat less keen on Abby Thompson and all that she has to offer. I still have my reservations about Arthur Darvill's vicar, though. There have been criticisms that some of the plotlines have been somewhat implausible; to that I say that it is, first and foremost, a fictional drama. Whilst being based in reality, its premise is not that of education. Broadchurch is not a documentary. Does it need to be 100% wholeheartedly realistic? If so, then why do we still watch the long-running soaps, which are way more far-fetched than anything we've seen on-screen during Broadchurch. So whilst the implausibilities could perhaps have been straightened out, I still think it's one of the best British shows on the TV right now. I think there is, not surprisingly, a tendency to compare the second series to the first and of course there is a noticeably much slower pace in comparison (although my heart rate did not agree when episode seven left us on that almighty cliffhanger).

As we know now for certain that a third series has been commissioned, I hope what remains is it's intrinsic Britishness. Too many of my favourite British shows have become commercialised, with bigger budgets and unnecessary effects. I love American TV and many of my favourite boxsets are American, but I like that British TV can still be quieter, less shouty. Broadchurch showcased some brilliant lighting and incredible capturing of scenic shots but most importantly for me, it remained quietly confident and full of grit. Whatever the plotline of the next series of Broadchurch, I hope it never loses what makes the series so good. As long as we get some answers after that slightly underwhelming taxi exit, I'm all for whatever Series 3 entails.

Has there ever been a vicar I was like to jump in a lake with more than James Norton's Sidney Chambers? The answer is definitely no. You see, I have this problem whereby I spiral into terrible obsessions with ruthless, wretched male TV villains. It happened on Homeland with Nicholas Brody and again on Happy Valley with James Norton's portrayal of Tommy Lee Royce. Although I will admit that it was James more that Tommy who caught my eye, so finding out he was starring in new ITV drama Grantchester essentially ensured I'd be tuning in.

Norton doesn't play a villain this time, but  a local vicar in the 1950s, who loves good jazz and women a little more than he should. He is given the cutest little dog (who he names Dickens - even cuter), which more or less assures I'll love the character whatever he does. Yesterday's episode followed a supposed suicide, which Sidney Chambers is led to believe was more suspicious than it first seemed. Chambers teams up with reluctant copper played excellently by Robson Green, who discover that a string of affairs marred the deceased gentleman's life; something Chambers can perhaps relate to. As a vicar who easily succumbs to the affections of beautiful women - or rather one woman in particular who has recently married someone else - Chambers isn't your usual religious figure.

And Grantchester is not exactly your usual crime drama. It was certainly intriguing, that's for sure. The use of flashback often and aptly was quite a bold visual move, and certainly helped to drive the audience directly into the drama. Not to mention a certain infatuation with specifics: whether it's Jameson's whisky, the game of backgammon or the long-standing disappointment with England's footballing performance, Grantchester was a great expose of good British Drama

 

Scott and Bailey are back with their second episode of series 4 and as expected, things are already kicking off. Launching straight into where episode 1 left off, it is quickly confirmed that the body found was that of Mandy Sweeting, who was murdered some 20-odd years earlier. Alongside the need to find the "killer", the "freezer" and the "dumper" who, as the team quickly suggest, could be one and the same, there is also the challenge of dealing with the initial investigation conducted at the original time of death.

 

Which was handled (or maybe headed) by Rob's dad, who claims his team did nothing wrong in pegging Mandy Sweeting's husband, Gary. I thought it was a really interesting way to handle the episode actually, having the relationship between Rob and his dad dealt with in such a way. We know, from earlier series, that Rachel's relationship with her own mother leaves something to be desired. Having Rob so stringently defend his father at the start of the episode is potentially an alien activity for Rachel and it's clear from Rachel's attitude that Rob's initial inability to see past his bias and recognise his father's mistakes, is something she doesn't have any time. Although it's also kind of clear Rachel has a bit of attitude towards a few other colleagues too (which Suranne Jones employs brilliantly. Always adding a tough of humour to a very heavy drama). The interchange between Gill and Rachel in the bathroom was perhaps the pinnacle, which Rachel shoving two fingers up to Gill's back and retracting them just in time.

 

To me, this parent-sibling relationship can be seen to be underlying the entire episode. We had the obvious examples of Rob and his Dad and the mother of Gary and Anthony Sweeting (whose name I have embarrassingly forgotten). Then there's the growing distance between Janet and her eldest daughter and of course the teaser to next week, where Rachel's mother pops back into the picture. But there is also - and I may be jumping the gun a bit here - a slightl mother-daughter tinge between Rachel and Gill. And Janet too, of sorts. The job hierarchy almost situates Scott and Bailey as two of Gill's children, who have distinctly different personalities. We know from the interactions between Janet and Rachel, often conducted in the privacy of the bathroom, that Rachel is after Gill's approval. She doesn't necessarily need it as such, but we get the sense that she would appreciate it. Not in a motherly love kind of way, let me just clarify, but in the way of wanting recognition. It's a commonality for Rachel to turn to Janet for reassurance, which she does again in this episode despite technically now being above her in the police food chain, and I hope that element of their friendship never disappears. The way that the relationship between Rachel and Gill differs massively from a mother-daughter relationship is that, as Rachel states, Gill chose her (albeit after choosing Janet first) to become sergeant. Rachel wants Gill's respect but in a professional, not personal, manner. Everyone else - Janet excluded - Rachel just wants to get one up on, prove her mettle. Which is what makes the dynamic between Scott and Bailey so fun to watch.  

 

I love how it's always in the loos or when Rachel's smoking that they talk about the real stuff. As in, their real lives - outside of work. Like Janet casually stating she now wants a boyfriend, before listing off her attempts at online dating. I like the way Amelia Bullmore - who impresses me no end as both an actor and writer - didn't make this a laughing point. Too often online dating has been viewed with a certain stigma, especially when women take to it. It was spoken about so matter of fact , that no comedic value could possibly be gleamed from it. I did have a giggle at Janet's slight dig towards Rachel earlier on though, saying that becoming sergeant had really mellowed her. As if.

 

Getting back to the actual plot, Anthony Sweeting was odd. Rachel had him pegged early on as the guilty party and though she was right, she was reluctant to take on Rob's advice towards the close of the ep. I love getting to watch Lesley Sharp act as Janet in the interview room; much of her previous work has proven her ability to generate high levels of intensity with small amounts of dialogue (see Afterlife and Doctor Who) and it's always fun to see a suspect freak out. As Anthony Sweeting did. His outburst actually made me jump out my skin, so congrats Amelia Bullmore for fitting in the shock factor! Which brings me to the end of this review and the sad news that Bullmore has written her own character's retirement. Four months and counting is how the episode ends and though the focus of the show has always been Scott and Bailey, Gill has been an integral part of that. I hope these four months she mentions last as long as the series and she doesn't die off before then, or anything equally dramatic. And of course I'm looking forward to the return of Rachel's mum next week too.

(Sorry for the capitals. Might have got a bit ahead of myself there.) But it's true. I spent one l o n g  university semester studying a lot about the Beatles, which served to bring me one of my greatest achievements to date, and now they seem to be following me everywhere. My brother, a budding musician, has started playing their music (at increasingly loud decibels, may I add); they pop up in a question on every single quiz show and now they're springing up on ITV1s Cilla.

 

Now I have nothing against the Beatles per se, so don't shoot me. I'm just not one of their many super fans. Their music is catchy at times but my opinion on them is not too dissimilar to that of Wuthering Heights. I will say, however, that I feel qualified enough to say that the actors chosen to portray the band are pretty bloody beautiful. And that always helps.

 

Not that much else is needed to keep me tuning in. Sheridan Smith oozes everything I have come known about the real Cilla - charm, charisma and confidence - whilst also illuminating me to what happened in her early years. As the introduction to this post might have insinuated, I was not aware for instance how close Black and the Beatles really were. The scene where Cilla falters on the stage in front of Brian Epstein followed by the shot of her back at her office job is one all arts people can relate to. The eternal dilemma between dreaming it and doing it.

 

I love the failing hair styling, I love the ever-hopeful portrayal of Bobby and I can't wait to see what happens next week.

 

It makes me very happy that ITV's Scott and Bailey is back on our screens. If it wasn't for my love of writing and fear of institutional racism, in an alternative world I would love to work for the police. I have a freakishly good ability to remember and recall facts and I really like paperwork. But, since I don't foresee myself actually traversing that route, I do tend to get overly excited by good police TV dramas. Scott and Bailey is perhaps the best of the best.

 

Featuring essentially all-female leads in Janet Scott (Lesley Sharp), Gill Murray (Amelia Bullmore) and Rachel Bailey (Suranne Jones), the series has long been receiving outstanding reviews. I'm also going on record right now by saying if I do not have a best friend female friendship like Janet and Rachel's by the time I'm in my thirties, I will have failed terribly in life. Just saying.

 

I think that it was makes me enjoy the show so much (and is something I'm investigating later this week, when I pick apart my top TV female friendships). To be work colleagues in what we can appreciate is a challenging work environment, and be really good - if not best - friends on top of that, is what my dreams are made of. I've never really had that unmistakeable best friend status, not since I was a child and boy, do I long for it. It's also not the type of friendship that feels forced - they argue over the big things and are strong enough to tell each other how they really feel. This is something I am spectacularly bad at. Sharp and Jones (which would make just as good a title for the show, by the way) are absolutely flawless as always. I'm so happy the characters are back on positive terms and I thought the way the episode depicted the two of them going up for the same job was handled excellently.

 

We've all had moments where we've been in direct competition with friends and family. It is not a place I, personally, particular like to be. If you "win", there's always elements of doubt, fear of consequence and genuine disappointment on their behalf, as well as relief and excitement. If you "lose", you have to learn to deal with a confidence knock, jealousy and envy. We had known from the teasers and trailers that Janet and Rachel were both going for the sergeant's job and though I predicted both would pass the board, I was expecting Janet to get it. Purely because I thought she killed the interview. That was A class writing in that scene, not just for the drama itself but for the media and TV industry. Turning 50 is not when women should be gearing down and it was so good to hear that voiced out loud. I may not even had reached half way to 50 yet but once I get my feet firmly planted in my career path, I'm planning on sticking with it way past my 60s.

 

I have to admit, I do tend to favour the rebel though. In terms of temperament, I am Janet through and through but like with every drama I watch, I always lump in favour of feistiness. Something Rachel Bailey has in abundance and I lack almost completely. The wardrobe department are also hitting the nail on the head for this show; again I love the way they dress Rachel and I wish to death I could pull off work clothes that well. I think both Lesley Sharp and Suranne Jones are some of Britain's best actresses and I can't wait for the rest of the series to unfurl. This Mandy Sweeting storyline is already setting up to be a good one and I'm intrigued once more to see how such career-strong women balance a life at home too.

September's arrived, bringing a definite chill in the air. I would be lying if I said I had not already fished my two onesies down from storage and said goodbye to my multiple pairs of denim shorts. Yes, summer seems to officially be over here in England (surprise, surprise) and TV seems to be following suit.

 

From chills in the air to chills down your spine, ITV's Chasing Shadows is the start of a four part drama that promises to start off September's schedule well. I'll be constructing an ep-by-ep review of this as it airs but with big names (many of whom are Doctor Who alumni) such as Noel Clarke and Alex Kingston, it's certainly one to watch. At first impressions, the lead role of Sean Stone (played by Reece Shearsmith) is acted brilliantly but is, as often seems to be the case, a little unconventional in his approach to life, death and multiple murderers. Circulating around runaways, missing persons, the police and a suicide website, it's clear Chasing Shadows will whet our appetite for mess and murder.

 

Which brings us onto ITV's other early offering in the return of Scott and Bailey. Featuring lead roles by Suranne Jones and Lesley Sharp, Scott and Bailey is another police drama, but without the either obtrusive or socially awkward male protagonist (see above: case in point). I've been a fan of Scott and Bailey since the first series in 2011, so I'm particularly excited about its return next Wednesday (I actually squealed upon viewing the advert). I read a great interview with Suranne Jones courtesy of What's On TV which seems to suggest that, as always, there will be an abundance of personal drama  for all the characters, as well as the police-based drama we've come to know and love.

 

Continuing through September is the third season of Scandal, which airs here in the UK on Sky Living. Last night took us to episode 6, Icarus, which is currently buffering on Sky Go. The first five episodes have been wrought with marital and political drama and debauchery, so I'm intrigued to see how the season continues through the month. I stumbled across a few differing opinions on the third season from fans in America who are gearing up for season but as our little island doggy paddles some way behind, I'm trying to avoid all spoilers and make up my own mind. So far, so good.