life, death and TV
Jun. 9th, 2011 01:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
llywela1. There was a funeral held today for a chap that I worked with here at the university, who died quite suddenly last week after a short illness. Nat had been confined to a wheelchair since having a tumour removed from his spine two years ago but had otherwise recovered well from his illness and raised loads of money for cancer research, taking part in wheelchair races and the like. But then he was taken ill again about a month ago and was given just six months to live - but only lasted about three weeks, he went downhill scarily fast. He was 31 years old. I didn't know him well, but I really liked what I knew of him - always brave and always smiling. RIP, Nat.
2. I find I'm rather enjoying ITV's new Sunday evening cop show, Scott and Bailey, starring Lesley Sharp and Suranne Jones. Two episodes in, and although the cases are so far fairly simple, that comes as quite a refreshing change to the protracted whodunnits we get with most police dramas, with the focus instead placed on the characters, both the main cast and the guests involved with the case-of-the-week. So far, I'm liking the characters and their different situations, the way they relate to one another and the way the police team they work for is presented - plus the strength of the cast is another plus. Where the majority of police dramas are male dominated, it makes a refreshing change to have one focusing on well-drawn female characters in a believable setting and partnership with convincing dialogue. It's well written, witty and interesting - I'm looking forward to finding out if the remainder of the series is as strong as the first two outings!
3. I'm also rather enjoying the mini-series Injustice that ITV are airing every night this week, with James Purefoy (a world away from Mark Antony!) and Dervla Kirwan. It's dark, it's gritty, the characters are believable and intriguing (albeit not always pleasant - some of them not at all!) and the slowly unfolding story has got me gripped.
4. Speaking of TV, which sadly I rarely do these days, I thoroughly enjoyed the little half-season of Doctor Who that's just come to an end. I enjoyed Matt Smith's first season, as well, but not in the same kind of way - it was entertaining, but felt kind of lightweight and insubstantial. This latest half-season, in comparison, was just as entertaining but felt more substantial, somehow - I felt a lot more invested. Maybe the writing was stronger and the plotting tighter, maybe it made a difference that we know the characters better now - maybe the characters were given stronger characterisation, making me care about them a bit more. Whatever it was, it worked for me. I'm now looking forward to the second half of the season, in the autumn!
5. And, speaking of Doctor Who, remember back last winter when I spotted Arthur Darvill hanging around out back of Cardiff Castle one bitterly cold morning? Time and the aired half-season have revealed that it was the two-part story about the Gangers they were filming at the time! According to Confidential, that story was filmed in about 6 different castles around South Wales, which would explain why they kept running from corridors I recognised well into rooms that I didn't know at all... Ah, the magic of TV!
2. I find I'm rather enjoying ITV's new Sunday evening cop show, Scott and Bailey, starring Lesley Sharp and Suranne Jones. Two episodes in, and although the cases are so far fairly simple, that comes as quite a refreshing change to the protracted whodunnits we get with most police dramas, with the focus instead placed on the characters, both the main cast and the guests involved with the case-of-the-week. So far, I'm liking the characters and their different situations, the way they relate to one another and the way the police team they work for is presented - plus the strength of the cast is another plus. Where the majority of police dramas are male dominated, it makes a refreshing change to have one focusing on well-drawn female characters in a believable setting and partnership with convincing dialogue. It's well written, witty and interesting - I'm looking forward to finding out if the remainder of the series is as strong as the first two outings!
3. I'm also rather enjoying the mini-series Injustice that ITV are airing every night this week, with James Purefoy (a world away from Mark Antony!) and Dervla Kirwan. It's dark, it's gritty, the characters are believable and intriguing (albeit not always pleasant - some of them not at all!) and the slowly unfolding story has got me gripped.
4. Speaking of TV, which sadly I rarely do these days, I thoroughly enjoyed the little half-season of Doctor Who that's just come to an end. I enjoyed Matt Smith's first season, as well, but not in the same kind of way - it was entertaining, but felt kind of lightweight and insubstantial. This latest half-season, in comparison, was just as entertaining but felt more substantial, somehow - I felt a lot more invested. Maybe the writing was stronger and the plotting tighter, maybe it made a difference that we know the characters better now - maybe the characters were given stronger characterisation, making me care about them a bit more. Whatever it was, it worked for me. I'm now looking forward to the second half of the season, in the autumn!
5. And, speaking of Doctor Who, remember back last winter when I spotted Arthur Darvill hanging around out back of Cardiff Castle one bitterly cold morning? Time and the aired half-season have revealed that it was the two-part story about the Gangers they were filming at the time! According to Confidential, that story was filmed in about 6 different castles around South Wales, which would explain why they kept running from corridors I recognised well into rooms that I didn't know at all... Ah, the magic of TV!
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Date: 2011-06-09 01:17 pm (UTC)Talking about TV, is there any word of another season of New Tricks? I usually rely on it for summer entertainment! :)
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Date: 2011-06-09 02:17 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-06-09 10:15 pm (UTC)Case Histories got off to a good start as well.
Carol
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Date: 2011-06-10 12:17 pm (UTC)I didn't see Case Histories - there just haven't been enough hours in the evening this week, something had to give, and that was it. Worth catching up on? I'll have to see if I can fit it in over the weekend before it disappears off iPlayer.
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Date: 2011-06-09 11:15 pm (UTC)Such a long wait for more Who, bah. Oh yeah, remember you seeing him around. Awesome!