Hello world! Welcome back to another blog. and it's that time again where I take you through three shows I've seen in the world of TV. One of which was a murder mystery high in the sky, one on Netflix based on a true story and now an emmy nominee as I'm writing this, and the final one on BBC iPlayer where I did share a tear or two at the end.
Red Eye:
The first show I’m going to talk about is Red Eye, starring Richard Armitage and Lesley Sharp, and I’d also featured alumni of The Actors Workshop Nottingham Steph Lacey.
This is centred on a plane to China after a doctor is accused of the murder of a woman with strong connections to the voter Meng.
The relationship between Matthew Nolan (Armitage) and DC Hana Li (played by Jing Lusi) was a definition of a rollercoaster. You could see how much agony he was in when he first got accused, and how he was desperate to get back home after a long flight, especially with an injury. And you could tell Hana had to do her job, but as the series progressed with new surprises on the way, it definitely shifted in more ways than one.
Other characters really helped put the show together. These include Madeline Delaney (played by Lesley Sharp), the Director-General of MI5, trying to get their clues together to help Hana with the mystery of what happened to the victim in question, and also Jess Li (played by Jemma Moore) a inspiring reporter who is also Hana’s half sister, who before the events of the show went too far in her career, she is now more determined to make a name for herself in her writing career. Other characters include Mike (played by Mido Hamada) who is more of an escape for Delaney whilst helping her with the case, but it proves to be just a cover up for a shocking secret he’d been harbouring throughout the series. Megan Campbell (played by Actors Workshop member Steph Lacey), who was a member of delaneys team to help find clues to the murder, and she did a grand job of that, and finally the cabin crew. One member in particular was Captain Chen (played by Thomas Chaanhing). I could tell that he cared for his family after seeing the photo, knowing that the job he does is very time consuming. But after he talked about his family when Hana mentions a deal with him, you could see the fear covered in being strong in his place. Let’s just hope he hasn’t had to suffer the consequences.
I don’t think I have any downsides per say, but I do feel like I just want more. As after the ending, some of the characters fate is unknown, like the captains and the crew of flight 357. And I would also like to see hana on another case after the family look at something lovely at the end.
Overall I would give the show a 4.95. As it was dramatic there were surprises, and I do hope there is a series 2 of it.
Baby Reindeer:
The boxer show I’m going to talk about is Baby Reindeer, starring Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning, and casted by Nina Gold.
Inspired by true events and adapted from the one man play with the same name created by Gadd, this tells the story of struggling comedian Donny Dunn who after doing one simple act of kindness, his life changes forever.
Richard Gadd did an incredible job of playing Donny. His way of comedy as an escape is quite intriguing, but also when he uses narration through every scenario of the story, it feels like I’m on the journey with him. And after hearing it came from the one act play with the same name, it was clever how they implemented into it. I could also see that maybe Donny didn’t want to get Martha sent down, as I noticed that the pain he felt was a normal thing for him. And that’s why maybe some people don’t speak out against like stalking or abuse, as maybe it’s normal to them. And as someone who’s autistic, this will definitely educate me as one trait is struggling to read people. So I’m glad a show like this will be able to help me see what’s right and what’s wrong.
Jess Gunning did a scary but brilliant betrayal of Martha Scott. You could tell that her obsession with Donny is all that she cared about, and after the last episode where she told him why she calls him “Baby Reindeer”, it’s actually quite emotional. Yes it’s not an excuse for her behaviour, but I know there’s always a reason behind something. I also like the messages that Martha has sent to Donny to show the personality she has. Whether is was the actual messages Richard Gadd received himself or if they were made up is another question, but they definitely showed you wouldn’t want to make someone like Martha angry. And after the interview that Piers Morgan did on his show "Piers Morgan Uncensored" with the real Martha Scott, Fiona Harvey, it's safe to say that not everyone is happy. But I like it and it is also nominated for an emmy award, so it's clear that the one dislike does not matter to the thousands of people who have watched it.
There were characters that helped bring the show together. Whether they were based off of real people or if they were fictional to add to the story, I still thought they did a good job at playing their parts include Teri (played by Nava Mau), a trans woman who she and Donny clicked, but Martha soon came between them, Darian (played by Tom Goodman-Hill) who grooms Donny into working for him which soon took a toll on other aspects of life, and ex girlfriend Keeley and her mum Liz (played by Shalom Brune-Franklin and Nina Sosanya), who at first were uncomfortable with the whole Martha situation, but towards the end I’m glad they’re willing to help him through the ordeal of everything.
I think my only downside is that the ending was just abrupt. As without giving anything away, it has a moment of realisation from Donny. And I wonder if it meant that he’s going to become Martha herself or if he reacts totally differently. Also I’m gutted about Donny not taking care of the Darian situation sooner, as then they could not only take him down but also give Martha a more serious sentence after what she did to him in episode 2.
Overall I would give the show a 4.95. I can see why it’s nominated for an Emmy, but I think the ending could be more explored a little.
Lost Boys & Fairies:
The final show I’m going to talk about is Lost Boys & Fairies, created and written by Daf James, directed by James Kent and casted by Lauren Evans.
This tells the story of Andy and Gabriel who want to become adoptive parents, but with both of them, especially Gabe, having personal setbacks in the past, they find that the adoption process is much more challenging than they first thought. This also featured some songs in it, some are covers of well known ones, some I never heard before (“Where Do You Go To My Lovely” being one of them), and now I officially can’t get them out of my head.
The two main characters of Andy (played by Fre Free) and drag queen Gabriel (played by Sion Young who has the voice of an angel) are literally a power couple. Not only on the romantic side but on a deeper level. As they both had traumatic pasts, with Andy having fears of abandonment, and Gabe having these limiting beliefs from his dad Emrys (played by William Thomas). But for Gabe after a traumatic event really stepped up and gave Jake (played by Leo Harris) the love he deserves.
There were other characters who helped brought the story and also were a key part in Andy and Gabe’s journey. One of them was Jackie (played by Elizabeth Berrington) a social worker who really routed for them. What I like about people like Jackie is that yes she needs to stick to the rules of her job, but there is a human side to her, which is seen in episode 3 which when you watch it for yourself you’ll know what I mean. Others include Jake’s Foster carers Claire and Llinos (played by Sharon D.Clarke and Alexandria Riley), who were there when Jake was in the mist of his biological parents (where one visited Gabe at the end), and their problems, Gabe’s drag friend Berwyn (played by Arwel Gruffyd) who after suffering from a traumatic background used the lessons he learnt to help Gabe, and Andy’s mum Sandra (played by Maria Doyle Kennedy, who also played Bridget "Birdy" Goggins in BBC Irish Drama Kin), who knew why Andy was trying to be protective of himself and also saw his need to adopt Jake, but sometimes she knew that it can sink though him.
I think my only downside is that it was that good I wanted more. And without saying too much (as I don’t want to give anything away), whilst it had the ending I wanted, I would be interested in the next steps and the journey of that process!
Overall I would give it a full house! It was funny, emotional and some beautiful songs which I now can’t stop singing. And fingers crossed for a series 2!
And those were my tv reviews so far! Let me know what if you’ve seen any of these shows and let me know your thoughts on them!
See you soon for another blog. Until next time...
This is The Autistic Actress signing off :)
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