Tag: TV

Recommended TV Programme: Bates Motel

T. J. BlakeLeave a comment

I’m not sure if it’s just me, but TV at the moment just isn’t all that great. Although many of us have Sky, Virgin and Netflix, we still struggle to find good TV programmes; well, I do anyway. 

With Game of Thrones back tomorrow (hallelujah!) it instantly improves the standards of TV at the moment, but that’s not to say all TV is bad. 

There is one TV programme that I have been watching since it first began back in 2013 and that’s Bates Motel. As you have probably guessed, it’s based around the characters in Robert Bloch’s novel and Alfred Hitchcok’s 1960 movie Psycho. The series is a prequel to the film. 

I knew just from seeing this advertised that it would either be a great watch or a cheesy disaster. Fortunately, it’s not the latter.  This modern recreation of Bates Motel is really fascinating. It’s enticing, unpredictable, eery and believable, due to the great actors and actresses starring. 

For me, Freddie Highmore (yes, the guy who was Charlie in Charlie and The Chocolate Factory) who plays Norman Bates is the key performer in Bates. His acting is brilliant. He has the ability to play an innocent yet disturbing eighteen year old so well that you can see how he feels, know exactly what he’s thinking and even though he’s psychotic, you can’t help but feel sorry for him. 

I cant recommend this enough. If you’re someone who wants a new programme to get into, Bates is one you need to start! 

John Lewis Christmas Advert 2015

T. J. Blake1 Comment

So, the John Lewis Christmas advert for 2015 aired for the first time on Friday – many were impressed. For me though I was underwhelmed. 

Usually they build a story that entices the audience by following a specific character (child or animal) and draw people in. With such short amount of time, these adverts are able to quickly introduce you into a world and to a character. They then show you the situation and effectively conclude the advert with something endearing – which is always capable of drawing a tear or two. 

There’s always a message that pops up at the end and when it does, it usually makes you think or say ‘aww’. This man on the moon advert just didn’t do that for me. The message is great – to ensure no one is alone this Christmas – but I think it could have been executed more effectively. Maybe with a better idea and character? 

I get much more emotional over cartoon and real animals than a man on the moon. I suppose the fact that I couldn’t shift the thought of ‘he would be dead on the moon.’

Just my thoughts on the John Lewis Christmas advert for 2015. 

My First Post – 4th Estate

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I am now one of the managing editor contributors to the site 4th Estate.

Here’s my first contribution to the site:

http://fourthest8.com/2015/03/walking-dead-s5-ep12-review-thoughts/

Have a read and let me know what you think if you’re a fan of The Walking Dead!

The Walking Dead Season 5 (Potential Spoiler)

T. J. Blake3 Comments

I watched The Walking Dead (TWD) last night (S5, Ep 12) and now I’m intrigued.

Over the 5 seasons of TWD I have either been a little bit bored or really enticed by the story. There have been some real dark story lines, shocking deaths and great battles.

Admittedly, over season five I have been slightly bored with what has been happening; I haven’t exactly been gripped. Instead, it sometimes feels like I am watching paint dry. Now hopefully is the time where I will be gripped and repeatedly shaken.

I already find myself thinking of TWD and wondering ‘what are the group going to go through next?’

On arrival to Alexandria everyone is friendly and welcoming to Rick and the group. They are given homes of their choice to move into. The homes have running water, food, electricity etc. It all seems too good to be true and I was constantly asking myself the question ‘So what’s the catch?’
At the moment there is no catch to all of this, the only thing the community wants in return is the commitment of Rick and the group. The group are being assigned jobs, as nominated by Alexandria leader Deanna. She is seemingly assessing each member of the group with a little chat and videoing their interaction.

The episode is titled ‘The New Bad Guys’, on the first look you fear for the group that they have once again fallen into that trap. That same trap of letting their guard down and being tortured and torn apart by another group or community.

But, I believe I know what way this is heading; the new bad guys are not who you may suspect… Potential spoiler alert below (if I’m right).

The new direction TWD is rapidly moving in is to make Rick and the group ‘The New Bad Guys’.

Rick at the end says to Daryl and Carol on the front porch of their big new home, “We’ll make it work. If they can’t make it, then we’ll just take this place.”

Rick’s plan surely can’t be to kill the entire community of Alexandria?
Surely not, after a lovely neighbour cut his scraggly hair?
Well who knows, it could well be the plan. Everyone has dramatically changed over this time period since series 1. Understandable though, if it were real then I think many of us would become mentally affected and unstable.

I think that if this was to happen in WTD, it would create a huge divide in the group, turning against each other, resulting a free-for-all. Potentially two differing leaders in the group, newly appointed deputies Rick and Michonne as the leaders of their respected decision.

Question is, whose side would you take?

I wouldn’t take Rick’s. The fact that if he was stupid enough to get into another war, risking his little baby’s life as well as Carl’s would show his inability to be a good father.

At this stage it is hearsay, let us hope that Rick makes the right decision.

The First Series of Arrow has come to an explosive end

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The First Series of Arrow has come to an explosive end

Here’s an article that I wrote. It’s my review of Arrow and it’s finale episode so go have a read. Even if you haven’t seen it, read the beginning of the article, see if you fancy watching it.