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Ross (3284 KP) rated After Life in TV
Apr 11, 2019
Gervais tries to break the mould again
Once again we see Ricky Gervais try to break the mould for a sit-com, this time by covering some pretty deep and heavy topics. While the humour is still there, it comes through fairly infrequently and is a little off kilter, when compared to the drama of the series.
Gervais plays Tony, a journalist on a local free paper who has recently lost his wife to cancer. Tony has simply given up on life and, while he cannot bring himself to end it, he seems to have decided to just do whatever he wants, no matter the consequences. He is rude to people in the street, makes his colleagues' working days miserable, and while he visits his dad in a care home regularly he clearly hates it and is just doing it out of duty.
Most of the comedy comes through in Gervais doing what he does best - being rude and nasty and way over the top in insulting people. The humour here is more for the shock value (calling a 6 year old a tubby little c**t for example) rather than a more considered layer of humour. As Tony has decided he can just do whatever he wants and hang the consequences, he takes a stand against stupid rules (the scene where he takes his nephew for tea in a café was brilliant).
I preferred the drama side of the series - him trying drugs, meeting new people and gradually softening over the series were some very touching moments and very well written. However when weighed against the comedy it just seems incongruous. I think Gervais needs to think about whether he wants to write a drama (and tone down the comedy a little more) or a comedy (and try less to push the boundaries).
Tony's epiphany was a little rushed/hard to spot. It seems that after 5 episodes of not caring about anything, the 6th starts off with him suddenly being a changed man out of nowhere. There were small moments where he seemed to soften but there was no sudden realisation big enough to justify the change of heart in the last episode.
This was a pretty hard hitting, emotional series, but I think it lost a little of the impact by having Gervais in it and trying to shoe-horn his sense of humour into it.
Gervais plays Tony, a journalist on a local free paper who has recently lost his wife to cancer. Tony has simply given up on life and, while he cannot bring himself to end it, he seems to have decided to just do whatever he wants, no matter the consequences. He is rude to people in the street, makes his colleagues' working days miserable, and while he visits his dad in a care home regularly he clearly hates it and is just doing it out of duty.
Most of the comedy comes through in Gervais doing what he does best - being rude and nasty and way over the top in insulting people. The humour here is more for the shock value (calling a 6 year old a tubby little c**t for example) rather than a more considered layer of humour. As Tony has decided he can just do whatever he wants and hang the consequences, he takes a stand against stupid rules (the scene where he takes his nephew for tea in a café was brilliant).
I preferred the drama side of the series - him trying drugs, meeting new people and gradually softening over the series were some very touching moments and very well written. However when weighed against the comedy it just seems incongruous. I think Gervais needs to think about whether he wants to write a drama (and tone down the comedy a little more) or a comedy (and try less to push the boundaries).
Tony's epiphany was a little rushed/hard to spot. It seems that after 5 episodes of not caring about anything, the 6th starts off with him suddenly being a changed man out of nowhere. There were small moments where he seemed to soften but there was no sudden realisation big enough to justify the change of heart in the last episode.
This was a pretty hard hitting, emotional series, but I think it lost a little of the impact by having Gervais in it and trying to shoe-horn his sense of humour into it.
Molly J (Cover To Cover Cafe) (106 KP) rated A Heart Revealed (Winds of Change, #2) in Books
Feb 27, 2019
*This review is from my blog and originally published in 2011*
Okay. Let me take just one moment to reflect on this book. *Reflecting* Okay. That’s better. WOW. I don’t even know where to begin. There is so much to say about this novel. Let me start off by saying if you’ve never read a Julie Lessman novel, stop what you are doing right now, and grab a copy. You won’t be sorry. The first novel I read by her was last September, entitled A Hope Undaunted, book 1 in this Winds Of Change series. I couldn’t believe how much I fell in love with her work! I was then lucky enough to win all three novels in her first series, The Daughters of Boston. Though they are still sitting on my shelf to be read, they are definitely calling my name and I can’t wait to go back and read them.
Now, on to the rest. In the first book in this series, I fell in love with Luke McGee. In this novel, I think I love Sean O’Connor even more. I really enjoy Snickers bars, so see, Julie? You could send SEAN my way, and I’d be forever blissfully happy. I LOVED his character. He was great in his role in A Hope Undaunted , but reading his story with the focus on him, was absolutely amazing. His past wasn’t perfect, and there were times when he went wild with anger, but he overcame that. There was one thing from his past that he holds inside though. No one, not even his nosy sisters, know. That is until, he finds himself drawn to his best friend Emma in a way that he couldn’t imagine. He opens up to her….with everything.
Emma Malloy. Bless her soul. She was a wonderful character, flawed and sweet, and wanting everyone close to her to be happy. Including Sean. When she finds her self falling in love with him, when she’s still married to the man who beat her 11 years ago, she’s determined to push him off on Rose Kelly…the woman who loves him. Trouble is, something happened to Sean and he won’t try with Rose.
Oh, I so want to go on and on….but I’m SO close to giving away the plot! I DO NOT want to do that! I want you to devour the book like I did and take the time to reflect on the wonderfulness of this novel. It’s stunning. It’s breath taking. It’s a roller coaster of emotions, from happiness, to sadness, to anger, to pride, to passion. It has a WHOPPER of a twist and an ending that will leave you smiling and tears running down your face. Not to mention I LOVED Casey Herringshaw and Michelle Tuller’s characters 😉 *grins*!
I highly suggest that you grab a copy of this novel NOW. It’s 5 Books worthy, two thumbs up, hats off, a home run, a winner, a best seller……what ever you want to call it’s that. Julie Lessman really has a way to make ME feel a part of the heart of the story. She speaks to me through the words of her characters, and really brings me closer to God each time. She is by far my absolute FAVORITE Christian novelist and I will NEVER part with her books. They are forever on myself for me to read and reread, and reflect on each time. I am looking forward to book three in this series, Steven O’Connor’s story. Sweet angels in Heaven, though, Julie, do you have to make us wait a whole YEAR!?!? *Sigh* Oh well. All the more for me to savor that one upon it’s release.
Okay. Let me take just one moment to reflect on this book. *Reflecting* Okay. That’s better. WOW. I don’t even know where to begin. There is so much to say about this novel. Let me start off by saying if you’ve never read a Julie Lessman novel, stop what you are doing right now, and grab a copy. You won’t be sorry. The first novel I read by her was last September, entitled A Hope Undaunted, book 1 in this Winds Of Change series. I couldn’t believe how much I fell in love with her work! I was then lucky enough to win all three novels in her first series, The Daughters of Boston. Though they are still sitting on my shelf to be read, they are definitely calling my name and I can’t wait to go back and read them.
Now, on to the rest. In the first book in this series, I fell in love with Luke McGee. In this novel, I think I love Sean O’Connor even more. I really enjoy Snickers bars, so see, Julie? You could send SEAN my way, and I’d be forever blissfully happy. I LOVED his character. He was great in his role in A Hope Undaunted , but reading his story with the focus on him, was absolutely amazing. His past wasn’t perfect, and there were times when he went wild with anger, but he overcame that. There was one thing from his past that he holds inside though. No one, not even his nosy sisters, know. That is until, he finds himself drawn to his best friend Emma in a way that he couldn’t imagine. He opens up to her….with everything.
Emma Malloy. Bless her soul. She was a wonderful character, flawed and sweet, and wanting everyone close to her to be happy. Including Sean. When she finds her self falling in love with him, when she’s still married to the man who beat her 11 years ago, she’s determined to push him off on Rose Kelly…the woman who loves him. Trouble is, something happened to Sean and he won’t try with Rose.
Oh, I so want to go on and on….but I’m SO close to giving away the plot! I DO NOT want to do that! I want you to devour the book like I did and take the time to reflect on the wonderfulness of this novel. It’s stunning. It’s breath taking. It’s a roller coaster of emotions, from happiness, to sadness, to anger, to pride, to passion. It has a WHOPPER of a twist and an ending that will leave you smiling and tears running down your face. Not to mention I LOVED Casey Herringshaw and Michelle Tuller’s characters 😉 *grins*!
I highly suggest that you grab a copy of this novel NOW. It’s 5 Books worthy, two thumbs up, hats off, a home run, a winner, a best seller……what ever you want to call it’s that. Julie Lessman really has a way to make ME feel a part of the heart of the story. She speaks to me through the words of her characters, and really brings me closer to God each time. She is by far my absolute FAVORITE Christian novelist and I will NEVER part with her books. They are forever on myself for me to read and reread, and reflect on each time. I am looking forward to book three in this series, Steven O’Connor’s story. Sweet angels in Heaven, though, Julie, do you have to make us wait a whole YEAR!?!? *Sigh* Oh well. All the more for me to savor that one upon it’s release.
Terry Nation's apocalyptic drama-adventure series came out of the same mid-70s interest in self-sufficiency that produced The Good Life, but also clearly owes a debt to George R Stewart's 1949 novel Earth Abides. A man-made virus devastates civilisation forcing the few who survive to rebuild; over the course of three series the programme deals with individual responses to the catastrophe, the characters coming together to build a community, and then an attempt to reconstruct something like a nation.
Many changes on both sides of the camera mean that Survivors is an inconsistent show, with nearly everyone agreeing the best episodes are all in the first season. This is not to say the first season is perfect or the others are not worth watching (though there are a few dud episodes). The best episodes are ones which mix character-based drama and big ideas - the capital punishment-themed Law and Order, in which the members of the community must decide what to do with one of their number they believe to be a murderer, is a particular highlight. Series anticipates Nation's Blake's 7 in the way a supporting character ends up as the de facto lead, in both cases a ruthless pragmatist becoming a very unconventional hero.
Criticisms that the show is middle class are somewhat justified; members of the working class are either comic relief or shotgun-toting menaces (trade unionists are also depicted as a menace). The low budget of the later episodes (most of which were made on VT rather than film) also shows. The second season can be a bit dull but the others are seldom less than interesting, and occasionally extremely good.
Many changes on both sides of the camera mean that Survivors is an inconsistent show, with nearly everyone agreeing the best episodes are all in the first season. This is not to say the first season is perfect or the others are not worth watching (though there are a few dud episodes). The best episodes are ones which mix character-based drama and big ideas - the capital punishment-themed Law and Order, in which the members of the community must decide what to do with one of their number they believe to be a murderer, is a particular highlight. Series anticipates Nation's Blake's 7 in the way a supporting character ends up as the de facto lead, in both cases a ruthless pragmatist becoming a very unconventional hero.
Criticisms that the show is middle class are somewhat justified; members of the working class are either comic relief or shotgun-toting menaces (trade unionists are also depicted as a menace). The low budget of the later episodes (most of which were made on VT rather than film) also shows. The second season can be a bit dull but the others are seldom less than interesting, and occasionally extremely good.
The Thief: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood Book 16
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male/male romance short reads fan youself its a hot one darker/grittier hangover cures
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Jesters_folly (230 KP) rated Magical Girl Ore in TV
Sep 30, 2019
Contains spoilers, click to show
Saki and Sakuyo want to be an Idol duo but when Sakuyo’s brother, Mohiro gets into trouble Saki find that the power of love (and a hand from a fairy) can transform her in to a magic girl with a difference. Now she must juggle working towards her dreams with protecting Mohiro and the world from rampaging demons
Magic Girl Ore is a subversive parody of the normal ‘Magic Girl’ series’, it takes the tropes of series’ like ‘Sailor Moon’ and turns them on their head and it is these subversions that make the show. The story line is, to be honest a bit bland, in most episodes the girls are doing some kind of Idol related activity then the demons turn up and try to kidnap Mohiro, who is always around often for convoluted reason, then the girls change and save the day. Each demon attack seems to get worst, building up to the final plan. It takes a few episode to realise that the formulaic, almost dull nature of the show is deliberate, until the end the action is not really important because what you are watching is a subversion of a genre. If you take any number of shows you can see the same plot, ‘Sailor Moon’, ‘Miraculous’, ‘Power Rangers’ and even ‘Scooby Doo’ all have the same plot, a ‘big Bad’ is trying to take over the world/amusement park and the heroes have to stop them.
There are any number of ‘Magic girl’ series’, the genre started in Japan but soon became popular all over the world with many countries creating their own spin on the idea. Most of the time the main character is a young girl who is given the power to transform into their Magic form to fight evil. This is still the standard plot for ‘Magic Girl Ore’ however; the fairy is a normal looking business man, the transformation changes the school girl into a 20 something muscular man, still in the tradition magic girl dress and the demons are cute and buff, there is a hunky possibly gay feel to the demons. This bring us to the transformations, the magic girls change by concentrating on saving the person they love, with Saki this follows a common theme, the school girl in love with her best friend’s brother, the brother doesn’t know. Then Sakuyo get the power but the person she loves is Saki. It’s also hinted that Mohiro prefers Saki in her male form. There are two other magic girls, Michiru, who’s love is male Saki but she hides her feelings so much that her transformations take more energy and ages her and her partner, Ruka who’s love is Michiru.
‘Magic Girl Ore’ could have easily fallen into concentrating on these relationships turning the series into a LGB.. statement but it doesn’t, girls like girls or magic girl men or men who like men but it’s just treated as the way it is and, I think that is the right way to do it.
Over all ‘Magic Girl Ore’ is a lot of fun but does seem to drag occasionally.
Magic Girl Ore is a subversive parody of the normal ‘Magic Girl’ series’, it takes the tropes of series’ like ‘Sailor Moon’ and turns them on their head and it is these subversions that make the show. The story line is, to be honest a bit bland, in most episodes the girls are doing some kind of Idol related activity then the demons turn up and try to kidnap Mohiro, who is always around often for convoluted reason, then the girls change and save the day. Each demon attack seems to get worst, building up to the final plan. It takes a few episode to realise that the formulaic, almost dull nature of the show is deliberate, until the end the action is not really important because what you are watching is a subversion of a genre. If you take any number of shows you can see the same plot, ‘Sailor Moon’, ‘Miraculous’, ‘Power Rangers’ and even ‘Scooby Doo’ all have the same plot, a ‘big Bad’ is trying to take over the world/amusement park and the heroes have to stop them.
There are any number of ‘Magic girl’ series’, the genre started in Japan but soon became popular all over the world with many countries creating their own spin on the idea. Most of the time the main character is a young girl who is given the power to transform into their Magic form to fight evil. This is still the standard plot for ‘Magic Girl Ore’ however; the fairy is a normal looking business man, the transformation changes the school girl into a 20 something muscular man, still in the tradition magic girl dress and the demons are cute and buff, there is a hunky possibly gay feel to the demons. This bring us to the transformations, the magic girls change by concentrating on saving the person they love, with Saki this follows a common theme, the school girl in love with her best friend’s brother, the brother doesn’t know. Then Sakuyo get the power but the person she loves is Saki. It’s also hinted that Mohiro prefers Saki in her male form. There are two other magic girls, Michiru, who’s love is male Saki but she hides her feelings so much that her transformations take more energy and ages her and her partner, Ruka who’s love is Michiru.
‘Magic Girl Ore’ could have easily fallen into concentrating on these relationships turning the series into a LGB.. statement but it doesn’t, girls like girls or magic girl men or men who like men but it’s just treated as the way it is and, I think that is the right way to do it.
Over all ‘Magic Girl Ore’ is a lot of fun but does seem to drag occasionally.
Connor Sheffield (293 KP) rated Assassin's Creed: Revelations in Books
May 15, 2017
No Den Defence to play (2 more)
A brilliant send off to Ezio
Combining Revelations with the Embers short film
The final journey of Ezio Auditore
Ezio Auditore is now old and frail in this final chapter of his life. Though he can still move and fight like an assassin, better than any civilized man, he is old and growing frail with each passing day.
Following the story of the third and final game in the Ezio story line, as seen in the Ezio Collection video game, and combining it with his final moments told in the 'Assassin's Creed: Embers' short film with more detail, as books do best.
The Revelations Novels offers us insight into the mind of an aging Ezio, as he journeys to Constantinople where the Templar Order are threatening to destabilize the Ottoman Empire. Ezio meets new friends even after all these years, such as Yusuf. Ezio also discovers more about his ancestor Altaïr and the mystery behind what lies in Altaïr's tomb beneath Masyaf.
His journey began as a pilgrimage, but quickly turns into a battle with the Templar's once more. With help from his new friends, and allies, Ezio must help stop the rising Templar army in order to find the missing keys to the Masyaf tomb. Through letters to his sister Claudia, and through the same format as the previous two Ezio novels, we read about Ezio as though we were watching him in the animus, but unable to control what happens, unlike the video game.
As mentioned in my previous review, I'm not sure how many times I can praise Bowden for his work on this series. All I can say is that he does not fail to entertain and reveal a new experience to the world of Assassin's Creed. If you have read my previous reviews then you know how much I praise this man for his work on the series of Novels he has written for the fans. Each one delivers a new thrilling experience and each one stays true to the events of the video game as much as possible. Of course each person who plays the video game plays differently. These novels give more of a sense of what the Assassin's themselves would have truly done in the events that unfold.
Following the story of the third and final game in the Ezio story line, as seen in the Ezio Collection video game, and combining it with his final moments told in the 'Assassin's Creed: Embers' short film with more detail, as books do best.
The Revelations Novels offers us insight into the mind of an aging Ezio, as he journeys to Constantinople where the Templar Order are threatening to destabilize the Ottoman Empire. Ezio meets new friends even after all these years, such as Yusuf. Ezio also discovers more about his ancestor Altaïr and the mystery behind what lies in Altaïr's tomb beneath Masyaf.
His journey began as a pilgrimage, but quickly turns into a battle with the Templar's once more. With help from his new friends, and allies, Ezio must help stop the rising Templar army in order to find the missing keys to the Masyaf tomb. Through letters to his sister Claudia, and through the same format as the previous two Ezio novels, we read about Ezio as though we were watching him in the animus, but unable to control what happens, unlike the video game.
As mentioned in my previous review, I'm not sure how many times I can praise Bowden for his work on this series. All I can say is that he does not fail to entertain and reveal a new experience to the world of Assassin's Creed. If you have read my previous reviews then you know how much I praise this man for his work on the series of Novels he has written for the fans. Each one delivers a new thrilling experience and each one stays true to the events of the video game as much as possible. Of course each person who plays the video game plays differently. These novels give more of a sense of what the Assassin's themselves would have truly done in the events that unfold.
Debbiereadsbook (1761 KP) rated Scoring Position (Hockey Ever After #2) in Books
Oct 20, 2022
loved this much more than book 1!
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 2 in the Hockey Ever After series. I don't think its fully necessary to read book one, Winging It, before this but it might give you a better picture of the world these players live in. And I really enjoyed that book. Dante and Gabe do pop up, but knowing their story isn't essential, just helpful, especially with Tom and Kitty (side characters) playing a large part here.
Ryan is traded out and his new team is a mess. Their star player, Nico, even more so. But Ryan can see that Nico is hurting, in more ways than one. Finding his sense of humour was a great start. The Ryan messed it all up. And just what is going on with the coach?
I really enjoyed book one, gave it 4 stars, but I found this a much more engaging read, a deeper emotion read. I loved it.
Neither man is in the closet, so there was none of the coming out issue. What there was, though, was a lot of anger on Nico's part and much was misplaced. Ryan needed him to focus that anger, on the ice, rather than punishing himself. Falling for the other gay teamn member was in neither man's plans but fate has a way, huh?
I loved that it really did creep up on them both. Yes there was attraction from the start but the feelings came later and they both fought it hard. Ryan messing up, though? THAT came out of nowhere and I did NOT see that coming! I was reading, and then I was "OH MY GOD, RYAN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!?!" out loud and my partner was somewhat shocked at me! Oh he does redeem himself, but I loved that Nico makes him work hard for that redemption. There is not a quick fix, either, and it does take time for them to be really together.
I loved that we caught up with Dante and Gabe from book one. And Tom and Kitty. I think this is a couple of years after Winging It, since Tom is captain of Ryan's new team, and has a couple of kids. Kitty surprised me though!
Are there any more planned?? I'm loving this series, but these authors are growing on me, as a duo.
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere
This is book 2 in the Hockey Ever After series. I don't think its fully necessary to read book one, Winging It, before this but it might give you a better picture of the world these players live in. And I really enjoyed that book. Dante and Gabe do pop up, but knowing their story isn't essential, just helpful, especially with Tom and Kitty (side characters) playing a large part here.
Ryan is traded out and his new team is a mess. Their star player, Nico, even more so. But Ryan can see that Nico is hurting, in more ways than one. Finding his sense of humour was a great start. The Ryan messed it all up. And just what is going on with the coach?
I really enjoyed book one, gave it 4 stars, but I found this a much more engaging read, a deeper emotion read. I loved it.
Neither man is in the closet, so there was none of the coming out issue. What there was, though, was a lot of anger on Nico's part and much was misplaced. Ryan needed him to focus that anger, on the ice, rather than punishing himself. Falling for the other gay teamn member was in neither man's plans but fate has a way, huh?
I loved that it really did creep up on them both. Yes there was attraction from the start but the feelings came later and they both fought it hard. Ryan messing up, though? THAT came out of nowhere and I did NOT see that coming! I was reading, and then I was "OH MY GOD, RYAN, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?!?!?!" out loud and my partner was somewhat shocked at me! Oh he does redeem himself, but I loved that Nico makes him work hard for that redemption. There is not a quick fix, either, and it does take time for them to be really together.
I loved that we caught up with Dante and Gabe from book one. And Tom and Kitty. I think this is a couple of years after Winging It, since Tom is captain of Ryan's new team, and has a couple of kids. Kitty surprised me though!
Are there any more planned?? I'm loving this series, but these authors are growing on me, as a duo.
5 full and shiny stars
*same worded review will appear elsewhere