TALK NERDY TV - OCTOBER 29th 2016

WESTWORLD

It's finally here, and I couldn’t be more pleased with it so far. Oddly I don’t think this will hit home with everyone. I could be wrong but I don’t see a mass appeal like Game of Thrones. However, for anyone who gives this a try early, I think it will suck you in. It's shot to absolute perfection, stunning cinematography for the small screen and so far it's been intense and gripping in every episode. I wont reveal too much on plot, but for those interested, Westworld is a holiday park where people pay to visit a western scenario, filled with robots who act out their wild west fantasies. The robots cannot harm the humans but the humans can do pretty much whatever they like with their animatronic counterparts before being reset for another day. Yet in true Michael Crichton storytelling style, the robots are starting to behave mysteriously. If you haven't got involved with this yet, get going on it early, as this is just starting to build up its pace now and I think from here, until the end of the series , it is going to be outstanding.

DESIGNATED SURVIVOR

Another new series with a very intriguing storyline and scarily a little too believable. Keifer Sutherland plays Tom Kirkman, a member of US government who is nominated to skip Congress. Why? Incase of disaster, there could be one survivor to take over as President should all others be eliminated. It's cleverly written and really does feel all a little too realistic as you see the trouble that comes of being a man forced into a very awkward position. Major props to Sutherland as he nails the role. It's early doors for this series yet and especially now we are past the early drama it will be interesting to see how this develops further down the road, can it keep that gripping feel after such a big and bold beginning? I certainly hope so.

SON OF ZORN

OK so after two fairly serious suggestions I thought it would be nice to balance us out with a quick 20 minute slice of ridiculous humour. Jason Sudekis voices Zorn, a cartoon He-Man style warrior who, for some reason, is living in the real world and has a real life son, a real life ex wife and she has a real life new husband. It is silly but it is also pretty funny. The mix of cartoon to real is fantastic and means that this program can do anything to get its laughs, which it does a lot. Zorn intent on spending more time with his son, leaves his own universe where he a strong warrior defending his realm and gets a job in an office. Clearly these changes in his life are hard to make and hilarity ensues. If you want something to give you a quick giggle this is definitely the one to watch.

DIVORCE

Early doors for Sarah Jessica Parker’s new series. Anyone expecting this to be Sex & the City mark II will probably be disappointed. I have a feeling this show could grow if it's given the chance but the first episode wasn't making me scramble for the next one by any means. It had good moments, but I don’t think the humour was enough to keep interest. I think this is dangerously lying between not knowing whether it's a drama or if it's a comedy and that usually is a recipe for disaster, as you end up with neither done too well. Perhaps this is the type of show where if your own marriage or relationship is suffering, you could resonate with it a little more. I’m not too sure but for me, it just felt a little flat.

JB also weighs in this week:

BLACK MIRROR

I haven't really watched any of these since the first, porky episode famously graced our screens all those years ago. I think I was so blown away by it that I chickened out. I didn't want it to try and best that episode and I wasn't going to let it try. More fool me. Finally after some years, I return to this fantastic 'Twilight Zone-esque' show after hearing Charlie Brooker talking about it on the radio. It's now on Netflix and has a bigger budget than ever to make tell some messed up, dystopian and scarily realistic stories. I've only watched a couple and I got chills. This isn't for the faint hearted. If you like trashy, reality TV, this might be too real for you. If you like soap opera drama, then this will be too tense and gripping for you. I am wholeheartedly looking forward to watching the rest of these as I think this is the most honest and intelligent show on the box at the moment.

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D

Holy shit!! This show has come leaps and bounds. After almost writing itself into a corner with the Inhumans and Hydra, this show needed a breath of fresh air yet on the other hand, needed to go back to its roots. The writers have found that middle ground with this Ghost Rider storyline. Coulson is an Agent again, no longer a director, so we get to have our charming hero back in the field with all the gang. Except Daisy, who is back on the run and committing acts of vigilantism. Add on top of this a political power movement against the Inhumans, Ghost Rider and some absolutely amazing choreographed and shot fight scenes, and you have a superhero show that, if it gets its feet, could take on the Netflix contenders themselves.