Apples Never Fall (TV), A Review

Secrets run in the Family.

Apples Never Fall Book Review.

The TV Adaptation of Apples Never Fall follows The Delaney family- Mother and Father Joy (Anette Bening, Captain Marvel) and Stan (Sam Neill, Flack) and their four adult children Amy (Alison Brie, Happiest Season), Troy (Jake Lacy, The White Lotus), Logan (Conor Merrigan Turner) and Brooke (Essie Randles)– as their lives are thrown into turmoil after Joy seemingly disappears without a trace. The family had previously ran a successful tennis coaching school but after Joy and Stan chose to retire they found themselves stuck in a rut, eventually taking in stranger off the street Savannah (Georgia Flood, American Princess) after she came to their door bloodied and frantic.

The next few months see Savannah becoming part of the family (much to the annoyance of the siblings) before she then disappeared with a trace all over again, shortly followed by Joy’s own disappearance. The siblings then begin to wonder whether she could be involved but the police pay more attention to Stan, especially after he appears with a scratch on his face and refuses to answer their questions. As the investigation wears on secrets begin to come out and the Delaney siblings realise how much they are all hiding from each other. In the end though only one person really knows where Joy is and the family must put aside their differences if they ever hope to see her again.

Apples Never Fall has never been my favourite of Moriarty’s novels (although it’s far from my least favourite either) but I was still interested to see how the show would be adapted, especially with the success of her previous book to TV adaptations (Big Little Lies, Nine Perfect Strangers). I do think because it’s been nearly two years since I did first read and because the plot never massively stuck with me I did forget some parts of the story and so I did kind of enjoy reliving this mystery again, as though for the first time. Apart from the characters themselves the only thing I really remembered was that Joy didn’t actually die and so this was still enjoyable for me as both a mystery and a direct adaptation. Like I said the book was never a top read for me but I think like with all of Moriarty’s adaptations it ended up being a fun watch overall.

The Delaney family and their relationships with each other were completely central to the series and I really enjoyed the performances from each, some of the characters weren’t exactly how I pictured them when first reading but I think each actor was able to make the character their own. I liked how we got a central episode for each family member, exploring their own history as well as their reactions to Joy’s disappearance and how they then dealt with this. I do think I would have liked if Savannah herself also had a more in-depth episode but on the whole I enjoyed the sibling’s dynamic and their growing suspicion of Stan throughout.

I enjoyed Savannah as a character and I think because it had been so long since I first read I had actually forgotten what her motivations were and whether her intentions were good or bad. In this regard I got to figure out the character alongside the Delaney siblings and I did really like the mystery of this complete stranger planting herself into Joy and Stan’s lives. The situation itself was just bizarre and I think that Flood did a great job at portraying this morally questionable person who could have been either a harmless stranger or someone out to hurt the family. I think even in spite of the end reveal Savannah still had her good qualities and I did really love her relationship with Joy, it was complex and messy and perfect for a mystery drama.

One of the things I do remember liking the most from the book was the Delaney family dynamic and a lot of the flashbacks exploring the sibling’s childhoods and relationships with each other. Despite focussing on Joy’s disappearance Apples Never Fall was never your classic mystery in the same way an Agatha Christie novel would be and instead the book really focussed on the family and their own issues with each other, unfortunately I do think this is one aspect that the TV series failed on. Like I said the mystery was never really at the book’s forefront but I think the show changes this and amps up the criminal elements, forgoing a lot of the character development in the process. We get next to no family flashbacks and most of the stuff with Harry (Giles Matthey, 1BR) and the tennis environment is watered down or omitted completely. Instead the show treats this as your classic mystery thriller when really that was never what the book was about (to me anyway). I loved learning about these characters and their very messy history but so much of that isn’t in the show and I do think it’s a shame.

Overall this was a pretty decent adaptation and whilst Apples Never Fall was never my favourite Moriarty novel I do think that the show did a great job at adapting the story for TV and retelling the narrative in a different way. Whilst the casting overall was good and I enjoyed the performances throughout I wish we’d gotten a little more family focus rather than so much on the mystery of Joy’s disappearance. I did still enjoy watching though and I definitely look forward to whichever of Moriarty’s books gets adapted next (I’m personally crossing my fingers for The Last Anniversary!).

Deadloch, A Review

Welcome to Deadloch.

Deadloch follows the titular sleepy town where nothing ever happens and the residents are all preparing for the local week long food festival.. all until a body washes up on the beach. Called into investigate whilst the chief of police is away Senior Sergeant Dulcie Collins (Kate Box) is teamed up with visiting Detective Eddie Redcliffe (Madeleine Sami) and the pair instantly clash. Dulcie is by the book and excited by the prospect of Deadloch’s first serious crime whereas Eddie wants to leave as quickly as possible, pushing aside any of Dulcie’s theories for a quick solve.

Eddie initially works on the assumption that the victim’s family are somewhat responsible but after Dulcie notices a pattern with missing men in the town the two are forced to conclude they have a serial killer on their hands. Reviewing the town’s history they realise that men have been disappearing, going missing or washing up dead for years and nobody has ever made the connection. Now dealing with the town’s biggest criminal epidemic to date the pair must but aside their differences and work together, all before more men in the town become targets.

I’ll be honest, Deadloch had a very slow start for me and it’s only really from episode 4 onwards that I started to actually enjoy myself and get into the swing of things, so much so that the first and second half of the series almost feel like two completely different shows. I think for starters it took me a while to get used to the town and its quirky residents, most of whom I found incredibly annoying at first, with the series taking a long long time to actually dive into the main storyline. The working relationship between Dulcie and Eddie also suffered and initially Eddie had no interest in actually investigating properly, preferring to just knock around and get out of town as quickly as possible. Only at the end of episode 3 did she actually acknowledge that Dulcie might be onto something, leading them to investigate the theory of a serial killer rather than string of random killings. From this point the show then really picked up, maintaining that comedic timing but also taking itself more seriously and generating and genuinely interesting whodunnit.

Deadloch was a perfect mix of crime and comedy and one of the few shows that I think was able to perfectly balance the two. The crime comedy genre does seem to be on the rise lately but most of the time the balance is off and either the crime isn’t serious enough or the comedy is too light. Here though we got a genuine manhunt for a serial killer alongside continuous laughs and I really loved the complex mystery and constant jokes throughout, it was a really nice combo.

The killer’s motive was definitely an interesting touch here and as far as serial killers go a world without rapey men is far from the worst thing we could wish for. First spotting the pattern when several men of Deadloch begin going missing or turning up dead, Dulcie and Eddie realise that all of these men have less than honourable pasts when it comes to women and somebody is trying to make the town a safer place to live in (again, does this really sound so bad?). Being police however the pair have a duty to track the killer down, whereas the men of the town try and fight back and blame everything on the town’s growing lesbian population. I am aware that some of the characters here were hammed up for comedy purposes but at the same time some of the reactions here weren’t too far from real life and so I did find it interesting to follow a killer with such an understand motive (to a point anyway). Most of the time when killers target the ‘undesirables’, as pointed out by Abby, and so it was fun to see this switched up and how out characters reacted to it, definitely an interesting thinking point for sure.

Overall Deadloch was a very mixed watch for me. The series had a painfully slow start with some very annoying characters but then at the half way point went through a complete transformation and turned into something brilliant. The mix of crime and comedy, genuinely interesting mystery and really engaging characters made for a great watch and I grew to love the dynamic between Eddie and Dulcie as they hunted for a serial killer. I would definitely watch a second season with these two, the finale set up another mystery already, and if you can past the arguably slow start then this is a really great watch for mystery and comedy lovers alike.

Class of ‘07, A Review

High School isn’t the end of the world.

Class of ‘07 follows Zoe Miller (Emily Browning), a woman whose recent online mental breakdown has caused her to become a hermit, shunning her family and friends in favour of moving into her Father’s old motor home in the hills. An apocalyptic tidal wave however forces Zoe to re-join society as she flees to the nearest safe space which just happens to be her ten year high school reunion. Catching up with some former friends and foes, Zoe attempts to warn the other girls of the tidal wave but is quickly ignored due to her frequent lies as a child, meaning nobody listens or attempts to get to a safe space. After tragedy then strikes the school is seemingly the only thing left, with the rest of the world covered in water as far as the eye can see.

Now possibly the only humans left on the planet the girls must learn to survive and rebuilt society, whatever the cost. Tasked with being the new leader, former school bully Saskia (Caitlin Stasey, Reign) must re-channel her inner bully and whip everyone into shape if they have any chance of surviving. Old school rivalries come to head however and soon enough everybody is at each other’s throats for problems long since past. Can these former high school girls reconnect and survive the literal end of the world or will the food and resources run out, leading them to devour each other in more ways than one.

I really loved the set up to Class of ’07 and how the show managed to make light of a honestly nightmare sounding situation. A world-ending apocalypse is bad enough by itself but to then be stuck with the people you went to high school with? Absolute torture. I can’t even imagine being in Zoe’s shoes myself and I really don’t think I’d survive going back to school and having to build a community with said people, but from this Class of ’07 really shines a light on the humour of the apocalypse and being surrounded by people you probably wish were dead. Throughout we got some absolute brilliant comedy and I loved the constantly evolving relationships between the group, it was a really fantastic dynamic.

The comedy was really top-notch here and most of it came from the complete madness of the situation and how the girls themselves rebuilt their own mini community in the midst of a literal apocalypse. Digging their own toilets and using excercise bikes to create battery power made for a fun watch and I liked how we got to see this mini civilisation, forming amongst all the madness. With this being a group of former school-mates there were some obvious fights too and I just loved the group dynamic and how even after do many years the girls could mess with each other just like in school, it was both himarious and also a little bit tragic.

I can’t help help but compare this series to the recently infamous Yellowjackets, with both shows having a similar set up but then going down very different routes and whilst Class of ’07 is of course a comedy it still has its darker moments that easily compare to the former. I think whilst Yellowjackets has the darker set up, with the girls stranded in the woods, Class of ’07 has more of a phycological darkness, with the characters stranded in their old high school and really reverting back to their former selves, whether they like it or not. There’s also the factor that Zoe and Saskia literally try and kill one of their fellow survivors just because she’s annoying which in a way is worse than anything the Yellowjackets ever did. Both shows strand their characters in their own ways and whilst Yellowjackets deals with typical teen angst, Class of ’07 has adults descending into madness and realising the true scars of high school, even a whole decade later.

Like I said above the characters really revert back to their high school selves here and despite the time that’s passed and the many accomplishments, degrees and job promotions along the way everyone goes back to their teenage ways and characters like Genevieve (Claire Lovering), Phoebe (Steph Tisdell) and even Amelia (megan Smart) once again become victims to the bullying ways of Saskia. High School generally isn’t a fun time for anyone and it’s really interesting how even after so many years our childhood bullies can have such an effect on us, showing that some phycological scars never fully heal. Even Saskia herself struggled I think, having put so much work into building a better version of herself and finding it completely broken down once she re-entered high school. I really liked the scene where she acknowledged how easy it was to become a bully once again, because high school is this massive thing that never really leaves us and even in a worldwide apocalypse we can still be triggered by the smallest of things.

Overall I really loved Class of ’07, both as a fantastic comedy series but also as a look at life post high school and how easily we can revert to our former selves. I just loved the set up of being stuck at your high school reunion when the apocalypse hits and how these former classmates had to come together to survive or basically die trying, I think for many it would be an absolute nightmare situation. Throughout the show managed to balance the comedy with the real trauma of being back in high school (not to mention the world literally ending) and I really loved the mini community the girls eventually managed to build. Class of ’07 was equal parts hilarious and somewhat traumatising and I really loved watching, I expected it to be funny but it was also a lot deeper than I expected.

Apples Never Fall, A Review

The Delaney family love one another dearly, it’s just that sometimes they want to murder each other…

Three Wishes Review. The Last Anniversary Review. The Husband’s Secret Review. The Hypnotist’s Love Story Review. Truly Madly Guilty Review. Nine Perfect Strangers Review. What Alice Forgot Review. Big Little Lies Review.

Apples Never Fall follows the Delaney family- husband and wife Stan and Joy and their four children Amy, Troy, Logan and Brooke. The Delaney’s are a tennis focused family and Stan and Joy ran a successful coaching school for years with each of the four children playing but never becoming anything special. Now that the four children have grown up Stan and Joy struggle in their retirement and yearn for their more active days. This all changes with the sudden arrival of Savannah, a stranger from the street who turns up on Stan and Joy’s doorstep, claiming to be on the run from an abusive boyfriend. Joy welcomes Savannah in with open arms and soon enough she has become a live-in house guest who regularly cooks for the couple, much to the alarm of the Delaney children. Amy, Troy, Logan and Brooke all suspect that something must be wrong with Savannah and that she is scamming their parents in some way but they are unable to come up with any solid proof, leaving them in a difficult situation.

Fast forward a few months however and Joy has gone missing and hasn’t been seen for a few days. Leaving only a cryptic text behind on her phone Joy seems to vanish into thin air, leaving her clothes phone and wallet behind, puzzling both the police and Delaney family. Could Savannah have something to do with Joy’s disappearance or does the mystery lie a lot closer to home? As the Delaney siblings attempt to figure out where their mother has vanished to they realise that their parents marriage is far from perfect and a lifetime of resentments and secrets have built up into something quite explosive. Where is Joy really and is she ever planning on coming home? And more importantly is she still even alive to do so?

I really enjoy Moriarty’s style of writing and her focus on family and complex relationships. Often her book’s include crimes or darker situations but the focus is on the characters and not the situation itself. In Apples Never Fall the book may have began with Joy’s disappearance but the main draw was the Delaney family and their messy history and feelings towards each other. Obviously Joy’s disappearance is addressed and ultimately resolved but unlike a typical crime novel that would spend the majority of time looking at the who, Moriarty looks at the why and all the events leading up to morning of.

The Delaney family and their tennis fuelled childhoods made for an interesting character study. I loved the insights into each character’s lives and childhoods and how they then grew as adults. As I said above Moriarty often writes in a way where the characters are more of a selling point than the situation itself and I really loved diving into the Delaney’s past and seeing how each member was shaped as a child and how this then effected them in the present day. Joy and Stan’s marriage, the tennis academy, Harry and the children’s adult relationships (or lack thereof) were all explored throughout and I enjoyed the long chapters, often exploring tense famiky dinners or discussions were an argument would break out, further tearing the family apart. I also liked how we got the POV’s from various strangers, friends and neighbours in the Delaney family’s lives, Moriarty wrote in a similar way in her debut novel Three Wishes and I liked how we got the perspectives of so many different characters, it’s a unique way to tell a story.

I enjoyed the character of Savannah and her role in the story. Her relationship with Joy and the rest of the family was an interesting one and I liked how despite everything she did, she and Joy did cone to form a sort of friendship. Throughout we never really knew what Savannah’s motives were until the very end or if she’d had a role in Joy’s disappearance so I liked how we slowly got to know this character at the same time as the Delaney’s, meaning we were just as in the dark as they were.

The ending of Apples Never Fall, or rather the last few chapters felt a little bit disjointed from the rest of the main story and I honestly think the book might have been better just finishing with Joy coming home. Bringing COVID into the story broke the illusion in a way and it’s like I got pulled out of the story and back into the real world, something readers don’t always want when they’re really enjoying a novel (which I was). By mentioning COVID I just got reminded all over again of the real world and I felt a bit deflated. On top of this the last few chapters dodn’t really add anything brilliant to the story and just felt like Moriarty was needlessly tying up loose ends, it was a bizzare end to say the least.

Overall I really loved this one and it might just be my new favourite by Moriarty (it’s definitely at the top of my list). The Delaney family and the complex relationships between them made for a great read and I loved the mystery of Joy’s disappearance. An intriuiging read on the complexity of family, Apples Never Fall was another great by Moriarty.

My Life is Murder- Season 2, A Review

New city, new crimes, same old Alexa.

My Life is Murder Season 1 Review.

From Acorn TV (Agatha Raisin, Queens of Mystery), My Life is Murder follows retired Police Detective Alexa Crowe (Lucy Lawless) who can’t quite seem to leave her investigating life behind. Teaming up with data analyst Madison (Ebony Vagulans), the pair look into unsolved and unthinkable cases, finding out information where the police are unable and continuing to catch criminals and murderers, proving that sometimes you can’t leave such a big part of your life behind.

Season 2 sees Alexa and Madison relocating to New Zealand so that Alexa can be closer to her brother Will (Martin Henderson), who is currently in prison. Continuing her investigating, Alexa takes on the role of official police consultant now answering to Detective Harry Henare (Rawiri Jobe), Who to tasks her with seemingly impossible cases. They may be in a different town answering to a different detective but Alexa and Madison continue to do what they do best, solve crimes and put killers away.

My Life is Murder is a very easy watching kind of show, both in the writing and the way the chatacters approach each investigation. The murders, whilst interesting aren’t massively compelling or too complex, they’re the kind you can sit back and enjoy but still attempt to solve at the time. In a similar way Alexa’s investigating style is more brains over brawn, a lot of each episode is just Alexa talking to the suspects rather than action packed fight scenes or shoot outs, it’s easy to fall into. Don’t get me wrong, I really love the show and could very easily see myself turning it on again, it’s just not the sort of show where you have to pay attention. Which is sometimes what people need.

Season 2 of My Life is Murder was (in my opinion) a massive improvement on the first season. At first I really struggled to connect with this show, the cases seemed boring and obvious and I wasn’t a fan of the format. Here though the show seems to have found its footing and runs with it. Now that I know the characters better I feel like I can enjoy the mystery aspect a lot more? Having Alexa as an official police consultant in this new location also gives the show an extra kick, I enjoyed this format a lot more. I’ll admit I did struggle at first but My Life is Murder has definitely won me over, I really love watching now.

I continue to love the characters in this series and especially love the bond between Alexa and Madison. Alexa often pretends not to like Madison but the friendship is definitely there and niether would be able to do the job without the other, it’s a brilliant and hilarious partnership. I also liked new guy Harry and his chemistry with Alexa, it was interesting change from Kieran (Bernard Curry), who had known her for years to someone who was only just meeting her. I also liked seeing Alexa’s brother Will this season, it was especially intetesting that he was in prison and how this effected the relationship. Being detective and criminal made the two almost polar oppisites and I liked seeing Alexa struggle to bond with him, it allowed us to see a different side to her, especially regarding his parole.

Overall I really enjoyed the second season of My Life is Murder. For me the show seems to have finally found its footing and is rolling with it, resulting in some easy watching but still massively enjoyable murder mysteries. Alexa and Madison are great characters and I liked the addition of Harry the season, it was all an interesting to see Alexis dynamic with her incarcerated brother well. Yet another great Acorn TV watch, I really enjoy the show and hope we get to see more.

Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries- Season 2, A Review

New Fisher. New Murders.

Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries Season 1 Review (Top 10 2019).

The second season of Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries continues to follow Peregrine Fisher (Geraldine Hakewill) and she attempts to follow in her Aunt Phryne’s foosteps and become a private detective in her own right. Assisted regularly by her fellow Adventuresses Birdie (Catherine McClements), Violetta (Louisa Mignone) and Samuel (Toby Truslove), Peregrine works alongside Detective James Steed (Joel Jackson) to solve multiple murders and build up her sluething skills, hoping one day to live up to her famous namesake.

Seaaon two sees Pergrine and James attempt to move their relationship forward only to be stopped at the first hurdle when it becomes clear the two have very different backgrounds. Things are further complicated by the arrival of James’ childhood friend Sally (Emma Hamilton) as well as Chief Inspector Sparrow’s (Greg Stone) continued hatred of Peregrine. Violetta and Samuel also face relationship drama due to difference in relegion and Birdie returns to her former espionage days, a decision which has deadly consequences. Her personal lofe may be falling apart but at least Peregrine csn always rely on her sluething abilities to save the day.

I was so glad when this show was renewed for a second season because it’s just such a joy to watch. As well as continuing the Miss Fisher storyline through Peregrine, the series is also massively upbeat and fun. I love the writing and the characters and the outfits and the murders, every episode is just brilliant. I can very easily sit back and watch this whenever I’m in need of something to watch, it’s something you don’t need to pay too much attention to but at the same time you get that mystery to solve and the joy when you get it right.

I really do love the characters in this show and the roles they play in helping (or in some cases preventing) Peregrine from solving each case. I love the Adventuresses’ club and the idea of these brilliant women (and Samuel) coming together and working at their passions, especially in the 60s. Violetta’s scientific mind proves massively helpful on numerous cases as does the moral support from Samuel and Birdie, it’s nice to see Peregrine having this support system. On the other side I also like the police character and seeing the two work together on each case. James is massively likeable and I even found Sparrow somewhat amicable this season, he plays the part of Peregrine’s nemises well and I will admit he had his moments.

I enjoyed the romance between Pergerine and James this season and the couple’s struggles with marriage, dating and their very different views on family life. The season kicks off with James proposing but it soon becomes clear that the two want very different things, with James wanting to settle down and Peregrine wanting to forge her own path. The two had these very different mindsets but the attraction was still there and I liked their continued moments together, even when they were broken up. The pair have a nice chemistry and I liked the exploration into relationships in the 60s, it tied in well to a lot of the show’s other themes.

I liked how season 2 of Ms Fisher Modern incorporated a lot of 60s feminism into its writing, not just with Peregrine and James but also with the murders themselves. A lot of the motives this season were down to 60s sexism and characters feeling unequal to their male counterparts, something I think Peregrine was able to connect to, which is why she was so good at solving each case. It’s interesting that the show is called Ms Fisher Modern (I get that it’s also a Mod reference) when it’s still set in the 60s, meaning we still get to experience another Fisher woman fighting her way through historical prejudice, really keeping the spirit of the original show alive.

Overall I enjoyed the second season of Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries. I really love the show and was so glad it got renewed, it’s a lot of fun to watch. The characters are all great and I love the mysteries, it’s just a very easy going kind of watch. I really love Peregrine’s workd and getting to continue the Miss Fisher legacy, I hope there’s even more to come in the future.

My Life is Murder, A Review

This ex-cop can’t stop investigating.

From Acorn Tv (Agatha Raisin, Queens of Mystery), My Life is Murder follows former cop Alexa Crowe (Lucy Lawless), who quit the police force after her husband died, now spending her days baking bread and trying to keep fit. Alexa’s retirement doesn’t last for long however when her former coworker Kieran (Bernard Curry) asks her to look into an old case. Hesitant at first, Alexa soon begins to enjoy investigating again- employing the help of tech whizz Madison (Ebony Vagulans) to help her solve a number of cold cases Kieran gifts her each week. She may not be a cop anymore but nothing will stop Alexa from getting to the truth.

My Life is Murder admittedly had a bit of a slow start, the first few episodes just felt slow and the murder suspects seemed obvious. I did get quite a bad impression from the start of the show and did have to push myself to keep watching. By around episode 4 though, I think I had gotten into the groove of the show and the writing felt a lot better so I began to enjoy myself. The second half of the season definitely felt a lot more exciting and now that I’ve finished I definitely want to see more. I think because of the slow start I only feel like I’ve watched half a show and so would definitely like to see more of Alexa and the team.

I think one of the problems I had with My Life is Murder is that there was absolutely no drama between Alexa and the police. Often in these PI series (Miss Scarlet and the Duke, Miss Fisher), the relationship between the PI character and the police is the show’s driving force but here it was completely amicable. Since all of the cases were often over a year old, Kieran had no problem with Alexa investigating and it was often he who asked her to in the first place. Because of this there was no character drama and Alexa was just free to do as she pleased. The cases themselves were still interesting but I just feel like sometimes there wasn’t enough conflict or drama, it was all just very easy.

As I stated above, the earlier episodes had murders that just seemed so obvious, the first two or three episodes had Alexa identify a target and then no one else was even in the frame. The later episodes got a bit better at expanding the suspect pool but even then it was only between 2 or 3 people. I get that in TV shows, the producers can’t always hire massive casts but a large part of the crime genre is having a large number of suspects, not just knowing who the killer is straight away.

Despite some of my complaints about the plot, I did really come to love the show’s characters. Alexa was a great protagonist and detective and I just found her so likeable. Although she was often pushed into investigating by Kieran, it was clear she loved doing it and wasn’t ready to give it up. Her investigation methods were often abrasive or unusual and I really loved watching her solve each week’s murder. Alongside Alexa every step of the way was Madison (whether Alexa liked it or not), another character who I loved. The pair made a great team and I loved their relationship, Madison was perhaps the complete oppisite to Alexa- clingy, upbeat, a technical whizz- and I loved the banter between them as they worked to solve each case.

As a bonus I also watched the show’s animated spin off- My Name is Captain Thunderbolt (Sometimes). The short series sees Alexa’s cat investigating his new home and deciding whether he should stay or not. I thought the spin off was a nice touch, it’s not something you always see with a TV series and basically anything with cats in I will watch. I also enjoyed the film noir, old timey detective style to the spin off, it was all very fun.

Although off to a slow start, I eventually came to really enjoy My Life is Murder. Sometimes the cases were a bit obvious or easy but overall I really loved the characters and liked being able to sit back and enjoy watching. With the renewal status of the show still up in the air (at least to my knowledge anyway?) I would definitely love to see more of Alexa and the team- 10 episodes just wasn’t enough. An overall fun and light hearted murder series, My Life is Murder was an enjoyable watch.

Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears, A Review

An epic movie mystery.

Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears sees Miss Fisher (Essie Davis) stumble across an international mystery beginning in Jeruselum whilst on the hunt for a missing girl. After finding the missing girl- Shirin (Izabella Yena)– she tells Miss Fisher of how her entire tribe was massacred, but then covered up as death by sand storm.

Her investigation then leads her to the UK where she reunites with Detective Jack Robinson (Nathan Page), who was led to believe that Phryne had died. The pair team up for another case beginning with them meeting a contact of Shirin’s who had promised her information. Said contact is then murdered but not before he can give Phryne an ancient emerald that Shirin confirms belonged to her mother. Phryne and Jack learn that the emerald links back to an ancient Egyptian tomb that is seemingly cursed. The pair brush off the curse but then more people are murdered all in connection with the case. Is the curse real or is someome simply using it as a cover for murder? One way or another it’s up to Phryne and Jack to work it out.

First of all I just loved seeing these characters again and was just so glad we as a fanbase got more Miss Fisher content. It’s only been around 5 months since I finished binging Miss Fisher but I already missed her so much. So to see Phryne and Jack return (plus cameo appearances from Hugh (Hugo Johnstone-Burt) and Dot (Ashleigh Cummings))- it was like a dream come true. Obviously we got more Fisher content in the spin off Ms Fisher Modern but it was great to see the original characters again in another fun filled mystery. The show itself had a decent amount of episodes in its three season run, but I thought it was so nice for the actors and writers to return for this sequel movie and I am sure that the fanbase as a whole loved the film just as much as I did.

The mystery itself was an interesting one. What begins as Phryne searching for a missing girl leads to village massacres and murders and ancient curses all in one movie. I liked the progression of the plot and how it got more and more interesting and complex with every step. The Miss Fisher movie really was able to pull of an awesome adventure and mystery for Phryne to solve and really I’d expect nothing less.

I liked the international aspect of the film and loved seeing Miss Fisher fly to so many different countries. There was always a variety in location in the original series but here it’s on a much larger scale. Primarily set in England and Egypt these locations callback to the classic Agatha Christie type mysteries and I liked the Egyptian legend behind the mystery.

Overall I enjoyed this film and was just glad to be able to see Miss Fisher again. The mystery itself and the international aspect was fun and just a classic Miss Fisher mystery. I’m so glad the cast and crew were able to reunite for this film and would love to see more- the film definitely left an opening for a sequel.

Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, A Review

Half siblings, whole family.

Everything’s Gonna Be Okay follows Nicholas (Josh Thomas), whose entire life is turned upside down when his Father dies, leaving him the legal guardian of his two sisters- Matilda (Kayla Cromer) and Genevieve (Maeve Press). Now, like it or not Nicholas is in charge of two teenage girls- and he has no idea what he’s doing. But with the help of boyfriend Alex (Adam Faison) he might just be able to pull this off and be there when his sister’s need him most. None of them expected this but together they’ll be able to hilariously pull through and become the family no one expected.

I was a massive fan of Please Like Me back when it was on, so I was thrilled to hear that Thomas would be writing another TV series. Thomas has a very authentic kind of humour, I find his characters are always so realistically funny and he does a great job at showcasing real life friendship and family dynamics. You can always really feel the bonds between his characters and as a result the humour is a lot more realistic and therefore a lot more effective.

Thomas’ character’s themselves are also always fun to watch. Regarding Josh from Please Like Me and Nicholas here, Thomas always plays characters that you wouldn’t want to be friends with but at the same time you really would. Here, Nicholas in somewhat childish and immature but at the same time funny and cool. He isn’t the best boyfriend of brother/guardian but just to have him in your life would just make it so much funnier.

The other characters were just as brilliant and I really enjoyed the relationships between them all. I particularly liked the very realistic representation of teenage girls and the high school dynamic. Genevieve’s two friends Barb (Lori Mae Hernandez) and Tellulah (Ivy Wolk) were hilarious and Tellulah especially was a very modern day kind of mean girl- she really was something else.

I liked how Everything’s Gonna Be Okay, as well as being funny tackled some pretty serious issues. In Matilda’s character especially, the series showed a character living with autism and explored issues surrounding sexuality and consent. Even when looking into these issues the show remained hilarious by showing the complexity of these issues and Nicholas’ struggle with how to handle them. I always love a comedy series that can also delve into some serious subjects (Mom, Crazy Ex Girlfriend, etc) and Everything’s Gonna Be Okay does a really good job at it.

Overall I really enjoyed Everything’s Gonna Be Okay and I just love Thomas’ brand of humour. I liked how the series balanced the comedy and the difficult issues and enjoyed the relationship between the characters. An overall funny and at times heartwarming watch- I’d love to see more.

Secret Bridesmaids’ Business, A Review

Bridal duties are the last thing on their minds.

From Supergirl to Slasher I am the biggest fan of Katie McGrath and try to watch anything that she is in as much as I can. Secret Bridesmaid’s Business not only had McGrath in but also the actress who played Elsa in Once Upon a Time and as well as a great cast also looked like an intriuging watch.

The series follows three best friends- Olivia (Georgina Haig) a cancer survivor and owner of a winery, Melanie (Abbie Cornish) a mother of two and a hairdresser and finally Saskia (McGrath) a bisexual high powered lawyer. The story begins with Olivia’s three year “cancer-versary” where the three meet up to celebrate, unknown to Olivia however the two lead her to her boyfriend Alex (Oliver Ackland) who proposes. Little to do the trio know however that events leading up to the wedding set off a deadly chain reaction that blows open a hidden world of secrets, leaving each in serious danger.

Although centering around Olivia’s wedding, the trouble really begins when Melanie starts cheating on her husband Michael (Dan Spielman) with real estate agent Jakob (Alexander England). The pair enjoy their ellicit affair but after her husband and daughters return from a holiday Melanie realises what a mistake she has made and breaks it off with Jakob.

Jakob however refuses to take no for an answer and begins relentlessly stalking Melanie and even “befriending” and employing Michael so she cannot escape him. Melanie’s attempts to get rid of Jakob by digging into his past eventually turn her into a stalker and put her and her friend’s lifes into even more danger. In letting Jakob into her life, Melanie has unwittingly set off events that will change her life forever- and not in a good way.

Olivia is initially excited for her wedding but Saskia later discovers that Alex has previously cheated on Olivia with her cancer nurse. This devestates Olivia and she calls off the wedding, despite Alex’s pleas to take him back. Olivia then struggles with whether to get back together with Alex or not because she still does love him. Melanie’s stalker Jakob however also manages to worm his way into Olivia’s life- putting her in danger also. Olivia’s big day is just around the corner, but just who is she marrying and will she even get to say I Do?

Rounding up the trio is Saskia who is having her own troubles at work, in attempting to cover up her $200,000 embezzlement. With her and Alex battling it out for firm partner Saskia cannot risk her indiscretions comimg to light. But what is she willing to do to hide her crimes?

The series was like the perfect combination of Big Little Lies and You and I absolutely loved watching. The flash forward scenes leading up to the wedding foreshadowed something terrible, hinting at a possible death, and kept me intriuged to see how events would play out. Jakob’s stalking of Melanie was also very reminiscent of Netflix’s You but perhaps even more terrifying because she was well aware of what he was doing, but could do very little about it. The series perfectly mixed the lead up to the big day with the intensity of the stalking and the whole thing just kept me on edge and completely glued to the screen.

Secret Bridesmaid’s Business was an incredibly tense watch and after finishing the series I felt like I could finally breathe normally again. Watching Jakob’s stalking and increasingly eratic behaviour towards the trio was at times terrifying and as the series progressed I became so scared for these characters. The series just got tenser and tenser and particularly in the second I struggled with needing a break from the non stop tension but also needing to know what was going to happen next. Honestly I think in that last episode my heart was coming out of my chest, I was completely hooked.

I loved the characters in the series and thought that the main trio plus England as Jakob all gave incredible performances. I know I came for Katie- who as always was incredible and so fabulous as Saskia- but in the end I stayed for not just the intense storyline but the other characters- particularly Melanie.

Melanie made such an interesting lead character, it is her actions that set off the whole series and Jakob’s obsession with her that drives the plot forward. Seeing herself as less succesful than Olivia and Saskia I think Melanie wanted to feel special through the affair and that is exactly what Jakob preyed upon. Realising the danger she was in however, Melanie reached out to Jakob’s former victims and worked to take him down. She came across as a very likeable and powerful character and I loved watching her journey.

England also gave a frankly terrifying performance as Jakob and any time he was on screen I was tense, a fantastic job. Haig was also very likeable as Olivia and honestly I enjoyed watching her scenes as well.

Overall Secret Bridesmaid’s Business was a mindblowing and intriuging watch that got progressively tenser and tenser to the point where I was holding my breath in anticipation. The three leads plus England as Jakob all gave fantastic performances and I feel like now that it’s finally over I can breathe normally again.