October in Review: TV

Ghosts 

BBC - Series 5 

We return to Button House for the final series Ghosts. What hijinks will the ghosts get up to this time, and will we get the send-off they deserve? 

Five series later and, my love for Ghosts hasn't changed. Although the series had some lulls, it was still a massive joy to watch. Especially in episode 4, En Francais, Ronin's and Humphrey's storyline is so poignant and heartwarming whilst also being hugely amusing. That delicate strike between sincerity and wit has always been Ghost's biggest strength and joy. Laurance Rickard, who plays both Robin and Humphrey, is the unsung hero of the show, and his mastery of characterisation is on full show in En Francais. I'm in awe of that man. 

Knowing this was the final series, you watch with a different mindset, and I hoped for a cathartic watch, but the plotting of this final series felt slightly clunky, with the penultimate episode feeling like a better finale than the finale strangely. But, recently, it was announced that there would be a Christmas special to round things off, and then it all made sense, so roll on Christmas!!   

Brassic

Sky - Series 5 

After Dylan was kidnapped at the end of the last series the gang are despite to find him. But whilst hanging up missing posters, they have the McDonnas to deal with and other hair-brained schemes brewing. 

Whilst Brassic always delivers the laughs, and series five is no different, this series did feel like it had more of a dramatic slant to the plot. Amongst the pony stealing, pier heists, saving rabbits from crocodiles, getting a stolen coffin off a manic ventriloquist and escapades in the sexmobile, the show also deals with some heavier plot points. Erin is dealing with the grief of her father's death, Vinnie is struggling to cope without Dylan and has started going to therapy, and the two are struggling with their relationship. JJ is sent to prison after he is caught with a large amount of cocaine in his possession, which he started dealing because he felt like he couldn't provide for his unborn child, and Sugar is now facing the prospect of being a single mum. This downtick of the humour and characters leaving the show gave this series a somewhat off-balanced feeling. Whether the gang starting to split up is setting the wheels in motion for the final series or some of the actors, felt like they had done all they needed to with the series and felt it was time to leave the project, which then triggered a final series is hard to tell. Nonetheless, series five was still a joy to watch, although it didn't quite have the charm of the previous series, and I look forward to series 6. 

Starstruck 

BBC - Series 3

After their romantic grandstand in the lake at the end of series two, surprisingly, Jessie and Tom are not together at the beginning of series three. The series navigates new and old love and the footfalls that come with all that. 

Rose Matafeo is brilliant at writing heartwarming comedic romance in a way that is so hard to describe, but I know that I can't help myself smiling, and I fall to pieces when Jessie and Liam look into each other's eyes. It's funny, but it's not setting up jokes or seeking laughter from its audience; it observes the humour in everyday interactions, and they feel so authentic that when a joke comes, you can recognise how they set it up without you even realising it. I love shows like this because I wish I could spend hours and hours in these characters' company and watch their lives unfold and wish the series didn't end here, whilst at the same time so thankful the Matafeo showed restraint and gave such an incredible ending to an underrated and beautiful show. 

Boiling Point

BBC - Series 1 

Boiling Point is a 4 part series adapted from the film of the same name. After reeling from the events in the film, the whole crew, with some new additions, are set up in a new restaurant called Point North, run by Carly (Vinette Robinson). A restaurant which celebrates the cuisine of the north of England. Under the stress of a new venture, can Carly keep her crew together and the restaurant from going under? 

It's such a fantastic show. The film was great, but it was screaming to be made into a TV show. All the characters had these complex backstories, which you only got a glimpse into in the film because of its one-shot premise. But they were explored perfectly in the show. Although, I wonder if the creators would have had that chance to make the series if The Bear hadn't been such a big hit. People have been trying to compare the two to figure out which one is better, but there isn't a comparison to be made. I listened to an interview recently with the director, and he put it perfectly that there should be a kitchen drama genre. The Bear and Boiling Point are two shows in the same genre, the same way as Line of Duty and Broadchurch are in the detective genre, but both are equally impressive shows. But, ultimately, the show is an enjoyably stressful watch with such well-drawn characters and is definitely a must-watch. 

Woman in the Wall

BBC - Series 1

Set against the backdrop of the Magdalene Laundries in Northern Ireland, Lorna Brady returns home after sleepwalking into the night to find a dead body in her cupboard. To cover her tracks, she hides the body in her wall cavity, but unbeknownst to Lorna, the woman in her wall is linked to her past. 

Whilst The Woman in the Wall is a murder mystery at its heart, it tackles the real-life stories of the Magdalene Laundries, the women who were victims to them and the children that they lost. Although most true crime stories on television are adapted into docudramas, The Woman in the Wall takes a more fictional approach, and it was refreshing to watch. But amongst the stylised aesthetics and tension of the who done it, the show still managed to create a victim-focused narrative that felt authentic and educated the audience about the atrocities the church committed. It was a clever approach by creator Joe Murtagh; the last Magdalene Laundry was closed in the late 1990s. It is still a relatively recent history and a difficult subject matter for most people, but it is also one of which most people are unaware of. Therefore, using a more stylised approach felt like a stroke of genius to ease people into the conversation about the laundries whilst also being an entertaining watch.