Review: #Broadchurch

Gracepoint starts tonight (Thursdays on Fox at 9 pm) it's not exactly a remake of Broadchurch, but it really is. According to the people in charge, it's very, very similar but 2 episodes longer and with a different ending. We'll see. (Plus David Tennant's American accent. Hmm, weird.)

So if you're planning on watching Gracepoint and haven't seen Broadchurch yet, what are you waiting for??

What can I say about Broadchurch? You need to watch it yourself. It's only 8 episodes long and trust me, once you start you won't stop. You can't, really. I'm pretty good at figuring out the whodunit, but this one? Shocked me.

I do suggest putting the volume up if you're not used to hearing UK accents that aren't Colin Firth's, but this small town murder mystery has such real and authentic people you easily and quickly get used to it. As with all small towns, people know everything about you--except all those secrets you hid when you came to the small town to begin with.

Is it a typical small town? Are the residents of Broadchurch also typical? Of course, that isn't the point. the scenery is gorgeous but the people are what make this so remarkable. They're deeply flawed and in only 8 episodes I learned so much about them even as I tried to figure out who the murderer was.

My understanding is that season 2 is on the way. I can't wait!

5 stars.

Review #SleepyHollow season 1

Yes. It is that good. It's better than that good. And if you're not watching it you need to. That, and you need to follow Orlando Jones on Twitter during the actual episodes-that man is funny!

Based on The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the show took it to the next level. Sure, the Johnny Depp movie wasn't bad, but this is just wow.

Ichabod Crane is totally lickable. Go on, look at his photo. Don't lick your computer screen, it's okay. I understand. And that British accent. Yum. Plus, the Ichabod wit on finding himself in the 21st century and his observations on (our) everyday activities is awesome.

"What's insane is a 10% levy on baked goods! You do realize the Revolutionary War began on less than 2%! How is the public not flocking to the streets in outrage? We must do something." Just one of many adorable and hysterical Ichabod quotes from the show. And that scene where he learns how to use a shower? Yes, as funny as you're now imagining.

But there is actually a plot, and much deeper than the wit and witticism of 21st century Ichabod Crane.

Thanks to his Wicca wife, he comes back from a Revolutionary War death in modern day. Katrina, his wife, is not only beautiful, but she has mad chemistry with Ichabod. I love their love story and I love what she's sacrificed to stop evil from permeating the new America.

Abby Mills, Sleepy Hollow cop, is absolutely  great. SHe's smart, tough, and an equal to Ichabod's character. She doesn't make silly "girlly" mistakes  but can own up when she is mistaken, the hallmark of a fascinating character. To use a well known quote, I think it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

All in all, if you haven't watched season 1, sadly only 13 episodes, you need to. This weekend. All at once because once you start you won't want to stop. If you like history, wrapped in a contemporary, with a heavy dose of the paranormal, then Sleepy Hollow is your thing.

5 stars all the way

Review @HouseofCards season 2

Just when you thought it was safe to go back to DC! Not if you're an opponent of Frank Underwood! This season he has his sights set on a very lofty goal and takes it to the next level.If you thought it was charmingly ruthless in season 1, forget it. Season 1 Frank was an amateur compared to season 2 Frank.

There are moments in season 2 where you're shocked, deliciously appalled, or erotically intrigued.

I give this season 5 stars as well and waiting for season 3 with bated breath!

Review @HouseofCards season 1

This is about the Netflix show, not the 90s British show of the same name and theme.

I didn't see the British version, only the Kevin Spacy version, but I was blown away in the first 3 minutes. Francis "Frank" Underwood  is a master political manipulator, the Democratic Majority Whip. Actually he's a master manipulator. Period.

We begin with the election of a new president, very clearly with Frank's help; Frank even helped the President's Chief of Staff get appointed. Frank expects to be appointed Secretary of State as his reward for all his help to the new president. The president has other plans. At the ninth hour, before Frank believes his appointment is to be announced, Frank learns the president needs him in congress and won't be extending the Secretary of State chair appointment to him.

This is important to the rest of the season and into season 2. Actually, these are the events that drive the entirety of House of Cards. Frank wants revenge for being slighted. He doesn't take kindly to broken promises. But when Frank gets even, it's a blood sport.

House of Cards is a smart, tight, gripping political thriller that takes you on a ride with twists and turns you'd never expect. Just when you think all is lost, Frank Underwood, or as the cufflinks that are gifted to him by a trusted Secret Service agent show, FU pulls not just a rabbit, but an elephant out of his hat.

5 stars. Definitely.

Review #NCIS season 11

I've made it no secret I'm a fan of NCIS. But this year I was very disappointed, and yes heartbroken, that Ziva (Cote de Pablo) left the show. Her exit episodes left much to be desired, they barely revolved around her character, but I did enjoy her kiss with Tony. That, and the fact they did not kill off her character.

The first several episodes showed a couple temporary agents. Of those, the only memorable ones were Vera and Coast Guard agent, Abigail Borin. Either one would've been a fine addition to the cast.

Overall, this season I found extremely uneven. Extremely. Only a handful of episodes were cohesive and actually stood out.

I could say a lot about the additional of Agent Bishop, and how I consider her a Mary Sue character, but I'll simply say: It's my opinion that the Bishop character doesn't fit the dynamic already established between the cast and characters.

Though this once was my favorite show, I give this season only 2.5 stars. I hope they find a better footing next season.

Review #Longmire season 2

Season 2 picks up right where season 1 left off. I enjoyed that right off, because it meant that the cliffs from the first season hadn't been ignored, stretched to fit the break, or neatly tied up off screen. Also, the subplots from the first season grew, they're more elaborate and intriguing.

Characters now intermingle that from season 1, I didn't expect to intermingle and with quite interesting results! It's hard to write this without any spoilers, but let me say this: For me, season 2 was even better than season 1. The stories were tighter and since I was already familiar with the characters, everything had a deeper, more intriguing twist.

There's just so much going on, and while season 2 had 13 instead of 10 episodes, I really wanted it to keep going. But on the other hand, I enjoyed the shortened season because it didn't have those filler episodes, all the episodes were cohesive to the entire season and characters' arc.

Make sure you don't miss an episode, it all overlaps to create a compelling show that really is can't miss!

Longmire is based on a series of contemporary western mysteries by Craig Johnson. Season 3 starts this past Monday, June 3, at 10p.m. EST on A and E.

Review #Longmire season 1

Longmire is not your average crime of the week drama. There's nothing average about it! It doesn't take place in a big city, but in the off the beaten track (fictional) Wyoming county, Absaroka (pronounced ab-suh-ro-ka).

Not only does Longmire give us a glimpse of small town life that could almost hark back to the 1800s, except with cell phones and except for Walt Longmire who refuses to use one, but it also shows us that if you live in a remote town in Wyoming or the heart of Manhattan, bad guys are everywhere.

Longmire offers interesting and unique characters far from the ordinary fare. Longmire himself is a leathery old-town sheriff set in his ways, but he has incredible depth, insight, and compassion with his work. Flawed and very human, he is.

Two of his deputies, Branch and Vic, are opposites but bring their own unique perspectives to the show. Vic is a transplanted Philadelphia cop who does not want to be in Wyoming, but the gas company her husband works for transferred him. Branch is the rich local boy turned sheriff's deputy still looking for his own path.

Season 1 is full of mysteries and what I loved most about this is other than the mystery-of-the-week, there's an ongoing one involving Walt's dead wife. Walt's best friend, Henry Standing Bear, has his own secrets about the wife's death, but since season 1 is only 10 episodes, not much is revealed.

I loved that about Longmire, because they didn't drag out this mystery, but the clues kept me coming back for more. Other than the deputies, the secondary cast is outstanding. Everyone has their own quirks, their own lives, their own flaws. It makes for a very believable world and very believable stories.

I highly recommend Longmire season 1.

Longmire is based on a series of contemporary western mysteries by Craig Johnson. Season 3 starts Monday June 3 at 10p.m. EST on A&E.