This series is brilliantly and authentically acted to the point of feeling like a voyeur in the lives of Connell and Marianne. I was thoroughly engrossed by the book, and the film follows the book with dedication, until the ending. Although not drastically different, I do wish they had not changed it. The ending in the book would have had just as much impact, without changing the intent of the writer, which this adaptation most certainly did. 4/5

This is one of Paula’s more intense and riveting episodes…the depravity and sheer horror of what this obviously life-affirming and beautiful, young woman went through is beyond reckoning. To dismember the body of someone you live with, and have a baby with, with the baby in the house, and to stuff her remains (torso only, the legs, arms and head have never been found) into a suitcase, and then place it under your child’s car seat whilst you drive it to a dumpster to dispose of it…is pure evil. The tragedy is two families lost their children, forever.

Season One of this Series was by far the best. This season, I’ve basically lost all hope that it isn’t rigged + they’ve now been allowed to bring way too many comforts and equipment to constitute authentic survival. Every time one of them mentions how their ancestors did this very same thing here [in Alaska] I literally role my eyes. Not one of them has any Eskimo heritage. They are (all but one) practicing survival as a “hobby” to reinforce their egos, and one even “chooses poverty during the Summer” and retreats to the comforts of her home when the going gets tough. Do the poverty stricken, and those facing harrowing circumstances in the wild ever choose these things? The remaining contestants (Kielyn Marrone aka “approval seeking screamer girl”; Callie Russell aka “let’s make talking puppets out of dead things”; and Roland Welker aka “I’m a man because I eat the blood of my kill”) as of this episode are at best annoying, and coached to emote. Any viewer can clearly see the repetitive coaching the producers are doing on the subject matter, and the obvious dramatic tactics for ratings boosting at work. The redundancy of what is given focus is a dead give away. Unfortunately, after recently reading several articles that contain statements from previous contestants, the fact is that the outcome is rigged by a popularity consensus in viewership stats. This episode, observing the one contestant that deserved to win “tap-out” (the only participant that was actually learning the value of being a part of — rather than apart from — the natural surroundings) and is gone. Each episode has been more annoying than the last as of this season, due primarily to the aforementioned remaining participants. To top it off, the interview process at the end of each episode Colby Donaldson post talks, with his florescent-white teeth blinding the viewer. It is well and truly the ruination of my loyalty to this show. 1/5 for all the planned theatrical nonsense.

That was the most staged, theatrical play on the expectations of the viewer finale I would never have expected. Any viewer that watched Roland realised what a selfish person he was from the get go. Then he “admits” it via telling the viewer that in “training” for Alone, he refused to go to his mother’s funeral. Jump ahead, and suddenly Roland is admitting to treating his family poorly, his sister shows up and the theatrics begin. I have never in my whole life seen someone so uncomfortable with emotion, touching, or being close. From the looks of it, they did a couple takes of his sister hooting and hollering for joy. The parting shot of Roland shows a man who knows he has a part to play for an audience. This whole winning and coming to terms was unnecessarily over the top and contrived. The voice-overs for this whole season were pure sensationalism, and the “on camera” events were quite obviously staged. Roll back to Seasons 1, 2, 3, and 4 and Alone was quite a different animal. 1/5

Contrary to what an initial glance at the name of this short series might suggest, this is not a search for Bigfoot. “Bigfoot Files” is a scientific analysis (DNA) of the (many) hair samples taken from the United States, Nepal and Russia to discover the actual animal origins. It is surprising in many ways, one of which uncovers that the Yeti has direct DNA to an ancient Polar Bear that was believed to be extinct over 40,000 years ago. It’s an enjoyable watch, if you want to uncover the truth/facts of what has been presented so far as “evidence”.

The writing, direction and acting on this show is the crème de la crème for me. However, this season finale felt very anticlimactic to me (despite being a great episode).

I suppose this is because originally this was to be the last episode and season leading up to the Saul Goodman of Breaking Bad, and now they have another (Season 6) to work with. I am very happy to know there’s another season ahead, but there definitely weren’t any “ah-ha!” moments for me; the writers are showing they know how to create a desire for more in their viewing audience.

“Bay of Silence” is a mystery/love story with thriller elements. Sadly, the pacing of this story is so far off it feels like several films thrown together. Claes Bang, “Will” (from BBC’s re-imaging of Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” 2020) is a strong, and very versatile actor, who is surrounded by a veteran supporting cast (Brian Cox, Alice Krige) as well as Olga Kurylenko as the vulnerable, mysteriously confused “Rosalind”Will’s girlfriend/wife. It turns out Rosalind has been hiding schizophrenia from Will (I’m not sure why it’s a surprise with the medication she takes and her erratic behaviour). Nonetheless, the viewer is asked/forced to believe that Will is blind to this, despite being portrayed as strong, capable, and insightful. This is my main issue with the film, and the pacing flows from the decision to force the viewer to ignore the obvious. It’s not an awful film, but it does no service to the very capable actors or the viewer. 2.5/5 a one time watch for Claes Bang

I was genuinely not impressed by this film. It’s incredibly predictable from its casting to its plot. Above all, do not watch the trailer or you will end up easily surmising what the “mystery” is. Unfortunately, I watched the trailer and my “expectations” were in fact the entire story-line and arc. My biggest issue with the entire film is Lily Collins as the New York County District Attorney. There is absolutely no way to suspend disbelief that someone her age could have accumulated the creditials and experience to hold that title. She is not “A” district attorney; she is “THE” County District Attorney. Schooling alone would have had to have started when she was 5. Whoever wrote that in, and didn’t settle for a lesser career, didn’t think things through logically enough and killed the believability for the primary character. The rest, is also colour by numbers. Simon Pegg is Simon Pegg. He’s become a characterisation of his own various personas that he created [inclusive] from “Shaun of the Dead” to “Paul”. The wig as a touch too far and made his part unintentionally comedic (think “Spinal Tap”). I found myself bored during this film, and very disappointed. It should have been so much better. 2.5/5.

Brilliant episode that pulled out all the stops and delivered a 100% satisfying watch in every zombie, apocalyptic and emotion driven way. At approximately 47:50 the actor is Breeda Wool aka “Lou Linklatter” from Mr. Mercedes. I love to see that they can still write the good stuff to give to such a talented group of actors. This also confirms that Michonne will be in the upcoming films. This is the episode Walking Dead fans have been waiting for. 5/5 for this episode for me.

This Docu-series is truly weirdness personified. The facts are thoroughly obscured and overshadowed by human greed and narcissism. I’ve been to the facility in Oklahoma more than a few years back, prior to it the more seriously delusional public freak show that this Netflix Docu-Series represents. This series clearly isn’t about what is best for these wild, large cat species, no matter which version of the “truth” the viewer ascribes. This series has succeeded in bringing global awareness to the public in terms of the truly horrifying aspects of trafficking exotic animals by an ever growing number of truly vile humans. That includes Carol Baskin and PETA, as well as countless law officials. No one in this story is innocent. The 7 episodes are pretty twisted viewing, with no clear cut facts to derive any one universal truth from. It is an intriguing watch. Overall it’s a 4/5 for me with some individual episodes being more of a 3/5.

I cannot emphasise enough how absolutely mesmerising and different this Series is. With its costumes and authentic attire of the time, to its customs, and (semi) historical facts, it takes a “plague” into a completely different and captivating watch. I binged all 2 seasons over 3 days and now I honestly wish there was more. To me, this is on par with Game of Thrones (prior to season 6). This is NOT just zombies, it is so much more. It is amazing and I would highly recommend it to even those who read other comments about zombies and say they’ve had enough…this one is in a class all of it’s own. 5/5 in every way.

Bahahahaha, wahahahahah, snigger snigger snigger guts, gore and egomaniacal genetically modified, super heroes. The chat up with The Deep’s gills was pure genius. This series is a complete satire on life as we know it. I love it. I thought Season 2 couldn’t possibly be as completely engrossing and original as Season 1 — I am so pleased to be absolutely wrong. This is not for children. I love the gruesome pleasure of even Homelander’s breast milk fetish. Every episode leads to the overwhelmingly intense desire for more, more, MORE. PS - It’s no coincidence “Stormfront” is named thusly (white nationalist, white supremacist, antisemitic, Holocaust-denialist,and neo-Nazi term) proven by her murdering last words to Kimiko’s younger brother Kenji. Highly recommended. 5/5

Yet another example of a corrupt, useless legal system. No proof whatsoever, no DNA, multiple leads and “witnesses” unexplored, a lead detective who has a record of planting false evidence. This makes me sick.