Reviews

Richard Signy directs Hidden Secrets, the second episode from season four of Death in Paradise. By now, Kris "Love, Actually" Marshall has more than settled into his role as DI Goodman, and anyway this episode guests stars Claire Goose as Katie Peters. Goose later starred in The Coroner, which sadly got axed after only two seasons, which is a shame because it was a high quality program, like Death in Paradise. Anyway, who would have thought that there would be a spin-off series from Death in Paradise starring Marshall, and we did, with Beyond Paradise init. Anyway, Hidden Secrets is worth watching.

This is a landmark episode because it guest stars Don Gilet as Andre Morgan. Only just recently, Gilet became the new DI Mervin Wilson, replacing Ralf Little who decided to move on.

I know there's been a bit of internet chatter from die-hard fans expressing discontent about Gilet becoming the new DI because Gilet had already played a different character in a past episode of Death in Paradise, being this episode. But funnily enough no-one expressed discontent when Ralf Little became the new DI even though he had played a different character in an earlier episode. Funny that init. You must wonder why there's that discontent about Gilet's casting init.

There's been a bit of online chatter of late expressing discontent about Don Gilet becoming the new DI following the departure of Ralf Little. Why you may ask, well these chatters disapprove of the fact that Gilet had already played a different character in a past episode of Death in Paradise. But funnily enough no-one expressed discontent when Ralf Little became the new DI even though he had played a different character in an earlier episode. And it's this episode. In this episode Ralf Little played Will Teague. This episode also stars Neil "Between the Lines" Pearson. Anyway, A Dash of Sunshine is worth watching init.

Joseph Marcell, famous for playing Geoffrey in Fresh Prince of Bel Air (the original one) guest stars. Believe it or not, Jimmy Akingbola guest stars, and a few years later he played Geoffrey in Bel-Air, which is like a reboot of Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Anyway, the title of this episode is drawn from the James Bond movie from the 1960s (the one with Sean Connery. Anyway, I've been reflecting on Death in Paradise since it debuted over a decade ago. There's so much I look forward to in each episode, the sun, the rapport between the Scooby gang, the laid-back atmosphere init. Anyway, DI Goodman is settling in well.

Robert Quinn directs The Early Bird, from season three of Death in Paradise. I've been a fan of Death in Paradise since it debuted over a decade ago, and sure, you have to suspend your disbelief sometimes, but so what, you have to enjoy Death in Paradise for what it is init. Here it's birdwatchers who are caught up in the death of one of their team, and it gets quite heated and competitive when it comes to spotting the prized bird. I guess it comes down to a matter of trust because can you really know if the birdwatcher really saw the bird. Anyway, DI Humphrey Goodman is settling in well in Saint Marie.

I've been a big fan of Death in Paradise since it debuted over a decade ago, and I don't think I've missed an episode, but I really liked the political intrigue of this third season episode, as it's an important issue in real life. Anyway, Haydn Gwynne, famous for her role in Drop the Dead Donkey, guest stars, alongside Simon Shepherd, who plays Jacob Doran, a minister who is the victim in this episode. Anyway, I wonder if the Saint Marie government, rocked by a whiff of scandal, could have fallen like the Profumo Affair brought down the Conservative Government back in the 1960s. Kris Marshall, who I first saw in Love, Actually and then in Citizen Kahn, is settling in well as DI Humphrey Goodman.

International country superstar Walker Hayes commissions Buddy to bake a Dukes of Hazzard style cake for Hayes and his family. I'm not sure if Walker Hayes is related to the legendary Isaac Hayes, but still, it's always informative and entertaining to see Buddy and his dedicated family dedicating themselves to the task, and we see two of his children developing savory dishes for the public, as Buddy is thinking of introducing savory dishes to the public. Anyway, A Country Cake is worth watching, and I'm enjoying watching Buddy Valastro's Cake Dynasty, and I hope it can continue to season two init.

As one imdb user reviewer said, The Good Ship Murder is what it is, and I think if you're entertained by the unbelievable and statistically impossible murder investigations of amateur sleuth Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote, then surely you can enjoy The Good Ship Murder. I know that Gogglebox UK trashed the opening episode, especially where Jack sings Daydream Believer, but The Good Ship Murder isn't supposed to be one of those gritty noirish crime dramas set in the untouristy parts of London or anywhere in Scandinavia. But enjoy The Good Ship Murder for what it is, fun, sun and romantic tension between the two leads.

One curious aspect of the 1980s is just how many movies (usually from America) that were released about the War in Vietnam (otherwise known in Vietnam as the American War), such as Born on the Fourth of July, Hamburger Hill, Apocalypse Now, Platoon, Full Metal Jacket (filmed in the United Kingdom though). Anyway, here we have Paul Hardcastle, also British, with his release of 19, about the average of American soldiers in the war (although I'm sure the generals were older than 19 init). Anyway, one year before 19 was released, the Australian bang Redgum released I Was Only 19, which had more of a ballad feel.

Dusan Lazarevic directed this third season episode Ye of Little Faith, and I'm enjoying reflecting on Death in Paradise, having been a fan since it debuted over a decade ago. In fact, it's interesting seeing Kris Marshall settling into his role as the new DI, Humphrey Goodman, following the unexpected and tragic loss of DI Richard Poole. Anyway, here we learn that Saint Marie Airport is large enough to handle the airlines that fly in, but we have to suspend disbelief, and that's fine. Anyway, it's good to see that Marshall ended up with his own spin-off series, Beyond Paradise which is enjoyable to watch.

Wham!'s Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go was released 40 years ago, wow four decades ago, an it's a timeless song. Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go is so energetic, it's full of fun, it's inspirational especially for those wanting to exercise and lose a few lbs along the way init. Anyway, George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley dominated the pop charts in the 1980s, and Wham! Lives on to this day and will continue to do so. Helen DeMacque and Shirlie Kemp also feature in this energetic and inspirational video, and to this day Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go is playing in my head such is the power of the song init.

I'm enjoying Buddy Valastro's Cake Dynasty, and here in episode two, Secretariat of Cake, there's a lot going on everything, everywhere all at once. Buddy's been commissioned to do a Secretariat cake for the Belmont Mother's Day lunch, the staff are working overtime getting the Mother's Day cake orders out, and quite significantly, Buddy is an actor in Lifetime's Christmas movie Yes, Chef! Christmas and he was filming scenes at his factory. The movie starred Tia Mowry, but it wasn't necessary for her to be present at the filming. Anyway, I like Buddy's interaction with his family and staff who work under extreme pressure.

Steven Cole plays an "escort" (or gigolo to put it more bluntly) Carlton Paris, who is the victim in this episode, An Artistic Murder. Anyway, I've been reflecting on Death in Paradise recently, as I became a fan when it debuted over a decade ago with Ben Miller stamped his persona as the DI Richard Poole, against whom all future DIs would be measured against whether you like it or not init. Anyway, I would love to have learned more about the social lives of Humphrey Goodman's team, like what were their hobbies, did they enjoy being indoors or outdoors. Still, An Artistic Murder is worth watching.

I became a fan of Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place (although with the Oxford comma it would be Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place) in the first season because of the presence of Julius Carry as Bill and David Odgen Stiers as the eccentric Mr Bauer. Sadly, this episode, the season two opener, no longer has the two characters and unfortunately there's no explanation for their absence (although you see in the background of the pizza place a character who looks like Bill managing the place albeit with no speaking lines). Anyway, Ryan Reynolds has gone onto bigger things by being a co-owner of a British soccer club.

I've enjoyed watching Death in Paradise since it debuted over a decade ago, and I've been reflecting on the early episodes and reflecting on the line of DIs who have graced Saint Marie. Anyway, here Humphrey Goodman is settling in as the new DI following the untimely and unexpected death of Richard Poole (Ben Miller) in the previous episode. Peter Davison, who I remember from his role as a general practitioner in A Very Peculiar Practice, guest stars as a screenwriter who endures a lot of grief from the actors who think they know better. Anyway, an enjoyable episode which debuted a decade ago.

I still remember how captivated I was by I Try when it was released all those years ago, in 1999, so that's a quarter-of-a-century ago init, and the song, performed by Macy Gray, endures for sure. I Try was composed by Macy Gray, Jeremy Ruzumna, Jinsoo Lim and David Wilder, with Macy Gray as the lyricist. Anyway, the video takes us through New York City, and I would have loved to have seen the behind-the-scenes of this video that has a surreal feel to it, being filed as we approached the millennium. Anyway, do yourself a favor and make sure to watch the video for I Try because it means so much.

When I watched the Inside No. 9 episode 3 by 3, I thought you know what, the 3 by 3 quiz show is so convincing with Lee Mack even though he's playing a host of a fictional quiz show. Anyway, here Lee Mack hosts The 1% Club, and I'm actually quite enjoying it trying to answer the questions and all init. Patton Oswalt is the host of the 1% Club here, but maybe Patton and Lee can swap spots, with Lee hosting here and Patton hosting in England.

Probably I get a bit mixed up by the passes and money going back into the pot and all, but I guess for me it's just trying to answer the questions all the way to the end init.

I'm motivated to post an imdb user review for this Hot Chocolate classic hit after watching the song being performed in the British cozy murder mystery, The Good Ship Murder. Every 1's a Winner was performed by Jack Grayling (played by Shayne Ward) in the episode At Sea at the end of the episode. This song was apt in a way because the episode was about a very high-stakes poker match where lots of shenanigans occur and Jack, who used to be a police officer, had to solve the murder where you had a winner and some sore losers init. Anyway, it's hard to believe Every 1's a Winner was released nearly 50 years ago.

The Brady Bunch Variety Hour is what it is, kind of like the much-maligned Star Wars Christmas special, but it's what the Brady fans supposedly wanted after The Brady Bunch was unceremoniously axed after five seasons. I remember seeing the first two or so episodes, and being a youngster at the time, I lapped it up, although there was no internet for me to find out why Jan Brady didn't look like Eve Plumb, but anyway I learned that Kathy Hilton almost ended up winning the part. Anyway, maybe Friends can have a Friends Variety Hour to give a nod to the effort of The Brady Bunch to keep fans entertained.

I'm very much enjoying catching up with Poirot, especially the early seasons, and these are the ones I like where you have the whole Scooby gang (Poirot, Japp, Hastings, Lemon) intact, unlike the later seasons where Japp, Hastings and Lemon were discarded until sanity prevailed and they returned for the final season. Anyway, here Benedict Farley, a pie king, is very unsettled because he things someone is going to bump him off, and guess what, it happens init. So Poirot has to solve the murder with the help of the Scooby gang. Anyway, I feel for Miss Lemon, who had to use a defective typewriter.

I became a fan of Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place (although with the Oxford comma it would be Two Guys, a Girl, and a Pizza Place) in the first season because of the presence of Julius Carry as Bill and David Odgen Stiers as Mr Bauer. Sadly, this episode, the season one finale, was the final appearance of Carry an Odgen Stiers and their respective characters (although in season two you see in the background of the pizza place a character who looks like Bill managing the place albeit with no speaking lines). Anyway, I did watch some episodes of season back back then in the hope the two actors would return, but sadly not to be. Anyway, Ryan Reynolds has gone onto bigger things by being a co-owner of a British soccer club.

Despite the cruelly unjustified drubbing that Gogglebox UK gave to the first episode of The Good Ship Murder (particularly the scene where Jack sings Daydream Believer at the end), I'm actually enjoying watching The Good Ship Murder (which is filed on the MSC Virtuosa). I know this sounds unfashionable to say, but in this crazy, cynical and chaotic world I really don't want to wind down in the front of the TV watching some Scandinavian noirish crime drama that takes grittiness to the next level. Anyway, At Sea features a very high stakes poker match, and it's exclusive, with it being closed off to the regular passengers. So all the action takes place on board the ship. We get more progress on the Jack and Kate relationship, but we'll see how that unfolds.

The Police's Roxanne was used to sublime effect in the Community episode Remedial Chaos Theory over 30 years later after its release. The video is memorable, and it's great to see the song used over 30 years later for such a memorable episode, and which introduced The Police to a new generation of fans, who could easily relate Roxanne to pop culture. The line "put on the red light" means so much in a number of ways, and was sung to great effect in Remedial Chaos Theory. The use of Roxanne took up much of the budget for this episode, but thankfully Dan Harmon stuck with it to give Roxanne that place in Community history.

Version 2 of Kate Bush's Wuthering Heights is very iconic, but let's not forget version 1 which is filmed in a studio, with Kate Bush delightfully entertaining us wearing a white dress rather than a red one that was in version 2. Maybe that's to illustrate a contrast in style perhaps. It's hard to believe Wuthering Heights was released 46 years ago, and it's timeless and lives on from one generation to the next. Anyway, I became a fan of the song soon after it was released, with "bad dreams in the night" being part of the lexicon for those wondering about Heathcliff and everything surrounding that init.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jim Gaffigan guest star in this season four opener of one of the best animated series from the 1990s, and maybe one of the best ever in my humble opinion. Anyway, Louis-Dreyfuss is the only lead member of the Seinfeld cast to appear in Dr Katz, Professional Therapist and her character consults with Dr Katz via the phone. Interestingly, in the previous episode, one of the guests was Lisa Kudrow, who was the only lead member of the Seinfeld cast to appear in Dr Katz, and her character consults with Dr Katz via the phone.

Anyway, Ben's instant scratch ticket win was hilarious, and we see Laura laughing at the dinner.