10 Must See TV show's from Mr KNIGHT

So readers, some people I discussed my top ten TV show list were disgusted by some of their favourites being left out. Well here are ten must see's. They aren't in my top ten, but some were extremely close and can't be missed! Enjoy. 

FARGO
Based on a movie, season one of Fargo, set in freezing Minnesota, follows The Hobbit’s Martin Freeman as Lester Nygard, a snivelling little man who sells insurance… poorly. Lester crosses paths with gun for hire Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) who, with a little murder, helps change Lesters perspective, and life! A funny, sarcastic, dry, story set in a freezing town with a small Police office stepping up to find the truth in what seems like murder after murder.

Penny Dreadful
Prior to this masterful show, I thought Eva Green was sexy. Then she showed me what possessed by a demon Eva Green looks like. Scary Eyes! Along with Timothy Dalton and Josh Hartnett, set in early 1900s London, Penny Dreadful delivers vampires, werewolves, demons, witches, and Frankenstein’s monster along with others, all cleverly woven together. The monsters in this show are creepy and a must see for fans of the darker side of fiction.

 

The Knick
In the early part of the twentieth century, modern medicine is taking leaps and bounds into exciting and unknown territory. In New York at the Knickerbocker Hospital, one surgeon is taking the western world by storm. Clive Owen’s Doctor Thackery. But what gives Doctor Thackery all his energy to support his brilliance. Treat yourself to the show and find out! Season Two has just started!

Ballers
HBO’s new hit starring Dwayne Johnson as retired Miami Dolphins NFL star Spencer Strasmore. Strasmore, now working in finance, uses his connections with big time ball players to secure contracts. Ballers is like a sporting version of Entourage. It has money, girls, sports cars and a lifestyle many people watching will envy. Its not just football. Its deals, highs and lows and all the things you can enjoy about a show. Since Fast and the Furious the Rock just keeps delivering!

Better Call Saul
Spin off series from Breaking Bad, created by the same maker, Vince Gilligan, Better Call Saul features Bob Odenkirk as Saul Goodman, Albuquerque’s dodgiest lawyer. The story jumps from post Breaking Bad but it mostly brings about Saul’s beginning and how he got to where he was when meeting Walter White. Although it doesn’t have the action of Breaking Bad, it still kept my interest and I found myself really rooting for him.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine
The best comedy on television right now is Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Following the detectives of New York’s Nine-Nine precinct, Jake Peralta, a highly immature but brilliant detective, takes you on adventure after adventure, along with in-office pranks and other antics with his well-cast work mates. From the dry Captain Raymond Holt, the food blogging best friend Charles, the dance crazy receptionist Gina, to the incredibly angry Rosa, Brooklyn Nine-Nine will grow on you and bring the laughs. It delivers a simple message, “Don’t take things too seriously.”

The Walking Dead
Wake up in a hospital to find the world has gone to poop and a majority of your town has their skin falling off and an insatiable hunger for your insides. Poor Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln). One thing is for sure. Rick goes from reasonable to brutal from season one to five and that’s what it takes to survive. With some of the best make up and special effects in any TV show, it makes The Walking Dead a quality series. However if they don’t find a cure soon, I don’t know how many more seasons I can watch them walking around for!

The Wire
Along with The Sopranos, The Wire started quality TV, released in 2002 for five seasons, this brilliant cop v street drugs drama was a one of a kind. With well known movie and TV stars throughout including big names like Idris Elba and current star Michael B. Jordan, the show is brimming with quality. A series coming from all directions, including not just the police, but the mayor's office, drug dealers and even the homeless, gives viewers a greater perspective and insight to all facets of the street. Treat yourself.

Person of Interest
Probably in a similar category as shows like NCIS, Castle, or the Mentalist, Person of Interest isn't quite the quality of lets say Breaking Bad, but it is definitely one of the most enjoyable of its kind. A retired CIA spy, Jim Caviezel, teams up with a rich IT genius, using a high tech machine to identify people in danger, and saving their lives. The show starts out with a humble story line and slowly over the seasons evolves into a major international conspiracy with the dangers of the machine falling into the wrong hands. A good action, spy, thriller.

Homeland
Like Eva Green, Clare Danes showed me through her brilliant acting, her crazy eyes. I can't look at her the same. Homeland follows CIA anti-terror workers and the return of a captured American soldier Nicholas Brody from captivity in the middle east. On Brody's return it is noted of his change in behaviour and suspicions of where his allegiance truly lies is put to question. Now in its fifth season Homeland is interesting to anyone who is concerned about todays world and the fear of terrorists.

Movie Review: Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2

Action/Adventure

Rated – M – violence

Duration – 137mins

Release – November 2015

Director – Francis Lawrence

Cast – Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth, Donald Sutherland, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Woody Harrelson


Mr Knight

I’m sad to say this will be the most negative review I will have and ever have written. One thing I can say for the Hunger Games saga is that they should have stopped making them after the first two. Mockingjay - Part One was in one word… Painful. Mockingjay - Part Two was no exception. The one thing it did overcome compared to its predecessor is that this part has much more action than the boring first.

Many things made me roll my eyes watching this one. Firstly, no behaviour or action or word spoken was done in this film with any common sense! Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) tried to kill Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) by strangulation after a good old fashioned brain washing by President Snow (Donald Sutherland) in part one. In this film, in a highly dangerous mission they decide to bring him along!! He is still highly unstable, wants to kill Katniss, and they bring him along! Ridiculous and poorly explained.

Spoiler alert, he murders someone in front of everyone trying to get to Katniss, and not one character says anything about it for a good five minutes and it was Peeta who broke the silence, and still, THEY BRING HIM ALONG!!

Secondly. I’m not a military man, but every tactical decision made and action in this movie makes me think they didn’t even get a consultant to guide the actors to look semi-professional and believable! They also have a tendency in this film to leave someone or anyone behind when the going gets tough. It’s disturbing.

Make up and costumes, whether they are described the same in the book, are sub-par. If I had to look at Julianne Moore’s terrible contact lenses and completely unnatural looking grey hair-do with white fringe for one more minute I would have walked out of the cinema! Not to mention the crappy grey jump suits everyone wears.

I think when it comes to teen movies they keep the script simple which makes for a terrible movie. Maybe it’s to keep to 13 year olds not confused. Either way, after the Harry Potter films got better and better, my standards for these teen sagas is perhaps too high. Just like my distaste for Twilight and the Insurgent movies this one seems underdone. I suppose when I feel some TV shows are better written with better actors I wonder why I bothered going to the cinema to see these ones.

The positives. Donald Sutherland still has a presence. He has a great evil smile and years of experience and talent over the rest. Liam Hemsworth has come along in leaps and bounds. He reminds me a bit of how I used to feel for Leonardo DiCaprio. I didn’t like him young, but the older he got, the better his movies and the more I loved his work. And lastly, seeing Philip Seymour Hoffman on screen again, possibly for the last time, rest his soul.

In this review I never said what the movie is about. To be honest, if you haven’t seen the previous three then this one is not for you. For those who have, the movie follows Katniss in her struggle with the Rebellion to take back the Capital and take revenge against President Snow.

The verdict. I’d wait not for DVD, but for TV. Too much hype for a movie with zero depth, written by amateurs. 





 

Mrs Knight

It’s hard to form my own opinion on this one, considering Mr Knight complained the whole way through and then continued to rant for an hour afterwards…But I have given it my best go and tried not to listen to him too much…

Without having read the book series, I think the biggest mistake was splitting the third book into two films. One of my biggest complaint was the length, there wasn’t enough happening for it to be split into two parts. I understand they were trying to build suspense in some of the battle scenes, but it was too predictable and I was left agitated wanting them to get to the point. Then other scenes felt too rushed.

Part 2 sees the war escalate and our hero Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) lead the rebellion to build an army against President Snow (Donald Sutherland). This meant there was a lot more action than Part 1 which made it immediately better. Unfortunately I found Katniss character weak in both the Mockingjay films so I wasn’t cheering for her like I was in the first two Hunger Games.

Mr Knight hit the nail on the head by pointing out the one thing it missed – humanity and chemistry. I felt nothing for the characters. In the first two I was cheering for Katniss, Peeta and other members. However, this film I felt nothing. Conversations were forced and unbelievable. The “love triangle” didn’t seem to exist as I felt Katniss’ love for Peeta was a friendship or sibling love and in no way romantic. Without being able to cheer for the characters meant I didn’t care if someone got hurt or died.

Despite all of this I would like to point out that I really wanted to like it. I LOVED the second one and really enjoyed the first. This one, like the others, is a simple popcorn flick. Don’t think about it too hard or over analyse it. It was entertaining enough, it just fell short in some areas. If you’re not a fan of the others though, don’t bother.

Movie Review: The Dressmaker

Drama

Rated – M – Some course language

Duration – 118mins

Release – November 2015

Director – Jocelyn Moorhouse

Cast – Kate Winslet, Hugo Weaving, Liam Hemsworth

Mr Knight

Firstly, this one was not my choice. I have never been a huge fan of Australian films with the exception of Chopper, Animal Kingdom and Predestination. They seem to ooze with a nerdy, I’m trying too hard, never been cool, feeling. I went along to see The Dressmaker based solely on Mrs Knight receiving so many recommendations from friends that it was good.

For starters, Kate Winslet does an excellent Aussie accent, and that’s not being sarcastic. The one thing I do appreciate from Aussie cinema is the familiar sound of local birds singing in the gumtrees and the bush scenery up on the big screen. This movie has all of that.

Our movie starts off with Tilly Dunnage (Kate Winslet) completely over dressed in eccentric heels, dress, gloves and hat, rocking up in a crappy 30 person town in the middle of the Aussie countryside in the dark of night, and with a thick Australian accent she says to herself, “I’m back you bastards.”

Tilly, a previous resident to the town, reacquaints herself with her mother, known as crazy Molly (Judy Davis) and moves herself in. Word soon spreads of Tilly’s return, however not all the buzz is positive in the town.

Tilly is haunted by her childhood and a distant memory she can’t quite grasp of the death of a boy at her school that she believes she played a part. Tilly left the town soon after and has only just returned, as a highly talented seamstress with the experiences of the world under her belt in a town where some, if not all, have never left.

The movie has a list of familiar faces from Australian TV shows and although the main theme of this one is a drama, it is filled throughout with a cheesy but clever humour, mostly provided by Tilly’s mother mad Molly and the local Police Sergeant Farrat done perfectly well by Hugo Weaving.

Despite its style and attraction to a more senior generation I actually enjoyed it. It’s light-hearted and has many parts that would appeal to an Australian audience, especially any who have roots from the country. Enjoy! 

Mrs Knight

This has been an incredibly hard review to write. I have been procrastinating. For those of you who have seen the film I’m sure you will understand where I’m coming from. The biggest thing everyone kept saying to me before I saw it, and I am now sharing the same thing with people is, “It’s not what you expect”. Three quarters of the way through, it took an unexpected turn and I liked it!

We see Tilly Dunnage (Kate Winslet) return to her hometown in outback Victoria, Australia. Whispers immediately begin that she was allegedly connected to a murder a very long time ago. She doesn’t fit in very well, but her extraordinary dress making skills soon makes her popular with the otherwise nasty town folk. You get a real sense of the film from the beginning with the quirky camera work and close ups of the odd-balls in the town.

Kate Winslet’s Australian accent was so good I actually walked out of the cinema saying to Mr Knight “She’s not Australian is she?” Liam Hemsworth was a lot better than usual. While he’s always nice to look at, he was believable this time too. However, he didn’t talk all that much so maybe that’s why,

One thing I didn’t like and didn’t find especially believable was that Kate Winslet’s character was meant to be the same age as Liam Hemsworth’s Teddy and others in her school grade, like Gertrude (Sarah Snook). However, she played the part so well that I quickly got over it.

I was engaged from the beginning, trying to figure it all out. It dealt with serious issues and events but was portrayed in mostly quirky ways. The dark humour provided relief to the twisted tales. Hugo Weaving’s character, Sergeant Farrat and “Mad Molly”, Tilly’s mother provided a lot of the comedic relief. I don’t want to say too much else as I would hate to give anything away.

Overall I enjoyed it. I walked out a little baffled at what I just watched, but I enjoyed it. Go support an Aussie film and see it in cinema! 
 

Mrs KNIGHT'S Top 10 TV Shows (in no particular order)

 
Pretty Little Liars
Four teenage girls seek to find out what happened to their best friend Alison DiLaurentis who has allegedly been murdered. Meanwhile they are being tormented and blackmailed by an anonymous figure as they struggle to keep their secrets hidden. Yes it is as quality as it sounds! Think the OC and Gossip Girls times a million. The story line keeps getting more and more ridiculous but it’s incredibly addictive and entertaining. Plus they’re total babes with better clothes and hair than I’ll ever have. Just remember to sit back and enjoy it for what it is….in other words….don’t think too hard!
 

Buffy
I have been an addict to this show since about year 5. Mum would have to tape it for me, because it was on past my bedtime and I would get up early to watch it before school. A teenage girl is the ‘chosen one’, the slayer, destined to fight vampires and other creatures of the night. Along with her friends she continues to save the school (and world!) while dealing with regular school life. Some of the comedy from earlier episodes would be quite dated (and the fashion!) but I think it can still be enjoyed today… give it a go and let me know!
 

Nashville
Anyone who has spoken to me in the last month knows this is a new addiction of mine. Legend country music singer, Rayna James (Connie Britton) comes in conflict with upcoming young star Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere). It shows the behind the scenes negotiations, PR stunts and general life of people in the limelight. While it sounds terrible it’s insanely addictive and in terms of storyline and acting – it’s lightyears ahead of Pretty Little Liars and shows alike. I have even found a new love for Country Music. Get involved!!!
 

Fargo
This true crime story set in Minnesota shows Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) run into all kinds of trouble upon meeting Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton). The tension in the writing and on screen presence of these two will keep you captivated. It’s creepy, gritty, clever and even very comical at times. Two thumbs up, can’t recommend Season One enough. I’m one episode in of Season Two, so I’ll report back on my thoughts, but it will have to be legendary to beat the brilliance that was the first season.
 

Breaking Bad
I know everyone raves about this one – but I honestly can’t speak more highly of it. When Adam told me he had a TV show for us to watch, a drama starring the dad from Malcolm in the Middle I was beyond sceptical. Especially as this was back in 2008-2009 before all the hype. But upon watching the first 10minutes, I was hooked. It follows the story of chemistry teacher who has been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer despite never having been a smoker. He teams up with a former student to cook and sell crystal meth. It was interestingly shot and directed, the script was fascinating and acting was done to perfection. You will need a strong stomach as some scenes can be quite graphic. The bath tub scene has stuck with me to this day. Those who have seen it will know what I mean.
 

 
Sex & the City
Ok, so I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. Sex & the City follows the love lives, friendships, careers (and fashion) of four independent women in New York City. It’s a no brainer, if you’re up for a laugh, have ever been heartbroken or career orientated, give it a go. Some of it is becoming quite dated, but I’m sure you will still find it enjoyable.
 

Entourage 
As a massive movie nerd and celebrity wanna-be this is another one I was hooked on instantly. This follows the life of movie star Vincent Chase, his best friends Eric and Turtle and struggling actor brother, Johnny Drama. An insight into the glamorous and exaggerated side of the movie industry and their relationship with Vince’s agent, one of the best characters, Ari Gold. You could spend a full day watching this fast paced show and still want to watch more.

Orange is the New Black
A young woman, Piper Chapman is sentenced to 15 months in jail after being convicted of an old crime with her ex-girlfriend. The show follows the story of her struggles behind bars and the struggles of those around her including fellow inmates, staff and friends and family on the outside. While it’s mostly a drama the show has moments of comedy and lightness which makes it such a well put together show. It’s raved about for a reason, treat yourself to some Netflix binge watching this weekend!
 

Friends & Seinfeld
I nearly didn’t include these since they’re so old and if you have never seen an episode of either, you must not own a TV. If that’s the case, I’d be hesitant in you beginning to watch them today they haven’t dated all that well. However, I absolutely love them both and re-watch episodes all the time. Not really a recommendation, just a tribute to how great they are.

 
Mad Men
I was a bit late getting on this band wagon, but Mad Men is set in the 1960’s and follows one of the best advertising agencies. It’s full of good old fashion sexism, racism, homophobia and so much more. I enjoyed seeing ridiculous advertising campaigns and what seems like a ridiculous way of life. It was too slow for Mr Knight, but give it a go for yourself and see what you think.

Movie review: Spectre

Action/Adventure/Thriller

Rated – M

Duration –148mins

Release – November 2015

Director – Sam Mendes

Cast – Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes


Mr Knight

To scare Bond fans out there of the Daniel Craig era, it is strongly suggested this will be his last. And like the Chris Nolan Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale, all good things must come to an end. Spectre rounds off the four part Daniel Craig story tying up each plot from the previous movies in a neat package.

Like the previous three films, (excluding Quantum of Solace, which was terrible) Spectre delivers action and high speed destruction on an epic scale, whilst delivering the cool swagger that Bond brings to the big screen. Think back to Daniel Craig crash landing with grace on the ass end of a destroyed train in Skyfall and calmly adjusting his shirtsleeve. That is the sort of feeling he delivers throughout Spectre.

Keep in mind this final chapter is a long one, coming just short of three hours including previews when in theatres, but the story has enough depth to keep flowing without dragging. Unless you’re a seasoned Bond campaigner though it may get a little long in the tooth. I know Mrs Knight forgot a few characters here and there.

What I did find myself doing throughout was comparing this new movie to Skyfall and the questions raised was, “Is it better?” and I would have to say NO. But only by a fraction. A bee’s dick in length. I think what gave Skyfall the edge over Spectre was Javier Bardem’s performance as Silva. I found Silva was more involved and constantly one step ahead against Bond, but always in the thick of the action.

Spectre I felt didn’t utilised its main villain until the last third of the film. Sure, it gave Christoph Waltz some mystery, but if you’re a lover of his work in Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained, you would want to see more of him and you just don’t get enough.

Ralph Fiennes’ M and Ben Whishaw’s Q become more involved which is a blessing now Dame Judy Dench is no longer with us, and Tanner and Moneypenny are also Bonds closest allies, not just minor roles in the movie.

As usual beautiful women take part and it may surprise you that Monica Bellucci is one, but despite her age, she could be compared to a fine wine, and appears to have only gotten better. Le’a Seydoux is the main starlet in Spectre as Doctor Madeleine Swann, who with her French accent an undeniable beauty give her a sultry and almost defiant feel before eventually (as they all do) falling for Bonds charms.

Spectre is large scale, well directed, well performed by its talented cast, and is as entertaining and enjoyable as its preview promises. If it is Daniel Craig’s last Bond flick, that will be disappointing news, but if he chooses to end on a high, this would be the best way to do it.

 

Mrs Knight

This review isn’t going to please everyone, but let me start by saying; I’m not and never have been a Bond fan. Skyfall is the exception – as it’s an awesome film and this was the only reason why I was excited for Spectre.

It started and ended strong but my popcorn seemed far more interesting than the middle of the film. It was long and slow without hardly any action or story line. There were slight moments of comedy, but I didn’t manage to crack a smile despite really trying to enjoy it.

A message from the past sends Bond on an unofficial mission to uncover a sinister organisation SPECTRE. We see him travel to Mexico, followed by Rome, where he meets his first ‘Bond girl’ Lucia, the beautiful Monica Bellucci. This moment of passion doesn’t last long as he moves on to helping to protect psychologist Madeleine Swann, the daughter of an old nemesis Mr White. We see Bond venture towards uncovering secrets of the organisation, SPECTRE and secrets of his own past. I must admit the majority of it went over my head as I couldn’t remember much of the past films… but I imagine for people who do remember them, Spectre will tie everything up nicely.

I felt it was a typical man’s movie with hot girls, fast cars and deadly guns. Which is basically what I was expecting, but I thought at the very least the action would captivate me… sadly it did not. I also wish Christoph Waltz character had a larger role. The scenes between him and Bond were the only suspenseful and interesting part of the film. I also enjoyed the gorgeous outfits worn by Madeleine Swann. Sitting through a three hour film for this, was hardly worth it.

As someone who has never cared about James Bond, Skyfall made me think differently, but now I’m back to not caring. Hate to say it, but that’s three long hours I will never get back. I do need to give a shout out to Dendy Premium Lounge as at least I was comfortable sipping my glass of Bollinger!

Mr KNIGHT'S Top 10 TV shows (in no particular order)

Breaking Bad

AMC took a risk on a drug themed series, featuring Frankie Muniz’s strung out father, Bryan Cranston, that sceptics thought wouldn’t take off. Instead everyone got so hooked you may have thought the series emitted some of that blue crystal that Walter White and Jessie Pinkman started cooking together in New Mexico in a broken down RV. Try it if you haven’t. You will not be disappointed.


Justified

Break out series for Timothy Olyphant, as US Marshall Raylan Givens. Givens is banished by his bosses to his old stomping grounds, Harlan County, Kentucky, as punishment for his shoot first, ask questions later, style of law. An action, adventure series that doesn’t disappoint with a gun, stick of dynamite or something going bang in every episode. With every good lead, comes with a good nemesis. This series has Boyd Crowder, Quentin Tarantino’s favourite, Waltin Goggins, as the hillbilly, drug peddling, local gangster. Mix them together, and modern day gun slingin’ fun ensues.


Game of Thrones

A masterful delivery of a fantasy book series turned TV series. The story takes us back to a time of swords and castles… and three dragons. A ginormous cast with a huge variety of leads for any persons liking, including Mrs KNIGHT, who hates fantasy, but loves Danarys, the mother of dragons. Other great characters like the bastard Jon Snow, the impTyrion Lannister and honourable Ned Starke. This TV show LITERALLY broke the internet with the most illegal downloads in Australia, EVER! Forcing paid television like Foxtel to give Showcase away for free. For this… we thank you! 




Supernatural

In its tenth year and eleventh season, Jared Padalecki and Jensen Eckles, Sam and Dean Winchester, have been cutting off vampire heads and slaying demons with great success despite their rocky relationship. Each season the show develops more interesting and creative ways to bring the world to its end with Sam and Dean there, driving Dean’s baby and ready to kick its ass. The shows first class secondary characters like fallen angel Castiel and Hells King Crowley keep the show fresh and entertaining. A good, fun, Supernatural series. Grab the popcorn and enjoy. 





Hannibal

Viewer discretion is advised! An intellectual thriller which despite its content, makes me want a gourmet meal and a glass of wine! Hannibal follows FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) as he assist’s FBI’s head of Behavioural Science, Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) in catching serial killers. But Will needs a psychiatrist to keep him level. Enter Hannibal Lecture (Mads Mikkelsen). A psychological thrill ride with intense conversation, manipulation, horrific and artful crime scenes and exquisite dinner parties. Definitely a show to watch with a glass of red… after dinner. Bon appetite. 




Hell on Wheels

The civil war has ended. It’s the late 1800’s with competing companies trying to lay the biggest railway track from the east of the US through to the Wild West. Hunting soldiers that defiled his wife and murdered his family, Cullen Bohannan (Anson Mount) finds himself at the transcontinental railroad camp. It comes clear to owner and shady business man Thomas Durant, that Bohannon has certain talents to get this railroad built and takes him on in his employ. Over its five seasons, and more to come, Hell on Wheels confronts issues of slavery, Native American Indians, murder, prostitution, whisky, blackmail, women’s rights, religion and all the other exciting issues prospectors faced in the Wild West. A cracking adventure series with a great lead in Anson Mount. You won’t tire of hearing the name Cullen Bohannon, and you will learn to hate his nemesis, The Swede. 





Boardwalk Empire

1919 Prohibition comes into effect in America. For business man Nucky Thompson (Steve Buscemi), and treasurer of Atlantic City, prohibition becomes not a hindrance, but a profitable opportunity and what should become a dry zone, Atlantic City under Nucky’s schemes becomes a whisky soaked haven. Boardwalk Empire brings a collection of gangsters from Arnold Rothstein to Al Capone and when there is money to be made, and whisky to be shipped, there is sure to be a tommy gun firing nearby. A true 1920s mobster series with great characters to invest in! 




The Sopranos

In 1999 James Gandolfini, rest his soul, brought us one of the most iconic television identities in memory. Tony Soprano. A New Jersey mob boss running his strip joint Bada Bing, his sanitation business and other not necessarily legal prospects Tony manages his family and his crew and as some may expect, this lifestyle could be stressful. Outsiders may not know but the show has a strong plot based around Soprano and his issues with panic attacks causing him to see a psychiatrist. Along with The Wire, The Sopranos was one of the original TV shows to make people turn their televisions back on instead of hiring a movie. Top Quality. 





Entourage

Girls have Sex and the City. Boys have Entourage. Entourage has a perfect combination of sunny Los Angeles, fast cars, beautiful women, pimp mansions, celebrity cameo’s and humour to make these twenty minute episodes every blokes favourite “me time”. Vincent Chase (Adrien Garner) makes it big after being spotted on a Mentos commercial by agent Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) and along with his school friends E and Turtle and meeting up with has-been actor and brother Drama, the entourage is complete. Vinny brings the lads along to enjoy the ride of being a famous actor. Producer Mark Wahlberg is suspected to have created the show based on his own life. A great show with angry and hilarious Ari and hopeless loser Johnny Drama as my favourite characters. 






True Detective (Season 1) 

Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson team up as Detectives Rust and Marty investigating a ritualistic homicide in the Louisiana State in 1995. McConaughey steps out of his usual role of Rom-Com king and puts on his serious face for this one and he is brilliant. With Harrelson’s “I can’t believe you just said that” attitude, it makes the show have some humour, mixed in with the creepy, swamp land, wooden sculpture, and deer antler themes. With just ten episodes, this season was a close to ten out of ten. I tried season two and was left highly disappointed. Every character was angry, with a dark past or secret and it felt like it was trying way too hard. Keep your expectations high and only watch season one!