melee3 Reviews

Vera: The Ghost Position (2012) Season 2, Episode 1

Just watch carefully and listen

[8/10 · 3 April 2024]

I'm a little confused by the confusion of some of the reviewers. Dougie was arrested by Stewart during a protest, Lena was Dougies's girlfriend, Dougie was influenced by Stewart's daughter, the art teacher was just an idiot, and the pregnant girlfriend had issues. Easy peasy.

It was a very interesting case and Vera's attention to detail was spot on as she sees the soot from a fire, keeps in mind important dates, and ensures all the people are questioned.

She is hard on her associates, and maybe doesn't give positive feedback often enough, but she gets the job done and ensures everyone has an assignment.

Granite Harbour (2022– )

Interesting premise and good cast of characters

[9/10 · 12 August 2023]

I don't know what everyone else was watching but this show was good. I have it an extra star to offset the ratings that were far too low. I watched all three episodes in one day do I could see how it was going to end.

As usual, the boss is irritating, but it was fun to see the actress in that roll. The lead was fabulous and I hope there are more seasons so we can learn more about his character.

Gary Lewis was great as always. I don't know what others were watching to see wooden acting, but definitely not what I saw.

The mystery kept me guessing even when I knew who I couldn't figure out the why.

Darby and Joan (2022– )

Someone needs to review the show for logical transitions

[6/10 · 3 September 2022]

I think the show needs to be maybe 10 minutes longer to get those transitions between scenes working better. They jump to the solution without any warning. Part of the fun of a mystery is watching them solve it.

They main characters are good together and it is great to see Bryan Brown in a series. Some of the episodes are better than others and the underlying mystery of Joan's husband is interesting. What I don't understand is how they get to Darby'a daughter's police station so quickly whenever they need to. But that is where you have to suspend your belief while watching tv. And sometimes they get to a place they were at in a previous episode lots quicker than is logical for such a big country.

Whitstable Pearl (2021– )

So far I agree with that something is missing

[7/10 · 3 September 2022]

In the first episode I kept thinking I had missed an episode or two. Then I figured out they like to just explain as you go along. I can work with that, but I can't work with sudden jumps in the crime solving. It's a good show, I like it, and will continue to watch. The only really big issue is the sound. I hate it when the music is louder than the actors, and I know it's not my system as I have to turn it down for many other shows on Acorn via Roku. This one I have to turn it way up. Other issues with using Acorn via Roku, but that is something they are hopefully going to resolve after numerous complaints. It is all of the Acorn shows, not just this one.

Queens of Mystery: Murder in the Dark: First Chapter (2019) Season 1, Episode 1

If Lemony Snicket wrote a cozy mystery

[9/10 · 15 July 2022]

Lots of fun so far. Like cuddling up to a good cozy mystery. Great to see some of my favorites in this episode. Looking forward to seeing more episodes.

The Orville: Shadow Realms (2022) Season 3, Episode 2

A horror show--Jurassic Park meets The Alien

[5/10 · 17 June 2022]

I'm sure there were lots of homages to other shows in this episode, including some of the scarier Star Trek episodes, but good grief! I haven't ever been a big fan of The Orville and only watch it because of it's similarity to Star Trek, but it is nowhere near as good, I don't seem to care about the characters (except the children), and find their actions too stupid to be believable.

I miss Norm, I miss the fun parts of The Orville, but I do appreciate that Lt. Talla can seriously kick butt even though she probably shouldn't have gone out without a gun and by herself--that was just stupid. It was as if she did not believe what the children had told her, or just didn't care.

I also did not appreciate that they made fun of the Krill's beliefs. It is as if the "humans" were looking down on the Krill. If people as scary as the Krill are afraid of something, then that something must be pretty scary.

The only other thing I did not like is that there was no honorable mention of those who were changed and had to leave the ship or were killed. I would rather have had Ed announce to the ship that they lost X amount of crew and honored them in some way, rather than his silly speech at the beginning.

Ms. Marvel: Generation Why (2022) Season 1, Episode 1

If Janet Kim had super powers

[10/10 · 17 June 2022]

For all the reasons cited by others, I enjoyed this first episode of Ms. Marvel. I know that Kamala's parents aren't as amusing as Janet's in Kim's Convenience, but it has a similar feel. Kamala is at a challenging age, is a complete geek about super heroes, and wants to have a life a little different than what her parents want.

This is a great show for all of us who are or were geeks and were too ashamed to show it in school. I applaud Kamala for embracing her geekiness and her friend for helping her. And isn't it great that he is named Bruno? We are now allowed to talk about him!

The Orville: Electric Sheep (2022) Season 3, Episode 1

Great entertainment, could have been better

[6/10 · 3 June 2022]

I agree with another reviewer who commented on why is everyone so against Isaac when all was fine in season 2 after the fighting. This episode would have worked better in season 2. But it was fun entertainment, just a little off.

The biggest complaint I have is with the test run on the new shuttle. It was flying around the space station with other ships and they were blasting away at the practice targets with real phasers?!!!! Where did the phaser blast go when they missed? That was target practice around real people-would that really be allowed? It was just a little too unbelievable.

And throwing in another fight with the Kaylons to throw in some excitement just came out of nowhere. That was strange.

I'm also not a big fan of the new drama queen. Good grief, get over yourself. I foresee a lot more whining from her.

Hetty Wainthropp Investigates (1996–1998)

Don't let the first episode discourage you--keep watching

[8/10 · 9 March 2022]

If you watch the first episode and feel like there is something wrong--that she was paid off to cover up a murder, it is just because of the poor editing on that episode. That is the only problem with this series--sometimes it leaves things out, jumps around too much, and doesn't do a nice wrapping up at the end.

After watching all the episodes, because I did give it another chance, I came to love the series and really appreciated how the characters grew and grew on me. There wasn't a lot of murder and mayhem, just simple mysteries that they worked on and resolved. Sometimes, it wasn't as happy an ending as you would have liked, but Hetty usually figured out what the problems were and in her careful, kind and sometimes forceful way, solved those problems.

After finishing them all, I went back to watch the first one again to see what it was I missed. (Spoiler) I did realize that the old woman wasn't murdered, they just made it look like it. It was just family drama that got a little carried away.

It is a great series and I will miss watching it. BBC did everyone a grave disservice not filming that final, 5th season.

The Big Year (2011)

I wish I would have watched it at the start of the Pandemic

[7/10 · 1 January 2022]

This movie would have been perfect to watch in April 2020 as we all seemed to become birders then. Now I want to go back and list all the birds I saw! I have the Merlin Bird ID from Cornell Lab (which I noticed contributed to the show) that has helped me over that last few years and my Audubon book where I note down dates, but nothing like what these guys do. And did they take classes in how to take the pictures? Not a blurry picture in the bunch! My one an only owl picture is a blurry mess. But I do love that they included listening to the bird sounds as part of the identification process. (I do love birding.) This movie has a great cast of characters. I wonder how they got them all to participate? Angelica Huston was fabulously fun. Joel McHale as a corporate man? Just lots of great stars in small parts and larger parts.

I'm sure there were a lot of negative reviews from non-birding people when this came out, but who isn't a birder these days? Looking out my office window at home now and seeing a crow on the very top of the cedar tree across the street and a Stellar's Jay flying around the tree looking for the perfect spot to land--just knowing what these birds are is great. We have so many beautiful birds in this world, I am so very glad they created this movie to honor them all.

My favorite bird in the Flicker--what is yours?

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Casting Awkwafina was the smartest ever

[9/10 · 26 December 2021]

Awkafina was perfect in her role and actually so was everyone else. It was wonderful to see Michelle Yeoh. I cheered when I saw Trevor! Trevor and his dog were so fun. What a good movie. Great action, great characters and a very good story line.

Resident Alien (2021– )

Great sci-fi/comedy/action/mystery show

[9/10 · 6 August 2021]

This show has everything you could need--quirky characters, genius kids, vengeful women, a couple of surprises at the end, just plain weirdness and Alan Tudyk. What more could you ask for?!

Sparkling Cyanide (2003 TV Movie)

Ignore the "Agatha Christie" part in the title

[5/10 · 5 August 2021]

Just know that this is "based on" an Agatha Christie story, but without the "sparkle" of a real Christie story. Colonel Race is such an interesting character in her books and I can see him being like he was portrayed in this movie, I just wish it hadn't been quite so silly and poorly executed. And why in the world a nude scene had to be thrown in for absolutely no reason is beyond me. What was the purpose of showing Iris throwing off her robe to get into the shower? Just for some titillation? Definitely took a star off for that.

Ragnarok: Yes, We Love This Country (2020) Season 1, Episode 6

Teen angst and some slow sequences, but a great series

[9/10 · 14 March 2021]

I am looking forward to another season to see what happens with all the characters. I have lots of questions and hope to see answers. Very creative, lots of fun, beautiful setting, lots of Teen angst, and a great good vs. evil story.

The Dig (2021)

Do we need to have a rating of I for intelligent content?

[9/10 · 8 February 2021]

What a lovely show. You do need to pay attention and appreciate the time and historical significance of the show. Saying it is a show about nothing means you should not have watched it, let alone reviewed it. I knew a young girl with rheumatic fever when I was a teen in the 60's. I learned about the heart problems that can occur from it at that time. Maybe there are those who do not understand where medical science was at that time. The character development was great. I took away one star as I would have wished this could be viewed by younger people to get a sense of what those days before war was declared. Not full nudity, but some parents may not want kids under 16 to view it. I let Netflix choose for me and they made a great choice!

Elementary: Their Last Bow (2019) Season 7, Episode 13

What a truly lovely episode

[10/10 · 25 August 2020]

When Holmes hugged Watson I couldn't help but be moved. This whole series is a love letter to Holmes and Watson and all the fans who love them.

Silent Witness: Supernova: Part 2 (2006) Season 10, Episode 8

Ridiculous episode

[4/10 · 25 August 2020]

Showing a 14 year old's nude body is too much. This episode was just too scattered and jumped around too much. The flashback's were so blurred and hard to see that it was really frustrating.

Silent Witness: Schism: Part 2 (2006) Season 10, Episode 10

This series is just going too far at times

[5/10 · 25 August 2020]

The torture scene was too much, the nudity of teenagers is too much. I'm sure this could have been done without this much gratuitous nonsense. It is an interesting series and I like the characters. Hopefully it will get better.

Elementary: An Infinite Capacity for Taking Pains (2018) Season 6, Episode 1

I love this show but have to crank up the sound

[9/10 · 29 July 2020]

I was hoping that somehow the sound would have improved when it was on Hulu, because of wishful thinking and not understanding how it works. But no, I continue to have to crank it up to 11 to hear the dialogue, then turn it way down for background, music and explosion noises. I don't know if the sound mixer replacement just was new, didn't know his job, or it was a problem with picking up the sound in the first place, but it is terrible. I know there are some people who just stopped watching it because of the sound issues. But I'm very glad it is streaming on Hulu and have enjoyed watching it as I complete by Sherlock Holmes retrospective in re-reading the books and watching all the different interpretations of him in movies and tv.

Elementary: Rip Off (2014) Season 3, Episode 5

Interesting to watch during the "defund the police" protest

[6/10 · 20 June 2020]

It's kind of a weird episode anyway, but the horrendous approach for the male partner attack on his female partner, then the captain's response because the female is his daughter is all that is wrong with police mentality portrayed on tv. And if this is the kind of crap that really goes on, then something seriously needs to be done. But I think a logical example on tv would help all of us have higher expectations and demand those.

Frozen II (2019)

It's no Fifth Element, unfortunately

[6/10 · 14 May 2020]

I'm glad my grandchildren enjoyed it and love to sing the songs, but when I finally got around to watching it, I found it almost painful at times. Between the Fifth Element Nonsense and the horrible Kristoff boy band song, it was just too scattered and ridiculous. Some of it was wonderful, hence the 6 star rating, I was hoping for a lot better.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

It's just the usual. . .NOT!

[8/10 · 29 October 2019]

As soon as the Dwarves started singing "that's what Bilbo Baggins hates", i started to smile and really love the movie. What fun it was. I am looking forward to the other movies. I can tell that someone who loved the books created this movie and I appreciate that.

Agatha and the Truth of Murder (2018 TV Movie)

An entertaining mystery

[8/10 · 5 February 2019]

I was in need of a good mystery and this was perfect. I needed a semi-cozy mystery and this filled the bill. It was entertaining to watch and can be added to all the other explanations of what may have happened to Agatha Christie during her 9 day disappearance. If we can enjoy the Doctor Who episode "The Unicorn and the Wasp", we should be able to enjoy this one too!

The ABC Murders (2018)

Re-interpretations and regenerations are good for the soul and great to watch

[9/10 · 5 February 2019]

Sometimes it is hard to have a new person portray a beloved character in a different way. Sometimes it is hard to see screen writers take a book we may love and re-interpret it. Doctor Who regenerates into a new person regularly; Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch have regenerated Sherlock Holmes into a modern version; A Winkle in Time left out the religious parts of the book; etc. etc. etc. But that doesn't mean any of those shows or movies that are different are not worth watching and fabulous in their own right. I received my first Agatha Christie book over 50 years ago and have read them all numerous times. I loved David Suchet as Hercule Poirot just as I loved Joan Hickson. But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy John Malkovich's interpretation of the great detective, just as I enjoyed Robert Downey Jr.'s interpretation of Sherlock Holmes after having watched Jeremy Brett for all those years. The ABC Murders captured my attention immediately and I watched all three episodes in one day. Yes, it was easy to determine who the murderers were and not just because I had read the book. The only part that disappointed me was the justification used for writing letters to Poirot. The conversation at the end with the murderer just before he is hanged, I supposed was useful for another Poirot flashback, but not much else. I'm sure others are furious about the "adjustment" to Poirot's back story, but in the words of Bill Murray, "it just doesn't matter". Poirot is a loving, caring, religious man who wants a happy ending. I would love to see many more episodes of this Poirot; but, if not, could someone please do a modernized version of him or Miss Marple? I miss them both. And PS--Wasn't Rupert Grint just fabulous as Inspector Crone? I barely recognized little Ron Weasley as a grownup with facial hair and everything!

The Bill Murray Stories: Life Lessons Learned from a Mythical Man (2018)

It DOES matter--watch it!

[10/10 · 8 January 2019]

I watched this on Netflix, accidentally finding it hidden after hundreds of other recommended shows. I don't think Netflix really knows me as well as it thinks it does. Bill Murray was someone who grew on me. The first time I saw him on SNL I was not really impressed. But I grew to appreciate him and have enjoyed many of his movies. We watch Groundhog Day every Groundhog Day we can and I never get tired of it. When the Cubs won the World Series, there was an article about Bill Murray's excitement over the win on Vulture.com which had a quote it would have been good to have been included in the show--"Strive to be the Bill Murray this world needs." The documentary showed how true that it is--Bill Murray is what the world needs, and he helps the world one person at a time. There are a lot of things that just don't matter, but watching this is not one of them. Beware of the "F" bombs if watching it with kids. There were some who reacted as did Woody Harrelson's character in Zombieland when seeing Bill Murray or even reflecting on seeing him.