micksterdee Reviews

The Secret Agent (2016)

Poor attention to detail

[5/10 · 5 August 2016]

The BBC is well known for its attention to detail in its drama, and in the main The Secret Agent was also suitably well detailed. Sadly, this attention to detail did not extend to the railway scenes.

I understand that the railway scenes were filmed at the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway in Scotland - close to the main filming location of the series. The setting of the drama is in the late 19th century and yet in all railway scenes inappropriate rolling stock was employed. The locomotive used in all the filming could clearly be seen to be 61272. This locomotive was not built until 1928 - over 30 years after the date setting of The Secret Agent. The number on the locomotive did not exist until the nationalisation of Britain's railways in 1948. The locomotive's tender showed the British Railways "lion & wheel" logo - also post 1948. The coaching stock was part of the Bo'ness & Kinneil's own Caledonian Railway carriages. Indeed, the carriages are stencilled CR. The carriages are also out of period, as these were not built until 1923! I doubt the Caledonian Railways carriages would have been seen on London to Southampton trains.

I am disappointed with such poor attention to detail from a BBC production

Murder Most Horrid: Going Solo (1999) Season 4, Episode 2

Trapped!

[16 November 2011]

Tracy Phillips and Karen Sullivan are yachtswomen taking part in a round-the-world competition. We join them around the Southern oceans about to encounter a massive storm.

The confinement of the two girls is beginning to take its toll, and Tracy's bubbly attitude is beginning to grate on Karen. In a brief loss of sanity, she tries to strangle Tracy but events conspire to interfere.

The yacht capsizes in the storm and the girls struggle to reach an air pocket in the upturned yacht. Whilst waiting for rescue, each has a flashback to the few days prior to the commencement of the journey. The flashbacks are very similar, but in Karen's she has embarked on a passionate affair with Tracy's husband Frank. Unfortunately, during her dream flashback, Karen accidentally utters Frank's name, immediately making Tracy suspicious.

Rescue arrives in the shape of the Australian Navy and we see Tracy being wheeled to an ambulance. But what has happened to Karen?

This episode brilliantly brings over the sheer irritation of confinement, and bearing in mind the title of the show, you wonder who is going to murder who!

Murder Most Horrid: Frozen (1999) Season 4, Episode 1

A bit too chilled out?

[15 November 2011]

The village of Skinton, England. It is 1946 and like the rest of Britain, Skinton is subject to severe post-war food rationing. Sisters Lily and Iris Wood-Newton live alone and unmarried, yet still seem to live very comfortably - thanks to their late mother. THis has raised the attention of the local butcher.

Back home, the sisters own a huge elderly refrigerator nickname "Electra". It has been faulty recently and the sisters call in a repairman. Long-deprived of passion, Lily (Dawn French) tries to get the repairman in an embrace but accidentally knocks him unconscious. Believing she has killed him, she enlists the help of her sister to hide him inside the freezer.

Sometime later, the sisters discover that the repairman's body has disappeared. Meanwhile, the butcher receives a visit from the Customs & Excise to ensure he has no illicit meat.

A very quaint offering in the series, and the post-war atmosphere comes across wonderfully. It is mostly gentle humour an Dawn French and JOanna Scanlan portray the sisters very well. There is a lovely scene involving the sisters and "Electra" which some women would empathise with regarding sitting atop a household appliance.