Back To The Real World

It's been a while since I've done this but here's a rundown of some of the shows I've been watching recently.

Homeland: An intense selection of episodes here where just about every character seems to be at breaking point within recent weeks. Brody's constant shifting about the place between his myriad of alliances and desperate attempts of keeping his head above water has been fascinating to watch along with his increasingly complicated relationship with Carrie. Plus, the arrival of a certain someone into the mix has managed to make things ten times worse than they already were. I'm looking forward to seeing how the last two episodes end this excellent season.

Merlin: At this point, we all know the show has been cancelled and it's not that far away until the final episode airs during Christmas Eve, so it's nice that the writing is improving a bit with the last few episodes. Breaking Gwen out of her spell with Morgana took long enough and it does seem that Mordred is also slowly close to switching sides as well. Aside from that, it's been decidedly underwhelming and formulaic with the rest of the main character, though Morgana's recent punishment of a former ally was surprisingly nasty, even for her.

Once Upon A Time: Loved the last two episodes. For me, this show is so far managing to avoid the difficult second album curse and the stakes do seem to be upped with the connecting dreams between Henry and Aurora as well as Emma and Mary Margaret getting back to Storybrooke with both Cora and Hook not far behind them. Plus, it seems that despite her best efforts, Regina may very well slip again with Gold needling her as best he does. I can't wait to see where the second half of the season goes, especially given that Emma now has something else about her that raises a question mark.

Switch: The good news was that the last two episodes of this bewitching dramedy were pretty fun to watch. The bad news is that ITV2 have pulled the damn plug on the thing, in spite of it being one of their better offering. It's a shame but the last episode did have fun with the Solstice, a bout of sabotage, a family reunion for Hannah and didn't set up anything too major (aside from the continued vendetta with the Kensington lot) but it's a shame this show was taken out.

- Robert Patrick has become a regular for True Blood's sixth season. The first episode will be titled, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood.
- Gina Torres will be guest starring in an upcoming episode of Castle.
- Gregory Itzin will be appearing in the 12th episode of Once Upon A Time's second season as the father of Dr Frankenstein.
- Treat Williams has joined Chicago Fire as the father of Taylor Kinney's character.
- The US version of Only Fools And Horses has not been picked up by ABC.
- Ruth Jones has insisted a US version of Gavin & Stacey is still unlikely to happen.
- James Cromwell will guest star in an upcoming episode of Do No Harm.
- Laurel's mother will appear in episode 16 of Arrow.

I Am Your Mother

Downton Abbey: I liked the finale. While the third series had it's ups and downs and fair share of disappointing moments, the ending was a nice way of concluding things. Thomas got to keep his job, Mary and Matthew can have kids, Edith is getting a love interest and Fellowes managed to find a way to keep Branson on the show without Sybil around, while Rose was a fairly annoying character. Not that long for the Christmas special.

Homeland: Another set of excellent episodes. This show certainly upped the game with both Brody being forced to play double agent, Dana and her numpty of a boyfriend involved in a car accident, Carrie trying to maintain control of Brody, Mike piecing things together about Tom Walker and new guy Quinn walking into a dangerous trap. Overall, I continue to enjoy this season of the show.

Merlin: I'm not really as gripped to this series as a lot of people seem to be but at least the last two episodes have generated some thought provoking stuff. Whether it's Merlin and Arthur dropping the ball big time with the Disir, therefore sealing the latter's fate or Morgana actually having a plan that worked in relation to her psychological torture of Gwen, along with a certain death. Either way, it's nice to see the show getting it's darker centre but the Merthur stuff is lacking something to be honest this year.

Once Upon A Time: I can't be the only one who utterly adores Ruby as a character, right? Which is why her latest episode was another favourite of mine. Especially given that it saw her many friendships being solidified during George's vindictive attempts to thwart David and also because any semblance of backstory for the character is muchly welcomed. Oh and the episode before that gave us more insight into Emma and introduced the giant was a lot of fun too. I'm also liking the shared dreams/link between Henry and Aurora as well. Overall, this season has been a blast to watch so far.

Switch: I've only seen the fourth episode (will be watching the fifth one tonight) but it was my favourite one of the bunch so far. Yes, the episode might have gone overboard with the friendship theme in a way that Being Human doesn't need to but isn't friendship the angle for this show anyways? It may have the misfortune of going up against Girls (which I'll blog about sometime next week) every Monday but it's the more entertaining show of the show and I hope that the rivalry with the ladies from Kensington does crop up in the finale as well.

- Rob Kazinsky will be playing Sookie's new love interest, fairy Ben in the sixth season of True Blood. Filming for the new season begins in January.
- Hunted has been cancelled of sorts. It seems the BBC won't be working on it for a future series, so Cinemax will be looking for another collaborator.
- The Killing's third series (currently airing on BBC4) will be it's last. The producers have insisted it's not coming back for a fourth series.
- The Big Bang Theory has become E4's most watched show this year. Excellent news, I've really gotten into that show.
- FX have renewed American Horror Story for a third season to air in 2013.
- Chad Michael Collins will be playing the brother of Dr Whale in the second half of Once Upon A Time.
- Kyle MacLachlan will be appearing in The Good Wife.
- Iain De Caestecker and Elizabeth Henstridge will be appearing in the S.H.I.E.L.D. series.

Hooked In

And here's a look at some of the shows I've been watching. Expect another one tomorrow.

Downton Abbey: A good set of episodes. This series definitely seems to have become more of an improvement to it's last one and the fallout from Sybil's death has been good to watch. It's nice for the show to find a way to keep Branson on board and the consequences of Thomas getting the wrong end of the stick with Jimmy should be interesting to see in the finale. I'm also liking that Edith is getting more to do, though some of the scenes with Matthew and Robert over running the estate have been less interesting to watch.

Homeland: This show is definitely not suffering from difficult second album syndrome. The last ten minutes of the episode, New Car Smell (I have to catch up with episode 5) were some of the tensest moments the show has produced and the resulting consequences of Carrie and Brody meeting up in the latter's hotel room once again, just a masterclass in excellent writing and acting from both Claire Danes and Damian Lewis. Oh and the subplots with Dana and her new love interest's father are also interesting to watch too.

Merlin: I'm finding myself a little less interested in this current series. Four episodes in and not much of real note has actually happened. Mordred has been a background character, the Knights - decent guy candy but not much else and there's a surprisingly amount of sparse interaction between Arthur and Gwen. The return of Uther seemed like a missed opportunity in some respects too while Morgana's continued scheming has gotten tedious to watch. I wish Merlin would just take her out though. I did like seeing Mithian again, though she wasn't as well served as her debut last series.

Once Upon A Time: Yes, I'm still enjoying this series. The last three episodes certainly haven't been boring, especially with the debuts of Lancelot and Hook, the reveal of Dr Whale (pretty obvious in retrospect) and Cora proving that she's a nastier piece of work than her daughter. That being said, much as I like that Regina is definitely making a concentrated effort to redeem herself and the bonding scenes with David/Henry and Emma/Mary Margaret, the show does need to dial down the need to connect virtually every backstory to Rumples at this rate because it's getting a little implausible. That being said, this season is shaping up nicely.

Switch: I know this show isn't a masterpiece in any way, shape or form but I find myself really enjoying it nonetheless. It might be a bit too fluffy at times but three episodes, I like the majority of the main characters (Jude, I'm a little mixed on) and the lack of big, complicated or existential storylines hasn't really deterred my enjoyment of it either. The last episode focusing on Stella getting over her antichrist of an ex-girlfriend was particularly funny and I'm not hating the triangle of sorts between Jude/Jerry/Grace but I think Hannah is still my favourite of these four particular witches.

- Felicia Day is returning to Supernatural for an upcoming episode. Here's hoping they don't kill her off.
- Arrow will introduce the comic character of Firefly in an upcoming story arc, played by Andrew Dunbar.
- CW drama, Cult will premiere on the station in January.
- Dallas will not be bringing back Pamela Ewing according to producers. The second season of the show premiere in January on TNT.
- Sarah Shahi will be appearing as a love interest for Taylor Kinney's character in Chicago Fire.
- NBC have not only decided to end The Office after nine seasons but they won't be picking up the proposed spin-off, The Farm either.
- Grant Gustin will be appearing as a privileged kid in an upcoming story arc for 90210.
- Burn Notice has been renewed for a seventh season.

A Return To Magic

It's been a while but here are some of the programmes I've been watching since the last jumble I did. Warning, some massive spoilers ahead for various programmes.

Downton Abbey: This series hasn't been brilliant but it certainly can deliver a shock or two when it needs to. The death of Sybil in childbirth in Sunday's episode was a great example of that, even if it could be seen a mile off. I've always enjoyed Sybil as a character, so her death definitely had the emotional impact it needed. That aside though, the rest of the series needs something of a kick up the backside. Robert's pompous attitude has gotten increasingly insufferable and the Bates storyline has dragged out a bit too much. On the plus side, the Thomas/Jimmy plotline has potential and Edith has definitely gotten more interesting this series as well.

Glee: Oh, the big break up episode was certainly an interesting one alright and easily the best episode the show has produced this season so far as well. I was sad to see Santana and Brittany end things for now but I am glad that Rachel and Finn really are no more as well. This episode managed to make me dislike the character all over again. Will and Emma seem to be a simple state of limbo and Kurt and Blaine, well I hated the cheating aspect of their storyline but musically, this episode was a belter with the likes of Mine, The Scientist and Don't Speak. As for the new kids, I don't mind them but I'm not as invested in them as the producers want me to be.

Homeland: An excellent return for this series. I was initially a little worried that the show wouldn't be able to sustain the quality of the first year but so far, so very good. Carrie's exploits in Beirut in order to get a contact were gripping to watch, though it's a shame that her relationship with Saul is so strained due to the events of last season. As for Brody's rise in power, it really does seem to be interesting to see what will undo him - Dana knowing more about him than she probably should or his double life crashing around him. I did like the last scene in the second episode when Saul came across an interesting confession as well. And it's also nice that both Irish and UK broadcasters are airing this close to US transmission too.

Merlin: The first two episodes of Series 5 and as good as the episodes were (I really did enjoy the real twist about Arthur's Bane), there's still a feeling that even now the show is treading water. A lot of the Merlin/Arthur scenes, good as they are felt no different to what we've had in the previous four years and Morgana continues to be a raging nutter as well. On the plus, a mostly shirtless Gwaine/Perceival for most of the two parter was nice, Gwen being a clever queen was also good and the arrival of a grown up and quickly knighted Mordred at least gives Merlin a more interesting adversary this year. Makes up for a naff alien looking creature and underused dragons.

Once Upon A Time: Last time I blogged about this show, I was four episodes off completing the first season. Well, I've seen all of them and they were brilliant. The fact that the producers decided to lift the curse so early in the show's lifetime is a ballsy move and if the first two episodes of the second season are anything to go by, it's definitely going to be a good decision. Regina might have regained her powers a little too quickly for my liking but I did like her little epiphany when it came to Henry (whose scenes with David have livened the character up a bit) and Emma/Mary Margaret's scenes in the Enchanted Forest are certainly interesting, the tiny bits we've seen. I'm still also intrigued to learn where August has gone, which fairytale character Dr Whale really is as well as whether or not Gold and Belle can make it as a couple too. This show continues to weave a good spell on me.

Switch: I was going to review this episodically, but I actually don't really have the time to, so I'll do a series overview thing after the first series airs. As first episodes go though, this was great. It set up the main points nicely - the girls dependency on each other to cast any spell, the rival coven at the end, the importance of friendship as well as little bits on each character - Hannah's flight of fancy, travelling wise, Stella's boss from hell, Grace's mother from a lesser hell and Jude's thing with gay men at times. It's a good show, definitely ITV2's equivalent of Being Human (though definitely lighter). So far, I'm definitely sold on this show and pairing it with The Vampire Diaries (I'll get around to see that) is a good move too.

- Being Human US's third season will air on SyFy US from January 14th for thirteeen weeks.
- Shameless will finally end after an 11th series of 14 episodes, due to air in 2013 on Channel 4.
- NetFlix have confirmed that UK viewers will be able to watch the fifth and final season of Breaking Bad.
- Jessica Sanchez has bagged a recurring role on Glee.
- NBC are finalising a deal for an Alice In Wonderland themed series, following the adventures of a woman named Clara (jeez, that name is popular nowadays) who enters Wonderland searching for the Queen known as Alice.
- Richard Harmon has joined the cast of Psycho prequel, Bates Motel, playing a rival to Norman Bates (Freddie Highmore). The series will premiere in 2013 on A&E.
- Clark Gregg will reprise his role as Agent Coulson in the S.H.I.E.L.D. series by Joss Whedon for ABC.
- Matt Bomer will be playing the ex-boyfriend of Andrew Randall's character in The New Normal.
- Neve Campbell will be appearing in Grey's Anatomy for two episodes as Derek's sister.
- Both ABC and the CW are producing Great Expectations pilots. Oh, whatever.

Switch - ITV2 Release A Trailer

ITV2 finally released a trailer for their upcoming supernatural themed series, Switch and it definitely looks like an interesting, if definitely lighter show compared to Being Human. Narrated by Lacey Turner, who plays Stella, the trailer sees the girls trying different types of spells (Jude copping off with a gay man, due to a love spell, Grace using a confidence spell, Hannah being hexed apparently and Stella using an amnesia spell on her boss) as well as meeting their witchy rivals. I am hoping there's a bit more substance to the series and that it's not too lighthearted but it does look at least fun.

Series 1 Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buxEjvDqKvo

Switch airs on ITV2 from October. Times and dates to be confirmed.

Drama Lives On ITV Trailer

And I guess they don't just mean the manufactured ones courtesy of TOWIE and The X Factor (which starts Saturday at 8pm) but the scripted ones, of which there are a few airing on the station in the next few months.

The biggest of them all, drama wise, will be the third series of Downton Abbey with new cast member Shirley MacLaine and after a rather hit and miss second year, it'll be interesting to see how the show bounces back, though rating wise, I assume it will be fine. Then there's some biopics with the likes of Mr Selfridge (starring Jeremy Piven and Katherine Kelly) and Mrs Biggs (Daniel Mays and Sheridan Smith), which will surely be big hits as well for the channel along with Rupert Penry-Jones in The Last Weekend.

Then there's the arrival of supernatural themed, Switch on ITV2 before the main channel again features the likes of The Scapegoat (Matthew Rhys/Andrew Scott),  Homefront, Leaving, The Bletchley Circle, the second series of Monroe with James Nesbitt and A Mother's Son. I have to admit, while I might not be the biggest of ITV watchers, it is a rather decent line up of dramas for the upcoming winter months.

Drama Lives On ITV Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myM7jn9yyVE

Switch - More Details On ITV2 Series

The series may be another two months from airing on ITV2 but more details on the upcoming magical themed series, Switch have emerged ...

- Stella (Lacey Turner): She's our career girl with a horrible boss in the shape of Janet, who seems to make her life a misery at work. She even tells Stella to find a different profession upon firing her.
- Jude (Nina Touissant-White): Works in a fashion store, loves the boys and one of her conquests seems to be a guitarist named Gerry.
- Grace (Phoebe Fox): New to London, has a traditional attitude to witchcraft and tends to pull the girls back when they're on the brink of disaster.
- Hannah (Hannah Tointon): Traveller of the pack, was in India beforehand. Also seems to be something of a commitment phobe too.

- Tom Robertson will be appearing in the series, presumably as a love interest for one of the girls.
- Stella loses her job and the girls band together to cast a spell to get Stella back her job but they need something of Janet's to do so.
- ITV have warned viewers to keep their mobiles handy as there's a storytelling app when it comes to learning more about the girls. It seems that mobiles can help with spell casting on this show.
- While their spells don't always go to plan, their friendship does seem to go from strength to strength.

Reading the stuff from the ITV2 press releases, they do seem a little too keen on playing down the magical side of things and instead emphasizing the friendships and romances (which is good to a degree, though no mention of Stella's nightmare ex-girlfriend?). Even though this show seems largely geared towards a female audience, I do hope it will be able to cross over towards a male viewership as we saw Being Human doing quite easily. I'll definitely be watching this one and if I like it enough/have the time, I might actually review it too.

Anyone else looking forward to this or will this show be another reason for ITV not to try anything supernatural/fantasy tinged? We all know how Demons and Trinity fared after all.

Press Releases: http://www.itvmedia.co.uk/Switch-ITV2 and http://www.itvmedia.co.uk/inside-itv/itv-news/switch-coming-soon

Switch will premiere on ITV2 later in the Autumn. Times and dates are yet to be confirmed.

First Look: Switch

Well, it's about time ITV2 got into the game. With BBC3 providing us Being Human (and for a short while, The Fades) and E4 riding high with Misfits, ITV2 have decided to give us a modern day show centering on a coven of witches in London in the form of six part series, Switch.

The show stars Lacey Turner as career woman, Stella, Nina Touissant-White as fashionista Jude, moral compass Grace played by Phoebe Fox and Hannah Tointon as the restless and spontaneous Hannah, otherwise known as the Witches of Camden, who when they're not facing every day challenges, also have to deal with a rival coven in the shape of the Witches of Kensington, comprising of rival witches Alexa, India, Remy and Romola.

On the surface, the show does very much sound like a mash-up of Charmed and Being Human (Touchpaper who produce the latter are working on this show as is Philip Trethowan) but there are some interesting bits of information that have been revealed about the six part series.

For instance, the word 'switch' is codeword for the girls doing a spell, which they can only do together and each of the girls is born under a specific element - earth, water, fire and air. Caroline Quentin will also be appearing in an episode, playing the hippy mother of Grace while Stella's nightmare ex-girlfriend, played Rosamund Hanson will also be appearing on the show as well.

Switch could be a nice little success story or bloody disaster area but right now, it does sound rather good and with an emphasis on the girls friendship and lighter/pacier tone compared to Being Human, it's going to be interesting to see how the show actually fares.

Press Release: http://www.cultbox.co.uk/news/headlines/3341-lacey-turner-to-star-in-itv2-witches-drama-switch

Switch airs on ITV2 from October.