Review: Glee - The Power of Madonna (Series.nu)

In a first for Glee, ‘The Power of Madonna’ is an episode made up entirely of songs from Madonna’s back catalogue.

We learn that Sue Sylvester is a massive Madonna fan. She continues blackmailing Principal Figgins by making him play Madonna songs over the PA system. Sue encourages the Cheerio squad to act more like Madonna and to date younger men. She informs them she will now only address them by their first names.

Rachel seeks advice from the other Glee Club girls, hiding the fact that it’s about Jesse; he wants to have sex but she’s still a virgin and not ready. The girls talk about how guys don’t care about their feelings.

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Review: Glee - Hell-O (Series.nu)

After a 4 month break, Glee is back with Broadway stars Idina Menzel (Wicked) and Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening) guest starring.

New Directions are on a high after their win at Sectionals. Kurt (Chris Colfer), Rachel (Lea Michele) and Mercedes (Amber Riley) think their win will help them rule the school. Unfortunately for them, the realization hits them literally in the face, when drinks are thrown at them. Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison) starts to prepare the club for Regionals by having them pick songs that have ‘hello’ in the title, knowing if they don’t win Regionals, glee club will cease to exist.

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Review: Modern Family – Game Changer (Series.nu)

Check out my review of episode 19 from Modern Family, now up on Series.nu

Review: Skins - Series 4

As the dust settles on another series, Skins has already been commissioned for a fifth and sixth series. Details of auditions have been announced to cast a new set of characters. There is also news of a possible film, which might feature characters from both sets of casts. The opener drew 938,000 but the viewing figures declined week by week, dipping as low as 648,000 with the Effy episode. The figure for the finale did rise with 728,000 viewers.

Series 4 has been described by some as too depressing; suicide attempts, breakups, deaths, fighting and mental illness. I do agree that this was the case but then the show has always tried to push the envelope with certain subjects. To me, this series seem to wreck most of the good things they achieved in series 3. Pandora, Thomas, Emily and Naomi's relationships went south and each episode seemed to be about how bad things can get for the characters. The only person that had a happy episode was JJ. The whole series was disjointed at times and certain things just seem to come out of nothing, like Effy's mental illness. They had a real opportunity to do something great with the subject but her psychiatrist being obsessed with her and killing Freddie spoilt it. It seems like they are having a regular occurrence of one of the cast members dying, though Chris' death in series 2 didn't invoke the same kind of emotion.

My favourite episodes were the ones centred on Emily, Katie and Cook. With Pandora and Naomi not having centred episodes, I think they could have at least one of them share an episode with one of the others. I was however disappointed in how they developed Cook after his centred episode. It seemed like they were really trying to give him another dimension, when he took the fall for Naomi and also went to prison. Afterward, it didn't seem like it was worth going down that angle, when they had him escape and behave exactly the same as before.

Will Young's character seemed pointless and I don't think it served any purpose. Any of the other faculty members could have delivered the message to Freddie, that he was trying to, and seemed stupid doing it. Hugo Speer sold the part of Jon Foster even though I didn't like what they did with him. The main highlights of the supporting cast were the rest of the Fitches. The twins mother, Jenna (Ronni Ancona), father Rob (John Bishop) and younger brother, James (Redd Smith)

It will be interesting to see what route they take with the new cast and if they follow some of the same patterns like killing off one of the characters or having a one of the characters suffer something traumatic involving their brain (Tony losing his memory in series 2 and Effy's mental illness and suicide attempt).

Review: Community - The Science of Illusion (Series.nu)

My review of episode 20 of Community is now up on Series.nu. Go check it out.

The Bill to hang up its cuffs

I do have to say that hearing the news that 'The Bill' has been axed after 27 years, shocked me. Though I haven't watched the show in over a decade, it's one of those shows that that was part of the furniture when it comes to UK TV. With a show that runs for so long, you don't think of an end.

They say the decision was a creative one and not a way to cut cost but with a reported 90 jobs at risk, its hard not to think that way.

It will be interesting to see what takes its place in the evening schedule; more reality TV, new UK drama or imports.

Review: Modern Family – Starry Night (Series.nu)

Check out my review of episode 18 from Modern Family, now up on Series.nu

Review: Community - Beginner Pottery (Series.nu)

Check out my review of episode 19 from Community, now up on Series.nu