An enjoyable evening murder in Caribbean paradise ...

The BBC at its best - light but engaging drama, the perfect recipe for a relaxing weekday evening ...

Last night saw the start of new BBC drama, Death in Paradise, with Ben Miller starring as the Metropolitan police detective plucked from the snugness of his comfort zone and thrown into the beautiful and laid-back Caribbean world of Saint Marie ... definitely worth a look on BBC iPlayer if you missed it ... 

Filmed amongst the breathtaking scenery of Guadeloupe, I could almost smell the sea and feel the burning heat - quite how long Poole will last in his quintessential English suit and tie we’ll have to wait and see ... can’t quite see him in the Hawaiian shirts just yet though ... 

©BBC 2011

Along with the rest of an accomplished cast, including French star, Sara Martins, Miller makes for an engaging detective, hitting just the right tone of comedy and yet still perfectly convincing in his successful solution to the murder. Just as in the worlds of Life On Mars or New Tricks, a core detective team is established in this opening episode; from the female sidekick to the light-hearted assistants, this team looks certain to take its place amongst the greats...

Whilst the victim of this episode’s central murder was clear from the start, not least to free up a space for Miller to fill, the mystery of his death cleverly kept us guessing throughout the episode - from a gunshot that couldn’t be heard, to the mystery of the murderer escaping from a sealed off room ... I for one certainly never saw the final twist coming ... although, not wanting to give too much away, I can’t help feeling slightly disappointed ... along with Poole, I actually quite liked her ... 

The final note, however, has to go to the real star of the show ... I see plenty of BAFTA nods in the pipeline for Miller’s new sidekick ... DS Hathaway step aside, our favourite green lizard is in town!

Seems they'll always be there for us ...

It hardly seems like 7 years ago that we said goodbye to new episodes of Friends on our screens ... and E4 will for now always seem just that little bit empty ...


So at this time of the evening that has become somewhat of a routine in the house, thank goodness for the awesomeness that is the DVD box-set ... seems our New York buddies will never truly leave us ... 

©E4

... and all this just gives us that extra little bit more ammunition for a Thanksgiving special!

Young Apprentice Returns

Inspiring, cute or highly amusing ... whatever your take, Young Apprentice launched back on to our screens last night with plenty of tasty ice creams and sweet talking in the board room ...

©BBC 2011

Although I think some of these clearly enthusiastic teenagers may have watched a few too many episodes of their parent show before starting out (and don't appear to have always learnt from the best of the adults... )

Bring back the drama!

Tonight's BBC 1 evening schedule ... 


6 O'Clock News
The One Show
Inside Out
Eastenders
Panorama
The Apprentice
10 O'Clock News


Aside from today's trip to Albert Square ... where's the drama? News and documentaries are great, but a bit of variety across an evening's schedule wouldn't go a miss ... 


But on a more positive note ... can't wait for Death in Paradise tomorrow night - looks great! (BBC1 9pm)

Could Isobel be the solution for Mary and Matthew?

Watching the trailers for next week's episode of Downton Abbey, it's clear Matthew will have a decision to make between Mary or Lavinia. According to some previews, he's likely to stick to his conscience since he's already engaged to Lavinia ...

©ITV 2011

BUT ... could this be the selfless act that Isobel is so desperate to prevent according to the series 2 press pack? Not sure exactly what her methods could be, but she would certainly have allies in Robert and Violet, and maybe even Anna or Carson?

Downton Abbey - Series 2, Episode 6

End of a terrific show & the first post had to go to Spooks ... but truthfully, it was the tales of woe at Downton that I tuned in for first last night ...


Not the most uplifting or even cathartic of episodes, what with Carlisle finally showing his sinister character (we all knew it was there ...) and the distress of poor Daisy downstairs ... but the viewer's spirits were lifted as always by the comic brilliance of Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess ... "Have I really ... thank heavens!" ... and as for her interference at long last next week ... all I can say is, thank goodness for that!! Might Mary and Matthew finally be even a tiny step closer to that happy ending ... just need to find a way to get rid of their respective fiancés ... the sooner Sir Richard is gone the better, but I can't help wanting a happy ending for Lavinia as well ... Matthew's long-lost twin perhaps?! Anything's possible!

©ITV 2011

Not sure what to make of Patrick ... was convinced throughout the episode that he was just an imposter, but the lack of resolution at the end has actually made me curious ... I somewhat doubt he'll be back though, so I guess we'll never know! Nice to see a deeper storyline for Edith though ... and what about Sybil? Just go with him at long last! How much longer can Branson keep polishing that car for!

Spooks - the end of an era ... but life goes on ...

So, the brilliant drama that is Spooks finally came to an end this weekend after 10 great series ... mixed responses to the final episode here ... but true to form, there was never really going to be a happy ever after, was there?! And of course, this is Spooks ... one last central character was always going to meet their tragic end (though why Ruth?! Just so sad ...) 

... The idyllic life of Harry and Ruth in their house by the sea will just have to live out in the realms of fanfiction ... (don't worry, less than 24 hours and it's already starting and there's more to come I'm sure ...)

©BBC 2011

Loved the cameo from Matthew Macfadyen though - always great to have closure for past characters and to see what they're up to ... (if only Monarch of the Glen could have thought of that ... still can't believe we got a final episode without Archie and Lexie!)

As it was, I think the ending worked well - life goes on, there will always be threats and there will always be MI5 battling against them ... would have seemed slightly unsettling to have complete closure ... the thought of MI5 without Harry Pearce?! ... at least we can all sleep calm at night ...

Welcome to MagsTube!

First official post ... the blogging starts here! Here goes ...

Welcome to MagsTube ... so called since, true to character, I was sitting deciding on a name with the awesomeness that is YouTube on in the background ... 

Main thing to know: I love all things television drama (together with other shows, or films) ... so this is basically a blog on what I think about the programmes that I love (or hate...), the episodes that I've watched ... and probably the odd bit of Fanfiction from time to time as well ...

Enjoy!

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