Stanislaus

For me, Downton Abbey is definitely a gem and the icing on the cake in the field of historical series. It takes place in the 1910s in the beautiful setting of England and together with Julian Fellowes' engaging script, the beautiful music and the quality performances, it is my cup of tea. I really like the sets, the costumes and the overall period feel that is extremely authentic. Of the cast, Maggie Smith is of course my favourite, but I also like the other members of the ensemble. In short, a sort of expanded and improved version of Gosford Park in serial format, where many of my favourite aspects of the film collide, resulting in an unforgettable spectacle.

To begin with, I have to say that next to "Murder on the Orient Express", this is undoubtedly the best mystery from Agatha Christie's pen, and it won me over completely. For three hours, we have the opportunity to watch an absolutely breathtaking spectacle that benefits mainly from a wonderfully selected cast and a very well-written story. One lonely island, one large mansion and ten people who have committed crimes in the past for which they have not been punished + one quite frightening rhyme predict the individual deaths of everyone present. I liked the incorporation of flashbacks into the plot, so we get the opportunity to learn more about each character and their crimes as the story progressed, and could form an opinion about each. Alongside this, I also have to praise the camera work, which offered both symbolic details and eerily beautiful shots of the estate on the island, alongside an equally impressive and unmistakable soundtrack that perfectly complemented the stuffy atmosphere and the impossibility of escaping the island. In short, a very well made television project that combines several of my favourite elements and aspects that I look for in films or TV shows, and which was definitely my cup of tea. And that it was damn good and quality tea!

I have a real soft spot for Teen Wolf, and even though there are a few things about the show that I personally don't like or don't seek out, I still always look forward to new episodes, monsters, and plots. I like that it's a genre mash-up, each episode doesn't lack action, there are a few romance lines included, and most importantly for me is the fantasy-mystery-horror component that got me started watching the series in the first place. I've always liked werewolves - in fact, they're my favorite movie monster. Teen Wolf doesn't have a traditional furry wolf form (in most cases), but it's a teen series, so so be it, it can be forgiven. I've even gotten used to the amount of slow-motion, the overly-obvious stares (which thankfully aren't as moronic as in Twilight), and last but not least, the occasional fluctuations in the characters' behavior, which were sometimes infuriating. The biggest portion of entertainment is provided by Stiles, whose character works to a tee, especially in the first few episodes in conjunction with Derek, but the other characters steal a joke for themselves from time to time. Of all the storylines and monsters, besides the werewolves, I was probably most intrigued by the Banshee, the Dread Doctors, Kanima, and the Beast of Gevaudan (which I first encountered with Brotherhood of the Wolf). In short, a series that is my cup of tea in many ways, even though it may not be to everyone's taste, but you have that thing with some kinds of tea, not everyone likes it or drinks it often.

Conversations with an immortal and unsuspecting mother. Constant verbal fights, bickering and innuendo of the sharpest calibre. Reassurance about the condition of an ancient pet. Repeated introductions to an old girlfriend. I could certainly go on like this for a while, listing elements that appear in virtually every episode of this incredibly funny British sitcom. The cast is absolutely perfect – Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi are very convincing, Frances de la Tour is every inch the boozy and flirtatious comedian, and the hitherto unknown to me Iwan Rheon also pleasantly surprised me. This immensely likeable quartet is complemented by other funny supporting characters who entertain as much as the protagonists. For some it may be a repetition of the same thing, over and over again, but for me it works because I am royally entertained and laughing almost continuously. In short, an excellent, endlessly entertaining and very well cast sitcom that really sat well with me.