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This hilarious BBC adaptation of Evelyn Waugh’s 1928 novel stars Jack Whitehall, David Suchet, and Eva Longoria. It’s on Acorn TV, which might still have a 30-day free trial–if not, it always has 7 days free, so you can watch the 3 episodes of this witty miniseries. It follows the misadventures of Paul Pennyfeather, an Oxford theology student who falls into one awkward (to put it mildly) situation after another by some fateful twisted logic and his naive trust in a series of dubious characters he meets. It’s wonderfully escapist and makes fun of everything it touches.
Reviewed by Faith
Tagged: British TV, Comedy, movies
Doctor Who: The Awakening
[DVD]
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Peter Davison stars as the Doctor with the cricket inspired get up and celery stalk fastened to his lapel. You’ll have to wait until Davison’s last appearance however to learn the purpose of the mysterious vegetable! Regarding this particular shorter story, the Doctor promises to reunite his companion Tegan with her grandfather in her present time of 1984.
If it were only that simple…
When they arrive at the quaint village of Little Hodcombe, they are greeted by people with long flowing beards in suited armor on horseback. The Doctor and his companions are led to believe the townspeople are taking part in some sort of reenactment of a famous civil war battle from 1643.
We soon discover that they have actually landed in a time parallel between the years 1643 and 1984 due to an underground beast who is also warping the minds of Little Hodcombe’s citizens and projecting humans from the 17th century in their reality. Confused yet? Check it out for yourself and enjoy this entertaining two-part Doctor Who adventure.
Reviewed by Jason
Tagged: British TV, Science fiction, TV series
Black Books
[DVD]
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Irish comedian Dylan Moran stars in the BBC television series Black Books. The show was written and created by Moran and the folks who brought us Father Ted.
Bernard Black, a cranky and boozy book shop owner, wants absolutely nothing to do with his customers and does very little to aid his decaying store. He’s joined by his friend and neighboring shop employee, Fran and Manny, his hapless, but loveable (possibly unpaid) employee. We join these three on many madcap adventures and exercises in generally poor customer service. While a fair amount the gags fall under the customer/employee dynamic or displays of tremendous laziness, we also get a fair amount of surreal humor.
Reviewed by Jason
Tagged: British TV, Comedy
Jeeves & Wooster
[DVD]
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Starring the incomparable comedic duo of Hugh Laurie and Stephen Fry, this British TV series is an adaptation of P.G. Wodehouse’s Jeeves stories. The actors embody the upper-class goofball and his omniscient valet perfectly, and the free-flowing wit and rampant silliness are irresistible. Fry’s eyebrows say it all.
Reviewed by Faith
Tagged: British TV, Comedy, TV series
