Rupert17 Reviews

After Maeve (2006 TV Movie)

Life can be taken from you, but not your legacy.

[10/10 · 18 June 2023]

Saw this years ago and remember how deeply affected I was by Maeve's death.

She was apparently a very intelligent and gifted young girl and what lie ahead of her in life would have almost been beyond imagination - and her imagination was an important part of her intellectual functioning at only ten years of age.

I know her parents suffered greatly at the time and I'm sure they still pine for their daughter.

I wrote a letter of sympathy to Maeve's father and he kindly replied, even though he was obviously in the process of a grief that probably still continues today.

I have this dvd and I occasionally watch it because rather than leave me gutted, Maeve inspires me and makes me realise how important every day of your life is.

RIP Maeve! Gone but never forgotten!

Significant Others (2022– )

Not about a murder, more about political correctness.

[4/10 · 17 December 2022]

Several other contributors have expressed my views on this advertisement for inclusion and diversity. The apparent murder of a woman central to the lives of many takes a back seat it to the failures of those connected to her.

The episode where the Sydney Gay MardiGras dominates the entire story is one of the worst I've ever seen in a TV series. It was purely pushing the Gay culture and confirming the ABC's commendable commitment to diversity in a context where truth and resolution relating to the woman's death should have been the narrative goal.

Diversity and inclusiveness are necessary components of life, but they need to be portrayed as part of life, not the only dominant factors in human existence. This program tried so hard to embrace all diversity issues that it became overloaded with characters and scenes that seemed unnecessary to me.

I've lost interest in ABC drama. Their comedies are still excellent entertainment - they send up rather than preach.

StartUp (2016–2018)

Entertaining and Challenging

[9/10 · 23 June 2021]

This narrative is a journey by several innovative people of different racial and economic backgrounds who see a future for themselves and society in a world where improved digital technology provides more flexibility and privacy.

Naturally, the idealistic often gives way to the human condition and the vagaries of a world where power, greed and fraud prevail make the journey a difficult one. The three protagonists discover all is not what they hoped for, and that their personal histories remain to occupy and disrupt the present with biting effect.

The pace of the three series is brisk and and scenarios are in your face without letting up. I found the acting excellent and the locations added to the storyline.

Highly recommended! 9/10.

Smother (2021–2023)

It gets better as it progresses

[8/10 · 28 May 2021]

I enjoyed the drama in Smother surrounding a troubled Irish family falling apart after the apparent accidental death of its patriarch, Denis Ahern. Naturally, like similar narratives all is not what it seems and the patriarch's relationships with those in his life are gradually exposed as less than perfect.

Dervla Kirwan heads an excellent cast and the tension throughout the six episodes is maintained until and unexpected denouement.

Not sure about some of the criticisms. If you want to a show where the participants have morning tea and afternoon naps, and then fall asleep in front of the television at night, maybe regular visits to an aged-care facility is for you.

Life is sometimes violent and unfair and many writers try to depict these plot lines in various ways. We don't always enjoy them all, but the word drama must come to mind and by that definition we know not to expect everything to be wine and roses and the characters a lovable bunch of fun seekers.

Portrait Artist of the Year (2013– )

Judges Latch on to Favourite

[7/10 · 14 August 2020]

I enjoy seeing the many portriat artists with their wonderfully varying techniques. And I know art is something that appeals in many different ways - there is no uniform or formulaic method of appreciation.

That aside, in the 2020 PAOTY the pontificating judges staked a claim in the eventual winner from the outset and her journey to success was always guaranteed. I found several other artists to be more insightful and skilful but they were ditched along the way.

Like another reviewer, I enjoyed the process and was able to form my own appreciation of the many talents on display and the final result was of little importance to me.

Pie in the Sky (1994–1997)

Stimulates the taste buds in every way.

[9/10 · 1 June 2020]

Pie in the Sky makes you realise you don't need endless violence, drug related tragedies and serial killers to bring entertainment to your TV screen in the Crime genre

Food connoisseur the obese Henry Crabbe is desperate to retire from the police force and open his own restaurant. He manages to open the Pie in the Sky restaurant with his wife Margaret but the manipulative Asssistandt Chief Constable Freddy Fisher uses a dubious piece of evidence to blackmail Crabbe and retain his excellent detective skills for his own glorification. Henry still manages to run his restaurant successfully with the help of capable employees while becoming increasingly annoyed with Fisher's demands upon his time for his own purposes.

Many of the crimes Henry investigates appear minor and trivial, but there is always more buried beneath the surface and sometimes the consequences are more telling than they appear at first. Henry doesn't need to throw punches or instigate shoot-outs to solve the crimes that are directed his way and often it is just his intelligence and perceptiveness that navigate him to the answers. A special mention for Nigerian/British actress Bella Enahoro who plays his assistant during a number of the investigations. She nails the part by downplaying her role but always emerging as Henry's more than capable colleague. The always delightful Maggie Steed excels as Henry's wife Margaret and their partnership could make you reassess some of the flakey glamour couples the Hollywood production line pops out are forgettable and unrealistic.

The Brokenwood Mysteries (2014– )

Something about it is right!

[9/10 · 23 April 2020]

Excellent crime show from New Zealand, which concentrates on the evidence and motives rather than emotion and melodrama. Won't appeal to those who need non-stop violence and actors with chiseled features and athletic bodies. It moves at a slow but narrative-building pace; there are no ridiculous love affairs between the protagonists; there are no annoying interruptions by the private lives of the main characters; the murders are quirky, rather than mind-shattering and depressing.

It's not for everybody, but tastes always differ and this one hits the mark for me. I hope season 7 is approved, but the continuation of many shows is always unpredictable.

Les Ombres Rouges (2019)

Entertaining story about a French family's disintegration.

[7/10 · 13 April 2020]

Although the French are known for their culture, fashion and elegance, they are also good at portraying the seedy side of life. The Red Shadows follows the narrative of a young girl Clara's abduction twenty-five years before and the quest of her now police officer sister to discover what happened to her and if she is still alive. The setting is the Cote d'Azur where the wealthy and the grimy underworld exist side by side with the rest of society, who are just trying to get on with their lives.

The pace over the six episodes is brisk and the acting is of a high standard. There are aspects of the plot that seem contrived and hard to believe, but sometimes to achieve the enjoyable you have to fudge the narrative to bring it all together.

There was one question left unanswered in the story of Clara but maybe there will be a follow-up series in which it is answered. I hope so.

The Capture (2019– )

Do We Want the Truth . . .

[9/10 · 4 April 2020]

. . . or a corrected version of the Truth?

The Capture is an excellent mini-series that explores today's prolific dissemination of images captured on CCTV and other devices and questions if what we see is exactly what happened, or not. How far will governments, organisations or individuals go to create or edit imagery to achieve their goals.

Callum Turner plays a young soldier on duty in Afghanistan who is filmed shooting a local. Was it in cold blood or self defence? There is a similar case in Australia at the moment. Then the barrister representing Turner's character appears to be murdered in the street by him and the incident is recorded on street CCTV.

Holly Grainger plays a police officer who has her doubts about the validity of the images in the barrister's murder and conducts her own investigation. She realises she not just dealing with some individual hack, as the involvement of the secret services of two governments and political activities of a protest movement are brought into play. How far can she go and how far should she go in an environment where secrecy and power loom large.

Callum Turner and Holly Grainger are very convincing in their roles and the whole production is high quality. I know some reviewers did not like the ending, but I thought it was consistent with the today's culture of choosing the convenient option, rather than the moral one.

Keeping Faith (2017–2021)

Eve Myles makes Faith an interesting and unpredictable character

[8/10 · 7 December 2019]

I enjoyed the first series and the second so far is just as captivating.

Imagine one day your husband disappears without a trace. Has he left you? Has he been murdered? Has he been killed in an accident and his body not discovered? Eve Myles as Faith captures all conceivable emotions as the wife who finds herself in this catastrophic situation: she has three children to look after; the law practice she partnered with her husband is on the brink of bankruptcy; many of those associated with her and her husband are uncertain if she's played a part in his strange disappearance.

What I like about Eve Myles acting is her ability to drag you into the convoluted plot of a drama like Keeping Faith , and at times irritate you with her histrionics, but then force you into a state of sympathy and empayhy for the character she is playing. Faith is not a one-dimensional saintly human being and to portray her as such would be missing the point. Eve Myles has the talent to take you on Faith's uncomfortable journey as the companion you don't want, but who you want find out what has happened to her life and hope she arrives at some resolution when the destination is reached..

I know we all watch programs and see them differently, but those who make one-word glib criticisms of programs usually are far off the mark. You are better off reading as many reviews as possible, or just deciding to watch a program that takes your fancy, and then forming your own views.

Total Control (2019– )

Maybe Living in the Past is More Rewarding

[7/10 · 17 November 2019]

Excellent drama stripping down the moral facade of the Canberra political scene and the overarching desire for power and the associated greed that goes with it.

Deborah Mailman and Rachel Griffiths give powerful performances. Of course, both characters needed to be women to bring validity to a narrative that seeks to expose male hypocrisy. If Rachel Griffith's charater as prime minister had been a male, this would have fueled the argument that the intent was steeped purely in feminist male-bashing and reduced its overall effect.

Perhaps the only criticism I have is the cleverly nuanced portrayal of indigenous people with only minor flaws while those outside their community are beyond help.

Great acting by all concerned and terrific direction by Rachel Perkins.

Kommissarie Winter (2010)

Solid and Entertaining Adaptation of ScandiNoir Crime Novels

[8/10 · 16 November 2019]

Enjoyable murder mysteries in the ScandiNoir tradition with no melodrama or overacting. The personal life of Inspector Winter is normal, without some of the contrived problems sometimes conjured up in many shows, to supposedly make the main protagonist's life appear more interesting - they usually don't.

Only one series of four movie-length features was made. A second series would have been welcome. The capable actress Amanda Ooms plays Winter's wife, and sadly she is underused in this series, as she has been in others during her long career.

Grantchester (2014–2025)

It's Not Just His Collar That's on Backwards

[3/10 · 26 October 2019]

My wife enjoyed Grantchester more than I did. I found Sidney a simpering self-possessed failure of the Cloth and by the end of Series 3 he'd not improved.

The beginning of Series 4 saw a perpetually drunken Sidney moaning and groaning about his life and unbelievably involved in police investigations while failing to perform his clerical duties. His friends and colleagues spoke about him as though he were the Messiah gone wrong and their analysis of his behaviour was tiresome. Naturally Sidney's personal crisis never prevented him from getting a bit on the side; he was up for that.

Of course all of the above was leading to a plot denouement. Episode Two of this series is crucial to Sidney's character and future and is one of the worst episodes I've seen in a supposedly superior drama series made in the last ten years. It's time for a good comedy and a laugh after this depressing twaddle.

The Sandhamn Murders (2010– )

Another Scandi Success

[9/10 · 29 September 2019]

Very enjoyable crime series featuring an intelligent woman as the main protagonist.

Established actress Alexandra Rapaport plays Nora, a lawyer living on the the picturesque island of Sandhamn, in the Stockholm Archipelago. Yes, murders happen and Nora gets involved through her sharp-minded curiosity and friendship with police detective Thomas Andreasson. But there is more to the series than just a Midsomer Murders-like repetition of convoluted events in a fictional village

Nora splits with her first husband and becomes a single mother with shared custody. Much of the narrative deals with Nora's relationships and journey to find happiness on an island that is suitable for recluses, but not for Nora who is an attractive, gregarious and well-adjusted individual. Her friendship with policeman Thomas Andreasson always seems to be on the verge of something more intimate except, like her, his past gets in the way .

The murder stories are not perfect or without criticism, but they are acceptable and the character of Nora overrides any plot deficiencies or doubts that may arise. I just enjoyed what was on offer. I believe there will be four more movie-length episodes made next year.

SeaChange (1998–2019)

Sea Change with Climate Change

[8/10 · 10 September 2019]

I've watched three episodes of the new Sea Change and I'm enjoying it in its own context, and not relating it back twenty years and attempting to see a seamless connection. The connection is there but time has interrupted the flow. Some original characters and there but older, while some have gone and others have grown up to be played by new actors. It's wonderful to see Sigrid Thornton, John Howard, Kerri Armstrong and Kevin Harrington still bumbling around Pearl Bay, and the addition of the talented Brooke Satchwell, Kate Lister, and a number of others, has injected new blood into the narrative and it has worked very well. I can't see Season 4 sweeping all the television awards handed out every year, but for me it hits the spot and the absence of serial killers, drug addicts and chronic depression are omissions from the plot I'm enjoying while I can.

Last Man Standing (2005)

Last Man Standing Worth Watching

[10/10 · 17 June 2019]

Other reviewers have remarked on the various quality aspects of Aussie TV show Last Man Standing and I'll not regurgitate what others have already written much better than I can. I agree with most, although there are a couple of reviewers who got little out of the show. I got plenty out of it and I was glad to catch up with it. I don't why I missed it 2005 but its relevance seems to continue into 2019.

Leading men Rodger Corser and Matt Passmore have continued to act in TV shows with success, while character actor Travis McMahon enhances anything he's associated with. Kiwi actress Miriama Smith appeared in series 3 of successful New Zealand production 800 Words, and she to is an asset to any show she appears in.

When you read the synopsis of Last Man Standing, you could be forgiven for dismissing it as purely low-level male self-delusion, but it is not that. The reason I believe it succeeds is because it is mainly written by talented Aussie Marieke Hardy (grand daughter of Frank Hardy) and she ensures that the female side of the various plot machinations is represented and balanced. Yes there is much drinking and man cave activities, plus trying to seduce various women into bed. But the female contingent pursues its own agenda and is not merely a herd of vacuous sex objects available on demand. The journey through life is not gender one-sided and the triumphs and pitfalls are equally distributed.

Yes it is a soapie about those in their late twenties living in inner Melbourne; but it is all quality and the pace never slackens. Only one series was made, and this disappointed many. But there are times where one series of quality is better than three series where two are not up to the mark and the production as a whole suffers because of it. It is worth a look.

The Good Fight (2017–2022)

Season 3 losing the plot

[3/10 · 5 June 2019]

I agree with other reviewers becauseI found Season 1 reasonable, but after that the show has become a self-parody with Season 3 descending into a comical mess. I'm not an American but I realise that its politics will always occupy centre stage in world affairs, but the obsession with Trump has become counter-productive and the plot lines verging on the ridiculous. When a so-called internet search engine company won't engage the Reddick law firm unless they can investigate the dubious ethics and morality of the practice, I couldn't stop laughing. It's always good to know that moral standards are paramount on the Internet and Social Media outlets. There is also a radical group of professional women whose morals are no better than those they are targeting with their questionable actions. Also Christine Baranski's character Diane has become a laughable, suffering-in-mink liberal and the presence of self-centred circus clown lawyer Blum has no credence and is merely a poor attempt to obscure the fading relevance of this show and cover up its obvious political agenda. The Good Wife had plenty to offer, but this spin-off needs to clean up its act if Season 4 is to regain credibility.

Vacant Possession (1995)

Your Past is Always Waiting for You

[8/10 · 3 April 2019]

Pamela Rabe plays Tessa, a deeply disturbed young woman who has returned to her vacant family home on Botany Bay after the death of her mother.

Tessa' past comes back in all the clarity she'd run away from as a teenager, fleeing a violent father and circumstances she couldn't cope with. Now that she's back in the empty house, memories come flooding back and she reunites with her sister and indigenous neighbours she knew in her youth. Tessa's father is still alive and she must face the prospect of his return to the house to sort out his estranged wife's possessions and affairs.

Although much of Tessa's time at the house reveals a difficult upbringing and chaotic life in her youth, by the end of the narrative you feel that she has a future now, that she has dealt with her past.

Terrific acting by Pamela Rabe - a much underrated actor - and the rest of the cast. The brooding location on Botany Bay contributes to the dark mood and emotional feelings Tessa cannot escape 8/10

The Typist (2018– )

When the Past Takes Over

[8/10 · 29 January 2019]

Iris Berben plays Freya, who lost her daughter years before in what appear to be strange circumstances. She works as a typist for the police and frequently takes down verbatim interviews with those charged with murder. She is an introverted, contemplative loner who lives her life alone haunted by her daughter's disappearance and the lack of closure surrounding her fate .

This is quite a multi-layered narrative and over five episodes the truth surrounding Freya's life is stripped bare in a clever and complicated series of revelations. I liked the fact that sensationalism is omitted and replaced by believable actions and an ultimately acceptable denouement. Iris Berben's acting is underplayed in one sense, but quite riveting in another.

The series is set in today's Berlin, and although a dark theme is always pervasive the modern optimism of contemporary Germany is always to the fore.

The Split (2018–2022)

Overcooked and deluged with condiments

[5/10 · 24 September 2018]

The writer Abi Morgan has packed plenty of domestic drama into this series about three sisters and the effect a disrupted upbringing has brought into their adult lives. There's an element of suffering in mink as this middle-class professional family navigate their lives through the vicissitudes of family relationships and love lives fraught with misdirection and misunderstanding.

I won't rabbit on too much except to say that it has a terrific cast and fabulous settings in modern London, but fails to convince where individual behaviour and contrived outcomes are concerned.

The mother and two of the sisters are lawyers and I found the legal cases they are involved with much more interesting than their selfish personal lives. I hope the second series lifts the standard and is more believable.

How Do You Want Me? (1998–1999)

Quirky and rewarding take on the 'fish out of water' syndrome.

[9/10 · 20 November 2017]

I agree with all the reviewers bar one who misses the point of the whole exercise.

Irish city boy Ian Lyons relocates to the home town of new wife Lisa in the West Sussex countryside. Yes, he is a fish out of water among her family and the conservative rustic types that populate the area. But the narrative and message is more than that - it's about love and how far that can sustain a relationship when one of the participants is clearly treading water in a culture he doesn't understand and which fails to embrace him.

It is funny and emotionally moving at the same time. Dylan Moran and the late Charlotte Coleman navigate their respective roles brilliantly. Dylan Moran went on to other things while Charlotte Coleman died tragically a couple of years later. The show only ran for twelve episodes over two series and ended without resolution. Sometimes life has no resolution and that may have been writer Simon Nye's intention. I'll always remember Charlotte Coleman fondly and this show maintains my memory of her tremendous talent.

White Heat (2012)

Excellent journey through nostalgia of my growing years

[8/10 · 29 October 2017]

Follows the lives of seven London housemates from their youth in mid-1960s to the present day. Many of those well-known events during that era form the backdrop of the lives of the seven protagonists.Naturally there are many ups and downs in their personal lives and their particular interactions with each other. I know some use the word cliché to describe familiar situations, but much of a life lived is a cliché to all of us, but this doesn't mean it's not interesting or informative.

Very strong cast of the younger and older versions of the seven characters and the script maintains a strong level throughout. If all you want from a miniseries are murders and heroics, then don't bother with White Heat. If you are after a genuine dramatic depiction of how ordinary people live their lives while the world seems to be imploding around them, then you'll get something out of this mini-series.

Life of Crime (2013)

Hayley Atwell Can't Save this Series.

[5/10 · 28 September 2017]

One of the reviewers here felt he/she had to write a review to refute the negative reviews of the other two featured on this page. I agree with the other two that this is a poorly fleshed out mini series that even the talented Hayley Atwell cannot redeem.

The police,and especially Hayley's character, spend over twenty years dancing around three rapes and getting nowhere. There is even tampering with evidence to secure a conviction, be it one of the actual rapists.This convicted criminal spends many years in jail, then comes out and sues for a flawed conviction. Absolute rubbish! Hayley's character appears to be about as incompetent as you can get, but ends up in the lofty rank of superintendent. She never admits to tampering with evidence.

There is also a running theme that a woman cannot have a career and be a good mother and wife,and it overreaches into the current era. Pretty bad stuff. Hayley is good as usual. 5/10

The Crow Road (1996)

When a family survives its secrets and tragedies

[9/10 · 27 April 2017]

Excellent mini-series about a young man's search for the truth in his family's past and what it had to do with his uncle's disappearance some years before. It is about closure but also growing up and moving on in one's life. Hard to pick a stand-out in a cast that fits the characters with great precision.

Perhaps the real star is the landscapes of Argyll in Scotland. I was always disappointed when filming went inside, except that the script was so strong and acting so meticulous, you were always entertained and stimulated.

Peter Capaldi and Dougray Scott went on to bigger things. Bill Paterson and Stella Gonet are solid,established Scottish actors whose standards never drop and Valerie Edmond has always been a shining light. The younger actors were excellent as well.

The Coroner (2015–2016)

Not sure what the Coroner's verdict for the death of this series is!

[6/10 · 25 April 2017]

I accepted that it was lightweight in the first series but it was quite enjoyable and the Jane/Davey potential relationship added some spice to the plain cooking.

The second series is not as good and the story lines are pretty banal in the main and nothing is fleshed out to a believable conclusion. In one episode people are murdered for performing their jobs as sea rescue volunteers. Found that a bit far-fetched. The beautiful scenery of Devon was the saviour and Claire Goose is always worth watching.

I believe the series has been cancelled and I can understand that.