No. 11 - 24th December 2008.
 First up this month is Survivors (BBC One), a remake of the 1975 drama created by Terry Nation (the man who gave us the Daleks). A virulent flu virus sweeps the country wiping out 99% of the population and leaving our infrastructure in tatters. A small group of survivors led by Abby (Julie Graham - Bonekickers) and Greg (Paterson Joseph - Peep Show) band together to make a new start in a country house. The other survivors include Tom, an ex-prisoner (Max Beesley), Anya, a young doctor (Zoe Tapper), a womanising rich kid and a young Muslim boy. The outbreak brings out the worst elements as society breaks down and the group encounter street gangs, a fascist commune set up by the Junior Minister for Health and a group of religious nutters as they try and adapt to their new way of life.
Survivors is an ambitious series that confronts us with a frightening scenario that feels all too real. What I particularly like about it is the characters and how the aftermath of the virus essentially makes everyone equal - the old rules don't apply any more. Tom is particularly fascinating as we're well aware of his past from the first episode (in which he kills a prison guard to escape) and the threat of violence always looms large even though, on face value, he appears to be the most practical of the bunch. If there's one element I'm not keen on it's the subplot revolving around a group of research scientists in an underground bunker which feels wholly superfluous, but will no doubt dominate the final episode as we already know that Abby is the sole human to have caught the virus and made a full recovery. I admit that I've never seen the original series so I've nothing to compare it with, but I've thoroughly enjoyed this incarnation of Survivors. Fast-paced, full of edge-of-your-seat drama and a top ensemble cast, I can only hope that next year's proposed remake of Day Of The Triffids meets with equal success.
 The Beeb have recently launched two other high profile new drama serials which I’d also like to mention here: Apparitions (BBC One) from the pen of Joe Ahearne (Ultraviolet, This Life, Doctor Who) is about an exorcist played by Martin Shaw. Well received by the critics and my peers, I have to say I didn't really get into the story and I gave up after two episodes; Wallander (BBC One) however I enjoyed considerably more - a set of three bleak Scandinavian crime dramas based on the novels of Henning Mankel with Kenneth Branagh playing the eponymous police inspector. The first adaptation Sidetracked was somewhat predictable and served best as an introduction to the character, but the subsequent pair Firewall and One Step Behind were gripping and exemplary examples of the genre.
Set in Sweden (with the actors speaking English) it's beautifully shot by Anthony Dod Mantle (Danny Boyle's regular DP) using a Red One digital camera and is backed with a haunting score by Martin Phipps and Emily Barker. What really makes it work though is the back-to-basics plotting that calls for police procedure and legwork rather than balls-to-the-wall-action, which allows the characters to flourish. Of course Wallander's masterstroke is getting the patronage of Branagh as the world-weary detective, and the actor delivers a commanding leading performance, full of emotional depth - it's a timely reminder of why he's one of our best regarded talents, and an absolute joy to watch. I sincerely hope the Beeb will commission further adaptations of Mankel's work on this basis as for me it's one of the best new serials of 2008.
 It's been running for a while now, but I've finally caught up with Burn Notice (FX) this month. Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan - The Changeling) is a spy who's suddenly issued with a 'burn notice' during a covert op in Nigeria. He finds himself dumped in Miami with no resources, no finances and no job history and forced to start afresh. Teaming up with his ex-girlfriend Fiona (Gabrielle Anwar) and ex-agent Sam (the one-and-only Bruce Campbell) he takes whatever local investigative cases come his way and this forms the basis for each episode, with a longer season arc playing out as Michael tries to find out who burned him and why.
It's a light, inconsequential type of drama, perfectly enjoyable but it wouldn't be the end of the world if you missed an episode. The main draw for me (and I assume any other FrightFesters watching) is the presence of Bruce Campbell, who's always fun to watch and attacks his hard-drinking, womanising role with aplomb. It's also good to see Gabrielle Anwar (last seen in FF flop The Marsh) getting some regular work too; thankfully the worst Irish accent this side of season 2 of Heroes is dropped after two episodes and male viewers will no doubt be delighted that she still has that 'no bra' clause in her contract. Donovan is okay too, even if he is saddled with another character that constantly has to narrate everything (see also: Chuck, Dexter) but overall Burn Notice gets the thumbs up from me.
 As anticipation builds for Terminator Salvation next May (even with McG at the helm) season two of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Virgin 1) returns to keep the brand in the public eye. Quite how the expected success of the upcoming reboot will influence the series remains to be seen, but for now this televisual incarnation continues to forge its own unique narrative completely unrelated to its movie counterparts. Things have calmed down a little since the initial series, with Sarah (Lena Headey) and John (Thomas Dekker) now settling into a new home where they're protected by Terminator-hottie Cameron (Summer Glau) and Derek (brother-of-Kyle) Reese (Brian Austin Green).
Most of this season seems to revolve around the Connors trying to keep their identities secret and lead ‘normal’ lives, whilst dealing with other resistance members (present or future) along the way. There's also a T-1000 on the loose played by - in one of the more surreal pieces of casting in recent years - flame-haired Scottish popstrel, Shirley Manson, former vocalist with the band Garbage. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles has found its rhythm now and like the aforementioned Burn Notice, makes for a pleasant if inconsequential watch. There have been one or two highlights so far including one episode in which John and Derek helped train a young soldier who'd later give his life for John, and a recent episode which played the same events through different character's eyes, Vantage Point style. The addition of wild-child Jesse (Stephanie Jacobsen – Battlestar Galactica: Razor) as Derek’s soulmate and resistance ally has also been a welcome development this series.
 Aside from a fleeting appearance in Mirrors ("Don't make me threaten you!") I've missed my fix of Jack Bauer this year, as plans for season 7 were halted due to the US writers' strike a year ago. But the wait is now over... Jack is back! 24: Redemption (Sky 1) is a feature-length pre-cursor to the next series set five years after the events of Day 6. Set in war-torn Africa we find Jack (Keifer Sutherland) helping out at a kids' school with his ex-forces mate Carl (Robert Carlyle), having been on the run for over a year. It's an unstable place with the People's Freedom Army clashing with the Government over land rights, using weapons supplied by US businessman Hodges (Jon Voight) and recruiting kids to fight their battles. Of course, this being set in 'real-time' it's not long before Jack is caught up in the midst of it all as the PFA come calling to school to take the children away.
The enforced sabbatical has probably done the programme good, especially after the last series which was by the far the weakest to date. 24: Redemption doesn't quite hit the highs of the early series but it's certainly an entertaining watch and demonstrates that the show can still deliver the goods when up against it. As the action comes to a close we see Jack surrendering and being flown back to Washington to face charges of torture. With a new President (Cherry Jones) about to be inaugurated and with apparent links to the shady Hodges via her son, it looks like Jack's work has only just begun. Let's hope that 24 can reclaim its glory days when it returns to our screens in January, if only to stop Keifer Sutherland from making more dross like Mirrors...
I’ll be back in the New Year with a look at the best of this year’s Christmas television including Mark Gatiss’s Crooked House. All that remains is for me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
Until next time, Keep watching.
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