Phil Newton casts an eye on the TV scene letting you what you've missed and gives also give you the heads up on what to look out for.
 

No. 8 - 29th AugustT 2008.

It’s a leaner, meaner TV Eye this month as I seek to get this column completed before FrightFest kicks off and I still have bags to pack and a SKY+ box to programme!

As promised last time, I want to start with Dexter (FX) which is currently half way through its second series run here in the UK. Now I have to admit that I didn’t get on with Dexter when it first hit our screens last year and I abandoned the first series after just three episodes. However, after hearing the plaudits from fellow FrightFesters I thought I should give it another chance – and I’m glad I did as it has now replaced Chuck as my TV highlight of the week. So why the change of heart? Maybe I just didn’t give it long enough or maybe it’s the fact that I’ve joined the central storyline in the heart of the action… whatever, it has me well and truly gripped.

Dexter (Michael C. Hall) is a forensic expert working for the Miami PD. He’s also a serial killer – although he only slaughters the bad guys so that’s alright. As we join season two Dexter’s sister Deb (Jennifer Carpenter) is still traumatized after her encounter with the Ice Truck Killer, whilst Dexter himself is struggling to conceal his identity as thirty bags of body parts have been uncovered and his department begin their hunt for the ‘Bay Harbour Butcher’. Perhaps most crucially, Dex meets clothes-shy artist Lila (Jaime Murray – who you may remember from Botched at last year’s FrightFest) at rehab, a relationship which soon threatens his existing family set up with Rita (Julie Benz). In fact there’s so much depth to the show it’s hard to summarise in just a few sentences!

Whilst the complex storyline and adult approach to the material grabs the attention, it’s the performance of Michael C. Hall which is key to the show’s success. The manner in which he portrays this conflicted character is simply outstanding; at times charming, a glint in his eye, at times cold, calculating and utterly ruthless. And then we get to see his softer side as he plays with Rita’s kids, his wild side as he gets seduced by Lila, and his plaintive soul-searching as he tries to keep his addiction under control. It’s spellbinding stuff and with a great ensemble of supporting actors it makes Dexter simply unmissable television. I really must pick up the first season on DVD now to fill in all those missing episodes!

It’s quite rare to find a network series like Dexter that doesn’t shy away from explicit displays of nudity and violence… by contrast Spooks: Code 9 (BBC Three) at times feels like it should be on CBeebies alongside The Sarah Jane Adventures. AKA Junior Spooks, this is Spooks (a show which I thoroughly enjoy) dumbed down for the youth market with mixed results. Set five years into the future in the aftermath of a nuclear blast that has wiped out 100,000 people, London is now a bleak city populated by cameras and controlled by ID cards. MI5 are desperately recruiting new agents for their field offices which is where our fresh faced young team come in.

It’s your typical cultural mix of individuals which includes mathematician Charlie (Liam Boyle), policewoman Rachel (Ruta Gedmintas), ex-criminal Jez (Heshima Thompson) and Kylie (Georgia Moffett – last seen as The Doctor’s daughter in Doctor Who), a young woman who’s slowly dying from radiation poisoning. When their team leader Hannah is gunned down during a routine operation Charlie is forced to take charge and guide them to success. The format is thus established so that each week there is a new mission, but there’s also a wider story arc as Charlie investigates who might have wanted Hannah dead and whether there’s a traitor inside MI5.

Three episodes in and the jury is still out: whilst the stories are engaging enough I can’t help feeling that I’m watching a bunch of kids playing at being adults. Performances vary wildly from character to character which at times distracts from the drama that is playing out on the screen. Still, FrightFester James Moran has penned this week’s episode so it’ll be worth tuning in for that one – I’m sure he’ll have found some more interesting and unusual ways in which to maim innocent people!

My TV gem this month is The Thai Bride (Channel 4), a short 25 minute drama that I came across late one Friday night which kicked off the channel’s Coming Up season for new filmmakers. Smartly directed by Corinna Faith it tells the tale of Panan (Lourdes Faberes), a young Thai girl from a fishing village who arrives in the UK to start a new life with her British husband Gordon (Terence Hillyer). He’s a stereotypical figure; middle-aged, widowed, slightly patronising and totally oblivious of the cultural differences between the two countries as he welcomes Panan into his home.

As Panan is left alone in the house she learns more about Gordon’s ex-wife Moira who was something of a recluse and passed away after battling cancer, and before long it’s clear that the house is still haunted by her spirit. It’s a neat spin on genre convention with an elderly English lady scaring the bejeezus out of a Thai girl for a change, but there’s more to The Thai Bride than first appears as a final twist reveals that Gordon might not offer the escape that Panan is looking for after all. Be careful what you wish for indeed! Nicely played and evoking a few chills with its minimal score, this was a very pleasant discovery.

Now, David Soul proved to be a big hit at FrightFest when he celebrated his birthday with us at the premiere screening of Puritan in 2006, so I was going to remind you that he’s one of the eight celebrities taking part in Maestro (BBC 2), a competition to see who can become the best classical conductor over the next six weeks. However he typically finished in the bottom two last night and was promptly eliminated from the show, but I’d still recommend the series as an entry level to some exquisite classical music and for its high-brow approach to a celebrity talent contest. There’s something magical about watching drum ‘n’ bass man Goldie charming the classical set, although I’d personally love to see Alex James win.

Finally, just a heads up for fans of Summer Heights High which recently finished its run on BBC Three – Chris Lilley’s previous comedy show The Nominees has been dusted off and is now showing on FX from this week.

So until next time,

Keep watching.

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